Hubertus Huehne Reviews

Open Range (2003)

simply the same bore over and over again

[4/10 · 23 November 2007]

The start: nice landscapes. Wish we had wide open land like that in Germany. I love it. Then this terrible music. It destroys everything. Every second big American movie does have this theatrical, pathetic, pseudo-classical score which in my opinion destroys more than enhances mood. I don't want to insult anybody and the composer is surely a great artist and does what he's paid for, but I think it's mostly useless kitsch - and I should know what Kitsch is because I'm German and this is a German word. Makes me laugh sometimes. The next thing which makes me angry about the film is the illogical behavior of the characters. OK, they're supposed to be simple men, but they behave like people completely unsuited for life. Don't let me explain in detail. I have no time for this. Everybody who's seen the film knows what I'm talking about. If you have and didn't see this you should watch it again and again. Come on - there are plot holes deeper than the Grand Canyon in this movie, and one should invent the word "characterhole" for it. What really takes me off is that the film definitely has some qualities. The characterization I like, the camera, the action (Well, I can oversee Costners "magic-gun", shooting more than a dozen times with a six-gun without reloading. I just say to myself it's not important for the story to show the guys reload.). Oh, there is another point: the story. Where have I seen it again? There's some "High Noon" and some John Ford's and more than a little John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart. The motivation of the characters is fighting for freedom? Damn. I could get political now. Yes, freedom, like George Bush's kind of "freedom-fighting". Hope they are starting to become aware now. But Hollywood is always showing this "fight for freedom", like if they are paid to show the public the same lie over and over again so they'll mistake it for reality and be quiet. Aswers why Americans always have to have a happy end. I don't spoil anything for anybody here when I say it has one. It's always the same. Seen it all. Boring. Waste of manpower and pictures in my opinion.

Homer and Eddie (1989)

Possibly the best acting by Goldberg and Belushi ever!

[9/10 · 16 February 2002]

This is easily the "craziest" Road Movie ever made - and one of the best. It's funny, tragic, dramatic and intelligent. Konchalovsky's composition is without any flaws - you'll find no plot holes or boring sequences destroying the flow of the story. The soundtrack supports the atmosphere of the movie perfectly. James Belushi stars as Homer, a retarded man, who goes on a long journey to see his dying father. Right at the start he's being robbed of all his cash and has to sleep in a car cemetery. There he meets the criminal Eddie, played by Whoopi Goldberg, who's slowly dying of a brain tumor. This tumor is the reason for several violent outbreaks. Eddie escorts Homer and arranges the first sexual contact for him - with a monstrous prostitute. This results in one of the most charming and funny "sex scenes" I've ever seen, beaten only by the priceless dancing scenes with Homer and Eddie at the pier. I've never seen one of the two acting better. But don't miss the guest appearances of Anne Ramsey, Karen Black and Jesus! And be warned: even though this film is full of funny, charming and lovable scenes it has also its violent parts.

If you liked "Harold & Maude" and "Gilbert Grape" this is a film for you!