Reviews & Ratings

[One-Way]

Re: Reviews & Ratings

Working Girl

The film is directed by Mike Nicholas and stars Melanie Griffith, Harrison Ford and Sigourney Weaver. It's enjoyable to watch, and although the story becomes quite predictable, it's also filled with several surprises and twists. Alec Baldwin is hilarious and Kevin Spacey's cameo is as good as it gets.

A Place in the Sun

Woody Allen's Match Point was apparently taken directly from George Stevens' A Place in the Sun. Well, the similarities in theme and plot are all there, but there's been a few changes. Montgomery Clift is absolutely haunting with his dark demeanor and inner conflict throughout the film. The film keeps you in anticipation of what's going to happen between these characters, and ultimately leaves you with a dark conclusion. It's a great film, a classic loved by all, and is definitely is worthy of its praise.

Ladri di biciclette (Fourth Viewing)

Yes, I saw it again, and this time in 35mm. It's still my favorite film.

A Simple Plan

I'm always pleased when I come across a gem of a film that I didn't know about. A Simple Plan is Sam Raimi's darker tale of Fargo. It includes what will probably be known as my favorite Billy Bob Thornton performance, within a story about greed, lies and evil. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, keeps you engaged and in antipcation what's going to happen next, and it doesn't hurt the fact that Bill Paxton is leading the film. If you loved Fargo, you'll like A Simple Plan, but darker doesn't always mean better.

Sullivan’s Travels (Second Viewing)

I have to write a 600 word review for this film and I'm not quite through. I might post it up when I'm finished, but I also might not.

[One-Way]

Re: Reviews & Ratings

I was going to say the same thing, Siggie, but decided against it. I think giving people a rating is useful as well, because it also provides the reader with a grade. With that said, you're right, because "very retarded movie" or "what a stupid movie" does not help at all.

By the way, if anybody wants me to start rating my films with numbers as well, just let me know.

[Siggie]

Re: Reviews & Ratings

Marley & Me

2/5

Very retarded Movie

For someone who asks everyone else what they liked or disliked about a movie they rated, you don't say much. It makes it seem like you are just posting questions because you want to post something.

And in general, just a rating isn't very helpful. This is why One-Ways reviews are so helpful; he doesn't just slap a number on the movie and leave it at that. I'm not suggesting we all write several paragraphs, but to make this thread useful we need to say something about what made a movie excellent or poor. "Very retarded movie" isn't very helpful.

Personally, I liked Marley & Me. It's not a movie I'd watch if I want to see an awesome movie (artistically), but I thought it was a touching and humorous story about what it is to be a dog owner and how our pets become members of our families (naughty though they may be at times).

[One-Way]

Re: Reviews & Ratings

Closer

Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts and Clive Owen star in this film, which is essentially about the complicated relationships further complicated by the people who are directly involved in them. Natalie Portman and Clive Owen both give terrific performances, while Jude Law tries to hold himself amidst the chaos, whereas Julia Roberts seem to drown in her surroundings. The dialogue of the film is what makes it a good film, and it helps that the actors are able to deliver them properly. The film opens and ends with a specific scene, but there's not much to give thought about once it's over. It's a good film by postmodern Hollywood romantic standards because it goes against its usual conventions.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is overly fantastic, just as its title, and is loaded with more than you can handle. It's definitely not a film I would usually watch and I kept wondering why I was watching it to begin with. Just then, Heath Ledger appeared and his presence began to shift the film. Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell take Ledger's place during the fantasy sequences. There's too little Depp, too much Law, and just the right amount of Farrell. The film, unfortunately, suffers from its constant need of overly complicating things, as it crams together too many ideas which ultimately destory its exciting concepts.

Sullivan's Travels

I have to write a 600 word review for this film in the next two weeks, so here's a taste of things to come. It's a film about a Hollywood film director who gives up his lavish lifestyle to become a homeless man for research on his upcoming film. During the process, he is pulled back to his Hollywood lifestyle, constantly being reminded where he truly belongs. Sullivan meets a woman along the way, of course, there's a female in every picture, and the two try to fulfill this dream together. Sullivan soon discovers that he doesn't know much about this lifestyle, and even learns a thing or two along the way. The film laces drama with comedy, melodramatic with slapstick, and leaves us with a feel-good ending, and a decision to switch from a dramatic film to a comedy film for Sullivan.

Ladri di biciclette (Third Viewing)

Yes, it's still my favorite film.

[MrHyeSev]

Re: Reviews & Ratings

Marley & Me

2/5

Very retarded Movie

[MrHyeSev]

Re: Reviews & Ratings

Great Movie :-)

I have yet to see it
what did you like about the movie SweetStuff?

[SweetStuff]

Re: Reviews & Ratings

I want to see Sherlock Holmes

7/10 is not a bad rating ara

what things did you not like about the movie.

Great Movie :-)

[One-Way]

Re: Reviews & Ratings

My Own Private Idaho

I've been meaning to see this film for such a long time and it's such a shame that I have waited so long to see it. I'm not too familiar with Gus Van Sant's work, having seen only a couple of his films. I know a little bit about him and the prevalent themes in his films, but this film played out a little differently than I had imagined.

The film's narrative was much more experimental than I had imagined, which is not a bad thing, but rather a surprise. It was quite an interesting character study, and having read about its Shakespearean influence, it made for a much more interesting character story overall. It's been said thousands of times and my contribution will be an understatement at this point, but River Phoenix was phenomenal. I read up on his life and death several months ago, when I first wanted to watch this film. He was truly a remarkable actor, and each minute of screentime was pure brilliance. With that said, Keanu Reeves was a great match, and the two shared some powerful chemistry throughout the film.

The Adjuster

I've been putting The Adjuster off as well, for a rather stupid reason. I have now seen every feature length Atom Egoyan film, except for Felicia's Journey and Where the Truth Lies. I'm also not including his later works, which are much more experimental, such as Family Viewing and Speaking Parts. The Adjuster features performances by some familiar faces, who went on to work on later films by Egoyan.

The Adjuster, like most of Egoyan's films, consists of a non-linear narrative. In this film, in particular, we can see Egoyan's brilliance when it comes to writing a screenplay. The film begins with pieces of a puzzle, given to us slowly and carefully, revealing small details about each character's lives. As we're introduced to characters who don't seem to have anything in common or any true relation, we slowly begin to realize that these events are linked, as the film concludes with their stories coming together. The film, however, doesn't give us any real answers, and instead makes us ask more questions.

The film has traces of mythology and can be seen as a statement about religion, in general. Elias Koteas plays Noah, an insurance adjuster. He helps his clients settle into a motel, as they put their lives on hold after their respective tragedies. In a sense, the motel can be viewed as Noah's Ark, a provided shelter for his clients.

Arsinée Khanjian is given a name associated with Greek Mythology, Hera. She plays Noah's wife, who watches and censors pornographic films. Hera, in Greek Mythology, is regarded as the Goddess of Marriage, and is fully of beauty, just as Khanjian appears in the film. She is also regarded as the guardian of marriage and the sanctity of the home, all of which seem to apply to Khanjian's character.

I think this is one of the best screenplays by Egoyan, because it is a film where its characters are not only given depth and the room for growth, but also because it effectively reveals their individual behaviors. Noah consoles Tim, one of his clients, and assures him that the quicker the insurance process is done, the happier they will both be. The dialogue is carefully spoken and feels rather intimate, until it is repeated verbatim in a following scene, with Tim's wife. Over dinner, Noah reveals that most people look at him as the bad guy, which shows his vulnerability, and highlights his willingness to help others around him, just as Noah did with his Ark.

Overall, the film has many levels. Like all Egoyan films, it requires more than one meaning. It's a film that introduces such unique and interesting characters, which add to the lives of others. I can go on about Bubba and Mimi, and the film's ending, but I'll hold back until further discussion. It was a great film, very powerful and moving, and shows Egoyan's early capability as a filmmaker.

[One-Way]

Re: Reviews & Ratings

Yi yi

The film was beautifully photographed and its use of long shots/takes added to the feeling that we are watching into these people's lives. The film is just under three hours, but effectively utilizes each minute, and carefully balances comedy and drama. Edward Yang's light touch and meticulous direction made the film feel delicate. I was most impressed by Nien-Jen Wu (NJ) and the young Jonathan Chang (Yang-Yang).

Yi yi is a film about regret, guilt, asking questions about life and trying to discover what its purpose really is. The film is filled with symbolism and deeper meaning, and as the film progresses, we are able to peal back its layers. Yang-Yang is a curious child who tells his grandmother that he wants to show people what others cannot see. Edward Yang is that type of filmmaker, who allows us to see our own everyday lives, and think about them in ways we might not have.

[MrHyeSev]

Re: Reviews & Ratings

Rocky

3.5/5

A lot of people didin't like it.
But it was a good movie