lorelei1-1 Reviews

Middle of the Night (1959)

This is a jewel of a movie

[10/10 · 7 January 2003]

that I taped years ago and watch every so often. It's a good thing I did as it is not yet available on either VHS or DVD. The first time I ever saw this movie on television was way back when I was a teenager and I was babysitting. It's one of those movies where each time I watch it I see things I missed before; either in someone's performance or in the way a scene is filmed or something else. Fredric March is just flawless as a self-made businessman and widower in his fifties and Kim Novak is edgy as the beautiful but damaged and insecure young woman working at his company. Everyone calls her somnambulistic, but in this movie I could feel her nerves jump right through her skin at times. I thought she was very good in the role. I have to mention that one of my favorite characters in it is the son-in-law, Jack, played by Martin Balsam--a fantastic actor, of course, but he is so great in this, that, although he's not in many scenes--he just knocks me over every time I watch it. The characters all sound so true to life, of course, because they were written by Paddy Chayefsky. I found the subject matter fascinating and believable and although the standout performance was definitely that of Fredric March, playing all facets of a mature man, all actors involved were right on the mark. When WILL they make this movie available on VHS or DVD? My home-made tape looks crummy, I admit it! (And the movie is hardly ever shown on television any more) Anyway, this is one of my favorite 100 films.

The Patriot (2000)

It's not a documentary, folks

[10/10 · 2 January 2003]

Mel Gibson laid himself on the line emotionally in this film, as the father caught between his need to nurture and protect his family and the deep well of savagery he has subjugated years before. This is brought to a test by the pressure of the Revolution finally appearing literally at his doorstep. I think he is wonderful in this film. Acting kudoes should also have gone to Heath Ledger, Tom Wilkinson and Jason Isaacs, as well as numerous other character actors in the film. People have quibbled about the historical accuracy, but this was made as a fictional story about a family during the American Revolution, not a documentary. In little details they were scrupulous as to accuracy. Mel's fictional character was BASED ON a composite of three separate people in real life, including Frances Marion, "The Swamp Fox". The battle at the end was BASED ON a composite of two different battles, one of them being Cowpens. I didn't expect to care much for this movie, ordinarily being more interested in the Civil War than the Revolutionary War, but found this story very compelling. In my humble opinion movies made today have to have unbelievable action in them to satisfy 95% of the movie-going public and they usually require a great leap of faith somewhere in the film during an action scene, sometimes more than once. ("Well, that was impossible in real life, but we'll just ignore that and move on"). I've heard and read complaints about scenes in this film that were sort of unbelievable, too, but I think that this film was no different in that respect from many others I've seen that are considered wonderful movies. Evidently because it's placed in an historical context they consider this a major flaw but again I feel they are expecting a documentary and not a movie. I went back to see this movie 3 or 4 times and dragged different friends and family every time who all went out afterwards raving about what a great movie it was. I got the DVD for Christmas. I have minor complaints, like some anachronistic phrases sprinkled throughout during humorous scenes. But these are so minor. I still think it's a fantastic movie.

Taken (2002)

Shame on you, Steven SPOILER

[8/10 · 15 December 2002]

As I said on the messageboard I was enthralled with this series at first and planned almost immediately that I would purchase the DVD. Many of the performances were really good. the character of Owen Crawford was mesmerizing--like an accident you can't look away from. I thought there were some glaring holes in the plot but they could be overlooked because the story was so compelling. Then week 2 came. Dakota Fanning was fantastic and just stole my heart but when the Episode 10 came that was it for me. The story sent her off alone at 9 years old with no one to hold her hand, not her Mom, not her Dad, not even a friendly alien (if there were any in these story) and it was totally devastating to me. To me it was something I hadn't counted on from Steven Spielberg and felt like a treacherous act to the viewer. I know he manipulates our emotions especially with children, but I just was in no way prepared for it to end with her torn from her parents at her tender age with no feeling of emotional comfort for her at all. Yes, it was "her choice", but she had no other choice the way the script was written. I didn't expect it from Spielberg. It was like leaving the little girl lost in the house in "Poltergeist" in the end of that movie or something. I feel Spielberg can bring us to tears easier than any other producer/director, he always has, but with that comes a sort of responsibility to not leave us there. He should have let her mother go with her--after all she was part alien, too, or let her get a little older before sending her when she was so young. Frankly, it tore my heart out. If I want to see stories about children ripped from the arms of their parents I can watch the news. This wasn't even like she died, because then at least I'd feel like she went to "a better place", that she was with Our Lord. We'd already watched her suffer, enough was enough. This way she's with aliens who have no emotions, not much better than being with the military that had her imprisoned with a helmet on. It's not like we got to know the aliens through this series like we did in "ET", or even got a feeling for them as in "Close Encounters". Frankly, the ending ruined the whole experience for me and left me feeling empty and letdown and the last scene left me shattered, but not in a good way. I won't be buying the DVD. I have always had nothing but praise for Spielberg and always go to all his movies and watch all his TV endeavors. Nobody's that good, I guess, I thought he was the Frank Capra of our age and I didn't mean it as an insult. I think he goofed up big time with that ending. Maybe he'll make some alterations for the DVD if enough people complain about it. But I'm afraid the real reason for that ending is merely to set it up for a TV series. The almighty dollar, of course. What will happen next? I think it was either Dorothy Parker or Anita Loos who said "Whatever will make the most money..."