Change Your Image
tweedweed
Reviews
Big Eden (2000)
Lovely, Awkward and Human
No matter what your lifestyle, Big Eden will push your buttons and might possibly make you feel personal sensations such as: lovely, just like the ensemble cast and rustic setting; awkward, just like the main character and his relationship with those closest to him; and human, just like anyone's misdirected search for the right person.
These sensations are blended together in just the right amounts for this particular recipe: not too heavy, not too light. This is not a Hollywood made movie, so don't look for the standard `catches' or `foibles' of a big budget film. This is pocket-sized story with just a touch of magic and a little mischief.
Please don't be hesitant to watch this movie just because you are not gay. This is not merely a movie about a gay man trying to find himself, acceptance and love. This is a movie about a person , any person, who is uncomfortable with who he is, who he wants to be and who he wants to love. I think any adult can place himself somewhere in this story, and therefore, will feel connected to the residents of this lovely, imaginary town. Keep in mind that the characters in this `little Eden' are not perfect, but that's why it works so well.
Nil by Mouth (1997)
If you're not British, you may hate this film.
As a screenwriter, you learn NEVER to use dialog as your main device to introduce your characters. Don't TELL the audience who they are... SHOW them instead. Unfortunately, Gary Oldman did not learn this lesson. The first half hour of this movie introduces his South London characters through nothing but London lingo (fast, cockney-esque, and completely unintelligible to a non-Brit). I was extraordinarily disappointed with this film. But, if you hold on long enough, the action will pick up... but you may have to rewind during the first act (with the closed caption option selected) before you can really dig your teeth into what Gary Oldman is trying to show us in his brutally honest portrayal of how miserable life can be in South London (Oldman's favorite theme, it appears). Good Luck!