Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 20th, 2005
Synopsis
Sydney is a poker-faced professional gambler with a soft heart for a hard luck story. He plays guardian angel to unlucky John and a hooker, Clementine, whom he grows to love like family. When John and Clementine’s honeymoon night leads to a disastrous hostage situation, Sydney takes care of it, as usual. But when slick casino pro Jimmy threatens to reveal a secret from Sydney’s past that could destroy his relationship with the newlyweds, Sydney decides to hedge his bets and not leave anything to ch...nce.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 19th, 2005
I was not too eager to see Hitch in the theater, thinking that DVD was just fine for a film such as this; it is after all only a romantic comedy. I was one of the few who thought this way, as Hitch killed at the box office, brining in over $175 million in its theatrical run. After seeing the film on DVD, I can see why it did so well at the box office – it is the ultimate date movie. You get a charismatic Will Smith, a funny Kevin James, and a gorgeous Eva Mendes – the perfect blend for any sure fire enjoyment by all. This is not to say that this is THAT great of a film, but it hits the mark for what it is.
I am sure you know the plot by now… Alex 'Hitch' Hitchens (Smith) is the date doctor. He seems to be able to make everyone else’s relationships work, including an odd pairing like Albert (James) and heiress Allegra Cole (Valletta), but cannot seem to have anything go right when around his love interest (Mendes). The comedy ensues, and yada yada yada.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 18th, 2005
Again, this USA Network series is based very loosely on the early Stephen King novel or the film with Martin Sheen. The third season takes the series much closer to the darker world of the King novel. Johnny’s growing obsession with Candidate Stillson flirts ever so dangerously with the tragic conclusion of the original story. Of course, the series appears to have strong legs. A fourth and fifth season are already ordered, so Johnny won’t be taking that ever fateful step... just yet. What makes this increasingly compelling storyline work is twofold. Fans of the original finally have some beef to sink their canines into. The second benefit is a direct payoff of this being a series instead of a single film. While we may think we know where Johnny’s headed, we now get to see it have a profound impact on his life. This is a solid 12 episode run and well worth the DVD shelf space required to display it.
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 18th, 2005
Until the Night is a "fly under the radar" movie. You haven't heard of it, but then you watch it. And you're quite taken with it. Until the Night is in the tradition of those relationship/talkie movies (indy god Cassavetes comes to mind). Night also has shades of Sex, Lies, and Videotape. Characters talk to a camcorder, and there are some Soderbergh moments of time fracture.
The plot (to call it one) revolves around a pair of relationships. Elizabeth (played wonderfully by ...athleen Robertson) struggles to keep her chin up abou their marriage to Daniel (played by Michael T. Weiss). In the meantime Robert (played by the underated Norman Reedus) is a photographer who is descends in to a pit of despair over is failing relationship to Mina (Missy Crider). Robert and Elizabeth eventually, and inevitably, meet. And well...the tangled web of romance is weaved. The director/writer Gregory Hatanaka, in his first film, has shown a maturity of theme. This is a strong, truthful film about adult relationships.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on June 17th, 2005
Synopsis
Direct-to-Video queen Kari Wuhrer headlines as hard-edged reporter willing to risk life and limb for a story. Her editor sends her to Bucharest (your first hint of the pic’s minimal budget) to investigate a strange cult of people who call themselves “Deaders.” The members of this group appear to have died and been resurrected by the charismatic leader. Wuhrer descends into the underground, and reality goes all rubbery after she finds and opens a Lament Configuration, summoning Pinhead into h...r life.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 16th, 2005
As usual, National Lampoon comes up with a silly but at times funny movie - if you like silly that is. The two leading goofballs are just off the wall enough to make this movie bearable.
Gold Diggers is about two young losers named Cal (Will Friedle) and Lenny (Chris Owen) who enter a life of crime trying to survive on the streets. Unfortunately, they are terrible at it and end up going in and out of jail a couple of times before things begin to look up for them - they attempt to rob two very old si...ters who end up wanting to marry them. The guys are all for this as Cal has the idea of offing them to inherit their estate while the sisters want to off the young men to collect on an insurance policy they have taken out on them. The two opposing teams show smiling faces toward each other while plotting the others' demise.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 16th, 2005
Synopsis
Why give a DVD about West Point to a guy to supports the Army? You’re probably going to get a lovefest DVD review about just how awesome the Army is anyway. Well, I’ll do my best to keep things in check. Besides, as an enlisted man, I hated officers (or just didn’t respond to too many of them), but I tried to keep an open mind.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 16th, 2005
In watching Being John Malkovich again recently, for the first time in awhile, the thing I was struck by is how unique it is (duh!). It doesn't try too hard at being different, to the point that it's going to suck, everything is matter of fact, and it's hilarious. Its characters are flawed, but we feel for some of them a great deal. It's funny, it's touching, it's dramatic, it works on many levels. I'd expected this to be a 112 minute MTV video from Spiegel heir Spike Jonze, but it's clear that with his work, combined with Charlie Kaufman's script, the result is a story about the 3 main characters experiencing deep, life-altering experiences, and from those experiences, finding (or wanting to find) love. How they get there though, that's another story.
Craig Schwartz (John Cusack, High Fidelity) is a street puppeteer dreaming of success. Sometimes his puppet shows are a little on the PG-13 tip for some G audiences, leading to a young girl's father punching Craig. He then returns home to his wife Lotte (you'd barely notice, but it is Cameron Diaz of There's Something About Mary) convinces him to try and find a job. Lotte runs a pet store, and their apartment is crowded with pets, among them a chimp suffering from an ulcer. With Craig's expert hands, he manages to find a job working as a file clerk at LesterCorp, located in the Merton Flemmer building on the 7th floor. He meets and falls for Maxine, who is not afraid to speak her mind, especially when it comes to Craig's passion. She tolerates Craig, knowing that he's pretty harmless. One day at work, Craig accidentally drops a file behind a cabinet, and behind the cabinet, finds a door and a small crawlspace. Going through the door whisks him through a portal which places him inside of John Malkovich's head for 15 minutes, before depositing him along the side of the New Jersey Turnpike. Craig returns to work and tells Maxine (and subsequently Lotte) about the portal, and things go from there.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on June 16th, 2005
Synopsis
Society belle Gene Tierney is in love with the dashing but penniless Tyrone Power, much to the displeasure of her snobbish uncle Clifton Webb (turning in another of his signature bitchy roles). Tierney wants Power to settle down and earn a good living in order to keep her in the manner to which she is accustomed, but Power needs to find some meaning in life, and he heads off to find enlightenment, first in Paris, later in India. Tierney doesn’t wait for him, and marries millionaire John Payn..., but when Power returns to Paris, where she now lives, her torch burns as brightly as ever, and she will stop at nothing to preserve him for herself.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 16th, 2005
I remember my Junior High teacher reading us excerpts from the novel I Am David in English class. Raising social consciousness was not something we into at that age. Looking back, I can see what my teacher was trying to do. The novel, and this movie adaptation, follows the story of 12 year old David, who escapes a Communist gulag in order to deliver a letter to Copenhagen. David is equipped with nothing but a compass, a bar of soap, and a loaf of bread. His quest across the continent is a journey of enlig...tenment and “growing up” the hard way.
How is the movie version? Well…let’s just say…sometimes a novel should stay a novel. The director Paul Feig has good intentions, and the movie sports solid performances by Ben Tibber (as David) and Jim Caviezel (beware of the misleading DVD cover…Jim only has a supporting role). The problem is Feig’s adaptation and the handling of the material. The flights of fancy and overt sentimentalism get in the way of an engaging film. In other words, the movie just doesn’t work.
