seef Reviews

Enemy of the State (1998)

Unoriginal, predictable, and ultimately boring.

[30 December 1998]

Will Smith, although I admit, can act, is under-utilised in this glossy but wafer-thin technological action thriller. It starts off exciting but ultimately degenerates into cat-and-mouse caper routines. Almost every other line for Hackman had a 4 lettered word. Underwritten script or what and an insult to the audience's intelligence. He also looked like a Harvey Keitel "Assassin" rip-off.

The sight of Will Smith running off down a street in his underpants and a dressing gown was laughable.

Gene Hackman and Jon Voight, what are you doing?! This has to be just money in the bank for you guys!

Playing God (1997)

94 minutes of slick surreal entertainment

[12 December 1998]

Don't analyse the plot if you can help it. Boring, it is not.

It's unusual to find a movie that seeks to entertain within a self-imposed time constraint and this one has a few memorable one-liners to take away. That, alone, makes this worth seeing.

In case you're wondering, I'm not a Duchovny 'fan'. A Timothy Hutton fan...? Well, it was a show-stealing performance...

Blade (1998)

Below average movie, rent it if at all...

[18 November 1998]

If you liked "From Dawn 'till Dusk", then you'll probably like this movie. I liked "Interview with the Vampire". And I also liked "Passenger 57".

I like Wesley Snipes too, but I thought this sucked.

The Spanish Prisoner (1997)

Entertainingly, it celebrates paranoia.

[25 October 1998]

The Spanish Prisoner is an absorbing picture, that explores and celebrates paranoia. And it does so entertainingly.

While it is not flawless (does it need to be?), it employs a theatrical, play-like feel that manages to enhance, rather than detract from, the character of the film.

Cast-wise, I felt Rebecca Pigeon was excellent. I can't think of an actress who could upstage her portrayal. Steve Martin is not only a talented comic. He's a gifted actor. Great work, Mamet!