nattylap2 Reviews

24 Days (2014)

Powerful

[10/10 · 29 October 2014]

Silly me. I thought these reviews were supposed to be about a movie, not a means to dispense convoluted political and racist ideology.

This film was so good that I almost felt like applauding at the conclusion. But considering the subject matter, that would have been rather inappropriate.

The film was taut and suspenseful, even tho you pretty much suspected how it would end. The performances were all on point. Even the subtitling was well done.

Yes, the subject was depressing. But it was a real life story. We can't alter the facts. But you can certainly appreciate the quality, and the message.

Kaboom (2010)

Dreadful

[1/10 · 21 May 2011]

It's a rare thing for me to walk out on a movie. But, about three quarters of the way through I made an exception for this one. Kaboom definitely qualifies as one of the worst films of all time. It opens with our "hero" masturbating in his dorm room, and goes downhill from there. The movie takes place on a photo shopped college campus with nice buildings and no students. The blasts of psychedelic color is supposed to make it all quite hip, but it really adds very little. The dialog, such as it is, is vapid. The only character who comes alive is Smith's lesbian BFF. She's fun. And about the only one you really care about. The viewer might actually get caught up with her involvement with the lesbian witch who doubles as a dominatrix. As for Smith and the rest, like who cares.

An Education (2009)

Not Much

[4/10 · 14 December 2009]

Sorry to be the skunk at the garden party, but this film just did not do it for me.

Yes, Ms. Mulligan is beautiful and charming. But she is also another one of filmdom's 16-going-on-20 heroines. It's understandable that she was vulnerable to the attraction of her playboy lover. But she was also supposed to be a very smart person. Smart enough to have seen that all was not as it should be.

But the biggest gap was in Alfred Molina's role. Here is this stick in the mud father, whose idea of the perfect gift for a 17 year old is a Latin dictionary. Yet he opens his arms to a suitor twice his daughter's age, no questions asked. Yes, I know he was blinded by the shine of all that money. But how many fathers, no matter how obsessed with money, would send their teen age daughters off for the weekend with a relatively middle-aged lothario. Maybe Brittany Spears' father, but not a proper Englishman in the 1960s

Chasing the Green (2009)

Lots of golf, not much movie

[3/10 · 27 August 2009]

This film was of particular interest to me and our family, as well as several close friends, as we knew the real life brothers as they grew up. So we were really hoping the movie would be successful. Unfortunately, we all agreed it was dreadful. It was very slow moving, the dialog was leaden, the acting mediocre.

The previous comments emphasized that this was a case of the government waging a vendetta against these youthful entrepreneurs. Maybe so. But you have to keep in mind that the screenplay was written by, and the film was produced by, Craig Frankel. He was the real life older brother. So, obviously, this was a "he says, he says" kind of situation. In addition, after paying the big fine to the government, both boys had millions left to themselves. Neither of them will ever have to work again if they don't want to.

The film made it appear as if the older brother just went along for the ride. The younger, brash, fast talking brother was made to be the villain of the piece. I wonder how the brothers are getting along these days.

Titanic (1997)

lavishly mediocre

[5/10 · 25 December 2005]

The story of the Titanic has been told many times on television documentaries, and almost all of them - especially Thomas Lord's 'A Night to Remember' - were better than this film.

There must have been a sale on stereotypes in Hollywood, because the producers of 'Titanic' bought them all up by the bushel full. The people up in first class, with the exception of the one real life character portrayed in the movie, Molly Brown, were all fully stuffed shirts. They were so starched it is hard to believe they were able to bend over.

On the other hand, those poor folks down in steerage - sailing to their doom - were just the salt of the earth. Happy-go-lucky, fun loving, free spirited.

Some $200 million was supposedly spent on this movie. The special effects were indeed impressive. If they had only spent a little of that money on the screenplay, even including some intelligent dialog, think what a movie they could have had.

Good Will Hunting (1997)

slow moving and witless

[5/10 · 28 March 2005]

This film moved at a glacial pace. The concept that a street tough is an undiscovered genius is difficult to buy in to, but it is an acceptable premise. But it was the stilted dialog and the superficial plot that undermined the whole idea. It took what seemed like forever for anything to happen.

Worst of all was Robin Williams as the psychiatrist who finally turns Will Hunting's head around. His agent must have told him that this was a role in which he could overact to his heart's content.

And the love story amounted to little more than boy loses girl, boy gets girl.

Don't Move (2004)

provocative, interesting, moving

[7/10 · 28 March 2005]

The film is almost surreal. It is difficult to imagine a genuine romance arising out of a rape scene. But the film hints - leaving the viewer to decide for one's self - that Italia's abusive childhood made her desperate for love - any love. Similarly, Tino's hate for his father may have been a factor in his becoming the dissolute adult he is.

It is significant that Tino's wife, with whom he has fallen out of love, is an attractive, affectionate, professionally successful woman. Italia, his mistress is plain looking and older than her years.

We have to suspect that wife suspects. Yet Tino's frequent, prolonged and unexplained absences are simply glossed over. This sort of simplifies things, but it is rather difficult for the viewer to accept.

The Last Ten Days (1955)

An important film and a powerful document

[10/10 · 28 March 2005]

I remember this film from many years ago. Certainly the best film on the subject in my experience. The fact that I vividly remember so much of the film after so long a time testifies to its impact.

It is difficult to comment on the level of the performances because of the language barrier. But they were nonetheless very powerful.

This subject continues to fascinate us even with the passing of years. And it was most effectively treated here, with the proper proportion of historical perspective and skepticism.

I wish it would be shown on TV at least once. Or at least be available on tape or DVD. Or is it? Is some art film archive hoarding a copy of it??