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O.J.: Made in America (2016)
Correcting a Wrong Based on Skin Color is never right.
This movie gets under your skin, disturbs and makes you uncomfortable. It's a powerful documentary that is incredibly impactful.
The depth to which it explores the miscarriage of justice that was the OJ trial is mesmerizing.
It is abhorrent to exonerate anyone who's guilty of a crime, based on racial bias. And yet some seem to have no problem blatantly admitting it. Others try to hide it. That range can be seen here through vast interviews on the topic.
The movie has extensive access to some of the key players in the trial and the case. And is expertly woven to build the narrative while not becoming preachy or moralistic.
We can all learn from the outcomes and the mistakes made and how things can be handled in a much better way. And some would argue you actually we do now see some improvement in our courts and policing tactics. Unlike the mess that unfolded in the 90s Los Angeles during the grizzly murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.
Mighty Aphrodite (1995)
This Movie Has Not Aged Well
How many scripts did Allen write and direct where his love interest(s) are young beautiful females? I mean, in this simple moronic script, Allen draws up two for himself.
I find the acting in this movie really unconvincing. Even Sorvino's performance is torpedoed by a forced high pitch voice that does not match that of what is supposed to be a SW (prostitute).
Very troubling scenes abound, like when Sorvino's character tells Allen that she has been beaten by her date and this gets no notice at all by Allen. As if even in 1995 its ok for a guy to assault his date if he disagrees with her life choices. And then we all move on with no attention to this disturbing oversight.
But the absurd and off-putting, Greek inspired line dancers are supposed to be teaching us all a misinformed fable. In the end, Allen tries to clean up this mess of a plot with a happy ending where everybody's smiling with their kids and all the couples match up and every body lives happily ever after. What a disgrace of a production.
Friends Forever (2001)
Its kinda like a highway on a highway on a highway
This movie absolutely rules balls and is one of the best movies i have ever seen. My throat hurts right now from laughing so hard as these guys are some of the most original artists i have ever encountered on film.
Some of the shots taken during their journey across the country are nothing if not breathtaking. And their genius views on a rock n roll dream gone awry are inspiring and devastating.
The cast of characters that pitch in along the way are among the most fringe contributors to a non commercial art scene that you'd ever encounter.
I can't say enough about how much balls this film rules.
Taxi (2004)
Vintage Unintended Humor
There were 2 parts of this movie that were laugh out loud funny when i saw this on a flight a few nights ago.
1. A radical thin bike messenger taking off his helmet to reveal himself as Queen Latifah's character.
2. Jimmy Fallon's boss, the precinct lieutenant, is played by Jennifer Esposito. This cop had a plunging neckline in her opening scene that was so sexy it was hysterical. This woman was so hot it made me wonder if the casting team had ever been to a NYC police precinct. It ain't pretty folks trust me....i guess we can blame that on the NYPD blue phenomenon as well, but I couldn't hold back my bladder challenged cackling upon seeing this bombshell as lieutenant.
I also thought the Hispanic stereotyping was really interesting. The flight that I was on had a number of Dominicans and trust me, when Fallon was poking fun at Hispanics with the cheesy mustache and mocking a Cuban accent there wasn't one chuckle on that entire plane. Way to go guys!!
21 Grams (2003)
The man's obsessed with car accidents
I love Naomi Watts and she does a great job with this role. The plot is a little bit overwrought and highly coincidental, (how likely is it that a heart donee falls in love with the donor's widow? ahemmmm). The more misery and bad luck there is heaped into 2.1 hours of movie is not a recipe for enjoyment. There are some lovely shots in the film and great music which elevates the abysmal tone. This is certainly not a great "hey, its Saturday night, lets go out and hit the town after we watch this movie" kind of rental. See Amores Perros if you like car accidents and the ways eccentric characters deal with the reality.
Shallow Hal (2001)
Bait and Switch "Comedy"
So sad that the exact premise for the movie turned out to be just an opportunity for these "filmmakers" to preach to the very audience who would pay to see this. Lets face it, noone who is really sensitive to this issue and open to its message of inner beauty would ever go and see this crud in the first place. Look, if you're going to make a movie about being shallow, you might as well push that theme to the limit and give the dopes what they want.
Do we really need the young girl in front of a Pediatric Burn Unit to drive home the "beauty is not skin deep" message?
Touching the Void (2003)
Fantastic Journey
I would not consider myself a climber but I have climbed mountains before. To anyone familiar with that feeling of trying to reach a peak that continues to seem further away this film really hits home. For those who haven't climbed, this would have to be the best way to experience the intensity and decision making that goes into a perilous adventure far from the safety and ease of modern life.
The depth of detail that is offered in the story is riveting and it is what makes the difference. If they had just glossed over the events and didn't delve into the painful decision making that took place, the viewer may have experienced an average film, But that wasn't the case.
Careful attention was paid to recreating the scenes and often captured the breathtaking beauty of the Peruvian Andes.
Bad Santa (2003)
Pushed the envelope for sure
We've seen an occasional drunken Santa on screen before but this flick took it to the extreme. i was surprised at how far Thornton was pushed particularly
when it came to insulting the kids and the way he handled them.
Makes you feel very uncomfortable.
There were many hilarious moments in the flick some like ive never seen before and very original. For this, i think those with a dark and sardonic sense of humor will find this film very entertaining.
I disagree with the opinion that Bernie Mac was not funny. The scene where he gets into the name calling w/ the "little elf" is priceless. I agree that at points the language gets a bit overwrought but Im not saying that this film is perfect.
The one part of this film that some overlook is how ridiculous it is that this horrible human being gets to shack up with the likes of the Lauren character. She's so playful cute and loving and it intensifies the fantasy to see her fall for this bigoted cheatful insensitive pig. Its so unrealistic it becomes ridiculous.
You can't say that this film wasn't original and for that and the few uproarious laughs it was worth it.
Swimming Pool (2003)
Weak execution of a female 'Adaptation'
You can certainly compare this film in many ways to Adaptation where a writer is in the process of developing a novel (script) that is being played out simultaneously. BOth writers are sexually frustrated and both are envious of those who wallow in the freedom of unrestrained sexuality.
While the twist in these flicks has a lot do with the fact that the author is creating the turns as we go, this is a benefit to Adaptation and a fault in Swimming Pool. The changes are hazy and the characters' motivation shifts from scene to scene in my opinion. In the end the best part of the film is the striking beauty of Sagnier and the grace and ease of her performance.
I wanted Sarah Morton to to embrace the freedom of Julie; this would have been much more interesting than daydreaming about a senseless and out of character murder.
Les filles ne savent pas nager (2000)
A Hidden Gem
This film was a startling surprise. I found the natural performances and "un-rushed" pacing remarkably refreshing. I would compare the originality of the teenage characters more to Ghost World than the way they are often portrayed in popular American films like "Fast Times . ." or "Clueless". Gwen is a full of life, imaginitive, dark and original character. Lise was the misguided, down on her luck loner looking for answers in her mixed up world. I dont see how people could say this was boring.
How many times have you seen two French teenagers slap each other with fish guts. No, there is no gun scene and unlike Road to Perdition, it lacks stylized violence which may be hard for some viewers to handle. Aside from the abrupt ending, Its original characters, lovely seaside vistas, natural performances, and creative storytelling make this a hidden masterpiece.
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Powerful Implications
This film explores the great dilemma that future generations will clearly confront. How we deal with manufactured intelligence and and its moral implications. If our manufacturers cannot yet create a flawless tire for cars some 80 plus years into production, what type of mistakes will we make once we begin developing intelligent machines.
My favorites scenes of this movie included the dialog between the boys (David the "mecha" and Martin the real son) in the domestic setting. It was fascinatingly uncomfortable to see the way Martin tempted the limits of David into mischief through his jealousy. And later the mean spirited taunting David endured during the pool scene. If I were God (ie Spielberg) I would have been happy to have explored David's acclimatization into a domestic family setting to a much greater degree without all of the fantasy and sci-fi that would fill the better part of the 2nd half of this film. David was programmed to want nothing more than the love of his Mother and family. His naivete and want for love is something that the other characters have a hard time understanding and regardless of how real David seems at times, those around him never let go of the fact that he is a Mecha/Android.
My take is that the point from which David falls to the bottom of the pool the audience enters the mind and dreams from the perspective of the artificially intelligent protagonist as the scientists perform adjustments and treatments. One final scene with William Hurt would have confirmed this.
This was a very powerful film. Leave the kids at home and be prepared to open your mind.