m-goer Reviews

Fargo (1996)

What?

[6/10 · 7 May 1999]

"Fargo" is interesting, well photographed, and well acted. Siskel & Ebert loved it. It was awarded two Oscars. And I didn't much admire it. I found it highly overrated- resulting in devastation! I had expected the thrill of my life- and was depressed that the film was nothing more than... what it was. Not to say the movie was bad, but my disappointment overshadows what greatness it does have. The accents are hilarious, Roger Deakins does an amazing job with the cinematography, and McDormand and Macy are highly amusing. A Let Down

Rating: 2 1/2 out of 3 and 8 out of 10 and 80 out of 100

Dead Man Walking (1995)

In a word- excellent!

[8/10 · 11 April 1999]

I have never been so moved by a film since "Schindler's List"! Tim Robbins is an amazing director and the performances are of sheer brilliance-Susan Saranadon, Oscar winner for this role, plays Helen Prejean, a nun who leads Sean Penn to redemption. Sean Penn gives the best performance by an actor of 1995. I love this film with a passion! My #2 favorite film of 1990's , Schindler's List being #1.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Greatest film of all time?

[8/10 · 11 April 1999]

No, this is NOT the greatest film of all time. I don't think you could pinpoint one single film as that but "The Shawshank Redemption" is one of the most powerful and moving experiences of the 1990's (other masterpieces include "Schindler's List", "Dead Man Walking", "The Piano", "Glengarry Glen Ross", etc.) "The Shawshank Redemption" is the harrowing story of a man wrongly convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. He is sent to prison to serve two life sentences. There he meets Red, who becomes his best friend. The film speaks loudly about hope and its unending importance in life and that is a lesson we too often forget. This film is a marvelous reminder, with remarkable performances by Tim Robbins and Oscar-nominated Morgan Freeman. It is beautifully written and expertly directed and a fine film in several aspects.

Regardless of whether it IS the greatest film of all time, the greatest film of the decade, or the greatest film of 1994, it is not to be missed for it holds wisdom and is great fun.

Hilary and Jackie (1998)

One of the best films of 1998

[7 April 1999]

The relationship between musical powerhouse Jaqueline DuPre and her sister Hilary is dangerous at times, nearly telepathic. The sisters are brought to life by Emily Watson in a passionate performance and Rachel Griffiths who is the "human center" of the film. "Hilary and Jackie" is unflinching in its ways of letting us get to know the two women.

The frightening aspect is that all this is real. The screenplay written by Frank Cottrell Boyce is well-structured and based on Hilary and Piers du Pre's memoir.

The performances are riveting. Emily Watson got the most attention with her orgasmic cello-playing and emotional devastation, but I think Rachel Griffiths gives the most beautiful supporting performance I have seen for a long time.

What's Love Got to Do with It (1993)

Acting, writing, directing, and musical showcase

[7 April 1999]

"What's Love Got to Do With It" is a fascinating and absorbing portrayal of the first 43 years of Tina Turner's life. It accurately and convincingly depicts the abuse she underwent and her escape and, finally, salvation through Buddhism. Laurence Fishburne is one of this generation great actors and gives a riveting and observant performance as Ike Turner, but cannot come close to the overwhelming, breathtaking, and mighty presence of Angela Bassett as Tina. She deservedly won the Golden Globe as the Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical of 1993 and if the film had come out any other year than 1993 (during which Holly Hunter gave a performance of a lifetime in "The Piano"), she would have easily taken home an Oscar.

Music plays a huge part in the film and all of it is good. Though I'm only 12, I truly appreciate Tina's music and am always in awe when she sings "Proud Mary" (one of my favorite scenes in the film.) As Roger Ebert pointed out, one of the most triumphant scenes is where, after Tina and Ike have had a vicious and bloody fight, Tina runs away to the Ramada Inn where they take her in. It is one of the best acted scenes of this decade and I never tire of it when I see the film again.

"What's Love Got to Do With It" is one of the best films of 1993 (one of the greatest movie years in history- "Schindler's List", "The Piano") and one the most passionately and skillfully performed films of the decade.

**** out of **** (A)

Cries & Whispers (1972)

Bergman's classic is one of the ultimate foreign experiences!

[7 April 1999]

"Persona" is the greatest Ingmar Bergman film, I believe, but the amazing director has also created the dying marriage and eternal bond of "Scenes from a Marriage", the religion-questioning "The Seventh Seal", the ultimate mother-daughter film "Autumn Sonata", the reminiscense of "Wild Strawberries", and finally the masterful "Cries and Whispers". "Cries and Whispers" is one of the scariest films ever made. It is not horror, but its characters are cold and insipid as the story studies death, love, sex, and self-destruction.

The film stars Harriet Anderson as one of three sisters and the most earthly of all. Liv Ullman is the flirtacious sister and Ingrid Thulin, the emotionally-closed one. Inga Gill plays the maid who nurses Anderson while the other two sisters float around in their pathetic worlds.

The movie is great because it is so human. It is audacious and explorative and one of Ingmar Bergman's greatest works of art.

Oh, did I mention that Sven Nykvist is the god of cinematography (the title also belongs to Vittorio Storaro.)

**** out of ****

Persona (1966)

One of the greatest films of all time!

[10/10 · 7 April 1999]

"Persona" is a highly metaphorical film. It is THE most complex film I have ever seen but probably the most meaningful.

Siskel & Ebert (1986–2010)

The world has lost a great critic!

[21 February 1999]

Gene Siskel's death is the death of a major movie advertising tradition. What will happen to the thumbs? I love the show and think the two guys are so intelligent and I hear another guy will take Siskel's place. It won't be the same.

Serial Mom (1994)

Overwhelmingly strange but uproariously funny!

[15 February 1999]

This was my first John Waters movie, but after having seen POLYESTER, what i say is one of the MOST useless films in history that i've seen, I think SERIAL MOM is not as gross as i had first perceived it. Kathleen Turner is a great actress and i love her as the sweet mother-next-door who goes mad at every little annoyance. The film is full of foul perversions but is so laugh-your-*ss-off funny that i can't help being glued to the screen every time it comes on on TV. From what Mr. Waters exudes in his films, i find him a very twisted man.

Beloved (1998)

Amazing!

[11 November 1998]

READ THE BOOK, PEOPLE, READ THE BOOK! The book helped me understand the film and the film helped me understand the book. This is an amazing piece of work. Winfrey gives a moving and observant performance and Thandie Newton is startling. Some scenes are intense, making you think whether you would kill your child. I didn't notice any gliches and I think the film screams for Oscars. I think this whole slave movie thing going on is getting boring but when they are made with such power and great directing and acting, I praise God for it! Demme gives us one of the most touching ghost stories and certainly the strangest, in a while.