Reviews
Cast Away (2000)
Where's the beef ?¿
I love Tom Hanks but I hated this movie. Best part was the Wilson Spaulding joke ... and that wasn't all that great. Nothing to think about, predictable ending (figured out the ending when I first heard the title of the movie), long lapses of nothings with nothings to follow.
I wouldn't recommend this film unless you really like Tom Hanks movies. I mean his acting was fine but the story sucked the big cahoona.
Regards,
*DATo*
Hanging Up (2000)
Been there ... done that ... it was right on!
'Hanging Up' is one of those movies you had to live through (as I have) to truly understand and enjoy completely. I played the Eve role in our real life family equivalent of this film ... and trust me ... when they wrote this script .. THEY DID IT RIGHT !
'Hanging Up' is a movie about maintaining your sanity amid the myriad of daily responsibilities imposed upon your life, not least of which involves the care and concern for a thick-headed though lovable father. Eve (Meg Ryan), Georgia (Diane Keaton), and Maddy (Lisa Kudrow), are three sister's with budding career's which demand their attention. Eve takes the self-imposed lead in looking after the welfare of her intransigent father (Walter Matthau) who is ill and suffering from dementia as her sisters disassociate themselves - not for lack of love, but because they are so preoccupied with dealing with the demands upon their lives. The central, and continually reintroduced, symbol in this movie is the telephone which serves as a primary '2000' symbol of both communication (or in some cases "disconnection") of the movies' characters, and the hectic pace of our technological times. Ryan, Keaton, Kudrow and Matthau's performances complement each other wonderfully in this story of fast paced family life in "The Zeros".
During the movie Eve has flashbacks to the earlier time of her childhood prior to her mother's desertion of the family and in one of the most moving scenes in the film she reluctantly visits her mother at her father's request in the hope of persuading her to visit her father who is now hospitalized and wishes to see her. During the meeting Eve is told quite mater-of-factly by her mother (Cloris Leachman) that she never wanted to be a mother at all. The scene dissolves with the implied understanding that there will be no visit.
At various times in the movie Lou, (Matthau) sings the song 'Once Upon A Time' in a hacking, lyric mutilating manner .... as the movie ends the fitting lyrics of this beautiful musical theme are repeated through the ending and into the credits ... as perhaps ... a summation.
I absolutely loved it .
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Great movie ... but
I think M. Night Shyamalan made a very good movie with his creation and direction of 'The Sixth Sense' but it could have been better. It was like a masterpiece painting but you can't put a mustache on a Mona Lisa and expect it to work ... other's may still find her attractive but I'd be at least mildly turned off.
If this movie is viewed from front to back and immediately forgotten all is well and you will feel you've gotten your money's worth, but if you think back you will find many logic holes in the premise. The movies' "rules" (which are explained after the credits in a postscript trailer on the tape by Shyamalan and others) left me with the feeling that there was an attempt going down to distract me from thinking too much about what I had seen, or not seen, in the movie. All the rules were explained except one, and it was "the big one" which others have mentioned in their comments as well. I would agree with anyone who would say that fixing these holes would be a prodigious undertaking but I think it was possible and should have been attempted.
From an entertainment perspective this movie was great but that facial hair (logic holes) should have (and could have) been shaved off - and it would have been perfect. Overall I'd recommend it ... just don't think about it too much afterwards and you'll be OK.
Citizen Kane (1941)
But ... the king HAS no clothes
Whenever I read about what a great movie 'Citizen Kane' is I am reminded of the story of the king who wore invisible clothes.
The king had this suit of clothes made which the tailor said "could only be seen by honest people" , in fact there were no clothes but the tailor relied on no one admitting that they could not see them. So as the king paraded by everyone commented on how lovely the king's new clothes were though they could see nothing. Finally, a child pointed to the king and said ..."But he has no clothes, he's naked!" ... and everyone understood that they were not dishonest people but that the king was a dunce.
That's exactly how I feel about this movie. EVERYONE says this movie is the greatest thing since sliced bread and I think half of them simply don't want other's to think they are artistically challenged, a remaining fourth have been convinced that they do like it even though down at the bone they don't, and the rest really see something good in the film.
I have tried repeatedly to find merit with this movie because everyone else says it's so good (so they must be right and I must be wrong) I have studied the reviews and looked for all the devices within the movie that supposedly make it so great ... but I have come to one conclusion .... the king is really naked.
Fail Safe (2000)
Very Disappointed
As a member of the "Baby Boom" generation I lived as a child with the specter of nuclear war hanging over me. As I type this I remember how, at 12 years of age just how frightened I was during the Cuban missile crisis. Just before this global crisis occurred a book was created which was so well written that I do not believe it will ever be improved upon in ANY medium. That book was 'Fail Safe' by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler.
The movie version released in 1964 faithfully represented the book as it was written and you felt the coldness of what I believe is the best third person narrative description I have ever read. The third person narrative of the book was almost like a character in the story and it was palpable, cold, and horrible in it's indifference and was captured in the 1964 movie perfectly.
I was very very disappointed with the liberties taken with the TV version, not only did they change parts of the story (an unforgivable crime when presenting a masterpiece), but to my taste the casting was WAY off the mark. For instance, Henry Fonda played an excellent portrayal of the president in the movie version .... Richard Drefuss wasn't even on the same planet with Fonda's performance and his over-acting ruined the seriousness of the situation - Fonda's cool disposition in his performance (like the book) was like fingers on a chalkboard that increased the nervous intensity of the '64 movie to the sublime.
I think the TV version was a desperate attempt to remake the movie and employ the same effects .... but it didn't work. I cannot in good conscience recommend the TV version as much as I would the 1964 movie version or better yet - the book, but I feel the TV version did score one home run ... it made people aware of this little gem . I feel sorry for those who had never read the book or seen the 1964 movie before because as you know (without including spoilers) you can't experience this story twice the same way.
The Missiles of October (1974)
'Guns Of August' Revisited
The Title 'The Missiles Of October' was a play on the title of the book 'The Guns Of August' by Barbara Wertheim Tuchman which deals with the precipitant events leading to World War I and the enormous tragedy resulting from the inability of the principal player's to diplomatically side-step one of history's most tragic chapters. I was a child at the time of the Cuban missile crisis but I remember clearly the dread we all felt during those tension filled days when literally the fate of the world was hanging in the balance.
'The Missiles Of October' was a Hallmark Hall Of Fame special presentation and was based on Theodore Sorensen's book 'Kennedy' [the chapter entitled 'The Cuban Missile Crisis']. The TV production captured perfectly the story as told by Sorensen, who was part of Kennedy's staff at the time and was present at most of the meetings taking place prior, and subsequent to Kennedy's revelation to the world of America's knowledge of the Russian missiles in Cuba and our intent to have them removed.
I HIGHLY recommend this film as one of the most riveting stories you will ever see ... fascinating, mesmerizing, haunting, and would have made great fiction if it were not ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
Ground Zero (1973)
Sublimely Awful
This is absolutely beyond question the worst movie I have ever seen. It is so bad in fact that I plan on renting it again as soon as I can find it. This movie makes 'Plan 9 From Outer Space' look like an Oscar contender. Just LOOKING at the actors makes me want to laugh out loud. I cannot say enough bad things about this movie. It's awfulness aproaches perfection.
The plot is based on a terrorist attack with a nuclear weapon in San Francisco (I think). That's as far as I can go ... I am laughing too hard. I know it shouldn't be funny but ..... *LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL*
MOVE OVER ED WOOD !!!
Regard's *DATo*
Fail Safe (2000)
Very Disappointed
As a member of the "Baby Boom" generation I lived as a child with the specter of nuclear war hanging over me. As I type this I remember how, at 12 years of age just how frightened I was during the Cuban missile crisis. Just before this global crisis occurred a book was created which was so well written that I do not believe it will ever be improved upon in ANY medium. That book was 'Fail Safe' by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler.
The movie version released in 1964 faithfully represented the book as it was written and you felt the coldness of what I believe is the best third person narrative description I have ever read. The third person narrative of the book was almost like a character in the story and it was palpable, cold, and horrible in it's indifference and was captured in the 1964 movie perfectly.
I was very very disappointed with the liberties taken with the TV version, not only did they change parts of the story (an unforgivable crime when presenting a masterpiece), but to my taste the casting was WAY off the mark. For instance, Henry Fonda played an excellent portrayal of the president in the movie version .... Richard Drefuss wasn't even on the same planet with Fonda's performance and his over-acting ruined the seriousness of the situation - Fonda's cool disposition in his performance (like the book) was like fingers on a chalkboard that increased the nervous intensity of the '64 movie to the sublime.
I think the TV version was a desperate attempt to remake the movie and employ the same effects .... but it didn't work. I cannot in good conscience recommend the TV version as much as I would the 1964 movie version or better yet - the book, but I feel the TV version did score one home run ... it made people aware of this little gem . I feel sorry for those who had never read the book or seen the 1964 movie before because as you know (without including spoilers) you can't experience this story twice the same way.
The Godfather Part III (1990)
Aw Man , I've had it !!!
I try not to spill my guts too often but when I do .... well....
I have read in these comments with gaping jaw how people actually think Winona Rider would have played a better daughter to the Don in 'Godfather III' than Sophia Coppola. I mean common are you guys kidding ? I love Winona Rider as an actress but ..... gimme a break here PUH-LEEEEASE !
Sofia Coppola got a bad rap in GodfatherIII from day one. I happen to be an American of Secilian parents and Secilian upbringing. I think she was PERFECTLY cast as the don's daughter. Since she is Francis Ford Coppola's daughter we are to assume that she was placed in the movie as a result of blatant nepotism .... WELL I DON'T AGREE ... I think F. F. Coppola has a pretty good idea of what he is doing and has proven that with his track record. He brought many many personal idea's to the filming of the original Godfather movie which enriched Puzo's story tremendously without altering it one iota. As I recall Coppola's wife designed the entire wedding segment in 'The Godfather' ... I have been to a LOT of Italian weddings and I challenge ANYONE to tell me that those scenes weren't PERFECT representations. I think F.F. Coppola hit a home run by casting his daughter in this film !
Sofia Coppola played that part in Godfather III and represented her character as well as it could have been presented. To give you an example of how stupidly other's would cast a film ... did you know that people in the industry actually argued that Robert Redford and Charles Bronson be considered for the role of Michael in Godfather I ???
If you MUST knock something then knock the Connie Carleone character. In the first two movies Connie Carleone Rizzi was an Italian American. In 'Godfather III' she becomes an American Italian. Talia Shire's acting was, as always, superb but she was way out of character (script knock here not knocking Talia) in Godfather III when you compare this character to the same character in first two movies.
Le violon rouge (1998)
As Perfect As It's Subject
Everything about this movie works for me, from the beauty of the story itself to the artistry of the inter-woven subplots, beautiful imagery, music and cast selection. 'The Red Violin' is a remarkable epic history of a musical instrument binding both the past to the present as well as the spirits of the participants along the journey.
The movies' mysteries are revealed slowly and poetically in a precisely authored meter spanning the violin's birth, journey, and "rebirth". The violin's precise blending of art and mechanical perfection mocks both Cesca's bones and amulets as well as Morritz's "mass spec" and and organic evaluation's to stand apart as something indefinable which soars above and survives Prince's, Cultural Revolutions, attempts to destroy it and finally - attempts to possess it. Morritz is the only one who understands, with true unselfish love, the tragedy and travesty of allowing the vilolin's nobility to be bartered like a slave on the platform into the clutches of auctioned greed.
I recommend this movie to people of passion and lover's of beauty. Over analyzing critics and nit picker's would would be better served by the movie "pi" or "Eraser Head" for this movie's meaning is as much beyond their scope as The Red Violin's value was beyond Mr. Ruselsky's.