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Revman50
Reviews
Company Business (1991)
Unsatisfying
There are moments that work but, for the most part, the film either lacks the grit to make it a thriller or the humor to make it a comedy.
The ending is abrupt and premature.
Hackman's performance is the only thing that makes any of it work.
I Am (2010)
Finally, science proves the mystics are right!
For years we've been told that there is a schism that exists between mystic spirituality and hard cold provable facts from western science. One of the key elements that this film provides, is the fusion of these two, seemingly disparate, orientations to life.
It turns out that love and cooperation are in our genes, that our connection to all life can be measured and proved and that when anything in nature takes more than it needs, it becomes sick; "cancerous" is the movie's term for it.
The need for balance between enjoying our human experience while maintaining our connection to God is at the heart of it all.
This documentary flies in the face of what we, in the USA, would use as a measuring stick for how successful we are in life; more stuff does not mean more happiness.
A great film and definitely worth seeing.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Unfiltered Raw Emotion
The opening to this film provides, perhaps, the most gut-wrenching battle scenes ever filmed. The sounds of bullets whizzing through the air and screams of the wounded and dying coupled with an occasional, momentary respite from the cacophonous din of battle, while underwater, had me trying to crawl over the back of my theater seat just trying to get away.
The story line is adequate but, for me, the real value was the historical glimpse into what my father's generation faced during the European campaigns of WWII. This movie clearly explains the message "War is Hell!"
Blaze Glory (1969)
You gotta see this one!
Absolutely fabulous little flick! I saw it when it was first released and was just blown away. Light years ahead of Star-Trek or Godzilla for special effects, Blaze Glory left me slack-jawed and stupefied. In addition, the message was truly camp - just like an old western melodrama should be. For example, in one scene, the bad guy gets the drop on Blaze and commands him to drop his gun and not turn around or "the girl gets it." After he has ridden away we still see Blaze, dutifully standing with his hands in the air and not turning around ... forever; as we see the sun setting, Blaze is still standing there. If you can find it, don't miss Blaze Glory! RG
Escanaba in da Moonlight (2001)
The Play is Better
I saw the stage version of this script, at the GEM Theatre in Detroit, with Jim Porterfield playing Harve Presnell's role "DABA" (Wayne David Parker) as Jimmer and Randall Godwin as the DNR cop. Although the movie is fun, the stage version is infinitely funnier. If you ever get the chance to see it performed live, don't miss it. By the way, if you happen to be a casino fan and are in the Detroit area, you'll recognize Randall Godwin's commercials and billboards immediately. If you listen to the radio anywhere you can't mistake the sound of DABA's voice.