Reviews

A pretty standard thriller, what sets Man Outside apart is the appearance of every member of The Band, except Robbie Robertson. I'm not sure how this came about, but they mostly all give fine performances (Rick Danko going perhaps a little to far over the top as the father of a kidnapped boy).

This movie made about as much money in its theatrical release as Joey Coyle found in the road. And that's a damn shame. (I was 1 of the few people who saw it the weekend it opened and closed) While it's not a great movie, there are so many talented actors in it, and the story is so sadly compelling that all I can do is say watch it.

Though it's been a number of years since I've seen this movie, it still leaves an impression as the best and most faithful adaption of Mary Shelley's wonderful book. The two leads were very well cast. It's a shame no one else I know has seen it. This film is way better than Branagh's "rock and roll" version (even though DeNiro was great as the monster).

Two likeable (in my opinion) actors, Barbara Hershey and Naveen Andrews, play two very unsympathetic characters. Hershey is a batty broad who Andrews, a taxi driver, picks up in Manhattan one night. She wants to hire him to take her to the desert. Thus begins one of the worst road movies I've seen in years. Why these two people would even talk after spending 48 hours together, let alone become romantically involved is beyond me. Their first lovemaking is one of the most ridiculous scenes of it's type. The film's only redeeming value comes from the performance of John Doe, as a friendly, helpful local in the town where the two leads ultimately wind up.

This strange little movie plays like an exploitation Repulsion. I didn't think it was nearly as good, but if you liked Abel Ferrara's other strange little movies (Bad Lt.,The Funeral,The Addiction), you might want to check out this interesting, earlier effort.

Pound for pound, the best movie Joel Schumacher has ever directed. Perhaps, he should remake more French flicks. Featuring fine performances by Ted Danson, Isabella Rossellini, and Sean Young in what may be her best role. Lloyd Bridges and Keith Coogan, however, are the standouts, playing Danson's father and son, respectively. The only part of Cousin, Cousine I liked better was William Petersen's character. In the French version he is more bitter, self deprecating, funny, and sympathetic.

Nicolas Cage has made some pretty bad movies in the past few years (Bringing Out The Dead being the only glaring exception that comes to mind), but none as bad as this boring, seedy dreck. Little wonder, it was directed by Joel Schumacher, who wouldn't know what to do with a little moment if it bit him on the ass and begged him for attention. If you must see a bad Nic Cage movie, there are plenty of other, better choices.

After reading all the positive comments on this movie, I can only add one more. Out of the three versions of Uncle Vanya that showed up at my video store within a two year period, this is by far the best. The other two, Country Life (an Australian comedy, starring Sam Neill) and August (starring and directed by Anthony Hopkins) were fine films, but this is a great one.

Obviously, I'm in the minority, but I didn't think that much of this movie. Not that it was bad, just that everything else that Benigni has done or been in (aside from Son Of Pink Panther) has been better. I realize the Holocaust is an important subject, but making a movie about it doesn't guarantee greatness. I'd recommend you watch The Boxer And Death, 7 Beauties, Schindler's List or Shoah instead.

Although it's been a couple of years since I've seen this movie, I felt compelled to write a review because of the crappy numerical rating it received on this site. This is the first thing I saw Billy Crudup in and I was pleasantly surprised to see that this pretty boy can act. It's also one of the few things I've seen Adrienne Shelly in since she parted ways with Hal Hartley. Essentially about the effect of infidelity on the three people involved (in this case two brothers and one of their wives), I found the movie to be well written, directed and extremely well acted. Not only that, it actually helped me through the period of my life after I found out my girlfriend was screwing around with my best friend. I highly recommend this movie for any indie-movie fan.