ralpho2001 Reviews

Carrie (2002 TV Movie)

What gives with the book-to-film comparisons?!

[5 November 2002]

I'm not going to bother with a book-to-film comparison. Since when is a pre-reading of the "Book" a requirement to fully appreciate the "movie"?? Many times one gets caught up in book-to-film comparisons without realizing that a movie is a separate work that can stand on its own merits! (A film will rarely, if ever, reach the level of character development that you can get from a novel/book!) I never read the 'Carrie' book and I think I'm glad that I never did; because I just love the original film.

This made for TV re-make is NOT in any way, shape or form or by any stretch of the imagination, BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL (Which apparently is not as good as the Stephen King book to begin with!) But... IF you haven't seen the dePalma original, You will totally enjoy this movie!! I did.

If you haven't seen either, DO YOURSELF A FAVOR and watch the original Carrie instead!!You WILL LIKE this re-make but BELIEVE ME. if you haven't seen the dePalma film (this one will totally ruin it for you) The original doesn't take itself as serious and There's camp factor there, but it doesn't weigh down the story. Brian dePalma's direction, with a heavy Hitchcock influence, creates a more dramatic dreamlike atmosphere that is well puncuated by the Donaggio score (derivative of a Bernard Hermann score).

The original Carrie played by Spacek is more "real" an a bit less animated and not "creepy" like the new Bettis portrayal. Also Piper Laurie as carrie's mom is absolutely eery! (I love this movie just for Piper's performance alone!) Yeah its over the top, just like all the other characters (Travolta, Amy Irving, nancy allen) But this is the world as seen through carries eyes...an absolute nightmare!

'Round Midnight (1986)

A perfect movie for round' midnight or a rainy day.

[3 February 2001]

I had never heard of this movie before, when I purchased the laser-disk by impulse. I like jazz and the title of it "Round' Midnight" grabbed my attention (also, it was on the bargain bin for only $7.99!).

Wow...was this a pleasant surprise! It has become one of my favorite movies to watch (and listen to). I find that this is not so much a story, but an experience. You experience this movie & its atmosphere.

If you have a good sound system, turn off the lights. Pour yourself a drink, Light up a cigar and turn the volume up! It's an experience that will move you. The music is the lead character here. It's a great movie about jazz for jazz lovers and I would now gladly pay five times what I bought it for!

Bird (1988)

Cool Soundtrack! Overall good movie but, flawed.

[9 August 2000]

If you like Jazz you can't 'not like' this movie. If you like Noir you will dig the overall look of it. My only problem is that Eastwood concentrates more on presenting the tragic side of Charlie parker's life and so we get a very dark and somber film.

While we do get glimpses of Parker as 'musician', Forest Whitaker's, Parker as 'junkie', tends to weigh down the story. If Eastwood had to choose between highlighting the story of 'The greatest jazz musician of all time' or 'The premature death of a self-destructive Junkie', It's obvious which route he chose to take...the easiest one.

Ultimately it becomes more a movie about Parker's relationship with his wife Chan, and less about Parker's relationship with Jazz. In my opinion, Clint doesn't really succeed at showing us why we should love the character of Bird and maybe this was not his intention; but if a separation of the personality (warts and all) and his art is necessary to show an honest depiction; then why not also highlight the music and allow it to speak for itself? In this case, by making it a more satisfying listening experience like Formans "Amadeus" or Tavernier's "Round Midnight". The way they allowed the music be THE lead character of the movie.

Still, the improved fidelity in the remix of the soundtrack makes some of these old recordings easier digestible for those who may be new to Parker's music. Incidentally, this is the best fidelity of Charlie Parker you'll find anywhere. On the whole this is not a bad movie; It is not a complete depress-fest like two other movies about drug induced pop culture icons: 'The Doors' or 'Sid & Nancy'. Indeed this movie has its moments. There's a scene where Parker (blowing on his sax) wakes up Dizzy in the middle of the night to improvise on 'Now's the Time'. I also love the scene where he takes a gig with Red Rodney to play at a Jewish wedding. I wanted more of this type of interaction with his fellow Jazzers!