littlesb Reviews

Paycheck (2003)

Stop! If you watch this movie, you will implode!

[1/10 · 6 July 2004]

This film has to do with being paid. My advice to Ben Affleck is: Ben baby, you will never receive another paycheck in your miserable career if you continue to make films as poorly conceived as this one.

It had not one redeeming feature, so I had to give it a "1", the worst possible rating. Usually, I can find at least one thing that was good, even in a lousy movie i.e. score, sound, one charismatic actor, etc. In this case, even the usually luminous presence of Uma Thurman was wasted. Her hair was ratty, there was absolutely no charisma between her and Affleck, oh, what the hell, it was a horrible movie. Do NOT rent it!

Cold Mountain (2003)

Wasted chance

[6/10 · 6 July 2004]

Dear Mr. Manghella:

Please do not ruin another book. Please do not write your screenplay without outside assistance. Please do not add scenes that were not originally there and subtract or change significant events in a beautiful work of art. Please do not allow overacting in your leads (Zellweger) or miscasting (Kidman).

Thank you for keeping Jude Law on the right path for a beautiful understated performance in keeping with the nature of Inman, his character. Thank you for taking such care to reproduce the times and locales of the South during the Civil War so beautifully and accurately.

Thank you for the incredible recreation of the battle of Petersberg at the start of the movie.

Now get to work and try it again.

Something's Gotta Give (2003)

Stupid Title for Silly Movie

[5/10 · 27 December 2003]

First, let me say, I AM that character that Diane Keaton plays and I can tell you that I do NOT have a mansion in Southampton and I do NOT end up marrying suave millionaires. No, this movie is a fantasy, but one that we all wish to believe in i.e. that there IS someone out there after all for each and every one of us. I thought this film was "cute", but only gave it a "5" overall. Jack Nicholson was consistent, always delivering his comedic lines right on, but, in my opinion, Diane Keaton was too much. She did the same mannerisms over and over again and I could SEE the acting taking place. Francis Mc Dormand was miscast and I do no think that she should not waste her considerable talents on bit parts like this. The actor no one seems to mention is Keanu and I must say, he glowed. He was sexy, kind, charming, and sympathetic, all in one hunky package. Kudos to him for taking a role where he is so overshadowed by campy performances and showing how subtleness can sometimes work, too.

The Triumph of Love (2001)

Awful

[1/10 · 11 May 2003]

I gave this movie a rating of 1 (Awful). The only reason that it should even get a 1 instead of a big -0- is Ben Kingsley, who always shines not matter what terrible material is thrown his way.

Mira Sorvino is so out of her element here that as a viewer one simply can't get over the fact that she is even in such a piece.

Stupid, stupid story and horrible production. Do NOT waste your video rental $.

Unfaithful (2002)

Women will understand

[7/10 · 30 December 2002]

Women will understand why this woman does what she does. Olivier Martinez is a DOLL, that's why! The scene where Diane Lane and her friends are stuck in the coffeeshop and he walks in and the comments that her friends make about his sexiness says it all.

Contrary to what other people may say, I think that this whole plot is a very real scenario. The wife did not set out to have an affair. A strong attraction comes into her life totally unexpectedly and the exciting out-of-the box sex that her lover offers becomes addictive to her for a period of time.

**SPOILER**

The fact that she ultimately decides to end it of her own volition is very important to the credibility that she does have a happy homelife and knows that her adulterous life cannot go on indefinitely.

The confrontation between Richard Gere and the lover is also very real to me. You want to warn Paul not to let him in, but he is naive and looks at the whole situation quite realistically, because he knew all along that he was having sex with a married woman and that his emotional involvement could only go so deep. The way that Gere erupts is also very credible, showing that his action was not planned, but a spontaneous act of passion from a man out of his mind with emotion and grief.

Yes, Diane Lane was stunning and brilliant. Yes, I think that she should be nominated for Best Actress. And, I also think kudos should go to the director and editor for keeping my eyes riveted to the screen from beginning to end.

Sunshine State (2002)

Wake me up, please

[3/10 · 30 November 2002]

Wow, I rented this and fell asleep about five times. Had to keep rewinding to keep up on what was going on, but then again that wasn't much, which is why I kept falling asleep to begin with.

The only interesting part was seeing if Edie Falco could carry off a cracker accent and the answer is "sort of".

I gave this a 3.

Don't bother.

Panic Room (2002)

Not as good as I had thought it would be

[6/10 · 23 September 2002]

I was disappointed with this movie. It just seemed flat to me. From the very beginning it doesn't seem to make much sense, because you wonder why this woman would choose to buy this monstrosity of a house. It is NOT a fit.

I think that the director and writer should have taken the claustrophobia of being in a small closed-in space and run with that more....hello, the name of the movie IS "PANIC Room". You see, there didn't need to be all the bloody violence. Terror in the captives' minds would have been scarier i.e. real panic and not so much fighting back from little Sir Jody.

I did like the acting, especially Jared Leto, and, I do agree, the daughter was kind of a freak. All in all, a 6 out of 10.

The Affair of the Necklace (2001)

Dispassionate waste of film

[5/10 · 14 July 2002]

I love period dramas. I love the costumes, the sets, the horses, the street scenes. I love the fact that maybe I can learn a little bit about history along with being entertained. So it was with hope that I rented this movie even though it had only been in the theater two days and there were only two copies of it at Blockbuster (both bad signs). I understand now why no one had wanted anything to do with it from the beginning.

This film simply did not click. There was nothing in it that made me interested in or care about the protagonists. The main fault should go to the casting director who terribly miscast Hillary Swank as an 18th century French noblewoman. Don't get me wrong, I do like Hillary and have recently praised her depiction of the young cop in "Insomnia", but in "The Affair" she was like a fish out of water, too angular, too wooden and quite obviously a modern American actress faking an English accent depicting a French character.

Then we must blame the director, because the sense of tension in this film was minimal. This was a movie about a court intrigue where the stakes were huge both monetarily and punitively. Much more passion should have been injected, more fear, more highs, more lows, intense love and ferocious hate, anything to get the viewer engaged. That this was not done was unfortunate, because the film has a beautiful look to it and the sets and costumes do not disappoint.

Insomnia (2002)

Good, but not great

[6/10 · 24 June 2002]

Perhaps it was the old lady sitting next to me with the heavy lilac perfume or perhaps it was the clods sitting behind me talking through the whole thing, but I found myself wishing that this movie would just get over already. It seemed a little too long and not quite as interesting as I had hoped that it would be.

The intriguing part of it was the question of "crossing the line" and how justifiable it is. I think that this aspect could have been better written with a lot more mystery as to Al Pacino's motivations. Was he really going along with the killer or did he have something more up his sleeve as far as entrapment?

Pacino was great as always, he was very subtle, expressing himself with just a smile or a one-liner. Robin Williams held his own and Hillary Swank was just terrific and very believable in her supporting role as a rookie cop.

All in all, I think that this movie had potential, but the storyline could have been even better, so I gave it only a 6.

From Hell (2001)

Dark, surrealistic journey into Victorian England

[7/10 · 9 June 2002]

I was not too excited to see this movie when it originally came out, but recently rented it and found that it was surprisingly good. It takes a played-out story and gives it fresh twist and even goes one step further than usual and solves the crime! AND the solution makes sense!

Johnny Depp, using an authentic Cockney accent, does a great job in the lead as a demoralized inspector seeking the truth about these gruesome sex crimes. Heather Graham finally gives up her kittenish image and also comes through in her role as one of the "unfortunates" or prostitutes of the London streets.

The dark, moody atmosphere is created through camerawork, sets and the editing, which has a dreamy, surrealistic edge to it inspired by Depp's opium hazes and "intuitions". Though these visions are not crucial to the plot, they take us a little more into the horror of what these crimes were.

If you are squeamish about blood, DO NOT see this movie, because these filmmakers want you to experience these acts even from the point of view of "The Ripper", but if you are a fan of the horror genre, I would say that "From Hell" is a must-see.

The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

I wish this movie wasn't there.

[2/10 · 18 April 2002]

I used to be a big Coen Brothers fan back in the days of Miller's Crossing and Raising Arizona and I still make it a point to see every film that they release, even though the reviews these days are consistently horrid and their box office sucks. But come on, this movie was horrible! It was boring, too long, had no clever plot twists and totally wasted 116 minutes of my life. The only redeeming feature, in my opinion, were the wonderful character actors, such as John Polito, Michael B. and James Gandolfini who managed to breathe a little bit of life into this dead corpse of a film.

I gave it a 2 out of 10.

Heist (2001)

Too much, too often

[7/10 · 17 March 2002]

Word to David Mamet and producers. Spend a little bit more on sound in your next flick and do us all a favor. I rented this thing and I had to put the sound way, way up for the dialogue to try to hear all the clever Mamet quips and snappy patter and then be ready to sink it way down for the explosions and crashes and tire squeals, which were way too loud. Rewinding two and three times to pick up a line here and there that might help me to understand what was going on a little better got to be fatiguing.

You must really not follow this plot too closely, because it does not make sense in many ways. For example, they keep making comments that Gene Hackman is old and over the hill, but when he is shot in the leg, he makes himself a tourniquet and jumps up and expertly shoots every bad guy around.

All these things notwithstanding, I did enjoy this movie, mostly because of the cast, especially Hackman and DeVito, of course, but also Lindo and Jay. Can I ask a dumb question? Is Rebecca Pidgeon shtupping David Mamet, because she is in every one of his films playing the same smartass chick. Is the problem the way she plays the roles or the way he writes for a woman......

I gave this movie a 7 (barely) and would recommend it as a rental.

Rock Star (2001)

Wahlberg rocks, the rest sucks.

[6/10 · 6 February 2002]

This movie seemed like a little bit "Boogie Nights", a little bit "Saturday Night Fever" and a little bit "The Doors", but it definitely had very little original going for it. Mark Wahlberg played the identical role that he had in "Boogie Nights" and he played it the same way, nice kid, eager to please, making the audience root for him to succeed. He is pleasing to look at and truly a talented performer, so that was the high point, but other than his performance, there is very little meat in this film and at the end, when we have all gotten our lesson in rock and roll debauchery, we are sent on our way with little return for our buck. I would say skip this one and go rent "Boogie Nights", which is a better film with some outstanding performances.

Ghost World (2001)

Been there, done that

[5/10 · 20 August 2001]

WHY does everyone like this movie so much? I don't get it. Both my friend and I gave it a 5.

The couple next to me talked, yawned and joked through the whole thing.

If this movie had come out 5 years ago, perhaps it would have been new territory, but now we have Darla on MTV(who seemed remarkably like Enid right down to the glasses) and on the big screen we've had "Welcome to the Dollhouse" and several other movies that have depicted teen angst in a more original and entertaining fashion.

I think that Enid, the main character, was a metaphor for this whole movie i.e. LOSER.

The Score (2001)

slow and steady

[6/10 · 22 July 2001]

Robert De Niro's character in "The Score" says that he never takes a chance in his line of work as a safecracker. He is always totally prepared and plods along to the final payoff. (He must be a Virgo in this movie.)

Perhaps his character is symbolic for the whole film, which moves along at a steady pace, never taking a risk, but paying off in the end. Personally, I was disappointed that there was not greater tension and suspense, but I did appreciate the acting. Angela Bassett was luminous as DeNiro's girlfriend, Marlon Brando held up his end beautifully and Edward Norton was brilliant, as always, playing dual roles as a retarded janitor and crackerjack breakin man. De Niro was De Niro, playing this role in the same likable manner that he has in dozens of other films. You like him and you root for him, and even though he is a calculating criminal, you want him to succeed in his last heist. See the movie and see if he does.

Sexy Beast (2000)

Can't see a flaw

[10/10 · 16 July 2001]

I can find NOTHING wrong with this film. I cannot criticize one thing. I think that it was perfectly executed in every detail.

The acting was unbelievable (Ben Kingsley and Ray Whitmore are Oscar nominees for sure), the writing zinged and slinged, the soundtrack added tension in just the right spots, the plot was convoluted and edgy enough to keep viewers on the edge of their seats at all times.

All in all, I would TOTALLY recommend this film to any serious moviegoer except those who are "turned off by violence". If you have a sensitive nature and you cannot take hostility and violence, then forget it.

Shrek (2001)

Everybody loves it!

[8/10 · 28 May 2001]

Small wonder that this movie will be a big $$ maker for Dreamworks. It appeals to almost every viewer on some level.

What I liked was the animation...the beautiful use of color, the subtle textures and attention to the smallest details. Eddie Murphy was perfect as Donkey. What I didn't like was all the fart references and gross-out humor. Hopefully, this fad shall pass from the movie industry's requisite for comedy.

I gave this film an 8 and have already recommended my boss and his family to go see it, so it had BETTER be good!

Unbreakable (2000)

M. Night on "unbreakable" streak

[9/10 · 16 December 2000]

Who is M. Night Shymalan and how did he get so good?

This movie is a masterwork, just as "The Sixth Sense" was. The viewer is kept in suspense from the beginning and intrigued with the mystery of "Who is David Dunn?" "Why doesn't he even know himself?" "What can he do?" "What WILL he do?" The direction contributes to the mood and I believe that M. Night will be nominated for Best Director and also Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards.

The beginning sequence is perfectly put together, camera angles, mood, conversation, building suspense through the use of sound to a trainwreck that we never actually see, but have experienced already in our imaginations. The score also enhances our experience at just the right moments. The acting is adequate; Bruce Willis does not deliver his lines with much conviction sometimes, but his facial expressions more than make up for that.

If there is a weak part of the film, I would say that it is the relationship between David and his wife. A little too much time is spent letting us know that there is something not quite right there. But, hey, I am just nitpicking here...this is a brilliant film, it creates a mood, it is beautifully executed and it deserves a Big 9, which is just what I gave it.

Meet the Parents (2000)

No surprises after the trailer, but still worth seeing

[7/10 · 4 November 2000]

The trailer for this film was on TV incessantly and also, of course, in the theaters, and I laughed. I laughed at Robert DeNiro and his "I'm watching you". I laughed at Ben Stiller's kung fu chops recorded on one of DeNiro's covert cameras. I especially laughed at the sister being bopped in the eye with the volleyball scene. But wait a minute, are there any big yocks that aren't in the trailer? Answer: Very few.

That said, let me say that I think that this is pleasant movie well worth seeing. Waiting for it to come out in video may not be a bad idea, though. "Meet the Parents" is a good old-fashioned American comedy in the mode of "Father of the Bride" and many of the other movies of the '50's with Spencer Tracy, Jimmy Stewart, etc. That is, good clean fun with the emphasis on family and an ending that you know is going to be happy. Excellent performances from all, but especially DeNiro and Stiller and special mention must go to the unique acting ability of Mr Jinx.

All in all, a great movie to see with your family....the kids and Grandma, too...I think they'll all have smiles on their faces at the end even if they're not rolling on the floor.

Best in Show (2000)

Guest is the Best!

[6/10 · 29 October 2000]

Christopher Guest proves himself again in this very funny movie about the premier dog show in the U.S. and the people who are excited by it. The ensemble of comedians, many of whom Guest worked with before in "Spinal Tap" and "Waiting for Guffman" play off each other brilliantly and keep the laughs coming. This is satire of our times at its finest. Besides the serious belly laughs provided by Catherine O'Hara, Fred Willard and Eugene Levy, there are the more subtle characters like Ed Begley, as the tolerant hotel manager and Bob Balaban and Don Lake as the self-serious heads of the dogshow, who provide surrealistic views of the actual people who make an event like this happen.

And then there are the dogs, each one a real champion in his own way. It truly is hard to pick just one to route for. I especially liked Hubert, the bloodhound, the shitzu and, of course, little Winky, the terrier. One charming part of this film is that the love of the owners for their dogs really came through. Especially poignant was Guest's character, coming from a rural Southern area to the show in Philadelphia, because of pride and belief in his Hubert. AND, who knew that Guest could do such a brilliant backwoods accent?!

Almost Famous (2000)

I gave it a 10.

[10/10 · 22 October 2000]

Yes, I gave it a 10...the first one of the year, as far as I am concerned and maybe the only one, considering the dregs that are going to be released in the coming months.

In my opinion, this movie was the best in almost every way. First, the acting: Perfect casting of Philip Seymour Hoffman, Frances McDormand, Billy Crudup and Kate Hudson. Will McDormand and Kate Hudson vye for Best Supporting Actress nominations? Will Hoffman finally be rewarded for his incredible body of work and get his Best Supporting Actor award for this movie? And will Cameron Crowe sweep with Best original screenplay and Best Director? If this world was a just place, all these things would come to pass. One thing troubles me, though...why isn't this movie in the Top 5 at the box office?

Anybody that hasn't seen it, please help to put it there and go see this film.

Woman on Top (2000)

Delightful and delicious

[8/10 · 4 October 2000]

This movie cannot help but be compared to "Like Water for Chocolate" and, although "Like Water for Chocolate" was by far the better film, being much deeper, more metaphysical and more complex, "Woman on Top" still had the same enchanting feeling and the same basic theme: a woman who has a major disappointment with a man turns to her second passion, cooking, and lets out all of her love and creativity in that venue as opposed to the sexual one.

By far, the best thing about this film is its star, Penelope Cruz, who seems to me to be a combination of Julia Roberts and, dare I say it? Audrey Hepburn. She is absolutely stunning on screen and that very attribute is a lot of what the plot is about. The other actors all did a good job, but it was Ms. Cruz that made this movie as delicious as it was. I felt that the weak link was the drag queen part, which was written a little too Whoopi.

At any rate, I would recommend that you could see this movie with your old-maid aunt, your little child or your gay neighbor and you will all be as delighted as I was with a fluffy plot, beautiful people and wonderful score. You'll come out ready to fall in love and humming the bossanova.

Woman on Top (2000)

Delightful and delicious

[8/10 · 4 October 2000]

This movie cannot help but be compared to "Like Water for Chocolate" and, although "Like Water for Chocolate" was by far the better film, being much deeper, more metaphysical and more complex, "Woman on Top" still had the same enchanting feeling and the same basic theme: a woman who has a major disappointment with a man turns to her second passion, cooking, and lets out all of her love and creativity in that venue as opposed to the sexual one.

By far, the best thing about this film is its star, Penelope Cruz, who seems to me to be a combination of Julia Roberts and, dare I say it? Audrey Hepburn. She is absolutely stunning on screen and in this film truth follows fiction and that very attribute is a lot of what the plot is about. The other actors all did a good job, but it was Ms. Cruz that made this movie as delicious as it was. I felt that the weak link was the drag queen part, which was written a little too Whoopi.

At any rate, I would recommend that you could see this movie with your old-maid aunt, your little child or your gay neighbor and you will all be as delighted as I was with a fluffy plot, beautiful people and wonderful score. You'll come out ready to fall in love and humming the bossanova.

Space Cowboys (2000)

Can I go home yet?

[5/10 · 14 September 2000]

Yawn, yawn. For a movie that is about breaking speed records, this thing really plods along with all but one engine non-functional. The fault seems to lie with the director and lead actor, Clint Eastwood, as well as the plot itself, which has as many holes in it as the wrecked Soviet spacecraft.

The only sparks of fun come from Donald Sutherland, believe it or not, who plays his role with grace and charm. James Garner also makes the most of what he's been given, which is not much. Tommy Lee Jones is a little heavy-handed with the hick thing, but, then, that's Tommy Lee. But Clint Eastwood might just as well be named Clint Deadwood in the credits of this movie, because every line that comes out of his mouth which could have been funny or could have been dramatic lands as flat as his little astronaut-suited ass.

These geriatric astronauts waited forty years to go up in space and they taught me one thing - perserverance. Yes sir, I stuck this thing out, right to the dreadful end, just like our heroes. I was like them...I obviously didn't have anything better to do.

Nurse Betty (2000)

Cute!

[6/10 · 10 September 2000]

As I was walking out of this movie a few people asked me what I thought of it and out of my mouth came, "It was cute." Yes, since Renee Zellweiger is so darn cute and she is in almost every frame, I would say it was Awfully darn cute.

True, Morgan Freeman did his normal terrific job, but this film would be a much different one without Zellweiger, who plays the title character, Nurse Betty. The super closeups on her sweet face and the trusting nature that comes from her eyes makes the audience route for her from the very start, where we see her in her Kansas environment of uncomplaining waitress by day and uncomplaining wife by night.

Greg Kinnear also acts with his eyes and they go wide with disbelief at the wonder of Betty. The acting, in general, was great, with the weak link being Chris Rock. I think that he should stick to standup and quit trying to be funny on the big screen...it just ain't working for him.

At any rate, I would say to go see this film, as it has an interesting, fantastical premise and a lot of very funny lines. The audience in my theater was laughing out loud a lot of the time. And, hey, are we not all starved for something at least halfway decent to go see this year?