vensperme2003 Reviews

The Life of David Gale (2003)

Sad and tragic voyage of two devoted hearts

[7/10 · 23 May 2005]

I'm reading reviews of "David Gale" with bitter sadness in my heart; I guess I'll never learn that people's perspectives are mostly narrowed to "black and white", "good or bad", "true or false". Because in case of David Gale, everything is just plain gray. So is it really so hard to understand, that this movie is not a story of Deathwatch? Is it so hard to understand, that it was Gale's WIFE and THE COURT that send him to death row? Is it so hard to understand that David choosed death instead of battle, and that Constantine choosed REASON instead of defeat? David Gale was a devoted father, who's existence was reduced to a furry toy-sheep, while Constance was a passionate activist and a dying loner. They had all the moral right to commit suicide in the twisted way they had. It was THEIR revenge and THEIR truth. And if there is anything pathetic in this movie, it's the expression on the face of David Gale's wife, when she opens the suitcase, full of money - I hope that Gale's son now realizes how "loving" his mother really was.

A Pure Formality (1994)

Una pura fantastica!

[8/10 · 14 April 2005]

Take a deep breath, you cinefillic voyeur! Take a deep breath, sit down comfortably on your couch and think twice before you press play on your remote controller... Think twice since you are about to witness something that has never been seen before... Actually it has been seen later, but in much more unoriginal and uninteresting way. What you are about to witness in this movie is something between ON and OFF; you'll hear one of the greatest movie dialog ever spoken, you'll see thestunning performance of unbelievably excellent Polanski and surprisingly good Depardieu; you'll learn how the direction of the movie is supposed to be handled; you'll realize that you just THOUGHT that you know what is your life turning into... And finally, you'll find out the meaning of word MASTERPIECE.

Normal (2003 TV Movie)

Brilliant play by Jessica Lange and Tom Wilkinson

[6/10 · 16 March 2005]

This is kind of a movie, that could easily go "down", if the performance ( or a choice ) of main actors wouldn't be on such a high level. Jessica Lange is persuasive in every way and some scenes are so realistic, that it makes you think if she is just playing the role; Tom Wilkinson is constantly good, although the story sometimes seems a little bit unrealistic( but on the contrary people's respond is SOOO realistic!). The movie is really funny at the times, because dramatic and comedy elements fit together almost perfectly. I wrote almost perfectly, because if the movie would have that final spin, that final 10 minutes of "revelation" (that is needed to finalize the whole meaning of a story ), the movie would be a Cannes winner at least.

In every way the movie is great fun to watch, the play is brilliant, but the ending is somehow lacking of logical conclusion.

Mötley Crüe: Greatest Video Hits (2003 Video)

Best video compilation ever

[10/10 · 8 March 2005]

This is a genius DVD! This collection doesn't hide anything. From the funny eighties stuff to overproduced latter days, it's all here!! Videos are great and the music is just too good not to fall in love with the band. The new rock n roll stars owe those guys everything they reached in their lives - all the fame and of the good riffs. The Nikki Sixx / Tommy Lee commentaries are hilarious and so are some scenes from their early videos. It's fun all the way to video number 27. Yes, 27 videos, all censored details and all the biggest hits are here on one place. Surely the best video compilation ever released. The future is in Motley Crue!

27 stars, no doubt about it.

Knife in the Water (1962)

Superb!

[8/10 · 2 March 2005]

This film is a masterpiece for a movie fan that understands sharp dialog and is interested in so called "mind" suspense. Characters in the movie are psychologically fully developed and the direction is superb; if you include Komeda's nervous jazz elements, the result is Perfection with big P. Polanski knows exactly what perfectionism is about - the devil is in the details, and the devil has no place in this great little classic. I recommend this movie to everyone that wants to get involved in film industry. Let it be the reminder why movies exist in the first place. It's the story that matters and it's the impact that dialog provides; if scenes or words stay with you long after you've seen the movie, you know that something BIG has hit you. You know that you actually start THINKING about yourself...

Stereotip (1997)

Slovenian's best

[6/10 · 4 January 2005]

Although Slovenia is not very known in film industry, there are some exceptions regarding the dramatic elements used in their movies. Stereotype is classical European drama with tragic-comic suspense, which does not become pathetic in any part of the movie. The acting of "Magnifico", who won "the best Slovenian actor award" the year Stereotype was released, is not just above average - it is acting of which some "made" stars in Hollywood can only dream about. He also contributed soundtrack to the movie that helps developing the movie plot with its main theme with repeating in different variations throughout the whole movie. Some scenes in the movie are suffering from lack of budget and sometimes the story provides extended scenes with no real impact, but the persuasive acting just makes you wanting too see more of Magnifico.

7.5 stars out of ten.

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)

I STABBED HER... NO, I SHOT HER... I KILLED HER WITH A BASEBALL BAT...

[23 November 2004]

It's heavy, dark and gloomy. It's sad, insane and repulsive. It's everything that you never wanted to see and hear.

Henry starts as a low production b-horror movie and ends up as a perfect study of a cold blooded serial killer mind. It's a drama about the children of the damned, it's a tale of perverted instincts, it's a story of a man, that never got any loving satisfaction from his mama... This drama is not only sad in a way what you fell about the main character, but it's also a horrific example of lost feelings and alienated love.

Henry Lee is not just a movie. Henry Lee is not just a serial killer. Henry Lee is not just a tale. Henry Lee is something that lives in every human soul. 8.5 stars.

Bulworth (1998)

Worth it!

[9 November 2004]

This movie has all the entertaining elements you need. The dramatic elements are equal to satire peaks, and the satire peaks contain enough ironic bites to make you laugh and think about the dialogue at the same time. Confusing? Not until you watch this movie... There's definitely something very refreshing in this story and more you watch it, more you're surprised. I never rented this movie, because I read it's a Warren Beatty movie - and what a mistake that was. After that movie I realized that Warren is a great director and a great actor - it's was after the movie that I remembered Heaven can wait was also directed by him.

Not watching Bulworth would be a big loss for my DVD collection.

7.8 stars for this great piece.

Dogville (2003)

Probably the best movie ever seen

[10/10 · 27 October 2004]

This is it - the pure art of making movies. The stunning performance by Nicole Kidman is not the only reason to watch that movie. Everything in this movie ( from "slow" narrator to final dialogue between "lost" daughter and "realistic" father ) is brilliant. The see - through scenery, the moral discussion, lusting human nature - everything finds it's right place in this top - of - the - art movie. Because watching the final forty - five minutes of film with my eyes, mouth and ear wide open is not something that would happen to me every day. And that's why there's no use writing a balanced critic of this movie - this is the movie you just gotta see!

10 stars, no doubt.

Swept Away (2002)

decent effort

[6/10 · 26 October 2004]

I don't have a clue, why this movie was torn apart. The performance of Madonna is very good, it's directed in pure Ritchie style, it even includes few unrealistic scenes, which adds a movie a bit of artistic note. The only thing that bothers me, is a quick turn from a well- positioned selfish bitch into a romantic -lust for love - wannabe. But the end scene makes it all worthwhile watching. All in all it's not a movie for my collection, but also there's nothing really wrong with it. It' s a movie with no extras, but a nice one to watch on a gloomy afternoon. And there's definitely no reason to tear it apart.