Change Your Image
ScoHo1982
Reviews
Living Out Loud (1998)
A Fine Performance by Hunter
I saw this film years ago with my parents. I wasn't thrilled to be going to see a movie about a woman whose husband leaves her and she thus has to find herself.
But I was shocked when I saw the film and realized just how original it really is. There have been many films that have featured the same material as this film, however "Living Out Loud" is such an original take on a genre of film that has been overdone.
Queen Latifah made her mark in quality acting with this film. In my opinion, she deserved the Oscar nomination more for this film than she did for "Chicago". She brought life to the film, and her characters story is a movie in itself.
Even the cheesiest scene in the film is fun to watch. Holly Hunter begins to dance, while everyone dances in sequence to her behind her. However, this action fits in the film and with the character. For some reason it's beleiveable that she would actually do soemthing like this.
I really do think people should go out and rent this little seen movie. It's worth the money and time.
Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003)
Quality, but could be better
Ellen DeGeneres is a great performer. Her rare form of comedy is appealing to many audiences, gay or straight, black or white, young or old. She has that rare ability to reach all of these audiences. Which makes it even more surprising that she is able to be as open as she is about her life and not turn people off.
She's had her a shakey Hollywood resume in the past few years, after the cancelation of the show that made her famous, "Ellen." She's a stand up comedian at heart, but also an incredible physical comedian with a large range of emotions.
A daytime talk show is something that I didn't think she could pull off. She can reach a crowd in a stand up setting, or even on a weekly sitcom, but a daily talk show? There are moments on the show that are slow and dragged out. And her interview skills are less than stellar. However, there is hope of improvement.
The show has had it's moments. The most recent was a guest appearance from Ted Dansen, discussing what he should get his wife for their anniversary. Apparently because they were married on a river, every anniversary has a river theme. Ellen got him copies of "The River Wild" and "A River Runs Through It", the cd "Cry Me a River" by Justin Timberlake, pictures of Joan and Melissa Rivers, and a picture of Gene Hackman, just cause. There have been other hilarious moments on the show, but this is just one that stands out.
I have faith that the show will grow with time, and so will she. This show will be picked up for at least another season. For someone as name recognizable as Ellen DeGeneres, she will be around for a long time, no matter what she does.
And personally, just like millions of other young queer youth, we will always remember where were the night she stated, not just for her but for all of us, "I'm Gay".
Mambo Italiano (2003)
Pleasantly Suprising
I decided to see this film because I had nothing else to do. I wasn't expecting much more than gay stereotypes and ridiculous humor. However I discovered just the opposite.
I have heard comparisons to "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", but the only similarity I see is in the stereotypical presentation of nationalities. However, these stereotypes aren't offensive, but more so delightful and some what sweet.
Angelo (Luke Kirby) is presented with just enough humor, but more so just enough heart that it makes the character beleiveable. For once gays are not presented as obnoxious drag queens or someone dying from AIDS. In fact, the two latter factions are not even present in the film. Instead it focuses on one mans humorous journey of self discovery in both relations to his family, partner, and his own sexuality.
At the end of the film, you leave feeling very happy. Sure everything turned out for the best in the end, but sometimes we need films like this to remind just how fun and quirky life can be at times.
My Life Without Me (2003)
What would you do if you only had two months to live?
When entering the theater, the only knoweldge I had about the film was that it was a bout a young woman who finds out she's dying. So my expetations for anything more than "Terms of Endearment 2" were bleak.
But as I watched the film I realized my earlier perceptions were dead wrong. Okay, so how many TV movies have their been about someone dying from cancer? But this film is different. It focuses on a woman of very uncomfortable living situations (23 years old, two kids, an out of work husband, living in a trailor behind her mothers house). The viewer automatically cares for the character, just because of her situation. After you find out she has cancer, the writer/director could have just then focused on her death. But instead, she focused on what she HAD to do before she died. Things that anyone in the characters position would want to do, but few would.
Some have said that this is a sad film. I do admit to tearing up during the scene where she records birthday messages for her two daughters. But I left feeling very happy. Happy that they didn't show her on her death bed, which would have ruined the film. Instead, I left knowing that this woman accomplished everything she wanted before she died. She died content with what she had done in her life. And isn't that a beautiful way to die? It's sad that she had to die, but at least she did her way. If that isn't something to be happy about, I don't know what is.
Anyone who's up for a film that will make you feel sad, but a sad happy, not sad depressed, than you should see this film.