Diana_Prince Reviews

The Prestige (2006)

Brilliant

[9/10 · 23 October 2006]

"The Prestige" is by far one of the best films I have seen in recent months. The actors pulled together a finely written script, and the directing was seamless. Many movies throw in "plot fillers" just to make up time or fill in some blank space due to lack of...something - but Christopher Nolan not only tied all the loose ends together, he threw in far more than normal and still managed to clean it up by the time the credits rolled. Yes, it makes you think, but it also makes you 'feel' the movie itself. Jackman and Bale played their roles to a "T" and I can't speak highly enough of them. And of course Michael Caine was brilliant. I've never been a big fan of Johansson, but I feel she really did pull this character from the pages of the script and make her real. Piper Parabo was also a fully dimensional character...a big step up from Violet Sanford.

Two days later and this movie is still running through my mind in vivid images. Excellent.

Asylum (2005)

Great acting, but who wants to watch a movie like this?

[4/10 · 9 March 2006]

The performances in this film are excellent, notably Sir Ian McKellan's, who is almost always stellar. But the entirety of this movie I thought to myself, "Why am I not turning this off?" The answer: I was morbidly fascinated. The sex scenes, though mostly clothed, were gratuitous in that it was an addiction - almost animal like because the characters were basically "shooting up." Sex to them both was a drug and they had to get their fix. As disturbing as that is, it does prove that there is such a thing as 'sex addicts.' The plot of the movie (based on the novel by Patrick McGrath) had several large holes. Too many questions that are answered too vaguely. My opinion is, if they bring something small to light in a film this complex, they need to see through. To say "phsycological thriller" is in-accurate. "Drama" is included but not the main theme. "Horror" wouldn't come close to the feelings experienced during the two hour duration. "Boredom" is well suited, but also in-accurate. The genre is basically indescribable in its...complexity? I sat through the whole film caring nothing for any of the main characters, even Peter Cleeve, played by McKellan. His character is shady but never fully explained. Is he playing Mrs. Raphael by telling her he loves her? Is he merely using her to get to the "tragic genius" of Edgar Stark? Or is he merely looking for comfort from a woman who has, by this point in the film, watched her son drown and done nothing, then been committed to the same hospital she and her husband had one day hoped to oversee? Which seems to go against the very character of "Dr. Peter Cleeve."

Even at the end of the movie when she jumps to her (very bloody and somewhat unexpected) death the 'relationship' is never fully divulged. Personally I don't want to be left with the image of a bloody woman muttering "Leave Me Alone" to a man she never loved (but agreed to marry anyway?) and the "bloody sculptor" (Edgar Stark) played - very well - by Marton Csokas)) sobbing in his solitary confinement because he never got the chance to see the woman he was obsessed with just one more time. In short, if you like the feeling of massive depression and undefinable anger at all the characters at the end of a movie, I highly recommend it.

How to Steal a Million (1966)

Great film

[9/10 · 12 February 2006]

The first time I watched this movie, when it ended I re-wound it (back in the days of VHS) and watched it over again. How can you not love Peter O'Toole's Blue eyes when he is startled by Audrey Hepburn descending the staircase with a gun in her hand? (In a nightie no-less). They also had one of the best director's in cinematic history! William Wyler, the man behind "Ben Hur" and all those dang extras! It's almost as bad as "The 10 Commandments." (Who's director had to shoot a bullet into the air so everyone would know when they had started filming!) But I digress.... The story is practically seamless and the actor's - in my not so humble opinion - were of the most excellent caliber. Having seen many of the films Audrey Hepburn was in, I was surprised (to say the least) to find her performance in "How To Steal A Million" so comical. If she was going for a "break the mold" performance, I believe she succeeded. To say she is my favorite actress would be pushing it, but she certainly has many of the most admirable qualities. Now, Peter O'Tool on the other hand...I can't say I have seen any other movies of his (Having turned off "The Lion In Winter" 10 minutes into it), I alas, cannot comment intelligently on him other than to say, he is delightful in this film.