This is a film about a brother and sister who escape war-inflicted bosnia to arrive in chicago. soon their enthusiasm evaporates however, when their money is stolen. this is a beautifully directed film, and i was lucky to attend the premier in chicago and speak with the actor who plays darko. i think both leads are fine actors, and the film works very well. its very realistic, very gritty, and very intense. I think about half of the dialogue is spoken in croatian, and that adds to the realism of the film. many moments are very heartbreaking, like when lana tries to learn english by reading a dr. seuss book. I also loved the way the director portrayed chicago. he is obviously very familiar with the city and it shows. overall, i highly recommend it.
Reviews
5 Reviews
James Dean
(2001 TV Movie)
Eh. Not too good a film that could (and should have) have been brilliant.
10 June 2003
Unlike most everyone else who commented here, i saw this film because I am a major (and a bit obsessed) James Dean fan, not a James Franco fan. I was expecting a brilliant, insightful film about the person behind the persona of james dean. instead, i saw a chaotic film that hinted instead of revealed, an actor who imitated instead of captured. I thought James Frnaco might have passing resemblence (above the mouth) to Dean. But instead of trying to recreate the energy, the essence that Dean projects, he merely imitates and mimics his movements. Many turningpoints and poignant moments of Dean's life are entirely skipped (his watching Pier Angeli's wedding, the night he found out she was pregnant, his friendship with natalie wood and liz taylor) and many things are slightly hinted at instead of cleared up. for example, his encounter with roger bracketts (sp?) is probably a minute long, and confuses the viewer, never revealing that in fact, james dean was bisexual. his relationship with christine white also never seems to have a reason for ending, and seems much more prominent than the one with Pier, in the film. I thought this film had no focus; it was bad not particularly due to bad acting, or directing, but the lack of purpose. Is it supposed to be a study of his legend? Or an insightful look into his personal life?Was it supposed to explain the things he did, or merely let us know what they were?
What really p***ed me off was that this could have been a brilliant insightful study of the personal life and/or the legend of a pop culture star. Too bad.
Grade: C
What really p***ed me off was that this could have been a brilliant insightful study of the personal life and/or the legend of a pop culture star. Too bad.
Grade: C
Jumping for Joy
(2002)
cute film that deserves to be picked up for distribution!
3 January 2003
i saw the world premiere of this film in the Chicago International Children's Film Festival, and got to interview and talk to Lindsay, who played the main character of Bobbie Dean. She was great, the whole film was really good. It was about a talented basketball player in the 50s, who was not allowed to play on any official teams because she was a girl. Bobbie first masks her gender to be allowed to play, then is convinced by one coach who believes in her, to fight to be allowed to play as a girl. Her school even takes legal action to prevent her from playing. This film is inspiring, and deserves to be picked up and distributed!
Tart
(2001)
there's something lacking that i couldnt quite put my finger on!
21 December 2002
I only rented this movie because of the cover and the fact that Brad Renfro was in it. An avid fan of Renfro's early work, I decided to see this and to find out how he's developed as an actor with age. The movie was all right, keeping in mind that its a teen flick, and for its genre probably one of the best. The material could have been somehow expanded, or i dunno, there's just something lacking in the film. Cinematically, it's beautiful. I loved the artful sex scene. It was a beautiful use of the set, light, color, and music. It was classy and tasteful unlike a hell of a lot of other films. It was one movie I could show my mom without feeling awkward (well xcept for the um, whole blow job thing towrds the end). It had creative shots, exploring and fully taking advantage of the sets and locations. The acting was average. Swain is all right, Renfro a little too stooped and mumbling, Chabert pretty convincing, Barton pretty good. Griffith had a pretty blink-and-you'll-miss it sort of role, but she was good in it. The material could have been further explored. Never understood the R rating. I think it should have gotten PG13.
Grade: B-
Grade: B-
Tart
(2001)
there's something lacking that i couldnt quite put my finger on!
21 December 2002
I only rented this movie because of the cover and the fact that Brad Renfro was in it. An avid fan of Renfro's early work, I decided to see this and to find out how he's developed as an actor with age. The movie was all right, keeping in mind that its a teen flick, and for its genre probably one of the best. The material could have been somehow expanded, or i dunno, there's just something lacking in the film. Cinematically, it's beautiful. I loved the artful sex scene. It was a beautiful use of the set, light, color, and music. It was classy and tasteful unlike a hell of a lot of other films. It was one movie I could show my mom without feeling awkward (well except for the um, whole blow job thing towrds the end). It had creative shots, exploring and fully taking advantage of the sets and locations. The acting was average. Swain is all right, Renfro a little too stooped and mumbling, Chabert pretty convincing, Barton pretty good. Griffith had a pretty blink-and-you'll-miss it sort of role, but she was good in it. The material could have been further explored. Never understood the R rating. I think it should have gotten PG13.
Grade: B-
Grade: B-
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