rbatty Reviews

Nurse Betty (2000)

Uneven dark comedy

[7/10 · 10 September 2000]

Renee Zellweger plays an innocent and naive - and wacky - coffee shop waitress who has difficulty differentiating real life and soap opera life after witnessing the brutal murder of her abusive and demented husband (how DO women like that get hooked up with men like that?).

I'm still not sure of the purpose for Morgan Freeman and Chris Rock, who both provide comic relief (Freeman far better than Rock), but for this film? It seems as if two films were spliced together, making it uneven and in need of better editing (or major re-doing).

Greg Kinnear does well as the soap opera doctor who is the object of Renee's fantasy desires. Great scenes when they meet for the first time. Zellweger continues to be sweet, adorable and likeable.

Space Cowboys (2000)

Oh, please! Not worth the effort.

[5/10 · 27 August 2000]

I really wanted to like this movie. But you have to be able to suspend belief in this one. I mean REALLY! Scientific facts just seem to get in the way, so why bother with them, right? (The "imdb goof section" is already full of items, and the movie has been out for only two days!)

It's one thing to send a bunch of old codgers into space with minimal training, but it's quite another to believe that the US intelligence network has absolutely no clue what's in the Russian satellite they are trying to fix. By the way, how did that stereotypical joke of a Russian general outwit our entire military intelligence team? Their multi-million dollar space gambit makes the $500 toilet seats seem like child's play.

There's clearly some fun dialog among the four guys, but the story is pretty lame and character development is weak. And the fact that Tommy Lee Jones (in real life) is 16 years younger than Clint Eastwood when he is suppose to be about the same age brings to mind the Keaton-Kudrow-Ryan sisterly age difference in Hanging Up.

Great special effects, however. You really did think you were out walking in space with Clint and the boys.

Marcia Gay Harden had an interesting role. She played a brilliant NASA engineer with an incredibly bad haircut and a crush on Jones and who seems to have time in the midst of an international crisis to give tours to elementary school students! Now, that's talent!

Save this one for video if you are really bored on a long winter night

Reindeer Games (2000)

A new low in stupid criminal behavior

[2/10 · 27 August 2000]

We checked this one out on video because `the little man' in the San Francisco Chronicle gave it top rating. Not sure what he was smoking that day because this one was truly bad. Not even a pretty good (not great, mind you) performance by Charlize Theron (Cider House Rules) could save this flick.

The premise is bad: Gun-running bad guys decide they want in on the big money, so they decide to turn to armed robbery – their first job an out-of-the-way Indian casino in a remote part of Michigan in the middle of a snowy winter that for some reason has millions of dollars in its vaults when it has trouble attracting customers.

The acting terrible: Ben Affleck proves he can't act – and this pretty boy can't get away with playing an ex-con.

And a new low in incredibly dumb crooks: Gary Sinise snarls through the whole movie, playing a cold-blooded killer who could have put us all out of our misery if he had just put a bullet through Affleck's head in an early scene. Does he really fall for all of the bull that Affleck feeds him?

Don't bother.

What Lies Beneath (2000)

A good scare flick, but too predictable

[7/10 · 21 July 2000]

This is a good, edge-of-your-seat (yet overly long) flick that is marred by scenes full of fright gags and cliches that make most of the scary parts of the film far too predictable. But there ARE some scary moments in this film, and the Ford-Pfeiffer chemistry works well.

Harrison Ford (despite his bad haircut) did an admirable job - although it's difficult to imagine why he would have an affair with a grad student when he is married to the lovely Michelle Pfeiffer. What was he thinking? Michele also has a good-sized dog that seems to disappear when she needs the companionship the most. Hell, I wouldn't go where she goes without a dog at my side.

Expect to be scared, expect to be drawn into the story - but don't expect a classic scare film. Better seen at a crowded theatre where you get to enjoy the audience reaction.

The Perfect Storm (2000)

Great special effects and, and, and...I'm not sure.

[6/10 · 7 July 2000]

This was an ok movie, but it was very predictable and too stereotypical. They did a pretty good job of setting the scene, but everything was so obvious: a once good fishing boat captain (George Clooney) has a losing streak and wants to prove he still has it, so he pushes further than he should (and is dour as hell as he goes about it); women don't want their men to go back to the sea; real men don't wear live preservers.

The special effects were fine, but I found myself trying to figure them out rather than being concerned about what is happening to the characters in the movie. Did anyone really care what happened to the characters?

Because it was based on a true story, how did we know that they really acted this way in real life? Maybe they cowered in the corner until their boat sank. It's hard to believe that men of the sea were this dumb.

Some of the best scenes involved the Coast Guard (but even they did dumb things). Can you imagine trying to refuel a helicopter from an airplane in hurricane winds? Or jump into a sea to save someone with 50-100 foot waves pounding all around you? Do they really do that? If so, I'm impressed.

Probably plays much better on the silver screen than in your living room, however.

Return to Me (2000)

If you like sappy movies, this one's for you!

[6/10 · 7 May 2000]

A very schizophrenic movie. It is far too sappy (i.e., if you do not like sappy films, stay away!), yet funny in many spots.

David Duchovny‘s wife dies in a car accident and her heart is given to Minnie Driver, who Duchovny courts a year after his wife has died -- so it's easy to see where the sap comes from (their dog gets in the act in a touching mourning for his dead owner).

My biggest problem with the film is I wouldn't run down the street after Minnie Driver, much less halfway around the world!

Carroll O'Connor & Robert Loggia are hilarious as part of a foursome of old guys who own an Irish-Italian restaurant. And Bonnie Hunt (who directs and co-produces) and James Belushi also add to the film.

But this film was made to pull at your heartstrings, so don't forget to bring the Kleenex!

High Fidelity (2000)

Excellent movie about dysfunctional love life

[9/10 · 30 April 2000]

An excellent movie about the dysfunctional love life of a vintage record store owner (John Cusack). Some great characters in this flick, especially his two workers at the shop (Jack Black was very, very good!).

Catherine Zeta-Jones has a small, almost insignificant role; Lisa Bonet has an even less significant (and odd) role -- neither added much to the film. Timothy Robbins had a small but eventful role.

But a fine job by newcomer Iben Hjejle as his current love interest, Laura, and by John Cusack himself.

Terrific sound track. Great ending.

Wonder Boys (2000)

Worth a visit to the theatre

[8/10 · 5 March 2000]

Maybe not a must see, but definitely a fun movie and worth seeing. A solid 8.

Thank god for Michael Douglas that Catherine Zeta-Jones did not see him in this movie before committing the rest of her life (and baby) to him. Douglas plays a college English professor who can't get motivated for much of anything as he goes through a mid-life crisis. He's often unshaven, unkempt - and must have lost his bottle of head and shoulders. Three marriages; lighting up joints through-out the movie; having an affair with the English's dean's wife (Fargo's Frances McDermott), who also happens to be the school chancellor; living with a college female as a housemate (he does have some scruples, however, as he artfully dodges her advances). Not the most appealing guy around. But, what does he care; as he says, "I've got tenure!" And he played his role beautifully.

Tobey McGuire is very good, as usual, if not a bit quirkier than normal. Robert Downey, Jr. is wonderful as Douglas' down-on-his-luck-too literary agent. Now, if he could only stay out of jail in real life! McDermott is good, almost believable as the chancellor. You gotta look hard (I think) to recognize John-Boy (Richard Thomas) as the English Dean, McDermott's husband.

The humor in this movie is not of the slap-your-thigh variety, but there are plenty of laugh lines. Don't wait for the video.

Hanging Up (2000)

What's All the Hype?

[6/10 · 19 February 2000]

Meg Ryan survives yet another bad haircut and steals what there is of this show - and Walter Matthau plays his usual ok role as a dirty old man.

The biggest flaw of the movie is expecting us to believe that Diane Keaton, Meg Ryan & Lisa Kudrow (don't give up Friends, Lisa!) are sisters of about the same age. Meg & Lisa might be two years apart, but Keaton is 17 years older than Kudrow. What were they thinking when they cast Keaton?

In spite of that, Keaton does a pretty good job as a totally self-absorbed career woman who has no time for anyone but herself. You'll laugh; you'll cry -- but at times you'll catch yourself wondering what all the hype's about. Catch it on video or at the dollar flicks in a couple of weeks.

The Green Mile (1999)

Long and hokey.

[4/10 · 30 December 1999]

Not nearly as good as its hype. Hokey, predictable and slow.

You really think Louisiana prison guards (on death row watch, no less) were this politically correct during the 1930s?

The best scene (and by far one of the most gruesome scenes in recent movie memory, including the opening sequence in Saving Private Ryan) was when the little nazi prison guard (yes, there was one token bad guy guard) was in `charge' of an execution. A scene you won't soon forget.

The director also tries to get you to sympathize with a French prisoner who trains a little mouse, but they left out why he was on the row. A white guy (and this row was made up mostly of white guys. In Louisiana. In the 1930s. Right!) who must have done one nasty killing to be on death row, but what?

Any awards in this show go to the mouse – and even he wore out his welcome. What a stupid ending!

Being John Malkovich (1999)

Odd story; odd people; great flick!

[9/10 · 27 November 1999]

We finally got to "Being John Malkovich" a couple of weeks after it was released, and am I glad we did. It was extremely creative…brilliant in places.

But what an odd story with some very odd people!

Getting inside the head of JM for 15 minutes (a take-off on Andy Warhol's '15 minutes of fame'?) only to be dumped out of the air by the side of the New Jersey Turnpike?? Who came up with that? Cameron Diaz as a frumpy (!) animal lover; John Cusack as a puppeteer; and John Malkovich making such fun of himself while playing himself?

The best scene was when JM went inside his own brain. What do you think YOU would see?

Plenty of places in this film to laugh out loud. Look for a couple of nominees on Oscar night.

Note: Believe the `R' rating for your kids (we almost took our 14-yr old until I read the reviews; glad we opted not to). Odd sexual situations that you would not enjoy with a kid in tow.

Anywhere But Here (1999)

Anything But Here -- or There

[3/10 · 20 November 1999]

My suggestion (my wife concurs): Watch the come-ons a couple of times. You will see the best parts of the movie, and you won't be disappointed. This could have been a good movie, but there just wasn't much there (gee, sounds like Random Hearts!).

Not that the acting was bad. Sarandon & Portman did well. They just didn't have much to work with. The plot was thin and there were huge holes in the story line.

Example: Portman is embarrassed by her mother, but sees nothing wrong with bringing friends – and what part of the movie did she make friends? – home to their crappy apartment that is in, supposedly, a cheap part of Beverly Hills. It leaves you wondering how much of this movie was left on the cutting room floor.

Three out of ten. Check it out on video if desperate.

The Insider (1999)

Excellent portrayal of a true story.

[8/10 · 7 November 1999]

This was an excellent portrayal of the controversy surrounding the "60 Minutes" show that starred the tobacco company whistleblower, Dr. Jeffrey Wigand. Al Pacino was his normally intense self, and Christopher Plummer was extremely believable as Mike Wallace (to the point you forgot it was Plummer portraying Wallace). Fine job of acting, too, by Russell Crowe as Dr. Wigand.

[The only potential disaster was one of Dr. Wigand's daughters was that obnoxious little twirp from the Pepsi commercials. Fortunately, she had a minor role and did not remind you of her Pepsi character.]

The movie started slowly, but it did an excellent job building each of the characters. Some very intense scenes. A must see.

Notting Hill (1999)

Not up to its hype.

[6/10 · 30 May 1999]

Not nearly as great as its hype, but not too bad. It takes Hugh Grant an agonizingly long time to complete a sentence -- and those fluttering eyelashes of his CAN get annoying. Julia Roberts spent too much of the movie smiling waiting for Hugh to complete his thoughts (which explains the slowness of the film). But the movie is worth seeing just to observe Grant's roommate-from-hell, Spike; he steals many a scene. Best scene: Hugh Grant walking through a British open market thinking of his lost love as the seasons change from fall to winter to spring. Great scene, so don't let your date fall asleep.

Entrapment (1999)

Pure escape and a lot of fun...

[8/10 · 29 May 1999]

Pure escape and a lot of fun. Not much believable here, but in the end who really cares? The females get to watch Sean Connery, the guys Catherine Zeta-Jones. And the guys win that battle, hands down.

Payback (I) (1999)

Funny, action-packed, great escape!

[7/10 · 6 February 1999]

A funny action adventure with the typical bones getting crushed and the heroes walking it off. It's amazing how tough these movie women are. And here I thought a pistol whip across the face would put you down for at least a minute or two...

The premise -- only wanting the $70,000 back from the mob that had stolen it from him (after he had stolen it from someone else) -- was a bit lame, but what the hey! It's Mel Gibson; it's entertainment.

Shakespeare in Love (1998)

Very entertaining, clever.

[9/10 · 3 January 1999]

I only wish I were better steeped in Shakespeare to appreciate all of the Bard jokes in this clever and entertaining movie. Even those of us who fall asleep in Shakespeare plays enjoyed this movie.

Into Thin Air: Death on Everest (1997 TV Movie)

Read the book instead.

[6/10 · 3 January 1999]

While it seemed like a pretty good and realistic portrayal of a climb of Everest (I am not a climber and have no intention of taking up the "sport"), I found the book far better than the movie. Krakauer's book was subtle in places where the movie felt it had to slap you in the face. And the movie failed to show the up and down climbing that the team has to do -- going up to another base camp to get acclimated, then back down to regain strength -- in order to be ready to begin the final assault on the mountain.