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Reviews
Ghostbusters (2016)
Is it funny?
That's the simple question to ask when seeing a comedy. Unfortunately for this new Ghostbusters film it is mildly amusing at best. The opening psychic testing scene of the original has more belly laughs than this entire movie.
Some great acting talent in Kristen Wiig and others but sadly they do not get the excellent material that was at the heart of the original film. The updated special effects look great but can't make up for the poor writing. 4/10 stars, watch it if you have nothing better to do.
Red Dragon (2002)
An inferior remake of Manhunter
Red Dragon is based on the Thomas Harris book of the same name, which was previously brought to the screen by filmmaker Michael Mann as Manhunter. While Red Dragon is a workman-like film with some very good qualities - and a great cast - it lacks the cinematic edge of Mann's film.
The first and biggest problem is Ed Norton. I think the world of him as an actor, and while he has proven he can play comedy (Keeping the Faith), cunning (Primal Fear and The Score) and drama (American History X, The Painted Veil) he is just not quite right for the role of Will Graham. William Peterson brilliantly captured Graham in Manhunter as a man who could go over the edge at any minute because the dark feelings and obsessions he has are essentially the same as the psychopathic killers he tracks. One of the great lines uttered by Lecter in Manhunter (paraphrased) is "You want to get the scent back? Smell yourself."
Which leads to the second problem: Too much Lecter. In Manhunter, Lecter (played by the chilling Brian Cox) is onscreen for a very short period, and in The Silence of the Lambs Anthony Hopkins won an Oscar for just less than 25 minutes of screen time. Examples of too much Lecter are this film and - even worse - Hannibal. The more of Hannibal Lecter that is left to the imagination, the better.
This trait also symbolizes the last problem with this film - more is not better. Bigger stars in the cast, more expansive sets (compare Lecter's cell between the two films), fancy lighting , special effects, more overt violence and other Hollywood touches don't necessarily make for a better film. After the characters are introduced and the plot is set, you never have a doubt about this film's ending. The most suspenseful scenes merely serve to delay the conclusion you know is coming.
In sum, not a bad film and worth seeing for completeness particularly if you enjoy Mr. Hopkins over-the-top work as Hannibal Lecter. But do yourself a favor and also watch Manhunter again, or see it for the first time if you haven't already.
Star Trek (2009)
Dreck
Disappointingly juvenile treatment and attempt to "reboot" the franchise. Several authors have commented about the cheesiness of the original series, but there was often more original ideas (until they started repeating themselves) in one of those 48 minute low budget TV episodes than in this entire film. The movie also has gaping plot holes and a time- travel aspect that is wholly unnecessary and a poor justification for bringing back Leonard Nimoy. The young actors aren't given much and they don't do much with the slight exception of Quinto's Spock. I thought Abram's writing in MI3 was excellent and I am a huge fan of "Lost" but he apparent ran out ideas when the deadline for this turkey came due.
PS: Who in world thought it would be a good idea to conjure a love triangle between Kirk, Uhura, and Spock?
Dexter: Hungry Man (2009)
Scary Good
A tour de force episode for all involved, but especially for Michael Hall and John Lithgow. The scenes in the Mitchell household are frighteningly intense, turning the traditional Thanksgiving feast into psychological warfare.
Great work in this episode from the supporting cast with an unexpected and well written turn from C. S. Lee's Masuka, and another superb job from James Remar's Harry who's constant questioning dialog serves to shape Dexter's motives and actions in new and evolving ways.
Dexter is clearly the best thing on television and about the only reason to subscribe to Showtime.
Flightplan (2005)
I want my 98 minutes back
Preposterous tale of a woman who has apparently lost her daughter while aboard a transatlantic flight. The plot holes are so huge that suspension of disbelief is impossible, and thus any attempt at enjoyment is moot. I'm a huge JF fan and while she's fine in the movie it must be just about the worst piece of film ever associated with her.
Many other reviewer's have pointed out the sets for the plane, and while I liked the look and feel, they create the effect of the plane having been a modified C-5. Might as well drive tanks and other assault vehicles down the aisles and cargo holds, big as they are.
4/10.
Spartan (2004)
We accidentally turned on the commentary ...
My girlfriend and I long ago lost the DVD remote, and it probably went to the same place as those missing socks that leave you frustrated every week.
We use the TV remote, which doesn't seem to have an exact match to the DVD player, but usually works. After a bathroom break near the end of the movie, we accidentally turned on the commentary track. Once we recognized the voice (Kilmer) we listened in fascination and disgust as he proceeded to rip the film, the director (Mamet) and his co-stars. Funny in a sad kind of way, he talks about Mamet wearing a "Pulitzer" shirt every day on the set and opines "I guess that's what you do when your career is washed up."
Another droll section occurs when he introduces Kristen Bell who plays the daughter. He's not entirely sure what her name is, and follows this up with comments about how he enjoyed acting rough with her on the film and that he came to think of her as his personal play toy, but had to back off when her boyfriend was on set.
I like Kilmer on screen but this is one strange dude. If I saw him on the street I'd definitely try to avoid him. That said, this is a fine movie and well worth the time investment.
The Butterfly Effect (2004)
Better than expected
Very surprised by how much I liked this movie after the critical drubbing it took. While the idea of time travel and its effects on the traveler's current world is not new, it is well presented here. The results of Evan's attempts to change his present have unintended consequences and each is presented with enough detail to make you care what happens to the characters.
Ashton Kutcher is solid but unspectacular in the lead. More interesting are his friends, with Amy Smart getting the best parts playing (alternately) his long-forgotten friend, sorority girlfriend, druggie prostitute, and his best friend's girlfriend. The weakest part of the film are the cheesy special effects shown during Evan's time journeys, but they are instantly forgettable.
I really liked his "ultimate solution" to the time-travel problem. Note that all these comments refer to the theatrical version, as I plan to watch the special edition located on the same DVD very soon.
Heaven Can Wait (1978)
It's about love and comedy, not reincarnation
All the divine machinations are there to forward the plot, they are certainly not the focus. The movie message is not about reincarnation but who we are inside the outward appearances. Julie Christie glows in her part while Beatty more than handles his straight lines, with Charles Grodin (never funnier), Dyan Cannon, and Buck Henry all delivering the comic goods. A comic masterpiece with wonderful irony and a satisfying love story. ***1/2 out of ****.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
No flesh
In the Terminator series, the robots themselves (sorry cyborgs) are composed of flesh over steel exoskeletons. This movie has the steel but not flesh.
It looks good on screen, the stunts are fine, the actors attractive, but there is no depth, just a series of set pieces with loose connections. Many scenes were scripted just to produce references to the preceding films, and otherwise have no place. The movie has "SAFE", written all over it, the kind of don't mess with the formula filmmaking that dominates Hollywood.
But they left out part of the formula, and that is emotional involvement. You don't feel for the characters, there is no fear or sorrow or suspense or anything remotely resembling empathy for any part in the film. Jokes fall flat because there is no drama taking place that requires comic relief. Clare Danes' character loses her father and fiance to the new TX with barely a moment's grief. Kristanna Lokken is great to look at but not exactly scary and the scenes of her and Arnold's Terminator character throwing each other around are incredibly boring. Speaking of boring, Nick Stahl's John Conner has gone from disaffected youth to spaced out adult, supposedly hiding behind drugs because he fears the future. It doesn't work.
None of it works.
25th Hour (2002)
Good, but could have been better
Turn this 125 minute movie into a slight shorter version and get a much more focused film. Two pieces in particular that should go are Edward Norton's f*ck NYC speech where he lists everyone he hates by race, religion, and borough and the seemly endless 'what if' ending. Good performances from Norton, Rosario Dawson, and Brian Cox with a great performance from Barry Pepper. Sometimes meandering, but always intersting and wonderful to look at visually.
Manhunter (1986)
The First, the Best
I never appreciated the brilliance of this film until I saw the Silence sequel and Red Dragon remake. Apart from William Peterson's intense performance, the highlight of the film is unquestionably the mood and atmosphere created by Michael Mann. Compare Lector's jail cell (wonderfully underplayed by the talented Brian Cox) to the cell of Hannibal in Silence. No rugged stone walls, no theatrical dim bulbs, just a brilliantly lit scene that you might expect from a hospital room/cell, and much scarier because of its ordinariness.
William Peterson starred in two of my favorite movies of all time, the other being To Live and Die in LA. As the headliner for CSI his slight paunch and extra gray have not dulled his intensity.
Frailty (2001)
See this movie! (9/10)
Great acting, directing, clever plot, all combined with an ugly view into man's weaknesses. Bill Paxton is top-notch both as the patriarch of a twisted family and as the director of this taut tale. Very subtle camera work, foreshadowing, and set design give clues to an unexpected climax. Best Bill Paxton performance since _One False Move_. 9/10
Mulholland Dr. (2001)
Triumph of Style over Substance
Rarely is watching a movie such a mesmerizing experience. I couldn't wait for each new scene to unfold and I couldn't possibly predict what would happen.
I have read reviews of people who say they don't understand the movie. I didn't either. WHO CARES? There is so much imagination, texture, and diversity that appeals to every sense that there is no need for understanding. Just let it wash over you and hold you to enjoy it at its simplest form.
There is a standout performance by Naomi Watts that links the threads together. Her audition scene with Chad Everett (in hysterically heavy orange makeup) is seductively brilliant.
The Fast and the Furious (2001)
Cliched, shallow ... but very entertaining
This is a movie that works in spite of itself. Kudos to Vin Diesel, who was the best part of "Boiler Room" and shows his acting chops here with little to work with. He's supported mostly by a pulse-pounding soundtrack of the kind that usually annoys me but here serves to really amplify the thin story line. It's hard reviewing this film because all I seem to do is knock it, but it also kept me enthralled for its 100 minute running time. Forget realism, forget plot ... just enjoy.
Hannibal (2001)
Vile excuse for entertainment
Watching this movie is never easy. Not merely because of the gratuitous gore which is pasted liberally everywhere, but because none of the characters are either a) interesting or b) worth caring about. Worst of the bunch is Sir Anthony, who takes his fantastic 30 minutes from Silence of the Lambs and stretches it into a boring treatise on over-acting. It is now apparent why his screen time was so limited in the original: his character can't hold up to lengthy exposure. He needs to be the outside focal point of the story but instead he is right in the middle of it. Too much in the middle.
I have heard much praise for Julianne Moore's version of Clarice, but her character is so wooden, so isolated from anything resembling a normal life that when she suffers a setback and is shown doing housecleaning I had to suppress the urge to laugh. Truly, this is her most emotional moment in the film.
The story revolves around the two of them, unless you include the ridiculous performance of Gary Oldman as Mason Verger. Wheelchair bound, disfigured, he is not given much to work with, and it shows. The best performance comes from Giancarlo Giannini as an Italian detective looking to cash in on finding Dr. Lecter.
The dark humor and irony, so present in the first story, are *much* darker here, assuming you find anything about this tale humorous. The script and direction try to make points with sledgehammer subtlety. It's a mess. I've already written more than it deserved.
Rating 4/10. Rent it with in-laws you don't like. Then leave.
20 Dates (1998)
Hilarious
Had to add one more comment to balance some of the negative ones. I saw this film on video after seeing promos for it on other rented movies. My curiosity was rewarded with a very funny and warm movie. I don't know if all the parts are real or not (they purport to be) but it's a great piece of entertainment regardless.
One thing about the star, the filmmaker Myles Berkowitz: He is not easy to like, but you don't have to like him to enjoy the film. He forthrightly gives many screen minutes to friends that are not that reluctant to point out his many faults, and the scene with his ex-wife is funny but painful for anyone who's walked in those shoes.