Change Your Image
mezaco
Reviews
The Comeback (2005)
Brilliant and hilarious! Lisa Kudrow deserved an Emmy!
I never watched "The Comeback" while it was on. But having just watched the series, I cannot believe how short-lived this show was. This is one of the funniest, sharpest show-within-a-show comedies to have come on TV in recent years. It's a funny but scathing look at Hollywood's decent down the Reality Show / Anything for Ratings drain.
Lisa Kudrow is stellar as Valerie Cherish. She blends vanity and selfishness with an underside of cluelessness and pity that makes you never able to hate her. In fact, as the show goes on you begin liking her more and more despite her shortcomings. The support cast are wonderful, especially Mickey as her flamboyant and loyal hairdresser/assistant.
Shame on HBO for giving up on this series so soon.
Highly recommended: I watched the entire series on DVD in two days!
Shut Up & Sing (2006)
Fascinating fly-on-the wall doc - - and it's NOT just for DC fans!
This was a wonderfully insightful, behind-the-scenes documentary about these three young women.
I didn't know much about the Dixie Chicks until recently and this documentary lets you see what they went through during and after the "incident".
A lot of reviewers are missing the point. This movie should not be compared to a Michael Moore documentary. In my opinion, it's not trying to make a political statement. It's about looking at what it would be like to have your entire life turned upside down based on one, very small off-the cuff comment. That's the most amazing thing about this film. Natalie's comment was not a loud, angry rant, it was very quiet, almost like a sidebar.
Rather, this film takes you into the minds and homes of these three women. They are all mothers, with young babies. They are all surprisingly strong and even funny, in the midst of what is happening.
This film isn't about debating the war. These women had DEATH THREATS issued against them. What does that do to a young mother who is just trying to sing and do what she loves?
You may disagree with them, but after watching this film you can't deny that what they went through was totally overblown. It was literally, mass hysteria run wild.
The film is touching and powerful...and it's worth it even just for the wonderful music!
In Good Company (2004)
Wonderfully acted, surprising little film...
I'm surprised at the criticism by some for this film. I suppose some people want a lot of predictability in their films. Maybe You've Got Mail is a better choice for such folks...
In Good Company was much more thoughtful and bittersweet than I expected. Yes, it has funny moments, but rather than being an empty comedy it's a wonderful little film about what happens when people are forced to examine their place in the world.
Topher Grace and Dennis Quaid are brilliant leads, very very likable actors in their roles. You'd really watch these guys act in just about anything, they are that good.
For people who complain about the ending, I think the ending was perfect. Life doesn't get wrapped up in a neat bow with all problems solved at the end of the day, so why should this film make false assumptions that they can?
The Village (2004)
A terrible disappointment from M. Overrated Shyamalan.
A highly disappointing effort by America's most overrated filmmaker, M. Night Shyamalan.
Set in a sombre 19th century village, the dialogue is ridiculous and unintentionally hilarious. (eg: in this town you'd say "It is with your person that I must converse" instead of "I need to speak with you" etc.) All the clichés are there in the open, from the village retard to the mysterious blind girl (who incidentally can walk and run faster and straighter than anyone else and always seems to knows who's in the room with her, etc.).
Once you get past everyone trudging around the grimy little town speaking their ridiculous, badly scripted lines, you then sit and wait for the scary moments. And you wait. And you wait.
Oh, and yes. This being a Shyamalan film, you're guaranteed of two things:
1. Shyamalan will make a cameo appearance. And once again, his acting skills will prove to be utterly horrific.
2. Yes, there will be a twist.
At first, I was impressed with the twist. But when it's over, you end up feeling really cheated. Like you were dragged through the mud for nothing.
This film aims for a spooky, chilling feel. And it could have been so much more. Strange creatures lurking in a dark, misty forest? That's a scary enough thought, and it could have made for a really spooky film. But with the horrible scriptwriting, the terrible dialogue and ridiculous twist, it ends up as a wasted exercise.
A Walk to Remember (2002)
Syrupy, schmaltzy and cliché.....but a great young cast.
***May contain spoilers***
I'm very curious about those viewers giving this film a 10....and I'm also curious about viewers who genuinely cried during this film.
A cynical review would call it a mediocre version of the overdone pretty-girl-dies-a-long-and-sad-death genre like Love Story or Terms of Endearment. The film on one level is absolutely dripping with sentimentality and unrealistically poetic exchanges between the main characters. The cynic in me could not help but roll my eyes at the sheer transparent let's-make-the-audience-cry attempt by the director and screenwriter.
However...I won't trash it completely. Shane West and Mandy Moore are wonderful young actors and they shine in their roles. The DVD features a fun commentary by the director, Moore and West as they giggle and reminisce about shooting the film. And the music soundtrack is great.
Overall, not bad. If you're a 12-year old in the mood for a good cry or if you're an unfashionable Christian who has felt what it's like to be "uncool" (ie: like Mandy Moore's character), this film will delight you.
Diarios de motocicleta (2004)
A moving and effective road movie....(not commie propaganda!)
What a shame that some people cannot allow themselves to enjoy this movie because Che Guevara later in his life became a "Commie", etc.
This is a wonderful road movie, a true journey is all senses of the word. It's utterly beautiful, the scenery alone is enough to want you to grab a backpack and travel to South America.
You could just as easily block out who's in the film and focus instead on it being a funny and moving road movie about two young men, who start off as fun and fancy free kids and end up as thoughtful adults. The most effective part of this film, though, is that you can see the seeds of Che Guevara's later ideas and energies being planted in his head. You can see his growth and transformation from kid to adult before your eyes and kudos to Gael Garcia Bernal for his terrific performance.
It's so naive to dismiss this beautiful film because your own McCarthyist politics won't allow you to.
This is one of the best films I've seen in ages. And I'm no Communist. Just a lover of good movies.
The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
Enjoyable, Fun..........don't let the bad reviews put you off...
After reading some terrible critic's reviews of this film, I went in with a lot of trepidation. I was expecting something horrific....But I was very pleasantly surprised. This film version of the Phantom is a very entertaining, energetic and faithful adaptation.
The Pros: The set direction and costumes are an absolute feast for the eyes, and an Oscar in those categories would be deserving. Emmy Rossum is a beautiful Christine with a stunning voice. Also, watch out for the underrated Miranda Richardson in a wonderful supporting role and Patrick Wilson makes Raoul a much more heroic and manly character than on stage. All in all, it's extremely loyal to the musical, but with the bonus of being able to add special effects that cannot be seen on stage.
The Cons: I do have a few criticisms. There are some lip-synching problems, especially early on, that are annoying. And there are some cheesing lighting and set issues. There's too much "soft-glow" lighting during romantic Christine moments and some of the underground scenes were too brightly lit and not "spooky" enough. Finally, the biggest criticism I have is the casting of the Phantom. Kudos to Gerard Butler for doing a job well done, but I'm still not sure if this role is suited to a suave, handsome young "hunk" like him.
To sum up, some reviews of this film have been very unfair. It may not be Citizen Kane, but The Phantom is an exciting, enjoyable, musically uplifting way to spend a couple of hours.
Recommended.
Cidade de Deus (2002)
A stylish tragedy...shocking but stunning
(this may contain some spoilers)
Some people have compared this film to other, mostly American gangland movies like "Gangs of New York", etc. But this is no mainstream gang movie; There's no De Niro, No Scorsese. This is a shocking, brutal film where an amateur cast of children and teenagers shoot and kill and where guns are more ubiquitous than toys.
City of God, based on real life events, follows a cast of children as they grow up in the Rio slum known as City of God. It centers on the character of Rocket, who emerges as virtually the only cast member who is able to transcend himself out of his existence and make something of himself. Otherwise, there's little attempt to "Hollywood"-ize the experience of these kids. There's no supporting cast of abusive moms or alcoholic fathers to excuse away these kid's behaviour. That's not the point. (But a scene early in the film where a man kills his wife for cheating on him and then buries her in a hole in their living room works wonders in explaining how these children may get their behaviour and violence from...)
The film is filled with haunting images....the most haunting of which involve the youngest children. The infamous scenes of L`il Dice as a child of 10 grinning with an almost ecstatic glee as he opens fire on his enemies shocks to the core. I wish I could say this film is redeeming. The main character Rocket's incapacity to commit violence and his own brave escape from this hell is indeed heart-warming in its own sense...but at the film's end as we watch this cycle of crime passing on to a newer, even younger generation of gangsters, you can't help but walk away feeling rather depressed and cynical.
All in all though, as a film, it's a major accomplishment, it's stylish, unique, even funny, and as far from Hollywood as you can get.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Wonderfully innovative, unique, creepy film
You know, people really have to look at BWP in perspective. Obviously, this film becomes less creepy and more silly if you watch it over and over again. But you have to give it credit where it's due.
Everything about this movie when it first came out was brilliantly executed. The way they cast unknown actors, how they tied it in to a documentary on the Discovery Channel (without ever saying it was just a movie), the way they tied it in to urban legends and websites before the movie was even released, made it seem so "real". People really wondered for a while what was real and what wasn't.
Yes, this movie doesn't have a monster like Leatherface or Freddy, it's mostly about three losers freaking out while lost in the forest. But it was an astoundingly unique bit of movie-making, almost entirely improvized, the actors were given their own cameras and sent away to film themselves. There was no set, and already any crew! Do we really need chainsaws sawing off pretty girls' heads to make a movie creepy?
The film is best from Josh's disapperance to the end, and especially the last 5 minutes are spooky enough to make up for the more boring bits in the middle. I mean who has watched it and not truly wondered what happened in that last 1 minute?
Shame on those who gave this film a "0", not to recognize what a unique, creepy, innovative film this was. A $30,000 indie where the actors filmed themselves earns $240 million worldwide and you guys can't recognize it's achievements?
Doesn't have be your favorite film, but give credit where it's due.
Head On (1998)
Misguided would be my main summary
In Head On, Alex Dimitriades plays a troubled young gay Greek-Australian man who has LOTS of anonymous sex and takes LOTS of drugs a LOT of the time. Be prepared for lots of explicit gay sex scenes, not to mention violence and drugs.
But I really did not enjoy this film on the whole.
The character interaction is very over the top. Characters fly into fits of rage without explanation, people break into fights without warning, and the dialogue is completely stilted and unnatural.
I can see this film's basic message, of a young man trying to come to grips with his heritage and also find love and happiness in a world of parties, drugs and sex.
It's a dreary procedure, however, that portays Greeks as hysterical violent thugs who dance, literally dance, all day in any situation, even while in the middle of a fight!
There are many incomprehensible decisions, actions and the film goes absolutely nowhere. Yes, you feel for this young man who just can't find his way. But it's like this filmmaker is trying too hard to make an "oooh-shocking!", "hard-edged" indie film. It just doesn't work.
Antitrust (2001)
Better than I Expected
This film was much better than I expected when I picked it up without much hope and saw a pretty low score of 6.0 on IMDB.
Ryan Philippe does a good job as a computer whiz who lands a big time job with NURV, a Microsoft-type company headed by Gary (Tim Robbins), totally meant to be a Bill Gates clone. But I like the twists the film takes. Robbins lets his character be bad without being over the top evil in that typical movie-villan way. And there's a good twist I won't reveal involving the two female characters played by Claire Forlani and Rachel Leigh Cook.
It's really not bad for a home rental if you're in the mood. Yes, there's lots of computer talk and maybe it's a bit nerdy, but it's a surprisingly tense thriller.
B+
Phone Booth (2002)
So-so and too short but Farrell is wonderful
I have a mixed review of this film.
On the plus side, the acting is great, especially Colin Farrell. He's in the entire movie from start to finish, but he does a very good job. Aside from the fact that he's very easy on the eyes, he plays a wide range of emotions very believably, and he's a great actor.
Also, it's very tense and exciting at times, it's shot in a modern, hip kind of way and it's an intriguing premise with a good cast.
On the negative side, well for one, it's far far too short. It's only about 80 minutes, which makes it not much more than a tv show. I found that disappointing. It also has no set or pace changes, and for some may get a little boring after a while.
Finally, I don't think I'm giving anything away by saying that the ending is a disappointment.
So, if you're a Colin Farrell fan or are bored one day, go see Phone Booth, if you're easily critical of films, you may not like it.
B- from me.
The Hours (2002)
Beautiful...but NOT for everyone
This is definately a polarizing film, with the Oscar nominations clearly clashing with the comments here about people walking out, people hating it, etc.
I could not help but be moved by this film. It's very difficult to pin down, I could not give a "plot summary" even if I was paid to. But the sadness, the yearning inside these women is hypnotic. Sometimes the film, does wallow a bit deep, like the scene with Meryl Streep and Claire Danes talking on the bed. But this is a film that takes subjects like depression, sadness, what it means to live and what it means to die and examines them, thinks about them, probes them.
The acting by the three main stars, not the mention the impressive list of supporting characters (especially the magnificent Ed Harris) is stunning. Seeing three actresses show their craft, their devotion to their art, is a real gift. The beautiful soundtrack adds a haunting and moving backdrop as well.
In today's film world, where Spiderman and Daredevil are the box office favorites, is there any room for a sad film about depression and death? Maybe, maybe not. But I'm glad to see a daring film that leaves you thinking long after. It leaves you thinking about the characters, their thoughts, their behaviour.
But if you don't think you COULD enjoy this film, stay home. I have no patience for people who expected "The Hours" to be other than what it was. If you need your movie plots to be banged over your head with a hammer, please stay away. This movie deserves better.
The Sweetest Thing (2002)
A "Dude Where's My Car" for Women?
What were you guys expecting, an Oscar contender?
The bad reviews of this film are unwarranted. Yes, it's silly, unrealistic, stupid. But it's funny. I think guys don't like this film because after 1000 movies about immature "player" guys chasing after a chick, here's finally a film about three girlfriends, goofy, immature, sexually open and wacky.
The romance part of the film involving Cameron Diaz and Thomas Jane is really pretty lame and under-developed. Instead, see it for some great comedy between Cameron Diaz and Christina Applegate, who both really show they are great comedic movie star.
I think some people who found this movie horrible horrible probably were aiming for Atom Egoyan's "Sweet Hereafter" or something and picked up the movie box next to it by mistake.
It's funny, goofy, silly. Watch it with some girlfriends for a laugh. Relax people, don't take it seriously.
Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)
Grown men DO cry! Watching this haunting film is proof.
We are all allowed our different points of view, but you'd have to have either a heart of stone or be the type of person who thinks Steven Seagal movies are great to hate this one.
This is a deeply moving true story about three young girls who are stolen from their mothers, sent to an orphanage and then escape. The lack of a "Hollywood" cast, apart from a subdued Kenneth Branagh, makes it all the more real. That this kind of thing (the abductions) happened over and over again for over 60 years in Australia makes it all the more shocking.
The film is a deeply moving, haunting tribute to a dark period in Australian history. I wept buckets and left the film both uplifted and terribly distressed.
It's beautifully filmed, the Western Australian wilderness rugged, vast and daunting. At the end of the film when they show the real characters as they are today, in their 80's, narrating about what happened afterward.
A must see. Released in the theatres up against over-blown Hollywood trash, this is what movie-making is all about. And maybe Americans will learn more about Australia then they learn from "Crocodile Hunter" and "Crocodile Dundee".
***** out out *****
A Simple Plan (1998)
Well-acted, good film but book is better
Some comments have been made about discrepencies or parts of the
movie that are hard to believe. For those people, I would definately suggest reading the book, which is great and explains everything. The screenplay is written by the same author as the book, though.
The differences from the book are noticeable but the storyline stays the same as it's still a great, tense, well-acted film.
Bill Paxton is excellent, the best part of the film definately, a great change from his usual supporting role in action films and it highlights his acting skills. His desperation to not get caught takes him from family man to criminal in a believing way.
Billy Bob Thornton is great as Jacob, Hank's slow brother (although he's a different Jacob from the book, especially physically).
The book is definately superior, and I would suggest a read instead, or as well. But it will still grip you and entertain you!
(BTW, to the person who asked why Hank would work in a Feed Store if he was an accounting major, the book describes that Hank is the accountant/book-keeper at the local feed store, and in a tiny town in the Midwest I doubt there huge, fancy accounting offices to work in).
Beloved (1998)
Haunting, disturbing but very well done
Although Oprah hyped it, Beloved failed at the box office. On one hand, you can understand why. Not a lot of people have the heart to see an eerie, scary, unsettling, sometimes very bizarre and convoluted ghost story set in post-slavery America. On the other hand, it's a very well-acted film, based on a very good novel, with some very deep themes.
It's an unsettling film that leaves you wondering and pondering long afterwards about what was real and what wasn't. It may be a ghost story, or the whole thing could be just a metaphor, all in the mind of Sethe. The main story is that Sethe is an ex-slave living with her children in a remote house. But the house becomes haunted and some of her kids run away, except for one daughter. It turns out that the haunting force in the house is the ghost of Sethe's other daughter that she killed years ago.
A film based on a novel by Toni Morrison is obviously going to be difficult to follow, but also thought provoking. The cast do an amazing job and should have received Oscar nominations.
The haunting music is very appropriate for this film. Be warned, this film won't sit right with you. It's very disturbing. But sometimes we need a disturbing film to wake us up to important themes and issues.
The Beach (2000)
Forget the snotty reviews, it's good!
Well, I feel like a freak of nature but I really like this film. Despite overwhelmingly bad reviews from most, this film just takes me away to another place and I really did enjoy it. Some people just really need to lighten up.
This film brought out a deep sense of longing in me about my travels and about that search for the ultimate paradise. I found the young people in the backpacker colony on the Beach to actually very similar in looks and attitude to many young backpackers abroad. I also found the sharp contrasts between the Beach and the town on the mainland to be very well done and very true about young westerners in Thailand.
The Beach was different, it was exotic. The film didn't end neatly, and that brings up all sorts of ideas about whether or not such a utopia could exist without human greed destroying it. Tilda Swinton did a superb job as Sal, the colony's leader. And Leo Di Caprio was good too as a cocky young American guy looking for a good time but getting in over his head. By the end of the movie, when he's back in the West looking back at that secret place, it was really sad. The constrasts were such so well done...
I liked The Beach a lot, and I'll say it proud!
Waking Life (2001)
Mesmerizing, thoughtful and beautiful
There are indeed many people who will not like this movie. But that's understandable, because it's unlike anything you've probably seen before. It's not even really a movie. It's partially a work of art and partially a philosophical study. It's like going to a philosophy lecture and going to an amazing art gallery at the same time.
Waking Life is a blend of complex ideas and discussions about life, dreams, mankind and other topics. We're not exactly sure whether the main character is alive, dead, dreaming, or what, but that's not the point. He travels through a dreamlike world talking with and learning from a whole series of characters. Some of the discussions are very hard to follow, but they all require you to THINK.
The animation is another beautiful part. A whole series of artists animated this film and each shot of the movie could be a work of art in its own right.
Folks, this isn't a munch on popcorn, escapist date movie. This is an innovative, mesmerizing, thoughtful journey. It's not for everyone. It's not supposed to be. Just look at most Hollywood movies and you'll see why people are uneasy about a movie that strays so much from the boring, empty, shallow, star-studded films that most directors make.