reginamia Reviews

Dracula 2000 (2000)

Finally an origin story that makes sense

[10/10 · 18 January 2024]

No spoilers. How could this get such a low rating on IMDB? It is the most intelligent, well acted (at least the main stars), creative telling of Dracula. A young Gerard Butler makes the allure completely believable. The origin story is fascinating and feels like the discovery of a long lost scroll.

Justine Waddell is such an underrated actress. She should have been given more to do here but she does the most with what they gave her. Johnny Lee Miller is always good and he does a great job as a youthful, courageous apprentice who discovers his inner hero. Christopher Plummer is an added treat who knows how to entice an audience.

The dialogue was not always sparkling and the secondary characters were not great actors, but the story itself, the surprises and aha moments, coupled with active dread made this film fascinating from beginning to end.

The Headless Horseman (1922)

Approach this film the right way.

[10/10 · 25 December 2023]

When Will Rogers made this film in 1922, the story by Washington Irving was just 102 years old. Since then, and another century, the world has seen unbelievable change and technological advancement. What we have lost in equal measure is the magic of time, silence, imagination and great storytelling.

Not only do I find this film watchable, I appreciate the remarkable realism of the action sequences, the astonishing horsemanship of Mr. Rogers doing his own stunts and appearing to be a novice, some remarkably beautiful images of landscapes, dirt roads, old bridges and houses in the very location that partly inspired Irving's short story.

The tales of ghosts, thunder beings, old Dutch and Native American traditions could have been forgotten along this stretch of the Hudson River Valley were it not for Washington Irving. There is a multi-layered historic link to generations past in every frame of this film.

Is it my imagination or are there traces of Will Rogers' brash, western brand of humor in some of the inter-titles? If that is true, the combination of the new American West with the older traditions, spiced with European tales and superstitions, is a first, if not unique contribution to American films.

Watching this version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow can teach us some worthwhile and even entertaining values. Take yourself back 100 years to a time before sound movies, television, freeways and cell phones. You find yourself in glens of green silence, clear brooks running under old wooden bridges strong enough for horsemen, but not for cars and trucks. You get back days full of physical work with the welcome respite of reading by fading light. It becomes easier then to mentally go back in time another hundred years to a time before the railway, before photographs, before electricity (of course before codified human rights and many beneficial things) to a time when Washington Irving could have strolled through the already venerated Dutch cemetery in Tarrytown, NY, drinking in the old wives tales of Hudson Valley lore. He could have looked out across the Tappan Sea, the widest expanse of the Hudson River, long before a bridge crossing it was imagined. In our day, looking back, it may be that land, space, clean air/water and time are the most precious commodities. These are what abounded for both Irving and Rogers.

Our luxury is that we can take the time if we choose to immerse ourselves in the rich imagery of The Headless Horseman. I find the background houses, outbuildings, clothing and interiors fascinating. There may be elements there that did not exist in 1820, but most did and were used even then in much the same way. Small details of history that have never made it into books may be discovered in films such as this, even if they were unintentional at the time.

For these reasons, I give this film a 10 out of 10. It offered entertainment a century ago; now, it offers so much more.

Virginia (1941)

"The War Wasn't Fought over Slavery"

[5/10 · 16 April 2023]

There is a fascination in watching old films that have become documentaries of past eras themselves. When I first began to watch 'Virginia' I became spellbound by the blithe way stereotypes were presented and accepted without question. Then I began to judge it from my own perspective now in 2023. Finally I came to a realization that while we cannot help the environment in which we were raised there are certain universal injustices that must be acknowledged by any thinking person. It is possible to be a caring, white landowner who feels affection and some responsibility for non white employees. It is not possible to refuse to see the equality and superiority of any person who honestly makes a success of life. Equally it is not possible to ignore the impediments put in front of non white Americans to intentionally make it extremely difficult for them to achieve success: in education, business, land ownership, etc.

When Fred MacMurray's character says, "The War Wasn't Fought over Slavery", and then goes on to say that the Emancipation Proclamation, since it wasn't enacted until 1863, was a political afterthought, I had to stop the film and listen again. His explanation as to why he thinks the Civil War should not be considered as the direct result of slavery, false as it is, is fascinating. You still hear that same statement but I had never heard anyone try to prove it by using the Emancipation Proclamation.

So, I give this film 5 stars because it is an excellent view into how the minds of Civil War apologists work, in real time. II could not give it more because some of its conclusions are horrifying. Ts casual racism, in a few different forms, both southern and northern, is worth investigation as well. The fact that in 1941 anyone could use racially charged epithets without pause and assume a completely different way of speaking to someone, based solely upon their color of skin, should elicit concern from anyone who watches it.

London Road (2015)

The Birth of a New Genre

[8/10 · 29 November 2022]

It took me a while to watch this because the premise sounded just weird. But I love Olivia Coleman and Tom Hardy, especially in work they did before they became superstars.

What I did not expect was a surprisingly effective means of moving the story forward and engaging the audience on a visceral level. Whether it was the use of actual words from the incident, the Greek chorus style of spoken/sung words, the surprise recognition of expressions I myself might use in a similar circumstance, or the emotional build up generated when talking morphed into music...I just don't know, but it was powerful.

It feels like an invention of Stephen Sondheim, or perhaps the natural evolution from his work to something custom made for cinematic effect but that could certainly translate to the stage. A new way to connect with the audience.

Uncle Tom's Cabin (1927)

Remarkable, engrossing film

[9/10 · 5 June 2022]

If you are not familiar with Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel then my review will have some spoilers. This film got way more right than wrong. At this remove (in time) it is difficult to consider the film without including the racist details, in addition to those in the original novel. What makes this difficult is that the intention in both cases was not to be racist.

Unlike the novel, this does suggest a mostly idyllic life for enslaved people and that most slave owners were good. What I found great about the novel is that she presented white attitudes in a full spectrum. Miss Ophelia, a Northerner, is an abolitionist, but racist. St. Clare is a truly good man but a failure as he is aware that slavery is wrong but does not fight it as it provides him a comfortable lifestyle. I wish the movie included his personal man servant, I think his name is Adolphe, who is fascinating. He is effete, with exquisite taste. St. Clare says that he is spoiled and lets him share his clothes and do as he likes. In some ways the most horrifying moment in the book is when St. Clare prematurely dies and his vicious wife, Marie, immediately sells Adolphe and Tom further south. He understands exactly what is in store for him, as do we.

One of the reviews here, and excellent one by Kekseka compares this film to the 1914 one with Sam Lucas. Lucas originated the role of Tom in theatres when Harriett Beecher Stowe was still alive. He would have been very young then, as Tom should be. He is always depicted as elderly. He is supposed to be young, strong, educated (he reads the Bible to enslaved people) and highly principled. I do think both of these films caught the fact that is not the stereotypical (false) impression of an 'Uncle Tom' but is a Christ figure who is willing to give up his life for principles but not to follow orders if they hurt others I think it was awesome that the 1914 film starred the original Tom from the stage, but he was 68 by then.

The film changes a number of things, mostly that take away from the book's impact. It removed young George Shelby, who was placed to be a kind of white savior, but isn't. He doesn't get to Uncle Tom in time; the book does not shy away from white failure. The devastating weakness of the elder Shelby and St. Clare, the sadism of Marie St. Clare and Simon Legree. The book opens with what I interpret as a pedophile. The slave trader is going to take Eliza, a very beautiful young woman who could easily pass for white, but instantly forgets about her when he sees the enchanting little Henry dancing. Here, Stowe does what in real life her minister brother, Henry Ward Beecher did in his church: shock white audiences by presenting enslaved people who looked like them, with the suggestion that even children had no rights when purchased.

In that regard, it would be so difficult to cast this film without appearing racist. They were more successful in 1914, but the 1915 Birth of a Nation began to change all that. In my opinion the casting of Marguerita Fischer as Eliza was inspired. The part of Topsy is always going to be problematic as the character has to visually repel Ophelia but cause her to face her own racism later on.

A remake of Uncle Tom's Cabin that is worthy of the novel would be something to see. If done right, as the novel was, it would force Americans to face head on the racism that stills pollutes the entire country. It was no accident when Lincoln met Harriet Beecher Stowe that he said, "so this is the little woman who started the Civil War."

Archenemy (2020)

This is the kind of film that deserves a remake

[2/10 · 6 June 2021]

What at first felt like the waste of a likable talent (Joe Manganiello) finally was an interesting idea badly developed. The dialogue was cringingly bad so I could not tell if the acting, for the most part, was as well. The fact that Manganiello managed to stay charismatic and nuanced despite huge lapses of logic and even continuity, suggests that the other actors were as bad as they seemed.

I say that it deserves a remake because it is unwatchable as it is, but with a more coherent story, better dialogue and competent actors to support Mr. Manganiello, it could be an entertaining and thought provoking hero/anti-hero film.

The one exception is the animation, which was quite effective and gave more depth to the whole production.

Stuber (2019)

Really funny movie

[10/10 · 22 July 2019]

No spoilers here, just a high recommendation for you to see this film. The critics got this so wrong. One has to wonder if the dialogue was too fast and subtle for them. I cannot remember when I have laughed out loud, for so long, during any other film. The two main characters have fantastic rapport and they sound as if they are ad-libbing - they are so natural. On a more personal note: I went to the writer's page and saw a congratulations and high recommendation from Taiku Waititi!

The Turn of the Screw (1974 TV Movie)

Remarkable acting

[9/10 · 12 January 2019]

In this 40+ year old, made-for-TV version of the classic horror novella, a sense of dread and impending danger permeates the whole. With no special effects to enhance the atmosphere, the story, script, direction and acting must support the production. They do so admirably. We expect no less from Lynn Redgrave, but the entire cast, especially the children, deserve notice.

Jasper Jacobs, as the 14-year-old Miles, so effectively personifies evil and corruption, I felt a chill every time he was on screen. Young as she is, Eva Griffith handled material one would assume went far beyond the scope of a young child, It is beyond refreshing to see child actors truly act without any of self-consciousness we have become used to from Hollywood. Even the young Benedict Taylor, as Timothy, was utterly believable.

I found the rather slow pace to be one of the most effective methods of communicating the pace of 19th century country life; a challenge in these times of high tech, electronic perception bombardment.

As You Like It (2006)

Brian Blessed is superb

[5/10 · 21 September 2012]

SPOILER: This will not be a spoiler for most, but you should be aware that Brian Blessed plays two roles: the Duke Senior and Duke Frederick.

Of the many reviews of As You Like It seen here, I have not noticed any that praised Brian Blessed in the dual roles of Duke Senior and Duke Frederick. He was breathtaking. Blessed is a recognized national treasure for his booming voice and over-the-top characters, but here he brought life to subtle passages, sometimes overlooked, and conveyed the contrast between the two brothers, complicated as siblings can be, as I have never seen by two different actors.

His ease with the language made it equally understandable and natural to the point that the viewer can instantly enter into the characters' thoughts. His grasp of the meaning behind the words is so eloquently communicated that I sorely wished he was also playing the part of Jaques! I would love to hear his interpretation of "All the world's a stage".

While his Duke Frederick brings nuance to the machinations of the villain, perhaps most impressive is his Duke Senior. The gentle wisdom and grace of this Duke is something not expected of this bombastic actor, but it reveals the great actor himself and opens the door of our expectations to see much more of him in future.

Superstar (1999)

Don't Always Believe Critics' Reviews

[7/10 · 6 June 2006]

Because we had seen all the other comedies at the DVD store, my son and I finally watched Superstar. It had been so panned by every review I had ever seen, I thought it would be a waste of time. Perhaps especially for those who have memories of Catholic schools, it is as delightful as it is silly. My twelve-year-old does not have these memories but he laughed hysterically none the less.

I do recommend this film, but I do not recommend the critics who gave it only one star. Like psychologists, film critics must understand both the genres they review, and every type of audience that will view the film. This comedy may not be for everyone, but I cannot imagine anyone taking real offense at it either.