Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on March 10th, 2005
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on March 9th, 2005
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 9th, 2005
Alice Through the Looking Glass is a 1998 television version of the Lewis Carroll classic. Now this is NOT Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Looking Glassis Carroll's lesser known follow up. There's no mad hatter or chasing white rabbits. But there are white queens, talking insects, and discussions of the Jabberwocky. This is a fairly faithful adaptation.
The story is simple. Alice, through her magic mirror, enters Carroll's world of dream logic and nonsense. Kate Beckinsale (re...ently seen in The Aviator) makes a wonderful Alice. Obviously, Beckinsale is considerably older than Carroll's literary heroine, but she pulls off the role handily with a mix of charm and curiousity. There are also notable supporting performances, Ian Holm is great in anything. The story is told almost entirely through dialogue, and the surreal, nonsensical language might make for a tough sitting with kids. However, sooner or later, every child must come into contact with Lewis Carroll's classic story. This DVD might be a good introduction, but the Walt Disney Alicemight be more of a sure bet.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on March 8th, 2005
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on March 8th, 2005
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on March 8th, 2005
Paul Giamatti, in typically depressed form, is an aspiring writer (his unpublished manuscript looks twice the size of War and Peace) and wine connoisseur who heads out with best friend Thomas Haden Church for a road trip through wine country before the latter’s wedding.Church is far more interesting in getting laid than in tasting wine, however, while Giamatti is still agonizing over his failed marriage (not to mention his perception of a failed life). He allows himself to be dragged by Church into all sorts of misadventures, but one particular entanglement,with Virginia Madsen, might perhaps turn out to be something special.
You know the screenwriter is male when the idea of Virginia Madsen putting the moves on Paul Giamatti isn’t supposed to raise an eyebrow. But let that be. As a portrait of two men unwilling to grow up, this is marvellous stuff. No small part of the film’s accomplishment is that it takes two patently unlovable characters and makes us care very deeply for them. With its gentle pace and expertly realized characters, this has the feel of an early 70s road movie. Amazing that it was made at all in this day and age.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 8th, 2005
Jeremyis an early 70's film that put Robby Benson on the map (for what that's worth). Benson was nominated for a Golden Globe for his tender performance as the title character. This is quite an intimate little perforance. Glynnis O'Connor plays Jeremy's love interest, Susan. O'Connor matches Benson's truthful performance. The film centers around Susan and Jeremy's awkward, but authentic, teenage romance.
The film moves along at a snail's pace. But that's part of the point. There are no major Romeo...and Juliet type melodramatics. The director, Arthur Barron, introduces a lot of hand-held camera work and non-conventional set-ups. The result has a documentary type feel. The trouble with Jeremy is that it's caught between telling a good story and maintaining a cinema verite style. The results are lukewarm, but always interesting.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 7th, 2005
Five discs, ten episodes, one amazing show.
For those that are unaware, MI-5 (or Spooks, as it is called in the UK) is a popular spy series set in London. While some similarities will inevitably be drawn to ABC‘s Alias, MI-5 is an excellent show in its own right. I highly recommend that those that are new to the series start with Season One of the show and work their way up. Starting in the middle of a series cliffhanger is never a good idea, as I learned all-too-late. Of course,...the fact that I wondered in to the show in the middle of the action, with no background knowledge of the series, and was immediately hooked might also say something about the addictive nature of this show. Neverthless, the best place to begin is at the beginning.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on March 7th, 2005
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on March 7th, 2005
Synopsis
