JimSpy Reviews

Chronicle (2012)

A Pleasant Surprise

[7/10 · 27 July 2012]

I have to admit to being pleasantly surprised at the quality of "Chronicle." As soon as I read that it was another "found footage" movie, I was ready to dismiss it. Glad that I didn't. It's the best of the genre, way better than "Paranormal Activity" or "Cloverfield" (and let's not even mention "Blair Witch"). For starters, there's none of the nauseating "camera shaking" meant to remind you that an amateur is filming. (Don't we go to movies to see PROFESSIONAL camera work? Otherwise I'll watch my family's old home movies from trips to Europe!) And the acting is really quite superb - you nod your head and say, yeah, that's exactly how today's teens would act in these circumstances.

There are some exquisitely done special effects, probably nothing ground-breaking, but a couple of "how'd they do that" moments. And there is welcome departure from some worn-out movie clichés.

All in all, two thumbs up.

And don't be surprised if there's a "Chronicle II."

Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Couldn't Understand Robert Downey

[12 November 2010]

Note to Hollywood film directors: You can pour 100 million dollars into a movie; you can hire top-name actors; you can splash it up with dazzling special effects; you can do product tie-ins and other state-of-the-art promotion; you can put up eye-catching billboards, and sell merchandise in Happy Meals...it won't make a damn bit of difference if NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ACTORS ARE SAYING.

Maybe it's just me, maybe my ears are going, but I couldn't understand a word of Robert Downey Jr.'s dialogue. It sounded like he was trying so hard to pull off an authentic British accent that he was afraid to speak up for fear of unmasking his deficiency (what little I did hear sounded fairly authentic, so he needn't have worried). Regardless, I could hear Jude Law and everyone else just fine, so I'm pretty sure it's not my ears.

In this day and age of instant digital filming, when they don't have to wait for the rushes to come back to review the day's filming, why don't directors make an extra effort to listen to the scene they've just shot and make sure the dialogue can be heard? The worst offender in this regard is Soderbergh, he seems to be trying so hard for "natural" dialogue (people mumbling, talking over each other, disdaining any hint of exposition, etc.) that it makes otherwise good films a real slog. It should not take an EFFORT to enjoy a movie.

Please tell me I'm not alone in this.

In any case, I didn't rate this film because I shut it off halfway through and sent it back to Blockbuster. Too bad, it looked like a good movie otherwise.

Project X (1987)

Very Under-Appreciated

[8/10 · 16 October 2006]

I like to consider myself a fairly sophisticated movie-goer, with a taste for the avant-garde, the off-beat, the groundbreaking - this movie was none of those - and a dislike for the saccharine or formulaic - this movie was both.

And yet, I would highly recommend it to anyone.

First of all, get over the fact that its billed as a family movie or chick flick or "comedy" (huh?), or that it has Matthew Broderick co-starring with monkeys. This is an extremely well-crafted film, with many of what I call "payoff scenes" - scenes that glue you to your chair, give you a thrill, or a lump in the throat, or goosebumps. For example, the scene where Bluebeard the Chimp is "flashed" in the flight chamber. The slow motion turn of the head, the look of confusion mixed with "what have you done to me?"... I defy anyone to show me a more chilling scene in any movie. Or the scene where Virgil is warning the other chimps about Bluebeard's fate. This scene alone transcends the "family comedy" genre with powerful, primal imagery.

I said, get over Matthew Broderick, but I know it's difficult, as he is the film's only distraction. Sadly, he is in over his head, in this as in any film in which he is required to play someone over 18. Sorry, Matthew, you'll always be Ferris Bueller. Not such a bad fate, when you think about it...

But then, there is Willie, the chimp who starred as "Virgil." Willie's performance will leave you wondering if Lee Strasberg ever admitted simians to his method acting school. (Please, no cracks about Brando) Now I'm sure the technique is to simply film the chimp for hours until he happens to do something usable, but whatever they did, whoever did it was a genius. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I remember that they give some kind of awards to animal actors; if so, I hope they gave one to Willie. He alone is worth the price of the DVD rental.

Trust me, unless you're some kind of hard-hearted Tarantino-or-nothing type, you WILL enjoy this movie immensely.

T.H.E. Cat (1966–1967)

Ditto - Coolest Ever

[9/10 · 23 September 2006]

Allow me to add my voice to those who consider this T.H.E. COOLEST TV show ever. It's amazing, judging by the comments here, how many 9- and 10-year-olds took to this show, which was supposed to be for grown-ups. It is still my dream, at age 50, to open a small night club with a flashing neon sign, and call it "Casa Del Gato." Beaded curtains, waitresses dressed 60's go-go style, live jazz seven nights a week...and I would be in the corner booth wearing a black turtleneck, talking to some guy with an eye-patch, or missing a hand. Oh, yes, it would be a nominally private club, so that smoking would be allowed (yup, I'm in one of THOSE states).

Beyond the Sea (2004)

Forget "Ray"...This is BETTER!

[8/10 · 26 July 2005]

Fellow cinephiles, please ignore any comments you've read here about Mr. Spacey being "too old" to play Bobby Darin. It just isn't a factor. You're too busy being wowed by the overall production.

I'll be the first to admit that I've never cared for Kevin Spacey as an actor, I never saw what all the fuss was about. And in the first part of this movie, I thought he was playing Darin a bit shallow...at least so I thought. It wasn't until later in the movie that I realized, it wasn't Spacey I didn't believe, it was Darin! He played him shallow on purpose, because Bobby Darin was the only one who didn't know that he wasn't who he thought he was! (Did you follow that? Never mind...just look for the subtle personality shift after the "big revelation") I gained a lot of respect for Mr. Spacey by watching this movie.

A guy I gained even more respect for was this William Ulrich who played Darin as a boy. What a terrific, believable performance! Makes you forget Haley Joel Osmond...on second thought, Haley Joel Osmond made you forget Haley Joel Osmond....Oh well...

Please, if you have any fondness for the way things were in the sixties (not the Beatles-and-Woodstock 60's, the OTHER 60's), see this film. Best I've seen in a long time.

And yes, I enjoyed it much more than I did "Ray."

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Why Isn't This In The Top Five?

[10/10 · 6 July 2003]

I've just watched "The Wizard of Oz" for what has to be the 400th time. Of course I watched it every year as a kid when it came on TV (usually in the spring, usually on CBS), and of course it was always a family favorite. But now when I watch it, I try to view it through my "film buff glasses," trying to see how it compares with other films of its day. I'm attempting to put sentimentality aside and view it critically from all angles. Sorry to say, either I'm a "failure" as a film buff, or this is certainly one of the top five movies ever made.

First off, the special effects, set design, costumes, art direction and overall cinematography are absolutely astounding. The creative energies that went into the look and feel of the movie are beyond comparison, even dwarfing most of today's productions. Just watch the Munchkinland scene and ask yourself how long it took just to design the costumes. Sure, they're over-the-top and frilly...this is a FANTASY! The use of color is spectacular, considering this was the first Technicolor movie ever made.

The set design compares favorably with some of today's blockbusters - check out the scene on the top parapet of the Witch's Castle, for instance, when Dorothy and Company are trapped by the witch's guards. Compare it to scenes in the Star Wars trilogy that take place in gigantic locales like the Death Star, looking down over impossibly huge constructs.

It's been said here that the acting was overdone, and again I say, this is a fantasy film. How can you overdo a talking, dancing scarecrow? And if Bert Lahr hadn't overacted as the Lion, would we have had as much fun?

(That word "fun" is the keyword here. Film buffs of the world, take off your snooty little librarian glasses and join in with the rest of us - have some FUN watching a movie for once!)

Even some of the stunts were amazing. The Tin Man falling to the ground after being picked up by a "spook" - that had to hurt! And the Cowardly Lion's dive out the window would make Greg Louganis jealous.

And of course, there's the music. Every song in the right place at the right time, and every one a classic, with gorgeous orchestrations and arrangements.

It's been said here that the acting was overdone, and again I say, this is a fantasy film. How can you overdo a talking, dancing scarecrow? And if Bert Lahr hadn't overacted as the Lion, would we have had as much fun?

That word "fun" is the keyword here. Fellow film buffs, follow my lead, take off your snooty little librarian glasses and join in with the rest of the world - have some FUN watching a movie for once!

I've watched "Citizen Kane" a few times now, and I acknowledge it's greatness, but I don't see how it comes anywhere near this timeless gem. "Gone With The Wind"? Sorry, can't get through it, it bores the crap out of me. So I believe it's time to rethink that list. Mine now goes:

1) The Godfather I & II (easier if you consider it one movie in two parts)

2) 2001: A Space Odyssey 3) The Wizard of Oz <-- 4) Ben-Hur (shutup, it's my list!) 5) Casablanca

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

Come on, it was BETTER than "Fargo."

[8/10 · 7 February 2003]

I guess I'll be different, and say that I don't usually like Coen Brothers movies, but I liked this one. Maybe it's the amount of hype a movie receives, both pre- and post-release, that influences me. This was a kind of word-of-mouth sleeper, most of which I find delightful. "Fargo," on the other hand, is continually held out as "one of the great classics of all time," but I found it absolutely pointless and unfunny. Both movies seem to rely on quirky characters, yet the quirkiness works well in this one - you care what happens to these yutzes. The various story lines gel at the end, and you realize you've seen an adventure with all the classic elements of great storytelling - a beginning, a middle, and an end that justifies it all. The music is appropriately "old-timey" and darn good (did someone here complain that it had no "mainstream appeal"?? Did you want the gravediggers to break out into a hip-hop number or something??) Just one other thing...did anyone notice the similarity between George Clooney's "Ulysses" and John Ratzenberger's "Cliff Claven"?

The Wild, Wild Planet (1966)

Unintentional Laugh-Fest!

[2/10 · 27 October 2002]

Like Plan Nine From Outer Space (which is only slightly worse), Wild Wild Planet is an absolute must-see if only for the unintentional laughs and the I-Can't-Believe-This-Got-Released reaction. The "City of the Future" set is so obviously a model that it took me a while to realize they were trying to fool me into thinking it was a city. The star troopers patrol the city in a flying saucer dangling from a string. Instead of "nit-wit", the insult of choice is "helium head." And the scene that actually made me laugh out loud...when the star troopers get to the planet Doofus...er, Delphus, they are given a tour of the facility, which includes a "space conditioning" room. In it, there are these rotating "steam boxes" with men in them, only their heads are visible, and they slowly go around and around like some goofy little carnival ride. I split a gut! And then there's the Proteo Theatre, which features a gay production of Madame Butterfly or something, set to music by the Ventures...oh, yes, friends, this is a hoot. Grab some popcorn and a glass of Saurian Brandy, and drink a toast to the way we thought things were going to be now, back in the 60's.

The Contender (2000)

Good Film With One Fatal Flaw

[7/10 · 12 November 2000]

I have not much to add to the praise of this film, which I found excellent in its low-key portrayal of the seamy side of politics (does it have any other side?). I do, however, wish to point out one major flaw, which I consider fatal to the script. Little to nothing is made of the fact that the title character, Sen. Hanson, is an atheist. As one myself, I know for a fact that no elected official in this country can rise above the level of dog-catcher without proclaiming their undying fealty to the Judeo-Christian God. If you doubt me, look through the resumes of the 535 members of Congress, the 50 governors, and the President and Vice-President (whoever they turn out to be!) Though the national numbers say there should be at least 30 and perhaps as many as 60 declared atheists among them, I challenge you to find one. If they had wanted to make a truly realistic political drama, they could have the House debating the candidate's fitness for vice-president in light of her declared atheism. But lurid sex scandals, and not religious debates, sell movie tickets. Otherwise, an enjoyable, Oscar-worthy film.

The Fisher King (1991)

One of the best movies of the 90s

[8/10 · 19 January 2000]

Just when I was beginning to think that the art of filmmaking was dead and buried, along comes this gem. I think others have said it before me, so I won't wax eloquent here...but do note the fact that, unlike practically every major movie in this database, there is NOT ONE negative user comment below.

Rent this movie, sit back and enjoy.

PS: You'll hear much about the Grand Central Station scene. I actually stood up in my living room and applauded. One of the most gracefully directed bits in any movie I've ever seen. I'm the more appreciative of it for having been through Grand Central hundreds of times...I still don't know how Gilliam could have done it.

Vertigo (1958)

On the one hand...on the other hand...

[6/10 · 3 January 2000]

Well, I guess my comments would come somewhere in the middle. Yes, it was brilliantly photographed, scored, and acted. But that ending...am I the only one who felt cheated? After all this buildup, she trips and falls, and Stewart looks down, The End, run the credits....the only think I could think of at that ending was: "duh....Ooops!"

There's Something About Mary (1998)

There's Something Wrong With Our Taste...

[6/10 · 19 April 1999]

Yeah, OK, some scenes were funny. But not $100 million worth of funny. And I'm sorry, but pain is not funny. Handicaps are not funny. Retardation is not funny.

But then, I'm one of those "out of touch" 40-year-olds.

The Exorcist (1973)

I guess you had to be there....

[9/10 · 13 April 1999]

I've read most of the comments on this film, and I am struck by the extreme polarization of views. While the majority think it was the best horror movie ever made (and I quite agree), a large percentage found it boring and even funny. This strikes me as especially interesting because...THAT'S EXACTLY THE WAY IT WAS 25 YEARS AGO. Most people were genuinely terrified, but a lot of people LAUGHED at it.

First of all, this deserves the title of classic for the same reason King Kong (1933) is a classic: Nothing even remotely like it had been done before. Even those people who weren't scared by it, have to acknowledge that fact. Laugh all you want at the cheesiness of King Kong today, but rest assured women really DID faint at its premiere. Same with The Exorcist. Second, the film especially terrified those of us who had a Catholic upbringing. Blatty was able to reach into the deepest recesses of our fears, and pull out the....for want of a better word, "gothicness" of the Roman faith and shove it in our faces. Third, the Exorcist terrified on a completely different level than most other horror films. You can sleep tight KNOWING that Freddy Krueger is a Hollywood invention, along with Jason, etc. Do you know the devil isn't real? Today I am an atheist, and don't believe in the devil, yet I can still appreciate what the director was hinting at, and what buttons he was trying to push.

I challenge anyone to name a more viscerally terrifying movie than the Exorcist.

Terms of Endearment (1983)

Huh?

[5/10 · 22 March 1999]

I feel like I'm either the blind man in the world of the sighted, or the kid telling the emperor he has no clothes. By no means did this movie stink, but by no means does it deserve the incredible accolades it has received here and elsewhere. And no, it was not worthy of the AFI 100. Mother-daughter relationships? Loss of a loved one to cancer? This is stuff that has been dealt with quite gamely on ABC Movies of The Week back in the 70's. Don't judge the worth of a movie by the number of Kleenex's on the floor when its finished. I remember watching this in the theatres when it first came out. Most people reacted the way most of you here have....but I looked around and met the eyes of a few people in the audience who had that same expression: "THIS is what the fuss is all about??" I thought it was a waste of a good cast, and I was SUPREMELY INCENSED that it beat "The Right Stuff," a much more timeless, important, and beautifully crafted film, for that year's Oscar.

I know I'm in the minority on this. Somehow, that doesn't bother me in the least.

The Frighteners (1996)

Just adding one thing...

[4 January 1999]

Obviously, the jury is in and everyone agrees this is a great movie, entertaining from start to finish. But I would like to add one thing...I would seriously like to know why Jeffrey Combs (SA Milton Dammers) was not at least nominated for an Oscar. I have rarely seen a better, more intense comic performance. He actually had me wondering whether they had dug up a drug-sotted satanic cultist for the part. In my opinion, his was the best performance by an actor in a supporting role that year.

Wag the Dog (1997)

Read this...then watch it again.

[21 December 1998]

Apparently a lot of people went to see this movie expecting either a highbrow comedy or a political farce. I'm sorry to inform you it was neither. "Wag the Dog" was an expose'. I wish I were at liberty to tell you how close to the truth this movie is - and not just because it parallels Bill and Monica.

The fact that so many of you just "didn't get it" is sobering testimony to just how important this film is. Go see it again. For your own sake.

You have been warned.

The Fifth Element (1997)

El Stinko...but who WAS that soprano?

[5/10 · 20 November 1998]

Everyone who comments favorably on this film seems to be of the school that says SFX + color + action + weird, offbeat ideas + supercool protagonist + sexy love interest = great movie. Sorry, it just doesn't work that way, not even in this post-Tarantino era. A great movie is always more than the sum of its parts. This one, despite getting an "A" for effort, just doesn't make the cut. The direction is too frenetic and frantic. The director seemed afraid to take his time and establish a rhythm. The result is a jumble of images that do little more than jangle the nerves. The one exception was the counterpoint of the fight vs. the singing diva sequence. (Borrowed, of course, from The Godfather and countless other movies). And just who was behind that incredible voice? Why have we not heard more of her?

Charly (1968)

One of the best "little" movies ever.

[8/10 · 23 October 1998]

A very enjoyable, heart-warming movie, brilliantly acted by Cliff Robertson. His transition from addled to super-intelligent and back again was astonishing. Probably one of the lowest-budget "science fiction" movies ever made, based on the short story "Flowers for Algernon," which is a must read. There have been many "mentally challenged to mental giant" movies since, but this was the first and best.

The Ninth Configuration (1980)

Aren't the hidden gems wonderful?

[10/10 · 22 October 1998]

Well, well, well. At last a rating I can fully agree with. Yes, the Shawshank Redemption was very good. But this is a hidden classic. If you're one of those people (like me) who loves to be taken completely by surprise by a movie, this is the one for you. The IMDB rating says it all: VERY few people know about this one, but those who do are nearly unanimous: this is outstanding storytelling. First time viewers, be warned: be patient. Let it happen. You won't know where it's going at first. Your patience will be rewarded, I assure you - it all comes together, culminating in a bar-room brawl that is an absolute textbook piece of tension-building. And then, you'll want to rewind it and watch it all over again, to pick out all the clues that slipped by you the first time through. Quentin Tarantino, eat your heart out: THIS is how it's supposed to be done.

Superman (1978)

One of the most underrated movies of all time

[22 October 1998]

This first Chris Reeve Superman movie was, I think, one of the most underrated movies of all time. The opening credits alone were almost worth the price of admission. The visuals were stunning, the flying scenes broke new ground for believability. The Krypton sequence ranks among the best-directed scenes in movie history. One scene I found absolutely thrilling was Superman taking Lois Lane on a joyride, with John Williams' brilliant score in the background (brought down several notches by having Margot Kidder talk the words instead of hiring a real singer). I'd take this over any of the Batman movies any day.

Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957)

A Riveting Study in Sheer Badness

[1/10 · 22 October 1998]

When I first watched this movie, I thought it was a joke. I thought it HAD to be someone trying to spoof high school movie projects. Then I realized two things: one, it wasn't a joke, Ed Wood took himself seriously (I didn't realize HOW seriously until I saw the excellent Tim Burton film). Two, it would be an INSULT to high school movie projects.

Any serious film buff MUST see this movie. It is not just bad, it is WONDERFULLY bad. It is a paean to badness. It raises badness to a fine art. It literally WALLOWS in badness. If they gave Oscars for badness, Ed Wood would receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ten Thumbs Down. Highly Recommended.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Am I blind?

[5/10 · 19 October 1998]

You know that series of ads for Blockbuster Video featuring the oh-so-artsy film student that is really quite superficial and pseudo-intelligent? That's what everyone who sees greatness in Quentin Tarantino reminds me of. Come on, people, there are certain rules for movie-making that are indelible. You can't get by forever writing the script on the same day of shooting while hung over. Maybe I'm the blind man in the world of the sighted....or just maybe Tarantino has you all fooled, like Peter Sellers in "Being There."

Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)

A for Effort, C for Execution.

[19 October 1998]

I really wanted to like this movie. The amount of effort, painstaking attention to detail, and creation of a gothic atmosphere, were all herculean. But something - and I can't really put my finger on exactly what - something just didn't click. It didn't work. Whatever magic wand Coppola waved over the Godfather to make it -click-, didn't make an appearance in this film. I'd recommend it as a study in the fine art of filmmaking, from a crafter's point of view, and yet at the same time, I don't think I'll buy the video for my collection.