danglar_moscovitz-1 Reviews

Lost and Delirious (2001)

Plain Brilliant!

[9/10 · 5 March 2005]

I might say that, deep inside, "Lost and Delirious" is a chick-flick, but to those girls (and boys, let's say, because girls are not the only who like chick-flicks) who can look further and deeply. It's a smart, intense and beautiful alternative to "Down To You" or "She's All That". And It's also a gay-themed movie that can be enjoyable to anyone.

The movie focus in Piper Perabo's character, Paulie, which has a homosexual relationship with her best friend, Tory, played by Jessica Paré. Once Tory has no courage to admit to her parents she's gay, and decides to end up the relationship, Paulie freaks out. Everything is seen by the eyes of Mary (Mischa Barton).

Piper Perabo gives the performance of her career. And, if we consider she was in vapid movies like "Slap Her, She's French" and "Coyote Ugly", you'll be very surprised (or even shocked) with the way she make her Paulie a character so intense. Barton and Paré may stand behind, but are also great. It's a movie so well-crafted and beautiful that it's kind of funny the way director Lea Pool manages to make a movie that grows every time in beauty and intensity without losing the focus in real life, real feelings. It's a brilliant movie, a must-see.

Rollerball (2002)

Plain dreadful film.

[28 February 2005]

I was really speechless after watching "Rollerball". I expected a dull movie, not something so dreadful. "Rollerball" has all the elements to make one of those bizarre cult classics from the 70's and 80's. Except the fun element.

The movie starts with the worst police chase in years. Believe me, any Lorenzo Lamas movie, even one featuring appearances from Dolph Lundgren, can be capable of a car chase better than this: we see Chris Klein running from police in a mix of skateboard and racing-car, in San Francisco. Then, helped by his friend LL Cool J., he goes to an Asiatic country. There, the most popular game is the Rollerball, a mix of basketball and roller-skating that seems to be deadly and a great money-maker. Rollerball is controlled by Jean Reno's character, the average "mad-business-man" stereotype. Then, we learn that Chris Klein is having an affair with his Rollerball partner, Rebbeca Romjin-Stamos.

What comes next is not worth telling. Of course, Chris, LL and Rebbeca will make a rebellion against Jean Reno. But there isn't anything new in this idea. It's wasted by a script that, once tries to make a cheap social critic, then tries to shove action sequences in the screen at all coasts, and both are really bad.

The acting is at the last level. It's incredible to see Jean Reno, an actor that is mostly great (watch "Red Rivers") making such a mess with his role. It's so stereotyped and has so less to do (despite it's importance in the plot) that you can completely forget about it. LL Cool J. is a special case: he keep going well for a while, and then completely disappears, showing that, maybe, good acting wasn't allowed in Rollerball rules.

Oh, the main couple. Chris Klein and Rebbeca Romjin-Stamos. Well, Rebbeca is incredibly sexy in this role, and it's nice to see her in topless scenes, so we can forget she's so bad here. And Klein. Let's just say Chris Klein will NEVER work in an action movie anymore. At least we hope so.

In the end, the movie is a complete mess. Is not only a waste of money, but also waste of time, celluloid and Jean Reno. That is a complete sin. It feels like director John McTiernan wanted so badly to make a stylish movie that he forgot to make a good movie.

Hide and Seek (2005)

A Dull, Worthless Dramatic Thriller

[3/10 · 28 February 2005]

"Hide and Seek" has been advertised as a movie with a really good ending and really good performances by Dakota Fanning and Robert DeNiro. In the end, you will be pleased to see that those advertising were at least true about Dakota and Robert, because the rest is just so dull and worthless...

The movie reminds me of "Swept Away" in the way thinks get stinkier: it begins very well, and then it comes to and ending that is so pathetic it will make you think that the main reason Fox was hiding it was because they didn't want people to see how bad it really was before the movie came out. And if Dakota Fanning gets better and better as the movie goes, the same can't be said from Robert DeNiro. He starts well, but stops being convincing once he... well, I'm not gonna spoil the ending.

Oh, the ending. The ending everyone has been talking about. Don't let anyone spoil the ending to you, because, if you're not a regular moviegoer , you'll be quite surprised with it, but it's so badly copied from other films that for those who really like and know movies, it's no big deal. All I can say is that it has that old problem of characters that jump in the movie with no further explanation. In the end, the movie is recommended for those who are easily scared and it never really rises. Avoid it until it comes out on DVD.

Gigli (2003)

A Complete Movie-Mess

[2/10 · 27 February 2005]

I just saw "Gigli" on VHS and I can't believe I was wanting to watch it in the theaters when it came out (I didn't because it only played for one week. Such a flop!). After watching this piece of crap, you won't wonder why the "Bennifer" affair didn't work out. They don't have any chemistry together! The movie is a collection of bad acting, supported by a script that writer/director Martin Brest must have written while having a "philosopher-wannabe" crisis.

In the end, the story of the rude gangster Gigli -- played by our favorite bad actor ever, Ben Affleck -- and a lesbian who is helping him with the kidnapping of the brother of an important politician. She is played by Jennifer Lopez. Jennifer is simply charming and sexy, and I think she'll get out of this bomb without any bad bruises. But Ben Affleck killed his career here. Thank God, I wouldn't stand any more "Daredevil" movies.

And I would love to say that the cameos by Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Lainie Kazan saved the movie, but that won't be possible. They're just as bad. So, watch it if you're a Jennifer Lopez fan, she's O.K. here.

My final analysis: along with "Elektra" and "Glitter", this is one of the worst "movie-mess" of the decade. Avoid!

The Grudge (2004)

Plain Scary, Plain Dumb.

[4/10 · 26 February 2005]

I watched "The Grudge" in a screening room full of critics and some regular moviegoers. I was thrilled to see how the reactions were all the same: everyone hated it.

"The Grudge" is based in the hit (I mean, "hit in it's home country, Japan") movie "Ju-On". I never saw "Ju-On", so I'm not gonna compare them, but I can tell you that "The Grudge" is the creepiest horror movie I watched in years. And it's surely one of the worst too.

The movie features average acting and directing, a bad script and terrible villains. With "terrible", I mean they are just the creepiest monsters (can I call them monsters?) in horror movies in a while.

Is worth a watch if you like horror movies or to be scared, but it's surely the most disposable movie of 2004.

Xanadu (1980)

The Most Underrated Movie From The 80's.

[8/10 · 12 January 2005]

(Xanadu. 1980. Musical) Directed by Robert Greenwald. Starring Olivia Newton John.

Xanadu isn't really a hit, never really found it's audience and doesn't have the Cult status of a movie like Rocky Horror Picture Show. But, for those that don't really care for average acting and bad writing, Xanadu is nothing but a classic. I agree with those people. It's a movie that doesn't tries to be more than just a musical fantasy, and is really good at it's genre. And It's not "The Apple" bad. Is just a little bit cheesy.

Begins with Olivia Newton - John and the muses "pop - up" performance off from a wall in California, with the ELO's greatest song ever, "I'm Alive", playing in the background. And it goes on with a energetic performance of The Tubes as a typical 80's band against a 40's band in the best musical scene of the movie, then the trashy scene with Olivia, Michael Beck and Gene Kelly in the "glitzeria" shop (is trashy, but completely lovely and charming) and finishes with Olivia in great songs, great outfits, great dancing and great mood, in the Xanadu Club.

The soundtrack is great. It gives the right mood to the movie, and made lots of success. Is pop, jazz and rock all together. But, above everything, is magic. Because that is what Xanadu is all about: no matter how trashy it might seem, the point is to turn the brain off and have fun. And if some cynical people can't understand it, it doesn't matter. We do.