Raleigh-7 Reviews

Running Mates (2000 TV Movie)

Not bad. More female roles.

[19 January 2003]

What I really liked was that this film is so different to the usual film fare. And I mean there were more female roles than male, and I am a male. It seems female actors have so many fewer parts to play and display their talents. Each of them was a real 3 dimentional player and added to the pleasure watching this film. This was not a dramatic film but a comedy with some serious moments and should be judged as such. Nancy Travis, Laura Linney and Teri Hatcher deserve to be seen more often before they have to take middle-age parts like Faye Dunaway. All in all I enjoyed this film.

Two Weeks Notice (2002)

A very enjoyable movie

[28 December 2002]

Saw this film one week ago and enjoyed it. Have always liked the two stars and was looking forward to seeing them together. I was not disappointed. They seemed to go together very well. My friends and I came home and watched Notting Hill afterwards. Right away we all noticed the same thing. The stars were great but the rest of the cast[other than Robert Klein] did nothing for the film. The English Notting Hill was full of great performances by the whole cast, no matter how small the role, and made that film so memorable. Just anyone, it seemed could play the one-dimensional "others" of the film [perhaps Alicia Witt had two dimensions]. In all the English films with Hugh Grant,i.e. Four Weddings and a Funeral, so many of the cast are first class actors and you don't forget them. Two Weeks Notice seemed shallower in comparison because the two stars were like two people on an uninhabited island. Hollywood needs to use their great wealth of talent in secondary or minor parts to build up the succulence of the whole production; just like one wouldn't make potato soup with just water and potatoes

Two Weeks Notice (2002)

A very enjoyable movie

[28 December 2002]

Saw this film one week ago and enjoyed it. Have always liked the two stars and was looking forward to seeing them together. I was not disappointed. They seemed to go together very well. My friends and I came home and watched Notting Hill afterwards. Right away we all noticed the same thing. The stars were great but the rest of the cast[other than Robert Klein] did nothing for the film. The English Notting Hill was full of great perfomances by the whole cast, no matter how small the role, and made that film so memorable. Just anyone, it seemed could play the one-dimentional "others" of the film [perhaps Alicia Witt had two dimensions]. In all the English films with Hugh Grant,ie Four Weddings and a Funeral, so many of the cast are first class actors and you don't forget them. Two Weeks Notice seemed shallower in comparison because the two stars were like two people on an uninhabited island. Hollywood needs to use their great wealth of talent in secondary or minor parts to build up the succulence of the whole production; just like one wouldn't make potato soup with just water and potatoes

The Shipping News (2001)

A really good movie!

[20 June 2002]

I knew nothing about this film before I saw it. But all the way through it I kept saying to myself "This is really a GOOD film!" The acting is outstanding and there were no weak performances. Reading all of the reviews so far I was amazed at the ignorance of geography of many of the reviewers. Newfoundland is a very large island east of the mouth of the Saint Lawrence river. It was originally populated by Irish from the Dingle Peninsula of lower southwest Ireland. It was a member of the British Empire until becoming part of Canada in 1949 and thus little-influenced by Canada in its customs. Just as everyone in the American south do not have exactly the same accent; just like some people are sopranos, tenors, basses, etc.,their accents will be somewhat similar but not the same. I found Kevin Spacey's acting extraordinary even amongst a wealth of magnificent performances. I could have done without Cate Blanchett's buttocks on display and felt 100's of actresses could have played the part as well. But the choice of Julianne Moore was a bit of genius. We see a woman who is very attractive looking as if she is wearing no makeup, belonging in Newfoundland and is able to act with her face without dialogue. The story is more intellectual than action-motivated and will appeal to only a certain number of people. For those who complain the movie doesn't match the novel, read the book again but read it as fast as you can and only allow yourself two hours to read it and see how much can be covered in that time. Then you will learn to appreciate how well the director has used his two hours. Those who like this film should watch the DVD and turn it on to the audible commentary of the director, screenwriter and producers to learn about the weather's swift changes -snow, sunshine, fog, sleet, rain all occurring on the same day: what they were trying to imply and why certain scenes were left out.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)

A very impressed male viewer

[16 June 2002]

This is a film! Not a chick flick but a movie all should see. Too often, films are made from the male point of view. How many females were in Saving Private Ryan? In all kinds of films? For a long time there has been a dearth of female parts in most films. Let's see more of the girls! As a 74 yr. old male with three grown daughters I'm a firm believer that we males are jerks compared to the average female. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and can only give the highest marks to the whole cast and the director. Don't try to analyze the film-- just enjoy it. It's pace is continuous without a pause or draggy moment and it is a joy to see and to go home and muse about. I'm a retired MD and find the older I get the more I appreciate excellence and this film is excellent throughout. I will see it again.

Bleacher Bums (2001 TV Movie)

It's better the second time

[9/10 · 18 April 2002]

Watching it a second time proved to me it was even better than the 1st time. All the pieces of the picture seemed to move so easily into place. Showtime should be proud to have had this movie produced. Wonderful to watch the change in the characters over the time of the game;ie the acceptance of Melody by the group and interplay between Greg and Melody and she now feels accepted by the group and will return tomorrow to see the 2nd baseball game of her life.

Bleacher Bums (2001 TV Movie)

Unexpectedly good

[9/10 · 8 April 2002]

Having nothing to watch on TV that looked good, my wife and I picked this movie as it had Peter Riegert ,who we like, in it. It was so entertaining we stayed up till after 1 PM to see it to the end. If you really enjoy people-watching you will really enjoy this film. Saw it last night on Showtime. Surprizing so much could be put in a film lasting as long as a nine inning game. Loved the different characters in it.