Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 20th, 2002
Synopsis
Kevin Bacon is a high-rolling stock trader. When he screws up and loses it all, he becomes(naturally) a gifted bicycle messenger, and so rebuilds his confidence. Many bike tricks and GiorgioMoroder songs ensue. Dire.
Audio
The 2.0 mix gets off to a strong start, with a truly impressive street environment simulatedduring the opening credits. Thereafter, however, the FX are pretty minimal, and take a back seatto the endless, horrible 80's soundtrack. ...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 17th, 2002
Synopsis
Dougray Scott plays Tom Jericho, brilliant but psychologically fragile code-breaker. He wasinstrumental in cracking the German Enigma code, and is needed again, since the code haschanged. He is still trying to put himself back together after a wrenching relationship with theglamorous Saffron Burrows, who has disappeared. As he works on Enigma, Scott also getsinvolved with Kate Winslet. The two of them try to solve the mystery of Burrows’ disappearance.The intelligent script...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on December 12th, 2002
Synopsis
This movie presents the question of “Why buy the cow, when you can get the milk for free”? David (Jerry O’Connell) is forced to face this question when his girlfriend of 5 years Sarah (Bridgette Wilson) leaves for New York for two months and leaves him with the ultimatum of marry me or move on. He is helped along with his decision by the usually colorful cast of comic side kicks played Ryan Reynolds and Bill Bellamy. This movie just never really seems to get going, with one notable exception...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 8th, 2002
Synopsis
Charlotte Gainsbourg plays film star Charlotte. Her husband Yvan Attal (who also wrote anddirected the film) plays Charlotte’s husband Yvan. So far so postmodern. Yvan becomes jealousin this slight but engaging comedy when Charlotte’s next role has her co-starring with anotoriously sexy British actor (Terence Stamp).
Audio
Very solid soundtrack, though limited to 2.0. The music sounds fine, and the sound effects,though low key, are enough to create ...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 6th, 2002
Synopsis
The setting is the imaginary Florida town of Delrona Beach. It isn’t the most attractive placein the world, and there are rival developers moving in, each with their own ideas on how theplace should be bought and remade. Some of the characters, such as Marly (Edie Falco) needto escape. Others, like Desiree (Angela Bassett) are, on the contrary, returning to their roots. Thescript is low-key and finely tuned, building toward small epiphanies. The characters are nicelyfleshed...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 1st, 2002
Men in Black was a landmark film that almost came out of nowhere. Tom Baker’s standard setting makeup effects combined with the Lethal Weapon-like chemistry between Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones made it one of the best simple entertainment films in recent memory. The problem with a sequel is you aren’t going to sneak up on an innocent audience. Expectations are high and this film does not meet those high expectations. With that said, however, it really is an entertaining film. All the great elements from the original film are here: Frank the Pug is much more involved, Tony Shalhoub’s Jeebs is still loosing his head over the MIB, and The Practice’s Lara Flynn Boyle is a far more attractive bad guy … eh girl ... eh something.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 28th, 2002
Synopsis
Kari Wuhrer is an ambitious corporate lawyer constantly hitting the glass ceiling in a male-dominated world. Her affair with Stephen Baldwin leads to a $40-million theft, and doubt,deception and betrayal follow. Now, if Wuhrer really turned your crank in Eight Legged Freaks,then you might be interested in a film that has her naked as often as possible (and thus makingthe plot’s pseudo-feminism even more laughable). And, if you’re into trivia, one-time JamesBond George Lazen...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 27th, 2002
Synopsis
Stacy Keach is a boxer in serious decline, now working odd jobs and hooking up withneurotic alcoholic Susan Tyrrell. He runs into Jeff Bridges, a young man who might have a futureas a boxer (emphasis on “might”). These are all downtrodden losers in an ugly California town.Fat City is definitely not for everyone. It is well put together, and the performances are great, butthe pace is very slow, and not very much happens.
Audio
The sound is mono, and ...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 24th, 2002
Synopsis
Louis Gossett, Jr. is the dean of a private school for troublesome boys. The main prankstersare led by Sean Astin. School life turns deadly when a group of Columbian gangsters take overthe campus, holding the students hostage and demanding that the father of their leader bereleased from prison. I’ll admit, I wasn’t expecting much when I popped this in, and deathless itis not. But it is reasonably suspenseful, with solid action sequences. As time-wasters go, this isn’tbad at...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 24th, 2002
Synopsis
Psychologist Mia is caught up in a web of erotic danger thanks to Tammy, whose husbandgets killed in the opening scene, and who is no doubt not as innocent as she appears to be. Bigyawn. And hasn’t anyone noticed that “Trois 2” is a singularly stupid sounding title? Why not“Trois 2: Uno”?
Audio
Film aside, the sound quality is pretty damn good, with an excellent music mix, and a prettysolid environment creation, with sound effects noticeably present...
