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DrStrangelove114
Reviews
Fight Club (1999)
The only movie that has captured Generation X
FIGHT CLUB is the only movie that has really caught the essence of what Generation X is all about. Also it is an excellent film.
Firstly, the production design of the film is excellent in every aspect, visually realizing the book in a way I thought could not be done. The thing that really stands out is the film's editing between the CGI and reality, to really get a sense of the narrator's confusion.
Second, the script is top notch, with amazing dialogue and a wonderful narration that is somehow a mix between A CHRISTMAS STORY's and A CLOCKWORK ORANGE's.
Third, the performances are great all around. Meat Loaf's Big Bob is a highlight, as is Edward Norton's narrator (Jack) who goes from materialistic yuppi to synic to philosipher to... you'll see. Helena Bonham Carter and Brad Pitt are also at their best here.
Fourth, the film's understanding of Generation X, The Lost Generation, is so on target, because of the interaction between the narrator and Tyler, and the narration itself. It explains how our dads were of starting new families leaving us to have Nick at Nite as a father, how we are materialistic, and how we don't know ourselves because we don't let other people know us.
FIGHT CLUB is the first film in a long time that has explained a generation so well like EASY RIDER.
FIGHT CLUB was one of my favorite films the second I walked out of the theater, and will continue to be for a long time.
The Bone Collector (1999)
Just another red herring driven dark thriller
There is a disturbing trend in murder mysteries these days. They keep you guessing who the killer is until the very end and then make it a person that had no significance to the plot and was only in the movie for three minutes before their unveiling. THE BONE COLLECTOR is a perfect example of this.
The saddest thing is that the concept of THE BONE COLLECTOR is very good, but in the end they use this dues ex machina-like plot device to end the movie. The story is that, an ingenius forensic cop who has been paralyzed from the neck down(Washington) takes a rookie (Jolie) under his wing to be his eyes, ears and legs in a complex string of murders.
The most frustrating thing is that the man you suspect to be the killer, until the end, is uncredited as the masked killer, just to make you think the killer is this red herring character. IT IS A CHEAT. At least with the films it is compared to (THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and SEVEN) do not deceive the viewer so maliciously, or at all for that matter.
The only slightly positive thing about this movie for me was the always-compelling Angelina Jolie.
Come On, Get Happy: The Partridge Family Story (1999)
Better than the average TV movie, but that doesn't say much.
"Come on Get Happy" is better than the average TV movie, but that doesn't say much.It is the tale of the rise and fall of the Partridge Family's real life, and television show. The acting was mediocre, the writing was pretty bad, and technically it wasn't very good either.
I think the only redeeming quality was the factual information in the movie. I am too young to have ever viewed an episode of the Partridge family, even on reruns, so it was interesting to see that. I imagine for older viewers it would be nostalgic, but this would definitely not be on the top of my rental list if it ever is released on video.
The Insider (1999)
ATTENTION: This film is not propaganda
This film is the tale of the whistle blower, who came out and said that the tobacco heads were lying when they said that they knew nothing of cigarettes being addictive.
I am not a smoker, but I was still reluctant to go to this film. My fear was that the whole movie would be propaganda about how bad smoking is for you... It wasn't, it was just about the tobacco heads.
Everything about this movie was tip top, especially the writing, the only thing that got me down on it was the set direction. Here is some movie about the media, and lawsuits, and family, except everyone is walking around on the set from "The Matrix".
The media aspect of this film was wonderful too, and Pacino's performance was very strong. It almost felt a bit like "All the President's Men", just not quite as good.
Check this one out if you've already seen "American Beauty", and "Fight Club" so far this year.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Better than "Schindler's List"? Jeremy Davies did make me cry.
"What?" people ask me, "You liked Saving Private Ryan Better than 'Schindler's List'?"
There are many reasons why I feel "Ryan" is a superior film.
First look at it from the technical aspects. These include Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Sound, Sound Effects Editing, Lighting, Set Design, and so on and so forth. Don't get me wrong, "List"'s technical aspects are great, (that breath taking black and white cinematography) but "Ryan"'s are just superior.
Now look at it from the acting point of view. "Ryan" is not only a great technical movie but an excellent acting film too. I'm not talking about just Tom Hanks alone; it was the supporting characters being lead by Hanks that really did it for me. And Jeremy Davies as Corporal Upham, when he kills that German, that is one of the three times I've cried in a movie. "List"'s acting is very good too, but it is so many people that it is hard to get attached to a character. "Ryan" had a nice concentration of excellent performances, and you came to identify with all the characters that didn't die in the first scene.
This got ten out of ten stars for me.