b9AcE Reviews

DreamKeeper (2003)

Try it. You will be surprised.

[10/10 · 13 July 2004]

I always regarded Hallmark as "the TV channel that I can skip over". That is until I saw this movie. I was lucky enough to flip past it just at the begining while I was waiting for my friend to get ready for a party we were supposed to go to. We didn't go. We watched this instead.

After having seen as many movies as I (who hardly does anything else) this was a very welcome break from the monotony of the standard portrayal of the native americans. I am not a native american (or even american, I'm european) but still it was very nice to get to see "the other side of the story". Next to the story I need to applaud the many outstanding performances by the actors and actresses, of which regretably none so far is well known. Also to be noted is some exceptional cinematography combined with great special effects (for a TV movie).

Great story, which has something to say. Great acting/directing. Great cinematic craftsmanship. What else could be asked from a movie?

Had it been produced by a movie theater production company it would have become a huge hit, but unfortunately it will now probably be lost among the TV movie onslaught.

If you have a chance to see this: take it.

How to Deal (2003)

It's just bursting.

[10/10 · 29 November 2003]

While watching this movie I kept thinking "every scene is half as long as it should be to make the best of it" and guess what? In the credits I got the explanation: it's based on two novels. TWO. That is the only problem I see with this movie, it's trying to deliver too much in too little time. I guess that's a common mistake for a director when you're doing your second film ever, but it's a shame that the story and the talent of the crew didn't really get the chance because of that.

The acting is just excellent all around. Specifically I am really glad that casting-people are starting to notice that Mandy Moore actually has talent (not just another popstar-wanna-be-actress-too girl). Hope there will be more...

As for the people who has problems with "objectionable content" or whatever you wanna call it: check the rating. It says "Rated PG-13 for sexual content, drug material, language and some thematic elements." how is that not clear? This is a movie trying to show REAL life, not some polished fairytale. In real life those things exist, whether we want it to be so or not. As a matter of fact I applaud Ms. Moore for daring to be in a movie which some people thinks might "put her career in jeopardy". That is what idols should do, not just conform to teen-magazine's monthly whim of political correctness.

Home Room (2002)

Everybody hurts sometimes

[10/10 · 17 October 2003]

To me this was not really a movies about the shootings at the school. To me it was about how different people meet mental pain in different ways. About the fact that everyone faces pain in life and it is a part of life, like it or not. How very much alike people are although they see each other, or want to be seen as, totally different. That the only way out of pain is going through the pain.

To me, the "main plot" about the school shootings was not really the main plot at all, just a way to make it easier to get all of the things that needed to be said into the movie without having to work hours to get to the real story, the meetings that people have after something painful has happened.

Through almost the whole movie I was sitting having half a tear at the eyes and half a smile at my lips. Definitely not something to see if you just want to be "entertained", since it is quite intense on the emotions. On the other hand, definitely something that would be healthy for anyone to see.

I don't give a lot of 10:s, but this is a 10/10.

Morvern Callar (2002)

Hollywood reversed

[7/10 · 16 August 2003]

This is not an ordinary movie. This is in fact the opposite of ordinary movies.

Mainstream ("Hollywood") cinema of today seems (to me at least) to have lost touch with the artistry displayed by previous masters such as D.W. Griffith, Carl Theodor Dreyer and Ingmar Bergman. The art of not just telling a good story, but also telling that story in a good way. This is, in my opinion, done in a very nice way by Lynne Ramsay and her co-workers in this movie.

The things I'm talking about, which they excel at in this production, are all the things that they used to tell the stories in the silent-movie era:

* Lead actors/actresses which can actually cary the movie by facial expressions and screen-presence.

* A soundtrack which works actively to amplify the current situation, as opposed to just being "the next hit single".

* Directing, which include scenes that don't necessarily forward the story, but are used solely to convey the current mood of the characters.

If you just want a good story, you could read a book. To me, seeing a movie is about also getting the extra workmanship of acting, soundtrack and scenery, as perceived by someone else. That is what you get in this movie.

Unfortunately I don't think this performs very well as a movie-script. It may be an brilliant book, I haven't read it, but as a script I find it just plain boring and overly predictable. Having saidthat, I would recommend this movie to anyone who would like to see some excellent cinematic work.

Not just telling a story, but telling it good...

Head of State (2003)

You have already seen this movie!

[1/10 · 6 August 2003]

Anyone who has seen more than 5 comedies in his/her lifetime has already seen enough versions of this storyline to be able to predict just about every move and line they put into this movie. Maybe you're thinking "I just want some non-intellectual comedy, so I'll go for this one"? Sorry, pick another one, because this is not a comedy, this is a sleeping pill.

They do handle some controversial issues in an politically unconventional manner, which would give them bonus points from me, however I for one think that:

* It is NOT ok to promote child abuse. * It is NOT ok to promote drug abuse. * It is NOT ok to promote anti-feminism.

Whether that would be done by a real presidential candidate or by a (real) movie, and these things are done repeatedly throughout this movie. Now, if you agree with any one of these points, show that to the entertainment industry by NOT giving your ticket-money to the producers of this movie.