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Reviews
Big Fish (2003)
What a waste of silver nitrate
Quite possibly the most overrated movie of recent times.
Eclectic but not useful in any way. So far fetched that it was untraceable.
If people believed this movie touched their hearts or some other part of their body, they may need help.
As one who can handle fantasy and bizarre themes, I was expecting, at least in some part, a movie that could give me something.
My only piece of empathy was with the son who had been lied to all through his life and could not pick fact from fiction. Everyone loves a dad who has a wild imagination and funny stories but here was a kid who still, in his thirties, had never been in touch with his dad at any stage.
And the course of the film did nothing to enlighten him ... or me!
Strange Bedfellows (2004)
Better than average comedy offering!
Paul Hogan and Michael Caton, long-serving Australian entertainers/actors, have done well to make this better-than-average Australian comedy. With support from English great Pete Postlethwaite playing Russell (the tax inspector) and the Aussie comedy genius of Glynn Nicholas (Eric the hairdresser), we have a couple of hours of escapist humour.
SPOILER ALERT *** The sub-text of the movie is two "single" men (one unhappily divorced: Hogan & one widowed: Caton) named Vince and Ralph who decide to pretend to live a gay lifestyle to gain benefits and tax relief from the Australian Tax Office.
It turns into a well-made 95-minute sitcom. Worth 7.5 to 8.0 out of ten.
Two aspects of the plot are worth noting as Australian country towns are notoriously homophobic. The relationship, albeit a pretence, sorely tests stereotypes.
The second is the sub-plot involving "Peter" ... but I'll let you see the movie in full to see the ramifications of that relationship.
In America (2002)
Simply Brilliant
SPOILER WARNING - some plot details revealed.
Captivating!
Two brilliant child actors!
Sensational story exploration.
The way the writer and director led us to the Mateo character was brilliant... simply amazing the way all the stereotypes were suggested before we got to know the true angel that was Mateo.
The way the titter passed around the audience at the cinema during the carnival scene! Would anyone else on the planet other than a true Irish gambling addict do this?
And the sensational comedy line that left the whole audience laughing ... just before Kristy volunteers for the life-saving blood transfusion to save her day-old sister... "I've been carrying this family by myself for over a year now ..." or words to that effect.
A must-see sort of film.