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Reviews
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
Fantastic Performances From Hoffman and Henry, Great Direction
I hadn't seen this film in maybe twenty years. When I first saw it I was not a parent; I am now. There are few films that do a better job of explaining of how it feels to be a parent, and how much a young child depends on you.
Be sure to watch the outstanding documentary about the film (after you see the movie!)--it gives you a rare look into the wonderful collaborative atmosphere that surrounded this movie. You can see why some directors who like to have total control (hello, Woody!) would not enjoy working with Hoffman, but you can see how wise Benton was to draw on Hoffman's own personal experience of divorce. The movie is so rich, the performances so real, the direction nicely understated when it needs to be, and the emotions so intense.
This is a "small film" that is so well done, it illuminates better than any grand statement about parenting ever could. I was deeply moved by this film.
As I say in the summary--the rapport between Hoffman and young Justin Henry is so real, and their individual and collective performances are off the scale. They're too realistic and human to even measure. I've never seen anything so authentic. Director Benton deserves so much credit for letting the actors find the truth of this movie's story.
In terms of weaknesses, there are few, but I thought Ms. Streep wasn't quite as convincing as the rest (she's better near the end), and that Hoffman's "party kiss" was also a false note. Other than that, everything else is so true that I really had to give the film a ten, and the DVD with this fantastic documentary also merits a ten. It was so generous of all the creative talent to give their time for interviews over twenty years later.
Great, great film!! You can see why it won five Oscars.
Combination Platter (1993)
A Real Slice of Life--Great Indie Film
This is a great but small film. It's about big things, but it shows you through all the little details. The direction is strong--I had the feeling that it was influenced by Scorsese's famous long uncut sequence where the camera walks you through the back halls into the kitchen (Goodfellas? Can't remember which film). In the scene where Robert is hiding from the INS, the camera-work is perfect--it gives you a sense of frenetic terror of being caught. The movie is full of such moments--there are a lot of things the camera tells you quietly that the actors don't.
The Chinese actors are all good. The American actors are okay--some better than others. I thought Coleen O'Brien could have been much more animated--I didn't get her character at all.
This is a great story about living in two cultures at once, at trying to fit in while staying true to your roots--what could be a more American story? Anyway, kudos to Tony Chan for strong writing and directing.
A note of caution: If you don't like subtitles, if you don't like subtleties, if you're waiting for big action sequences, this isn't for you. But if you like a strong story well-told, this is a good one.