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S1m0ne (2002)
WOW!!! What a bad Pacino movie
Before I say anything about Simone, lets go over the reasons why I wanted to see this movie in the first place. First: Pacino is in it. He is my third favorite actor next to De Niro and Tom Hanks. Second: the same writer that wrote The Truman Show wrote Simone. Third: the movie didn't look that bad. Usually, when I go to view a film, I go in with at least a * * * {out of four stars} expectation. The movie wasn't really funny, just little laughs here and there. Throughout the movie and especially when it was over, all I can think of is, why the hell did Pacino do this movie. What a terrible choice. I also feel that the movie could of used some more editing. I was surprised when I saw on the DVD that 19 scenes were cut out of the movie. They should of cut out 6-7 more. Pacino's acting was good as always. And he is also the only funny person in the entire film. But that by itself cannot save this movie. This is definitely one of Pacino's worst movies he has ever done. I give S1m0ne only * ½ {out of four stars} and a 3/10.
Gangs of New York (2002)
`America Was Born In The Streets.' DAMN RIGHT!!!
Gangs of New York {GONY} is an amazing historical rare gem. Mr. Scorsese has out done himself with this one. A fascinating journey of New York City in 1863. The civil war, the draft riots, the gangs, the violence, the crime, the culture, the politics, the city, and everything in between. Another outstanding directing accomplishment by Mr. Scorsese, with the passion a lot of directors only dream about. No matter what you say about Scorsese or about his directing, you can't knock his passion for filmmaking. The film starts in 1846 with a fight over the five points between the Natives and the Irishmen. The five points is five streets that come together in lower Manhattan. During the fight the leader of the Irishmen, Priest Vallon {Liam Neeson}, gets killed by William Bill The Butcher' Cutting {Daniel Day-Lewis}. During the fighting the son of the Priest, Amsterdam Vallon {Leonardo DiCaprio}, sees his father die. He is then put into a boy home for seventeen years. The film fast forwards through those seventeen years and picks up in 1863. The boy has become a man in his middle twenties and wants to revenge is father's death by taking the life of the man that took his father's. He finds it hard to kill the man that killed his father as he takes a liking to Bill The Butcher, and vise versa. The film is rich in history and beauty. The only thing that I do not like about the film is the character Jenny Everdeane {Cameron Diaz}. There is no reason for her part in the film. But I guess Hollywood needs that key female role. Only during her parts does the film drag. She slows it down too much. Not because of Diaz herself, just her role. Nothing really important happens during her time on the screen. There are a couple of scenes with her that are entertaining. But that's only because of the written, directing, and the other actors, not because of her. They could have had any actress for those scenes. All they had to do is cut most of the scenes out and keep the entertaining ones. All she does is keep some hostility between Vallon and The Butcher, which is important. But any whore can do that, that's what women do. The biggest reason I don't give GONY four stars and a 10/10 is because of the Jenny character. I already saw the film three times in the theater, so I don't think one more viewing would change my mind about the character. But I won't know until I view it again. The film has everything down to a science, from the set direction, costume design, and cinematography, its all fantastic. I give Gangs of New York * * * ½ {out of four stars} & a 9/10.
Training Day (2001)
DENZAL, Finally Plays a Bad A**
Training Day is a great crime, drama, action, thriller, and cop/detective film. The screenplay is very rich and smooth, very free flowing. Great from start to finish. Training Day is one of my Top 5 favorite films to come out of 2001. The story is about a young police officer (Hawke) trying to make detective the fastest way, by being a narcotics officer for 18 months. He has one day to prove himself to his boss, Detective Alonzo Harris (Washington). This becomes his Training Day. Through out the film he finds out that being a narc is more then he bargained for. The film is about wrong and right and making the right decisions under extreme pressure. Denzal Washington gives a fantastic performance as Detective Harris. He is a man that has no morals and is using the badge to perform crimes against the criminals he is putting away, or trying to put away, either by death or prison. Denzal's powerful performance earned him an Oscar for best actor in 2002. Ethan Hawke gives a emotional performance as Officer Jake Hoyt, the new guy in training. He was also nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actor. Another great cop/detective film that came out recently is Narc (2002). I highly recommend both of these films. I give Training Day * * * * (out of 5 stars).
Pale Rider (1985)
One of my favorite Westerns of all time
Pale Rider is one of my favorite Westerns of all time. The story is of a stranger arriving in a small mining town on a pale horse, thus Pale Rider. This man is tall, fearless, strong, brave, and a man of God. The story starts off when a much bigger and stronger mining company tries to force a group of people that are mining for gold off their territory. They try to do this by stampeding their camp with their horses and using guns. After the dust has settled the leader of the camp {Hull} goes into town for supplies. While there, the gang that just stampeded the camp beats up Hull with hickory sticks. This all ends when the stranger throws a bucket of water on one of the men to stop him from lighting Hull's wagon on fire. Then the beating beings. The stranger goes threw these four men with his own hickory stick like they weren't even there. All of them laid out on the dirt road in pain. Hull then invites the stranger to the camp for food and somewhere to stay. Through the whole film the Preacher, as everyone calls the stranger, stands up for the people of the mining camp. Clint Eastwood gives a strong performance with his double role as a preacher and man with no fear that is not afraid to fight and stand up to people bigger then him. The end of the film is one of the best ends for a Western or any film for that matter that I have ever witnessed. People say that Pale Rider copies off Shane, that might be true in some aspects, but Shane is slow and somewhat boring when comparing it to Pale Rider. I give Pale Rider * * * ½ {out of four stars} and an 8/10.
Shrek (2001)
So far the best animated film I have ever viewed
Shrek is a great tale that follows an ogre named Shrek and a donkey, that won't shut up, named Donkey and their adventure to save a Princess in a castle guarded by a fire-breathing dragon. When they find the castle the fire-breathing dragon turns out to be a female and falls in love with Donkey. They rescue the Princess and then they head to a village called Duloc to deliver the Princess to Lord Farquaad. He is the one that sends Shrek on this journey to rescue the Princess, so he can marry her to become a King. Shrek interrupts the wedding of Lord Farquaad and Princess Fiona because he loves the Princess. Princess Fiona awaits a kiss from Shrek so a curse that was put on her by a witch would be lifted from her. The curse turns her in to an ogre every time the sunsets and the only way to lift the curse is to have true loves first kiss. But she stays an ogre to show children that true beauty comes from within. Shrek and Princess Fiona get married. Lord Farquaad is eating by the fire-breathing dragon, and she falls in love with Donkey, and vise versa. Everything is great in the end. The animation for Shrek is fantastic. No other animated film that I have viewed is as good or better. Ice Age, Toy Story 1&2, and Monster's Inc. are very fine animated films, but not Shrek quality. The film is also funny for kids and adults. A lot of little comments in Shrek that is meant for adults, that little kids won't get. The animation along with the story is why I give Shrek * * * ½ {out of 4 stars} & a 8/10.
Magnolia (1999)
Magnolia is magnificent
There are so many great things to say about Magnolia. Paul Thomas Anderson {PTA} has put together one of the best ensemble cast in film history. What fantastic acting as a whole. John C. Reilly, Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore, Philip Baker Hall, Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Jeremy Blackman, Melora Walters, Jason Robards, Melinda Dillon, Michael Bowen and Ricky Jay. Another great aspect of this film is the score and the soundtrack. Jon Brion does a terrific job composing and conducting this film. And his wife, Aimee Mann does a great job of written and performing most of the songs on the soundtrack. This is one of the rare occasions that I enjoy both the score and the soundtrack to the same film. PTA's directing is great again. I especially like how he stays with the action without changing cameras. The scene that shows this best is towards the end. PTA uses a single camera to go from car to car. He used this technique in two shots in another of his films called Boogie Nights. Towards the very end of the film, he goes from car to car with a single camera. He also uses this technique in the beginning of Boogie Nights in the club where he goes from person to person. The screenplay is so different and original from any other film I have seen. Magnolia is humorous, touching, sad, and emotional. One of the miss conceptions of this film was that every main character meets each other. Which is not true. Most of the characters do not meet each other. Only certain characters meet, mostly by chance. The film is about the past and how it catches up to you. `We maybe through with the past, but the past isn't through with us.' It's also about taking opportunities when they come to you. The film is about loving, caring, hating, hurting, helping, saving, having faith, not having faith, understanding, not understanding, being there for someone, regretting not being there for someone, regrets in general, etc. Pretty much what happens in everyday life. In my opinion, Magnolia was the best film to be released in 1999. Magnolia is one of only eight films, to date, that I give * * * * {Out of 4 stars} & a 10/10.
Igby Goes Down (2002)
Igby Goes Down, hard
I wasn't to impressed with Igby Goes Down. The story was a little hard to believe. Although, a lot of things happen in the film, it just never came together. It is a very well acted film from a good cast. I felt sorry for the father Jason because he has schizophrenia and is placed in a mental institution. Mimi is a bad mother that is hooked on painkillers and sleeping pills because she had breast cancer in the past and never stopped taking the pills. Her two kids Igby and Oliver makes it clear, especially Igby, that they hate her and they don't care if she dies even after she gets breast cancer again. Igby is a confused teenager that doesn't know what he wants. His brother Oliver is a coincident preppy that wants to follow in a family friend's footsteps. D.H. is that family friend, as well as Igby's Godfather. He is a rich man that only thinks about money and how to make more of it. Igby just wants to get away from everybody and leave it all behind him. A few remember able scenes in the film, but no remember able dialogue that stands out. I give Igby Goes Down * * ½ {out of 4 stars} & a 5/10.
Gods and Generals (2003)
A little hard to view
I've just viewed Gods and Generals and I was disappointed. The film is a long four hours, which includes a 12-minute intermission. There is too much talking during this film for me, and certainly not enough action. Only three battle scenes through the whole film. It's a little hard to watch do to the amount of talking going on. It probably was over three hours of talking and less then an hour of action. I was waiting for more battle scenes, which just never came. I was also disappointed that the film never talked about and you never see General Grant at all. The film also focused too much on General Stonewall Jackson. They probably could of named the film after him, Stonewall. It was mostly about him, his life, and his very strong beliefs in God, to say the lese. I also was waiting for a big ending, with a big battle, but it just wasn't in the cards. I also didn't like that both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis were not in the film. Also the film was almost all one sided with the Southern opinion, then the Northern. As well as the battle planning and generals on the Southern side was much more focused on, then the Northern side. The title of the film fits it very easily. It's all about the generals, their strategies, and their strong beliefs in God. There is a whole lot of praying, reflection, and references to God throughout the entire film. The cinematography was good, but nothing more. The far shots of the different cities seem to fake. However, the performances are good and so is the score. I was going into this movie with my doubts from the beginning; do to the very bad reviews. And now I can see why. I give Gods and Generals a * * 1/2 {out of 4 stars} & a 5/10 for the effort.
Donnie Brasco (1997)
Pacino and Depp, a Great Combo
Donnie Brasco is a "true" story about an undercover FBI agent (Depp), and his time infiltrating the Mafia. Pacino is fabulous in this film as he plays a Mafia hit-man that never moves up in the organization and doesn't receive a lot of respect. A totally different character from The Godfather, no comparison in the two different acting styles. That's what makes Mr. Al Pacino such a great actor. His different acting approaches for his different projects. Johnny Depp gives a great performance in the role as the FBI agent. The scenes with Deep getting stressed out from the job are powerful. The last sense, when Pacino leaves his apartment, gives me some sad feelings. Although, he is in the Mafia and he has killed about thirty people, Pacino's acting is sad and so convincing; it makes me a little sad as well. Maybe because the people he has killed are in the Mafia and they know the consequences of being in that organization. You definitely feel at the end of the film the sadness of Johnny Deep's character. You can tell that he feels for Lefty (Pacino), and that he did become friends with him. Lefty knows that he is going to be killed because the FBI informed them that Depp was an undercover agent. I give this film * * * * (out of 5 stars).
Scent of a Woman (1992)
Pacino, at his best
A great heart warming film about a suicidal blind colonel and a low-middle class prep school student and their journey from New England to New York City and then back to where they started from. Pacino's gives a riveting and powerful performance as a suicidal blind colonel that wants to live his final days of his life the best way he knows how. This film has a great combination of comedy and drama. Pacino's amazing performance, and a great screenplay and especially the speaking parts writing for Al Pacino, is why I give Scent of a Women * * * ½ {out of 4 stars} & a 8/10.
On the Waterfront (1954)
One of the best films from the 50s
On the Waterfront is one of the best films to come out of the 1950s. The film just doesn't have a great screenplay, but the acting provides a one two punch. The film is about a down-and-out ex-boxer who is fed up with the local labor union pushing everybody around. The film also has one of the greatest speaking scenes in movie history. The scene of course is the conversation between Terry and his brother, Charlie, in the back of a taxicab. "You don't understand, I could have had class." "I could have been a contender." "I could have been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am-- let's face it." I give On the Waterfront * * * 1/2 (out of 5 stars).
The Last Castle (2001)
Unrealistic
SPOILER ALERT!!!!! The Last Castle is a good movie until the end. As I was watching The Last Castle I was waiting for the unrealistic parts to come, that I've heard about. And then BAM!!!.less then thirty minutes to go in the film, and they appear. The film was going fine, until the inmates started rioting so the warden would be removed for losing control of the prison. The only reason the inmates made up a plan and carried it out, is to get the warden removed. The inmates knew that the warden could be removed if he lost control of the prison to the inmates. The inmates knew ahead of time the consequences of this plan and they weren't going to be able to escape. Who's to say the new warden wouldn't be as bad or worse then he is. The only thing that was accomplished was both guards and inmates got hurt/injured and some were probably killed. Even more unrealistic, was when the guards that were armed placed their guns down and didn't listen to the warden's order to shot the general if he starts to put the American flag on the flagpole. The warden wanted him to be stopped because he knew that the plan was to put the flag upside down, which means distress. All I have to say about that is, Bull S***. No way in hell would the guards do that. If God appeared and order them to, some of them still wouldn't. They're not going to disobey orders. I don't care who's in that prison making plans for an attack. I don't know if longer sentences are giving for a prison riot, but if so, the prisoners probably received more time on their sentences as well. So pretty much, the inmates accomplished nothing. My final grippe is; why did the warden have to kill the general? He could of shot him in the legs and that would of surly stop him. The general of course, is well respected by other inmates, the warden himself, and probably most guards. He was sent to the prison for ten years for not following orders, and because of that, eight soldiers died. He is the one that starts everything, including the planning for the riot. When everything is said and done: people died, especially the general, nobody escaped, the warden was taking away in handcuffs, and everybody saluted the flag, which wasn't placed upside down. I give The Last Castle * * {out of 4 stars} & a 4/10.
Quills (2000)
Geoffrey Rush is terrific
Quills is a rare combination of a great cast and a one of a kind screenplay. The speaking parts writing for Geoffrey Rush (The Marquis de Sade) are also terrific. Geoffrey Rush complements those words with an amazing, powerful, and riveting performance. In my opinion, Quills was the third best film of 2000, right after Cast Away {1} and Gladiator {2}. The film dips into drama, comedy, and a little bit of romance. I also feel that Geoffrey Rush's performance is so great, that if Tom Hanks in Cast Away didn't win an Oscar for best actor, Geoffrey Rush should of, instead of Russell Crowe for Gladiator. That's how great of a performance he gives. Another great performance that Rush gives is in the film Shine. Which in fact he did win the Oscar for best actor in 1997. I give Quills * * * ½ {out of 4 stars} & a 8/10.
"No, I write what I see, the endless procession to the guillotine. We're all lined up; waiting for the crunch of the blade... the rivers of blood are flowing beneath our feet Abbe... I've been to hell young man; you've only read about it."
"Conversation, like certain portions of the anatomy, always runs more smoothly when it's lubricated."
Geoffrey Rush [The Marquis de Sade] {2000}