Reviews
The Big Kahuna (1999)
A film for those who are turned on by great dialogue cleverly delivered.
It's difficult to pick between Kevin Spacey and Danny DeVito as to who makes the greatest impression. Spacey has the much more dramatic role as the man who dreams of being the Big Kahuna, the world class salesman (marketeer) at his company. DeVito is a little over the hill, but plays the role with real patience and depth. He is able to accommplish a lot with just simple facial movement. But ultimately, it is the crisp dialogue that makes the film such a delight. New boy, Peter Facinelli, does a nice job in a Tom Cruise like performance. The story of salesmen trying to make the big sale, is engrossing and entertaining.
The General (1998)
A dark gloomy film about dark gloomy people.
This was a disappointing film. The people seem to have no substance, the lead protagonist Martin Cahil has zero redemptive values, in fact everyone in it including Jon Voight epitomizes sleeze. I would not recommend this film to anyone. The violence is distasteful, though artfully done. The filming is to black, at least the print i saw fit this category. A disappointment.
Michael (1996)
A very delightful, out of character performance by Travolta.
An off beat but very delightful performance by John Travolta sets off this very funny comedy. His interpretation of the archangel is as a scuffy, womanizing, overweight, ladies man. And, he certainly has a mesmerizing effect on the women he encounters on his trip to Chicago. John Hurt is very low keyed in his role as chief reporter for Chicago Tabloid owner, Bob Hoskins. Angie MacDowell plays role much as she did her role in "Four Weddings and a Funeral." Maureen Stapleton is neat in a cameo. Her comment, "Michael doesn't suffer fools," is just one of many memorable moments. Bob Hoskins is the only one of the lead performers who fails to connect, a little to off the wall. Mainly you're there to see Michael take on a bull, mesmerize the waitresses and lady dancers at a western style restaurant, and fully demonstrate that he is complete free soul. It is a memorable comedy that is worth more than one viewing.
Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil (1999)
The third of this excellent mini-series, i.e. long film
The Hornblower books were an excellent read. Though it has been nearly 30 years since I have read them, they are fondly remembered. This long film which has been separated into four episodes for television is very representative of Horatio Hornblower and what he stood for. The filming is outstanding, the costuming great, the models extremely realistic, in fact the first three episodes are truly outstanding television in themselves. The lead player, the young Welsh actor, Ioan Gruffud (spelling) is good looking, athletic enough for the extracurricular activities and very realistic. There are a number of secondary players in some of the episodes if not all. Robert Lindsay, who reminds me of the American actor famed for the Usual Suspects and L.A. Confidential, Kevin Spacey, is also outstanding. An English actress whose name is something like Cherry Lunghi and the wonderful English actor who play the Russian expatriot, Yaki, in the memorable Masterpiece Theatre series, Fortunes of War, are also very welcome. This is a series well worth seeing.
Brazil (1985)
It's not a brave new world, but a bitterly depressing look at the future.
One of the most brilliant films of the 1980's. The released film was a truncated version, that shown on the Independent Film Network channel was the full version. The latter was more fulfilling. The brilliance of Terry Gilliam's creativeness has not been achieved very often. A film, that successive viewings provide a greater impact on what the world could become...a very frightening thought.