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Reviews
The Contender (2000)
Tiresome, overrated
Interesting characters cannot save this contrived, tiresome, over-the-top script. This love letter to liberal politics might appeal to Clinton apologists, but I could barely sit through it. The "surprise" regarding the governor is obvious. In contrast to the critics, I did not find Gary Oldman's performance compelling at all. All that was missing was a long, curly Snidely Whiplash moustache from the prop department. Jeff Bridges is impressive in the early scenes as a no-nonsense President, but the final cornball speech sounds like it is delivered by Sylvester Stallone's Judge Dredd.
Joan Allen is great, as usual, but she is not talented enough to save this stinking pile of propaganda.
Heavy Metal (1981)
Dated, but original American animation
(MINOR SPOILERS)
Like most anthologies, Heavy Metal is wildly uneven. Due to its collaborative roots, the styles and tone between segments vary widely. Much like the film "Tron" from the same period, some of the elaborate cinematography shows its age, particularly the use of filmed models. For example, the long follow shot in "Taana" was innovative in 1981, but compared to the dizzying visuals in contemporary Disneys like "Tarzan", not to mention Japanese animation, it's prehistoric.
The best segment is the first, a near future detective story set in New York. "The Fifth Element" clearly borrows (steals?) liberally from this idea. The later segments grow progressively weaker until the last, a well told Western framed as a fantasy with a female warrior. This last segment is reminisicent of Eastwood's speghetti westerns, right down to the squint.
Heavy Metal is entertaining if taken at face value. It's a sign of the times, the last gasp of the counter culture pop art of the late 60s and 70s.
Hotaru no haka (1988)
Somewhat flawed but interesting
Interesting reversal of conventional civilian war story frequently lapses into melodrama, but is entertaining nonetheless. Heavy handed symbolism is obvious to even the dullest viewer. The plot doesn't really make much sense (why would two children endure this much suffering because of pride?) but the atmosphere is great.
Summer of Sam (1999)
Too long, too boring
Spike Lee has been in a decline since his early successes and this mess does nothing to help. I looked at my watch frequently hoping the movie would end or get to the point. Lee's first movie with an all-white cast is a major disappointment.
What's the point? That Italians swear and like funky sex, but not with their wives? If I wanted to see Scorsese, I'd go to a Scorsese movie. The incredibly lame Godfather character only adds to the stereotype.
I've admired several of Lee's films, especially "Do the Right Thing". This movie is a waste of time.
Very Bad Things (1998)
Very Bad.
What a mess this is. Not funny enough to be a black comedy, and too ridiculous to be a drama. I found myself fast forwarding through the *many* dull scenes. Slater hit the same note, with better results, in "Heathers", a much, much better film.
What a pathetic waste of celluloid. My vote is 2 out of 10, with a mildly funny climax the only saving grace from a 1.
Chasing Amy (1997)
Enjoyable
I enjoyed this film very much. Both main characters and two supporting characters are believable and well-written. Others have commented it is very talky, and rightly so - the last speech by Holden is at least two minutes too long. There are more hits than misses though and the dialogue-laden script works, especially with the genuine chemistry between Holden and Alyssa. The remarkably nontraditional ending is quite a surprise.
Look for a cameo by Matt Damon.
Waiting for Guffman (1996)
Cute but unsatisfying
Imagine any episode of "Andy Griffith" where the town puts on a show and Barney Fife tries to horn in despite lack of talent. Now, imagine *everybody* is like Barney Fife.
Similar in style and tone to the superior "Spinal Tap". The cast of SCTV and SNL alums hits just the right note in exploring small-town pretension. Unfortunately, the characters are so unappealing that it's hard to enjoy. The three or four laugh-out-loud moments punctuate long stretches of tedium. The best jokes come over the end credits.
Bulworth (1998)
Overrated
I really wanted to like Bulworth. Honest. Unfortunately, the political satire can only be taken so far. At some point I needed to relate to the characters, and I couldn't. The initial rant at the church was a step in the right direction, but the rest of the film is a series of narrative miscues and logical blunders.
Not once in the film did I care if Bulworth lived or died. Halle Berry fills the Daryl Hannah role, the beautiful but boring young woman with more screen time than she deserves. Am I really supposed to buy her "transformation"? She was so much better in "Losing Isiah".
Since there's so little story here, the satire alone has to carry the movie. But what's the point? That our political system is corrupt, that blacks are disenfranchised, that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer? Does Warren Beatty think there's anybody on the planet that doesn't know that already?
I can't understand why this dull film is so highly recommended other than the reputation of the filmmaker and his alleged high-powered political satire.
Omega Doom (1996)
Stunningly bad
Not even Rutger Hauer can save this mess. Shannon Whirry, queen of late-night cable movies, gets little screen time. The movie is 77 minutes and feels padded at that length. A truly rotten movie.