newyorktalk Reviews

Lace (1984)

I SOOOOOOOOOOOOO Remember This!!!!!

[10/10 · 29 December 2010]

LOL!

This was a FAMILY EVENT back when I was about...oh...12-13 years old. The whole family sat down - My Mom, My sister and myself and watched every second of this. Eating it up. We were really into it. When Lili brings the three friends together and goes "Which one of you bitches is my mother!?" - LOFL! ahhhh man. What memories. They don't make 'em like this anymore. Classic 80's over the top - wonderfulness!

I was just having a wave of nostalgia - thinking about the Original V - you know - with the reptiles dressed as people who come to earth all friendly and cozy - but are really eating people - but the females were sexy. and thornbirds - with richard chamberlain - he was a priest or something in that one, right? So I started thinking about this mini- series that I remember my whole family watched and was excited about. I looked and looked and I remembered the word Lace was in it so I googled that - and voila - got to this page - if the DVD was available, I'd order that just to have it to watch one more time in its entirety.

the 80's.......good times.

Seven Pounds (2008)

Best Will Smith Drama Yet........truly moving!

[10/10 · 25 December 2008]

Great frigging film.

Let me put that more eloquently.....frigging fantastic.

I was really moved by this work.

It was touching on so many levels.

and the acting and performances were nuanced, layered and authentic.

from all players.

really, really great work that brought tears to my eyes...more than once.

I won't go into the plot of the film. Just see it. The less you know the better.

Will Smith's best work to date. The man has so truly grown and CONTINUES to grow as an artist (and human being) - that's the part that really amazes me.

Excellent work by Mr. Will Smith. (and Rosario and Woody Harrelson and Barry Pepper, et al...)

Angel (2005 TV Movie)

I agree with WateerFountain...This movie had heart and a real understanding of its characters.

[21 January 2007]

"Jim McKay is making movies unlike most American directors. Sure, they're small productions, and they're not playing at theater chains in the Midwest, but they have more heart and represent real life more than any other American auteur I've seen in a while. "

• WaterFountain.

Well said. I heartily agree.

Those who didn't like this film should stick with the DieHards, Terminator III's and other assorted in your face, hero's are right, plot point driven drivel that they are used to and NOT come on here to discourage those who just MIGHT be interested in authentic, no delusions, no manipulations, perceptive works of art like this...from seeing it.

Oh and btw, ANNA SIMPSON is HOT.

Dirty Pretty Things (2002)

Watch this Film. well worth it!

[26 October 2004]

First of all, without being argumentative, let me just say that Janne&Sect's review was...hmmmmmm....very close to dumb. Just a hair away, matter-of-factly. Not everything is about race simply because the protagonists of the film aren't white! Another reviewer, Miss Elmaz, put it quite well:

" The best way to describe "Dirty pretty things", is in my opinion, that it is like a beautiful poem. It flows easily and because of the fact that the cast are such good actors/actresses, almost every scene in the film affects you in some way. "

The film is very accurate in its portrayal of the harshness of immigrant life in the urban first world. The cinematography is lush. Audrey Tatou is just this side of perfect (as she usually is). The actor who portrays the main protagonist Okwe: Chiwetel Ejiofor is intense, brooding and makes you keep your eyes on him whenever he is on the screen. All the secondary players executed their roles admirably. This movie is well worth the time you take to watch it. Very Highly Recommended!

Gangster No. 1 (2000)

Paul Bettany is Brilliant. *Mild Spoilers*

[2 April 2004]

Paul Bettany was brilliant in this film. Let me repeat that. Paul Bettany was brilliant in this film. The first time I saw this film was on cable and I was stopped in my tracks while channel surfing in the scene where bettany is..***mild spoiler***...about to allow a woman he loves to be killed. The look on his face..then proceeding to the rest of the film..as he watches his friends get killed and then..the BEST and MOST DISTURBING Scene in the film..where he exacts revenge on the Lenny Taylor character..kept me riveted. I, of course, had to watch this film again..from the start..and then buy it. Malcolm Mcdowell also dominated the screen- although in a different way. As the older gangster..he has PRESENCE and INTENSITY. I wish they would have done even more with act two- with mcdowell's character. this movie could have been 45 minutes longer and I would have been just as riveted. perhaps make it two movies- the young gangster in one and the older in the other.but anyway, back to paul bettany..the movie is his. he was equal parts smoldering and brilliant and definitely gives you a bang for your buck during his screen time.

Paid in Full (2002)

Best "Hood" Movie To Date!!- Tops MenaceII,Boys,Juice et al!

[30 April 2003]

Wow, It's about time! I was shocked when I saw this movie. I absolutely was not expecting a real film much less a good film! Trust me- this is a REAL FILM & a REALLY, REALLY GOOD FILM. The performances absolutely make it what it was. Wood Harris' performance was nothing less than stunning. That's neither exaggeration or some fan adulation- this man's skills were just that- "stunning" -in this movie. Combined with the other cast member's performances- the entire tragedy/saga of young black peoples in the hood- the sh** made you(me) want to cry.

Being from Harlem- 155th street- this story had a special significance for me. Besides Wood Harris- Mekhi Phifer threw down as usual- Solid performance -nailing Rich Porter. Cam'ron -damn- that's the ***** that REALLY SHOCKED me. That **** threw down! - what, forget hip-hop, this dude better move to LA and get an agent! Also, ESAI MORALES is the man- had a small part, but stood out- the guy in my opinion is the premiere latino actor working right now. You see him, you stop & pay attention.

The women in the movie had no major roles- this was a story of three teenagers who ******* ran harlem. Three young men faced w/ a choice of $50K a day or some dead-end jobs somewhere. While, admittedly, that's a somewhat simplistic synopsis- really, what would you do-if someone gave you an opportunity to make $50,000.00+ a day! bottom line, the people in this film are human, flawed and all- but human- and the things they went through were real- not these 'gangsta' fantasies of 99% of today's hip-hop acts! I'm glad AZ is alive. whatever he's doing- I hope the dude's healthy, at peace and making money legally.

The directing was good, not great- but solid. The script was good- but trust me -it was the PERFORMANCES- many of them improvised that made this film great!

8 Mile (2002)

'Karate Kid' + 'FlashDance' only with Rap.

[14 November 2002]

*** very, very mild spoilers ***

Now onto this movie: I liked it. But unless you are a fan of hiphop first, I can't see how you'd fully appreciate it. There's ALOT of Rap in this movie. They rap EVERYWHERE...on line for lunch, while fixing cars, on their way to clubs etc. I think it realistically depicted the underground hip-hop scene(where 'battles' and 'ciphers' abound). Although, in real life-it's far more intense. Now some may see this as a straight Great White Hope type movie where the white guy triumphs at the end. But others, more accurately I think, see this as a Race Doesn't Matter if you're sincere type movie. But hey, Bottom Line: if you're a fan of a ROCKY-style 'loser-becomes-winner-by-not-giving-up' flick: check out 8-mile.

Men in Black II (2002)

You Over-Serious Critics Kill Me!! -Good Film for what it was worth.

[8 July 2002]

*** No Spoilers ***

Just reading through the barrage of negative criticism of this movie, honestly gave me a good chuckle. I had no idea that there were so many latter-day Siskel & Eberts/Eberts & Roper's out there! You work yourselves into a lather trying to break down this movie into story arcs and plotlines that left you unsatisfied, Give me a Break. This movie never PRETENDED to be any sort of serious art drama that should legitimately receive the critical redaction so many of you are just itching to give it. Like a prior 'reviewer' said: this is just a "light-hearted romp"! It's a comic-strip-turned-movie primarily aimed at families seeking a two-hour diversion. It contains enough action/ adventure/ Special FX and one-liners to keep the average family of four entertained. If you're complaining that there isn't enough meat-in-your- movie, then your beef isn't with tommy lee or will smith- it's with mainstream commercial movie making on the whole!

Your Friends and Neighbors (1998)

Well Written, Directed, Casted & Acted (Mild Spoiler Warning)

[20 August 2001]

**** MILD SPOILER WARNING ****



To ANYONE that might have written a negative review of this film- I say only, Read SULA-3 from Manchester's Review!! All I have to say is DITTO!!!!!! Sula's comments embodied my thoughts on the film perfectly! and the Jason Patric Sauna Scene...classic!! Especially the decision to stay on Patric until he finishes his revelation and then cut to Aaron Eckhart's Reaction Shot!

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

A 5 STAR MOVIE PERIOD! ONE OF THE BEST I'VE EVER SEEN!!!

[29 May 2001]

**** NO REAL SPOILER HERE ****

Well, where can I begin! Most of what I want to say- has already been said already..but I must reaffirm many of those points. I am tempted to call any of those self-assured 'critics' who had the unmitigated audacity to pan this movie idiots, morons, dopes, smug, self-conceited fools who feel themselves superior to the vast masses...but I won't (call the 'critics' who had the AUDACITY to pan this movie the dopes that I feel we all know they are)..I don't want the IMDB review board to remove my Post. Now, that being said- let me say that this is ONE of the best movies I've ever seen featuring probably the greatest (at least one of) screen performances ever recorded on film (by ELLEN BURSTYN). Jennifer Connelly is incredible..incredibly sexy, gorgeous and believable in her supporting role. Jared Leto and Marlon Wayans take their careers to the Next Level. Darren Aronofsky along with his D.P. and D.E. have made a true modern-day masterpiece that literally THUNDERS from opening credits to heart shattering climax. (No denouement). Now I'm not gonna name drop alot of other film maker names like some reviewers do on IMDB to prove how knowledgeable I am or why my review should be take more seriously because I am so 'well-informed'. I will simply say the truth- This movie disturbed, moved and shook me...and it will You as well!!!

Oh Yeah...Ellen Burstyn got ROBBED at the Oscars..plain and simple!!