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Reviews
Crash (2004)
A movie that makes you feel and think
Here is a film that pretty much one person can claim as his own vehicle. That would be Paul Haggis who directed as well as wrote, along with Robert Moresco, CRASH.
The story is excellently written, interweaving many different story lines and characters and then bringing it all home. It seems like a difficult thing to write and just as difficult to direct.
Haggis accomplishes the feat and the movie is a powerful and well acted drama, touching on prejudices, overt and underlying, that exist in our society. Even in a progressive city like Los Angeles.
The actors all work wonderfully well together as an ensemble cast. They need to be mentioned and, not wanting to leave anyone out, I took their names from the credits
So.. wonderful performances by Terrence Howard, Ludicrous, Thandie Newton, Michael Peña, Ryan Phillippe, Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Art Chudabala, Sean Cory Cooper. Tony Danza, Keith David, Karina Arroyave, Dato Bakhtadze, Loretta Devine, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, Ime Etuk, Eddie J. Fernandez, William Fichtner, Howard Fong, Brendan Fraser, Billy Gallo, Ken Garito, Nona Gaye, Octavio Gómez Berríos, James Haggis, Sylva Kelegian, Daniel Dae Kim, Bruce Kirby, Jayden Lund, Jack McGee, Amanda Moresco, Martin Norseman, Joe Ordaz, Greg Joung Paik, Yomi Perry, Alexis Rhee, Ashlyn Sanchez, Molly Schaffer, Paul E. Short, Marina Sirtis, Bahar Soomekh, Allan Steele, Kate Super, Larenz Tate, Glenn Taranto, Beverly Todd, Shaun Toub Kathleen York.
THis is the kind of movie that makes one think after viewing it. I applaud all who were involved with making CRASH.
Channels (2008)
So very imaginative. So very original. So very good.
Channels gives us an artist's point of view about what constitutes "reality." Covered in the frilly dressing of a romantic comedy. It really provokes some thought.
The director and writer, Nat Christian cleverly seduces us into having fun and rooting for our two main characters. Then we suddenly realize that something serious, something big is happening.
Christian demonstrates a confidence in carrying out his vision. This is his piece of work and he paints it the way he wants it to flow. It works very effectively. He also utilizes an alluring romantic look, helped by cinematographer Michael Hardwick, production designer Dolores Piazza and visual effects person Duane Condor.
The actors give us impeccable performances. Ed Asner is always good, but here we also see several sides to him (and he has an outstanding monologue). Taylor Negron comes across sincere and is still funny at times. John Kassir is funny as a cynical character. Joan Van Ark looks hot and brings much strength to her role. The two leads are played by Christian and actress Kim Oja. Christian is a "natural" actor. Very real as though we were getting telescopic glimpses of this guy on the street. His honesty is appealing as well as compelling. Oja too is very interesting to watch. She has a lot of vulnerability under her beautiful facade. Both create a defining romantic chemistry.
Special note should be given to Daryl Orenge who wrote a catchy tune with Christian and Cynthia Hasson. And to actors Christopher Shiffrin (in a very funny silent bit), Amber Barretto, Chloe Hunter and Gil Glasgow.
It's a different kind of story. Not formula. But this formula worked real well for me.
Valkyrie (2008)
Another intense film by Bryan Singer
Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Patrick Wilson, Bill Nighy, Stephen Fry, Tom Wilkinson, Eddie Izzard, Christian Berkel, Thomas Kretschmann and Carice van Houten all shine in this very interesting movie by director Bryan Singer.
Finely written by Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander, Singer translates to the screen and Singer never disappoints.
The movie which takes place in Germany, circa 1943, depicts how the 14th attempt to assassinate Hitler has gone wrong. Then there is a bold plot to blow up Hitler in his Wolf's Lair.
For me, the story really picked up and became rather gripping towards the last part of the movie. I suppose the third act.
All in all I enjoyed it
Aanrijding in Moscou (2008)
Human drama as the story
Screenwriters, Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem and Pat van Beirs have written a script that gives us close scrutiny at a woman's character and how it slowly changes or bends as circumstances arise. They have done it well.
It is more often than not that one wold find character development like this in a "foreign" film. Maybe that is changing, and that would be a good thing. If we can trust that our audiences will watch characters interacting with one another, without the need for some cinematic shock, i.e. action, suspense, sex, etc, then we may have more movies like this in the U.S. I have nothing against action, suspense, sex, etc, it's just that we could use more movies that depict character studies.
Director, Christophe Van Rompaey takes the reins and nicely dramatizes this story about a domestic life, while holding back any temptation to rush.
Very nice performances are given by Barbara Sarafian, Jurgen Delnaet and Johan Hildenbergh.
Barbara Sarafian, Jurgen Delnaet, Johan Heldenbergh, Anemone Valcke, Sofia Ferri , Julian Borsani, Bob De Moor, Jits Van Belle and Griet van Damme
North by Northwest (1959)
A wonderful classic
North By Northwest is one of director Alfred Hitchock's most popular movies. it is a classic and has proved itself to have endured over the years, pleasing new generations of audiences.
The story about an advertising executive, who is mistaken for someone else by foreign agents, (and they chase him) was wonderfully written by Ernest Lehman and directed with great style by legendary director Alfred Hitchcock.
Hitchcock's direction is, as always, sophisticated. The dialog is smart. The acting by all of the cast members is also smart and sophisticated.
Cary Grant plays the male lead and he is sharp, fascinating and a pleasure to watch. In the female lead role, Eva Marie-Saint, as one of Hitchcock's cool blonde ladies, is excellent and sexy in an understated way. James Mason is also an excellent bad guy, as is Martin Landau, who plays a killer.
There are some great visually composed scenes that now have become classic images, whenever the history of movie making is discussed.
I would recommend this movie to anyone from any background and at any age from young adult to seniors.
Fight Club (1999)
Risky undertaking, but well done
This was a risky undertaking for the filmmakers. Risky in that, although the title or subject matter conjures up intrigue, it still is an unpleasant way of life, if you think about it.
However, Writers :Chuck Palahniuk and Jim Uhls have really given us some insight into this world. Whether we like this or not it is real in some areas, with some people. I wondered whether or not the writes actually experienced this also.
Director David Fincher takes it to the next level with an accomplished handle on the material. He gets pretty good performances out of his actors.
Actors, Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Helena Bonham Carter lead the cast which includes Meat Loaf, Zach Grenier, Richmond Arquette and David Andrews. They all perform nicely and are believable.
I found that the movie was well paced and never got bogged down in too much dialog. It was also shot nicely.