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Reviews
Rumor Has It... (2005)
An inferior simulacrum
I think the New York Times had it right--if you missed all of the romantic comedies of 2005, you can make up for it with this one movie. While the movie's premise had a mite of potential, it was wasted on a bland and predictable story. "The Graduate" is such a classic movie that this one cannot even hope to come close to it. It's too bad they didn't get any of the original cast to play their original parts--Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft could have returned in rather clever cameos (obviously they wanted no part in this movie). But we did get Shirley McClaine, who is really the only saving grace of this movie and rips the movie right out from underneath her co-stars' feet. She's right on target as usual--sharp as a tack! The others are competent in their roles, although Kevin Costner has cleverly reinvented himself as a middle-aged man who doesn't take himself quite as seriously anymore. Who would have seen that coming?
Life or Something Like It (2002)
Oh, so sad
It's so sad that Angelina Jolie would pick a movie like this--I know she wanted to do a comedy, but this really wasn't the one. While I appreciated some of the very sharp dialogue and Tony Shalhoub and Stockard Channing's excellent performances (as always), the movie was just overly sugary. But it is rather amusing to see the so-called bad girl of Hollywood play this very put-together, high maintenance news correspondent. I'll put it this way: if it's on cable and you have nothing to do (like I did when I saw it), then watch it. It's not too bad (but that blond hair is!).
The Quiet American (2002)
Finally a subtle film! (Greene at his best)
Someone my parents know was trying to describe this movie, and he said that basically it's about Vietnam but nothing really happens. Nothing could be more untrue. For those of you who enjoy utterly subtle movies and understatement at its best, this is the film for you. Of course, a great deal happens in the film, but it is all below the surface. Michael Caine gives an exquisite performance as Fowler--I could not have imagined anyone else in that role. It is really too bad that the film was so overshadowed by the current (2002/2003) state of the world; that and its low box office returns make it impossible for Caine's performance to be truly recognized. Phillip Noyce also does a wonderful job of capturing the sort of sense of atmosphere that is characteristic of Greene's novels. The film follows the book remarkably faithfully, so Graham Greene fans need not worry as to being offended.
La pianiste (2001)
Looks the critics were blindfolded when they saw this one..
I read the reviews of this movie, and they were generally pretty good so I thought I should see it. I'm a big Francophile and art film lover, but I believe this is yet another case in which the critics make something "arty" or "intellectual" into something it is not. I will be blunt: it contains scenes of sexual perverseness that I never, ever wanted to actually see. Obviously, the piano teacher has some major psychological issues, but I really did not want to see them displayed so graphically. The film is, in essence, disgusting. I mean, when I saw Requiem for a Dream, I was repulsed by the last sort of scene with Jennifer Connelly, but that was not anywhere near the sort of disgust and repulsion I felt during this film.
Margaret Cho: Notorious C.H.O. (2002)
Fabulous as always, and even funnier than the first one
Be warned: Margaret Cho is not for the prim or proper. If you don't find jokes about eating pussy funny, then this movie is definitely not the right one for you. For those of us of find it totally hilarious, I guarantee her routine will make you laugh until you cry. I personally think it's funnier than the first one, but then again she does fewer impressions of her mother (ARE YOU GAY??) in this one, which is a minus.
Sexy Beast (2000)
#2 of the top three WORST films I've ever seen
Do not ever go see or rent this movie. I think movie critics are sometimes taken in by art films simply because they are "art" films. The director's attempts at symbolism were ridiculous and incredibly heavy-handed. When you see what one of my friends calls the gross, psycho bunny-man, you will probably start laughing in the theater, as I did. The symbolic nature of the bunny-man is so obvious that it is an insult to my intelligence. Furthermore, I had a very hard time understanding what everyone was saying, and I have watched other British movies where the accents are similar. Ben Kingsley does give a good performance, but unfortunately I felt like I was the one who was being yelled at during the movie. In addition, there is one extremely violent scene that I found to be utterly repulsive. I am usually not shocked by anything either, but this was a bit excessive. Don't waste your time going to see this--there are many other films of much higher quality out there.
The Tango Lesson (1997)
the worst ever!
This is the worst movie I have ever seen, and I have seen quite a few movies. It is passed off as an art film, but it is really a piece of trash. It's one redeeming quality is the beautiful tango dancing, but that cannot make up for Sally Potter's disgustingly obvious tribute to herself. The plot of this movie is nonexistent, and I guarantee you will start laughing by the end. Especially where she starts singing. It's absolutely unreal.
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
Amusing British comedy
I enjoy this film because the British humor can be so funny and weird sometimes. Hugh Grant annoys me to some degree because of the whole eye-lash-batting and stuttering thing, but otherwise he's pretty good. There is one line at the end about the rain--if you see it, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about--it is so fake. However, the other members of the little gang are terrific--Scarlet, the two gay men, Kristin Scott Thomas, Bernard, Lydia, the deaf brother--they're all really funny. They make the movie really worth watching.
The Bone Collector (1999)
a poorly written movie
The Bone Collector was one of the worst films I saw this year. The plot, though interesting at times, ultimately fails to deliver. I don't want to give away the end, but it is really an anticlimax. I don't blame either Denzel Washington or Angelina Jolie for the poor quality of the movie, although I have seen them both perform much better in other movies. The characters have either very cursory or no development at all. The little that is added to these mostly one dimensional characters seems extremely contrived and adds no real depth to any of the characters.
The Hurricane (1999)
biased, but strong performance by Washington
I really thought that this film was very biased, and that it basically did a one-sided defense of Hurricane Carter. I thought that they overvillified the cop who pursued Carter. Furthermore, some of the details, which were significant, of the trial and why those Canadian people just decided to drop everything and join the case were a bit unclear. However, Denzel Washington did a magnificent job as Carter--one of the best of his career.