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buttercup2007
Reviews
Road to Victory (2007)
This is a MUST SEE!!
My husband and I had the opportunity to catch this truly remarkable independent film at the Sacramento Film and Music Festival this past weekend.
We haven't stopped talking about it since then. I'm going to go first and then he gets his turn but we both agree this is film is quite special. From a female perspective I found it erotic, fascinating, and the subject matter so well handled that when the end credits rolled and the audience thumped their hands together I felt as if I had personally been on a journey with the main characters. Their acting was sheer brilliance and the story line is probably one Hollywood won't touch unless Allan Ball's name is attached to it but it's about time somebody got around to tackling this subject matter. The story is so thought provoking and so gently handled that I can't imagine this film staying simply on the festival circuit much longer, it should be given a broader audience. Looking around at other females in the audience I was stunned to see that their reactions seemed to mirror mine. I absolutely refuse to give away the ending, but from the middle of the movie until the credits roll this film just builds and builds. Furthermore, my husband and I are still arguing over a few questions the film deliberately doesn't answer! You will however, walk out of the theatre waiting for this film to hit the big screen so you can see this special treat again.
Now to my hubby's turn...
The storyline was extremely thought provoking and actually brings the viewer into the film to the point where I felt I was actually a part of it and experiencing the same things as the lead actor. We've all had tough decisions to make in life but maybe few of us men have had to experience the decisions presented in this film. First timers Mike Reilly and Julia Anderson are superb in their roles. Cinematically the use of voice over narrative, black and white and what appears to be some home video all complement a very professionally filmed piece. I'm eager to see some more of this new film maker's work in the future. I would encourage every father to see this film, especially if their son, regardless of age, participates in a contact sport.
Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
enjoyed but not as much as flags of our fathers
my husband and i enjoyed this film but found that the lack of character development detracted from the storyline. kudos for taking on a project which looked at both sides of such a horrific and pivotal battle during ww2. fascinating to see the war/battle from a different perspective. one begins to understand that combatants on both sides are casualties. whoever would have thought a rock in the pacific would be worth so many lives? felt film humanized the Japanese but ignored their brutality in their attempt to take the fight out of Americans. Ken Watanabe's performance is solid. supporting cast equally good to carry film. it would be interesting to see more docudramas utilize this type of vehicle (i.e. two separate films) to tell the story.
Death of a President (2006)
Couldn't Believe it!
Okay so this is an indie film but it's a must see, especially before this October! Had I not know this was a film I might have mistaken it for CNN coverage of a live event. Hold on - CNN generally does a poor job of actually covering an event - they prefer to loop coverage so I suppose this isn't the best comparison. Let's just say that my husband had the film on when I walked into the room and I honestly thought that something had happened. The editor did a fabulous job of splicing old footage with newly shot scenes so that the viewer has to constantly remind themselves that they are actually watching a movie. Who ever came up with the premise has to be a genius. I thought it was so good that when my older kids came to visit I plunked the DVD on for them and they thought they were watching live footage. This either makes our entire family a group of morons or let's you know how well don't this film truly is. Go out and rent it now. I guarantee you you will not be disappointed. I'd just like to add that once you see this film you'll want to re-watch it to see if you can pick out the actual live footage from the newly shot scenes. This especially goes for film aficionados.