Just because a movie is about something important doesn't mean it's any good. John Q public makes a typically (for Hollywood) brash and broad statement about the state of health care in the U.S. Unfortunately the script is laughably contrived and full of downright silly lines (one of them stolen from The Wizard of Oz for heaven's sake). Background and small role work is poor and the TV movie of the week direction weakens solid performances by Washington and Kimberly Elise.
Reviews
3 Reviews
Proof of Life
(2000)
A poorly directed film that dithers between action, romance and politics.
4 December 2000
An underwritten, poorly directed film that makes Oscar worthy actors look foolish. Meg Ryan's husband is kidnapped by South American terrorists. Crowe volunteers his time to tediously negotiate the man's freedom. In spite of Meg's distress she continues to maintain perky hair and delighfully co-ordinated outfits during her husband's six month ordeal. The growing intensity of her relationship with Crowe is demonstrated by the sharing of a single glass of beer and the rubbing of Crowe's shoulder while he's setting a price on the husband's head. A Naive and slipshod film.
Friends & Lovers
(1999)
self indulgent, derivative and abjectly awful
3 June 1999
Friends and Lovers is a meandering and pointless story about a half dozen depthless characters finding love and sex in a luxury ski lodge. The characters don't seem to have any past but thanks to a talented product placement director, they do have very expensive cars and clothes. Tedious themes (son estranged from father, insensitive Lothario who can't find love) aren't helped any by a gay story line that suggests the writer has never met a gay person in his life. In an industry where producers have to struggle to piece together the funding for a film like "The Opposite of Sex", its upsetting to see such a waste of human effort and money as "Friends and Lovers".
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