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Reviews
Sticks & Stones (1996)
An excellent "sleeper".
This movie is an excellent example of film-making on a low budget. Based on the structure of "3 Little Pigs" plus variation, it is well constructed and fairly well cast (the bully, Hayes, is well acted but not really believable. Joey's mother is not believable at all). The story provides excellent opportunities for exploring parental and teenage values. Those that condemn this little gem of a film have, perhaps, a great deal to learn about films and film-making. This is a very useful film in teaching first year students about a variety of aspects of film.
John Hill. Senior Lecturer, Film Video and Multimedia, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa
Fame (1980)
This is a great film
If you ever try to make a film, view this one. "Fame (1980)" has many starting points and one culminating point. It all comes together in the "Body Electric" song. The denouement is left open for individual reflection. This film is not, to my mind, about the characters on the screen. It is about us - ordinary everyday people -who wish to succeed. It is about opportunities, realising who you really are, and chances missed.
Question: "Are we all cut out to be "stars"? "Well are you?" How do you measure up against the competition? Not in your mind - but in reality?
Today, "Fame", may seem a little dated in style. But it is nevertheless relevant in more ways than many other films of this genre are today; perhaps in more ways than most imagine.
Merely consider: Ethnic, religious and other cultural groupings - in all their variations. How many similar films featured similar comparisons in the same way in 1980?
This film is beautifully edited with a well-mixed sound track. There are, however, some aspects of the edit and mix I would have done differently. But this is 25 years later!
To the people who pan de Palma's work, especially "Fame" I say: Try to do it yourself!
John CTIFS RSA