8 MM
STARS:2 ½
Another dark movie about dark murders. This time the investigation drives our PI (Nicholas Cage) into the disturbing, sexual underworld of snuff videos. The story begins when an old refined Englishman dies and out of his vault comes an actual film reel of a girl being raped and killed. The investigators first priority is to find out who the girl is and if she’s actually missing (she is). Cage does a great job being a human and letting us see that at every step he’s by no means interested in any part of this investigation (and is in fact sickened by some of it) instead of turning into a character like James Cromwell did in The People Vs. Larry Flint who was discovered to have had box, upon box of “research” material in his house. He’s assisted on his search by a cute young guy working in the sex industry until his band takes off. By the end of the movie it’s obvious there are more evils surrounding these events than can be taken care of simply. But Cage does his best to take care of all of the immediate threats. One of the final scenes which is supposed to ultimately bring the point about sexual perversion this movie is trying to make home was effective but not unexpected. When Cage is wrestling around with the man who’s been revealed as the killer in multiple snuff videos his leather mask is ripped off and we see not the face of some monster but a balding, middle-aged man who needs glasses to see. It’s a good, and indeed powerful, statement about what a dark world we live in, but, like I said, not completely unexpected.
10 Things I Hate About You
STARS: 2 ½
Well I’m not sure how close to Taming of the Shrew this movie is like it claims to be, but I have a feeling Shakespeare is probably better. This movie isn’t bad by any means, but it’s not great cinema either. While the characters are rather one deminsional it’s a cute little romp into teen romance. It’s unfortnate that the love interest isn’t really that cute either, he’s not bad but…I can think of more than a few guys I’d rather seen on screen trying to tame the catty Kat’s tounge. (rrrraarrr….that’s my sexy tiger growl). My favorite character is the romance novel writing school counceller, I wish there was more of her and less of Kat’s blond bimbo sister with a heart. From the hate/love relationship at the beginning to the winning the girl back with a musical number at the end this is your typical romantic comedy that makes for a good date and some fun fluff.
12 Angry Men STARS: 1 I just don’t get why this movie is so popular. It’s a long, boring movie that does an okay job of presenting bigotry in an older america, and a piss poor job of showing the logic process that people are supposed to work through when they’re deliberating. There’s just not much I find interesting about this movie. I really don’t know why they just recently remade it and got emmy nominations (I think awards too). Well I guess a good performance is a good performance but this just holds no interest for me. If there’s anyone who disagrees with me, please let me know, I’m willing to reconsider, because there’s got to be something there I missed if this movie keeps having such great success. I guess it’s a good example of debate, but even that I might disagree with since a lot of the arguments are based on feelings, not facts.
STARS:4
As much as I love this movie and most of the other Terry Gilliam movies I've seen you've got to wonder what the hell it is he's smoking. This story features the world of the future in which man has been driven underneath the ground into a surprisingly dirty, sterile environment to escape a virus that is released in the late 1990's, the other location where the story takes place. Not only does the story hold together well considering all of the time travel and paranoia involved throughout but the disjointed soundtrack with the occasional life affirming mellow song (Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World")helps to create an atmosphere of complete and utter hopelessness about the coming years. Probably not a good one to watch alone on a rainy night. Not nessecarily scary (intense though) but you'll end up slitting your wrists. In fact rent this one with Brad Pitt in an incredible Oscar nominated performance and his other dark movie Seven and you'll basically loose all faith in the human spirit. But seeing as how that's Mr. Gilliams goal I find nothing to complain about.
13th Warrior
STARS:2 1/2
At last a movie with Antonio Bandaras where he actually has a really good haircut (well okay, it wasn’t bad in Evita but anyway). This is an normal gorey sword fighting movie with a difference, it actually has a decent script. Don’t get me wrong it’s nothing special but the simple story of a discraced man redeeming himself but you can tell this is a story where some research was done. My favorite scene was where the Vikings (who all had red hair which is accurate I guess, but they all sounded like Scotsmen) are sitting around the fire conversing in their own language and in a montage Bandaras’ character picks it up simply by listening. As an aspiring director I’ve often considered just how to show what different languages should look like in a transition like that and I think this is the best example I’ve seen. It’s fun and probably the most fluff-filled Chriton movie there is. Another one to put on your list for a good pre-gun action flicks when your looking for something to rent.
54
STARS:3
This movie has many things that make it good, but unfortunately many things that keep it from being great. Mike Meyers does an outstanding job playing the club owner who is one of the more sleazy real people to be portrayed on the screen recently. He’s a man who’s decided that his greatest goal in life is to indulge himself in anyway he can, and, figuring (accurately) that’s what everyone else wants establishes a place that was known at the time for being the hot spot to go. And is now being reflected in this movie about falling from grace. Ryan Philippe gives a great performance as a wrong side of the tracks, Saturday Night Fever, type looking for a better life. However instead of finding greatness, he’s exposed to just how low it’s possible for the human spirit to sink. While at the same time finding romance. The greatest testament to what makes this movie less than stellar is the fact that it’s one of the only live action movies not intended for children I’ve seen that’s less than 90 minutes. The stories of a loss of morals, a romance, and a guy wanting more are well interwoven but so simple to show and resolve that the movie seems like a 10 minute story that might come up on 20/20 on a slow news night about the forgotten hey-day of disco. The best review I’ve read said that you could practically see the director shaking his finger at the characters as he pan repeatedly over all kinds of “debauchery” and misbehavior. If you’re in the mood for some eye candy and good music this movie’s worth checking out, but don’t look for too much depth.
101 Dalmations (1964)
STARS: 2 ½
Well it’s not one of Disney’s best but it’s entertaining. In general I have problems with animated movies that don’t have memorable musical numbers (A Bug’s Life is one of the few exceptions) and this is one of those. I try to think of this movie as little as possible, because no matter how much I liked it I always get that damn Cruela De Ville song stuck in my head. I really can’t think of much to say about this. It’s not bad but there’s many better Disney movies, and I can’t compare it to the new one with Glenn Close because I haven’t seen it. So uh…if it’s mid-Sunday afternoon and there’s absolutly nothing to watch on TV and you come across this on TV, you might as well watch it.
2001: A Space Odyssey
STARS:3 1/2
Yes it’s long, and yes it’s confusing, but it’s also brilliant. I know many people wouldn’t agree with me, but there’s also a whole lot who would. To those of you who can’t make head or tail of it I would suggest reading the book, which does a wonderful job of explaining everything that’s supposed to be evident in the movie. As far as I know Kubrick and…oh god what’s his name, well I feel stupid I can’t remember the author’s name but they worked together in writing the book and making the movie at the same time, which is a groundbreaking idea but I’ve noticed that it really hasn’t been repeated. As with all Kubrick films, it’s one that gives you something to think about not only after you’ve watched the whole thing but gives you things to consider throughout the entire story. But if you’re not in the mood to think too much it’s certainly good to watch the incredible cinemtography and special effects (remember it came out nearly 10 years before Star Wars) and listen to a great soundtrack this is a great film too. I know Hitchcock is considered the master of suspense but Kubrick does something with all of his movies that makes them terrifying. Living in a world 30 years after the movie was made (and a year away from when it was supposed to happen) I still get chills when I hear a computer speaking. There’s nothing scarier than a perfectly calm evil mind. The only reason I couldn’t give this a full 4 stars is because the time does seem to drag on at points. The trippy shot when Dave enters the monoloth seems to go on forever and unless you’re really drugged up doesn’t say anything more in the last few minutes of it than it does in the first 30 seconds.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
STARS: 2 ½
This is a really well cast, entertaining swashbuckling adventure. Kirk Douglas, Peter Lorre and whoever that was playing Nemo have become the images ingrained in our society as the undeniable characters in 20,000 Leagues. They all give good performances of men on a journey one to defy the science of a God that has betrayed him, the others being carried along into insanity. I probably should see this again to re-review it, because I know in some circles it’s regarded as a classic. It was a fun ride but nothing that truly moved me or made me think.