Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on June 13th, 2005
Synopsis
The degree to which any of these films is or was “controversial” varies quite a bit, but the claim can certainly be made that all seven of these films dealt with pertinent social issues of their times. Some are still quite relevant today, and all are well worth watching.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 13th, 2005
This Showtime version of John Knowles' A Separate Peace will bring joy to high school teachers everywhere. Finally, there is a quality movie version to show in English class. Peace is usually mandatory reading in high school (I know I read it), and follows the story of Gene and Finny. Their prep school relationship is ambiguous, and character motivations are a little more complex in the novel (dare I say...a little more provocative?). But, at its core, the novel and this adaptation is a coming of ag... tale. On the brink of World War II, prep school boys are coming to terms with growing adulthood. The private school "feel" is just right, and the director (Peter Yates) is an old vet. He directed Steve McQueen in Bullitt for crying out loud. Yates also directed the masterful film The Dresser, guiding great peformances by Albert Finney and Tom Courtney. Yates direction here is graceful. He gets excellent performances from his cast.
Audio
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 9th, 2005
Swimming Upstream is one of those "small" sports underdog films. It's a true story about Aussie Tony Fingleton, a swimmer who vies to be National champion. Is he racing against all odds? Well...the odds are in the form of family. Geoffrey Rush plays Fingleton's father, an abusive alcholic. So...not only is Fingleton trying to achieve athletic glory, but also trying to win the heart of his father. This is a paint by numbers sports story. The performances are the saving grace, however. Rush, Jesse Spencer ...playing the swimmer), and the always wonderful Judy Davis are all excellent.
Audio
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 2nd, 2005
I didn’t think that Scarlet Johansson had an active eye or ear for drama films, that she does different stuff and has generally been incredibly lucky. Apparently, she’s got a good knack for appearing in films that have good stories also, as she had been attached to this film for quite some time.
Based on the novel by Ronald Everett Capps, A Love Song for Bobby Long tells the story of Pursy (Johansson), who has recently found out her mother died, so she travels back to New Orleans and meets Bobby Long...(John Travolta, Michael), a former college professor who, along with his teaching assistant Lawson (Gabriel Macht, The Recruit), have left their college lives in Alabama and decided to come to New Orleans, and have stayed for years in the house that Pursy’s mother, Lorraine, owned. In the midst of it all, Pursy is a kid barely out of high school (who actually dropped out in 10th grade) and sees her mother’s former friends as scumbag alcoholics. Lawson has been trying to write a novel for several years, and Bobby seems to be slowly pickling himself to death.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 2nd, 2005
Synopsis
Aaron Jacob Estes’ film Mean Creek has been favorably compared to films like River’s Edge and in a sense, Lord of the Flies, for obvious reasons, and that’s not a bad thing. Written and directed by Estes, the film begins with Sam (Rory Culkin, Signs), who “borrows” a camcorder owned by George (Josh Peck, Spun), and gets beaten up for it. Sam’s brother Rocky (Trevor Morgan, The Patriot) steps in as the protective, bigger brother and does a little scheming.>
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 21st, 2005
There’s nothing like a big Hollywood epic. And Martin Scorsese is the man to deliver. The Aviator is a tantalizing blend of Old Hollywood and modern filmmaking panache. The movie tells the story of Howard Hughes. He rose to fame as a Hollywood producer and aviator extraordinaire. Eventually, Hughes descended into a crippling OCD affliction. The movie gives us a taste of the tragedy to come, but doesn’t dwell on it. The Aviator is a thrilling ride into the world of a complicated man.
The...movie is backed by an extremely solid cast. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Hughes. I had my doubts, but Leo delivers the goods. He’s got movie star looks, but Leo’s descent in psychological hell is quite convincing. I was reminded that, yeah, he can be one of our finest actors (Gilbert Grape comes instantly to mind). Cate Blanchett (in her Oscar winning role) is a dead ringer for Kate Hepburn. And it’s a performance that’s not just mimicry either. Memorable performances also include Alan Alda (in a nice turn), Alec Baldwin (always fun to watch), and John C. Reilly (class act all the way). Kate Beckinsale is an okay Ava Gardner, and Gwen Stefani’s much talked about role (as Jean Harlow) is really just a glorified cameo. The real deal is DiCaprio as Hughes. Leo is pitch perfect.
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.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 11th, 2005
What the Bleep Do We Know!? appears to be a New Age film without actually saying the words “New” or “Age.” Consider this, the film, produced by Captured Light & Lord of the Wind Films, is about “a life-changing journey with Amanda (Marlee Matlin, Children of a Lesser “God), a divorced photographer who tumbles down a metaphysical rabbit hole.”
Now, that premise sounds interesting enough, you’re unsure where Amanda will wind up or how she’ll get there. But read on…”Her mind-bending voyage throug... the worlds of science and spirituality includes revelations by quantum physics experts, playful animation and even a conversation with a 35,000 year-old being.”
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 7th, 2005
Kiss the Bride tells the story of a fairly large Italian family living in Rhode Island as Danni (Amanda Detmer, The Majestic) is preparing to marry Geoffrey (Jonothon Schaech, That Thing You Do!) and her sisters come home for the wedding. You have Nikki (Brooke Langton, Swingers), the oldest daughter with a degree but yet still shows up in a belly shirt on the beach each week on a popular TV show. Chris (Vanessa Parise) is a New York financial manager/workaholic, and Toni (Monet Mazur) as ...he youngest who will do anything to get attention. The mother and father will look familiar to you, as they are played by Talia Shire and Burt Young, who played Adrian and Paulie in the Rocky films.
Produced, written and directed by Parise, the film has been slightly compared to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and may be, if that film had snorted a two foot line of cleanser, I could buy the comparison. This film is substantially darker and goes into each of the individual women’s conflicting emotions about the family and each other, but because the family’s so large, there’s nothing that carries out, or it’s left unresolved altogether. The scene that most typifies the movie is when Nikki and her boyfriend, whose relationship is deteriorating, are almost arguing (in between something between two other sisters), and the boyfriend asks if anyone wants to go out to play football, and everyone happily jumps at the chance. Just when you think the film may go somewhere, it goes into another direction.
