If you are unfamiliar with Truman Capote and did not see “Capote”, then this is the one you want to see. Why? Because the first hour paints a much more complete picture of Truman and the New York high society in which he thrived. It is revealing, well cast, and surprisingly funny. Toby Jones may not have quite the acting genius of Philip Seymour Hoffman, but he looks and sounds exactly like Capote. A big five stars for the first hour. Then things get all too serious as we move to Kansas, a horrible murder, and the author’s growing relationship with one of the killers. If you did see “Capote”, then you may not want to revisit these scenes and the new movie does not do them quite as well. Nevertheless, both films present a completely true story and both deserve to be seen by the discriminating audiences they are aimed at.
There are two kinds of people in this world. Those who love Big Trouble In Little China & those who haven’t seen it. Kurt Russell’s character Jack Burton is the exact opposite of what a leading man is suppose to be. He just doesn’t get it. And that is what makes this movie so funny. The leading man is lost without a clue, and the sidekick, Dennis Dunn as Wang Chi, steals every scene. It’s like a fight scene. The person being hit, not the one doing the hitting, is actually selling the scene. In most, okay not most but every other movie, the leading man only looks good because the sidekick does such a good job of selling the scene. In this case, we see the leading man for what he is: an idiot trying to take the credit for the sidekick’s work. What was The Green Hornet w/out Kato? What was Batman w/out Robin? What was The Lone Ranger w/out Tanto? What was Ronald w/out The Ham Burglar? Blah, Blah, Blah….Yeah, Yeah, Yeah….Chinese girl with green eyes, Lords of Death, David Lo Pan, The 3 Storms, The Chang Sings, The Wing Kongs…..sharpen their knives…..whatever!!!! This film is pure gonzo. It laid the framework for “reality porn”. Okay, well, maybe it didn’t. Rent It. Copy It. Buy It. Buy Jack Burton’s tank top online at wingkong dot net. Go to San Francisco’s Chinatown & do battle with Chinese mythological characters. Bring your Six Demon Bag. May The Wings of Liberty, Never Lose A Feather!!!
Ambitiously re-creating the journey from west Sub-Saharan Africa to Spain by three would-be immigrants, “14 Kilometers” is honest in its portrayal of physical and psychological stress and in its refusal to craft a well-rounded plot from real-life horrors. Ultimately, however, pic is a numbing litany of humiliations that only intermittently explores or communicates the tragedy beneath its suspiciously good looks. Presumably for its laudable intentions rather than its patchy execution, pic took the top film prize at Spain’s Valladolid fest in October, and further festival prospects look good in Europe.
11:14 was one of those movies of which I am wary. It had an ensemble cast of very talented actors and was a movie of which I had heard nothing. Typically I shy away from those movies as they are normally terrible. I was very pleasantly surprised by this movie. It opened with at 11:14 PM with Henry Thomas’ character being involved in a very confusing crash. He immediately finds himself in a difficult situation, and from there the movie moves quickly from one character to another. The cool thing about the movie is how the characters are revealed in such away as to make the action of the movie make sense, yet their underlying secrets and relationships are hidden till the very end of the movie. I agree this movie is reminiscent of “Crash” in terms of how it brings diverse characters together in a climatic event. I though 11:14 did it with a bit of dark humor and subtly.
Much overlooked, much misaligned… 10 is a perfect comedy. The movie takes a sweeping look at the age old problem of aging in a thoroughly amusing, often hysterical fashion. It is inarguable that 10 is a testament to Dudley Moores comic skills, Julie Andrews ability to play it straight with a straight face and the fact that Bo Derek is a stunningly beautiful woman. (Not to be overlooked is Julie Andrews body as well… the scene where she is in a tight blue sweater looking at George through the telescope is proof of that) 10 delivers laughs, lines, good acting and a great story that is as accurate a look at life now as it was then.
This movie should be required viewing for all teens who think they are ready for a real relationship. It is probably easier to digest if you actually witnessed any of the 80s, but I the ying and yang of the main characters relationship is protrayed with a timeless truth about the conflict between the desire for closeness and the need for new conquests when you are still young and inexperienced. Jim Belushi is really funny with his sarcastic wit barely able to conseal his growing envy of his best friends relationship. Liz Perkins is his perfect match, too bad that wouldve been too neat of a package. This rental is perfect for a newly dating couple on a stormy day – Im positive itll get ya talking bout that first heartbreaking love and bring you closer.
In 1967 MAD MAGAZINE spoofed this movie and called it IS PARIS BORING? When I remember reading that issue I was not patient enough to sit down and watch a three hour movie about the liberation of Paris. Since I am significantly older, and hopefully wiser than in 1967, I decided to FINALLY watch this famous war story. I was overwhelmed not only with the filming which is extraordinary but the exciting plot of how competing branches of the French Resistance along with Allied forces liberated Paris. Directed by Rene Clement, the filmmaker who made FORBIDDEN GAMES and GERVAISE, and a screenplay by Gore Vidal and Francis Ford Coppula, it is not surprising a cast of outstanding French, American and German actors decided to come on board. Marcel Grignon was the credited cinematographer whose task was great but the final product proved what a creative and excellent cinematographer he was. Clement chose no less than 180 different sites for filming. The last panoramic view of the liberation will literally bring tears to your eyes. Not only are you given a great visual but you are made to feel what the Parisians and the entire country of France must have been feeling at that very moment. The concept that Hitler ordered Gen. Von Cholitiz to burn Paris to the ground knowing the Germans were losing the war reveals what kind of a monster he was. However, in this movie you understand the personal conflict this general had, realizing he did not want to be the one responsible for destroying one of the most beautiful cities on the face of the earth. This is a passionate story much like the story of D Day. The musical score by Maurice Jarre is also worth noting as it is memorable. The only negative in this film is the dubbing. This was a time Americans were too lazy to read subtitles. You can view it in English or French. Do Not Miss this film of how freedom fighters won a great victory which was very strategic for ending WWII. BRAVO!!
Has Anybody Seen My Gal is a rarity because its a Douglas Sirk comedy. But like his high drama soap operas, this comedy has a serious message about regret. A aging millionaire pines for the love of his life he didn’t get when he was poor. In the tradition of Greek theatre, the rich god comes to live with the family in disguise and watches what happens when he gives them a fortune. Of course, disaster ensues. It’s lighthearted and entertaining, but with a dark underbelly.
Wow… how’d this get made? Who said so? This is honestly one of the most amateur professional films I have ever seen. Because I Said So should be an embarassment to the relatively young career of Moore– I don’t even know how to register what it should be to Keaton. The film, in case you hadn’t guessed, is awful. The premise is an overbearing mother tries to meddle in her youngest daughter’s life and get her married off… enter the hilarity. Except this film is the desert of laughs. There are multiple professional reviews that use the word, “cringe” and I can’t disagree. One egregious scene is with Keaton on a computer that gets stuck on an adult site… the mugging and terrible blocking– in addition to the unfunny attempts at yuks– will make you feel almost sorry for Diane. And that’s not even even the worst blocked scene… the terribleness of this film cannot be overstated. Unfunny jokes met with sappy moments and finish with a cliche-ridden ending. Awful. I wouldn’t recommend this film to my worst enemy.
So the plot of this movie is crazy and impractical. If you can suspend disbelief long enough to invest in these characters you will find there is a decent little movie here. The most interesting thind about it is the ‘what if’ scenario – ‘what if you just married a stranger’? Isla Fisher is so charming. While her acting seemed a bit sketchy at times, she is still tons of fun and has great chemistry with Jason Biggs. This movie is funny at times and somewhat endearing throughout – but keep in mind – it is definitely not the best romantic comedy ever made.
If you are unfamiliar with Truman Capote and did not see “Capote”, then this is the one you want to see. Why? Because the first hour paints a much more complete picture of Truman and the New York high society in which he thrived. It is revealing, well cast, and surprisingly funny. Toby Jones may not have quite the acting genius of Philip Seymour Hoffman, but he looks and sounds exactly like Capote. A big five stars for the first hour. Then things get all too serious as we move to Kansas, a horrible murder, and the author’s growing relationship with one of the killers. If you did see “Capote”, then you may not want to revisit these scenes and the new movie does not do them quite as well. Nevertheless, both films present a completely true story and both deserve to be seen by the discriminating audiences they are aimed at.
