Little Jo Reviews

Dog Eat Dog (2001)

Don't believe the bad hype - It's okay.

[1/10 · 17 August 2002]

As a long term Gary Kemp fan I was at first looking forward to this and then as I read more about it starting to dread watching it. The reviews had me believe that this was gross-out comedy at it's worst. Don't believe it. It's actually okay. The cast is mostly black and mostly unknowns. Gary Kemp and Alan Davies are probably the only two "household names" in the piece although there are short appearances from a few character actors well known on British TV. The plot centres around a group of hapless youths who in an attempt to make a quick buck try to kidnap a rich authoress prize pooch, but end up stealing Kemp's (a local drugs lord) instead. The caper that follows involves them with Davies trying to "sting" Kemp's character, Jesus.

The cast are all good and strangely likeable although I think they missed an opportunity here. The movie as I said casts young, black unknowns which is a step forward, but it turns into only a step sideways as they turn into small time crooks etc. It might have been more interesting to have them "normal", but then that would not have made much of a movie I suppose. Kemp and Davies do provide the star quality and although this might not be on a par with Kemp's best movies, it's certainly more watchable than I thought it was going to. And Derek is just a great name for a dog!

LJ

High Fidelity (2000)

Some Kinda Wonderful

[10/10 · 13 September 2000]

Okay, I admit it I had my doubts. The ultimate London bloke author's best book (before he wrote About A Boy) was getting moved to Chicago and was going to have an American cast. "How can they do this" I cried. It's meant to be London. It's about British blokeism. Hush my mouth! This is just fantastic. Cusak is a revelation. Good looking enough to be worth watching but believable as somebody who would get himself into a state over trying to figure out women. All the performances are great. Black gets a special mention though. Just too funny for words. This will make you laugh out loud, but like all of Hornby's stuff is also packed with enough pathos to bring a lump to your throat at times too. The soundtrack is perfect and brilliantly reflects the tone of the movie.

Interestingly the cinema I saw it at, the audience was packed with squads of blokes on various guys nights out. Interesting that underneath the surface this movie is just really I rom-com, but maybe I shouldn't tell them that. Roll on the movie of "About A Boy". Nick, when's your next book coming out?

Papierowe malzenstwo (1992)

Gary's lovely when he's nice.

[9/10 · 3 March 2000]

As a teenage Spandau Ballet fan who has never quite grown out of it, I take a great interest in the films of the Kemp Brothers. Some of those that I have seen,"The Krays" and "Killing Zoe" were good movies, but I can't honestly say that a psychotic gangster or a blood thirsty bank robber is quite how I want to see my teenage hero. This is more like it. Its one of these great Made In Britain movies (in this case joint funded by Poland) that we are good at. Strong on characters, with humour, pathos and a good, if slightly implausible plot.

Gary Kemp is great as down on his luck artist who sees a way to pay of his debts. And he plays the harmonica. Pity in wasn't the guitar though. That would have taken me right back. The cover for this said "If you liked Green Card you'll love Paper Marriage" This is 100 times better than Green Card, for a start Andie MacDowall is nowhere in sight.

American Beauty (1999)

Stunning!

[10/10 · 13 February 2000]

If this is Mendes first shot at film directing I am scared of how good he will be once he cuts his teeth! This is the most visually stunning film that I have seen for a long time. The attention to detail is phenomenal. The use of the colour red for the roses and the door, Benning grey dress being gun metal grey, the sparse sets. I could go on. The script is witty, thought provoking and at times intensely moving. The performances, well you know what I am going to say, are outstanding. I didn't think Kevin Spacey could top his work in "The Usual Suspects", but I really think he has. We are most definitely not worthy. An intelligent movie for an intelligent audience. There's a novelty. I don't think I'll see better this year.

The Usual Suspects (1995)

A twist in the tale movie that stands up to repeat viewings.

[10/10 · 6 January 2000]

This is nothing short of miraculous. I love unusual endings, but the number of movies I see means it has to be pretty special to shock me. Example, I had sussed "The Sixth Sense" in about 15 minutes. This however blew me away. I DEFY anybody to guess the resolution to this plot. In fact the shock ending in someways detracts from the rest of it and that is why I probably enjoy it more on repeat viewings. The first time I saw it, in the cinema, all I could think about when I came out was the ending. Repeated viewings make me appreciate the whole film for example the editing, particularly in the final sequence, the script "the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the World that he didn't exist" and of course the totally mesmerising Kevin Spacey. Incidently the ending still makes all the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Utter brilliance from start to finish. One of the great films of the 1990s.

A Life Less Ordinary (1997)

Danny + Ewan on a bigger budget = great movie

[7/10 · 22 September 1999]

Shallow Grave was done on a budget of £1million apparently. That was another great black comedy. Trainspotting was too bleak for me. This is a treat. A kind of Heaven Can Wait + Road movie of your choice. Ewan McGregor for the next King of Scotland. Puts Sean Connery to shame. A Scottish film star than can truly act. A superstar for the next Millennium.

Original Sins (1995 TV Movie)

Tries to be either Midnight Caller or Midnight Lace. It fails both times

[4/10 · 15 August 1999]

Mark Harmon is the DJ encouraging people to call in a confess their sins on National Radio. Isn't that what Jerry Springer does on TV? Anyway this strange voiced person calls in and confesses to a murder.

This is ludicrous. The performances are terrible and I think everyone would guess the outcome within about the first 10 minutes. Suspense level is zero and the finale in the chapel is just laughable.

The Jackal (1997)

Since when was a hitman worse than a terrorist.

[2/10 · 18 July 1999]

Boy, this annoyed me. I am sick of Hollywood films making terrorists into heros. Gere is an IRA terrorist who is in jail for double murder (and doubtless lots more!) and we also have a Basque terrorist as his "love interest". Now you might not believe this, but these two are the "good guys". They are employed by the FBI, who mysteriously have operating rights in Helsinki, to catch Willis the hitman. With a plot like this it is no wonder that I think a lot of people will actually support Willis as at least he does not blow up innocents in shopping malls etc. Maybe I am reading too much into this, but it is about time that Hollywood woke up and realised that terrorists are mass murders and not romantic heros and the thought that the FBI would make a deal like they did with them is just laughable. Anyway at least Willis's wigs were interesting. See the original Edward Fox one, that had some class.

Entrapment (1999)

Dirty old man and common criminal do not a hero or heroine make

[14 July 1999]

Sean Connery hooks up with Catherine Zeta Jones and despite the fact that they are common criminals they are made out to be heroes. I am always uncomfortable with these movies where the criminals get away with it. Robbing the World Clearance Bank is no different from breaking into your house and would you want a hero made out of the person who did that. Also the "dirty old man thing". I resent also this notion that Catherine Zeta Jones would be remotely interested in a 70 year old man (even older than Michael Douglas!!). I was trying to think of a reverse casting to illustrate the point, but such is the sexism in Tinseltown I couldn't think of a single actress of Connery's age still headlining movies. The nearest I could get was can you imagine Leonardo making a romantic movie with Judi Dench!

The stunts were good as were the locations, but Connery was just Connery and Zeta Jones was alright I suppose. If you don't moralise it, you'll probably enjoy it, but the holes in the plot and the lack of consequence of their actions made it too much for me.

Mad City (1997)

Dog Day Afternoon meets The Big Carnival

[8/10 · 10 January 1999]

This film contains many elements that people who spend a lot of time watching movies (i.e. everyone who uses IMDb!!) will have seen before. The hold up reminds me of Dog Day Afternoon, where you begin to develop sympathy for the guy holding, in this case, a bunch of school kids and a curator, hostage.The media frenzy going on outside reminds me of The Big Carnival with the TV journalist exploiting the situation to boost his ratings. Who said The Truman Show???. Having said all that I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, not least because of the performances of both men and because the issue of media exploitation cannot be addressed often enough as with 24 hour news channels competing for global audiences, their exploitation of others plights becomes worse on a daily basis. A movie that makes you think? Now there's a novelty. Final point the movie was originally cast as Hoffman as the hostage taker and Travolta as the journalist. What a different movie that would make.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

As Good As It Gets

[10/10 · 7 November 1998]

To quote another movie, this is "as good as it gets". One of the few movies it is impossible to find fault with. The performances are wonderful, the baddies are scarey, the songs unforgettable and the look of it, even today, is stunning. People will love this movie for their whole life. I think I saw it for the first time on TV when I was about 6 or 7 years old, and it enthralls me as much today as it did then. It may be an old cliché but they don't make em like this anymore

The Horse Whisperer (1998)

For once a movie that does the book justice

[8/10 · 7 September 1998]

Having read the novel last year on holiday I was eager to see the film. To be honest I doubted if Redford could pull it off playing Tom Booker as the character is much younger than he is. Having seen the film now I realise that it really didn't make that much difference. All performances are good, especially Scott-Thomas and the new ending is actually better than the book. Don't worry I won't tell you either...........