To be honest, all has already been said about this film. Though it may appear dull and slow to the Schwarzenegger/Diesel/Stallone audience, it definitely IS HILARIOUSY FUNNY, as well as a true gem for everyone interested in GOOD ACTING! Steve Buscemi and most of all beautiful yet underrated Katherine Keener pull out all the stops and make this movie fly miles high above its admittedly limited script. You really have to watch it yourself to understand what I mean. Prepare, though, to see the same scene acted five times or more, but at the same time, prepare to witness the divine subtleties (and horrors) of filmmaking. If you rated ScoobyDoo 9 or more, please stay away and don't mess the ratings of this masterpiece!
Reviews
4 Reviews
Amores Perros
(2000)
Overrated.
6 May 2003
Having read all the hails on this feedback page I finally got myself the DVD. Alas, I must confess that while this movie might make some people gasp who have been on
Hollywood film-food for too many years, there is hardly anything that lifts this flick beyond what independent cinema has had on the menu for decades. Yes, the plot is all about human tragedies; yes, it incorporates first rate feelings such as love or loss; yes, it keeps you watching for more than 90 mins of your life BUT... What is the message? What new light does it cast on any aspect of our lives? While Amores Perros is certainly worth seeing, its impact vanishes within a day or two (unless you're some dogfight perv in which case you've definitely found your movie). Rather like some other latin american movies (I'm thinking of Y tu mama tambien, for example) this movie has great actors, great direction but lacks depth, meaning and relevance. All in all, Amores Perros is alright but so are hundreds of other movies. Don't get me wrong: IT IS A GOOD MOVIE but just don't expect a once-in-a-century-masterpiece (as hinted at in other people's comments on this page). Go see it if you've got the time or simply go bowling. Choose the latter if you want to lift your spirits.
Hollywood film-food for too many years, there is hardly anything that lifts this flick beyond what independent cinema has had on the menu for decades. Yes, the plot is all about human tragedies; yes, it incorporates first rate feelings such as love or loss; yes, it keeps you watching for more than 90 mins of your life BUT... What is the message? What new light does it cast on any aspect of our lives? While Amores Perros is certainly worth seeing, its impact vanishes within a day or two (unless you're some dogfight perv in which case you've definitely found your movie). Rather like some other latin american movies (I'm thinking of Y tu mama tambien, for example) this movie has great actors, great direction but lacks depth, meaning and relevance. All in all, Amores Perros is alright but so are hundreds of other movies. Don't get me wrong: IT IS A GOOD MOVIE but just don't expect a once-in-a-century-masterpiece (as hinted at in other people's comments on this page). Go see it if you've got the time or simply go bowling. Choose the latter if you want to lift your spirits.
Falling Down
(1993)
Brilliant depiction of 90s America
13 August 2002
Things don't look too good for D-FENS (Michael Douglas). The Cold War is over and there's no use for defense specialists like him anymore. He gets sacked and finds himself without any prospects in life whatsoever. His marriage has gone up sh*t creek some time ago, he's well over 30 but lives still with his mum.
Future couldn't look gloomier. Without a job or a relationship to worry about he suddenly becomes aware of the dire state of society around him, the very same society that he so eagerly tried to protect form the commies in the past. This film is only partly about the 'falling down' of a single character. D-FENS' transformation from well-respected citizen to gun- slinging maniac is closely linked with his learning process, i.e. his rising awareness of the rotten state of society around him. His idealised notion of America is gradually replaced by the more realistic but also very painful certainty that his values (eg honesty) are terribly old-fashioned. Nowadays, the heroes are plastic surgeons. Nowadays, the 10 year olds can teach you how to handle a rocket launcher. Nowadays, immigrants show no interest in becoming Americans anymore. Freedom of movement is a thing of the past, you've got to watch out for gangland graffiti now.
The list goes on and on. This is a pessimistic movie. Or is it a realistic movie? Watch it and find out. IMHO, there hasn't been a better movie about the decline of Western societies' morale yet. Oh, and before this, I simply couldn't stand Michael Douglas who gives a brilliant performance in this - shall we say - historical documentation. 9/10
Future couldn't look gloomier. Without a job or a relationship to worry about he suddenly becomes aware of the dire state of society around him, the very same society that he so eagerly tried to protect form the commies in the past. This film is only partly about the 'falling down' of a single character. D-FENS' transformation from well-respected citizen to gun- slinging maniac is closely linked with his learning process, i.e. his rising awareness of the rotten state of society around him. His idealised notion of America is gradually replaced by the more realistic but also very painful certainty that his values (eg honesty) are terribly old-fashioned. Nowadays, the heroes are plastic surgeons. Nowadays, the 10 year olds can teach you how to handle a rocket launcher. Nowadays, immigrants show no interest in becoming Americans anymore. Freedom of movement is a thing of the past, you've got to watch out for gangland graffiti now.
The list goes on and on. This is a pessimistic movie. Or is it a realistic movie? Watch it and find out. IMHO, there hasn't been a better movie about the decline of Western societies' morale yet. Oh, and before this, I simply couldn't stand Michael Douglas who gives a brilliant performance in this - shall we say - historical documentation. 9/10
Razor Blade Smile
(1998)
Great filmmaking given the budget
15 May 2002
I mainly watched this because I had read an article about the female protagonist in an admittedly strange mag (Bizarre). My expectations were as low as they possibly could be so maybe that's why I enjoyed so much what I saw... The story's an entertaining and fresh go at an ever so well known theme (vampires) but what really makes this movie worth watching is a) the fact (?) that the entire cast really seems to have had great fun while doing this and b) that the visuals are just what they ought to be given that the makers didn't have a Hollywood budget. Amateurish at times, it is convincing enough for what it is - a cheap but fun vampire movie with lots of teeth, bites and blood. All I can say is that I great fun for an hour and a half. I wish I could say similar things about some lame but big budget movies like The Matrix or the like. Watch it and make up your own opinion. My bet is you won't regret it.
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