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Crash (2004)
Fantastic, shocking, disturbing
Nothing is as it seems. And nothing stays the way it was from the start. The movie shows that racism is not limited to certain colours, races, people but that it's in everybody regardless who you are and where you came from.
The protagonists and there beliefs seemed to be clear from the start. But everything changes with the tide of life, different situations and influences.
There is no time or room for preconceived opinions. The character you just hated from the depth of you heart suddenly exceeds every expectation and develops heroism even if it's just for a short period of time.
The character which embodied everything you yourself stand for finds himself in an awkward situation in which he just overreacts and causes the worst possible outcome.
I regarded myself as mostly unprejudiced and open for other beliefs and people but I was forced to rethink and ask myself how I would react in certain situations. Would I always choose the right way?
I'm not so sure anymore and that's most disturbing. But I'm sure that this is actually a good thing for I will be more cautious next time before I act and talk.
I do hope this movie brings lots of discussions and maybe gets something good going.
It gives no solutions for there is none which could be chiseled into stone for all eternity and which is right in every possible situation. One always has to decide for oneself what's right or wrong.
10 of 10 Go and watch it!!
Hope Springs (2003)
Hilariously funny!!!
*!!Warning! Spoilers!!*
I can understand that some people don't like this movie. Maybe they are likely to take everything too seriously. This movie is full of stereotypes. Yes, and this can be quite annoying when it's without irony and the necessary tongue in cheek.
But in this movie it's done brilliantly! Nobody takes him- or herself too seriously. This is a romantic, funny feel-good-movie. It doesn't claim to be educational. It's aim is to be entertaining. And the brilliant cast and crew achieve this aim 100%!
Is it true to the book? By all means! Is it even more funny than the book? Oh, yessssss!!!
The movie has the timing which the book really hasn't. The book is almost completely written in dialogue which is sometimes tiresome.
I cannot imagine anything more funny than Colin Firth with his trousers around his ankles (and no underwear) contemplating about the innocent kind of joy and the other one..... (and then finally hopping to the bed just in case they would decide to go for the "non-innocent kind"....).
If you expect high quality discussions, profound and accurate insights into British and American culture, well, then you must be disappointed.
In this movie every cliché is built up to the extreme, in a most funny way.
Maybe also as a parody on all the prejudices we hide deep inside. Sometimes such extreme caricatures are in fact more effective and educational than any scientific report. And when you are able to laugh at the characters you don't have to feel that anybody's pointing the finger at you.
I for my part enjoyed myself a lot! I loved the performances of everybody, especially of Colin Firth (O.k., I always love him!) and Mary Steenburgen.
When I feel depressed this is the movie I choose to cheer me up!
The Secret Laughter of Women (1999)
I simply love this movie!!!
*Warning! Some spoilers!*
Matt, a rich writer, is in fact still just a boy in his behaviour. He doesn't care about anyone's but his own needs and couldn't care less about the consequences of any of his actions. Just as he gets to know Nimi and her bonds with her familiy and her communitiy he starts to feel that something is missing in his live.
He starts to realize that he is in fact lonely and stuck in impersonal structures that are just convenient but lack heart and commitment. Nevertheless he shies away from any responsibilties and is reluctant to change his live. But will he be able to settle again in his old life and ignore the bonds he's already - unconsciously - formed?
Nimi's situation is the absolute opposite. She is pressed into the regulations of her Nigerian community, its prejudices and its medieval values. Being a single mother her position is difficult and it gets even worse when she falls in love with Matt, a white devil (as the Referend would say), a man who cannot commit. The women of the community plan to marry her to the Referend to end her single status and give Sammy "a name". But that would mean for Nimi to give up all independence and self-determination. But is there an alternative for her if she wants Sammy to be accepted and herself to become a respected member of the community?
This movie has it all: a very sensitive and sensual love story (with VERY sexy scenes of Matt and Nimi) and an endearing child who is eagerly matchmaking, a beautiful scenery in lively colours.
Colin Firth (*swoon*) and Nia Long show a great chemistry. It's just fantastic to watch them. And Fissy Roberts as Sammy is just to die for. You simply want to adopt him. I just love the way Sammy and Matthew talk to each other. They are both on the same level in many ways. Especially when Sammy asks Matt about Sex. This scene is absolutely adorable!!
Almost nothing to complain about.... wait! That's not true. One thing is not good: That the movie is not long enough! (Well, and maybe that the Referend is too bad and too silly to be convincing....)
10 of 10, by all means!
Londinium (2001)
Unbelievably bad story!
This movie is just crap! It's pointless, it isn't funny.
I just finished watching and write this in very fresh memory of this disappointing experience.
Not even Colin Firth manages to rescue some part of it. And since I'm a complete Firth-Lunatic, that's a weighty conclusion.
I can't even finally decide which movie is worse: The Playmaker or Londinium. Playmaker had at least the comfort of some very hot scenes under the shower which saved some of it. But this movie lacks any comfort of any kind.
And since in Germany you can only get it dubbed you cannot even listen to his beautiful voice but get this silly boyish dubbing voice.
The only slightly amusing scenes are those where Fiona and Allen try to solve their problems by consulting a therapist (Stephen Fry).
Well, actually it had some unintentional irony in it when Ben sees his play ruined by Carly (with the dying scene which was just illogic and silly). It was like "art imitating art" if this comparison might be allowed.. Though "art" might not be the right word for it.....
This movie is an utterly useless and completely unsuccessful attempt to do a Woody Allen Movie without the spirit, the wit and the timing of Woody Allen.
Over and over again I was just asking myself "WHAT??? You can't possibly be serious!!!"
Could anyone just explain to me PLEASE why those sudden outbreaks of hooliganism by Allen beating up everybody everytime outside the pub without any reason and doing innocent small talk during and after the act are supposed to be funny????That's not even weird, it's just stupid, silly, idiotic.....
Dear Fellow-Firthies, I know we all want to know every movie of ODB but I sincerely recommend to leave it to the very last, when there is no other Firth-movie left to watch (which I pray will never be!).
If curiosity overcomes you and you have to watch it before nevertheless be prepared and do have some good ODB-moments at hand to soothe the stale aftertaste....
Wings of Fame (1990)
Wow! This movie left me quite breathless!
*SPOILERS!!! SPOILERS!!! SPOILERS!!!*
What a brilliant idea for a plot! An afterlife-resort just for famous people? No matter how the fame was gained? Fascinating!!
It really reminds me in many ways on Jean Paul Sartre's "Huis clos". You cannot quite decide whether it's Heaven or Hell. It all depends on the celebrities and what they do to each other. The worst thing for those famous souls isn't death but to vanish into oblivion.
Peter O'Toole plays Cesar Valentin, an actor on the height of his fame. He is frantic that his stardom will soon be over but he manages to gain new attention as he writes a bestselling book.
Colin Firth is Brian Smith, a nobody, who seems to stalk the famous actor. He is constantly on Valentin's toes and tries to get his attention. At a filmfestival where the actor continues to ignore him, Brian spontaneously grabs a pistol from a security officer and shoots Valentin. Directly after that he himself is killed by accident. And here the real story starts......
Both end up on this island for dead celebrities. Brian's fame results from his murdering the famous actor. So both fates are intertwined in the afterlife and the quality of their accommodation and the service of the Hotel rises and falls with their fame.
It's amazing how the famous actor and the nobody cope with that.
Valentin tries to figure out why he was shot. The dialogues between him and Brian are most fun to watch! Brian is playing games with him, enjoying every moment. He couldn't care less that eventually he will fall into oblivion since he never was famous by own accomplishments.
This story is about vanity, self-knowledge, evolving above yourself or selling yourself for something as transient as fame. The conclusion is unexpected and as fascinating as the story throughout! O'Toole and Firth are both uniquely brilliant in their performance. But Colin Firth is the one who made my day! Desperate, mad, curious, cunning, caring, loving and forgiving. He does all that so convincingly and endearingly, it really took my breath away!
This is a real treat! 10 of 10 by all means!
Playmaker (1994)
Daft movie, sexy Colin Firth
If it wasn't for Colin Firth, the movie would be ready for the dust bin! So foreseable, so silly and so badly acted!! Only Colin Firth, as always, shines through this mess as single light on the end of the tunnel!!
The worst was Jennifer Rubin's acting, for sure! Maybe it was because of this script (did they actually have really written one or was it just made up "on the way"???).
To cut a tooo long story short:
It is a MUST SEE only for Colin Firth Fanatics (like me) since he is incredibly sexy and good acting (struggling hard against this "mentally challenged" script). These minutes of Colin-Screen-Time make up a lot of this movie.
Don't spend too much money on it, though. Try to see or get it as cheap as possible (an auction or something like that) and then do stick to the Colin Firth scenes.
The rest of the movie might be dangerous for anyones mental health.
The Hour of the Pig (1993)
Brilliant Movie!!
*Warning! Contains some spoilers!*
An intelligent story brought to live with a brilliant cast!
"Firth" of all of course Colin Firth who is as endearing and convincing as always. He just radiates so much honesty into this character and to us being witty, sexy, passionate, sly and clever at the same time.
I regard him as the best English actor of this time!
He plays a lawyer looking for peace,justice and a quiet life in the country in order to escape political corruption. And every lawyer in real life will tell you that those are unreachable goals and the quest is just grotesque. But Richard Courtois starts with the best intentions in mind and acts accordingly, even almost completely disregarding his own safety. Partly because he naively believes the law to bring justice and not the money or the political power. A lawyer with ideals, a heart and conscience, a rarity.
Ian Holm is beautiful cast as priest Albertus who goes after women nevertheless,twisting everything the way it fits him best while always having a sharp look and the wits to escape the Inquisition and the mighty landlord. The conversations between him and the greenhorn lawyer are refreshing, funny and also frustrating when Albertus denies what he really knows to be right in order to preserve his good life. He betrays his friend Courtois by doing that looking him straight in the eye.
The crime, the perpetrator and the mystery are well developed and the truth isn't reveal until the very end. I enjoyed myself tremendously (being a lawyer myself and realizing that the madness brought before court is still the same though the laws have changed... well, a bit... *lol*)
What a Girl Wants (2003)
Brilliant Colin Firth!
This is a rather foreseable unconventional-teenager-comes-to-find-her-unknown-conventional-father-story. Nothing out of the ordinary really.
What makes this movie so special nevertheless is the brilliant Colin Firth who brings Lord Henry Dashwood to real life, making him a 3-dimensional person despite the script.
An absolute MUST SEE for all Colin Firth-Fans and people who love to see good acting and a beautiful romantic ending.
The Importance of Being Earnest (2002)
Part Two of my review...
Part Two: At the manor he calls himself Earnest Worthing, the ruthless brother of the landlord. Cecily, of course, falls in love with this romantic figure at once and Algy cannot help it, too.
It all climaxes when Jack comes back, meeting "his brother" and Gwendolen decides to visit her love because Lady Bracknell refuses her consent to their marriage.
So both girls think themself in love with Earnest Worthing. And both girls are obsessed with marrying a man called Earnest because the name gives so much confidence. So the Christian names of our two guys is a serious problem when truth is revealed.
This story is possibly the best of Oscar Wilde's works. And it's brilliantly brought into movie with just devine perfomances by Colin Firth, Rupert Everett, Dame Judi Dench, Reese Witherspoon and Frances O'Connor.
If you only knew Colin Firth as haughty Mr. Darcy, go and find out how many different characters this brilliant actor can actually bring to life.
Best entertainment ever!!!
The Importance of Being Earnest (2002)
Part Two of my review...
Part Two: At the manor he calls himself Earnest Worthing, the ruthless brother of the landlord. Cecily, of course, falls in love with this romantic figure at once and Algy cannot help it, too.
It all climaxes when Jack comes back, meeting "his brother" and Gwendolen decides to visit her love because Lady Bracknell refuses her consent to their marriage.
So both girls think themself in love with Earnest Worthing. And both girls are obsessed with marrying a man called Earnest because the name gives so much confidence. So the Christian names of our two guys is a serious problem when truth is revealed.
This story is possibly the best of Oscar Wilde's works. And it's brilliantly brought into movie with just devine perfomances by Colin Firth, Rupert Everett, Dame Judi Dench, Reese Witherspoon and Frances O'Connor.
If you only knew Colin Firth as haughty Mr. Darcy, go and find out how many different characters this brilliant actor can actually bring to life.
Best entertainment ever!!!