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d-mael
Reviews
Love the Hard Way (2001)
Great Flick!
This movie presents some excellent character studies and the characters surely remind me of several individuals that I knew growing up in, and living in, NYC from the 1960s through the 1980s. The lead character, played by Adrian Brody, actually reminds me of my own son .... more than a bit of a "bad boy" in his own right.
I find this movie to be one of my modern "closet favorites", and it is one that I can view again-and-again, provided that I am in the right frame of mind. It has well-developed characters, and deals with the grity realities of life among petty thieves and con artists.
Pam Grier is also good in her "almost-cameo" role as the police officer who comes in and out of the lead characters' lives throughout the film.
All-in-all, a better film than the lack of publicity and relative obscure nature that it has enjoyed.
Flesh and Bone (1993)
WOW!
I woke up late last night just in time to see Flesh and Bone, and boy am I glad that I did. Great cast, excellent dialogue, very interesting and well-developed plot (although the first 45 - 50 minutes drag a bit). I am admittedly NOT usually a big Meg Ryan fan, but this was the most unique role that I have seen her perform. Gwynneth Paltrow is a real "sleeper" in this flick, and both D. Quaid and J. Caan do the usual superb job. I just MUST see this movie again! I will be checking the HBO and other movie listings to see whan it's showing again.
If I can't find this movie on cable, this one is worth purchasing!
Absolute Beginners (1986)
I like this one!
First, I must respectfully disagree with the other reviewer who hated this movie. It has a complex set of plot lines that deal with a number of issues revolving around the lives of a young up-and-coming "pop photographer", and his love interest -- played by Patsy Kensit. Then, there is the "old queen" (also an unscrupulous real estate developer) who marries Patsy. Now, add to that the ad agency aspect (David Bowie's song and dance routine to "Selling Out" is a classic), plus the racial tensions in 1950's or 1960's London, and you have a multi-layered plot tapestry.
Personally, I don't mind that David Bowie is only in the movie for ten minutes -- I am a fan of Bowie, but this is really not "his movie".