Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 31st, 2004
I have had the pleasure of reviewing better films than Home Room; and I’ve certainly suffered through worse. But I am not sure I’ve reviewed a more important film. I’ve been a public high school teacher for over 8 years. Ask any educator and you’ll find that Columbine changed things for everyone, so I wasn’t sure how I would find this study of that kind of violence. The subject is handled with extreme care in Home Room. In a wise decision, the shooting occurs to a black screen. We don’t really pick up the story until after the event.
The film has two basic themes. The most obvious is the budding relationship between two teenage girls who are dramatically unalike but forced together to deal with their tragedy. The second theme is blame. Our society seems to possess a powerful need to blame someone when disaster strikes. We don’t deal well when evil has no recognizable face. This film examines that theme like no other I’ve seen before. The acting is incredibly on target. Victor Garber is excellent as the detective who is haunted by the tasks before him. Busy Phillips and Erika Christiansen nail the characters of Alicia and Deeana, our two troubled teens.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 31st, 2004
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Well, Vanishing Point is definitely a movie of the seventies. Don’t be deceived by the DVD case, which proclaims this to be “the Ultimate Car Chase Movie” – yes, there is certainly car chases, but this film is more art gallery than speed shop. To contextualize the film, it was originally released in 1971 – the Vietnam war was crawling towards defeat for the U.S., the summer of love had come and gone, and disaffection and disillusionment had become the twin staples of the America.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on January 30th, 2004
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on January 29th, 2004
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on January 28th, 2004
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on January 27th, 2004
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 25th, 2004
Scorched follows in the tradition of Guy Ritchie films such as “Loch Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch” from the perspective of having a group of characters that don’t have too much in common except for fate brining them all together at the right (or wrong) place at the right (or wrong) time.
Scorched follows three main characters who all work at a bank and have the same idea, although thought of independently, to rob the bank – all on the same weekend. Sheila (Alicia Silverstone) has been dating ...he bank manager and supporting his desire to continue through school and going so far as to pay for a tutor for him. However she has revenge in her sights when he leaves her for that same tutor. Woods (Woody Harrelson – go figure) is a hard working employee who believes that all of his dedication has finally paid off when he is called into the manager’s office with the promise of a promotion. He does get it – more responsibility a better title and a massive raise of…55 cents and hour. Stuart Stein is another hard worker who is encouraged to carry through on his little thought out plan to rob the bank by a friend.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on January 15th, 2004
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on January 14th, 2004
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on January 8th, 2004
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