jettbrowne924 Reviews

Carnage (2011)

Kind of Like "Who's Afraid..."

[8/10 · 14 December 2011]

Adapted from the very successful play starring 4 great actors, comes the movie version of another 4 great screen actors. Taking place entirely in the apartment of the married couple of Michael & Penelope (John C. Reilly and Jodie Foster,the movie plays in real time. An afternoon that spans about an hour and 10 minutes. And thats how long the movie is. Nancy & Allen Cowan have come over to the aforementioned Longstreets to discuss a fight between their two 11 year old sons. The fight seems to have the couple branching off unto their own foibles and beliefs, both morally and personally. This film feels exactly like if you had orchestra seats at the theater. There are excellent long scenes of the actors who all have discerning personalities of their own. There are some good laughs and some good nuggets of wisdom in the dialogue which comes directly from the playwright. My only question is, "How the hell did this movie cost 25 million dollars?"

Happiness Runs (2010)

Horrible. Simply Horrible.

[1/10 · 24 November 2010]

This is possibly one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I rented it because Strand Releasing usually has some interesting movies. I can not believe they optioned this piece of junk. The story is about some kid living in a commune who wants to get out. The protagonist is not even likable, wearing the same look on his face throughout the movie. The gratuitous nudity starts at the beginning of the credits and does not stop. The massive amounts of drug scenes are so unbelievable as are the scenes with Jack Danials and beers when all the character's are looking for money. Andie McDowall was in another movie. This is the reason why Indie films are so hard to get made. This was just a culmination of stupid dream sequences, stupid characters and horrible acting.

Horsemen (2009)

Absolutely Horrible for such a Promising Cast

[3/10 · 1 May 2010]

The only reason why I know of this movie's existence is because I was looking for anything at the library with Lou Taylor Pucci, who is in my book one of the best actors out there. "Horsemen" was available. Then I look at the box and I'm like, "cool...Ziyi Zhang and Dennis Quaid to boot!Why did I never hear of this? And it was made last year." Ha! Because it's awful. There are so many inconsistencies, and stupidity abounds. Here is one example: Quaid and his partner are checking out the house of the suspect, WHO IS IN JAIL!!!,and they are using their flashlights! Eric Balfour,whom I like in "6 Feet Under" is the biggest idiot. The whole storyline between him and Patrick Fugit is inane. Quaid is heading to pick up his kid from school,then turns around to go to his house,when he gets to his house it's dark out! Every question in one scene is answered,wink,wink, in the next. Pucci,as usual did great in this bombastic,so poorly written and contrived piece of junk. Ziyi also was great and her English pretty decent. She's gorgeous. I would only watch this if you are a LTP or ZZ fan. Quaid looked horrible and his character was a mash note of every tired detective in the book,and he was horrible at it.

Chocolat (2000)

Near Perfect

[9/10 · 6 February 2005]

Juliette Binoche is absolutely sublime as is everyone else in this finely casted film. It has been stated that Miramax shoved this movie down everyone's throats to garner some Academy Noms. Complete hubris. Binoche's expressions and reactions are so touching and so real, that you forget you are witnessing fiction. Lena Olin is also outstanding in her role of Josephine; a villager who is ostracized from the rest of the town for leaving her husband who is abusing her. There are so many plots woven in this tale that it would not be fair for me to try and summarize this. All I can say is, see this movie. It moves so fast and every scene is a delight. For all you lovers of chocolate, I would keep a few bon bons handy.

My Life Without Me (2003)

Kleenex Alert

[7/10 · 11 December 2004]

A 24 year old woman (Polley) is given her last days to live. Living in a trailer in her Mother's backyard with her newly employed husband and two small children, there are not many options for someone in Polley's shoes. She's not about to go around the world or skydive, et al. So, she's spends her last days preparing cassette's for each of daughters next 10 birthdays and living out her normal existence except for the fact of having an affair with the sadder Mark Ruffalo. The voice overs of Polley's thoughts either while she is shopping in a supermarket or hanging the laundry are beautiful thoughts of introspection that we often do not think about yet are so profound. hence the Kleenex. There are some beautifully drawn out character's here with back stories and faces of those of us. I especially loved the neighbor Ann, the doctor, and of course Ruffolo whose somber voice brings you into the usually solemn people that he portrays. As if the song, "God Only Knows" by the Beachboy's, the couple of versions sung here are great fillers. Polley gives an excellent performance with her affected Canadian accent of a girl who got pregnant at seventeen and really had prospectfull life ahead of her, yet the love that she gives others is very unselfish. It's a good film. We are all gonna die, so this is not a chick flick.

Spun (2002)

"Jaborwacky"...You have been replaced.

[1/10 · 14 September 2004]

This is quite possibly the worst movie I have ever seen. "Great", said the green lighters of this tale of speed/meth. who themselves, are quite possibly caught up in the web that this drug weaves. This movie has not one character, whom anyone short of a junkie would feel any empathy or kindred feelings towards. This is such a failed attempt at the greatness that was attained by "Requiem.." Mickey Rourke is just pathetic, playing a role that that I saw him play out in real life 12 years ago in South Beach, Fla., so he must have jumped at this role. I like so many actors that are starring in this, and I am sure they are erasing it from their demo reels and resumes. This is a total piece of crap that should be avoided as vigilantly as one would a Pauly Shore Film Festival.

Betty Blue (1986)

Attention Film Students: See this Movie

[8/10 · 8 September 2004]

If you have any hopes of moving to a big city or getting in with the neuvo crowd, you have to see Bettie Blue. For you youngsters', everyone who was anyone had a poster of this movie in their room, featuring the auspicious debut of Beatrice Dalle. This is the story of love, lust and death. Lumps will form in your throat as the beautiful soundtrack lingers in the background. A lot has been said, about the fact of the sex scenes between Betty & Zorg being too realistic. It also may be why in polls, it is the most memorable sex scene to date, yet the nudity is not a reason to see this. The unconditional love that Zorg has for Betty, even as she freaks out, embarrasses him in front of friends and has him re-locate. The cinematography is gorgeous in this film, especially the birthday cake scene.

This film is in my top 5 all time, I hope you can find it and enjoy it.

Dazed and Confused (1993)

The best movie about the 70's teen...made in the 90's

[8/10 · 7 September 2004]

This movie rocks...And I am not only speaking of the soundtrack. What a panoply of up and comers. Parker Posey! Milla J! Adam Goldberg!Rory Cochrane...Okay, I'm stretching here, but I hate to mention that card-board cut outs Matt McCoughnehey and Ben AFF-lack are in it also. Plus, Beck's Scientologist wife, Marisa Ribisi(sis of Giovani), daughter of Casting Agent. Actually, Marissa R. was great and it bothers me to think that because she died her hair red and played the "fugly" nerd that she was typecast for future work. Hollywood guys have it all wrong. I'm sure John Hughes had to fight for Molly Ringwald. The soundtrack even supercede's this great movie, which captures keggers' in the woods and clicks which inter-mingle. Jason London? What happened to you? I wish his kind character portrayal would have prompted him into heart-throb status. But then again, if that did happen to him, I probably would not like him. Watch this movie. Okay?

Scotland, Pa. (2001)

Maura Tierney is a thief...She steals this Movie....

[7/10 · 6 September 2004]

Unfortunately, the few other reviewers were expecting Caddyshack or something. This is a Black Comedy, and it is very good. The scenes are quick and engaging. The actors are well suited for their characters. The Duncan brothers could have their own sequel. Christopher Walken is very sly and humorous, shaking his castanetta's while trying to solve a murder. If it was not made aware to you, this is a 1980's version of Macbeth, with Maura Tierney and James LeGros playing the scheming murderous couple, the McBeths. A hamburger restaurant is at the center of the action, with the McBeths being willed the restaurant from their former boss, Mr. Duncan. The cinematography very much captures Pa., as well as the sets.

Two final comments. The soundtrack was one of the best I have heard in years. Bad Company songs make up about half of it, with sprinklings of other ditties included as well. The second and most important is that Maura Tierney steals this film. Every scene she is in, you are transfixed to her. Her actions, her (in some cases) vulgarity and her great acting makes this her showcase. The scene with her and the pharmacist at the end is hysterical as she attempts to remove a burn from her hand which has long since healed. Bravo Maura and Bravo to this little movie that SHOULD have been a bigger success. Shakespeare adaptation not withstanding, you do not need to be familiar with the Bard to enjoy this film.

Bully (2001)

A Cast of un-sympathetic Character

[6/10 · 3 September 2004]

This film, with all of it's rawness, failed to provide even one sympathetic character. The most empathetic that I came close to is Brad Renfro's Marty, who received the harshest sentence of all of these "Kids." The parents are just a bunch of self consumed morons having their lives run by these spoiled brats, who don't work, have kids of their own and fancy (if Camaro's and Irocs are considered fancy) cars. The cinematography is very Floridian and is captured nicely. The acting is very good, Bijue Phillips surprised me, and Nick Stahl really delivered as a messed up kid confused (?)about his sexuality which is something that neither the film or the book explored. I gave this film a six on IMDb, and had some sense been made of the actions of the characters other than Bullying by Stahl, wherein they all had cars and other lives anyway, it might have garnered an extra star.