amamistyed Reviews

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006–2007)

Intelligent, even handed, courageous. You knock our socks off!

[10/10 · 2 October 2006]

What a joy. Can you imagine someone actually answering a reporter in a press conference with the TRUTH? Even if it costs them? In Aaron Sorkin's world things are set aright and, while he clearly has questions, he sets out to answer them in a righteous and evenhanded way bringing thoughtful debate to the minds of the audience which, thankfully, he seems to believe can participate in thoughtful debate.

In Sorkin's world there is loyalty unlike almost anywhere on earth. Both in his personal loyalties and those of his interesting, full of life characters, bursting with individuality, personality and beautiful DIALOG...YES! So much incredibly wonderful dialog.

The unique and enduring music of W.G. Snuffy Walden adds such depth of emotion and intent to Studio 60. Music that moves us and causes us to feel with the characters we laugh and cry with and love to see again and again.

Sorkin and Schlamme bring actors we thought were pretty good, some we already really liked a lot, many we didn't even know their names - but now we do...and we always will. Because their talent has been revealed in the most profound way. And, after the pilot, I felt I knew them well and loved them each - a lot.

People enter from stage right and left - set builders, camera people, runners and a fantastic PA played by Merritt Wever who won my heart in the first episode. And I thought...only Sorkin would use this lucky girl in this way and she'll be so great...is so great...

And there are the cameos. Judd Hirsch, Ed Asner. Precious bits of time. As in The Wrap Party where the famous Eli Wallach was exquisite as the old writer/veteran who was once blacklisted in Hollywood. I cried. Very brave lines here, wonderfully acted by all involved. What a piece of film!

And with so much story and so many personalities, there is always room for one more...and one more that amazingly fills a new important space. No fillers here. Enter Christine Lahti...pure class. One more of the unique women in his script. Women who are strong, intelligent, interesting, funny...as well as loyal and led by their integrity. They vary in personality, careers, education, physical appearance and age. They are each absolutely beautiful in ways that most writers/producers/directors haven't seemed to notice nor use yet.

And there are the love scenes between Matthew Perry and Sarah Paulson. Truly amazing, awesome love scenes. Filled with depth and respect; fired with emotion and among the most beautiful ever filmed.

Week after week the story builds, the characters deepen and the anticipation of what is to follow is delightful...because we know the foundation will always be there. We know we can trust Sorkin to always be true.

The most recent: Nevada Day was absolutely great. One of the funniest things I've seen in years. I laughed until my sides hurt. What wit! and what an amazing ability to take real life people and their situations, examine truth and controversy while at the same time making us laugh out loud. And John Goodman, who would never disappoint us if all he did was enter the room...he is so good...was perfect as the judge from Pahrump...yeah Pahrump Nevada. Well, you've just got to watch this one.

The content always is intelligent, honest and courageous. The writing, directing, set design, costume, makeup - all pure talent, pure art. The acting is as acting should be - believable and strong: Perry, Whitford, Peet, Paulson Busfield, Hughley, Weber, and every one in between. Each actor is excellent and important. The show is important. I only hope there will be 130000 episodes.

Thank you Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme and a most incredible ensemble for giving us your very best every time. You knock our socks off.

Lady in the Water (2006)

The Night is young

[10/10 · 23 July 2006]

I heard a lot of bad things about this movie so I was kind of worried...I don't want to see M. Night Shyamalan fail. Tonight I saw it. Now I don't know how to condense the expression of my thorough appreciation of it.

A gentle man who has a mundane job as care taker of an apartment building encounters a mystical Narf in the swimming pool who has been delivered from the Blue World to this world to change the future for us all through the writings of one man. And, in the process, many of the people in the apartment building need to get together - bind around a common goal - and save the Narf to allow her to be returned to her world where she can fulfill her purpose and lead her people.

This is a bedtime story. It really is. But you have to have the eyes of Cleaveland Heep to see it that way. Or the heart of Vick Ran. Or the desire to love life like Young-Soon Choi.

And it is a real life drama with depth and meaning in every space. But you have to listen to the dialog and look into the individual apartments and see the images on their televisions and listen to the different music coming from them...and become part of The Cove.

But most of all you have to let yourself go and allow yourself to feel these characters. Each one makes it easy for you if you are willing. Paul Giamatti is exquisite as Cleveland Heep and gives an Oscar winning performance throughout - especially in one of the last scenes of this unique and awesome movie. M. Night Shyamalan as Vick Ran was perfect. His credibility as an actor is sealed in my mind. He made me think, and cry and hope I could find such nobility in myself if it came to it. Cindy Cheung is delightful in her part as she exudes life and expectation. Each cast member should have something special said about them. They were real. They were great. Dallas Howard is beautiful as Story...and subtly played as she should have because the story while focused around her isn't really about her. Its about them. The other characters who she comes to help.

M. Night Shyamalan is only 36 years old and he has already created at least 5 classic films. Each one is unique...each one has depth and purpose. I believe, like Vick Ran, Mr. Shyamalan has something to say...a lot to say. This is a man who cares about things...like humility and honesty and tolerance; and is an artist. He uses actors who are artists. He uses the camera like a an artist's paint brush and the world in front of him is his palette. Somehow...no matter how you think you are going to feel when you begin watching his movies...at the end there is something in your heart...a smile on your face...thoughts in your mind...feelings you didn't expect to feel...and they are good. Exceptionally good. And M. has just got started.

The Village (2004)

A work of art from beginning to end

[10/10 · 23 July 2006]

I have been so surprised at the negative comments and reviews for this movie. I think it is because it is a movie based on dialog and relationships with quiet and deep felt emotion rather than explosive acting...I don't know. But for me it is a masterpiece by a genius. The acting is superb by each member of a wonderful and obviously close cast. The mystical, moving music alone could cause me to watch it over and over. Many people comment on "camera angles being good." Misses the mark a bit. Every single frame of this movie COULD be framed...even the shot of Noah dead at the bottom of the pit. The enormous care that goes into the details of every scene of this and all of Shyamalan's movies is a gift to the movie goer.

Night's attention to individual characters is a wonderful change from the superficiality of most movies. The gentleness, honesty, humor and beauty of each personality is delightful. You get to know these people...they have quirks and fears and desires...and he causes you to care deeply about them. Mercy inhabits all of his films...and tolerance and understanding. He is able to take the most simple things and create depth and breadth and make each moment of a film memorable for some small reason or another. I don't think anyone has made a more beautiful love scene than the one of Brice and Joaquine sitting on the porch as he expresses his love for her.

The thing about this film, and I believe all of Shyamalan's films. is that you have to let yourself FEEL them. You have to slow down a bit and enter into the world he has created and become part of it for a while. But, then, isn't that why we watch movies? He gives us real people, able to be heroic with almost no one ever knowing...he give hope for the human condition...he brings beauty for the eyes and ears and uniqueness at every turn.

The Village for me was like a master's painting and I believe all of this particular master's paintings will become classics.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)

Darn

[22 July 2006]

I loved the first Pirates of the Caribbean. Loved the acting the humor and the interesting twists and turns...and couldn't wait for this one. Darn. I love Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom and I hated this movie. It was the slapstick version of the original. What if we all acted like the Three Stooges and re-made the movie. And it's not the actor's fault. It's probably Disney's fault...certainly the writers and directors and the folks that could have said Stop! The character of Captain Jack disappeared somewhere in the bad comedy though he did a great job with what he had to work with. Orlando Bloom was in it wasn't he? With a few excellently delivered lines (he can't do otherwise) he seemed to be kind of melded into the special effects. And for anyone who saw Underworld...come on Davy Jones! get a new character! we could see you through your huge makeup and we wanted to see someone else. Too much CGI. Too little of what we watch Pirates to see...Johnny Depp...acting...being Captain Jack... I was greatly disappointed. Sorry. I hate saying bad stuff about people I love. Lots of good people (I have to exclude K. Knightly...someone please tell her how to hold her face naturally and quit with the lip thing...)with not much to do. I do hope the next one is so much better. And, I am glad there will be a next one.

Da Vinci's Inquest (1998–2006)

Da Vinci's Inquest

[10/10 · 22 July 2006]

I began watching this show last year and I'm hooked. The more I watch the more I love it. These characters are so real and honest and hilarious. The dialog is absolutely fantastic and musical and everyone in this cast is in perfect harmony. Each actor has created the most believable character and caused me to care deeply for each one...from Da Vinci (Nicholas Campbell) himself to his awesome secretary (Sara Strange) to the sweet little drug addict whore (Emily Perkins) on the street...and all the others...I love them all and look forward to their very excellent and, as far as I can see, flawless performances. You really ought to watch it then, don't you think?

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

The Joy Of Streep!

[9/10 · 22 July 2006]

There is great predictability in this movie but I didn't care. The plot was not really new...nor the moral of the story...but I didn't care. Because it was absolutely delightful. Meryl Streep delivered an Oscar winning performance as the horrible Miranda Priestly...gave her depth and reality and caused me to care very much about this isolated female character in the world that she made so extremely interesting. She made me love her and wish Andy didn't have to leave. I agree with brocksilvey..the world of Miranda and the people around Miranda were far more interesting than what she left behind. Anne Hathaway did better than a very good job, though I believe she had an awful lot to work with. Just standing there in front of Streep during the magnificent speech about Andy's cerulean blue sweater can give an actress a lot of credibility...just because she's there in the same air space. From the first moment of Streep on screen to the last second "GO" in the car...and all that beautiful acting in between she delivered a flawless performance.

I thought Emily Blunt was also superb. I looked forward to seeing her and missed her when she was gone. I am sure she actually cracked herself up when she said her "not unless you have a bad skirt convention to go to" and laughed. Loved that. She was great...can't wait to see her in something else. And Nigel (Stanley Tucci) was without doubt the strongest and overwhelmingly best male character...an actor who is never a disappointment..and who you never get to see enough of.

Because of the story matter I'm afraid a lot of people are going to assume this is a chick flick. It's not. It's fine acting...and a greatly entertaining film from start to finish.

Proof (2005)

Proof

[10/10 · 17 June 2006]

The movie Proof was exquisite. From the first moment of the film to the end it was moving, interesting, intelligent. It was over too soon and I was so sorry I couldn't have coffee with the characters who were so real and deep and alive. Gwyneth Paltrow must be given more roles like these. She was perfect...I believe it is the best thing I have ever seen her do. Anthony Hopkins is...well...Anthony Hopkins... and IS whatever character he is playing. And is he ever not magnificent? But Gwyneth was exquisite - from the deliverance of lines to facial expressions, her slight, curled up and then bold and gutsy body language, her hair, her eyes that spoke with every line... and clothing!...give the costume designer a huge prize for being such a perfect part of this movie. Everyone was wonderful...and at the end I was glad to be different and not fit in and to be alive....I cried and laughed and will watch it again.