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Reviews
Scalpers (2000)
A funny film.
Scalpers is a fun romp. Great, comedic dialogue, even if it does remind me a little too much of Kevin Smith. There are some hilarious moments in this film about the lives of a group of tickets scalpers and hustlers. My favorites are the pool scene and the date. It's definitely hard to mix drama and comedy, but this dramedy does it pretty well, save for a few over the top moments. But, hey, I cared about the characters. I laughed, I cried. What more is there to say? I dig independent film, because, despite some obvious weaknesses, you get something different at least. Some wonderful performances, cool direction, and solid writing. A unique movie that I enjoyed.
Cube (1997)
Less is More.
I love films that can take a small, confined location, and make a big movie out of it. Despite being inside the cube, this movie feels big. It's a taut, thrilling sci-fi film, with a quiet intelligence. Go Canadian film! It's always interesting, that's for sure. And Cube is no exception. If you want a smart, interesting drama, this is it. Very cool idea and movie.
Swimming with Sharks (1994)
Love it.
Did you know this movie has three or four main locations. It's amazing how much drama and conflict is in this movie, despite it's minimalism. A scathing film about Hollywood, this movie is right on. I'd been hearing about it for years, and finally decided to check it out. Great script, very good performances. Frank Whaley, where are you? You were top notch in this. And Kevin, of course, turns in a good performance. Awesome film.
The Shape of Things (2003)
Another provocative film.
Labute has created another very provocative film. I think it may be an answer in some ways to his earlier film, "In The Company of Men," to show that women can be as cruel as men, and that what he is really talking about is the actions men and women take towards each other, and not some kind of male chauvinism. There is also another really interesting theme of morality tied in that I got kick out of. Do people become worse people as they get better looking? Outside the box of what you'd get at a big budget Hollywood film, I enjoyed seeing this film play out. I was, however, not surprised at the ending. Even though I saw it coming, I still found it satisfying. You can always count on Labute to deliver something interesting and provocative.