Alice-9 Reviews

Judas Kiss (1998)

Great Acting by Emma and Alan as the Detectives

[15 July 1999]

Why this movie went straight to cable, I'll never understand. It had great twists on the classic car chase, with Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson spinning out of control and Emma getting a very unglamorous bloody nose!! Alan was great as a Columbo type detective and almost consistently got the Southern accent right; he just can't seem to avoid spitting out those final consonants, which no Southerner in their right mind would do.

The dance with the 'bad guy' after Miss Hot Pants interviews him was exquisite. Quirky, funny, touching: I agree. Why can't/wasn't this brought to the screen? And at least, when do we get it on video? I'll never understand the thought processes of people who decide to distribute drivel and leave quality on the shelf. Alice

Dark Harbor (1998)

Gorgeous cinematography of the Maine Coast; great acting!!!

[15 July 1999]

As lead-off offering for the Maine Film Festival, it was well chosen. Although it is a re-make of "Death Trap" with Michael Caine and Chris Reeves, that was never mentioned (strange). There are so many twists, I had to see it twice to understand it. Sound mixers should refund their pay, since the opening scene cannot be understood because of the loudness of the rain; same is true for other places in the film. Although it was cut a little too choppily to suit me, I would see it again and found the movie quite intriguing and suspenseful. Too bad we won't be seeing it in the theatres. Alice Brown

Mesmer (1994)

Interesting Biography of a Complicated 'Psychiatrist'

[28 May 1999]

Was he a charlatan or a revolutionary in treating diseases of the mind? Hard to say, even after seeing the beautifully photographed movie. Our hindsight perspective is 100% but in the days of leeching, and bleeding to cure peoples' ills, the fact that he showed patients great attention and compassion was certainly a change. Mad people were usually penned up in Bedlam or some other horrid pigsty. Here, he is attempting bravely to take another tact in the unknown mysteries of mental illness. This movie also gives the scam-like aspects of his personality, as he beguiles the royal courtiers with his water therapies, touching them and arousing them, thus giving the semblance of 'healing'. I was reminded of the old-time revivals, and the sexy preachers coming close, putting hands-on the afflicted and shouting 'heal' and 'Hallelujah, sistuh'. Of course, if you're a repressed 'respectable woman', this is the only intimate way you can let a man not your husband touch you. His shrew of a wife, and utterly spiritually retarded stepson is beautifully played. I also like any movie that shows parts of the world I haven't seen, and this one gives us Vienna, parts of France and the costumes of 18th Century European civilization. It is NOT your everyday movie!!!! I would suggest viewing this one in series with bio-pics of Sigmund Freud and some of the other fighters of mental illness. Rickman is indeed magnetic in this one.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

Excellent campy film that works on 2 levels

[28 May 1999]

Owning both the Errol Flynn and the Costner version of this wonderful morality tale, I find the latter movie my favorite of the two. The tongue-in-cheek performance given by Rickman gives us adults subtle lines to laugh at, while not corrupting the children. Although the battering ram at the door, while Rickman is trying to consummate his forced marriage with Maid Marian wasn't too subtle, it made the movie worth seeing again and again. There are throwaway lines you probably won't get the first time. The scenery is beautiful, and the sword play much more convincing than Rickman's earlier duels in 'Romeo and Juliet'. The humor and acting is wonderful, even if Costner supposedly left much of Rickman on the cutting-room floor from envy. What a villain the sheriff is!! Stallone could learn from him as he re-makes 'Get Carter'. This one isn't just for kids.

Closet Land (1991)

Shades of Kosovo!!

[28 May 1999]

If ever we forget that we're lucky NOT to be completely under the power of a terrorist government, then we should see this movie again and again. Although the terror is unremitting, which exhausts the viewer, it is important as a message from Amnesty International that people ARE having to endure this treatment today. We tend in the USA to take our freedoms for granted and grow justifiably irate if anyone tries to censor us, as well we should. But we've got a long way to go before the government becomes this intrusive, this invasive into our private lives. Alan Rickman gives a superior performance as a sadistic interrogator, and we really wonder, "What's the point?" This is just a poor woman writer. Maybe the point is that words ARE mightier than the sword, as Jonathan Swift showed us. And a dictatorship must stomp out any tendencies of the people to question or to think for themselves. If you get tired of the mindless trashy action films, and are feeling on top of the world, see this film. Otherwise, it might make you suicidal, especially if abuse has played ANY role in your life, victim-wise.

Die Hard (1988)

Great writing by Bruce and Rickman makes this action flick!!

[28 May 1999]

Why would anyone see yet ANOTHER action film, when reality puts anything on film to shame? Because real killers aren't witty, they're dumb. Alan Rickman, as Hans Gruber, has great lines that somewhat mitigate the blood that gets splattered all over. At least Hans Gruber (Rickman) has imagination and dash. The woman here has some great lines as well, as the separated wife of Bruce Willis, who gleefully displays his sexism but somewhat abashedly. He makes up for it. Rickman's face is a masterpiece of acting. The directing of all these stupendous blowups is a technical masterpiece in itself. Bruce, walking on broken glass, did a good acting job himself, better than in most of his films. (And far better than his ex-wife). As usual, the original is better than all the originals. But see them back to back, if you dare, for a study in why sequels shouldn't be made without a lot of study and superior writing. The mark of a good movie is, when you see it again, did you get another slant or more out of it? I do, every time my grandson puts it on.

The Winter Guest (1997)

A Visit to an Art Gallery in Scotland

[27 November 1998]

First of all, the exquisite beauty of this film is mute evidence of the artistic background of the director, Alan Rickman, who was a graphics designer before he became an actor. The iciness and vastness of the frozen Scottish sea coast made me shiver in summer when I first saw it. The kids' conversation about genitalia was funny, and having had 5 children, I never knew they dropped.

Emma Thompson and her mother had a great interaction.which is so appropriate, as it shows both the love and the friction that goes on between mother and daughter who are so much alike. This is the major story line, with the subtexts occurring between the boys and between the old ladies intent on attending funerals, as they approach their own 'going away party'.

It is an unusually visually attractive film and certainly not a formulaic dialogue. I recommend it to anyone with a brain and an eye for beauty. Alice Copeland Brown

Rasputin (1996 TV Movie)

Fascinating View of a Chaotic Time in Russian History

[27 November 1998]

For those of us who grew up seeing the Russians as villains, this dramatized and beautifully filmed story of 'the mad monk' gives us an intriguing shot of the Russian people. How true it is, I wonder, but we certainly get an intimate picture of the royal family, the Tzar, and his afflicted son...without whom Rasputin would never have been able to secure his influential hold on the royal family.

The history I learned indicated that the Tsar was somewhat weak and not very smart, which made him vulnerable to the intrigues of those around him. This film shows some of that, as well as the continual intrigues those of us from corporate America know SO WELL. This is just GE or Raytheon in courtly dress. I highly suggest this for families with middle and high school children to see together. The sex scenes are actually funny with spies all around, literally.

Alan Rickman did an excellent job indicating how crazed but yet how charismatic this fellow was. He makes Rasputin's hold on these people believable. The close-ups almost reveal the inner workings of this mad man's mind. It also gives us an excellent lesson in vulnerability and trust.

See and enjoy.

An Awfully Big Adventure (1995)

Weird but Insightful Glimpse into Repertory Companies in England

[27 November 1998]

A comedy, this is NOT!!!! Not unless you call alcoholism, incest and sexual harassment funny!!! Both Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant do extremely good jobs portraying the powerful who prey on the young and innocent. This girl, however, happens to be practically psycho from the abandonment she suffered as a child, talking into a telephone with no one but the recorded time on the other end of the line.

The sad lives of roving actors in repertory companies of the 40s-50s is heart-rendingly portrayed by some pretty good actors. I have no idea how it was rated, but its subject matter is so unusual, the photography so striking, that I highly recommend it. If you are a Hugh Grant as ladies' man fan, this may put you off. If you are an Alan Rickman fan, you'll love the sex scenes....even if you're shocked later.

If you have any children whom you DO NOT want to go into acting, see this one with them. I loved the shots of Dublin, where it was filmed...even though it's set in Liverpool. Be prepared to be puzzled first time through. It took me two showings to figure it out.

Die Hard (1988)

Funny, Funny Film for Those who See Action Films as High Camp

[27 November 1998]

The stereotypically shrewd, frigid Nazi -type terrorist is played superbly by Alan Rickman. For those of you hooked on action, this film at least has great dialogue, some written by Willis and Rickman. Maybe this would help make a good segue into intelligent movies.

If you have a hard time being turned on by sadists, ladies, Bruce Willis will more than fulfil your dreams as the anti-hero, singing of Roy Rogers as he saves the day.