mili_avital Reviews

Loving Annabelle (2006)

classic while modern

[10/10 · 14 April 2006]

The look of Loving Annabelle is very classic. The 35mm film looks glossy and the colors are crisp. The film LOOKS pretty. The story also has a classic 3-act structure and is very well-written. These traditional aspects are really interesting to note since the subject of the film is rather modern. The "unconventional" love story turns many notions on their heads: student-teacher sexual relations; the possible effects of a Catholic school upbringing or environment on an individual; and same-sex love, if anyone out there is still bigoted enough to take offense to that.

What I liked about the film was that it was character-driven, and not plot-driven. The emotional growth of the characters took center stage to the possibly sensational aspects. I felt carried along the storyline without any forced-ness or jumps in thought. The plot line was smooth, and had enough twists and turns to keep me from knowing what would happen next. I totally identified with the main characters and cared about them (individually) very deeply besides my interest in whether or not they would get together.

The look of the film, the quality of the story, and the TERRIFIC acting (both Annabelle and Simone are perfectly cast) give Loving Annabelle the depth and sheen of a much higher-budget film. (Though the emotional resonance of the story makes talking about budgets almost crass.) The music is also terrific. The soundtrack would be great to listen to as its own entity. This is the film that I've most enjoyed in a long time and have recommended it highly to anyone who will listen to me since I first saw it.

Angels and Insects (1995)

Haunting, erotic, and unexpected

[10/10 · 10 April 2003]

When I first saw this movie while flipping channels I became caught immediately in its seductive and dark storyline. I went out right away and bought a copy for myself and became even more enamored with its characters and plot when I finally caught the first few minutes that I had missed earlier. Mark Rylance's dour and soft-spoken scientist is blindly taken by the beauty of Eugenia Alabaster (Patsy Kensit), the daughter of his new benefactor, and he does not apply his meticulous observation of insects to the family that employs him. His relationship with the Alabasters deepens, and the subtle unsettled mood of the movie belies that something is amiss at the beautiful countryside home of the wealthy family. The interesting interweaving of insects as part of the plot and as metaphor to the characters' lives adds another layer to this quiet and mysterious film, which at first glance may seem tidy enough, but soon gives way to the turbulent waters that are barely hidden beneath the surface.

The Mummy Returns (2001)

the same, but different

[10/10 · 5 May 2001]

The Mummy Returns is a very successful sequel because it is able to utilize the familiarity of the first Mummy without going over certain elements of it over and over again and making them tired. The action is amped up, the special effects are great, and the expansion and elaboration on the themes of the first movie really tie them together and makes this one enjoyable. Rachel Weisz's character Evie in particular has evolved and is more sure of herself and sexy. Her fight scenes are beautiful and particularly exciting. The addition of Alex, the son of Evie and Rick, actually flows well and adds a new dimension to the film, despite my fears that he would be disruptive to the dynamic established between the characters from the first film. The Mummy Returns allows you to see your favorite characters from the first film in a new situation with new elements thrown at them and between them, making it enjoyable and not just a retrodding of the first film.