carol-cherman Reviews

Arbitrage (2012)

Good, but drowned by sound

[7/10 · 23 September 2012]

Arbitrage proved what we've seen many times in real life, with politicians --- that when you try to hide something, it's going to come out eventually. Richard Gere brings us along on his moral dilemmas and it's hard not to root for him because he's so darn handsome, but should we want his character to prevail? People in the theater where I saw the movie literally rooted for him out loud.

The storyline of the movie kept my interest the whole time, but I was distracted and had to stick my fingers in my ears, and then finally put in my earplugs because whoever was in charge of the sound in the movie did an awful job. The music often overwhelmed the dialog and actually vibrated, coming to a crescendo again and again. It nearly ruined the movie. Is that the sound editor's job, or someone else's? I don't want to blame the wrong person.

The actor who played the detective caught my attention. I kept looking at him, trying to figure out where I had seen him before, and then I realized he was, Tim Roth, the star of the T.V. show, "Lie To Me." He had the same quirky mannerisms in this movie that he had in the T.V. show, which are similar to those of Vincent D'Onofrio in "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." They both cock their head to one side and get right in your face. It's unnerving, but fascinating.

Anyway, Arbitrage is a good movie, but bring earplugs.

As Summers Die (1986 TV Movie)

Disappointed :-(

[4/10 · 19 March 2010]

After I read the review written by "moviola-8," I was immediately inspired to buy "As Summers Die" on eBay. I was hoping that this movie would show the brilliance that writer, Winston Groom, showed in "Forrest Gump," but I'm just not feeling it...not even close. This movie didn't make the same impression on me that it did on the other reviewers, and I was disappointed. The story meandered along and did not bring up any feelings in me. I didn't feel indignant, outraged or anything else. Nothing. Maybe something was lost in translation between the book and the screenplay (by a different writer). As long as we're talking about old movies that are hard to find, but worth the viewing, I'd like to find "The Traveling Executioner" starring Stacy Keach, but I don't think it exists on DVD or VHS. Now THAT is an original and very different story - as is "Forrest Gump."

Up in the Air (I) (2009)

Life's about-face moments

[8/10 · 28 December 2009]

"Up in the Air" gives us a look at the switchtracks of our lives: those small occurrences that can get us thinking and cause us to alter our direction. They simply add up over time and one day it all comes together. We watch Ryan Bingham go through this process. And even before the change, when he's still a man who seems cold and heartless in his job, he somehow manages to do the impossible of actually leaving some of the people he fires feeling hopeful and encouraged about their future. (It reminds me of Stacy Keach's character in "The Traveling Executioner," (1970) a fascinating movie to watch, if you can find it anywhere.) In the end, you want him to have that too.

The Break-Up (2006)

What happened?

[4/10 · 26 June 2006]

They met. There was yelling. And then what? This movie didn't seem to have a point. The best part was the two songs that were played while the credits were rolling at the end...and they had NOTHING to do with the movie as far as I could tell. Luckily I got in free. I recommend that you save your money. They want a longer review in order for this to be accepted, but that would make this review just like the movie - full of nothing. Oh my gosh. It's still not long enough. Maybe now it is. Nope. Still too short. Why don't they allow us to write a short review. Not every movie requires a book to be written about it. Still too short. Let's try again.