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Reviews
Windtalkers (2002)
I want those 2 hours back!!!
********SPOILERS THROUGHOUT********* A quick plot summary: Sergeant Joe Enders feels responsible for the deaths of his entire unit and so, despite being deafened by an inner ear injury, manages to be sent to the front line again. His purpose? Could be a way of committing suicide, or maybe a determination to make amends. Anyhow, when push comes to shove he lays his own life down to save his fellow soldier.
Hang on, you say. What about the Navajo code talkers? Yep, I thought the movie was about them too, but it wasn't. It was a pretty standard war movie plot from the 1950's, recycled here and given the added "attractions" of John Woo's action-oriented direction, and what was basically a subplot about the Navajo code talkers.
Was there anything good about it? Well, Christian Slater didn't completely suck. The Navajo story was interesting but not a big enough part of the movie.
The bad points? Many and various. Nic Cage's deafness seemed to come and go as and when it suited the plot. A half hearted romance storyline went nowhere at all. The battle scenes were ridiculous - just how many bullets fit in a magazine for an American gun? Were the Japanese totally untrained? Plus I can't help thinking the front line was a pretty dumb place for not one, but two code talkers. The sub plot about the racist soldier who sees the light when his life is saved by a Navajo made me laugh hysterically.
It's a big shame because I just know there's an interesting story waiting to be told about the code talkers and their contribution to the war effort. It should have been the story of Yahzee (the Navajo Cage is assigned to caretake) rather than Cage/Enders. That might have given a new perspective on the war. As it is, there is nothing original or interesting here, just a wasted opportunity.
1 out of 5.
Shot in the Heart (2001)
A brilliantly acted non-addition to the Gilmore pantheon
Shot In The Heart tells the familiar Gary Gilmore story from a slightly different perspective, that of his estranged brother Mikal. Those familiar with Gilmore's tale will find this an interesting take on his story, reminding us that the victims he left behind included his own family as well as the families of the men he murdered so senselessly. Gilmore himself (played by Elias Koteas in a fantastic performance) is all here, from his cod philosophy (trust him to have read Nietsche and only quote the bits that suit him) to his complete lack of understanding of his own motives.
The star of the show is, however, Giovanni Ribisi as Mikal. He has a rabbit-in-the-headlights quality, looks fragile and vulnerable and you can't believe the two are related, never mind brothers. Since Gary has been in jail pretty much continuously since the age of 14 you can see why they don't know each other, but when the movie starts you also can't see how they ever will. However blood will out ... and they find enough shared memories to build something between them that transcends the time and place in which they do it.
Unfortunately there are a few things wrong with this movie. It doesn't purport to tell the whole story of Gilmore's life but that's OK, it doesn't have to. I'm pretty familiar with the source material though, so my boyfriend called on me to answer a seemingly endless run of questions: What happened to Galen? Who's Nicole? How did the two murders happen and how did he get caught? And when the younger Gilmores first appeared ... Who is everyone - which brother's which? Now I don't think a movie has to tell you everything and its sometimes better to leave things hinted at rather than explained, but there is an unnecessary level of confusion here that distracts a neophyte viewer from the action. But I'm nitpicking ... the acting alone is more than worth the price of admission.
High points? The two main performances, the slimy, self-interested supporting cast, the theme of white horses, and the mysterious stranger with the sandwiches. Mikal's last meeting with Gary will make you cry ... and if it doesn't, it darn well should.
I don't believe this movie got a cinema release in the UK but it is out on video this week so go get it. Highly recommended.
The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
Fantastic ... if you're in the mood
I rented this on Saturday and watched it with my boyfriend ... who was so bored he put me off it and I had to try again when he was out!! I loved it, he hated it. It's that sort of movie.
Visually, "The Man Who ..." is beautifully shot in atmospheric black and white. This movie is in fact so beautiful that it's easy to be distracted from the story while admiring the cinematography. At times it feels like some plot points are being drawn out for too long because the Coen brothers have a fantastic idea for some visuals and they are determined to show it off to us.
The plot starts out as classic film noir and is well summarised in other comments here. The addition of a flying saucer (briefly) doesn't hurt it. In fact, I thought that more than anything this movie was about dislocation, that Ed was helplessly outside his own life, unable to control any of the things that happen around him (even when he tries to exert some control, by taking Birdy to a piano teacher, it all goes horribly wrong), because he really isn't "there" in any meaningful way. It's as if he made a choice to separate himself from human interaction: for example he is virtually silent in the barbershop, and at one point he says he has not had sex with his wife in many years. Despite his wish to be all but invisible Life comes up and knocks on his door, and the only decision he ever makes (to obtain $10,000 by blackmail) is the catalyst for everything that follows. Guess you can hide from the world, but it won't hide from you.
I loved the way black and white worked with Billy Bob's craggy features and enjoyed the slow pace of this movie. If it had been more action packed and had a slicker plot, I wouldn't have spent any time thinking about his character, which is possibly the Coen's intention.
Either that, or they sit at home and read all these reviews and laugh their pants off!
See this movie, but make sure you're prepared to relax into its gentle flow. I give it 8/10.