phantomsightandsound Reviews

Win, Again! (1999 TV Movie)

Well-acted, "feel good" movie; laced with humor, wisdom, & humanity

[9/10 · 11 January 2007]

My reaction to this movie was one of surprise & delight! I had no idea that Canada's Gordon Pinsent wrote such poignant screenplays. The premise of the story is intriguing, however, it is definitely a film for lovers of drama, not action. Acting is superb. The characters are interesting & evolve in fascinating ways before our eyes. The film is full of messages about life, hope, and human nature. There is a lot to smile & laugh at here, too. I hope you will take the time to discover this little gem!

It appears to have been written for TV or the stage & contains fade-outs appropriate for television commercials or scene changes. I watched it on commercial-free TV & this was the only thing that I found mildly off-putting.

Who Is Cletis Tout? (2001)

Slick with no substance

[4/10 · 23 July 2003]

Somewhat entertaining. The movie is essentially plot -driven. The plot is incredulous at best but when it has holes in it there isn't much left. The bit with the birds is a major flaw. Homing pigeons "home" to one location only. They will not fly back & forth. In my mind the romance at the end is also totally unbelievable. 4/10

A Streetcar Named Desire (1984 TV Movie)

Significantly better than the classic original

[10/10 · 12 August 2002]

Ann-Margaret as Blanche Dubois turns in the best performance of her career. Do not believe the deriders! EVERY actor in this version is more believable than in the Leigh/Brando release. This will be particularly evident if you see this version before the original as I did. Camera work is excellent & the music is outstanding in creating that hot New Orleans atmosphere. Don't miss this one!

Lawn and Order (1994)

Various homes & gardens are shown while their owners reveal their diverging & divergent views on home beautification.

[9/10 · 29 November 2001]

This is perhaps the funniest documentary that I have ever seen! I guarantee that you will laugh.The premise is similar to the movie, Best in Show, but the characters seem more real and the humor is less contrived.