Reviews

After the 105 minutes you spend trying to figure out what's going on, you will leave still wondering what was in the box and why the father returned and where he was before he returned. That is a deliberate manipulation of the audience. It's an old trick designed to make the film appear profound and artful. This film is neither profound nor artful because the story is unclear. If you want to tell me something, then be clear about it.

The acting is good. The problem with this film is the writing and the directing. Save yourself time and money and wait for it to show on TV. Then perhaps you won't feel too badly about wasting your time and money because you can turn it off. Here is my advice to the writer and director: do not try to manipulate your audience, and go back to school.

The first hour is a complete waste of time. The dialogue is meaningless. There really is no story, and if there is a moral, I missed it. The casting is all wrong. This was a potentially interesting film. Her part was exceptionally boring. I am sorry I wasted my time. I gave it a "4" just to be polite.

Nico travels from Barcelona to visit his friend Dani at his summer home. Dani's parents are away. The two teenagers, like all teenage boys share their interest in the physical aspects of sex. Dani becomes more than casually curious with regard to his friend, Nico. Nico does not quite get the picture, nor does Dani for that matter. Dani becomes displeased with Nico's persistent attempts to seduce a girl. The outcome of this summer experience is that both boys discover something about their own particular erotic inclinations. Nico's straight preference is unmoved by Dani's obvious physical desire and attraction to him. Dani confirms his own preference for other males in a kind of "half way" encounter with an attractive young male friend of his father. Nico returns to Barcelona. The two part as friends, their friendship apparently unaffected by their different sexual preferences. This film is warm and entertaining and a sensitive and respectful meditation on human sexuality and human development. In all honesty, I cannot agree with those who compare this film to "Beautiful Thing." In "Nico and Dani" there is no pathos, just experience. There is no real sadness or depression, just a normal struggle to find one's own self. That is the happy ending of Nico and Dani. They part as friends, each having discovered, without ambivalence, their true sexual selves.

Kenneth Branagh, as expected, performed very well. What was difficult to absorb as "possible" were the Catholic religious elements depicted. They were wrong and inaccurate. For example, the Mass vestments were not correct. The conversations and characterizations of the pastor and the young priest, for that period of time (Boston in the late 30s, early 40s) were off key, to say the least. The plot was interesting, but the film was too long, and there was too much "symbolism", and the "next move" was always predictable. With such a fine cast, and a great story, the producers and the directors should have taken time to be more accurate and correct about details. Another example of the lack of care was the scene where the young priest is seen administering "Anointing of the Sick" [formerly called "Extreme Unction"] to a corpse about to be buried. This never happens and is actually forbidden in the RC Church. Dead people cannot receive "sacraments." Attention must be paid. Details, details, details. The truth is in the details. However, I did enjoy it. I think most people would find this film interesting and entertaining.

You will find yourself trying to detect the plot. Plenty of nudity, most of which is not very attractive, is still distracting.

Perhaps a thorough knowledge of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" might make this colorful and dreamlike production more intellectually comprehensible. This is a visually interesting film with a cinematic overemphasis on the color red. The score is entirely the words of Shakespeare. See it if you crave something different.

This 1938 movie interpretation of Shaw's "Pygmalion" is great entertainment. Beautifully photographed and quick moving, this film will thoroughly entertain you. While mildly serious this film avoids the heavy seriousness and moral whining that might be characteristic of a Hollywood treatment. It should be part of your cinema repertoire., and in a "Top 100" list.

This film is listed as "When The Cat's Away." You will like

the characters in this film. They are all good people intent

on living their lives and interacting with each other in

meaningful ways. You may not agree with their lifesyles,

but you will not dislike them. I found the elderly ladies very

interesting especially with regard to their interaction with

the young woman (Chloe) who is the main character. The

story evolves around the loss of Chloe's beloved cat, Gris-Gris ("Gray-Gray"). This is a film that will absorb you

as you admire the human warmth and pure honesty of everyone involved in Chloe's life.

I was disappointed. I had heard that it was an interesting

film. After the first two hours, I could not take any more.

"Magnolia" presents a dreadful, hopeless, and totally emotional view of humanity. None of the characters elicited

sympathy, and much less, empathy. None of the characters was likeable. Tom Cruise was completely convincing as an ugly, solipcistic, selfish, unredeemable

and unlikeable young man. If your looking for a notion of

human redemption, do not see this film. Never again.

This film is about manhood, and a boy's (actually every boy's) journey to manhood. The scene in the dining room with the baron and the young boy explains it all. The baron recites Goethe's poem, "ErlKonig" and interprets it for the young boy-man. Schubert set this poem to music (ErlKonig, The Erl King). The poem is a dialog of a child, and his father who holds him close as they ride horseback toward their home. The child expresses fear and apprehension about what he sees on the journey. At the end of the poem, the "kind war tot" - "the child was dead" in the arms of his father. This movie is about the "death" of childhood, which must take place if a boy is to become a man. The film is filled with obvious symbolism and has a most satisfying conclusion. This is a personal favorite. If you can find a copy, buy it.

The transparent simplicity of this film seems to match the spirituality and sanctity of St. Theresa, who said that after her death she wished to be referred to as "Little Therese." Her spirituality was unique in that Little Therese sought to please God by accepting whatever came her way. She did not engage in the rigors of physical asceticism and penance. Acceptance of the will of God and humility are the hallmarks of her spiritual system. Information about her life was taken from her note book, written in pencil. The Mother superior, obviously an insightful woman, told her to write about herself. This is an excellent film that depicts the spirituality of Little Therese and also of the other Carmelite nuns who lived with her. There are many details depicted about her illness and personal habits. Curiously, the actress who portrays Saint Therese bears a remarkable resemblance to her. Little Therese died at the age of 24. Pope John Paul II declared Little Therese a Doctor of the Catholic Church, a title given only rarely to individual saints who contributed in some way to spirituality or learning.

This film is a warm and loyal portrayal of the life of St. Joseph (Giuseppe) of Cupertino. Giuseppe is portrayed as a simple and humble Franciscan brother. In one scene, the bishop who is sent to investigate the reports of Brother Giuseppe's mystical experiences, is charmed by their mutual love of working with the pigs in the barn. This portrayal communicates the sincerity, simplicity and holiness of a saint who does not think of himself as a saint. St. Joseph of Cupertino was one of those individuals who can be characterized as a natural "mystic." He was canonized (declared a Saint of the Church) for his virtue and holiness of life, and was made a patron saint of air pilots, probably because it is said that he would levitate from the ground during prayer. The movie is entertaining on all counts. You will leave this film feeling better about God and the human race.

I knew a blind person who, like the main character in this excellent drama, liked to take photographs of things and people. For the character in "Proof" it is a way of verifying experiences. IMDb lists this movie as a comedy, drama. I did not find any comic (in the sense of "amusing") element. An interesting idea presented was how the blind man was deeply offended by the romantic and sexual advances of the women he hires as a domestic assistant. He prefers the friendship of the young man [I did not notice any homosexual intimations] he met in a restaurant. I gave it a vote of 9. Very interesting and entertaining.