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thinkstorm
Reviews
Arthur et les Minimoys (2006)
Derivative
I love Luc B. The guy is a genius - so why on earth did he make this cliché loaded live/action animated hodge-podge of J. R. R. Tolkien's, Lewis Carroll's & T.H. White's finest? Answer: Money.
Arthur and the Invisibles cheats. Despite a stellar cast - it is a story without an original thought. It is also poorly executed. If I were in Harvey Weinstein's shoes - I too would have been appalled.
This is a dog's breakfast of a kid's movie. It's cable off-peak-viewing filler...a mere layer above a Bowflex infomercial.
OK, so that's hard; but consider this: The visual transfer from live-action character to animated entity is beyond clumsy and is story stopping. (Remember, I really like Luc Besson.) The animated characters look like $2.00 Chinese knock-off's of fibre-optic haired plastic knock-off's from George Lucas's merchandising product shelf. Shame on you Luc! And shame on Harvey Weinstein too. How could he have ever greenlit this slurry of derivatives? And Harvey has given us some pure genius too over the years.
Give Luc a break. Don't even consider watching this mess. Harvey is wrong. Luc B. is no has-been. Harvey, however, was wearing green tinted sunnies.
Tom Storm
Maxwell (2007)
Maxwell's demons
I don't know if this is a 'spoiler' review or what - as most people familiar with Robert Maxwell know the ending. It's a matter of public record. But I don't want to be blacklisted for knowing that myself.
Anyway - Robert Maxwell was, to say the least, complicated - and the performance by David Suchet captures his character well. His gross indulgences, his finessed theft of the working stiff's pension fund, his sheer arrogance and stupendous ego - are all on display.
If there is a criticism of this superb script it lies in the absence of the many non-Murdochian satires of 'The Bouncing Czech', as he was also known. Maxwell was cannon fodder for British journalists. It was not only Rupert Murdoch's publications that placed vicious shots across Maxwell's bow - it was Fleet Street. The 'Maxwell' story understates the broad contempt in which he was held - and as a result loses much of the black humour this tale richly deserves.
However, don't let that stop you from enjoying a disturbing insight into big money, greed, rampant egoism, gross indulgence, corporate criminal behaviour and a fascinating character.
Maxwell is worth watching.
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005)
A Rolex in a dumpster
What a clever and satisfying film. If you like Cormac McCarthy - this original story in a setting similar to No Country For Old Men - is a treat. It's like finding a genuine Rolex in a dumpster of crappy watches.
Tommy Lee Jones captures the rawhide quirkiness of saddle-men - vaqueros - cowboys. That face of his is art (OK not-so-pretty) in motion.
It's a redemption story without moralizing or preaching.
Give it a serious look. It's a beautifully shot, well told and rewarding film.