Flints Reviews

The Virgin Suicides (1999)

Kathleen Turner and James Woods only reason to see this one

[3/10 · 28 December 2000]

Turner and Woods hand in excellent performances as mom (repressed catholic) and dad (teacher and possible molester). The girls are all beautiful and young and lusted after by the neighborhood boys.

I watched this movie waiting for some meaning much as the neighborhood boys waited for their turn with one of the sisters - nothing happens except for Lux (older sister) who manages to have sex fully dressed with numerous men on the roof of her house. Quirky? - you bet. Waste of time - yes, unless you are a Woods or Turner fan.

End of Days (1999)

A masterpiece...

[3/10 · 8 June 2000]

... of unequaled parity. Arnie's performance is Brando-esque, I just can't wait for the next academy awards and I know he'll walk off with the statue.

In-between the brief naps I was able to enjoy while watching this superb, moving, cinematic tour-de-force, I was most touched by the amazing pyrotechnics that were a dominant force throughout the picture. Fire everywhere, all the time - fire, flames of burning people, subways and stray animals. This film is no place for marshmellows and Mr. Schwarzenegger proves that in every single scene whether he is taking on the devil himself (Gabriel Byrne)or slapping about the complacent Rod Stieger playing Father Kovak. I imagine that Steiger was so impressed with Arnie's incredible skills that he was speechless in his presence both on and off screen.

Is it not enough that we have endured Schwarzenegger films for what seems like the past 50 years - when will this guy lose the Austrian accent? He mumbles through the entire film and always seems lost in front of a camera.

However, Gabriel Byrne as The Man (the devil) is very, very good and is the only reason to rent this bomb.

The End of the Affair (1999)

good raunchy sex

[4/10 · 26 May 2000]

Never expected such great sex scenes from a movie about WW2war-time England. This is a good film. Liked and cared for all the characters and all the plot twists.

However, 4/10 because halfway through the film all became predictable, none-the-less; excellent acting and brilliant ending with the detective's son. But, that's it.

Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Don't lose your head over this one

[3/10 · 26 May 2000]

I must admit that I lost count of all the heads falling off people and fell asleep from time to time.

This movie is boring but has some redeeming features. It is a comedy to say the least. Johnny Depp does good as does Ms. Ricci and other cast members.

I must read the book.

Eye of the Beholder (1999)

so bad - a must see

[3/10 · 26 May 2000]

This film is so bad that you must see it just to see how bad it is. Make sense??

It is not Ms. Judd's finest moment to say the least. However, interesting locations and all that computer gadgetry make the time go by quickly. k.d. Liang provides an interesting performance as she has the only worthwhile dialogue.

American Beauty (1999)

what a letdown..

[4/10 · 11 May 2000]

After all of the awards and hype the only thing I found appealing about American Beauty is the screenplay by Alan Ball. I think this film is highly over-rated and other films more deserving of the Best Picture Oscar (perhaps Fight Club).

Yes, yes, Annette Benning was excellent, in fact the whole cast was superb. But, this is no cinematic masterpiece. The story of the dead, strange, suburban husband telling the story of his late/recent life is humorous and has some intriguing moments. I enjoyed many of the scenes but it seemed the film lurched from good to bad in moments and lacked the continuity that it was pretending to enjoy.

Spacy getting an Oscar for this performance is unacceptable. He was good, he always seems to outshine the material, but please (again) this performance is highly overrated.

Maybe I need to watch it again to fully understand the reason/reasons the film was so highly touted.

Bringing Out the Dead (1999)

Nicholas Cage good

[3/10 · 11 May 2000]

This is Nicholas Cage all the time - I don't think he misses a single scene and every scene is worth it. I have not been a big fan of Cage, but this movie is good for him.

The whole gritty NYC underbelly life in this film is depressing and wholly realistic, I think. But, the film just does not connect and I really did not care for the characters or the story line. Again, this is a showcase for Cage and Cage only and he is good. 3/10 because of Cage's acting, otherwise it is a waste of good time.

Being John Malkovich (1999)

Becoming nonsense

[2/10 · 11 May 2000]

Okay, I get it. ? I don't get it.

This film is not a total waste of time. It has some interesting scenes and some good performances, BUT - I think that John Malkovich needs help. This man is not an actor, he reminds me of that other crazy, Andy Kauffman. I can't imagine the writer/writers of this film did not have assistance from the very beginning from Mr. Malkovich and that is frightening. I would rather have my children watch the tapes of the Columbine High School shootings than watch this trash.

However, Orson Bean was superb!!

Music of the Heart (1999)

Only for Meryl Streep...

[4/10 · 1 May 2000]

... is this film worth anything. Ms Streep's understated performance, of course, is brilliant. The rest of the film is a waste of time. The story of a suburban, ex-navy wife putting together a violin chorus because she "needs a job" is hard to believe. I know, I know, this is based on a true story but it rambles on like predictable, made-for-tv schlock. Certainly the real story has to be more compelling than this film.

The only reason to see this movie is, of course, Meryl Streep!

Fight Club (1999)

Laugh Fest...

[7/10 · 26 April 2000]

Fight Club is a laugh fest from beginning to end. Brad Pitt is very engaging as the fight club 'director'. I was very pleased with the entire film. While a great deal of violence is in this picture, it is in a perspective that makes it cartoonish.

Congrats to all involved in this film. The story, the screenplay, the acting, everything is well-tuned for good entertainment. And, great fun!

The Sixth Sense (1999)

Best Story of the Year

[8/10 · 2 April 2000]

I suppose we should have figured it all out, those of us who view at least two or three films a week - but?

The story is the best I've seen in years. I can't exactly call it refreshing, but in a sense it is different.

I especially enjoyed the perfomances and the film's pacing is excellent. I am not fond of Bruce Willis but he does a good job here.

I highly recommend this picture to everyone.

The Bone Collector (1999)

Engrossing...

[5/10 · 16 March 2000]

is the one word to describe this flick with Denzel Washington (who turns in a mighty good performance) and Angelina Jolie (another fine performance). I liked the film because it had such a heavy NYC backdrop (although I see that part of it was filmed in Montreal?).

The story is solid, the acting exellent. Rent this video!

Random Hearts (1999)

What a bunch of schlock...

[4/10 · 1 March 2000]

I really like Harrison Ford so I eagerly rented this movie only to be disappointed minute after minute. Mr. Ford seemed to be walking through very warm water looking for a place to urinate. His co-star was very good and had the better lines. The story intrigued me but the mistake - BIG MISTAKE - as everyone is identified via driver's license or passport before they board any american commercial aircraft left numerous plot questions in my mind.

I could have cared less about these people. In fact, the sub-plot of the Internal Affairs investigation was more interesting than the two lovers killed while flying first class to Miami.

I am disappointed in the director, Sydney Pollack who gave us the classic Tootsie and other films. This one is a waste of time and energy.

Central Station (1998)

Excellent!!!

[7/10 · 20 July 1999]

Plays out like a good mystery novel although it is not. The young man (Vincus de Oliveria) who plays the orphan is very good considering that this is his first film. Fernanda Montenegro is brilliant as the aging, bitter letter writer.

I did not find the film sentimental at all and I highly recommend it. Just watching the two main characters at work is a joy.

Gods and Monsters (1998)

Clean and compact.

[5/10 · 9 June 1999]

I rated this film a "5". The screenplay and the performances were excellent. Lynn Redgrave especially good. The entire presentation was very clean and to the point. However, it is not a film for a cold winter's night.

Trainspotting (1996)

crib death only bright spot

[3/10 · 5 June 1999]

Whew...what a waste of time. This film is highly overrated and unworthy of anyone's time and money.

I gave it a "two" out of ten only because the crib death scene was provoking. I realize that the director and writer were attempting to portrait a particular underbelly of the drug culture in Scotland - but for pete's sake, I couldn't understand the english - it needed subtitles throughout.

I never found a moment that was whimsical, in fact I had to rewind a couple of times after falling asleep. Perhaps it would have been better if I'd seen it on the big screen?

First Love, Last Rites (1997)

...or how to keep house

[3/10 · 30 May 1999]

I was most intrigued by the set decorations - or lack of them in this peculiar photoplay. Our seemingly lonely two stars live in a bayou house on stilts and never clean they only well, you know, have lots of sex.

I rented this movie and shut it off after the first twenty minutes only to return to find out if they ever cleaned up. I can't tell you the ending that would spoil all the fun. I suppose if you can make it through the first reel you are hooked.

I think that Natasha Wagner has quite a career ahead of her and I look forward to more, but, this is one of the bombs, sorry.

Another Day in Paradise (1998)

interesting Melanie and more...

[6/10 · 30 May 1999]

I enjoyed this film although it is quite graphic and somewhat disjointed. The violence (and a lot of it) is believable and the situations realistic.

Mr. Woods turns in a rather passive, understated performance (yes, I was shocked but if you consider what Woods as played in the past). Melanie Griffith is excellent as his girlfriend. Natasha Wagner is also good as the lost teenager in the middle. Vincent Kartheiser as the wanna-be gangster is the shinning star in this film and I will look forward to future work.

Simon Birch (1998)

Great family-type movie...

[8/10 · 27 May 1999]

I gave this film a very high rating of "8". Although at times it is overly sentimental it is a wonderful peek at the lives of two youngsters coming-of-age.

The entire cast is good. The concept based on the John Irving novel is of course, novel.

Gloria (1999)

It's one step up from awful..

[2/10 · 27 May 1999]

I rated this film a "2" because Sharon Stone wants soooo bad to give a "great", "oscar-winning" type performance.

So many gaffes in this production and I am surprised what with Sidney Lumet's track record that he allowed it.

See the first "gloria" with Gena Rowlands - it is much, much better. However, if you like Sharon Stone, she is okay in this movie.

In Dreams (1999)

Nightmares never end...

[2/10 · 20 May 1999]

The ONLY reason to waste your time watching "In Dreams" is Annette Bening. She plays the distraught, grieving mother of a young girl who is found dead in a town under water. Interesting concept for sure. This film is over-produced and over-written and of course, totally predictable. Only Ms. Benning manages to save the production from total collapse with her skilled performance as the hysterical mom suddenly getting messages in her head and on her pc. Adrian Quinn appears to have wandered on the set to play her husband and is not believable at all. Robert Downey, Jr., attempts to meet the challenge of playing a deranged killer but I think somehow his best scenes are on the cutting room floor. Oh well...

Holy Man (1998)

Unholy waste of time...

[3/10 · 20 May 1999]

Edie Murphy decides to go nice and it is mildly amusing for the first three or four minutes. Homeless, friendless "G" hooks up with a tv shopping network producer played by Jeff Goldbaum and suddenly sales skyrocket. Predictable script but no middle; only a beginning and an end. SO WHAT?? Goldbaum has all the good lines and plays them to the hilt. In fact, Murphy's "G" is truly only a supporting role. However, it is still a waste of time.

Friends (1971)

Sweet, sentimental and calming.

[4/10 · 18 May 1999]

If this movie were in production today it would probably have the christian right-wingers screaming 'child porn'. It is far from a great film, in fact it is rather pedestrian. However, if you have an imagination and a fond remembrance of youth and first love I recommend it.