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mrguinness
Reviews
The Prince of Tides (1991)
I am amazed at the love for this movie
Honestly, there are people that think this is actually a well acted movie? My god, could it have been any more fake and absurd. This is truly a direct result of Bab's direction. Nothing about these scenes showed any moment of honesty and reality. It looks put upon and completely forced.
The story is there, I am sure the book has some resonance, but this movie, while pretty in some ways, was just painful to watch. There are some quality actors in this, making fools of themselves. And nothing is worse than the way the scenes are setup. Fake is the best word I can use for it.
Want a REAL good example? Tell me ANYTIME you have seen a fishing boat look THAT clean.
And can Babs and Carlin (RIP) be ANY skinnier?
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Mascara (2009)
Did this episode jump the shark?
Anyone else here think that this past weeks 200th episode might have been the worst CSI ever? Could they have spent any more time doing nothing in the scenes? Was the story so bad it was more entertaining watching everyone just stand around? Could the lighting have been any worse? Could the camera angles have been any more amateur? Does anyone else agree? William Friedkin was the director... looking at his resume on IMDb, he should have stopped directing after To Live and Die in LA. I guess that is his connection to CSI. What a shame, I truly hope this is not indicitive of things to come. Love the show, but WOW was this bad.
Match Point (2005)
Finally a decent Allen outing, but...
I had heard all the talk about a return to form for Woody Allen and finally decided to purchase the DVD to get a look, since I simply DREAD going to the movies in New Jersey anymore thanks to YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE! :) Anyway, my initial reaction to the mood this movie put me in was the feel of The Talented Mr Rippley, which I hated, actually, though I can't say I was hating this film, per se. I stuck with it and was appreciative of the writing and performances. As always, we need more Scarlett J.
Unfortunately, when the story took it's turn, I began to get less interested and more annoyed and impatient, as the actions taken by the main character were not based on any dialogue or rational thought. Things seem to happen because that's where the script decided to take the characters. It also plods on for too long once you realize what the main character is going to do. There are no real surprises here, except maybe in the exact method of the deed. The problem is that things just happen, without any feel for what the main character was REALLY going through, UNLIKE Martin Landau's character in Crimes and Misdemeanors.
My overall take on this movie is that it is Crimes and Misdemeanors Lite. It's Crimes and Misdemeanors without any introspection. While it may be Allen's best achievement since that amazing movie, it certainly is not a return to form.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
The worst of the 4
I have not read any of the books.
For me, the movies have gotten progressively worse, and that trend unfortunately continues with Goblet of Fire.
While not wholly unentertaining, I really felt like this time "they" finally decided if you didn't read the book, "they" really don't care if you like the movie.
The most treacherous "event" was the first one, with the other two tame by comparison, though again, from what I am told, the detail in the book makes this comment untrue.
The entire beginnings of relationships between the kids felt forced and more like a waste of time than anything that will actually lead to something in some future movie.
Is it just me or does Dumbledore look like he is shrinking? The final fight with Voldemort was not bad actually, but should have happened a half hour earlier. This movie could have been cut even more to make it more interesting. Or it should have been a 2 parter, to make it coherent.
Unfortunately, I am now not looking forward to the next installment. A shame, I really started off liking these movies.
ALSO, as something that needs to be said, I saw this movie at 8:30pm. 5 commercials and 6 previews before a 2.5 hour movie is simply horrifying, and to make matters worse, especially at 8:30pm, all except on of the previews was for a children's movie. This, plus uncomfortable seats and temperature controlled by someone who must like equatorial temperatures CONTINUES the terrible trend of movie theaters simply trying to put themselves OUT of business.
Global Heresy (2002)
Surprisingly Entertaining
$3.99 at Wal-Mart, compared with Almost Famous and Spinal Tap and starring Peter O'toole & Joan Plowright. I had to buy it, even though I knew it had to be straight to video crap.
HOW SURPRISED I WAS!!!
While certainly not up to the level of Almost Famous or Puppet Show (I mean, Spinal Tarp), we were pleasantly surprised to find a small gem of a movie. No great "blow you away" music, but it was extremely interesting music to listen too, especially the piano duet with Joan Plowright. Augmentation heaven!
Peter O'toole, one of my all time faves, gives an extremely uneven performance, but I chalk it up to terrible directing more than him. There are moments he and the dialogue shine. Although few, the interactions with his niece are extremely moving, and seeing him taking XTC is a trip! And while this is not Shakespeare, Joan Plowright shows you how talented she really is. I kept thinking of the mom from That 70's Show.
Alicia Silverstone plays the bassist / new member of the band. While she is obviously not a musician, she does a pretty admirable job, in fact, all the band actors come across as actual musicians, in their goofy mannerisms and dialogue... Alicia has the laid back / uber talented bassist thing down pat, IMO.
ESPECIALLY for $3.99, I highly recommend this movie.
a few warnings... 1) The DVD quality is terrible 2) The cinematography is terrible. 3) The very famous director seems like he couldn't have cared less for this production, which is a real shame. 4) The music is by a band called Casino. 5) There is no soundtrack. But there is a Yahoo group. Go figure...
My Favorite Year (1982)
Classic, but a comment on the new DVD
Without a doubt one of my all-time favorite movies, but alas... I bought the commentary DVD expecting some real insight into the specific roles people were playing and the writing. Really, Dennis Palumbo & Norman Steinberg should have been included in an additional commentary track, because their input would have been what a commentary track is all about. Richard Benjamin's commentary, while acknowledging a few bits of delicious insight, was basically just an egotistical expose' of what it takes to be a director.
I do suppose that is his forte', but this CLASSIC movie screams for some real tidbits about the interplay between Show of Shows characters and who each person was playing and why. There was SOME of this, but not nearly enough, not by a L O N G shot! Being too young to have seen these events taking place puts me at a disadvantage, but the powers that be could have taken a listen to Benjamin's commentary and easily seen how unsatisfactory it was, or is it just another case of a forgotten movie being put out to soak up whatever profits it possibly has left?
Well, if they ever decide to put out another edition with writers commentary, I promise to buy one!
The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
Big disappointment for a Big Coen fan
Truly must admit, this is the biggest disappointment of the year for me. Francis is great, but her character goes nowhere. James Gandolfini plays the EXACT same character he plays in the Saprano's. Billy Bob gives the thickest performance of all time, I think. It's interesting for a spell, but MAN does it get old and boringly obtuse fast.
There were some great bits. Tony Shalhoub was simply terrific as the high priced lawyer. Katherine Borowitz as Big Dave's wife almost stole the show when she turned away from Ed Crane after that mental part about the aliens, but that was all her character was allowed. Scarlett Johansson was good as Birdy, but as with several other, her parts were too insignificant, until a way-too-late-in-the-movie turn in her case. Same with Jon Politio, a GREAT actor with a great potential part, who is gone after 20 minutes of the movie.
And what the hell was that part on the couch between Ed and Doris after her demise? An out of character Lynchian phase for the Coen's if you ask me. Unnecessary.
I do have to admit, it was nice seeing Jon Polito and Michael Badalucco together again, first time since Miller's Crossing, I think!
I absolutely ADORE the Coen Brothers. Every movie of their's I either loved wholly or, at the very least, was completely entertained by. (ok, save Crimewave, but that doesn't count.) But this overlong, thick, endless attempt at mystery-noir just left me uninterested, even in discussing it with friends afterward. Except here, I guess.
A shame, but I'll still be in line for their next!
Planet of the Apes (2001)
Absurdist Fare
My only real comment is...
If you are going to spend all that money and time on make-up and sets, why do you not allow a chance for the audience to appreciate them by running the camera past every scene at 100 miles per hour?
As absurd as this movie was, I enjoyed it.
Kind of sad that the rest of the audience I was with didn't get all the jokes...