ary Reviews

Ticker (2001)

Pyun wasted the last chance he had to make a decent action film

[30 December 2001]

Albert Pyun is considered a B-movie respected author, and quite often some great names of Hollywood work in his projects. This happened in Crazy Six, when Pyun could count with the presence of Hollywood legend Burt Reynolds as a sheriff and in Postmortem starred by Charlie Sheen.In Ticker, Pyun reunited action star Steven Seagal and the always reliable Tom Sizemore and Dennis Hopper in a story of a mad terrorist plotting to blow up Chicago and an edgy cop who won't stop at nothing to catch the bomber, with the help of the chubby leader of the Bomb Squad (Steven Seagal). Unfortunately, bad script and an uninspired direction by Pyun turned Ticker into a complete mess.In what seems like a bid budget for a B Movie, Pyun didn't know how to take advantage of that, and the result is a slow-moving, sometimes boring, confusing action flick.

Driven (2001)

Burt Reynolds saves this film from being a complete mess

[12 November 2001]

Director Renny Harlin reunite with movie star Sylvester Stallone for this year's blockbuster, Driven, an action-drama about the highly dangerous and thrilling lives of race drivers and the volatile world of automobilism, in which champs are made with the same ease they are destroyed. Driven (known previously as Champs) could have been a better movie, wasn't for its videoclip style (sometimes it's impossible to know what's happening on the screens, there are so many things going on, so many style and so many clever shots that you actually loose your interest for the story itself and watch Driven just for the exhilarating accidents – all well-done and incredible realistic) and some sleazy performances, with the exception of the always excellent Burt Reynolds, by far the best thing in Driven.He actually saved the film from being a complete mess.The story (full os cliches) tells the story of a young rookie driver who is having problems with all the fame and money that comes along the job, and the hard-nosed boss of the team (Burt) calls for the help of Joe Tanto (Stallone), a retired cart driver.It's the typical story of the old-timer who made a lot of mistakes in life and now wants to pass the experience he gained with the bad choices he made to this young troubled man who turns out to be a kid with great potential. Overall, it's ok if you don't expect a lot.

Pollock (2000)

The year's finest film!

[11 November 2001]

This is the tragic real story of Jackson Pollock, a brilliant but troubled painter who had problems with alcohol and never got recognized by the critics and public alike,at least not before his death.Pollock is Ed Harris' debut as a filmmaker and if his next projects equal the quality of this good biopic, he has a great future as director and not just as a (talented) actor.I really enjoyed this movie a lot, starting by the performances of the stellar cast.Harris is terrific as the troubled Jackson Pollock, he really gave his very best to create a sensational character,portraying Pollock with realism and heart.Harris also didn't vacillate in getting a lot of weight in order to show the last painful days of the painter with accuracy and courage.But in terms of outstanding performances, Ed is not alone:Marcia Gay Harden is good as Pollock's resigned wife,Jeffrey Tambor steals some scenes as Pollock's critic and friend,and even Val Kilmer does a good job with the limited screen time he has.But is Jennifer Connelly,as Pollock's beautiful and seductive mistress, who contributes more for the movie as a whole.Talented,charming and with a striking presence that resembles a young Elisabeth Taylor, I can't understand why Ed Harris didn't develop Jennifer's character a little bit more but nevertheless, Jennifer is always Jennifer:great and undeniable talented.The other high points of Pollock are the soundtrack (the melody that starts the film is simply thrilling), the nostalgic photography and of course, Ed's skills behind the cameras.Buy Pollock's DVD, you won't regret!

Cherry Falls (1999)

One of the better horror movies that came out in recent years

[11 November 2001]

The story of a little town, Cherry Falls, whose virgins are being stalked and murdered one by one by a mysterious psychopath who wants revenge for an unpunished crime that took place in the same town years ago.One of the better horror films that came out in late 2000, Cherry Falls is the typical case of a nice movie that doesn't get the recognition it deserves.The film didn't even get a theatrical release and was exhibited on TV by USA Network.Thanks to a really original director who knows how to make pictures, Geoffrey Wright, a cast formed by talented and decent actors and a storyline that really holds the tension and keeps you guessing,this gripping and outstanding thriller can now be appreciated by horror fans on VHS or DVD.Brittany Murphy comes out great as the main character, she is so sweet and beautiful, on her way to become a movie star in the years to come, specially after her incredible performance in Don't Say a Word, so does Michael Biehn and specially Jay Mohr, who is devilishly funny and bitter.Look no further for a great slasher thriller: Cherry Falls is a good choice!

Hannibal (2001)

A climatic follow-up to Silence of the Lambs!

[2 July 2001]

After having escaped from the FBI in The Silence of the Lambs, Dr. Hannibal Lecter is now in Florence, Italy, with a new identity, studying art and living a good life.Disgraced cop Clarice Starling is being pursued by a vain and cruel colleague,Agent Paul Krendler (Ray Liotta); and her career is in the middle of a downfall thanks to her gung-ho tactics on a narcotics case.Mason Verger (Gary Oldman)is the deformed multi millionaire who wants revenge over Hannibal (he is the sole survivor of the crazed psycho,but ended up with his hole face destroyed),and to do so, he is willing to use Clarice and Agent Krendler in order to track down the doctor.Verger's greatest wish in life is to see his wild geneticly changed animals eating the crap out of Lecter.This sequence to the highly acclaimed Silence of the Lambs has its moments. The movie is visually stunning: powerful imagery and breathtaking camera movements are all around the film, but it lacks a little bit of action and rhythm in some parts, specially in the beginning and in the scenes involving Starling."Hannibal" gets on track when it shows Mason's guys and a detective hunting down Dr. Lecter in Florence. The director, however, brought the suspense and tension from the book by Thomas Harris to life, creating memorable scenes that won't be easily forgot, specially the ending. The acting is outstanding, specially from Gary Oldman, who should win an Academy Award Nomination as Best Supporting Actor, his portrait of Mason Verger won't get out of your head for days. All in all, Hannibal is a nice thriller and definitively a must-have for DVD owners.

The Way of the Gun (2000)

Stay away from this one!

[24 May 2001]

This if the film that marks the debut of screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie as director. Although he has showed some competence as writer with The Usual Suspects, his job as filmmaker is disastrous. What could be an efficient and original suspense turned out to be a mediocre and disgusting picture filled with gratuitous and brutal scenes that pops up at the screen without any apparent reason. Simply put the performances as the worst ones you'll ever see in your life, with the exception of James Caan. The confused storyline tries to blend drama, comedy, violence and action following the "Quentin Tarantino formula" by the book but fails miserably. Stay away from this stinker.

Reindeer Games (2000)

Masterpiece delivered by a real filmmaker!

[28 March 2001]

Reindeer Games is the first motion picture directed by acclaimed filmmaker John Frankenheimer after his 1998 top-notch thriller Ronin, the movie that marked his regained prestige. The success of Ronin landed Frankenheimer a three-picture-deal with Miramax, and by judging the quality of the first effort, Reindeer Games, Miramax did the right thing when they hired Frankenheimer.He may have made some wrong career moves (like directing The Island of Dr. Moreau), but he shows here that when he puts his mind into something, the man delivers perfection Working with a young and talented cast, Frankenheimer once again creates the kind of thriller that made him famous for: Reindeer Games is a rollercoaster ride of suspense, tension and a lot of style. It reminds a lot those exciting and explosive masterpieces of the 70's like The French Connection.Rudy Duncan (Ben Affleck) is a tough but good-hearted con who is going to be released soon from prison after doing his time and wants to start a new phase on his life, completely devoted to his family. He is inspired by his best friend Nick (James Frain), a guy who is also going out at the same day of Rudy. Nick exchanges letters with a kind and sweet girl, Ashley (Charlize Theron), and she gives this man the strength he needs to deal with the horrors of prison. When Nick is stabbed to death during a fight inside the Messroom, Rudy decides to pretend that he is Nicky in order to conquer the girl's heart. But he didn't count on the fact that Ashley has a dangerous brother who read all the letters Nick made to her, and now wants him to be part of a risky plan to pull off the perfect casino heist during Christmas. A truly exciting and compelling movie, Reindeer Game came on the right time, bringing originality and quality for a gender that is in the I.C.U. thanks to bombs like Get Carter and Mission Impossible 2. This is a one-off, a masterpiece built by the guy responsible for classy and unforgettable blockbusters. Reindeer Games carries a kinetic, wall-to-wall energy like those good old fashioned tough-as-nails movies of the golden era of Hollywood, using quick cuts, intelligent camera movements and a dry and direct style of telling a story. The sharp and ironic dialogues yield some funny moments, but Frankenheimer shows that he didn't lose his touch when it comes to orchestrate action scenes with mastery.

Hellraiser: Inferno (2000 Video)

This film is Inferno, all right!

[16 February 2001]

Hellraiser:Inferno is a pretty awful film. I never thought that the interesting and powerful series created by the genius Clive Barker would end up in a garbage like that. The first one was a masterpiece, the second was terrific, and mind you, the third one was at least hallway good. Things started to go wrong with the fourth one.I mean, the impression you have during the running time of Inferno is that the guys of production didn't have enough money to make at least a decent B movie. The story is confusing, the acting is horrible with the possible exception of Graig Sheffer (who had chances to become a star and wasted them all, he must wake up every night screaming and asking himself what did he do to deserve such a fate), and director Scott Derrickson tried to turn Hellraiser: Inferno into a cheap copy of Se7en. SPOILERS AHEAD Sheffer plays a corrupt and dirty cop trying to catch a serial killer called Engineer who turns out to be Pinhead. During the investigations he stumbles across the weird creatures of hell and the worst special effects Hollywood has to offer.The cenobites, however, looked cool (the two new female twins cenobites are at the same time frightful and in a strange way seductive, but Pinhead appeared in just two scenes). Hellraiser: Inferno certainly doesn't deserve your time and money.

Shivers (1975)

A roller coaster ride of violence!

[16 February 2001]

This is what I call a really, really brutal and sick flick. If you thought that The Last House on the Left and The Hills Have Eyes were violent and repulsive, wait until you watch Shivers. Before viewing it, I knew I should expect disturbing and weird things from David Cronenberg, but Shivers is such a terrifying and brutal picture that I couldn't believe in what I had just seen when the credits started to roll. The Fly, Scanner and Videodrome are examples of David's fascination and obsession with the flesh and the ways in which technology and sex blend themselves in modern society, Shivers is crueler and more offensive then those three ones and it stays more faithful to the director's ideas because it doesn't have limits: this was David Cronenberg's first motion picture, and at the time he was hungrier (and crueler) than ever, he knew that Shivers was a do-or-die project, and that the movie could mean a ticket to more sophisticated and better offers.He was working into a extremely small-budget, the mother of all creative ideas (Wes Craven with The Last House on the Left and John Boorman with Deliverance).The film centers on a closed complex of buildings infested by parasites that are turning the inhabitants of the place into sex-starved maniacs. As the parasites infect the people, a series of rapes and murders start to happen inside the buildings, turning everything into a living hell.Get ready to witness a man opening a guy's head with a hammer, a woman with her little daughter being raped inside an elevator and a doctor being brutalized inside a pool by thousands of maniacs. If you don't have a strong stomach, stay away from Shivers!

Girl, Interrupted (1999)

The importance of friendship!

[4 December 2000]

Girl, Interrupted is one of the top ten best movies of 1999 (better than the highly overrated American Beauty and the tedious The Green Mile), an involving and interesting drama that catches your attention from start to finish without appealing to over-the-top and exaggerated dramatic scenes.It's a fresh, agile and often funny entertainment that leaves you by the end with a smile on the face .In my point of view, the main theme wasn't the question of "what's sane and what's insane", the real goal was to show how friendship is important for our lives and how it's imperative to keep a good-heart and be noble and human even at the most disgusting moments of life. In another director's hands, Girl, Interrupted could ended up being the typical Hollywood tear-jerker, but I have to give kudos for James Mangold (the guy responsible for the efficient and underrated Copland), who inspired terrific performances by a great cast (specially by Brittany Murphy, she is an actress you should keep an eye on - expect to hear a lot about this talented, beautiful and charming young woman on the years to come) and told the story in a realistic manner(what makes Girl, Interrupted seems a little bit hard in some parts), but also leaving a positive and upbeat felling in the audiences as the story develops the relationship between the characters. That's when we understand that a friend always makes a difference in our lives.

The Untouchables (1987)

Director Brian De Palma's finest, years before Mission to Mars!

[9 November 2000]

I reviewed The Untouchables about a year ago, but after watching it yesterday on television,I felt I had to do another review, because I perceived a narrative quality that I hadn't notice in the first time I saw it. The movie marked me, specially due some brutal action scenes (who can forget the gruesome moment in which the underrated Billy Drago blows away Sean Connery with a machine gun?), but The Untouchables isn't just about style.Well, the movie is undoubtly a stylish and violent thriller, but that's no surprise, since De Palma is known for his peculiar way of making films, it has masterful performances, and although some people say that Robert De Niro was terrible as Capone, in my opinion he did one hell of a job. His Capone is as menacing, cynic and tough as the Jimmy Conway of Goodfellas.Sean Connery was great too, Malone, his character, was the toughest one of "the crew" and his performance was terrific, controlled and true-to-life because when you watch the film, you are actually absorbed by the way De Palma develops Malone's relationship and friendship with Costner's character, and you realize that in the end, Costner's character isn't the same man he was, he took a lot of his old friend with him.In the end, you actually feel that you've known each one of those characters, and you fell sorry for the fate of some unfortunate members of the team and glad for the success of the others who survived.Brian De Palma is acclaimed for his technique in delivering complex takes and thrilling tension, but here he also managed to give space for the actors to give stand-out performances and he also knew how to tell a good story without letting his personal visual and technique abilities to get in the way of the plot, something he didn't achieved in Mission to Mars.

Heat (1986)

Burt's hot in this action film!

[9 November 2000]

Nick Scaliente (Reynolds) is a tough guy who is obsessed with gambling and lives a sleazy life in Las Vegas, working as a body guard. When his girl friend is beaten up by a spoiled rich kid, Nick decides to get even with the guys. This is a typical Burt Reynolds action flick of the mid eighties (like Stick and Malone), it isn't Burt's greatest film, but it isn't his worst (this `honor' goes to Crazy Six). The script was penned by legend William Goldman, so the story is interesting and sustains the attention during its whole running time, although I felt that the film could have been a little shorter. The action scenes are well-done, and I loved the final showdown between Burt and the mob guys, on the streets of Las Vegas. The photography accentuates the two sides of Las Vegas – the glamorous and the deadly and treacherous sides - the town never looked so bright and shining, kudos to the art director and photography .Burt gives as usual a terrific and powerful performance, how can you forget that brutal scene in which he goes to the spoiled kid's place,full of body guards, and beats them up to death. Cynic, charming but menacing, there are moments when Burt gives that hateful and resented look, you wonder if he is going to chop your head off in a second. Heat was originally intended to be directed by acclaimed director Robert Altman, but discussions with producer Elliot Kastner made him abandon the project, and that's a shame, because even without Altman, Heat is a decent thriller. With Altman as director, it could have been a lot better.

A Marriage of Convenience (1998 TV Movie)

Highly entertaining and pleasant film!

[19 October 2000]

This highly entertaining movie surprised the hell out of me, because it's really great and compelling considering the fact that it's a TV film.Marriage of Convenience is well-produced and directed, with a modest but pleasant love story.There is nothing new here, but at least you will find an old-fashioned "valentines" motion picture.James Brolin is an underrated excellent and capable actor, and he plays his part with charm.It's a shame the fact that only his son Josh is making success on the big screens (Hollow Man, Best Laid Plans), because James Brolin is an actor who still has a lot to offer beyond being Barbra Streisand's husband. Jane Seymour is great as his romantic interest. The film is sweet and simple, maybe that's why it was so interesting and appealing to me, because nowadays violence and brutal deaths are becoming frequent ways to attract people to the theaters, and seeing something like this soft love story makes you fell good.

Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Extremely violent to the point of being unpleasant!

[19 October 2000]

Sleepy Hollow is one of the worst films of 1999, a big embarrassment for the Paramount Studios and everybody involved with this mess. Tim Burton directed this macabre and bizarre story with the generous doses of sadism that are actually a common thing of his whole career. Extremely violent to the point of being unpleasant, with over-the-top and exaggerated performances by the main cast and a story full of holes, Sleepy Hollow is such a disappointment that Johnny Depp should avoid to come closer to Burton for the next hundred years.The only thing that saved this bomb from the total failure was the presence of Casper Van Dien, who provided some few interesting moments and stole every frame he was in but ended up disappearing just as quickly.Even a horror film must have a script that gives to the story a clear and concise development, so the audience can understand what's going on and get involved with the movie, but Sleepy Hollow is more like a huge "gluing" of scenes that have no connection at all. If you really want to watch a good horror flick, rent Hellbound Hellraiser 2 or Deadly Friend.

Brokedown Palace (1999)

A terrific performance by talented and charming Claire Danes!

[18 October 2000]

It's beyond me the reasons why Brokedown Palace didn't get a theatrical release in many countries, including Brazil, because it's a surprisingly interesting and good court drama. Claire Danes puts in what anyone might expect from her - a terrific and true-to-life performance, as the independent and daring friend, but Beckinsale seems wooden and apathetic during the whole running time. Bill Pullman is an excellent actor ,and he has an important part, as the lawyer who tries to get the girls out of the jail, but he didn't get enough screen time to develop his character.I liked the story, because it really catches your attention, and it also gives meaningful lessons about the importance of having friends and keeping them inside our hearts. I don't want to disregard the job of the cast, but Brokedown Palace really belongs to Claire Danes who is the heart of the movie. She has one particular scene that will stay with me forever: it's when Beckinsale, the weaker friend, gets sick and Danes, the stronger one, takes care of her, watching her sleeping and protecting Beckinsale's head with her leg. Talented, charming and easy-going, she proves once again why she is the greatest actress of her generation!

Hollow Man (2000)

One of the greatest thrillers ever!

[16 October 2000]

This is one of the years' greatest movies. I loved Hollow Man, and I must admit that I am a big fan of Verhoeven's work, except maybe for Basic Instinct. But I loved the cynicism and the dark humor of Starship Troopers and Showgirls, the daring and the courage that are typical of his films, and this is what makes his motion pictures unique. Here Verhoeven explores the action and the suspense, and delivers with mastery a horror flick with really exasperating situations (like when Bacon's character tries to rape his beautiful neighbour) and the kind of action that every summer blockbuster picture must have (the ending in the elevator). Fine performances from the cast. Elizabeth Shue, as usual, is terrific, I really hope to see more of this talented actress soon. Kevin Bacon is devilishly charming and dangerous as the psychopath and Josh Brolin is also great, I liked his work in Nightwatch and Best Laid Plans, but those were supporting roles and here he had the chance to play a leading part, he comes out really well. Summing up, I highly recommend this tense and original thriller!

The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

One of the most sadistic films ever done

[13 October 2000]

This low-budget horror film reminds a lot of Deliverance and it's also one of director Wes Craven's finest. It's a shocking, brutal movie about ordinary people being assaulted by a family of mutants. It doesn't have the class of Deliverance, but instead is the movie's rawness and cruelty that make it so fresh and vivid even after more than twenty years since its original release. Director Wes Craven shows like no one ever did that he is master-skilled in sustaining the suspense and tension during the whole running time. Although not very gory for today's standards, The Hills Have Eyes carries sadistic and gruesome scenes, like rape, a man being teared apart by a dog, and lots of blood.The experience is so realistic that you feel sorry by those common people being menaced by crazed mountain men. This is not a film for persons with week stomach.

The Hurricane (1999)

Boring and pretentious c**p

[21 September 2000]

This is the biography of Rubin `Hurricane' Carter (Denzel Washinton, in a fine performance), a fearless boxer who almost becomes the Champion of the World, 'till he is unjustly accused of murder. He spends twenty two years of his life behind the bars,and then decides to write a book, `The 16th Round', to tell his story to the people. A young, African-American kid (Vicellous Reon Shannon) casually buys a copy of the book and becomes fascinated with Carter's life. He sees some parallel between his life and Carter's life, and the boxer inspires the kid to reach his goals.He decides to help Carter and get him out of the jail, counting with the help of his three Canadian friends (Deborah Unger, Liev Schreiber and John Hannah).The film is a little bit slow and too long. It starts out o.k. and gives an insight in Carter's childhood and how he became the enraged guy he was, but it soon fails miserably when it tries to be too moralist and pretentious.The story could have been told in less than two hours, but filmmaker Norma Jewison, the man behind classics like In the Heat of the Night, directed `Hurricane' in a bureaucratic and tiresome way. Although the basic idea is very interesting, this film doesn't have emotion and strength enough to sustain the patience of the audience for two and a half hour, every year theaters are bombarded with `court room dramas' (like Rules of Engagement, etc.), and this is just one more of them. The performances of a great trio of stars save, in parts, the movie. Rod Steiger has little screen time, but his appearance is powerful and energetic, and his imposing presence helps to elevate the quality of the motion picture. Denzel Washington is very good, but this certainly wasn't a part for which he should have been nominated for an Oscar, he was better in The Bone Collector. Dan Hedaya also has a small part, but he creates a hateful and racist villain. As a whole, "Hurricane" is an o.k. film that had plenty of possibilities but that ended up screwed by a bad script and an uninspired direction.

Rocky II (1979)

Get ready to go the distance again with Rocky in this great film!

[21 September 2000]

When it first came out in 1976, Rocky conquered the sympathy and love of audiences all around the world with the story of this simple-minded innocent man who has his million-to-one shoot and strives to go the distance for self-respect.To this day Rocky remains one of the finest films ever. A sequence was inevitable, and Stallone comes back to the role that earned him an Oscar Nomination,in Rocky 2.This time also directing the movie, he demonstrates a surprisingly dexterity for the job, because he sustains during the whole time the moving and thrilling rhythm that made the first one so great. Rocky's running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum again, followed by thousands of children, Bill Conti's unforgettable "Gonna Fly Now" and the dramatic and decisive final bout between Rocky and Apollo are the top moments of the movie.This is an inspiring drama about how important is to fight for our dreams and goals, and it also teaches that if even we don't achieve our greatest desires in the end, it's always worth fighting for them.My rating is: **** out of ***** (four stars out of five).

X-Men (2000)

Terrific,old-fashioned and brilliant film!

[20 September 2000]

It took a lot of time for X-Men to make it to the big screen and turn into a motion picture event, but the final result was worth the waiting.This smash-hit not only beat the crap out of the other blockbusters but also received terrific reviews and gained the love of the public around the whole world for a very good reason: what makes X-Men such a vivid, interesting and original movie is the fact that it isn't a typical pointless action blockbuster.X-Men reminds me a lot of the first Superman, released in 1978, because such as X-Men, back in the seventies Superman was the motion picture that everybody was waiting to see for a long time, and people made lines in front of the theaters to watch for the first time a man flying.So, you see, it had that appeal, that feeling, and the movie also had a good, well-written story, you don't get wall-to-wall action in Superman - of course, there are adventure and scenes in which the special effects are necessary to build that moment - but the story is so sweet and human that you feel like you really got to know every one of the characters in the end. You cheered for Superman, you cried in some sad scenes, you enjoyed the ride. But nowadays, you don't get that feeling any more.X-Men came in just about the right time, with its old-fashioned story, in which the main characters, and not just the special effects, have the spotlight.In X-Men you will find everything that makes a movie so great- a terrific director (Brian Singer is the guy responsible for films like Apt Pupil and The Usual Suspects), a brilliant story and great acting by a talented cast, Anna Paquin is so beautiful and great here!she changed a lot since The Piano,the only thing that didn't change is her powerful talent!congratulations for the cast directors for giving to Hugh Jackman the role of Wolverine, this is the part he was born to play, and he is such one hell of a good actor that I am certain that he has a brilliant, stellar future on Hollywood!watch X-Men, and discover again the pleasure to watch a beautiful and old-fashioned story!

Waterproof (2000)

The Unknown Best Film of 1999

[28 August 2000]

This moving and beautiful drama wasn't released on theaters in 1999, and that's a shame. Few people will have the grateful surprise to discover this sensible masterpiece, but if you have a chance and run into Waterproof in a videostore, give it a try.This is a sensible and touching independent film and Burt Reynolds has in it maybe the best performance of his career. Although Boogie Nights remains as a landmark for his career, Waterproof is a film in which he delivered his best performance so far. Reynolds plays Eli Zeal, an angry old Jewish guy who owns a little grocery store. When a ten year old boy shoots him, the mother of the kid puts Eli and the kid inside a cab and takes them to her home town, Waterproof. The lady is scared of the police, so she convinces Eli that she will treat him in her parent's house. Eli ends up getting involved with the story of this family, and he learns more about those people - this young woman ran away from her home due to a secret. She has two brothers, an alcoholic one and a mentally ill. She just wants to get on with her life and forgive herself for the mistakes she made, but in order to do that she must face the past and tell the truth, and Eli tries to convince her to trust her parents and family and leave all the secrets behind. At the same time, Eli, who was a loner since his wife and kid died, discovers how love and friendship, two things he though he had lost a long time ago, may give everyone a better beginning. The movie starts a little bit slow,the first half of the film requires patience and attention, but soon Waterproof develops itself into a climatic rollercoaster ride of emotions.This is basically a story of second chances, of the discovery of love, of how in a certain point of our lives we have to look back and see what we have been doing, and if we want to change. Waterproof shows us how to find this courage to change. Watch this film, it's a shame the fact that it's unknown, because it is the best film of 1999.Burt Reynolds must be proud to have such a classy, terrific masterpiece in his filmography. An excellent actor, Reynolds' best widely known parts were in Deliverance and Boogie Nights, but Waterproof is a kind of a challenge to him.Here you won't find the macho man of Deliverance, nor the cynic porn director of Boogie Nights. Here Reynolds gives a kind, tearful interpretation, of a man who is in need of care and love.

Deadly Friend (1986)

In One Word - Outstanding!!

[21 August 2000]

Deadly Friend is a largely unknown film from acclaimed director Wes Craven, who became famous for movies like The Hills Have Eyes and The Last House on the Left. But if you give a chance to this thriller you will find something very original and scary...very scary!Deadly Friend is a genuinely frightening experience, it has such a great story that catches you from the beginning to the end. First of all, the plot is original and interesting - Deadly Friend isn't just another horror film, it's in parts a love story and in others it works as an old-fashioned gripping thriller that would make Hitchcock or De Palma proud of. Paul is a new kid in town, and he is a genius in computers and robots. He falls in love with the kind, sweet and vulnerable girl next door, Samantha, but everything ends up bad when Samantha's abusive father kills her. The guy freaks out and steals Samantha's body. He uses all his knowledge in machines and computer chips, and achieves to bring her back...as a killer robot!he takes her to his attic but she soon starts to kill the persons who used to humiliate her.

The Cast: the cast is great, terrific performances are delivered by the main actors. Kirsty Swanson is outstanding as Samantha, in the first hour of the film she is so sweet you may fall in love with her, in the last hour she is scary as hell. She is an excellent young star, and in certain ways, she reminds a lot another great young actress, Reese Witherspoon, she has that quality of delivering true-to-life, real performances, and like Reese she has an innocent beauty.Mathew Laborteaux makes a believable character, Paul is a guy who isn't a bad kid, he just is desperate to help the girl he loves but doesn't know how to deal with the consequences of his acts.

The Director: Wes Craven once again hits big time!this is one of his greatest films, but it will be a surprise for his fans because, instead of what they saw in The Hills Have Eyes and in most of Craven's films, Deadly Friend isn't so violent. Of course, you get some blood and guts here, but the deaths are relative low. If you want to see a body count, go rent Hellbound Hellraiser 2. Craven's goal here is that he sustains some kind of genuine suspense during the whole film with mastery, something that just Alfred Hitchcok used to do well.

The Story: in just one word - OUTSTANDING!this is a different, compelling story, it's a gripping tale that mixes such elements like love and horror, it's an appealing and charming material.

If you want to watch something really good, rent this great movie!here you will find suspense, humor, horror and love. It's a great job from great professionals!

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

A classy, top-notch horror film!

[21 August 2000]

Night of the Living Dead is maybe the first horror movie that graced the silver screens with such violent, shocking scenes that even after more than thirty years, still can bring chills down your spine. Watching it nowadays, it's incredible how this low-budget, simple film survived the test of time and continues to scare a lot of people. Night of the Living Dead isn't just a horror film, it's a story about survival, about what men are capable of doing when they are in knife-edge situations. Romero does a great job with his movie, and he injects such power and relentless suspense to the flick that when you watch it, you fell like you are inside that house with those people, you fell every fright, every danger, every terror that those people on the film are facing.Another great point of the story is that you got believable, real characters, those people react at the situation the same way you or me would react. It's the same thing that John Boorman made with Deliverance, he putted ordinary people in extraordinary situations and simply showed what would happen to us on the same situation. The claustrophobic settings, the terrific performances (all of the main actors are great. They are not interpreting characters, they are bringing them to life!) and Romero's talent in directing a horror film make Night of the Living Dead a classic!if you want to have a good time with friends watching great horror movies, rent Night of the Living Dead, The Hills Have Eyes and Hellbound Hellraiser 2.

Urban Legend (1998)

I Know What You Did Last Summer's Knock Off

[19 August 2000]

Urban Legend was one of those films that were released in 1997-1998, two years that were crucial to the "comeback" of horror movies. I Know What You Did Last Summer made a lot of money for Columbia Pictures, so this film Urban Legend was inevitable. Urban Legend takes place on a campus, where teenagers are being brutally killed in extremely cruel ways, and the murderer seems to kill people according to the urban legends, stories that are told to us by friends and parents.

SPOILERS AHEAD

The Acting: pretty much terrible. Jared Letto, in his first big role in a motion picture, does a fairly ordinary job, and he doesn't have the charm to carry the movie. Alicia Witt was boring, and we didn't get to like her, nor care. Rebecca Gayheart is terrible as the psycho killer, in the end of the film her character shows to Alicia Witt why she is blowing away her teen friends. Gayheart, instead of suggesting danger, makes you laugh out loud, she exaggerates a lot and gives a terrible performance.The only good acting came from Tara Reid, sweet and outstanding, why she didn't get the main part of the film is beyond me.Robert Englund, of Freddy Krueger's fame, makes a cool cameo, Brad Dourif also shines in a small part.

The Story: this is almost a good point of the film. You really don't get to discover who is the crazy bastard killing the teens until the last ten minutes. But it has a lot of plot roles, illogical sequences and boring parts.However, the beginning of the film is great, and the end, even with Gayheart's bad acting, is also great.

The Suspense: well, this is a fairly poor movie when it comes to heart and suspense. It didn't have the same appeal of I Know What You Did Last Summer or Scream, because you really know when something is going to happen.The only sequences that bring chills are the beginning and the ending.

The Violence: extreme violence. A lot of blood and guts, but if you want to see something really grotesque and violent, check Hellbound Hellraiser 2 out!

In the end, what you get from this film is a mediocre entertainment. It had many chances to become an excellent thriller, but bad acting and bad director turned this into a complete mess. Two great scenes can't save the whole movie.If you want to see really GREAT horror films, you should watch Hellbound Hellraiser 2, Deadly Friend and The Hills Have Eyes.

Deep Blue Sea (1999)

Jaws + Speed = Deep Blue Sea

[31 July 2000]

Deep Blue Sea is a sharp, intelligent thriller, is like a mixture of Jaws and Speed. Director Renny Harlin once again proves that he is one of the most talented filmmakers in doing action films. He delivers bone-chilling situations, action at its best and achieves to create an entertaining-although not original- film, but, hey, that's what movies are all about. The cast is terrific, Thomas Jane, an unknown actor, had the chance to make a big transposition from small supporting roles to a bigger part. He is terrific as the tough, intrepid hero as is Samuel L. Jackson as the millionaire financing the shark project. There are a lot of roles in the story, the plot isn't convincing (sharks's brains used to help Parkinson patients?right.) but Deep Blue Sea sustains the interest during its time by delivering action and tension, it's like a rollercoaster ride with turns and surprises. The sharks are really impressive, but comparisons with Jaws are a little bit unfair, because a lot of time separates the two productions. The main difference between those two films is that in Jaws, you really didn't get to see a lot of the shark (that was a nice idea, because when you don't see what is coming, the suspense gets higher, just remember The Blair Witch Project) and in Deep Blue Sea you see big sharks cutting arms and heads off, faster and meaner than ever. Hollywood seems to be looking for its own past in order to bring a new breath to the industry of filmmaking, and even Burt Reynolds, who became a movie star after Deliverance, is know working in his Island of the Dead, he calls this film "the spiritual offspring of Deliverance". If remaking this old classics means to bring those interesting stories adapted to our time, then Hollywood is finally making a good bet!