Change Your Image
fixit-04669
Reviews
The Cider House Rules (1999)
One of My All Time Favorites
Tobey Maguire pulls you in with is eyes and his hint of a smile, and you can't believe that Charlize Theron will throw him over. I love movies that get me choked up, and this one has a lot of great heart- tugging scenes. This is a movie I save for special times when I want to feel sad, but when Homer returns to the orphanage the tears are joyful. There is a purity about this movie and it comes from so many places not the least of which is the stunning Maine scenery, as well as the sparseness and closeness of the settings. The train station at the opening is bare. The orphanage is surrounded by forest. The apple farm is shot at close range, from above, only the buildings are seen. The ocean scene takes place in a closed cove. There are almost no wide shots, vistas, no crowds, no village, It's isolated, insular, a little world where Homer Wells becomes the benevolent father in a little lost world of love.
Sense8 (2015)
I'm confused after one episode
I may change my opinion, I might give it one more episode. 1) eight is way, way too many characters. 2) Too many fast cuts and jumping around, I guess that substitutes for character or plot development. I'm getting dizzy. 3) I cannot even figure out which ones are the "sense 8" ones. After 20 minutes of the first episode I had to stop and come back a day later. Really, I need to see a juicy strap-on flopping on the floor? By the time I figured out the one receiving the strap-on was a tranny, there were two or three more plot jumps, flashbacks, and so forth.
It's young, it's slick, it's full of Hollyood PC commentary. But is it even entertaining? No, PC preaching is not entertaining. It's tedious.
The Leftovers (2014)
An Allegory of Present Day America
The Departure is a catalyst for social change. The Departure creates a binary world, one of chaos and evil. Chaos, as all "normal" life becomes disjointed, bewildering, confused. No one goes to work, no family leads a "normal" life. Animals and people wander about. There are few attempts to explain it, because it is irrational, as is all death. Yet the chaotic world strives to restore civilization, peace, and acceptance.
Evil is represented by the Cult of the Guilty Remnant, where recruits are indoctrinated to further disrupt the demoralized and weakened chaotic world, to drive it toward evil. The Cult is non- spiritual, regimented, fascistic, authoritarian. Cultists wear white, an ironic symbol of emptiness, soullessness. Their smoking represents hell fire and brimstone. Cultists hover mute and menacing over their prospective victims, the devil that waits and tempts patiently, all the while plotting major attacks on what tattered remnants of sanity remain.
Garvey, the police officer, is the link between the two worlds, chaos and evil. Garvey, the Christ figure, is shadowed by Patti, the dead Cult leader, as Christ was pestered by Satan. Garvey rises from the dead after vanquishing Patti/Satan in the guise of a politician and an innocent girl, but not until he has wandered through the chaos and delivered his family to what he believes is a safe haven.
Yet this safe haven, Jarden, a supposed Garden of Eden, is not spared. Surrounded by degeneracy and debauchery, guarded by Guardian Angel park rangers, but internally corrupted by a superiority complex that manifests itself in religion, fortress Jarden is penetrated by the Cult, betrayed by three of its own daughters. Now the conditions are set for Armageddon.
The Guardian (2001)
How Different From The Mentalist
I am left with much sadness after watching the entire series. Simon Baker has such a great smile, unfortunately I didn't get to see much of it here. Nick's casual drug use results in slow death for his high-profile law career as community service hours make it impossible to keep up. No human could keep up that pace. Although he is often called "a great lawyer" you almost never see any positive outcomes from his work at his father's firm. He is sullen, moody, non- communicative. Almost without exception his interactions are awkward. You just want to grab him and shake him up. Eventually he gets rejected by everyone. Is it his fault? In this way he is much like the rejected, abused, damaged children whom he represents in the courtroom.
Nick's interactions with women were often dreadful. I had such hopes for Lulu but she was never able to penetrate his walls. I also liked Nick's policewoman lover, but that promising storyline went nowhere. His final office dalliance did nothing but harm for all involved.
In the end, about the only positive thing about Nick was that he was sometimes able to help his young clients. Ultimately a very depressing series. Fortunately the Mentalist gave Simon's personality an opportunity to flash that smile and exhibit some warmth.