artechno7 Reviews

A Very Long Engagement (2004)

beautiful movie, well crafted, and strangely serene

[8/10 · 16 April 2006]

I love French movies, so I am biased, but this was particularly interesting since I read the IMDb comments prior to viewing, and was intrigued by the film's impact. It is long, and moves slowly, as do many European films, but the story unfolds beautifully. There is suspense and terror at every turn as episodes of World War I show the brutality of trench warfare, and the technological advance of plane, bombs, artillery shells. I hadn't expected a 'war' movie, but it is unexpected and explosive storytelling at its best. And, the appearance of Jodie Foster is also a surprise and a bit of a jolt. For any student of history, and any student of film, this is a great classic film for its authenticity, its beauty, its craftsmanship and the color and style of the movie. Each shot is art.

The Night of the Iguana (1964)

Okay what's up with those Beach Boys?

[7/10 · 7 April 2006]

I love John Huston, I love Tennessee Williams, and I watched "Iguana" for the first time ever in 2006. Yes, the dialog, the ontological superiority of the storyline, the authentic characterizations, the locale, are winners all - but what is up with those Beach Boys???? And, the maracas going nonstop even during the sex scenes with Ava (Maxine)-What was John Huston thinking? Okay, I'm gonna have to rent the movie, and read the play, and see all the remakes, but that is just TOO FUNNY!

So, I'm hoping this is a glitch of Huston's wit circa 1964 but would really love to know the background on this. I'm reminded of Saturday Night Live and that disco movie with Will Farrell and Chris Kattan.

Is it customary for people to be shaking maracas all day long in Puerto Vallarta (well inbetween punching out the bus driver)

Gone in 60 Seconds (1974)

Better than the 2000 version- Must See

[10/10 · 18 September 2005]

I was enthralled when I flipped to this movie, airing on Speed Channel. I had no idea it existed, but for movie history, for car chase buffs, for anything L.A.; this is great footage, never to be duplicated.

Now, I know where they got the idea for Bullit, the Steve McQueen car chase flick. Halicki is to be commended for the action sequences, goofs and all, and how they pulled this off in Torrance, Long Beach, and Carson, CA, is beyond me.

This is one of those movies that you can't believe what you are watching, so you have to watch it again. I'm not even a car chase fan, but I could not change the channel! It is neorealism, it is cinematic history, and it is better than a Nintendo game.

Rescue Me (2004–2011)

My secret evil plan...catch every episode

[18 March 2005]

I heard about this show and since I come from NY/NJ and from an Irish catholic family of firemen, of course, I'm watching this. It's authentic, it's gritty, not pretty, but then, you don't know firemen - they're running into burning buildings when everybody else is running out, and are a breed unto themselves, an essence that Leary and Co. have captured.

So, if you ever have an opportunity to go to a 'wetdown' or a fundraiser (See Bayhead NJ crabfest in Aug. -" If you don't' come to our fundraiser, we ain't coming to your fire" )- you see real men, some of them boneheads, some of them rocket scientists, but always for real. This very edgy drama and esp. Leary's character shows the dark side, and his 'secret evil plan' instead of whitewashing every guy as a hero, as competent or even, sober. I love that the moral center keeps shifting underneath their feet, just as in real life. There's a million stories in the Naked City, and "Rescue Me" could tell them all.

I've been waiting for a show like this to come along because I practically grew up in a firehouse, and I know so did a million other kids in America. And, for those people who don't know any firemen, go adopt one or better yet, go volunteer.

Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)

All should see this film and consider the opinion presented

[17 October 2004]

I waited for the DVD to rent and a year after the war in Iraq 'began' and 'ended' it is still mystifying to me that people 1) don't care

2) don't see 3) don't think. I applaud Michael Moore's work and while not balanced journalism, why should it be? Is there a balance in journalism anywhere? I would fight to the death to defend Michael Moore, but while I live near Camp Pendleton and watched many young Marines go off to Iraq, I knew in my heart, they thought they were doing the 'right' thing. How do you change someone's head? It's the same dichotomy emerging as during the Viet Nam war when the society became bitterly divided, and I'm not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel yet. I hope that all Americans will watch this film and form their own opinions about the truths presented and filtered to us through the media. As a journalist, I learned firsthand, that truth has nothing to do with reporting, and our government of the people usually has nothing to do with the 'people.'

Full Metal Jacket (1987)

FMJ is a dark comedy, a brutal satire, and a brilliant, though skewed snapshot of Viet Nam

[18 May 2003]

There seems to be a vitriolic backlash against the now late Stanley Kubrick, but politics aside, his camera eye is unparallelled and not given to special effects, he creates special effects through a mesmerizing mise en scene, especially in this dark satire of Viet Nam. Not for the fainthearted, but for the political animal in all of us. Kubrick always attacks his stories in a 'Lord of the Flies' vein, which of course, most people find disturbing. His point in making this film, was to make you feel ever so slightly disturbed, perhaps to even move you off your mark just a little and wonder.