Wilburrabbit Reviews

If We Built It Today (2019– )

Disappointed

[4/10 · 26 October 2019]

I was eagerly anticipating this show. But as with the previous poster am quite disappointed in the execution. Have seen almost all of the shows but found them all irrelevant to the premise. There are plenty of construction shows. I would like to see the cost and effort involved in a total recreation. I don't want to see a modern sports coliseum or a new brooklyn Bridge. After the war, Europe recreated many iconic buildings. That's what I want to see.

If We Built It Today: Ghosts of the Colosseum (2019) Season 1, Episode 3

disappointing

[1/10 · 15 August 2019]

So looking forward to this series, but this episode was disappointing. A lot of filler about the history of the structure plus material on a proposed new stadium. But this show is supposed to be about reconstructing the Colosseum itself. What would that cost, etc. The episode about the pyramids was more to the point, but this one is a total waste.

Afterglow (1997)

Unhappy people with lots of secrets

[23 June 2001]

Two couples: one young, another older. The younger male is a cold fish (some hint of his being a repressed homosexual - the gay friend coming out, etc.); she is a flighty wife (bad acting by Ms. Boyle). Obtuse frigid Christie, and studly Nolte. All this mess spoiled by bits of slapstick which jerk the viewer about. Also some speeded up scenes which come out of left field. And completely unintelligible ending. Without being a spoiler - no idea of what the person in the final scene was doing. Not even clear as to who it was, in my opinion.

Isabelle Eberhardt (1991)

Slow but interesting true story of a woman, a convert to Islam, whose several books about colonial Algeria became legendary.

[8 April 2001]

Watching this slow French-Australian production is interesting if only to learn about the true story of a woman whose several books about colonial Algerian became legendary. Even the story of how the books came to be published is interesting.

Per a website entry by © Robert Bononno 1988, Isabelle Eberhardt was the child of an aristocratic German mother and a Russian father, a former priest in the Russian Orthodox church, a friend of Bakunin, a "philosopher, scholar and polyglot." (Eberhardt is claimed to have been Rimbaud's daughter). She converted to Sufi Islam and was fluent in many languages.

The movie is a little pedantic about justice and colonial oppression, and the character development is a not clear. However, this fictionalized snapshot of a period not widely known by American audiences is worthwhile.

A small role by Peter O'Toole is welcome.

Amateur (1994)

Forgettable pretension

[13 March 2001]

A month after seeing this movie, I cannot remember how it ends. A waste of time. Some interesting characters - a nun writing porno, yuppie hit men - but they are never developed. Instead, they are stock, quirky types. You never get a feel of their inner lives.

Another Woman (1988)

Wonderful portrayal of an upper middle class professor who realizes that all is not well

[13 March 2001]

Absolute to the mark acting - Gena Rowlands seems so real that I feel I know her. Perfect protrayal of a segment of New York society - upper middle class professional. Great supporting cast - Ian Holm is great as usual. Entire ensemble cast is perfect.

Le voyageur de la Toussaint (1943)

Simenon mystery made in occupied France in 1943

[9 February 2001]

Rather ordinary mystery enhanced by the unavoidable awareness that this movie was made under wartime circumstances. Basically, a young man becomes the unexpected heir to a large fortune, and runs up against the "syndicate" of corrupt townsfolk. The murderer is eventually discovered, and the man finds true love. Interesting performance by Jean Desailly, who is not well known in the US.