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Reviews
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
Just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine.
I will only make this brief, because my vocabulary is too small to fully give this film the justice it deserves. The battle scenes are sweeping, moving and haunting, the performances are beyond Oscar worthy. Crowe and Bettany are so obsorbed into these rolls that I completly forgot I was even watching a film. The performances by the supporting actors are equally brilliant and nuanced. All I can say is you must see this film. Just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine.
Radio (2003)
His portrayal seems better suited in a John Water's film than an "inspiring" drama.
I am disgusted and appalled by the positive reviews this movie is receiving. Not only is it hokey, manipulative, and melodramatic. It's also shamelessly offensive. The character of Radio `Gooding Jr.' is paraded around as a cute little stuff animal, like a puppy that's so cute you just want to take him home.' This mentality is shameless; Radio is never treated as a human being, but as a manipulative device to draw sympathies from its audience. Even more atrocious are the film's numerous moments, in which Radio gets hit in the head/trips/falls over/etc. These moments of slapstick comedy had the audience howling with laughter merely purely because, `it's funny because Radio is retarded' This is shameless, Now I do not feel that the word `retarded' is an appropriate word at all to describe the mentally disabled, but this seems to be the stance the film is taking, `Radio is retarded, but that's okay, because he's cute and we like him.' Gooding's portrayal seems better suited for a John Water's film than an inspiring family drama. To add insult to injury the film is incompetent on every level, Debra Winger is uninspired in the role as the `stereotypical housewives' that the very reminder of her heinous monologues insights laughter in all who see the film. The Score by John Horner is pure sap always overlaying its tear some score over the tired cinematography. Ed Harris is decent in a role he could have slept through, but manages to retain much of the audience's attention throughout the film. In conclusion, if you consider yourself a decent human being, ignore this travesty of a film, read the book, but otherwise skip this dire film on an interesting character from American history.
Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965)
Faster Pussycat! Wow! WOW!
This film has it all, from giant breasts- to, well, more giant breasts. However, beyond that, this film is amazing on every conceivable level! The characters are all fully developed and intensely interesting- with their own loopy back-stories and bizarre nuances. The dialogue is killer and endlessly quotable, and the cinematography is exciting and enduring. If one isn't engrossed within the first 5 minutes of this film, they are either dead-or-believe the pinnacle of cinema is the ungodly, atrocious, and just all-terrible The Matrix: Reloaded. I would recommend anyone and everyone track down a copy of this film, despite it rarity. Perhaps, the most enjoyable and entertaining film ever made. Faster Pussycat! Wow! WOW!
Jag är nyfiken - En film i gult (1967)
Fascinating
Fascinating I approached I Am Curious (Yellow) and it's companion piece with great trepidation. I'd read numerous reports on its widely touted controversy and explicit sex. What I got wasn't this, but a thoroughly thought provoking and engaging cinema experience unlike any other. I sincerely believe that the majority of the commenter who felt the film was `lame' or `boring' approached the film as if it were pornography. Perhaps this is pornography, assuming pornography is something intended to titillate the senses, but it is intentionally un-erotic. Lena, the protagonist, throws her all into her performance giving it a realistic and humanity that is simply convincing and enduring. Her breasts may be saggy, her nipples unusually large, her thighs fat, and her face, chubby. But by the end of the film, the audience comes to identify with her, and accept her faults as human. This touch gives her even more believability out necessity. Had the director cast a Briget Bardot bombshell the effect would have been nullified. I cannot more highly recommend this thought provoking piece. Be prepared to invest much thought in this deliberately paced film. The patient and unassuming viewer will be thoroughly rewarded in ways most other films could dream.
Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)
Emotionally uplifting and profoundly moving
Its a true shame that more people are not rushing out to witness the film. It is brilliant beyond all humanistic expressions. The performances by the three leads is devastating and natural. They bring to the film such natural grace and carry great weight upon their shoulders. Kenneth Branaugh is remarkable. Its unusual for such big actors to take on such despicable characters in fear of being associated with the portrayle. However, he bravly sidesteps this and is earnst and terrifying. If you havn't seen this film, run out and do so. It's touching and moving in all the right places and you'll never feel the same again about your own lives.
Gangs of New York (2002)
Aweful, shamefully aweful!
Gangs Of New York is an atrocious misstep all the way through. I really wanted to enjoy this film. I know its dividing audiences across the country as to its true merit, but I wanted to be on the positive end of the spectrum. I felt that if this film were successful film making it would be a great step in the artistry of modern cinema, not to mention a great case for truth in director's vision. What results is a film so terrible words cannot describe it. Leonardo Dicaprio once again delivers a predictable performance, Cameron Diaz cannot figure out if she's an Irish immigrant or a dumb blonde from Hollywood. Neither of these two actors can maintain their accents; they drift in and out from one line to the next. The battle sequences are so poorly conceived and laughable in their executions. Its ridiculously obvious that the 100's of extras have no idea of what to be doing. The script is an absolute disaster. It introduces new and unnecessary characters with only 5 minutes remaining. Not to mention plot points are consistently started, yet never resolved. Character development is nil. Symbolism: predictable and laughable. The final sequence where we zoom into a The Butcher's glass eye and its revealed that its an eagle was trite and clichéd. IN the end, the only redeeming factor of the film is Daniel Day Lewis. He gives Bill the Butcher, depth and comic verve that insert much needed life into the proceedings. Whenever his character's is on screen his completely steals the film. Perhaps this makes the film all the more terrible. If only his brilliant performance was in a film more deserving of it. Martin Scorcese, you haven't just created a blunder, bad a travesty to cinema and an injustice to the history and citizens of New York. Shame on you!