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Reviews
21 Grams (2003)
Complex film with no empathetic characters
This film took a complex approach in which scenes were presented out of sequence, a la Pulp Fiction. This added to Pulp Fiction's intriguing and complex plot. In contrast, it significantly detracted from this film which was much more about the characters than the plot.
Unfortunately for a film that was centered on the characters, this film had no characters with which one could empathize, except for one female character, and even she was hard to feel for. In fact, very few of these characters were easy to understand. The acting for the most part was good and at times exceptionally good. But the script was not written well - the characters motivations and responses to situations did not make sense at many times. And when they did make sense, one just ended up hating the characters more. When one dislikes almost all of the characters, how can one care about much of anything in this film?
Threesome (1994)
College roommates explore friendship, themselves, and sex
A university bureaucratic snafu causes a woman to share a dormitory suite with 2 men. The three of them develop friendships and there are interesting sexual desires/relationships between some of the characters.
Overall, this was a funny and at times moving film. However, parts of the movie were difficult to believe, which made the entire movie a little difficult to relate to.
The character who narrates a few scenes, Eddie, is the most believable and he is an easy character to relate to. Stuart is almost believable, but this is borderline. He almost belongs in "Animal House," although he is not that extreme. Finally, the woman, Alex, is the least believable as she is can be very sexually aggressive.
The other tough part of this movie it moves too quickly for the relationships to develop. The characters' public displays of friendship are amusing, but surprising because it happens relatively abruptly. In another scene Eddie has a theory about Stuart and refers to several things that Stuart said to support his theory. However, we never saw the original scenes where Stuart made these statements. I suspect they were edited out.
Despite everything I wrote, I am glad I saw the movie. College friendships happen quickly and can be very serious very quickly. They can also be amusing. Each of the main characters was likable and the movie was entertaining.
Sideways (2004)
funny scenes but depressing characters
This movie follows 1 week of two middle age men who vacation together through California wine country before one of the characters is about to get married. The characters are old roommates from college and have very different personalities. This movie attempts to explore the two characters while placing them in funny situations and scenes. Some of the scenes very funny scenes and for that it was worthwhile.
My main difficulty with the movie was that the characters were both immature and depressing and didn't develop during the movie. This movie was all about the characters. Both characters had problems that were easy to relate to (I am about their age). However, both of them dealt with their problems as if they were still college freshman. This made both characters seem emotionally immature. Neither character was very likable.
All that being said, I am glad I saw the movie and it was funny in several scenes.