Amy723 Reviews

Walk on the Wild Side (1962)

This is an insult to Nelson Algren!

[6 December 2002]

It's obvious that none of the other reviewers has read the book on which this disasters is supposedly based.

I've read the book, it's one of my favorites. This movie is very disloyal to the book and it's a big disappointment. No wonder Nelson Algren didn't even want to attend the premiere.

The only things about this movie that are true to the book are the characters' names (except Jo, who's not even in the book) and some of that plot elements.

Someone mentioned the absurdity of Dove being referred to as a boy and Kitty being referred to as a minor in the film.

That's because in the book, Dove is 17 and Kitty is 16. Hallie is biracial. Oliver is not disabled, but there is a disabled character in the book.

Teresina is perhaps the only character that's closest to the book. But the plot elements that surround the character in the film are slightly different than the book.

What I'm trying to say is that, if you're going to base a movie on a book, at least maintain most of the basic elements. Don't change the story, add new characters or combine existing ones.

This movie is a hack job and I would love to see a version that's true to the book. That would be a much better movie, one worth seeing.

Real Women Have Curves (2002)

It's about time...

[26 October 2002]

that a movie came out that is actually relevant to today's world! This movie is about a girl that can actually exist in my neighborhood and the neighborhoods of just about anyone. It's the answer to all of the "tormented-white-upper middle class-kid" movies like "American Beauty" and "The Virgin Suicides". I can actually care about this girl and about what happens to her.

I had the privilege of attending a free screening of this film, compliments of Latina magazine. I attended the screening with my 13-year-old daughter (who's a dead ringer for America Ferrera). It touched us both.

We laughed at all of the stereotypes that had more that just a little grain of truth to them. We were frustrated with the mom when she and Ana butted heads. We applauded when Ana took a stand against her mom, and utlitmately, against society's expectation of Latin women.

I would recommend this movie to just about anyone, especially women and adolescent girls. Please, don't miss this!

I Am Sam (2001)

Great film, but hard to watch at times

[28 August 2002]

I Am Sam is a great movie that deals with marginalized people in our society and how they're treated. It's a very realistic portrayal. I watched it with my 13 year old daughter and it alternately made us cry, got us angry and caused us to laugh uncontrollably.

Sam is loved and respected by those who know him (Starbuck's patrons, IHOP Waitress, friends), taunted by those who have no regard for anyone different (Lucy's arrogant classmate and his equally arrogant father) and generally misunderstood by everyone else.

I especially liked the irony of the lawyer, who is an emotional train wreck, yet because she's an adult intellecutally, no one questions her ability as a parent. Sam on the other hand loves his daughter and it shows.

This movie is not for anyone looking for a "fun weekend rent". If you rent this, be prepared to have your values and your emotions challenged.

Deuces Wild (2002)

Not as Good as I had Hoped

[24 August 2002]

The trailers to this movie looked good. Maybe they should have released the trailer as the feature.

It seems that a rite of passage for all young, white, male actors is to play an Italian or Irish street tough from Brooklyn (or Jersey or Boston or Philadelphia or Chicago, or Detroit). Any large industrial city where the actors can get away with putting on a stereotypical accent.

But that's not all that bothers me about this movie. There are the tired, clichéd lines like: "...and the streets of Brooklyn where red with blood" and "If I see you talkin' to him again, you're out in the street. You and your old lady."

Fairuza Balk is the only interesting actor in this film. She has some clichéd lines just like the others, but she also has most of the movie's original ones. I especially liked "...and before that, I crawled out from between my mother's legs. Got any more questions?"

Brad Renfro is a decent actor, but he should stick to what he does best. The misplaced, naive and/or clueless kid like he was in "Ghost World" and "Telling Lies in America."

Steven Dorff is not a good actor, period. In this movie, he comes across as a wannabe actor high school jock trying to play Stanley Kowalski. But at least it wasn't as bad as his portrayal of Candy Darling in "I Shot Andy Warhol". There he came across as a frat boy in drag for the homecoming talent show.

Frankie Muniz is cute, but that's all.

Matt Dillon is tired as his typecast role of the tough guy. He should do the opposite of Brad Renfro and go back to taking risks like he did in "Something About Mary."

I have a fondess for urban, period drama. But the script has to be orginal and the casting should be based on more than just looks.