angeloc Reviews

Matchstick Men (2003)

Bloody Good Time

[9/10 · 18 September 2003]

I'm an Aussie going to school in Indiana. Always been a fan of Mr. Scott who (along with my countryman Peter Weir) I feel is the best director working today.

Scott's latest is one of his greatest and gives a toned-down story that focuses tightly on the characters.

Nick Cage continues to redeem himself with an even, non-epileptic performance as a con man who discovers he has a long lost daughter, played brilliantly by ... forget her name.

This is one of my favorite movies of the year and stands tall as a true character piece.

9/10

Going Greek (2001)

Funny comedy!

[10/10 · 18 September 2003]

The t-comm department here at Ball State has a series of "professionals in residence". Usually boring, they surprised us with a screening and Q&A with a hollywood filmmaker.

Never heard of the guy or the movie before the show, but figured it had to be better than the usual talking corpses we get.

Just to clarify my background, I'm an Aussie transfer student enjoying a year out here in corn country. I've enjoyed one or two fraternity parties, and maybe one or two sorority sisters, but never really went in for all the greek hardcore lot.

This number didn't change my mind, but it definitely gave me a few ideas to take back to Oz next year.

All's I can say is that this movie is flat out hysterical. The characters all had a sense of realism that you never find in American comedies anymore... Where are you Albert Brooks???...

Anyway, I really enjoyed the film and the director and one of the actors (BSU alum Corey Person) stayed after for a really funny Q&A session in which they talked about the trials and tribulations of getting a movie made.

All in all, a really well worthwhile film.