psmoviemaven Reviews

The Birds (1963)

You will never look at those little feathered things in the same way ever again....

[8/10 · 3 February 2002]

Hitchcock showed what he could do when given another of Daphne Du Maurier's "The Birds" in 1960 and was well on his way into the supernatural with THE BIRDS. If anyone can hold you in suspense with a bunch of seagulls and sparrows Hitchcock and Du Mauroer can.

Tippi Hedren is the ice queen blonde, a standard in Hitchcock's films. And she really earns her salary in this one. Don't forget Jessica Tandy, the overbearing mother. [There's always one of those in Hitchcock's films too.]

By the way can you find Hitchcocks cameo appearance in this one?

Maverick (1994)

Mel Gibson is Bret Maverick. James Garner is Zane Cooper and Jodie Foster is Annabelle Bransford and they are all up to something

[9/10 · 31 January 2002]

This version of Maverick stars Mel Gibson as Bret Maverick, and James Garner, the original Maverick, as Zane Cooper. Add Jodi Foster as AnnaBelle Bransford with a fake southern-belle accent and a Riverboat Poker Game with very high stakes and you have all the elements for a tongue in cheek light hearted comedy. With these pros you will have to laugh.

The Man Without a Face (1993)

Justin McLeod wants to slip the surly bonds of earth and young Chuck wants to get into Military School but he'll need Justin's help

[8/10 · 31 January 2002]

Young Chuck wants more than anything to get into Military School but he will need tutoring to make the grade. His only hope is reclusive Justin McLeod, a former teacher. Justin is a reclusive figure of ridicule in this small town because of his disfigured face and other hushed implications. This mark on his face was from an automobile accident ten years before in which a boy was incinerated and for which he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. When Chuck looks for Justin's help and they become friends, the town's people become suspicious and hostile. I found it to be a good coming-of-age story; however I have to admit I did not get to read the novel - something I prefer to do. So I can not speak to the success of keeping the film in line with the original story. I found it to stand on its own.

Lethal Weapon 3 (1992)

They're Back.....They're still together....They're still nutz!

[7/10 · 31 January 2002]

Riggs and Murtaugh are teamed up again, only this time they have Lorna Cole to keep them on the straight and narrow. All they have to do is catch crooked former cop Lt Jack Edward Travis who appears to be selling guns out of the evidence room. Sergeant Lorna Cole of the Internal Affairs Division maybe no nonsense but she's awakened something in Riggs. Gibson, Glover, and Russo make for an adventuresome, comedic, threesome. You can rent all three Lethal Weapons and have a Mel-a-thon!

Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1989)

Ricky has to find a way to reach the love of his life even if he has to tie her down to do it.

[10/10 · 31 January 2002]

As far as I am concerned this is Almodóvar's most erotic comedic film ever made. I don't know how much has to do with the chemistry between Victoria Abril and Antonio Bandaras or if they are just excellent actors. !Atame! or "Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down" in English has all of Almodovars' usual suspects and the story is told with the proper amount of impish humor and believable drama. Antonio Banadaras is 'comeble' as Ricky the orphaned, juvenal delinquent now grown and with a sexual talent to be admired. And Victoria Abril plays well the unknowing stalked film actress, who tries to use her wits to outsmart Ricky until he slowly wins her over. This is played for comedic satire and it works. One who doesn't appreciate this film obviously misses the subtleness of seduction. Oh yes, you must watch the subtitled version to pick up the intonations of the original voices and language. !Ay que calor!

My Blue Heaven (I) (1990)

Vinnie Antonelli is about to enter the Witness Protection Program and he will change everyone's life in his new neighborhood.

[10/10 · 31 January 2002]

FBI agent Barney Coopersmith (Rick Moranis) is assigned to protect former Mafia figure Vinnie Antonelli (Steve Martin) in the witness protection program, far away from his NYC neighborhood. Vinnie has to get used to his new neighborhood in the "burbs" and his new name "Todd". But the 'burbs" will have to get used to Vinnie. No matter how he tries Vinnie just can't keep a low profile. Coopersmith certainly has his hands full keeping Antonelli away from the Mafia hitmen who want to stop him testifying, and the local D.A. Hannah Stubbs played by Joan Cusack,not to mention the nightclubs... But who would have thought Vinnie could play cupid thru all of this. This hysterically funny screenplay written by Nora Ephron and played for every laugh by Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, Joan Cusack, Melanie Mayron, and Carol Kane will put a smile on your face. This film is great Laugh Therapy everytime. Add this to your film library.

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

Mel is still Mad Max in the "outback" but now Tina Turner is the Queen of Thunderdome

[9/10 · 31 January 2002]

Max arrives through the futuristic barren "outback" after being robbed of his few possessions only to stumble into Bartertown, A wild-west trading post of the future teaming with criminals and ruled by Aunt Entity {a fabulous Tina Turner) and Master Blaster {Paul Larsson). He is forced to fight on behalf of Aunt Entity in the post-apocalyptic arena, Thunderdome. Mel and Tina are fabulous. And Paul Larsson is over the top.

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)

Max is still travelling the post-apocalyptic "outback".

[8/10 · 31 January 2002]

Former police-officer, "Mad Max" is now the lone wanderer, travelling through a vast wasteland that is Australia after a nuclear war, where petrol is the most valuable commodity. His life is only for survival. He is forced to help a small group of honest people running a remote oil refinery from a marauding gang of biker thugs and save the fuel supply too. A film classic II.

Mad Max (1979)

The role that put Mel Gibson and Australia on the Film Map

[8/10 · 31 January 2002]

In a post-apocalyptic, barren Australia, violent nomadic gangs rule the desert and .... 'Mad' Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson) goes on a quest for revenge after his family is murdered by a biker gang....sorta futuristic "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" with Mel as the monosyllabic loner out to even the score. Add this film to your personal movie collection. Its the first of many fabulous Mel Gibson films.

All About Eve (1950)

Fasten your seatbelts, Eve, it's going to be a bumpy flick!

[10/10 · 31 January 2002]

There is a reason this film walked off with at least 6 Oscars and has stood the test of time. Rapier wit written by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and a stellar cast with acting skills from the proscenium stage one doesn't see in film today.

This is probably Bette Davis's swan song, as Margo Channing the just past her prime Queen of the Stage. Ann Baxter is superb as the overly ambitious girl who will do anything to get the fame and glory she desires. George Sanders as the serpentine gossip columnist is at his most devious. Plus a wonderful supporting cast.

The are classic lines that are delivered with the craft of the royalty of American Theater.

Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

Mel and Danny are at is again, and Joe Pesci is along for the ride.

[8/10 · 28 January 2002]

Mel is back as Detective Sergeant Martin Riggs and Danny Glover is still his partner, Detective Sergeant Roger Murtaugh but besides having to deal with evil minded South African diplomats they have to babysit Joe Pesci as Leo Getz their mob informant turned amateur Detective. They've done it again and you will laugh.

Lethal Weapon (1987)

This is Mel at his ruff-n-tumble lunatic best.

[8/10 · 28 January 2002]

Mel Gibson as Martin Riggs is an L.A. cop often affected by the moon and just a tad of suicidal tendencies and Danny Glover is Roger Murtaugh, Mel's unlucky partner. (Unlucky to have Mel as his partner that is!) Mel IS as his ruff-n-Tumble best. And Danny is great as his straight man. A movie with something for both the guys and girls in your film viewing party.

Kate & Leopold (2001)

If one could time travel they would want to bring back Hugh Jackman with them everytime.

[8/10 · 28 January 2002]

This is pure female eye and brain candy, but who doesn't need a little fantasy every now and then? Guys get their "Playboy" magazines and we girls have our Meg Ryan films. Guaranteed to satisfy. Even though they were playing with the details of this fable til the very end and even though they probably used the same media focus groups in the movie to graph the proper ending for optimum audience response I still watched it twice in the theatre. It is a pleasant little fantasy with enough comic touches to make it interesting. Hugh Jackman as Leopold Alexis Elijah Walker Gareth Thomas Mountbatten was truely the fabled idealized guy we all dream about - a Cary Grant from the last century. Ahh for a taste of chivalry for us all. And they've actually aged Meg appropriately. Liev Schreiber is thouroughly believable as Stuart Besser, Meg's ex-boyfriend who's found the portal in time that we all know exists somewhere, {who'd of thought it was just off the Brooklyn Bridge.} Anyway Liev has a touchingly well written scene about colorblind dogs. Final mention, Breckin Meyer as Meg's younger brother, Charlie McKay, who's returned from "actor's camp", is excellent as the acting student ready to take any information Hugh Jackman is willing to share on acting and women. Girls if you're down this is just the fantasy to pick you up.

It Should Happen to You (1954)

Gladys Glover just wants her 15 minutes of fame but she may just be pure enough to get much more.

[10/10 · 26 January 2002]

Judy Holliday as Gladys Glover, working girl of the 50's just looking for her 15 minutes of fame, finds more than that with Jack Lemmon as Pete Sheppard. Judy has a gift for capturing the childlike quality of the pure of heart "dumb blonde". It is oh so sad that we lost this comedic genius well before her time. But at least we have this treasure with Jack Lemmon at his comedic best opposite her. Add this all time comedic classic to your film library.

Addicted to Love (1997)

You know what they say about a woman scorned; and Matthew Brodrich is a man forlorn...

[7/10 · 25 January 2002]

This number is a great little screwball comedy for the 90's. Meg Ryan and Matthew Brodrich have both been dumped for another. Each others another. So Meg convinces Matthew to use his astromical talents to help even the score. Meg is just a little edgier than her normal cutesy charactors. A fun film for a rainy night or any night you need a laugh or two.

French Kiss (1995)

Can Kate overcome her fear of flying to hop the pond and bring her errant boyfriend back to Canada? Only with Luc's help!

[8/10 · 25 January 2002]

Meg Ryan as Kate, an American schoolteacher living in Canada with her Dr boyfriend Charlie had their future all planned, but fate steps in and says "HA!". Kate's fear of flying keeps her from going with Charlie to Paris for a Doctors convention, and thats how Charlie finds himself in the arms of a "Goddess"! Now Kate has to overcome her fear of flying to try to get him back. Luckily, Kevin Kline as Luc, a Franco rascal, is more than willing to help Kate win Charlie back; however his motives are not as altruistic as he claims. This film contains one of the funniest film "take-off" scenes in film history. The plot is written for mega laughs and Meg and Kevin's comic timing is superb!!! The Eiffle Tower even has more than a cameo. And this movie soundtrack is one you will want to own. Add this to your personal film library for laugh therapy!

Braveheart (1995)

Who else could play William Wallace a defiant Scotsman, but Mel Gibson

[8/10 · 25 January 2002]

This late 90's version of the Scottish rebellion against the cruel English ruler Edward the Longshanks, tells as much about us as it does Scottish history. But who can complain about a chance to see Mel Gibsons gams??? This film should have enough action and violence to keep the men in your group happy. Based on the historic figures William Wallace and Robert the Bruce this is still a thrilling romp through history. The final scenes a reminder there were no lethal injections for the condeemed in the 13th century. Mel stays ruggedly handsome to the end.

Heart and Souls (1993)

Robert Downey Jr is still attached to his childhood imaginary friends or visa versa

[8/10 · 25 January 2002]

A great little meta physical comedy that only Robert Downey Jr with the help of Charles Grodin, Alfre Woodard, Kyra Sedgwick, Tom Sizemore, and

David Paymer can pull off. This is a pleasant little piece of brain candy with a wholesome plotline. Mark this one for some rainy day fluff. Sometimes thats just what you need.

Chaplin (1992)

Robert Downey Jr is the Little Tramp

[7/10 · 25 January 2002]

Probably one of Robert Downey Jr's best roles. He clearly became Charlie Chaplin, a filmmaking icon. This film takes through all the phases of Charlie Chaplins life, from his youth in the U.K. to his highly successful film career during the birth of the film industry in the USA. This film and Downey's portrail allow us to see Charlie's life, work, and loves. The real Charlie Chaplin had enough tradegies and loss to successfully create "The Little Tramp", who is at once hilarious and filled with pathos.

Hamlet (1990)

Franco Zeffirelli and Mel Gibson do Shakespeare's Hamlet

[8/10 · 25 January 2002]

Franco Zeffirelli directs Hamlet. Mel Gibson plays Hamlet. William Shakespeare wrote Hamlet. There are 40 film versions of William Shakespeare's Hamlet listed in IMDb, dating from 2000 back to 1907. This is one of the best. Besides Mel is in it. Need I say more?

Air America (1990)

Some pilots are willing to work anywhere to "slip the surly bonds of earth" ...

[7/10 · 25 January 2002]

This film rendition of Christopher Robbin's "Air America", the story of CIA's secret airforce in Laos during the Vietnam War has been fluffed up a tad too much. I would have hoped they would have kept the tone of the book which was a bit edgier; more like the film version of MASH. This version makes the "non-war" in Laos seem like a Disney World Ride. However Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr make it worth the price of admission. After you watch the flick track down the book for the REAL story.

Born Yesterday (1950)

Judy Holliday was Born to play Billy Dawn in this film Classic

[10/10 · 25 January 2002]

Judy Holliday shines in this film version of Garrison Kanin's Broadway Hit, "Born Yesterday" about a chorus girl turn kept gangster girlfriend. When Brodrick Crawford as Harry Brock' a legimate business man, decides Billy needs some refining and hires William Holden as Paul Verran to train her Harry gets some fringe benefits he did not count on. This is a film comedy classis that has stood the test of time. You can not go wrong with this film.

Amélie (2001)

Amelie is one of those delightfully eccentric people that see the world a little bit differently than the norm. Lucky for us!

[10/10 · 17 January 2002]

A delightful romp thru Amelie's part of Paris, thru Amelie's eyes. Amelie this eccentric lonely sprite finds herself on a mission of her own devise. And lucky for the people around her as she tries in ways only Amelie could think of to set people in the right direction or finds poetic justice where necessary. Ahhh if there could be more Amelies in the world...Guillaume Laurant writer and director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, who brought us "Delicatessen" and "Island of Lost Children" have created a much lighter fable than these previous films. Could the love bug have bitten either of them? - This is a film to see in the Cinema and then buy the video when it comes out.

Homegrown (1998)

Now here's a story for the flowerchild generation to get nostalgic about. A cautionary tale that goes up in a puff of smoke!

[8/10 · 17 January 2002]

You looking for a comic drama with suspense and an ensemble cast? Well locate this little sleeper. John Lithgow and Billy Bob Thorton are great in this little plot twister. Don't forget the cameo by Jamie Lee Curtis. A touch of the 60's, a touch of "the Prince and the Pauper", and dash of that homegrown gold makes for a greast little story.

Le Dîner de Cons (1998)

Only the French could come up with this "Dinner Game" Superlatively Funny!

[9/10 · 17 January 2002]

Pierre runs in a executive circle of friends who entertain themselves by seeing who can invite the biggest idiot to dinner, only of course the idoit doesn't know. Pierre finds Francois and knows he will win "Bring the biggest idiot" contest if Francois doesn't completely ruin Pierre's life before they get to dinner. Yes that's right you have to watch it in French with subtitles. Don't be silly. It's good for you! I guarantee you will laugh. Okay don't believe me??? Its made by the guys who brought you La Cage Aux Folles. Go watch it!