Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 24th, 2002
Synopsis
Carolyn McDuffy (Christina Ricci) appears to have it all. She is the most dynamic memberof her sorority. She’s dating the most popular boy on campus. Her unspeakably shallow life isperfect. The sorority does some charity work with challenged athletes, and Ricci is paired up withPumpkin (Hank Harris). She is at first disgusted, then fascinated, and then... Life, of course, goesspinning wildly out of control. Though the trailer suggests this might be another gross-outcomedy, ...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 24th, 2002
Synopsis
Can’t afford Jim Carrey? Then hire Dave Sheridan, who will do his best impersonation of thebig star. As Frank McKlusky, Sheridan plays a young man so traumatized by his daredevilfather’s disastrous stunt that he has become psychotic about safety precautions (a neurosisencouraged by mother Dolly Parton). McKlusky’s dad (Randy Quaid) was denied medicalinsurance due to a crooked legal firm, who now, many years later, are up to no good again.McKlusky investigates, and the hilar...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 10th, 2002
This is without a doubt the ultimate chick flick. Guys who find themselves subjected to the film can take heart in fact that there are a few moments that they will find interesting. Although this film will likely not give you a better understanding of your wife/girlfriend, it will most assuredly provide insight into your mother-in-law. Turns out she really is as crazy as you thought she was. There is also a subdued but pivotal performance by James Garner, who steals practically every scene he’s in with his wonderful “suffering in silence” Shep.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 31st, 2002
Synopsis
Zero Mostel is a down-on-his-luck play producer. Gene Wilder is a neurotic accountant.Together they cook up a scheme to raise a million dollars (from old ladies) to produce a playguaranteed to flop (and thus they keep the money.) The play they choose is a little romp called“Springtime for Hitler.” This being a Mel Brooks film, the humour ain’t subtle, and Brooks doesrun some sequences into the ground (he never has known when to quit). But there is a lot oftremendously funny...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 23rd, 2002
Synopsis
John Wayne plays an American returning to his Irish roots in the town of Innisfree. He fallsin love with the fiery Maureen O’Hara, but the path to true love does not run smoothly. This isbecause O’Hara’s brother is the bully Victor McLaglen. Wayne refuses to fight back, though,because of accidentally killing a boxing opponent in the past. Sooner or later, though... A changeof pace, this, for Wayne: essentially a romantic comedy (loaded with Irish stereotypes) ratherthan a w...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 22nd, 2002
Synopsis
The Princess (Mira Sorvino) is in love with Agis (Jay Rodan), the man who is the true heir tothe throne. He has been raised by philosopher Ben Kingsley to hate not just the Princess, but allwomen. So the Princess dons male clothing to infiltrate Kingsley’s home. Her scheme gets moreand more complicated as she winds up having to win the hearts not just of Agis, but of Kingsleyand his spinster sister (Fiona Shaw) as well. Deliberately stagey, and with a script thatcarries dis...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on October 19th, 2002
Synopsis
Sir James Bond (David Niven), a superhuman prude with a stutter, is forced out of retirementto discover who is killing off all the world’s spies. He recruits a whole load of other 007s, fromPeter Sellers to Ursula Andress (don’t ask), and the villain turns out to be Woody Allen.Comedies should rarely run more than 90 minutes. This clocks in at 137. Interminably,mortifyingly dull. I defy anybody to sit through this.
Audio
The sound comes in both 5.1 ...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 7th, 2002
Synopsis
Jolie is a Seattle-area news reporter whose apparently perfect life is derailed when streetprophet Tony Shaloub predicts she is going die in a week. Becoming convinced that Shaloub isright, Jolie re-examines her priorities. She is helped out by cameraman Ed Burns, with whom she(naturally) has an extremely prickly relationship when the story begins. Jolie and Burns are bothsuperb, and the film has a slick look to it. On the minus side, the film seems to have some prettyharsh...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on September 29th, 2002
Swingers originally debuted on DVD when the format was still in its infancy. As with most titles released during that time, it suffered from a lackluster 2.0 audio track, non-anamorphic transfer, no trailers and hideous packaging. Now roughly five years later, Swingers has returned to DVD, this time in a spiffy new Collector’s Series edition from Miramax. With every issue the first release was plagued by addressed, this release is everything a fan of Swingers could ever hope for.
Swingers' story focuses on...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on September 25th, 2002
It was bound to happen sooner or later; Britney Spears would make the jump to the big screen. While most guys would rather she made the jump to Playboy first, others will take what they can get from Ms. Spears. Unfortunately, Crossroads was written as a vehicle for Britney to touch the souls of other young women who can make a difference in the world. When translated to the screen, it just isn’t entertaining. In fact, it's downright boring.
Britney plays Lucy, a recent high school graduate living under the...
