Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on March 20th, 2002
The second version of Cornell Woolrich’s novel “Waltz Into Darkness” (previously filmed by François Truffaut’s Mississippi Mermaid), this is a decidedly steamier version, especially here, in its unrated form.
Synopsis
Cuban plantation owner Antonio Banderas advertises for a wife, and the woman who answers his ad is, he believes, plain but pure. What shows up, however, is the beautiful but duplicitous Angelina Jolie, who has larceny rather than matrimony on her mind. Her scam runs smoothly at first,...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 17th, 2002
Intro
Writer/director Ron Shelton says, in his commentary, that one of the things that pushed him to make Bull Durham was the sense that nobody did sports movies right. Mission accomplished: here is a film about baseball that can be enthusiastically embraced by those of us who have no interest in, or knowledge of, baseball.
Synopsis
Devout member of the Church of Baseball, Susan Sarandon selects a player each year to coach in the arts of love and of the game. This year, her two candida...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on March 15th, 2002
Intro
Every so often, the Marquis de Sade comes back into vogue. The last couple of years saw the release of Quills and Sade close on each other’s heels. Their rather romantic views of Sade are as nothing, however, compared to this 1969 film.
Synopsis
Returning to the now decrepit castle in which he lived, Sade (Keir Dullea of 2001: A Space Odyssey fame) encounters his corrupt clergyman uncle, played by John Huston (hilariously mangling French names and doing a lip-smackingly creepy wa...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 14th, 2002
It was the Universal Horror classics of the 30’s and 40’s that baptized me into the world of films forever. Although I wasn’t born when these films were made, like the creatures they portrayed, they came back to life for me on TV Shock Theaters and the writing of Forrey Ackerman. Now Universal has once again resurrected one of its marquee monsters for a new generation of fans. The fusion of modern-day CG effects and an Indiana Jones flair for adventure make this a remake worth viewing.The film was an unexpected gem for both Universal and fans.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 11th, 2002
Intro
It is interesting to see a film with such a tiny budget ($500,000) on the MGM label.
Synopsis
The film is centred around a Girl Bar, and follows the trials and tribulations in love of a group of lesbians. Loretta, a TV cartoon writer, is the central figure (though this is pretty close to being an ensemble piece), and is something like a cross between Bette Midler and Bridget Jones. Bar Girls was originally a play, and a good job was done of opening the story up – the film does no...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on March 11th, 2002
Intro
The hero is a kitchen sponge. I think I’ve seen everything now.
Synopsis
Ten episodes of the Nickelodeon cartoon series, starring the terminally nerdy Spongebob Squarepants. He lives in the Goo Lagoon, and has a thing for Sandy, a squirrel in a diving outfit. The humour will either work for you or it won’t.
Audio
The sound is clear, but a bit thin. The surround effects are limited almost entirely to the music, and even that isn’t as rich as it might be. The big...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 10th, 2002
Intro
It is the season for animated sequels, and right on the tail of Cinderella 2, Disney has released The Hunchback of Notre Dame II.
Synopsis
“Return to the magnificence of Notre Dame in Disney's all-new movie, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME II, a fun, romantic adventure told with vibrant animation and music as soaring as its setting. Still the faithful protector of Notre Dame's beloved bells, Quasimodo now rings them with the help of Esmeralda's and Phoebus's little boy,...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 9th, 2002
Intro
This was a very interesting crime thriller. The acting was quite good, and the triple-crossing plot was very unique. It is too bad that a film such as this would get a bare-bones DVD release.
Synopsis
“Question: What makes the world go round?
Joe Moore (Gene Hackman) has a beautiful young wife, money owed to him, and a job he loves. He’s a thief. His job goes sour when he gets caught on security camera tape. His fence, Bergman (Danny DeVito) reneges on the ...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 9th, 2002
Intro
An ambitious, intelligent, serious look at the life of Oscar Wilde, this is a first-class biopic.
Synopsis
Stephen Fry is Oscar Wilde, the role he was born to play. The film begins with Wilde’s triumphant lecture tour of the US, and we pick up his life from there, seeing his marriage, his seduction by Robbie Ross, and the flowering of his talent, even as his downfall becomes inevitable through his relationship with the callow Lord Alfred Douglas (Jude Law). Fry is surrounded by a...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 7th, 2002
Chevy Chase is at his funniest in National Lampoon’s European Vacation. This film now seems somewhat dated, but it still makes me laugh.
Synopsis
“The first time the Griswalds took a trip – in National Lampoon’s Vacation – moviegoers everywhere went along for the ride… and went bonkers! Now they’re into even zanier sightseeing in National Lampoon’s European Vacation, directed by Amy Heckerling (Clueless, Fast Times at Ridgemont High).
Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo return as Clark ...
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