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Reviews
Blue Velvet (1986)
Scariest Ever
This is the most frightening movie of all I've ever seen -- and I've been watching movies since the 1950s! Nothing tops this.
If you've never been menaced/attacked by a true psychopath, this is as close as you can get without genuine danger. I don't know that I could actually meet Dennis Hopper in person after seeing this performance.
My comments about the movie end here.
Apparently IMDB has vast quantities of unused space on its servers; they require a minimum of "10 lines" of copy before they will publish your "comments." Perhaps if I were a paid reviewer for some slick magazine, I'd go right ahead and delve into the plot issues, imagery, lighting, direction, cuts, acting quality, etc. Since I'm not, I've said what I had to say, and that's all I have to say. Sorry that it happens to be trenchant but insufficient in volume!
Outlaws of the Desert (1941)
Instructive
While this is probably a poor picture relative to others made at the same time, it has a great deal of sociological and historical value. U.S. citizens at the time knew little more about Saudi Arabia than they do today, and the perspectives are demeaning and arrogant. Their tribal cultures are seen through the concept of native American tribes. However, there are some good comic moments.
After Dark, My Sweet (1990)
Dreary, badly acted and amateurish
A dreary, hopelessly predictable film set in a most unpleasant setting (lower Coachella Valley). Acting is as amateurish as any I've seen. Looks like a screenwriting 101 script. However, it does function as a great sedative.
Ocean's Eleven (2001)
Why would anyone care?
This drivel never left the starting gate. There is nothing here to care about.
The opening scene is a convict making a lame case for parole. In spite of his ridiculous story, in the next scene he's walking out of a prison in NJ. Next he's in an Atlantic City casino. At this point I still don't know who he is or what he's doing, and I don't care. After apparently meeting an old friend who's dealing there, he makes a late night call to his parole officer. That thread goes nowhere. Next he's in Hollywood for some unknown reason. At this point I started counting the twinkly lights in the ceiling.
The "banter" some critics have swooned over is trite at best. Clooney and Pitt sound like they're satirizing some bad detective novel.
Finally, Julia Roberts is nothing but a female stick figure.
Soderbergh, who did marvelous work with "Traffic," should be ashamed of himself.