When this film was on tv (again), I watched it for a bit (again). You can say all you want about it: the film lasts far too long, the symbolism sucks, but when you change channels or stop the tape while watching to do something else for a moment you still have a sense of urgency: time is running out. That is a compliment to this film: the actors and the story drag you in and you get caught up in the film more than you had expected. Even though at times the film bores you to death... and it has no pace... and the-two-teens-being-Adam-and-Eve-metaphore made me vomit... Oh yeah: the film has Morgan Freeman
Reviews
5 Reviews
Frequency
(2000)
Sweet as sugar, tedious and boring
5 September 2000
The basis for this film is quite interesting, the explanation somewhat thin, but still, it's nice to see a man communicate with his soon to be late father, who is living in another time. Having seen the trailer however, the film holds not one surprise. It's just a series of events that holds no suspense, whatsoever. From the beginning to the end it's clear that everything will turn out perfectly fine and all the characters will end up as one big happy family, and all that at an incredibly slow pace. The film runs 2 hours long, so unless you're an insomniac on a transatlantic flight, you might as well take a nap.
Memoirs of an Invisible Man
(1992)
Apart from the plot? It's OK, cute special effects too
1 August 2000
When you disregard the rather unconvincing plot of this film (man becomes invisible after an accident in nuclear research facility) it's alright. Chevy Chase I don't like much, still his performance is pretty good, and Daryl Hannah looks nice and acts fine. Only why does the crook (Sam Neill, an Irishman) have an English accent when his character is an American? That seems to be a normal thing in Hollywood. The special effects are a job well done, it's really fun to the invisible man eat, then throw up, smoke and have make-up on his face. That, combined with the good leads and the pretty settings, makes this film good entertainment on a slow night.
The Music of Chance
(1993)
Remarkable
23 January 2000
After having read the book I didn't know what to expect from this film. Not too much one might suppose, judging from what generally happens to books when they're translated to film. The book left very clear, clean images in my mind. When I close my eyes I can still see those images: some of them remind me of Edward Hopper paintings, not anything he painted, but the atmosphere and the serenity of those paintings. The film didn't change all of that, a lot of the time the pictures even turned out like I had imagined them.
With only the ending being different from the book, (allowing Paul Auster a short appearance - does the story start over again here?) the film isn't as grim, as dark as the book.
This film makes for calm, to me hypnotic, viewing. I suppose a lot was said in silence, on the other hand: I had read the book before... Very un-hollywood.
With only the ending being different from the book, (allowing Paul Auster a short appearance - does the story start over again here?) the film isn't as grim, as dark as the book.
This film makes for calm, to me hypnotic, viewing. I suppose a lot was said in silence, on the other hand: I had read the book before... Very un-hollywood.
Can't Hardly Wait
(1998)
Ranks high in its genre
22 January 2000
What a sweet movie this is! Predictable all the way, but saved by it's extremely likeable cast: Ethan Embry, as the daydreamer nice guy, Seth Green, showing off is talent in his part as a wigger and the photogenic Jennifer Love Hewitt, who has the part of "perfect girl" down to perfection. (Is there any other way to describe it? She really is that good at it.)
Like most good films in its genre Can't Hardly Wait has many witty moments, pace and charm. The parallels with Fast Times At Ridgemont High are obvious.
Seth Green as a white boy who really would rather have been a black boy is a very funny and to the point social comment. It's a shame, however, that the film can't break loose from the stereotypes that resurface in every teen comedy. There's the blonde bimbos who just look pretty and are armpieces to the jocks. There's the jocks who drink beer and pick on the nerds. There's the nerds who have big glasses and re-enact scenes from Star Wars and the likes. Why don't producers seem able to break away from those stereotypes? The moments where these characters are brought into play, the boring slapstick they engage in... Those are the moments where the film loses it's pace and that's why these films only brush upon interesting subject matter. This is also the reason why new generations won't be bored to watch until the end of this film in twenty years time. I know I changed the channel 30 minutes into Fast Times...
Without the everlasting stereotypes and standard storylines (nice boy wants girl... nerd gets cheerleader for one night or forever more) this kind of film might actually distinguish itself. As long as that doesn't change the rating of this film is likely to remain stuck at 6.3, at which it is stuck right now. That's where the genre deserves to be as it is. I rate this film slightly higher at 7.
Like most good films in its genre Can't Hardly Wait has many witty moments, pace and charm. The parallels with Fast Times At Ridgemont High are obvious.
Seth Green as a white boy who really would rather have been a black boy is a very funny and to the point social comment. It's a shame, however, that the film can't break loose from the stereotypes that resurface in every teen comedy. There's the blonde bimbos who just look pretty and are armpieces to the jocks. There's the jocks who drink beer and pick on the nerds. There's the nerds who have big glasses and re-enact scenes from Star Wars and the likes. Why don't producers seem able to break away from those stereotypes? The moments where these characters are brought into play, the boring slapstick they engage in... Those are the moments where the film loses it's pace and that's why these films only brush upon interesting subject matter. This is also the reason why new generations won't be bored to watch until the end of this film in twenty years time. I know I changed the channel 30 minutes into Fast Times...
Without the everlasting stereotypes and standard storylines (nice boy wants girl... nerd gets cheerleader for one night or forever more) this kind of film might actually distinguish itself. As long as that doesn't change the rating of this film is likely to remain stuck at 6.3, at which it is stuck right now. That's where the genre deserves to be as it is. I rate this film slightly higher at 7.
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