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Reviews
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)
A Wonderful Movie
I don't understand why more people don't appreciate this movie. It was just beautifully filmed, the story was fascinating, the actors were compelling, and it was an extremely faithful adaptation of the book. I know smell is difficult to convey visually, but when Dustin Hoffman's character sniffed a perfume, and the very aroma of it transported him to another place, filled with flowers and sunlight and a beautiful woman, I knew that perfume must have smelled amazing. What the director can't give us through scent he gives us with beautiful imagery throughout the film. I was enchanted through every part of the movie, stunned by the ending, and profoundly glad that I had sat down to watch it. It immediately became one of my favorite movies of all time, and I hope others can experience it and enjoy it as much as I did.
The Bride (1985)
A Dark Fantasy of a Movie
In this wonderful movie, Sting plays Dr. Frankenstein, who after already creating his first monster and finding him disappointing and annoying has decided to create the perfect woman. He's successful in his pursuit, but the first monster, Clancy Brown in a heartwarming role, is chased away after becoming a little to possessive of his new bride.
The monster runs off into the woods and befriends a little person, Rinaldo the Midget, played wonderfully by David Rappaport, on his way to join the circus. He invites the monster along, and gives him the name of Victor. It is from Rinaldo, who's patient and understanding in a way Dr. Frankenstein never was, that Victor learns how to get by in life, how to behave, how to share, and to go after your dreams.
Meanwhile, back at the castle, Dr. Frankenstein is trying to educate and enlighten his newest creation Eva, a lovely and talented Jennifer Beals. He aspires to create the perfect woman, as intelligent and independent as a man. He does not, however, consider the full implications of his aspirations.
As Eva grows and learns, she begins to ask questions. She has been lied to about who she is and where she comes from. Much to Dr. Frankenstein's annoyance, she has become strong-willed and independent, just like a man, but obviously not quite what he had considered. He had also not considered how arousing he would find her.
Victor and Rinaldo successfully join the circus after much persuading, but Rinaldo longs for his dream to visit Venice, and Victor discovers he longs for his dream of Eva, his intended.
As the movie progresses, there is an obvious connection between the two characters which they are aware of, but aren't in contact with each other.
As Dr. Frankenstein introduces Eva into society with a few little mishaps, Eva discovers a handsome young soldier played by a very young Cary Elwes. He pursues her as he would any woman he would like to bed, much to agitation of Dr. Frankenstein.
The movie moves towards its climax, bringing with it an intensity and a heartfelt conclusion that makes it overall a remarkable movie.
Sting manages to convey Dr. Frankenstein's increasing frustration with his independent, disobedient, yet lovely creation, a dark character who also enjoys his opium from time to time. The scenes with Victor and Rinaldo are wonderful. Jennifer Beals is perfectly bewitching, at first unknowing and naive, then becoming strong and intelligent as the movie progresses, yet still revealing an innocence to her character.
I think anyone would be charmed and entertained by this wonderful movie, and I highly recommend it to all.
Internal Affairs (1990)
A Dark and Fairly Entertaining Cop Movie
I was fairly entertained by Internal Affairs. It deals with an investigation led by Andy Garcia and Laurie Metcalfe, partners in the internal affairs department. They are investigating possible illegal activities by a really nasty character played by Richard Gere.
First, the good: Andy Garcia's acting was pretty good, Richard Gere was rather great as a total evil scumbag. I love Nancy Travis in everything she's been in. She does a wonderful job portraying Garcia's lovely wife. The plot was well crafted, dark, intense, tragic.
Now the bad: Garcia's partner could have benefited from a stronger actress than Laurie Metcalfe. She does a fine job, but it's hard to wrap your mind around this usually comedic woman in such a serious role. The plot is a little muddled in areas and I just don't enjoy William Baldwin that much. The movie also lacked a satisfying ending, in my opinion, and was doing pretty OK up until that point.
Regardless of its flaws, though, Andy Garcia and Richard Gere are perfect enemies in this rather enjoyable film.
A Murder of Crows (1998)
Not One of My Favorites
A Murder of Crows was recommended to me by my enthusiastic aunt and so I forced myself to sit through it despite my complete disinterest in it. It was about what I expected.
Cuba Gooding Jr. played a lawyer who was disbarred when he decided he really didn't want to defend someone he knew was guilty. This fine upstanding man of high moral standards decides to move to Key West to write a book. But book writing is hard. At this point the movie's been going on for some time and I'm completely bored. Then this old guy comes into his life, and the old guy's kind of interesting, but I immediately detected something was fishy when he said his name was Christopher Marlowe. You would think a educated lawyer like Cuba Gooding Jr.'s character would have picked up on that too. He didn't, though.
The old man ends up giving him a 'novel' he wrote, wanting an opinion on the book, and the lawyer is stunned by it. However, the old man mysteriously dies before he can return the book to him, and that's when he does something completely unexpected and decides to publish it as his own. I had to wonder at this point why he had a problem with defending an obviously guilty man just to make money, but doesn't have any problem with plagiarism.
Cuba's character then rises to fame and fortune, although I can't imagine what he could have been thinking he would do at this point. You know his publisher would be expecting another book from him. This really wasn't a well though-out plan.
Next thing you know he's being arrested, because it turns out all the murders in the book actually happened, ha ha ha.
I've never been a big fan of Cuba Gooding Jr. and I wasn't in this movie. I do have to say it did have an interesting story, but I really have nothing else positive to say about it. Eric Stoltz's acting was almost as cheesy as his southern accent, the gratuitous sex scene was just kind of gross, and I never really cared about what was going to happen. The director really failed to draw me in or make me give a hoot about the characters. I would have to say that I would never watch this movie again, or recommend it to anyone, because that would just be mean.