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jwhartz-1
Reviews
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Sweeey Todd - A young cast shines
Although I have seen the original stage production on DVD with George Hearn and Angela Lansbury, the film shines bright with a much younger cast.
Considering Sweeny Todd had been cast away in prison for quite a number of years while his child grew into a young woman, the agelessness of the characters didn't seem to overwhelm the film and the performances were forthright and charming.
Contrary to any previous comments, Johnny Depp CAN sing and sing well. Depp has always managed to bring across an amazing characterization in his roles which places him above the normal Personality Actor of today.
A truly rich film, in which the DVD has earned a prominent place in my collection.
Porgy and Bess (1959)
Porgy and Bess
When is ART going to overcome racism? I believe the American people have grown up since this movie was made. Porgy consists of a stellar cast and music. This motion picture is an excellent adaptation of a great opera. i.e., Miss Saigon is based on Madame Butterfly, Les Miz is based on a classic book. Recently, an opera has been introduced here in Los Angeles, based on the movie The Fly. AN OPERA!! So be it!!
Disney is hesitating about releasing Song of the South. The NAACP has voiced no contest for race issues, and let us not forget Amos N Andy was a huge hit in the 50's as a TV series. Ethnicity is our heritage in the U.S., and we should embrace all forms of ethnic artistic diversity.
PLEASE RELEASE 'PORGY' ON DVD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
j hartz
Shark: Partners in Crime (2008)
Shark - the series
One of the finest ensemble series on TV today. James Woods re-creates his wise-cracking lawyer character so richly developed from the film True Believer. No matter what James Woods tackles in a character, he never ceases to be amazing.
The father-daughter relationship in the Shark series is refreshing and honest. The supporting cast provides enough play off to make each episode believable and and just.
The story lines are tight and work well within the confines of an hours episode.
Whatever James Woods tackles I will make certain I am in the audience.
j hartz
Broken Flowers (2005)
Looking for significance becomes insignificant
As much as I enjoy a good story, this one left me hanging. It had a great beginning, a confusing middle, and no end. If this film was an attempt to be a treatise on symbolic behaviorism, it fell very short of its mark. Perhaps I was anticipating a happy ending.
The characters of the the x-girl friends were delightfully created, and the fact that the character of Don (Bill Murray) made the effort to find his son was charming. But there were far too many lapses of dialog. The confrontation between Don and the young drifter at the end was awkward and out of balance.
I probably stand alone in my feelings about this film, but I can't in all fairness find an real redeeming qualities in it.
JWH