Change Your Image
SageFilm-2
Reviews
Twin Falls Idaho (1999)
Snail-like Pace the LEAST of this film's problems
Siamese twin brother falls in love with hooker with a heart of gold? Okay, I was willing to go with it. Every part of my being was trying to warn me, but, I really wanted to like this film. And, to the credit of the Polish brothers (writer/director/stars of this opus), they pull it off...for about 20 minutes.
The greatest problem with the indie film movement is, that everybody thinks they're making great art. I wonder if the Polish brothers were sitting in the editing room, thinking to themselves (like I was), "there's no earthly reason for these two people to fall in love! We haven't given either character the opportunity to get to know each other, much less fall in love! But, hey, we're making indie films here! We don't need rhyme or reason!"
Mark and Michael Polish DO deliver halfway decent performances - though I'd rather have seen Michael in the lead. The other performances are marred by chintzy dialogue that was cliche 50 years ago.
All in all, a complete waste of time.
The Last Broadcast (1998)
See 'Blair Witch' Instead
A great film creates its own universe, which is why the subject matter of a movie is not really the point. However, every universe, no matter how perverse or obscure, still has its rules.
"The Last Broadcast" fails miserably as a film not because of its low budget, or cheesy production values, or less-than-stellar performances (all of which exist); rather, the movie creates its universe, then, for the finale, decides to disregard everything that it has presented, in an attempt to be 'surprising,' or 'crass' or 'hip.' Instead, it makes its filmmakers look like they have no idea how to tell a story. And, worse - it treats its audience as though it has no sense of logic or reason.
Which is a shame. For an hour or more, the picture is reasonably interesting and entertainingly directed. If the performances are somewhat shaky, at least they do not distract from the overall allure of the story. That the story bares a passing resemblance to 'Blair Witch' is irrelevant; both pictures feature film-type crews journeying into the woods to cover stories of the presumed supernatural.
But, where 'Blair Witch' ended in inevitability, 'The Last Broadcast' ends in utter stupidity. How anybody could have read the screenplay and thought, 'wow, what a clever twist of an ending' is beyond me.
The Muse (1999)
Not Quite Premium Brooks
"Defending Your Life" ranks as one of the funniest, most charming films I've seen, so it was with much anticipation that I awaited the arrival of Albert Brooks' newest work, "The Muse."
Alas, "The Muse" is a bit of a disappointment. Brooks' knack for the hilarious one-liner has not diminished - I found myself laughing my head off, especially in the final 1/3 of the film - but, his story is not nearly enough to sustain the nearly two hour running time. The performances are all fine, but the picture takes sometime to really take off - with some really silly segues and cameos along the way.
What worked so well about "Mother" and "Defending Your Life" was the 'everyman' quality of the characterizations; here, Albert is asking his audience to identify with a character who is spending $10,000 a week to support his creativity! But, the film does take some funny jabs at the Hollywood community and, despite its silliness, does present some intelligent exchanges between Albert and Andie McDowell, as his wife.
Overall, the film is worth seeing - if only because Albert Brooks stands as one of the funniest men in the world.
Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)
Is this the finest American film ever?
"Crimes and Misdemeanors" was called by one Denver film critic "one of the finest American films ever made," and that thought has stuck with me since I read that review. In the ten years, or so, since its release, I've viewed this picture probably close to 30 times; each time, as the end credits roll, asking myself that very question: Is this the finest American film ever?
If acting is a criteria to base this assertion, then the answer is a resounding 'yes!' Martin Landau gives the performance of a lifetime as Judah, the conflicted opthomologist, and is matched by Angelica Huston as his wounded, determined lover. Even Woody Allen - whose acting through much of the early 90s left a lot to be desired - gives a textured performance as Cliff, the earnest, but misguided documentarian.
Allen's writing meets the challenge of his lofty ambitions with this film. Has there ever been another film that stares down the day to day existence of morality, and yet has the audience in tears with laughter? Any film that speculates the worth in worshipping a God over truth AND humorously compares a television executive (played by Alan Alda) to Mussolini and Mr. Ed - and does so in a meaningful, thought-provoking manner - certainly must be considered great art.
Finally, the director Allen balances two contrasting storylines brilliantly - here, Woody proves himself worthy of comparison to the giants of film lore. This feature is a one of a kind project that will continue to provoke debate and discussion as long as there are means to view it. A tour de force all the way, and Allen's finest moment to date.
But, is it the finest American film ever?
It might very well be.
The Touch (1971)
Bergman's First English Language Film
Ingmar Bergman certainly ranks among the elite of film directors, yet missteps with this, his first (of two) English language film. The Bergman regulars, Bibi Andersson and Max von Sydow star as an upscale Swedish married couple whose lives are altered by the seemingly mysterious appearance of American Elliot Gould. After a series of (not so) discreet passes, Andersson finds herself falling for the moody, unpredictable Gould.Sven Nykvist's cinematography and one surprisingly tender love scene nearly save this, but, the film is unable to overcome two glaring flaws: the awkwardness of the dialogue (written by Bergman) and the poor performance by Elliot Gould. Gould, I suppose, can be an engaging actor, but is way out of his league; this film is, ultimately, only for completists.