bobbie-12 Reviews

Memento (2000)

incredible sensation of memory loss!

[9/10 · 26 November 2001]

The movie evokes an uncanny simulation of memory loss for the viewer by the clever way in which the narrative is organized. It shows us how our identity is based on memory; when we lose our memory we completely lose our sense of self and our anchoring in reality. The story (apart from some of the crime stuff) is based on real cases of memory loss like the ones described by neurologist Oliver Sacks. Most people I know watched it at least twice. Very ingenious and thrilling!

Savage Nights (1992)

intense and haunting

[9/10 · 26 November 2001]

I saw this movie many years ago and it is still vivid in my mind--it captures the intensity and heedlessness of erotic impulses. Cyril Collard (writer, director, lead actor, and real-life protagonist)is beautiful and clearly put all of his being, not only his talent as a filmmaker, into this movie.

An Affair of Love (1999)

unconvincing sex

[4/10 · 17 September 2001]

My tag line says it all--the plot is OK, the actors are attractive and intelligent, but it didn't work for me--their sexual encounter was unconvincing, too "talky," and not intensely erotic--so the rest of the movie also seemed too cerebral and distant.

Traffic (2000)

dull and implausible; watch PBS Frontline instead

[1/10 · 17 September 2001]

This hyped movie was a real dud. As an action movie it is dull, making drug dealing seem about as exciting as the paper clip industry. Several of the characters are unconvincing in their motivation (like the preppie honor student who becomes a crack whore). I agree with its advocacy of better rehab and treatment programs, but PBS Frontline does a more engaging job of presenting that POV. Stylistically it was stupid: How come Mexico is always yellow and brown, and Cincinnati blue? Very overrated!

Ghost World (2001)

wonderful!

[9/10 · 17 September 2001]

This movie completely captivated me; I identified with Enid in a lot of ways. It portrayed rebellion without being harsh or violent. It is definitely not just a "young people's" movie; any person who has a critical or creative spirit will enjoy it.

Full Speed (1996)

somewhat schematic reflection on sexual orientation, racism, and responsibility

[7 June 2001]

I took this movie on sexual orientation, racism, and relationships to be a slightly schematic allegory about how French intellectuals have abdicated their responsibility to marginalized people in society--Quentin, the successful young (white)writer takes off for Paris to be lionized by the literary establishment, leaving his working-class, gay, and North African buddies to defend themselves against the local rightwing thugs. He really has little interest in his erstwhile friends except to instrumentalize their pain and anger as material for his new book and for a public display of "concern." A bit slow, but not a waste of time.

Almost Famous (2000)

disappointing--not true to 1973

[3/10 · 3 June 2001]

Dear young people, I hope you don't think this treacley teen movie is an accurate portrait of 1973; it captures neither the details nor the spirit of the 1970s. The times were much wilder, weirder, rougher, grittier, and unpredictable--a roller coaster ride of the thrilling and the terrifying. Penny Lane is beautiful, and her makeup and mannerisms are perfect--for 1995. Both she and Russell are as clean cut, scrubbed and color-coordinated as a couple of models in a J.Crew catalog--when they should look like R.Crumb characters. This movie is NOT what the 70s were like at all. In 1973, everybody looked funky and raunchy: I walked around in a black leather coat, a pink stretch top, green suede hotpants, and thigh-high boots--and I was a college professor, so you can imagine how rock stars and groupies dressed and acted.(Lester Bangs, the mom and the sister are closer to accurate.) Fashion details, especially on the leads, are a litmus test of the moviemaker's courage; are they telling a story about the past, or are they just boxoffice brownnoses afraid of offending the contemporary teen audience who can't handle historical realities? And of course, the fashion failure is only a symptom of this movie's general saccharine timidity: Where is Vietnam, Watergate, Cambodia, Kent and Jackson State, the murders of King and the Kennedys, and the Days of Rage? Not that these political events have to be seen or talked about, but they have to be present in the characters, the way they move, talk, sing, and think. Only a person who was comatose or unborn in 1973 could enjoy Almost Famous as a picture about the 70s. Jacob's Ladder, Boogie Nights, and the Tina Turner story are much better if you want to know what it was like. Or look in the attic for your parents' R.Crumb comics.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

enchanting: tao-meets-freud martial arts fantasy

[3 March 2001]

I was captivated by this fantasy; it is beautiful and a little mysterious, as well as action-packed. In Taoist thought "tiger" stands for yin, the "accepting [better word than 'passive']" feminine side, "dragon" for yang,the "active" masculine side; but each principle contains elements of the other--it is never either-or, never just a simple opposition. And the story traces that ambiguity in Jen's coming of age, in her becoming a woman but not giving up her warrior side at all (whereas Shu Lien and Jade Fox, each in her own way, represent the pain in trying to be both a woman and a warrior). (Freudians will spot plenty, whether it was put there on purpose or not: sword, comb, flying, the "sexless" surrogate parents, etc.) Ang Lee returns to the themes of gender and sexuality that he explored in earlier movies, but here they are worked into a stunning action movie. All ages and tastes will find something to engage their imagination--you can enjoy it on many levels!

Rules of Engagement (2000)

moronic militaristic propaganda

[1/10 · 13 December 2000]

Big missed opportunity: This could have been an intelligent movie about the fine line between self-defense and murder, the ambiguity in perception and judgement faced by people in dangerous situations(real life example: A Chicago police officer killed a woman who made a false move with a metallic object in her hand--it turned out to be a lock, not a weapon. Was the policewoman guilty of murder? Would we have done the same in her situation?) Instead the director turned this into jingoistic drivel. The portrayal of Arabs/Muslims is a really offensive stereotype: Gun-totin, rock-throwin, jihad-lovin, towel-head fanatics, every last one of them, man, woman, and child. Most disturbing thing about it: