Yunor Reviews

A miniszter félrelép (1997)

excellent!

[29 October 2001]

I caught this movie on the SBS channel here in Australia last night by chance and i found it hilarious and well-scripted! A gem indeed! The two comedians playing the lead roles were excellent!!! I hope i can find it on video somewhere, I'd like to watch it again. Highly-recommended!

Blow (2001)

Good(with a capital 'G')

[16 August 2001]

I don't understand the flak this movie gets, especially the obvious comparisons to Goodfellas: so what?? Ted Demme is a more than able director, it's only his technique that gets too much attention. He uses the most suitable cinematic and narrative methods to suit the film. I see Blow more as an 'ode' or 'tribute' to Goodfellas(it's got an excellently paunchy Ray Liotta in it, whaddaya expect?) and it doesn't shy away from flaunting Scorcese's heritage. Johnny Depp is truly a great actor who doesn't flaunt excessiveness but anchors every movie he does with his steady presence(remember the underrated Donny Brasco?). He's also an actor with balls (remember Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas?). Ignore all the hooplah, sit back and let the story of George Jung unfold before you. Never mind the critics and the bad noise. Recommended.

Bringing Out the Dead (1999)

no popcorn feast

[18 September 2000]

i love this movie(seen it more than a dozen times on video) and it's true that it's not for everyone. it's a great examination of one's journey to redemption, spiritual or whatever it may be. plus, it's great to see cage doing what he's seems so keen and good at and the supporting cast of goodman, rhames and sizemore is a revelation. the cinematography is achingly true to the mood it wishes to display.

read the book by joe connelly(an ex-medic) if you're itching for more background on the characters, storyline etc.

oh yeah, watch it at night.

Rushmore (1998)

Too good.

[25 February 1999]

Rushmore IS an excellent film. The characterizations by the actors (all of them) is superb and it just breaks my heart that Bill Murray was not given his due recognition by the Oscars, but with a movie THIS good, who needs Oscar. Jason Shcwartzman is an incredible find and writer/director Wes Anderson is a rare breed of auteurs who mixes plot and twists with cinematic brilliance(not to mention the excellent soundtrack which, for once, compliments the storyline despite it's odd '60s feel...it captures some kind of innocence unseen in the main character). Definitely one of the year's best film and it should be put up there among recent modern classics. This movie actually left me 'high'...it's too good.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

A modern masterpiece 20-odd years old.

[10/10 · 25 February 1999]

Gilliam is a genius who doesn't need the nod of awards because he IS an award to viewers. The visual madness of Hunter S. Thompson's book is basically incomprehensible on film but Gilliam vision is the closest you'll ever get to the lyrical drug trip. Depp never fails to amaze with his choices of roles and he is so superb as Raoul Duke (Thompson's alter-ego) you hardly realise that he is Johnny. del Toro also ignites every scene he's in with such ease and is an excellent counterpart to Depp's Duke. Chaos is definitely at the center of the visual theme and yet some people complain that they don't understand what's going on, which is exactly THE point. This one has 'cult classic' written all over it and it is definitely way ahead of it's time. Despite being set in the early '70s, you can actually feel it's current validity. A good movie leaves you with questions. See it for the 12th time and you'll get the picture.

U Turn (1997)

Black comedy at it's most cruel.

[25 February 1999]

U-Turn, in my opinion, is Oliver Stones' best work in the '90s. As more of a black comedy than a drama, the movie really does capture Bobby Cooper's (Sean Penn) disdain (the jump cuts work really well and the soundtrack spins some of the most ironic tunes in contrast to the movie's theme...not to mention doom). Even though not exactly an 'actor's movie', there are some excellent performances especially by the unrecognisable Billy Bob Thornton as the weird mechanic who actually personifies the modern term of 'horror'. No actors are wasted at all, in my opinion, even Sean Penn shines as bright as the Arizona sun his character is in and I was particularly surprised with his tormented performance as a man stranded in the middle of nowhere, a fear I suppose everyone has deep inside...he's perfect for the role. Rent this video on a hot and sunny summer's day for best results.