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jhansman
Reviews
Electric Light Orchestra: Zoom Tour Live (2001)
A must for all ELO fans
A kick off to a sadly aborted concert tour (ticket sales lagged) and album debut, this mini-concert filmed in the CBS studio in L.A. is a fantastic re-visitation of some of ELO's best songs. Performed by an entirely different band, the music still keeps its energy and Jeff Lynn's unique sound. I found the cellists a great addition to the band; their sound may have been able to be synthesized or omitted entirely, but clearly Lynn understood their playing live gave the music that distinctive ELO touch. While I found only a few of the new songs from the Zoom album worth listening to, the concert as a whole is a wonderful collection, played expertly. Be sure to watch it with a good sound system (NOT through your TV's speakers!) and you won't be disappointed.
Captain Newman, M.D. (1963)
A must-see for all Peck fans, and more!
Gregory Peck is probably best know for playing strong, benevolent types like Atticus Finch, and in many ways, the title role in this film does not take him far from that. What makes this film memorable is not Peck so much as it is his outstanding supporting cast. Bobby Darin, best known as a singer, show acting chops here few thought he possessed. Tony Curtis is strong and fits his role perfectly,Angie Dickinson as a nurse with brains and beauty, and Eddie Albert as you've never seen him. His performance alone merits watching this movie, but enjoy the story and the entire cast in a film that gives those who missed it a glimpse into what Hollywood was putting out in the 60s.
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Faithful and well-acted rendition of McCarthy's novel
The screenplay and acting capture the sinister cruelty and suspense of Cormac McCarthy's fine novel. While not his best work, this film complements it well, with a standout performance from Javier Bardem, and solid ones from the rest of the cast (although I do not know why Woody Harrelson's character was included, as it added little to the plot, outside of some backstory). Tommy Lee Jones was born to play the lawman in this film, and I am hard pressed to imagine anyone else doing it. What is particularly refreshing about this effort is its unconventional treatment of good and evil, with just enough dialog on the subject to let you ponder it yourself without being hit over the head with the director's viewpoint. While quite violent, that never felt gratuitous, at least to me. My belief in reality was never asked to be suspended, a thing for which I was very grateful, as far too many directors/writers make that request without much regard for a viewer's willingness or ability. On the whole, I highly recommend this film, and may well pay the theater price to see it again.
V for Vendetta (2005)
A truly enjoyable movie
Whenever I read these user reviews on IMDb, I alway groan when the reviewer can't resist telling us the entire plot, so I won't similarly bore you. Instead, let's see if I can just convince you to see this film without giving away too much while still enticing you, eh? Well, just know the movie is expertly set, acted, and edited. I went to see this film mostly out of curiosity, and because initial reviews were so good and I love Natalie Portman. Here she leaves her lovely self behind to exercise her considerable actingskills, and succeeds. As good as she is, Hugo Weaving as 'V' is even better. He commands the screen while in a role hidden behind mask and cape. This, to me, is a true acting tour de force. Because Weaving cannot use facial gestures to convey meaning and nuance, he must do so with voice and simple head and hand gestures. I was absolutely stunned at how well he accomplished this, with the aid of some very good dialogue. In one of the cast interviews now circulating on the web, he was asked whether he still used facial expressions under his mask while delivering his lines. He replied that of course he did, that he had to, and to do otherwise would have caused him to fail at his part. Watch him closely as you listen closely, and you may be surprised at how expressive he is. The other actors all comport themselves quiet well (John Hurt is a bit over the top), and propel the plot along nicely. This film combines the best elements of action, intrigue, suspense and pathos. It does go off track a bit in the middle for the sake of filling us in on character background, but I found this tolerable, if not necessary. All in all, 'V for Vendetta' succeeds. See it on the big screen while you can.
Crash (2004)
Worth seeing, but..... (SPOILERS!!!)
...know that you will be manipulated severely as a viewer. Normally, I don't mind being jerked around emotionally by a film if a) I know beforehand I'm in for it, and b) the manipulation is based on believable plot points. That's where most of this films adherents and I depart company; I felt only about half of the director's attempts to pull me up short actually worked, for me, anyway. I need to say right here, though, that this film should be seen, if for no other reason, than its clear message on how subtle racism creeps into all our live, and the toxic effect it has. That, for me, was the movie's redeeming virtue. On the downside, I ended up saying "I don't think so" once too often for my comfort level. For instance, when the Iranian shopkeeper fails to have his door fixed and instead yells at the Hispanic locksmith about being ripped off, and then (after having his shop vandalized) gets zilch from the insurance company because he didn't follow the locksmith's advice? Please. This guy struggles to leave Iran and scrapes together a business in L.A. and we're supposed to believe he won't walk to the back of his shop to see what the locksmith is telling him is wrong with the door? I hate it when directors do that, ask us to accept a completely unreal situation so he can then move us on to the resulting crises, which is supposed to evoke sympathy for the characters involved. This film, unfortunately, has more of these moments than is good for it, and by the end it pulls what could have been an excellent film down to being just a good one. The acting all around is first rate, especially that of Matt Dillon. Bottom line: see it, but the more slack you can cut the director, the better you'll like it. I just couldn't cut him that much.
Teddy Bears' Picnic (2001)
Forced laughter
I love Harry Shearer. I've been a fan of his subtle, ascerbic humor going back to his Credibility Gap days on KRLA in Los Angeles, through the genius that was Spinal Tap, on to the Simpsons and right up til today with his weekly radio show. That's why I was so dissappointed in this effort; it simply isn't up to his standard.
With so much talent to work with and a perfectly good premise (no spoilers here), Shearer fails to pull off what could have been a good natured poke at the Bohemian Club. Instead, he briefly introduces us to a bunch of characters (never long enough to appreciate why such people would be at such a place), who would be much less annoying if they were at least funny. Alas, they are not, and the plot (such as it is) becomes just juvenille enough to bring the whole thing crashing down.
Even though this movie is an utter failure, I still have faith in Harry's gift for wry humor. Everyone lays an egg sooner or later, and this, unfortunately, what his.
The House of Mirth (2000)
A decent adaptation of Wharton's novel (spoilers follow!)
Who would have thought Gillian Anderson would take on one of Edith Wharton's most famous characters? Were that the only virtue of this film, it would be enough to see it, but the movie holds even more. Anderson is excellent as Lily Bart in a film that does not quite capture the world Wharton so expertly illustrates, and we are instead given the core of the story without the Lily's background and personal demons. Her need to be accepted as part of nineteenth century New York society and her utter failure to do so work to show us Bart's character as one Edith Wharton must have known once personally. The casting of Dan Aykroyd as Gus Trenor is a major error here, but fortunately Eric Stoltz' Selden and Laura Linney's Bertha add to Andersons performance to save this film from obscurity.
To modern readers more used to New York Times Bestseller fare, i.e., Grisham, Crichton and Stephen King, Wharton's prose can only be alien, but for the patient and contemplative reader there is some of the best work in American literary history. For that reason, any film maker who ventures to put her work on the screen had better be up to the task. Here director Terence Davies takes a good stab at it, but comes up just a bit short. No doubt his cut of the film was a full hour longer, and some Hollywood suit ordered him to cut to the chase. Still, what you get is essential Wharton with a memorable performance by several good actors. Don't listen to the nay sayers who may slam this film here; make up your own mind, but read the book first.
Bandits (2001)
A clever script performed by just the right cast.
I really liked this movie. Everything in it works-the dialog is crisp and witty, the acting is excellent, the photography beautiful, and best of all, I want to see it again. The principal actors seem like they were born to play these roles, and once again Cate Blanchett shows her immense talent and versatility as an actor. Even if you're not a fan of Bruce Willis or Billy Bob Thornton, see this film for Blanchett. True, the story bogs down a bit in the middle when the relationship between the trio gets a little more scrutiny than it deserves, but the rest of the film makes up for it. You'll definitely be reminded of 'Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid,' but I felt the similarity was not at all a rip off; more of a tribute, really. See it!
Legally Blonde (2001)
What tripe!
(NOTE: SPOILERS!) Listen, I like Reese Witherspoon. I thought she was great in "Election", a film with several layers that let her show her ability. That's why, after reading some flattering comments on this movie, I rented it. Ok, so we have this blonde airhead who loses her boyfriend to law school, gets this brilliant idea that becoming a law student is how she'll get him back, get's accepted to Harvard, and then makes a perfect ass of herself every chance she gets. I kept waiting for Reese's character to buy a clue and perhaps change just a bit. 45 min. (my limit for a struggling film, then I'm out) into this crap, and she's still as clueless as she was when the movie opened. Now, I know, it's a movie, not a documentary. Still, for me to stay with a flick, I have to care at least a bit about the main character. By the time I got up and walked out of the room, I detested this moron. Worse, I think this piece of fluff will do nothing for Witherspoon's career except hurt it. Too bad. She's a good actress, but her judgement on taking this role was just plain bad, like the movie.