zagorskis Reviews

Swimming Upstream (2003)

Hard to like

[8/10 · 28 February 2003]

This well acted true story drama is a difficult movie and wont be particularly popular. I gave it an 8 out of 10 although I've got to say I didn't like it so much as appreciate it. The test of a good drama for me is whether you talk about it and question aspects of it after its over. This certainly had me and my wife talking, mainly about the relationships issues that it generates (particularly those between parents and their kids). I won't be recommending this to every friend, but for those that I know that appreciate a movie that makes you think, it gets my vote of confidence. My final comment regards Tony Fingleton himself. If you are out there reading this Tony, all I can say is that I wish you and your family in New York every happiness and success. Nobody should have to experience the kind of torment brought upon you by your father.

The Tuxedo (2002)

Oh no. How bad can you go!

[4/10 · 3 February 2003]

Jackie, what are you doing to your illustrious career? Please change direction now before all credibility is lost. This movie is a stinker and I can only thank the movie lovers up in heaven for giving me the break of watching this on a plane where I didn't have to pay.

Gallipoli (1981)

Heartfelt

[18 November 2002]

I have just read the 45 or so comments on this film some 20 years after first seeing it in the cinema in Australia. I still remember to this day the stunned silence that greeted the ending of the film. I, like every one of the other 100 or so other patrons, sat there for about 3 or 4 minutes unable to speak, before gathering myself to exit the cinema. It wasn't only the impact of the film that has stayed with me all this time, but also that audience reaction. I have never experienced it again in the hundreds of movies that I have seen since viewing Gallipoli at the time of its release. As an Australian I was very interested to read the comments from cinema going colleagues around the world and felt highly moved by the way it has touched people from many parts of the globe. I fully anticipated that, as an Australian story of an event around which much of our nationality is defined, that there would not be much sympathy or interest in it. How fascinating to know how wrong I could be. It just goes to further demonstrate the fact that quality cinema transcends language and culture (even the Australian accent!). For those of you unlucky enough to have had to watch this for the first time on video, it's a shame as this truly is a cinema movie.