hms4-1 Reviews

Thelma & Louise (1991)

it was a movie that changed its audience

[24 March 2005]

The first thing that most people will think of is "chick flick," but Thelma and Louise is hardly just that. Many people may think that it's sexist and harsh toward men, but I would strongly disagree. Although, yes, there were men made out to be the bad guys – Thelma's chauvinistic husband, the perverted man who tried to rape Thelma and who made filthy comments to Louise, the vulgar truck driver, etc. – there were men portrayed as heroes. Louise's boyfriend proved himself to be honorable and loving, and the police sergeant, in the end, had a compassion for the women. Still, the men of the story were not the main focus; it was the triumph of two women stepping up from their mistakes and misfortunes, and enjoying the liberation of living for them selves.

Cinematic ally, the movie had great strengths as well. Throughout the movie there were hints of foreshadowing, all leading up to those final ten minutes Thelma and Louise shared together on the canyon cliff. There was never a scene that dragged on too long or an incident that happened too quickly; everything seemed to fall right into place. At the beginning, it's almost as if the rest of the movie should not measure up to the major scene of the murder, but it was very interesting how that scene paved the way for what was the come instead. The murder was the major turning point, and thereafter the women experienced a successive changing, which was obvious as the tone of the picture and the actual physical appearances of the women went from bright and beautiful, to more dull and rugged. The ending comes as a huge shock, but yet it fits so well. The journey the movie brings you on is moving and inspiring.

Eyes Without a Face (1960)

the movie was eerie and mysterious, but had some surprisingly beautiful aspects

[10 March 2005]

The movie Eyes Without A Face is an eerie and mysterious horror film. It starts off seeming very slow with a lot of open-ended questions, drawing you further into the story and what's about to unfold. The setting is dark and gloomy everywhere, giving it a haunting feeling. Although, some shots between the father and daughter are more warmed, so as to indicate the love he feels for her, or in the scenes where she longs for a man named Jacques. Some scenes tend to feel drawn out and long, as every thing the characters are doing is actually happening without editing. Although the beginning is uncanny and confusing, as the film progresses, it becomes more evident of how the murders are occurring and hence more disturbing. I almost wish that it would have been longer so as to go into further debt about all of the characters; I felt like I knew very little about them, but wanted to understand them better (like what happened to cause the car accident and more about what happened between the daughter and the man she admired so much). Also, the ending was too abrupt and strange how the father was killed by his dogs and the secretary stabbed, all so suddenly. Although, it was nice to see the girl feel a sense of freedom at the end as she walked out into the night with white birds and almost emitting a light. Overall, it had a troubling horror story, but there was compassion and beauty behind it all.

Myra Breckinridge (1970)

Myra Breckinridge had a good story and controversial subject which needed to be recognized, but the movie was not as well put together as the book.

[3 March 2005]

People often struggle with accepting change, as it often scares them. A major challenge that Americans have been adjusting to is the presence of homosexuality. Myra Breckinridge took a bold step in the direction of a controversial issue, homosexuality, in addressing the presence of it in Hollywood, among famous people. The concept of the movie was good and the topic was something cinema needed to present. It was based on the novel by Gore Vidal, and many critics questioned the novels ability to be turned into a movie. The movie was as successful as it could have been for the story. There some aspects of it which tied in well, like showing old movie clips occasionally to help express the feelings in a given scene and to relate the importance of the history of cinema to the movie. Raquel Welch contributed greatly to the movie's success as well, as she put on a wonderful performance. However, the movie proved to be confusing at times, and it is probably in the viewer's best interest to read the Gore Vidal novel first -- to help fully comprehend Myra's intentions and the events taking place.

Shame (1968)

Shame was a very practical and well depicted film of the effects of war on the general public

[8/10 · 15 February 2005]

A very credible and unsettling movie portraying the effects of war on the general public, Shame gives us a chilling understanding oh Ingmar Bergman's beliefs. The absence of color and sound (as in a soundtrack) helps to give the film a more realistic feeling. There is no soft or hard lighting or a variety of camera angles to give the story a charming or dramatic effect. Everything is very simply portrayed as it would be in reality. At times the storyline was confusing, but perhaps in order to give a sense of the characters' frame of mind – how they too do now know what is happening or why. The simplicity of the film made it somewhat boring, but I could understand how the director is trying not to glamorize the story and points. He depicted the harsh and unsettling events and effects of war. In the beginning the characters were introduced and shown as content with the lighter settings and very long, drawn-out shots. When all of a sudden the war struck upon them, they were much darker and quiet with less intimate shots. Bergman did a good job on allowing us to be consumed by the war ourselves and presenting an image of it the so adequately corresponded to war. Although the storyline itself was not too impressive, the content of the film was.

Roger & Me (1989)

a good movie with strong points, but not sure how much to believe

[7/10 · 1 February 2005]

I like the movie, and I found it to be very interesting. I did not like so much how Moore felt he had to make the documentary more humorous by making fun of the people he was defending. However, I felt Moore did a good job of showing the devastating effects of General Motors leaving the small town of Flint, Michigan. Although you can't be too certain on how accurate some points in the movie are, the general idea that the town suffered because Roger Smith invested in factories in Mexico with cheap labor was expressed. This documentary laid some valid points down to what was beginning to happen in America with jobs being outsourced. The effects on this small town are so severe, and as this all happened about 15 years ago, it seems much more of America is experiencing their problems. This documentary touched on outsourcing and its effects, which today is still becoming a problem. Overall, it makes a strong impression and is an important movie to watch.