Michiel Waaijer Reviews

Mystic River (2003)

Great movie, Eastwood deserves credit!

[26 October 2003]

After movies such as Space Cowboys, Blood Work and True Crime, Eastwood manages to direct an absolute masterpiece in the form of Mystic River.

Whereas the recent movies directed by Eastwood were pretty good, but not much more than that, Mistic River is a relief from the horrible movies that are comming to the movietheaters recently.

The lead actors were all extremely great, whith a definite oscar notch this time for Tim Robbins who plays the man who had the most troublesome youth of the lead actors.

This is also essential for the storyline, which is fairly simple really. Its a solve-the-murder case, which is Clint Eastwoods work of expertise. But the three dimensional characters makes it so worth-wile. Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon and Laurence 'Morpeus' Fishburne all contribute to a most beleivable storyline, and thus an fantastic movie.

This is a must-see movie, and one of the best movies of 2003.

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

Reloaded in every way

[10/10 · 16 May 2003]

The expectations for the sequel of The Matrix were scorching high. Let me put that in front of everything. I have read some other comments on the movie by other people and they all seem a little dissapointed because they compare the film to the first one. I believe they're all wrong. The Matrix 1 was a fantastic film in it's own way. The basic storyline invlolved little more then the transformation of Neo from computer hacker to the possible saviour of mankind. Reloaded HOWEVER is in all ways very different. It's almost impossible to compare Reloaded to Matrix 1. Reloaded works on so much more levels than the original, the relationship of neo and trinity becomes more apparent, the architect (which is a brilliant scene) explains the earlier versions of the matrix and more and the most important aspect: Zion. The main reason that Morpheus fights as passionately as he does.

For me the idea of the matrix fascinated me ever since 1999 and now, after seeing Reloaded, i am once again in complete and utter awe of the wachowski brothers. These guys are brilliant and deliver what is expected of them. Reloaded has it all, the BEST action in a movie ever combined with one of the most ingenious and creative storylines in history.

The Four Feathers (2002)

Moron!

[2 September 2002]

Four Feathers is the 3rd adaption to the big screen of the popular book from 1901 by A.E.W. Mason. The story sets in 1875 during the heyday of imperialism when country's in europe were trying to occupy and divide Africa among themselves. When an english army is destroyed in de Sudan, Another regiment of english soldiers try to find out what happened and go to war. Harry Feversham (Heath Ledger) is one of the "lucky" ones to go there, only one day before the shipment he chickens out. At least that's what his friends and fiancee (Kate Hudson) think. Truth is, he never wanted this. He tried to live up to his father's expectations and became a soldier. But when he is called to war, he realizes that this is not his cup of tea. He receives 4 feathers from 3 of his friends in his regiment symbolic to his cowardness. Harry now sees himself as a coward, and wants to clear his head. So Harry goes to the Sudan himself to aid the english in anyway he can, and return the feathers to his friends. He gets help in his quest from Abou (Fantastic role AGAIN from Djimon Honsou)

The motivations in the movie are beyond belief. Sorry for saying this, but personaly i think that harry is a bloody moron for going to Sudan on his own. Then there is Abou who suddenly helps Harry with almost everything whilst he's there strugling to keep alive. And in the final scene something so incredibly foolish happens, that - for me - Harry is just not a believable character anymore.

Good performances by Ledger, Bently and for sure from Honsou. And sure the way the stuck up and naive british army go they're way is truly a feast to watch, but mainly the script is too flawed. Otherwise, in my opinion, this could really be a contender for the oscars *** out of *****

Blue Streak (1999)

Hilarious script, Brilliant actor, extremely funny movie!

[18 July 2001]

Martin Lawrence is getting better everytime i see him appear in another movie. In the sitcom "Martin" he is annoying like hell, but within the past few years he bettered himself especially in Bad Boys, and now in Blue Streak.

Lawrence plays a thief who steals a extremely expensive diamond, only to find out that his buddies are killing eachother and that the cops are on his back. He hides the diamond in the airshaft of a neighbouring building and turns himself in. After two years he gets off and does what every human being would have done. Go for the diamond. Pay-day has arrived! Only to realise that were once was a deserted building there's now a police building. Lawrence tries different things to get in, but finally he decides to steal a security card and dress up like a cop, and just steal the diamond real subtle. But when he knocks down an escaping thief in the building there's no turning back. Everybody see's him as the new cop. The new detective. The big shot, he even gets promoted to lead detective.

Now picture this riduculous situation and Martin Lawrence together. What you get are very hilarious scene's.

The story gets a little bit shallow at the end. The complete diamond-angle has gone to the background a bit too much. Now the undertone for the choices Lawrence's character has to make are in the foreground. Good or Bad? Cop or Thief. But still it remains a awesome idea, worked out into a pretty decent film with a lot of hilarious scenes.

Memento (2000)

Original, surprising and simply amazing.

[10/10 · 12 March 2001]

Memento is an awesome movie.

It's hard to say almost anything about memento without giving away so much of the storyline. So i'll keep it as brief as i can (I've got enormous respect for this movie, and i just saw it so i want to talk about it!!) but I'll tell you this. Every self-respecting fan of films has to see Memento. It's just of of those movies you have to see. To name a few of recent memory: The Usual suspects, Magnolia, The Sixth Sense and Go. All films that are very original and fresh in their own way and Memento is very deserved a part of that list.

Why Memento is such a fresh movie, and so original in its ways is that the entire storyline is told backwards. So the movie starts with the ending, and end with the beginning (were all the answers are given). I will not give away anything about the plot or anything but i can say that it has an awesome "what was that again", "excuse me" and "i don't believe this" ending. You'll be left godsmacked in the theater about what just happened.

Go see Memento if you really like cinema and generally if you like to experience new things. Because that's what Memento is, an experience in itself.

Costa! (2001)

Quality descends to below zero

[1/10 · 9 March 2001]

Ok let's start with saying that when a dutch movie is bad, it's REALLY BAD. Rarely something with a little bit of quality comes along(Lek, Karakter) here in holland but not often. Costa! is about 4 girls going to Spain to go on vacation, party, get drunk, get laid (u know the drill). It's also about the world of Clubbers or Proppers. Pro's who're trying to lure the crowd into their club.

I'm not sure how long it took to write the script, but i suspect somewhere between 15 minutes and 20 minutes because you're watching a bunch of random scenes for 90 minutes long. Nothing, and i mean nothing is believable in this movie. It's almost too riduculous for words what happens with the storyline. Suddenly the movie transforms into a sort of karate action thing. With a one-on-one fight with 'the bad guy in black' and cliche car chase scenes trough a watertank-car (can it be more cheesy). Also the words character-development and casting are unfamiliar to the makers.

After having seen "Traffic" 3 days before this, i fell from sheer brilliance, from a piece of art to this. This is film-making at it's saddest. And don't start about low budget. Because even with a low budget you could write a better script. It almost seems that the film-makers were too busy partying themselves to make a decent movie.

Anyway the chicks in the water at the end made it up a little bit, but for the rest of it, don't waste your money on such garbage.

Traffic (2000)

Great film-making, acted out brilliantly.

[6 March 2001]

Traffic is a fantastic movie. Let's start with saying that.

I just got back from seeing it, and it certainly rates as one of the best story-based drama's I've ever seen. Being a big fan of movies with different storylines overlapping (as Magnolia) I was highly anticipating this movie. And of course the big oscar nominations and the prizes it already won made it even more desirable.

It didn't let me down one bit. The different story's were all excellent. Being that the mexican one was in my opinion the best one. Especially Benicio Del Toro (remember him in Fear and Loathing in Las vegas, the BEST drugs movie ever) being absolutely brilliant. But also the storyline involving Michael Douglas with his problems dealing with a daughter on drugs (well acted out by newcomer Erika Christensen) is remarkable. The topic drugs is clearly highly talked about especially in the United States, and this is actually the first movie which shows all aspects of it. The dealing and smuggling, the addiction, the risks of being a narcotics agent and the political point of view. It's hard to find a film that's so complete, everyone will feel connected to one of the storylines because everyone deals with or has dealt with drugs before, even if it's just a one time mariuhana use. That's why this movie will appeal to a very large crowd.

Anyway when you look at the flaws then maybe some will say that it takes too long, or that some of the scenes are a bit slow. But does everything go fastpaced in real life? It just tries to sketch a realistic view of handling with drugs. And maybe there isn't a lot of action going on, but that's not the goal of the movie.

The only thing I found when watching the movie was that the switching between movielines happened a little too often. I'd preferred if it stayed with one story a little longer. Just a tiny flaw that I personally noted.

Traffic is a film that has to sink in, when you start to think about it it just gets better and better. I can't wait for the official release here in Holland, so that I can see it again.

Oscar for Del Toro in any case !!!!!! And throw in an oscar for best film too. It deserves it.

Dancer in the Dark (2000)

Inspiring, mindblowing, BRILLIANT

[27 December 2000]

Dancer in the Dark is one of my favourite movies ever. From the very beginning, a beautiful braveheart-type musical piece set on the still black screen waiting for the movie to start, to the heart-stopping, most tragic, moving ending. Bjork plays a foreign girl who comes to America to make a surgery for her sons eye-sight possible. She herself has this disease to, but only in a more advanced stage. She is already going blind faster and faster. And she doesn't want her son to be waiting the same fate. That's why she saves her money up by working at a plant and just scraping money together to finance the operation of her son. The story follows Selma (Bjork) in this road to accomplishing this. But she goes to such a deep amount of misery and bad-luck .. unbeleivable .. so moving. I believe the amount of inspiration that has gone into making this movie is incredible. Lars von Trier uses the hand-held camera principle (which we saw in The Blair Witch Project, only without the shaking) and it works out great. You feel present at every conversation held, every event that takes place and every tear that's shed.

Brilliant.

I can't say it enough. Dancer in the Dark pulls you in and won't let you go. I walked 30 minutes through the city after seeing this movie. Just thinking about what just happened. Alone in my thoughts, awake and dreaming. The only down-point I feel are the amount of musical scenes, sometimes they just come in at the wrong part of the storyline. But it's just a minor flaw. Bjork deserves so much credit for her part. It might just be the best performance I have seen delivered by an actress ever. Certainly this year. I haven't seen Quills or Traffic yet, but I doubt if the actors or actresses in those movies come anywhere close to what Bjork has showed us here. I certainly hope the movie wins quite a few oscars. At least the ones for Best Supporting Actress (Catherine Deneuve) and Best Actress (Bjork). If Bjork doesn't win this oscar i'll bang my head up to this brick wall 82 times or so.

X-Men (2000)

highly entertaining

[14 October 2000]

I was surprised to say the least when watching the X-men.

I expected to see a sci-fi movie with no plot, cardboard characters, and poor acting. But with great special effects. Well, I was very pleased when I left the theater. I thought this was a pretty good storyline, and stunning visual effects. So when I got home I checked the imdb on X-men.

I decided then that I would see the movie again sometime (I work in a movie theater, so that's no problem). And I did recently. What grabbed my atention the second time I saw it, was that the conversion from the comic book to the real deal was excellent. The suspense is really nicely built up, and the dialogues (especially the ones with Patrick Stewart) were good.

Compared to another sci-fi movie such as the Matrix, it just doesn't quite hack it. But it's surely one of the better sci-fi movies of the past few years.

Blade Runner (1982)

I finally saw it !!

[10/10 · 1 April 2000]

I wanted to see Blade Runner for a very, very long time. I bought 'Blade Runner The Game' several years ago, and for a very long time it was my favorite game. I loved the atmosphere, and the feel the game had. I also had the soundtrack by Vangelis in my possession for quite some time. I was addicted to Blade Runner even though i never seen the film.

Well tonight that changed. I saw it, i loved it. It lived up to all my expectations. I loved the storyline, and the atmosphere, the futuristic film noir presentation of the movie. I recognised a lot from the game, and almost the whole soundtrack comes back in the film. I was very happy that 'Memories Of Green' was in the movie, at a point where Deckard and Rachel are in Deckard's appartement. Memories of Green is my favorite song of the soundtrack. It has just the right feel, the sollitude that Deckard feels in this forsaken, lonely place called Earth.

The only downpoint in the movie is that it only takes 112 minutes. The characters could have had so much more depth if only there was more time to explain. For example, in the game the main character starts to question his own identity. Am i a replicant, or a human. At one point in the movie i thought Deckard had the same feeling, but you never got to see a whole lot of who Deckard really was. So you could never really fully understand his feelings or motives. Which i feel is such a shame.

I'm also a little proud seeing this movie. I'm dutch, and seeing Rutger Hauer (also dutch) perform in the way that he does makes me very proud to see that this little country can deliver such acting greatness. For me Roy Batty was his best part ever, the way he playes this angry replicant is so cool.

Blade Runner isn't just a sience fiction movie. It has such a great stroyline, it shows that being alive is a blessing, not a drag. That you should be glad with what you have, no matter how bad the world is, or how lonely you are.

Blade Runner is in my opinion one of the best movies ever made (if not the best). It's one of those films you want to see over and over again.

Meet Joe Black (1998)

One of the most romantic and sentimental movies ever..

[11 March 2000]

Meet Joe Black is a very original movie. Sure there are movies who resemble the sort of situation (City of Angels, Sixth Sense). But the acting in Meet Joe Black surpasses every one of them, for as far as I'm concerned.

The story might be a little unbelievable, but that's ok. The storyline isn't really what counts here. It's the excellent dialogues between Pitt, Hopkins and Claire Forlani (what a discovery !!) that make this movie worthwhile.

The whole film is set on a very emotional edge. You feel you could cry any moment. Pitt is so magnificent as the shy and inverted Joe Black. Forlani is a sight for sore eyes, and Hopkins, what can I say ... nothing but good things. Great things.

I've heard that many people found Meet Joe Black a bad movie, that it was too boring, or too long. Well in my opinion that's so untrue. The 3 hours are very worthwhile, you must not be put down by the long dialogues, or by the romantic, dramatic undertone.

Meet Joe Black is also one of the few movies that I actually cried at the end. Really cried. The ending is so beautifull, so amazing.

I recommend this movie very highly. It's in my top 10 of all time, but beware, this movie is not to the likings of everybody, only to those who truly appreciate great filmmaking.

Se7en (1995)

The most suspensefull thriller ever

[10/10 · 26 February 2000]

Watching Seven is intense. You watch the movie on the edge of your seat all of the time. It's amazing how this movie gets your attention from the first minute. The plot of this movie is excellent. A serialkiller who kills according to the seven sins. Newcomer Mills(Brad Pitt) and Agent Somerset(Morgan Freeman) investigate these crimes. But these crimes are different than every other crime they (and everyone else) ever saw. They are so hideous and horrible.. A man who has been lying in his appartement for a year, strapped to his bed, only to have photo's taken of him each week or so, showing the process of decomposition. Terrifying.

Seven is probably the most suspensefull thriller i ever saw. David Fincher keeps you interested all the time. And you keep wondering what will happen next. It's not your typical detective crime story. It's actually a very, very scary movie.

I won't write too much about the actual storyline, and especially not about the ending, which is without a doubt a very awesome one. It leaves you with a feeling that you just witnessed something truly special.

A classic in it's sort. 10 out of 10.

The Basketball Diaries (1995)

Very powerfull statement against drugs.

[9/10 · 26 February 2000]

I think 'The basketball diaries' is a realistic and very important movie. It shows the road that one walks to being addicted to drugs. From taking dope once a week to taking dope every day, every hour. Leonardo DiCaprio playes a basketballplayer, a schoolkid(Jim Carrol) who walks this path. He experiments with drugs 'till there is no way back. He gets himself in all kinds of stupid situations. He starts robbing stores, ripping off money from old ladies just to get some cash for dope. His life is beginning to look like a living hell. His basketballcoach wants to have sex with him, and when he passes out on the basketballfield due to taking a wrong kind of 'pep-pil', he gets kicked out of the basketball team and from school. From this moment on everything goes in a downward spiral for DiCaprio.

An excellent scenario you would say, and it is. The acting from DiCaprio is great. We saw it earlier on in his career when he got oscar-nominated for 'What's eating gilbert grape'. A gripping drama in which he playes a disabled kid. But in 'The basketball diaries' he playes an equally difficult part. Not a lot actors would have put down this kid who's life is wrecked, and who is constantly thinking about dope as well as DiCaprio did.

The statement the movie delivers is a powerfull one. Being addicted to drugs is horrible. Usually people learn about this aspect trough seminars or televisonshows such as Oprah Winfrey. But it never really gets the kind of attention and understanding from the audience as 'The Basketball diaries' delivers.

The amazing performance by DiCaprio, the fact that this movie is actually based on a true story and the reality the movie is set in, 'The basketball diaries' deserves a 9 out of 10.

City of Angels (1998)

Very Romantic ... Very Good ...

[20 February 2000]

I thought City Of Angels was very good. I'm usually very critical towards movies, but City Of Angels got to me. Meg Ryan usually plays in Romantic Comedy's (Sleepless in seatle, You've got mail) but this time, City Of Angels, admittedly a Romantic film, but it isn't a comedy. Far from it, it's a drama in all of its aspects. And Meg Ryan converts to that change very well. She acts great in this movie. It wasn't an easy part for her, there is a lot of crying involved, and a lot of dramatic moments in her characters life.

As goes for Nicolas Cage's character. Oh my god, he plays Seth with such excellence. Really, i don't think that anyone else could play the part as great as he did. The way he looks, the way he moves .. so cool.

Ok the storyline is a little unbeleivable, but you musn't be held back by that fact. Just beleive the unbeleivable. Just go with the plot, and follow the movie closely.

I'm not suggesting that City Of Angels is the best in it's sort. It won't win any oscars, but what i am saying, is that it's a nice movie, with great actors, great music and a good storyline which rolls towards very emotional ending.

You won't be dissapointed.

U Turn (1997)

Weird but pretty good.

[20 February 2000]

U-Turn is a very, very weird movie. But i like it.

With very weird characters, and an ever stranger situation in a even so strange town, ironicaly called 'Superior'.

Sean Penn playes a stroller who's car brakes down near a town called Superior, from here on, everything, and i mean everything goes wrong. I won't go into the details of the trouble he gets himself into, but it's very comical to see everything going sour for Penn. He plays this desprate en frustrated guy very well i must say.

But what was the coolest in the movie, was to see the total makeovers of some great actors. For example Billy Bob Thornton is so different as the twisted car salesman. When you see him in Armageddon for example, it's hard to beleive it's the same person. And Nick Nolte is brilliant as the rich perverted old man.

The only thing that dissapointed me about the movie was the rather corny ending. I'd rather see that different for one time.

Overall the movie reminded me a whole lot (and i mean a whole lot) of Red Rock West, with Nicolas Cage. But for as far as it goes for making a very disturbing, and a freaky movie(great job, Oliver Stone) U-Turn wins the race.

I'll give it a 7.

The Negotiator (1998)

Spacey & Jackson in mediocre movie(making)

[12 February 2000]

I saw a lot of great movies lately.. for example L.A. Confidential, American beauty and Heat... With the Negotiator i knew i wouldn't get the kind of excellence that those other movies brought me.

When i started watching the movie... i was really dissapointed, i didn't like it. For the first 45 minutes really, i had the idea i was watching a sort of 'Con Air' movie. With actually no storyline whatsoever, and just a little bit of BS strapped together. But after that when Kevin Spacey entered the movie i was glued to the screen. Immediatly the plot thickened, and Jackson performed a whole lot stronger than in the first part of the movie.

For the people who don't know the plot, Samuel L. Jackson plays a negotiator who is wrongfully accused of killing his partner and decides to take some hostages himself (corny, isn't it), and Spacey is there to negotiate Jackson out of this mess. This is a very brief lowdown on the plot. The outline of the story is actually pretty good. It starts developing very strongly after the dramatic first 45 minutes.

It was very cool to see Kevin Spacey become very mad, and frustrated when certain things and procedures aren't going his way. I haven't seen that (acting)side of him yet. And i saw some pretty magnificent roles of him, let me tell ya.. I remember seeing an interview with Spacey on the set of American Beauty where he totally ditched the movie in a way. The interviewer noticed that Spacey was more happy than when he gave the interview on The Negotiator set, he said that he liked the acting much better on American beauty because it is a good movie, unlike The negotiator.

But overall it wasn't such a bad movie, with some nice elements. Being that those elements reside completely on Kevin Spacey, and in some lesser form on Samuel L. Jackson. So i think it would be fair to say that this would be a very horrible movie if let's say Eric Roberts and Jean Claude van Damme played the leading roles.

Let's just be gratefull that's not the deal...

L.A. Confidential (1997)

I'm glad i don't live in the 60's

[8/10 · 12 February 2000]

Whooh boy.. how much killing and corrupting in a movie can one take !!

This film is amazing, I just wrote a piece for Jerry Maguire this morning, and i mentioned in the comment, that it is one of those films which has all kinds of great elements, love, success and misery, great character development. But oh my god, this film pushes jerry maguire into the ground in a blink of an eye, if it comes to those elements.

If you just look at the character of Russel Crowe, which starts off as someone who is only good in beating people up, but later when he falls in love with Basinger's character, he totally comes around, being much more passionate, and much smarter. As goes for Pierce's character, which is actually exactly the opposite turnaround, than that of Crowe's. He actually learnes to beat, and punish people.

The acting in this movie is phenomonal. What i read in another comment is true. If Titanic didn't sank 90 years ago, L.A. Confidential would have scattered all the oscars.

I'd recommend this movie to all of you who like Pulp Fiction. Just leave out the 'Tarantino-effect' and put it back 40 years.

i give it a 8.

Kiss the Girls (1997)

Like 'se7en' ?? Love 'Kiss the girls' !!

[29 January 2000]

I love this movie !!!

I think i've seen all the movies of ashley judd, and i must say this is probably her greatest role yet, she does a great job playing Kate Mctiernan, a victim of a pschycotic killer. This maniac 'collects' women, only to kill them one by one when he sees fit. Only Judd manages to escape from his clutches. Morgan Freeman plays (again) the detective who, in cooporation with Judd tries to find the killer...

The whole storyline is great, with a lot of unexpected twists and turns, and a surprisingly strong ending.

The acting is as i said earlier admirable. Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd both deserve a lot of credit on this film. The tension between them is great, and you really feel the warmth in their relationship.

But overall this film is actually very scary, some scenes are close to a frantic nightmare (the running in the woods, the scene in Judd's house when the killer is there).

I really recomend this movie, this is just as se7en a movie, which is best watched alone, in a dark room, with a lot of thunder and rain outside. Just as i watched it just now ..

Excellent .. Go check it out now !!

The Prince of Egypt (1998)

An amazing story, amazingly converted to the big screen

[10/10 · 23 January 2000]

When i watched 'The Prince of Egypt' in the theatre, i was godsmacked by the amazing graphics. Dreamworks has made a movie, a cartoon admittedly, but this movie couldn't be made if it weren't a cartoon. This way the movie has no borders or boundries.. and the story is exploited to the fullest.

The story reminded me a bit of the Lion King, the cartoon by Disney two years earlier .. also it was about a (sort of) king-to-be which goes away to another place, only to return to the hometown sometime later with a lot of vengeance towards a lot of people. This story is straight from the bible, and what book holds more amazing and involving stories as this ancient book. And this movie is all that. Even believing people, who swear by the bible found the movie excellent.

'The Prince of Egypt' is a romantic drama, which draws you in and won't let you go... I described this movie as the best movie i saw in '97, maybe it's a little overrated, but that's how i felt walking out of the movie theatre. Almost whole of hollywood does a voice (Sandra Bullock, Val Kilmer etc.) and with the helping hand of Mr. Spielberg himself, this is a masterpiece not to miss !!!!

The Sixth Sense (1999)

Prepare yourself...

[10/10 · 22 January 2000]

This movie is amazing .. Harry joel osmont gives away such a blistering performance. Without this performance it wouldn't be so great, really.

This movie is one that can be watched in 2 ways. One way is the greatest way; Without knowing the end. The other way is knowing the end. A bit like 'The usual suspects' If you see it the first time, you will be left numb after seeing the ending. It's so mindblowing. I know i can't tell you about this, so you would have to see it for yourself.. It's one of those movies you just have to see.

I realise this is going to be the year of 'American Beauty' or 'The Insider'. But for me The Sixth Sense beats those movies in a blink of an eye. Just as in my opinion 'The Matrix' or 'The Blair witch project' would.

Anyway, The sixth sense is also the movie of Bruce Willis. We see here that the man can really act !! (unlike some other action hero's) He contributes to the whole atmosphere of the movie, which is awesome. And scary as hell. For me the ending of the movie (i can't stop about it) has one of the most memorable scenes in the history of movies, that's all i can say. I hope i made you just a little bit curious in what is one of the best movies of the year, one that should get the oscar for best supporting actor (Harry Joel Osmont), and one that should get a whole lot more credit that it is receiving.

be prepared to be blown away...

Heat (1995)

Great movie !!

[9/10 · 22 January 2000]

Al pacino, Robert de Niro, Nathalie Portman, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight ... just a few of the names that Heat is rich. With so much high quality acting you should almost automaticly have a good movie. But that's not always the deal. But with heat it IS the deal. Robert de Niro proves that he is indeed the best actor of the 90's, and that Nathalie Portman and Ashley Judd are indeed the promising actresses of tomorrow. Heat is not all about action and robbing banks and such. It's more about the personal lives of the characters. About their family and the relationships between them. Sure the action is great (especially the shootout in the middle of the street) and the camerawork stunning. But what this movie is all about, is the drama... The drama of the characters, about their losses, about their failing relationships and about new ones starting. About really the most important things in live.

Heat is not an action-movie, don't go see it if you're an Schwarzenegger-fan or something. This movie tells a great story of people on the good side, and on the bad side of the law, it tells a story that will not bore you for the 3 hours that it takes.