AlphabetCity Reviews

Celeste in the City (2004 TV Movie)

Not Worth the Trip

[12 July 2004]

A huge lesson that Celeste allegedly learns in this story is that it's wrong to assume you know a person simply based on the stereotypes to which they seem to fit. For example, she mistakenly assumes a male interior decorator friend of hers is gay, thus hurting his feelings tremendously when he tells her he has feelings for her.

Yet this TV movie itself is so peppered with irritating stereotypes that the filmmakers seem immensely hypocritical. Celeste has a number of male buddies in the hair/clothes/appearance industry, all of whom are bumbling, effeminate, militant fashionistas. Her "cute" boss boyfriend, while he seems essentially pleasant and charming for the first 90% of the film, suddenly turns very "boss-like" at the end and turns out to have been cheating on Celeste and using her writing as a way to get into her pants.

Overall this film is incredibly ridiculous. I wouldn't waste your time.

Arrested Development (2003–2019)

The smartest thing Fox has done yet

[10/10 · 14 December 2003]

This is the funniest show currently on television. All you need to enjoy this show is an appreciation for high-quality acting and incredibly hilarious writing. Jason Bateman as Michael Bluth is perfect as the under-appreciated do-good guy who's just trying to keep his family together and himself sane. Other highlights of the show include Will Arnett as GOB (George Oscar Bluth II), Michael's lame-excuse-for-a-magician brother; Jeffrey Tambor as George Sr., Michael's incarcerated father (he was jailed for "shifty accounting practices"); and Michael Cera as George Michael Bluth, Michael Bluth's perpetually nervous 13-year-old son (who just happens to have a strange infatuation with his cousin, Maebe, played by "State of Grace"'s Alia Shawkat). All in all this show is sure to be a hit, at least with those people whose level of understanding of comedy is above slapstick and bathroom jokes. TREMENDOUSLY hilarious writing and outstanding performances by the whole cast will have you laughing the whole time. Ten out of ten!

Matchstick Men (2003)

Found the movie exciting and interesting

[9/10 · 20 September 2003]

I went into the movie theater having heard virtually nothing about this film, but when I came out I was very glad I had taken the time to see it. I'm a big Nicolas Cage fan as it is, but I think Cage really shows his versatility in this film as an obsessive-compulsive con artist. His obsessions and tics are incredibly believable and even a little funny, making Roy (Cage) a rather lovable character, despite his neuroses. Alison Lohman, too, is exceptional as Roy's outspoken, long-lost fourteen-year-old daughter.

And besides just the acting, the film itself was also above-par. The director made some choices along the way that made the film very visually captivating. For example, a few times throughout the movie we see the action of the scene through Roy's twitchy eyes, with everything really bright and moving in fast-motion. The plot was also very intriguing and exciting, involving lying, cheating, mystery, and even a little humor.

All in all I give this movie two thumbs up. It's a very enjoyable film!

Ghost Ship (2002)

Positive but critical

[4 September 2003]

I was at first skeptical about seeing this movie, as I usually am with horror thrillers. After viewing it I was surprised in a few ways. First of all, this film was VERY scary, which pleased me as I thought it would be corny and fake. As you may have noticed in the trailer, this movie very effectively pulls off the creepy-little-girl ploy, played by an actress whose name has left me but whose great acting has not. (Marguiles also was excellent in her role as the tough-girl of the film, while her real-life love-interest, who plays Dodge, was not so great. Fortunately he has a very minor role and his limited acting ability does not affect the film too much.) However, with the scariness of this film also comes an intense grotesqueness that I found truly repulsive at some parts. (In one scene many, many people suffer a truly horrible, stomach-turning fate.) So be warned, this film is not for the faint-of-heart. To sum it up, if you're looking for a really scary, oftentimes gory movie, check out "Ghost Ship." Just don't say I didn't warn you...