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theaterbuff
Reviews
Cadillac Dreams (1988)
Wow!
Totally absorbing story of two brothers tempted by the urban drug culture, and how each handles his demons. Reminds me of Hoop Dreams in that kids can battle seemingly impossible odds. No wonder it was nominated for an Oscar.
Short film, probably out of print. Found it in my local library.
Behind the Red Door (2003)
Top performances, surprising story
It was so satisfying to view this film. I felt I was watching a good stage play. Excellent, multi-layered performances and a touching story combine to create a surprisingly thoughtful film about an estranged brother and sister, each of them by turns explosive and vulnerable as they are forced together in the face of his illness. I was captivated. I think the low-key, subtle production (little action, muted colors) allowed the stars to shine even more. That brings me to another thought: the trend in movies to assume the audience's short attention span - to be so action oriented and sassy, with short scenes and other unrealistic interactions - only encourages a dumber audience and undeveloped performances. In contrast, BEHIND THE RED DOOR is an intelligent film with well rounded characters. When I comb the shelves at the video store and can't seem to find anything that interests me, I wish there was a section of good, substantial films like this one.