Etoile Reviews

Praying with Lior (2008)

A cute story, but superficial

[7/10 · 30 October 2009]

This is a very cute story, but there could have been a lot more to it. The story is only about Lior's journey to his bar mitzvah, and there are only two brief moments of philosophical exploration. The first is when Lior's father says that Lior has fewer "veils" between himself and God, and the second is when a woman suggests that Lior is just imitating that which earned him praise when he was younger. There's a lot of room for philosophy here, and the movie could have been a lot longer. But it's not - there's only the story of a young man.

Praying with Lior is definitely cute. Lior himself is very high-functioning and I think this movie is relevant to both the Jewish community and intellectual disability communities. It's a fun watch, but don't look for too much in-depth philosophy.

I Love You (1999)

Great Movie

[9/10 · 6 April 2008]

This was a great movie, my first time seeing what it is like for deaf people in Japan. I never saw JSL before but I think I learned a few words from this movie! I go to Gallaudet University and I will have to ask around to see if there are any Japanese students there, because I would like to learn more JSL from them. This movie was very sweet with a happy ending! They seem to have used deaf actors and actresses but there are also some characters (Asako's husband, the neighbor girl) who are hearing but seem to be very good in JSL. There are some very tender moments but it turns out to be a very positive movie. I didn't know the ILY sign was used all over the world! I got this movie off eBay on DVD so you might be able to find it too...the English subtitles are pretty good so anybody can enjoy it. (If you are Japanese and deaf, you might be able to find a version with Japanese subtitles, because not all of it is signed, there are some parts that are spoken only.)

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)

Passable but not outstanding.

[7/10 · 9 December 2006]

I was surprised to find so many comments already on this movie; I didn't realize that it had been widely released in Europe before it was available in the U.S. I just saw a special screening as part of a perfume club event, and I was approaching this from the perspective of someone who had not read the book.

The movie is pretty good, but that's all I can say about it. I felt no attachment to any of the characters, particularly any of the girls - it had no impact on me when they met their fates. I found Grenouille an utterly distasteful character, and not at all well-played; the actor did not seem to put any heart into the role, I didn't think he made it his own...he was wooden the whole time. Dustin Hoffman, on the other hand, was an excellent choice for his role.

"Perfume" is artistically decent. It was refreshing to see a well-crafted movie that was not a huge Hollywood blockbuster - from an American perspective, the film is somewhat edgy, but it was easy to look at...not a single scene was poorly designed.

A word of caution for animal lovers: Avert your eyes during the scene where Grenouille discovers the smells of glass and copper cannot be distilled.

Beyond Silence (1996)

Sign languages around the world

[9/10 · 30 January 2006]

Contrary to previous comments, sign language is NOT the same around the world. It is true that American Sign Language and French Sign Language are quite similar; this is because one of the first teachers of the deaf in the United States was a Frenchman, Laurent Clerc. However, at the the present time, French and American Sign Languages only have about 50% lexical similarity. Additionally, although German Sign Language is somewhat similar to other European sign languages, it is not related to ASL at all.

The sign language used by the little girl in this movie is German Sign Language. Her father is played by an American deaf man and her mother is played by a French deaf woman; their signing in German Sign Language is understandably accented.

For the record, I am a certified interpreter in American Sign Language.

Nadia (1984 TV Movie)

Delightful classic for gymnastics fans

[8/10 · 16 August 2004]

Filmed just after Nadia dropped out of international spotlight and defected to the United States, this movie is a real classic for gymnastics fans. It is extremely difficult to find but occasionally turns up on television or eBay.

The film follows Nadia from childhood through the 1980 Olympics, and along the way chronicles her battles with her coaches, depression, suicide, and the lack of a "normal" childhood. There is also some perspective on the changes taking place in the Romanian government, and of course some wonderful gymnastics routines. Highlights include actual footage of Nadia at the Montreal Olympics (when she got the first perfect 10) and also great performances by Marcia Frederick.

Konrad (1985 TV Movie)

Delightful movie

[8 August 2004]

I remember watching this movie many times when I was young! I always had to fast forward through the part when she first opens the tin because the dessicated body was too much for me as a young child. But I too first knew Max Wright from this movie than anywhere else! It's a very cute movie. I have even found that now that I am an adult, many of my mannerisms are the same as Bertie's...my house looks the same! I do have to warn small children away from that scene, though. The factory scenes may also be intense for young viewers. Highly recommended as a family movie, with perhaps some explanation for small children about adoption.

Rose Red (2002)

Not very scary, not very engrossing, not very good.

[4/10 · 5 February 2002]

While Stephen King has written some excellent works and some of those have worked very well on film, this is not one of them. The haunted house theme has been done over and over, and King just reuses the same old tricks. The movie is not scary, but is actually rather comical - the characters are all stereotypes and only a few of them possess any actual depth. The miniseries was amusing enough but I certainly wouldn't want to watch it again. This was a promising concept that was unfortunately not carried out well. The primary bright spot comes from Matt Ross's performance as Emery, one of the few truly interesting characters in the film. Kimberly J. Brown's portrayal of Annie was supposed to be a big draw, but I found the character unbelievable, unrealistic, unlikeable, and had no sympathy for the girl who was supposed to earn sympathy more than anyone else.

Silent Victory: The Kitty O'Neil Story (1979 TV Movie)

nice show from Stockard Channing

[7/10 · 21 October 2000]

Stockard Channing probably doesn't remember that she was in this movie, but it's a great biopic about a deaf stuntwoman. Deaf viewers should be warned that Kitty O'Neill was an oralist! Colleen Dewhurst and Brian Dennehy are also pleasing as Kitty's parents.

Fear (1990 TV Movie)

Predictable, yes, but thrilling just the same

[8 April 2000]

As soon as the movie begins, we know how it's going to end. And yet "Fear" stays captivating the whole time. What makes it so interesting is the exploration of human emotion: the use of fear as a tool of communication. Yes, this is a movie about psychics and psychopaths, but it's also a movie about exploring the depth of human understanding.

Transatlantic Tunnel (1935)

Amazing idea, well-executed film

[6/10 · 12 September 1999]

The concept of the movie is very basic: the building of a tunnel connecting the eastern United States with the island of Great Britain. If this were actually possible, it would probably have been done long before now -- but this film is an excellent portrayal of the possibilities. It's quite entertaining for not only fans of old movies, but for history buffs as well -- and even students of transportation should enjoy it!

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Yipes. I think I'll sleep with the lights on tonight.

[6 August 1999]

I don't like scary movies. I hate them. And yet I was dying to see this one, knowing full well that I would be scared out of my pants. When the reviews came out and critics didn't like it (but admitted to being terrified), I wanted to see it even more. Yes, my audience laughed too, but when it ended the theater was silent as the first few cards of credits flashed by. (As everyone was leaving, a piercing scream ripped through the theater -- it seems someone had startled someone else, who had been rather frightened by the movie!) I've just designated my cat as the real Blair Witch. He's ten months old, orange, and very cute -- and that's the only way I'll be able to sleep tonight. The movie didn't make sense until the end, though. That was when I finally realized it was an actual film, when I found there had been foreshadowing at the beginning (and that's all I'll say!). Yes, the whining got a bit tiring, yes, the actors could have been a bit better prepared, etc., but on the whole it's a great movie. Good grief, I can't even write a decent review, I'm so scared. I think I'll put on a comedy tv show before bed tonight.

Baby Geniuses (1999)

Don't bother. No, really.

[2/10 · 28 July 1999]

I am currently serving as a camp counselor for 25 kids, all ages 11 and 12. We wanted to rent a movie for them, so we checked out "Ever After" and "Baby Geniuses." The kids unanimously voted for the latter (apparently they'd all seen the former already, as had I -- twice), so we put it in the VCR and lit up the big-screen TV.

That was our mistake. The film is horribly, terribly, revoltingly bad. It's almost entirely generated through special effects, as was "Titanic," but that film won several awards for the effects -- and this is the opposite. The film's sole redeeming feature is that it could be used as an example of what NOT to do with your fancy special effects technology.

I logged onto IMDb while the kids were watching the film because I was curious about the age of the actor playing the main character -- the kid in the movie is about 18-24 months old, but I was sure the actor was between 7 and 10 years old. The only information I found was that the one actor was actually a set of triplets, but of course there was no further information on them.

The kids seem to be enjoying it enough, though. It's keeping them quiet, and that's why we rented the film. I had better make sure they're not throwing popcorn at each other, though.

The Diary of Anne Frank (1980 TV Movie)

Faithful.

[7/10 · 6 July 1999]

I would like to correct Erik-32's belief that this is a bad adaptation of literature. In fact, it is almost identical, line-for-line, to not only the 1959 movie with Millie Perkins, but to the dramatic play script.

I grew up with this movie, and it once made me cry as I realized some my ancestors (I am of Jewish descent) may well have suffered the same situation. I would recommend this version for young children, because it's easy to understand the dramatizations. The 1959 movie would be more appropriate for older children and young adults.

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)

Well, I think I liked it...

[3 July 1999]

I like South Park, really I do. I like it a lot. But this movie just didn't appeal to me. Maybe it was the two teens near me who kept repeating every third line (I gave them the benefit of the doubt and blamed it on the pot), or maybe it was the fact that I couldn't hear half the movie because the nearly-sold-out audience laughed uproariously at everything, whether they seemed to understand it or not.

The actual jokes and glowing satire, though, were exactly up to Stone's and Parker's standards. The movie is bursting with funny gags and sharp jabs at anyone and everyone, and the frequent self-referential bits were hilarious. The potty humor, though, sucked. I know that was the point -- it was supposed to be overdone, but it was pushed just a little bit too far over the line. I didn't like the nonstop profanity, either: I'm as foul-mouthed as the next person, but the bleeped-out speech on the television show is endlessly funnier than the uncensored version in the movie.

I did like the movie, though -- it's funny, irreverent, and downright stupid (which, of course, is the point). Pay close attention to the scenes featuring Kenny after he dies (and that's not a spoiler...of COURSE he dies), as the computer effects are nothing short of magnificent.

Tea with Mussolini (1999)

Amusing at times, but not really well-done.

[17 May 1999]

The performances by the actors in this film are outstanding, but it's just not complete. As much as I wanted to like this film, it bored me most of the time. The best parts were the personal interactions between the women, particularly Maggie Smith's character. Cher was hilarious as Elsa, and Lily Tomlin's Georgie is fantastic. The setting, however, doesn't fit -- as much as I enjoyed the interactions, they could have happened anywhere. I do recommend the film to those who are fans of the actors involved (especially fans of Lily Tomlin, she is GREAT!), but not to fans of World War II movies. It was nice to see a WW2 film about Mussolini rather than Hitler (and I must admit I enjoyed Claudio Spadaro's Mussolini), but this one is too cliche for my taste.

Teresa's Tattoo (1994)

Oh, dear.

[5/10 · 15 March 1999]

Why do you want to see this movie? Is it for the stars? Go see them in something else. Is it for the music? Go find a CD. Is it for the plot? No, wait, it couldn't be. The movie has no plot! What's there is pointless and clueless. But wait! The movie does have a saving grace: the CAMEOS. Melissa Etheridge as a hooker, and k.d. lang as (oh my goodness) a born-again Christian! Nancy McKeon also puts in a delightful performance.

Torch Song Trilogy (1988)

Excellent, superb film - in its genre

[15 March 1999]

I absolutely love this movie. It certainly was created for gay men, but as a lesbian, I feel a kinship with other gay people, and I believe this is an excellent movie. The depiction of female impersonators is genuine, and doesn't give the false glamourpuss view that probably causes many outsiders to think all drag queens are just like RuPaul (nothing against her, she's a diva, but not everyone has so much money!). The portrayal of a relationship involving one gay person and one bisexual person is also beautifully realistic. Ann Bancroft's performance as the Ma is stunning. I believe this movie would also appeal to open-minded heterosexuals who may not have too much involvement with our culture, as it depicts a grittier side of life than the commonly-seen rich gay boy lifestyle. (Movie viewers with an eye toward the cinematography of films will also enjoy the artistry presented here.)

Alice in Wonderland (II) (1985)

Fantastic production with the perfect cast!

[1 March 1999]

Yes, I saw this -- so did you! This is quite possibly the best version of Alice ever, and one of the rare versions that includes Through the Looking Glass. This film is so exquisitely done that I remember being both thrilled and terrified! (My mother had to tell me that the Jabberwocky was just a costume that was hung up in a closet before I could go to sleep...and then I was afraid of my closet!) The cast is ideal -- no one else could play the Caterpillar so well as Sammy Davis Jr., and only Red Buttons could be such a perfect White Rabbit! Of course, my copy was taped over (Mom's attempts to comfort me just weren't enough, I guess!), but I would love to see it again. Find it at your local video store if you can, or order it -- but if you plan to have your kids watch it, make sure they see it in the daytime, and NOT right before naptime or bedtime!

Salmonberries (1991)

Incredible!

[9/10 · 27 January 1999]

I'll watch anything with k.d. lang in it, but this movie is remarkable for much more than its star. Every part of the movie is exquisite -- the cinematography is incredible, the acting is intense, the music is powerful, and so on. Each character is beautifully developed as far as necessary for the story. I can't even find further words for this movie. I have seen a lot of movies, and to date there are only two I really believe in. This is one of them.