Change Your Image
rpotter
Reviews
CSI: Miami: Driven (2006)
Chirstopher Showerman appears
I was pleased to recognize Christopher Showerman, who engagingly starred as George in "George of the Jungle II," playing a naive masseur with suspicious extracurricular interests.
Fine episode. I had not watched many episodes of CSI: Miami, and I was struck with the visuals which predominate. The plot to this episode starts out as a fairly standard (don't worry--no spoilers) robbery at a spa.
But it was enjoyable to watch the incident because at least half the time was spent in capturing the colors and textures of the location, the blowing wind, and the attractive spa guests. Law & Order, this ain't.
Furthermore, when the plot reaches a natural conclusion, it unexpectedly continues to develop in a more complex direction.
I was impressed by the writing.
The Patriot (1998)
Gives straight-to-video a bad name.
The film is a mish-mash of incoherent cliches ranging from a little girl and her pony, to Waco-like backwoods terrorists, to wise Native Americans. To be fair, the version I saw probably suffered slightly from poor editing for television broadcast.
Those who like Steven Seagal will be especially disappointed; yes, there are a few short action scenes, and people do die (most from natural causes). But much of the film is so sugary sweet that when it's all over, you will envy the dead.
Southern Comfort (2001)
Stunning documentary of gender pioneers in "Bubba" country.
This film won the Grand Jury Documentary prize at Sundance this year.
Against the narrative of Robert, a transgender female-to-male responding to the irony of ovarian cancer, the director creates a deeply moving portrayal of love and determination in the face of prejudice.
Robert lives in rural Georgia, which he describes as "Bubba country" and the "home of the KKK." Nonetheless most of Robert's encounters with the heterosexual community are recounted as upbeat examples of surprising tolerance. Without any pretense, artifice, or apology, he is magnetically compelling in speech and movement. His complete lack of bitterness sets aside the distractions of his cancer, enabling the viewer share his satisfaction in life as a man and his joy in his relationships.
In spite of challenging subject matter, this documentary of Robert's self-selected "family" of transgendered men and women (and one heterosexual partner) is unerring in its ability to humanize without condescension. By not politicizing or sensationalizing her subjects' gender issues, the director has achieved a profoundly affecting emotional depth.
The film is loving and in its clarity, refreshing. I recommend it highly.