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Box of Moonlight (1996)
Loved it!
This is a sweet, simple movie but yet with the strange Tom Dicillo stamp on it.
John Turtturo is great as an uptight engineer on the verge of a mid-life crisis.
Sam Rockwell as "The Kid" brings a great contrast to Turtturo's character and makes for a wonderful chemistry between the two.
Dermot Mulroney and Catherine Keener are great at playing oddball characters. As a matter of fact the movie is loaded with day players with great one liners.
Simply shot -- it works.
The kind of movies à la "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" you'll fall in love with and will able to watch over and over and over. I never get tired of it.
Angel Heart (1987)
Perfectly crafted
I saw this movie when it came out, it blew me away. I just saw it again recently, some 29 years later...it still holds up pretty good.
The photography of Michael Seresin is just superb, moody, dark, appropriate.
The realism of the sets, costumes and props brings authenticity through out the whole picture.
Trevor Jone's score brings an ethereal feel through out the whole show.
A tour de force by Alan Parker.
Mickey Rourke at his best. Tough and vulnerable at the same time, Mickey balances his character's emotions beautifully.
A Robert De Niro, like you've never seen him before.
Last but not least, the stunning Lisa Bonnet in the role which got here kicked out of "The Cosby Show" -- ironic ain't it?
Arizona Dream (1993)
One of a Kind!
Incredible story. Terrific cast (Johnny Depp,Faye Dunaway,Lili Taylor,Vincent Gallo and Jerry Lewis.)
Beautiful cinematography. Ethereal soundtrack by Goran Bregovic. Cinema with a capital C, at its best.
Emir Kusturica and his unique style strike again with this amazing story of a young man (Johnny Depp) "kidnapped" from NY by his cousin (Vincent Gallo) and taken to Arizona to be the best man at his uncle's wedding.
Kusturika gives us, in this tragi-comedy, an interpretation of the meaning of life through the eyes of a young man in his early twenties.
Kusturika himself said:"This movie is about a young man who wanders into what is actually a hell that exists between two women, because of the tragedy in their lives...It could be that this movie is my reaction on how I see Western civilization. It comes from a kind of philosophy I've established after 35 years of living on this planet. I believe that human beings belong to nature not to civilization. And I see man as being like a fish passing through a huge city. The fish doesn't understand anything about the city, he's just floating through it. What I'm trying to do, always, is to get people wondering."
Well Mr Kusturika, Congratulations! you have succeeded!
A must see, a must own! My favorite since it came out in France in the winter of 1993. Let me know if you ever run into an European copy of Arizona Dream here in the States. The movie has lost 4-5 incredible scenes(about 3-5 minutes each)on its way to the States.Why? WHY?
War Pigs (2015)
No.
When the best thing in a movie is Dolph Lundgren's performance, well, there you go, you have it.
Poorly written, shot, acted. Sets, costumes and props are amateurish at best.
What is an army Major (Mickey Rourke) during WWII doing sporting long hair and a cowboy hat? I gotta to tell you, this guy needs to stop bringing his own wardrobe to set.
A waste of time.
I did not even finish it.
No.
Mud (2012)
If you're a fan of character driven stories.
This is an old school, character driven story.
It is Dark and gritty and if you enjoy this kind of stories I guarantee you, you will not be disappointed.
The performances are solid and strong from the kids to the seasoned actors (loved Sam Shepard.)
Matthew McConaughey really brings it as an outcast recluse and makes you feel quite a bit uncomfortable on several occasions.
It is nicely shot.
Well edited.
A fitting score.
I highly recommend it.
Carlos (2010)
Disappointing
I really enjoy movies based in the 70's such as Munich. Unfortunately it is not the case for Carlos.
The cinematography lacks coverage -- lots of hand held and quick pans..or maybe it's in the editing? Edgar Ramirez needs strong supporting actors to back him up in order for him to shine as a lead man (He is no Benicio Del Toro in Che) He too often over acts quite a bit especially when speaking a foreign language.
Here is a perfect example on how music can make or break a scene. On too many occasions the score/song used does not support or enhance the mood of the scene but instead it pulls you out and kills the moment.
Good action scenes, gun fights, explosions etc. Unfortunately it is not enough to save this effort.
Marseille (2016)
Un Gros Navet
A poor shot at a French "House of Cards."
Where do they find the money to produce this stuff?
The best thing about this show are the establishing shots.
Bad writing leads naturally to bad acting. You don't care about any of the characters. What is Depardieu doing playing the Mayor of Marseille? Isn't he someone who traded his French citizenship for a Russian one so he wouldn't have to pay taxes? He shouldn't even be allowed to work in France. What a shame!
The characters are flat or one dimensional.
Benoit Magimel needs to be hitting that punching bag not just when the cameras are rolling because that little fatty isn't looking that fit for someone who works out so often. but next to Depardieu anyone looks fit right?
I really wish someone would bash Stephane Caillard's head into a wall -- her acting is horrible. She laughs like an idiot or screams around like a moron.
Rest assured, the stereotypical bad French man abusing the poor lil' arab is in there too.
Alright, enough time spend writing on this. I stopped watching half way through the season...because I just didn't care. Maybe you will.
Daylight's End (2016)
A great ride!!
What a fun ride! I caught the world premiere at the Dallas International Film Festival. The movie screened to a packed house. The audience absolutely LOVED it! Cinema with a capital C. What can I tell you that other reviews haven't already said? It's pure adrenaline entertainment from start to finish. Great cast! No matter how small of a supporting role one has, they bring it! They deliver! No weak links in this flick! Kudos to the director, as it is a rare thing to achieve with such a big cast. The "creatures" are pretty scary -- got me jumping in my seat more than once, Ha! The action sequences are a lot of fun, cut seamlessly they take you on a hell of a fast ride. A wonderful sound design and a powerful soundtrack complement the visuals perfectly. I loved it. It was great fun!