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Deadly Whispers (1995 TV Movie)
7/10
An Entertaining Two Hours
18 November 2003
Warning: Spoilers
*****SPOILERS*****

I recently saw Tony Danza as a thug in the movie "Mob Justice," and he really impressed me. At first, it was odd to see him with a serious demeanor--since I had only seen him in light-hearted fare--but his face was entirely different from usual. His facial expression was a scowl emanating from general attitude rather than a specific incident or deliberate attempt to be intimidating. His face visibly darkened and his eyes carried a bitter look that made him frightening to me.

Having seen that movie made it easier to forget the dumb, lovable, lug he has typically played. In "Deadly Whispers," he appeared to be a very loving father who was too strict because he was concerned about his children and their futures. He wanted them to have the best possible start in life. I didn't see anything remotely abusive in his treatment of his children, but he was, at times, harsh enough to spawn bitterness in the heart of a sensitive child. I suspect it is not (theoretically) psychologically sound for a multiple personality to present a sudden change from merely harsh to murderous, but I don't know for sure. I chose to believe it for the duration of the movie, anyway.

I was surprised to hear Tony Danza speak in a Southern accent (Georgian?) and thought he did quite well. Pamela Reed was excellent as the distraught wife and mother. Ving Rhames is always fascinating, partly because his hypnotically-high vocal pitch is incongruous with his physical presence, but mostly because of his cool, laid back manner.

I gave this movie a 7/10 rating because: (+)It was two hours well spent, (+)I like Tony Danza, (-)It was not gripping, and (-)It was not unforgettable.

Enjoy.
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Sightings: Heartland Ghost (2002 TV Movie)
7/10
Enjoyable Haunted House Flick
5 October 2003
I like haunted house stories and this is a fun one to watch. The plot centers on whether or not the haunting is real and, thankfully, it spares us the typical screaming, gore, and fake monsters that are NOT scary. All that latex is just a reminder that I am watching a movie and quite rudely inserts the filmmaker between the film and me. Despite the positive aspects of the film, though, there is a flash of breasts which is pointless and perfunctory.

Nevertheless, this is a well-acted movie--underacted, if anything, which is a rarity within this genre and quite refreshing to see. Beau Bridges is a credit to any cast; he is so comfortable with his craft he appears not to be acting. His agreeable manner and blue-collar charm make him seem as though he is a beloved and much-missed family member. Likewise, Miguel Ferrer is a welcome talent who can sleepwalk through this part, which is far beneath his extensive ability. The character is sketchy and doesn't always adhere to the expected behavior of its personality or background. However, the character's inconsistencies are not due to the complexity of character we all have, but rather a lack of complexity.

This is not a frightening movie and not altogether memorable, but if you want to just kick back and watch a satisfying movie, this is a good one to watch.
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Russell Crowe's Accent Sucks
27 December 2002
Nash was West Virginian, but you'd never guess it by watching this movie. Once in a while, Crowe will substitute a short "a" sound for a long "i" sound, but that is about it. I would rather he not have tried for the accent at all than settle for this laughable effort.

I keep reading reviews about his fantastic acting job in this movie, so I have to ask: Am I the only person to notice the poor dialect he developed?
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