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THE HI-LO COUNTRY
Produced by Martin Scorsese, this film fell short of my high expectations. Despite having a stellar cast and qualities of a fine picture,
the plot is just too plain and slow for liking. This tale of a man, Pete (Billy Crudup), struggling with his love for Mona (Patricia Arquette),
girlfriend of his best friend (Woody Harrelson) remains dull and dry towards the end of the film. Taking forever to unrevel its thin plot, The Hi-Lo Country is far less engaging or dramatic
than Legends Of The Fall. The magnificent shots of dawn and sunsets provides a great visual imagery and backdrop for the pains of Pete Calder.
Unfortunately, the classic cinematography fails to save this movie which lacks the drama and conflict needed to engage an audience. Fans of Scorsese
will undoubtedly be disappointed.
With an impressive cast including Oscar and Golden Globe winners, Pushing Tin has a highly disappointing take-off.
30 minutes into the movie and one still ponders about the genre of the film. Set in an air traffic control room most of the time, one expects
a Die Hard 2 action thriller only to find couples squabbling and flirting for the next 30 minutes. Nick Falzone (John Cusack of Con-air)
is a contented husband of Connie (Cate Blanchett of Elizabeth) and father of 2 who has a one-night-stand with the 19 year-old
wife (Angelina Jolie of Hackers) of his anti-social colleague Russell Bell (Billy Bob Thornton of Armageddon). Nick grows paranoid when the truth is out and Russell appears forgiving towards the affair.
The movie takes us on a ride of questioning and suspecting the mystical Russell. A film about morality and fogiveness, this multi-talented cast is saved with a progressively interesting plot and a good ending.
Lots of talk and more talk, this drama piece directed by the man behind the hit Four Weddings and A Funeral seems lost at first but finds its way towards the end.
With an obvious explaination behind its lukewarm box-office receipt, Pushing Tin could have been better, far better.
Set during the hippy woodstock summer of '69, this beautiful film brings us a tale of an American family coping with the times with their own battles.
Pearl (Diane Lane), a young mother with a great family, finds herself wanting more out of life and seeking gratification from a sensual travelling salesman (Viggo Mortensen of A Perfect Murder).
The tragedy strikes the family when her loving and faithful husband (Liev Schreiber of Scream 2) confronts her and tears the family apart.
This dramatic film also stars Anna Paquin (Oscar winner of The Piano) as the adolescent daughter coping with puberty and parential trouble who nailed the role and stole the limelight.
Her incredible work in this family drama as the defiant but vunerable teenager is reminiscent of Claire Danes' budding performance in To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday.
The tone and pace of this film is perfect with a surprisingly minimal usage of a musical soundtrack. A fine conclusion to A Walk On The Moon secures a commendable rating for this underrated film.
Keri Russell plays against type as she flirts, bitches and schemes in Dead Man's Curve, a movie about conspiratory
roommates planning to murder their other roommate and make it seem like a suicide. The purpose: automatic offers of 4 As grade-point-average from the
school's adminstration for the victim's roommates to allow them to cope with the trauma. This twisted black comedy stars Matthew Lillard (the culprit in
Scream and dud in She's All That) and Michael Vartan (Never Been Kissed) as the roommates desparate for good grades and loaded with a crazy idea. When the deed is done,
things get sticky when Tim (Lillard) starts pushing the blame onto Chris, gets chummy with the investigating officers and seduces his girlfriend. Lillard scores again with his typical onscreen persona,
a charismatic psycho with the zest of a cult leader.
The 90 minute long high school piece is engaging and at times fun despite the obvious loopholes and incongruencies. To be taken with a pinch of salt in the name
of teen-fun, Dead can be a party although the only true treat of the movie is watching Keri lose her quirky Felicity persona.
Fans of hers and the usual teen flicks may just enjoy this.
Barry Sonnenfeld and Will Smith attempts to prolong their 4th of July lucky streak with a sci-fi western flick stuffed with visual F/X and elaborate period sets. It is surprising to find critically acclaimed 'serious' actor Kenneth Branagh of Hamlet as the half-bodied villain but shocking to learn the US$100 million plus domestic gross this weak action-adventure flick drew. Although far from the speculated box-office take, this dreary and disengaging high-tech display western style is a lot of sparks and little else. There is the heroic hero, villainous villain and the bimbotic bimbo, nothing new and nothing special. Maybe except for the ever-hilarious Kevin Kline (A Fish Called Wanda and A Midsummer Night's Dream) who prevents the audience's eyes from shutting with his comic timing and gadgetry tricks. If you are expecting a MIB or an ID4, you should find WWW disappointing. For fans of neither, the latter is a natural stay-away. Afraid you may miss the scary 800-ft spider-zoid in the thriller? Just think Godzilla but with a giant tarantula instead of a lizard.
Julia Stiles is the girl to watch out for. Not your Alicia Silverstone pretty or Natalie Portman preppy, Stiles is more Kirsten Dunst's intensity blended with beauty Cate Blanchett style. A soft core underneath the tough front, her character is alluring with most of the credit going to this talented 18 year-old. She will play Ophelia in the Hamlet starring Ethan Hawke (Gattaca) and Bill Murray (Rushmore). The unhunk but sweet boy who wins the girl is Cameron, played by 3rd Rock From The Sun alien Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The guy who stole his show is Heath Ledger, the quiet and faithful dude who gets away with sincere apologies that will melt the coldest hearts. Catch his rendition of Can't Take My Eyes Of You at the stadium.
A sweet movie with more depth than a usual teen flick and some 'real' moments all too common for teenagers these days. An otherwise boring and predictable popcorn movie, Julia Stiles is the only reason to catch it for. 10 Things I Hate About You is a better casted She's All That with more meaning, but still not as entertaining as Can't Hardly Wait. Decide for yourself.
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