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Reviews
Scarface (1983)
Greatest Gangsta Movie Ever
I remember seeing Scarface when it first came out and being absolutely mesmerized by it. I have to say that the cursing somewhat bothered me at the time, but it doesn't seem that extreme compared to a lot of films today.
The chainsaw scene in the motel will ALWAYS stick in my mind. I thought that was one of the most terrifying scenes I had ever seen on film.
Al Pacino is unbelievable, at times a little over the top, but I think maybe that was intentional.
This was Michelle Pfeiffer's first big breakout role. After this one, the parts started pouring in. I love her performance in this, especially the coke speech in the restaurant.
For you gen-Y youngsters out there, you don't realize how brilliant filmmaking was in the 70's and 80's, before it was spoiled by the moronic big studio mentality of today. You can criticize this film, but this was very daring and provocative stuff compared to the pap produced today.
I'm a woman, and I love violent gangster movies. This is one of the best ones ever. I like it much better than the Godfather films.
The Patriot (2000)
Good Grief, all you PC people...
I think some of the comments about The Patriot are just a reflection of the politically correct, brain washed, ignorant times that we live in. And also a reflection of the majority of people in this country who have NO appreciation for what our founding fathers died for.
Does every person living in this century KNOW beyond a doubt that EVERY black slave suffered horribly and had a miserable life? Isn't it a possibility that some of them could have been treated well? Isn't it a possibility that every Indian on the frontier wasn't slaughtered by the big, evil white man? Isn't it a REAL fact that many, many Indians SLAUGHTERED, needlessly, white men who immigrated here?
Do you people not know that African slaves were sold into slavery by their fellow Africans, that many of them who came here were criminals? And that it was the Spanish who created the slave trade, not the Americans? And that the Africans had their own system of slavery in Africa? And that the Indians brutally tortured and killed each other in times of war, and also took white men as war prisoners?
I don't understand what all this PC stuff has to do with a movie about a war that CREATED this FREE country.
It's sort of like American citizens biting the hands that feed them. And in that time, war was considered a fact of life -- a means of survival.
It's almost like some of these reviewers wish that we had never fought, at least in their unrealistic PC minds, the American revolution. Then they wouldn't have had the opportunity to live in the greatest country that has ever existed. I guess it's not PC to talk about history at all, unless it's degrading the evil American white man, who in their cloistered minds, is the only race that has ever done anything wrong in the history of the universe.
All you PC'ers are TOTALLY missing the point!
Happiness (1998)
American Beauty Ripped This One Off
It's so obvious to me, having seen this movie when it first came out, and then having read the script for American Beauty, (although I haven't seen it yet) that American Beauty is a TOTAL, homogenized, dumbed down, Hollywood PC, RIP-OFF of Happiness, which is a BRILLIANT, MORE TRUTHFUL, and far superior film.
I've read both scripts, and Happiness is by far the greater script. American Beauty is a Hollywood mainstream cop out of what Happiness had the real guts to say about life.
Anyone who doesn't like this movie is living with their head in the sand and has forgotten all the little "sordid" details from their own lives. I wonder how many people dissing this film have actually masturbated, been sexually abused, or had lustful thoughts about their neighbors themselves. It's so hard for them to view because it throws their own lives right up at them on the screen.
I think this movie is incredible, and one of the best films ever made. Todd Solondz should be applauded for his gutsiness to tell it like it is, and not condemned. American Beauty is a very pale substitute that was obviously contrived for those who don't have the guts to view Happiness.
The Birth of a Nation (1915)
Is Art Supposed to be Politically Correct?
As a native southerner, I resent the implication that all southerners are racist. The north did IN FACT brutally destroy the south out of misguided arrogance. What they did to the south was FAR worse than a lot of the propagandized conditions of slavery, which was already on the way out anyway.
Art and this film should be judged on artistic standards, not on political correctness.
And IDMB, I'll be very surprised if you print this comment, since you tend to delete all of my comments that are controversial or unsugar coated. Yeah, this is a challenge, and I'm sure you won't rise to the occasion.
Under the Skin (1997)
Stunning Performance by Samantha Morton
Although I missed about the first 20 minutes of this when I saw it recently on HBO, I thought it was a very interesting film, with a brave, stunning, sexual performance by Samantha Morton. Quite a departure from her role on Jane Eyre, where I had seen her previously.
The sexuality was real and intense, and her desperation as a woman spinning out of control was effective and touching.
Some of the best acting I've seen in quite a while. And I liked the "out there" eroticism aspect of the film. True eroticism is not portrayed well in movies anymore, at least not in the US, basically because the studios lack guts.
And I liked the fact that the film was written and directed by a woman. The scene where she has phone sex with her lover and tells him what she wants to do to him is stunning, only a woman could have written that! A man would have shied away from depicting a woman's sexuality in such a frank and aggressive manner.
American Hollow (1999)
Excellent Portrait of Southern White Trash Dysfunction
As someone who grew up in the deep south, and had to leave it as an adult for the purpose of economic survival and the avoidance of poverty, I can deeply relate to this family.
The interesting thing about them is that they complain about their impoverished condition, yet when the 18 year-old boy want to move to Ohio to pursue a better life, the family sabotages his efforts with discouraging words such as "a bad check always returns."
Having come from such a family that also tried to sabotage my efforts to gain self-respect through work and better economic opportunities, this all rang true for me. Especially coming from a southern culture where ties to the land are strong and very few people actually summon up the guts to move to "the big city," where the inevitable hardships and culture shock await.
A very accurate and moving portrait of a southern family, obviously one which cares about each other, but one which seems to wallow in it's own dysfunction and lack of ambition. I kept wanting to say to them, but you could have a better life, if only you'd get up off your caboose and go out into the big, bad world and show some gumption and make something of yourself. That kind of attitude seems to be common in families which have grown up in a rural environment. I know, because I met many people like that in Arkansas, where I was raised.
Insomnia (1997)
Stunningly Beautiful Cinematography
This film was much better than I had expected it to be, I actually watched it twice on video. Stellan Skarsgard BLEW ME AWAY with his edgy, intense, psychotic performance. This man should be getting Hollywood roles!
The cinematography and set design were stunning. The film was shot against a moody mix of blacks, grays, industrial greens, whites, and red accents, which only added to the gritty, film noir feel.
Not a major film, but definitely a pleasurable surprise. I give most of the credit to the excellent direction and Stellan's brilliant performance.
Powder (1995)
SEAN IS DA BOMB!
I never saw this movie when it first came out. I recently rented it and was BLOWN AWAY by Sean Patrick Flanery's BRILLIANT performance. Truly, I never knew this man was that talented. He deserved an Oscar for his performance. The single best piece of acting I've seen in years or maybe ever. He WAS that character -- I truly felt his pain.
It's very admirable to see a "macho" male actor who's not afraid of doing a role that exposes raw vulnerability and fragility.