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Reviews
What Planet Are You From? (2000)
What planet were they on?
To think that I was actually looking forward to seeing this! This poor man's Galaxy Quest-meets-Starman has only one redeeming feature in John Goodman's airline investigator (this is hardly surprising as he's good in just about every movie he's in). Garry Shandling lacks any warmth or charm in the lead role....and that's after he's supposed to have learnt how to feel emotions. Annette Benning is slightly less neurotic, but no less annoying than her American Beauty character. And Ben Kingsley? He just looks embarrassed by the whole affair, no doubt wondering why he got involved in the first place!
Poor 3/10
Reindeer Games (2000)
Is it just me?
I have to say I wasn't that impressed. I don't think the cast were at fault, but I can only think of Frankenheimer's other recent films that I've seen: Ronin and The Island of Dr Moreau. Despite his films having very talented performers he doesn't seem to be able to get much out of them....there's just no spark, no excitement and the outcome is a bit dull and lifeless. The direction falls flat.
This hasn't always been the case as the few of his older films that I've seen I remember enjoying:
Birdman of Alcatraz, French Connection 2, Black Sunday. Even The Don Johnson effort 'Dead Bang', the Roy Scheider cold war film 'The Fourth War', and the made for Tv 'Against the Wall' were above par.
Is it that he's getting on a bit and can't put the effort in any more, is it that he's not au fait with modern film-making techniques....
.... or is it just me?