Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on May 25th, 2005
East Meets West
I don’t know a great deal about Korean cinema, but I imagine that H must have been a milestone in the Korean film industry – a distinctly Korean interpretation of a Western tradition. H is a dark psychological murder mystery, thriller, and suspense film, best compared to The Silence of the Lambs, or Kiss the Girls - not what one expects from the other side of the Pacific. There’s no martial arts to be found, and no running through trees, and pseudo-mystical mum...o-jumbo is just as Western as Se7en. Never once does a sword fight break out, and no wise, old monastic sages are ever consulted.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 25th, 2005
Much like previous con films before it like Matchstick Men and The Grifters, Criminal tells the story of a veteran taking a young inexperienced rookie under his wing and showing him the tricks behind the money, and the con artist philosophy.
Based on the Argentinean film Nine Queens, Richard (John C. Reilly, Magnolia) spots Rodrigo (Diego Luna, The Terminal) trying to hustle drink money in a club. He hustles Rodrigo out, and discovers Rodrigo is doing this to earn m...ney for his father, who’s incurred a large gambling debt to mobsters. Richard decides to show Rodrigo how the grift works, and Rodrigo even has a few tricks for Richard. Things become interesting when Richard’s sister Valerie calls him (Maggie Gyllenhaal, Secretary) from her job at a 4 star hotel to inform him he has a visitor. Valerie is aware of Richard’s work and hates it, and him, as he is in the midst of a legal battle with her for their mother’s estate. Throughout the day, Richard and Rodrigo help Richard’s hotel friend attempt to sell a counterfeit treasury document to a wealthy investor. Along the way, we discover the lengths Richard goes to to pull off the deal, and you see just how many people want a piece of the pie. As is the case with con movies, there’s a twist at the end that we don’t see coming, but in a sense, since Reilly is such a sympathetic face, you almost don’t want it to happen that way.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on May 24th, 2005
Samaritan Girl is a provactive little film from South Korea. The director, Kim Ki-Duk, has been said to be a filmmaker to watch. The plot surrounds the plight of two teenage girls, Jae-young (played by Min-jeong Seo) and Yoe-Jin (played by Ji-min Kwak). These two friends have dreams of going to Europe. The only problem: they need money. What's the solution: the oldest profession. Jae-Young becomes the prostitute and Yoe-jin is the pimp. Sounds a little twisted. Well...tragedy strikes. And Yoe-Jin devo...es herself to the men Jae-young slept with. You-Jin's father, a detective (played by Eol Lee), finds out about his daughter's secret life, thus going on a revenge mission. Ki-Duk's visual style is simple, but haunting. The narrative seems a bit far fetched, but works on a symbolic level.
Audio
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 24th, 2005
White Noise borrows much from the successful cycle of modern horror films. There is a tremendous likeness to both The Ring and FearDotCom. The use of a television screen for eerie f/x and a few shocks reminds us of the former, while the torture of the kidnapped victim in industrial and dank surroundings is taken right out of the latter. White Noise has some wonderfully disturbing moments. The atmosphere is rank with just enough possibility to be truly scary at times. Michael Keaton adds that element of respectability and believability which carries a weak script much farther than it deserves. I should also point out that the cinematography is simply brilliant. Transitions are masterfully crafted into a stunning visual experience. I expected this film to disappoint and it did; however, it was not quite the disaster I was anticipating.
The idea of EVP, Electronic Voice Phenomenon, has been around since about the 1970’s. The film’s use of the television is a new fictional wrinkle that obviously makes for more compelling drama. White Noise quickly leaves the arena of the EVP world and enters a mythos of its very own. It is this diversion that creates the biggest problems I have with the film. It seems Keaton sees not only dead folks but those soon to be dead. We are never given any explanation as to how this new development occurs. Normally that’s not a problem, but the film appears to go to great lengths to make sure we understand the principles of EVP, then fails us once the story ventures into new ground. The ending is a completely unsatisfying. I don’t need to be told everything, but would like to have more answers than questions when the credits roll. It seems three really bad dead guys are pissed off, but we never find out who they are or why they’re so angry.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 23rd, 2005
Continuing in the bold tradition of centering a movie around a place or event in the African American community (see The Wash, Barbershop and Beauty Shop, to name a few), Queen Latifah has decided to run the horse into the ground, and subsequently throw it over the coals, in a film she wrote and appears in, entitled The Cookout.
The concept of the film is simple enough that everyone can identify with it; cookouts are a good time where friends and family, sane and crazy, can get t...gether over food and drinks, and have a good time. When Todd Andersen (Storm P) is drafted into the NBA, the next few days are a whirlwind of enjoying his soon to be fame, though his mother (Jenifer Lewis, Antwone Fisher) is trying to make sure he stays grounded and close to his roots. Though he does manage to buy a huge house and move into an upper class neighborhood, and everyone is afraid of the new neighbors, none more terrified than Mr. and Mrs. Crowley (Danny Glover and Farrah Fawcett). Todd decides to have a cookout with his family, some of whom are played by Frankie Faison (Red Dragon) and Tim Meadows (Ladies’ Man). Along with Todd’s family is his agent (Jonathan Silverman, Weekend at Bernie’s) and girlfriend (Meagan Good, You Got Served). During all of this, Todd tries to do what he can to balance his family with his newfound celebrity and keep his sanity, all at the same time.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on May 23rd, 2005
Miracles is a unique television experience in the same vane as X-Files but with a religious rather then an alien spin. Many seem to blame this series short network run (6-episodes) on its misplacement and movement within ABC’s schedule, but there is also talk of the War in Iraq possible having something to do with it. As we all know… timing is everything. This set adds seven episodes to the six that originally aired on ABC… giving us all a chance to see the full 13 episodes that were filmed.
< ...>So what is this show all about? Here is a brief synopsis from Shout Factory… “Paul Callan (Skeet Ulrich) is an investigator of modern miracles. While consistently disappointing hopeful believers by finding simple explanations for “miraculous phenomena,” Paul finds his own faith sorely tested. Then something happens to reignite his passion for discovery and he joins a team that works to uncover the unexplained.”
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on May 23rd, 2005
As is the trend for today, this is the Special Edition re-release of The Day After Tomorrow tagged as the All-Access Collector's Edition. As much of this set is the same as the original release, pieces of this review will be taken from our prior review of The Day After Tomorrow.
Storms both freakish and intense devastate the planet. Climatologist Dennis Quaid realizes that the world is on the brink of a sudden new ice age. As a freezing hurricane descends upon the US, Quaid must struggle through the snow and killing cold to reach a crippled New York City, where his son (Jake Gyllenhaal) is huddled with other survivors in the Public Library.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on May 22nd, 2005
Assault on Precinct 13 is a remake of the 1976 John Carpenter classic (which is remake of the Howards Hawks western Rio Bravo). The plot scenario is something we've all seen before. Our heroes are holed up in an indoor arena (in this case, a precinct), trying to keep the outside forces at bay. In this case, the hero is Jake Roenick (played by Ethan Hawke). On New Year's Eve, and with the closing of the precinct looming, crimelord Bishop (played by Laurence Fishburne)is dumped off at the office. A s...owstorm has forced the criminals here. Meanwhile, Bishop's men try to bust him out, hence the assault. As we all know, hell will break loose.
Assault sports an excellent cast. The always engaging Mario Bello plays a psychiatrist caught up in the seige. Soprano's star Drea De Matteo is along for the ride as a sexy secretary, crusty Brian Dennehy is crusty Brian Dennehy, and Ja Rule and John Leguizamo round out the other baddie detainees. The success of the film, however, can mostly be attributed to the slick and taut direction of Frenchman Jean-Francoise Rinet. The film moves along at a stylish pace. Despite lacking in the Carpenter moral ambiguity, and the synth score, this Assault on Precinct 13 is a solid, modern action movie for the 21st century.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 22nd, 2005
A cast that included Martin Sheen and Marlee Matlin made Hear No Evil appear promising. Sheen is too little used to be very effective, and Matlin’s acting is often overshadowed by a director too eager for use to experience her deafness. I always found that her strength was the power of her performance in spite of the handicap. This film goes to excessive lengths to remind us she is deaf, just in case we happen to miss the point. Often the soundtrack goes silent, apparently to portray the action from Matlin’s point of view. Instead, the technique is overused to the point of distraction.
The story is thin and the running time too long. The plot never really develops into anything more than a drawn-out cat and mouse game. It’s sad, but the best thing I got from the film was learning how to say asshole in sign. Too bad the director wasn’t around for me to practice my new skill.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on May 21st, 2005
Kinsey, starring Liam Neeson, is a film that seems more relevant today. Albert Kinsey, known to his students as Prok, had to fight societal conservatism to get his work published and recognized. The movie is part biography/part sociological study. The director/writer Bill Condon traces Kinsey’s life from early childhood to older age. The flaws of the film are a matter of narrative clarity: in two hours, Condon tries to pack too much in. However, Kinsey sports a strong cast, which makes the two hou...s fly by. This is one of best films of 2004.
Liam Neeson is perfectly cast as the complex “Prok”. Neeson seems so natural in these “important roles” (think Oscar Schindler). He has the detachment of a scientist, but we know the heart is raging underneath. He is seduced by a male colleague (played by the stellar Peter Sarrsgard), and the scene is electric. There is also a scene later in the film where Kinsey feels the guilt for opening up this “Pandora’s Box”. Neeson has a breakdown that is perfectly believable. Laura Linney (in her Oscar Nominated role) is equally as watchable as Kinsey’s wife “Mac”. Linney captures the complexities of this character as well; she’s torn between unconventional morality and her love for “Prok”. In the film’s final touching scene, Prok and Mac emerge as a couple that really does need each other. There is a depth and subtlety to their relationship that words cannot express. Kudos to Condon for bringing such a modern, mature relationship to the screen. Rounding out the cast is Peter Sarrsgard, Timothy Hutton, and an excellent John Lithgow (as Kinsey’s father). In a nice bit of type casting, Lithgow plays a conservative preacher (Footlose anyone?), but his final scene with Kinsey is a heartbreaker; one is reminded that Mr. Lithgow needs to leave the 3rd Rock more often.
