* No Country for Old Men: (2007 - Crime, drama, thriller) Written and directed by Ethan and Joel Coen. Extremely well acted movie, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald, Stephen Root, Garret Dillahunt, Tess Harper and others. The story is one of senseless violence. A rather linear tale about a relentless killer. When a rural Texan is out hunting, he stumbles upon the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong. With dead bodies laying all about, this cowboy figures he can cash in on this tragedy. He makes off with the cash, but we all know how this story is going to end. A suitcase full of drug money isn't a free ticket - it's something altogether different. Violence begets violence, that's the lesson of this movie. Just in case you haven't heard the story before. The acting was superb, the camera work excellent, the sound work great, but the story was flat, violently predictable, and lacking in any sort of endgame. No music? Really? None? That's weird. I don't think it helped the movie. I give it a 3 out of 5. This picture won four Oscars? You gotta be kidding.
* Midnight Cowboy: (1969 - Drama) Directed by John Schlesinger, starring Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight. This movie was more deserving of it's three Oscars than the movie I saw previously. This movie was rated X in 1969, but it's hard to imagine why they slapped it with an X? The movie dares to address certain homosexual issues. Some of the characters are homosexual, and even the two lead characters 'might' be gay lovers. Just maybe. Very little nudity (no full frontal shots), very little violence, some profanity, and some flashbacks of a rape (never portrayed in context). Jon Voight plays a naive Texan hustler - Joe Buck. Leaving the sleepy farm towns of Texas behind, he quits his dishwashing job and heads for the bright lights of the big city. New York city - 42nd street, the city that never sleeps is a tough place to make a living, and Joe Bucks plan of becoming a male prostitute aren't the best made plans. He's getting hustled more than he's hustling, and things are looking pretty bleak until he hooks up with a big city hustler who's down on his own luck. Big city hustler meets naive texas hustler. Here the story is the heartbreaking reality of hard living in the underbelly of New York. Set in the 70s, this movie addresses real life issues. It's not a fantasy, it's not a bunch of improbable circumstances that lead to a predictable conclusion. It's a completely honest slice of life, something you can't predict. It's a bleak, depressing life, punctuated by minor successes and an occasional lucky break. Voight and Hoffman offered up some outstanding performances. Together their characters are going to make it out of this ghetto. They had great chemistry together, and the story made for drama that you couldn't tear yourself away from. Outstanding direction, screenplay, excellent music, editing and acting. The one and only X rated film to ever earn an Academy award. This one gets 4 out of 5.
* Crimewave: (1985 - Comedy, crime, horror) Also known as 'the XYZ murders'; this movie was written by Ethan and Joel Coen and directed by Sam Raimi. It starred Louise Lasser, Paul L. Smith, Brion James, Reed Birney and even featured Bruce Campbell. Unfortunately, it was a stinker. Told in a series of flash-backs. Here is the story of a sad sack on death row. As he approaches his date with the big chair, he relates his sad tale. How he came to be framed for a series of murders. A pair of psychotic hit men masquerade themselves as exterminators in order to whack the owner of a security company. When they inadvertently execute the unlucky lunk who hired them, they go all out - a murder spree where they off every witness and frame the down on his luck flunky who happens to witness it all. The direction by Sam Raimi is very reminiscent of the Evil Dead series, and the writing is a violent noir crime thriller penned by the Coen Brothers. The acting was bad - as in Evil Dead style, the worst part of the movie was the sound work. The movie must have been dubbed from English to Japanese and then back again, ruining any of the original sound work. The best part of this senseless violence was the extensive fight scene atop a speeding panel van. I give it a 2 out of 5.
* Some Kind of Wonderful: (1987 - Drama, romance, comedy) Directed by Howard Deutch (Pretty in Pink), this movie was written by John Hughes (Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Pretty in Pink, Weird Science, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles), and starred Eric Stoltz, Mary Stuart Masterson and Lea Thompson. Here's another one of those formulaic teen angst romances. The story arc is a typical hollywood plot - where the boy can't see that his best friend is the girl of his dreams - what an idiot! The acting is fair (not as good as Sixteen Candles or Say Anything), the music is great, and the writing is great despite it's cliches. Eric Stolz plays the underachieving mechanic who dreams of an art career and the hottest popular girl in school. Leah Thompson plays the middle class girl who's pretending to be more than she is, and Mary Stuart Masterson shines as the tomboy best friend who's secretly in love with the unassuming mechanic in this love triangle of teen romance. I'm not sure why I'm such a sucker for these movies, but this one does it for me. The music, editing and direction are outstanding. I give it a 4 out of 5.
* The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: (2007 - Drama, suspense, historical, crime, biography, western) Written (superbly so) and directed by Andrew Dominik. This superbly paced movie stars Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck (in an outstanding performance), Ted Levine, Sam Rockwell, Sam Shepard, Mary-Louise Parker, Zooey Deschanel, Paul Schneider and others. It's hard to imagine this film as suspenseful, but it was. Even though the title says it all, I couldn't help but find myself utterly caught up in this precisely narrated, psychological drama. The story picks up where Frank and Jesse James are committing the last of their infamous train robberies. After they call it quits, the band of outlaws part ways in a vain attempt to live out the rest of their lives in relative obscurity. History, fame, and fortune won't let them end their story quite so easily. The narration, inner monologue, camera work (vintage effects, blurring around the edges, shots through imperfect glass panes, long shots, lighting and color) and music (by Nick Cave) were expertly blended to weave a tale of desperation, deception and suspense. The acting and direction were outstanding. Brad Pitt's portrayal of Jesse James was unnerving, creepy, and horrific. In nearly every scene he instills a sense of dread, fear and caution. This movie also featured the best performance I've ever seen from Casey Affleck. His portrayal of Robert Ford, especially in the ending of this movie warranted an Oscar. If your idea of a western is the recent 3-10 to Yuma remake, avoid this movie. It's far to deep for those who prefer the shallow end of the pool. A long, slow, and torturous journey into the souls of two desperate men. Not for those with ADHD, it's a purposefully slow paced psychological drama. 5 out of 5.
* Incubus: (1965 - Horror, drama, fantasy) How could I have missed this gem? A friend recently recommended this movie (thanks Dennis!), and I'm glad he did! It's well known that I appreciate the quirky/cult movies, love Shatner, and I've invented my own language (called Hallowese). So how could I not know about this diabolical little gem? Well, now I'm a bit wiser, and better off for having experienced this cinematic oddity first hand. Written and directed by Leslie Stevens (of the Outer Limits television series), this independent production featured William Shatner (before Star Trek), Milos Milos (who committed murder and suicide not long after the film), Allyson Ames and Ann Atmar (who also committed suicide a few years later) in a bizarre horror flick. The story - On an isolated stretch of land, a pair of succubi engage in the torment of man. Luring the sinful to their deaths, and ultimate damnation. When one of them becomes a bit too ambitious, she plots the seduction of an innocent and pure soul. She's warned not to engage in such a dangerous endeavor. She's warned about the power of 'Love'. She rejects the counsel of her 'Sister' and embarks on her mission of misery. While she struggles to resist the amazing power of purity, she simultaneously strives to topple this innocent and faithful believer (Shatner). The story is simple, but subtle. Filled with allegory, temptation, love and deception. It feels so much like an Ingmar Bergman film that you can't help but compare it to some of his best efforts. The direction was precise, exacting, while remaining humanistic and touching. The black and white film features some great camera work. I especially liked the extended cross-over fades at the beginning of the film, and some of the unique angles. The night shots, and lighting in general were extremely well executed. The scenery (shot primarily in Big-Sur national park (California)) was amazing, and the dialog! The dialog was done entirely in Esperanto! The international language. The use of this artificial language placed the location securely in our subconscious. The language sounds much like an old-world European tongue, while simultaneously defying precise identification. It added an immeasurable depth to this mysterious, moody masterpiece. The pacing, dialog, and camera work create a creepy and unforgettable classic in this satanic celluloid child of Leslie Stevens. 5 out of 5.
* Spectres of the Spectrum: (1999 - Sci-fi )Written and directed by Craig Baldwin. This independent movie features a cast of unknowns in an very alternative independent movie. It's hard to figure out what this movie is about. I watched it all the way through, understood most of the stuff they talked about, but I'm still not quite sure what the point of the movie was. It takes place in a retro sci-fi future. Filmed in the late 90's. The setting is a post apocalyptic sci-fi future that felt like the late 60s? The movie is a montage of scenes from 50's sci-fi b-movies and live action set to a late 60's future. Dubbed over with a conspiracy laden narrative, the movie tries to tell a post apocalyptic story which blames the military industrial complex for some hidden disaster. Something regarding brain waves, psychic warfare, and electromagnetic radiation that destroyed most of civilization. Dude, paranoia will destroy you. The editing was very unconventional, the acting poor, and the writing unfocused. The sound work was wretched and in the end, the psychotic, torturous treatment left me scratching my head - saying 'Huh?' 2 out of 5.
* The Saragossa Manuscript: (1965 - Drama, fantasy, war / Poland - Rekopis znaleziony w Saragossie) This movie was directed by Polish director Wojciech Has. The story takes place in Spain, during the Napoleonic Wars. The main character is a routed officer who discovers a huge book amongst the ruins of a run down refuge. The book - 'The Saragossa Manuscript' relates the tales of the movie. A series of stories regarding his grandfather - A Captain in the Walloon guard. Featuring a bizarre mix of characters - Muslim sisters, demonically possessed goatherds, philosophical priests, cabalists, gypsies, and the Spanish Inquisition! the chaotic mix of characters is the best part of this movie. Unfortunately, the story suffers from repeated tellings of the same basic tale. Over and over we're exposed to the same characters, in a slightly different guise, but identical in sets and costumes. A very repetitive movie, 180 minutes long, this movie could have been cut in half without sacrificing anything. Constructed in a nested manner, the viewer is forced to suffer through numerous renderings of the tale, before the entire story is revealed. A little bit in this telling, more in the second, and another glimpse in yet the third telling. This non-linear telling wore on me. The non-linear editing did nothing to enhance the story, only serving as a disjointed distraction. A dubious attempt to impress the art nouveau and create something special out of the mundane. The pacing and continuous dialog leave little time to absorb this disjointed, surreal, fairy tale, and I for one had to force myself not to use the fast-forward key. I'm usually down for the foreign movies, the long, convoluted movies, the slowly paced movies, the cult movies... This one? Well, what can I say? Despite the glowing reviews of others - I'm sorry, but no, I didn't like it. Far too pretentious, off the cuff comedic, overly dramatic, trying to hard to be 'artistic'. I give it a 2 out of 5.
* Trancers: (1985 - Action, sci-fi, drama) This movie actually spawned a six movie franchise. Starring Tim Thomerson (a time tested B-movie fixture, playing all manner of characters) and Helen Hunt. Thomerson plays Jack Deth, a cop/bounty hunter from the 23rd century. When the Los Angeles of his time is threatened by 'Whistler', he's sent back to the past - 1985, by way of ancestral psychic transposition. The movie does a good job of creating an alternate time line. The Los Angeles of this future is partially submerged as the result of a new ice age. The remnant of society are a patchwork quilt of city-states struggling to maintain law and order. That's where the antagonist comes in - He's some sort of cultist, spiritual leader, capable of creating zombie-like 'Trancers' out of the weak willed. Although he's been eliminated from the 23rd century time line, he's found a way to transfer his consciousness into an ancestor of the past. That's when he starts killing off the ancestors of the 23rd century council that persecuted him. As the council members begin to disappear, they send Jack Deth back to 1985 in order to protect their remaining relatives. The characters and story have a lot of flavor, background, and enough originality to make it a worthy amalgam of blade-runner, the hidden and b-horror zombie flicks. Sci-fi, drama, a little romance, and plenty of action. The drawbacks? Low production value (affecting special effects, costumes, set design, sound work), cheesy dialog, less than stellar acting. 3 out of 5.
* Cloverfield: (2008 - Action, mystery, sci-fi, thriller, drama) Directed by Matt Reeves (28 weeks later) This movie has created some divided camps. The shakey-cam was something I feared going into this movie. However, unlike 'The Bourne Ultimatum', here the camera is used in a realistic way. The premise of the movie is a movie shot using a hand held camera, and they don't break cover by providing obvious not 'hand-held' shots. We're not subjected to 'out of camera' or 'off-scene' shots that spoil the premise. The person filming the action isn't constantly using self-referential camera shots and inexplicable camera angles that might ruin the 'hand-held' ethic of this movie. So, in that sense, the use of the shakey-cam in this movie, was actually done correctly. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It wasn't used as a gimmick, to make the movie more hip, more fluid, more 'action packed'. Two more camps, one thinks it's a monster movie, another thinks it's a drama. Well, I have to stick with the drama/romance camp. The story takes place in New York City. On the eve of his departure for Japan, Rob's friends throw him a big going away party. When 'She' shows up with a date, Rob is crushed, and curses himself for being such an idiot - drama ensues - and forms the basis for the principals of the movie. Now - There is a monster. As I'm sure you've heard. If not, stop here as what follows is definitely a spoiler. Still here? O.k. Continuing. So, just as the drama and character development is building, a monster shows up. A gigantic monster is attacking the city. We never learn why, there is no expository spoiler telling us who, what, where, when, why a gigantic monster is attacking the city. The military doesn't bother explaining what this thing is. We're left with only the camera glimpses afforded as Rob and company struggle to rescue Rob's girl from the doomed remains of this besieged city. Packed with mystery and drama. The cgi/special-effects and blue screen work were stunning - Very effective. The acting was a bit sophomorish, and I didn't appreciate the fact that everyone was a perfect person, super model version of reality. This movie was well worth watching. Some of the camera work was far shakier than any decent 'image stabilization' hand-held should have been, and then there was the 'how is it that we see that?' sub-plot/exposition. The odd movie within a movie character building inserts that were supposedly un-erased parts of a previous recording. These two things bring my rating down a bit. I rate it a 3 out of 5.
* The Princess Bride: (1987 - Drama, romance, adventure, fantasy, comedy) William Goldman wrote the book and screenplay (also wrote screenplays for Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, The Stepford Wives (original), The Great Waldo Pepper, All the President's Men, Marathon Man, A Bridge Too Far, Heat, The Ghost in the Darkness) for this movie - He's an excellent writer, and I love many of the movies he's written. Rob Reiner ( Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men, Sleepless in Seattle) directed, and it had a great cast - Robin Wright Penn, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, André the Giant, Fred Savage, Peter Falk, Billy Crystal. It's a classic fairy tale brought to the big screen. A whimsical adventure, a fantastic bed time tale. Told in narrative, the story is a family friendly comedic romance. An enchanting tale of two young lovers. When Buttercup and her stable boy - Westley are separated at a young age, Buttercup is destroyed when she learns that her true love has been murdered by the Dread Pirate Roberts. What follows is an amazing adventure as Westley does his best to wrest his Buttercup from the conniving clutches of Prince Humperdink. Filled with Pirates, Fire Swamps, fencing, giants, giant rodents and rotten aristocrats, this movie is a joy to watch, a story book tale for kids of any age. Perfect production, direction and acting. I give it a 5 out of 5.
* Liar Liar: (1997 - Comedy, fantasy) Jim Carrey plays a Fletcher Reede, professional Liar - Umm 'Lawyer', in this outstanding comedy. When his son (played by Justin Cooper) Max makes a birthday wish, this neglectful father is unable to lie for 24 hours. That sets the foundation for this extremely funny movie. Maura Tierney plays Max's mom / Fletcher's ex-wife, and Cary Elwes plays the more recent love interest. The premise is extremely simple - A defense lawyer who can't lie. Jim Carrey jazzes it up as the fast talking lawyer caught in a moral predicament. He's a habitual liar, a scheming, shmoozing, hypocrite who's on the verge of losing his son. Everything changes when his son makes that fateful wish. Watching Carrey scramble is pure joy. Lies have gotten him to where he is, but can he turn a new leaf in time to save his relationship with his son? Carrey is funny as hell! 5 out of 5.
* The Waterboy: (1998 - Comedy, sport) Adam Sandler plays Bobby Boucher - a 31 year old Waterboy. He's ridiculed, scorned and ultimately fired by Coach Red Beulieu (played by Jerry Reed). When Bobby tries to find a new employer, he ends up working for the worst team in the state 'The Louisiana Mud Dogs'. Coach Klein (played by Henry Winkler) welcomes Bobby to the team when he discover's Bobby's pent up rage can be harnessed as 'Tacklin' fuel. Bobby Boucher becomes an overnight sensation, an unstoppable force of nature that will catapult him, the team and coach Klein out of the 'loser' category. This highly stereotyped comedy is funny. The dialog is preposterously funny, the characters unwittingly charming and this simple plot becomes a winning combination when sandler and crew move this heartwarming comedy into the end zone - "You can do it!" I give it a 5 out of 5.
* The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King: (2003 - Action, adventure, fantasy, thriller) The final movie in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. An epic unlike any other. This trilogy has set a standard likely to last a hundred years. Grand in scale, cinematic, moving, and breathtaking. The telling of Tolkein's tale is unlike any other movie. This final chapter caps the series with a brilliant gem. The only problem with this movie was the incredibly long ending, the multiple endings that seem to never end. At 3 hrs and 20 minutes, it's hard to believe that there's an 'extended version' available. The story is awesome, the characters, acting an music were truly exceptional. Won eleven oscars! - 4 out of 5.
* Firefox: (1982 - Action, thriller, sci-fi) Directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, this movie was primarily a Clint Eastwood vehicle. A cold war thriller filled with visionary glimpses of future technology. The premise of the story was great. The Soviet Union has developed a ground breaking new jet fighter. A mach five weapon with thought controlled weapons and stealth capabilities. Undetectable to radar, capable of out maneuvering any opponent, and two three seconds faster in target acquisition and engagement - This new fighter is a leap of technology. Far surpassing anything the 'Free World' has, it could easily 'tip the balance'. How will the U.S. and it's allies respond to this deadly threat? The characters are relatively thin and cliched. Eastwood plays a burned out Vietnam war vet who's prone to flash-back episodes. The accents in this movie were horrible. Eastwood spits out belabored Russian with a Texan drawl, and the cigarette smoking guards barely blink an eye. The Russians are depicted as bumbling, blustering, bureaucrats, who can't come to a consensus on anything until it's too late to do anything. The depictions of the movies technological aspects was the best part of this movie. The fighter aircraft, the in-flight refueling, rearward firing missiles, the escape from Soviet air space. The thrills delivered by these aspects of the movie helped deflect the less compelling aspects of the film. The early parts of the movie are pretty good as well. When Eastwood's character is continuously in jeopardy of being discovered by the Soviets. A good plot, and some suspenseful KGB cat and mouse play carry the viewer through a less than satisfying end game. 3 out of 5.
* My Darling Clementine: (1946 - Action, drama, western) Directed by John Ford (Drums Along the Mohawk, The Grapes of Wrath, The Searchers, How the West Was Won), this movie starred - Henry Fonda, Linda Darnell, Victor Mature, Cathy Downs, Walter Brennan, Tim Holt, Ward Bond, Alan Mowbray, John Ireland and others. The title has nothing to do with the story; A classic tale of Wyatt Earp and the shoot out at the O.K. corral. Not a history channel reconstruction. This is a fictionalized account. The story brings the Earp brothers into Tombstone, Arizona, after their youngest brother is murdered by a group of cattle thieves. The brothers become law men in order to find and bring their brothers killers to 'justice'. The acting was outstanding, and the embellished story is a fantastic, fictional yarn - A romantic vision of the Wild West. Henry Fonda (as Wyatt Earp) and Victor Mature (as Doc Holiday) shine as brightly as any hollywood stars in their portrayals of two very different men with the same morals. Outstanding direction and an excellent movie. 4 out of 5.
* Youth Without Youth: (2007 - Drama, romance, sci-fi) Screen play and direction by Francis Ford Coppola. Starring Tim Roth, Alexandra Maria Lara, Bruno Ganz, André Hennicke and others, this movie is a slow moving, romantic, period piece, laced with existentialist sci-fi and spiritualism. Francis Ford Coppola's first film in more than ten years, this movie is an independent project. Something no mainstream studio would touch. The main character is a studious young man, absorbed by his studies and spurned by his neglected lover. Laboring on his life's work, he is suddenly struck by lightning, survives, and undergoes a miraculous transformation. The results reshape him, both physically and spiritually. Set in pre-WWII Europe, this Jewish man becomes a refugee from his own nation, from his friends and family, from society at large. His academic endeavors turn into a spiritual journey, as he comes to realize that life is more than the culmination of one's writings and 'legacy'. The camera 'work' - or lack thereof.. was very well done. The lighting, placement and framing was superb. The lack of motion gives the viewer the impression that they are observing some sort of record. Not that they are a participant, but rather that this story is a re-enactment from the audio journals of the main character. While the story itself is meandering, surreal, non-linear and unfocused; one cannot expect everyone's life to be laser focused on specific goals like some well scripted acts in a shakespearean play. Here, Francis Ford Coppola tells a tale by swimming around within a theme, exploring the facets of the environment, and revealing the premise and potential through laborious insinuation and philosophical exploration. If you insist on linear tales with expository narrative, and cut-out characters, avoid this film. If you're willing to immerse yourself in a film's environment, then try this one on for size. I think you'll enjoy it. The only disappointment for me, was the lack of English subtitle for the feature. There was a lot of beautiful language in the movie, but I can't speak Babylonian (literally). 4 out of 5
* Cabiria: (1914 - Adventure, drama, war) A very early Italian film, this black and white, silent movie was released before WWI. Directed by Giovanni Pastrone - some consider this to be one of the best silent movies ever made, while it may be a very good silent movie, it really wasn't that good when compared against all movies. It's an extravagant silent era production. Featuring lavish sets, outstanding costumes, impressive acting (for a silent movie) and large numbers of extras. The story is an aristocratic drama, set in ancient Rome (during the Punic Wars - i.e. Hannibal is featured). The young daughter of a privileged Roman family is kidnapped after Mt. Etna erupts and she's separated from her parents. Shortly afterwards, she's sold into slavery, offered up as a sacrifice to the bronze god Moloch, saved by a Roman nobleman and his muscular slave, and the list goes on. The adventure never pauses long enough to focus on any of the many storied elements in this grand epic, and there's very little character development. The battle and siege scenes, featuring costumed warriors, snow capped Alps, catapults and elephants, were great. The film is filled with technical developments in camera work, set design, miniatures and other special effects, and the film (these many years later) was transferred to DVD in excellent condition. Unfortunately, all these technical achievements don't equal a good story. Fast paced, spectacular production, lacking in focus or character development. 2 of 5.
* Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: (1989 - Family, adventure, comedy, sci-fi) A Disney production. A family friendly comedy. Starring Rick Moranis, Matt Frewer, Marcia Strassman, Kristine Sutherland, Thomas Wilson Brown , Jared Rushton, and Robert Oliveri. This lightweight comedy is cast with a lightweight b-list of actors. None of them made it big, and none of them delivered much more than a few yucks in this marshmallow of a movie. Funnyman Rick Moranis plays a scatterbrained scientist, a dreamer, believer, inventor, workaholic on the verge of losing it all - his job, his marriage, and his home. The dark themes of this movie are slight attempt at character development. The real story is a 'Fantastic Journey' through the back yard. When dad's latest invention inadvertently shrinks a group of kids (his and the neighbors), the adventure begins. Shrunken down to super small size (a scale which seems to constantly change), the kids embark on a surprisingly difficult and rewarding trek across the jungle of a suburban back yard. As the kids come together to make the perilous journey, their parents realize that they too will have to cooperate in order to achieve their goals. An excellent family values adventure that delivers as expected. The special effects are pretty good, and the sound production excellent. 3 out of 5. The 'Roger Rabbit' short included on this VHS is an extremely violent example of Disney's animation overlay with live action.
* King of Thieves: (2004 - Drama / Europa - König der Diebe) A multi-national production. This movie was produced with work, talent and effort spanning Europe, including - The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Slovakia, Austria, Czech Republic, France, Slovenia. The movie features numerous languages; primarily German, so you'll likely need the subtitles; which are a bit blunt, but get the job done. Starring unknown actors (to American audiences), this adventure begins with a small sleepy village in the Ukraine. As Barbu and Mimma put on a show for the local villagers, the mood is light, festive and promising. Brother and sister are acrobatic, enthusiastic, filled with visions of the circus and success. They dream of the big top, the spotlight, the urban center of a big city, an adventure waiting just for them. When Caruso shows up, everyone seems enraptured by his charismatic personality, generous nature and magic tricks. Caruso promises the children a career in Western Europe - Berlin will be the birthing place for these budding talents. Caruso strikes a deal with the parents and 'Buys' the children. That's when reality begins to set in. Brother and sister are spirited off to Berlin and soon become separated. The story quickly becomes dark as we, Barbu and Mimma realize that the circus is a harsh place; a dark, depressing reality of abuse, prostitution, crime and cruelty. Will Barbu and Mimma be reunited? Will they escape the clutches of the evil men who enslaved them? Will they survive the trials of civilizations darkest circus? An extremely well done movie. The acting, camera work, lighting, and locations were all outstanding. Unfortunately, it's a very dark movie, featuring some heavy-duty adult themes, and the payout is long in coming. I give it a 4 out of 5.
* The Elephant Man: (1980 - Drama, biography, history / U.K. U.S.) This oscar nominated movie (8 nominations but no win? (in 1980, Ordinary People won best picture)) was directed by one of my favorites; David Lynch, and it starred a fantastic cast - Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud. Here is a story based on the life of one unfortunate individual. John Merrick (played by John Hurt (also played Kane in Alien, and the villain in V. for Vendetta)) is afflicted with a horribly disfiguring disease (is it really Elephantitis?). He's a freak, unable to find work, fallen on hard times. Subject of scorn, ridicule and abuse, Merrick inspires such extreme reactions that he's become immune to societies barbs, untrustful of people, he suffers in an unimaginable personal and physical hell. All that changes when Dr. Frederick Treves (played by Anthony Hopkins) takes an interest in his case. Treves may not be able to cure Merrick with science, but compassion and understanding just might do the trick. An amazingly powerful movie about prejudice, the depths of human cruelty and the healing power of love. Oscar worthy on all fronts. Acting, direction, set work, costumes, editing and soundtrack. A dark film with brilliant flourishes of humanities best qualities. 5 out of 5.
* Seven: (1995 - Crime, drama, mystery, thriller - aka Se7en) Directed by David Fincher (the Game, Fight Club, Zodiac), this movie stars Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey, Gwyneth Paltrow and R. Lee Ermey. The title refers to Seven 'deadly' sins. It's a serial killer murder mystery set in Los Angeles during the 90's. Kevin Spacey plays a murderer who's punishing sinners. Sending a message to others. Trying to improve humanity. He sees himself as something of a mortal equivalent to the Angel Gabriel, instructing sinners on their ultimate fate. Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt play the seasoned and hopeful detectives close on the heels of this psychopath. This is a very well done movie. A tight script, excellent acting, splendid sound track, perfect pacing and decisive direction. The camera work sets a dark, somber mood. A sepia toned film noir murder mystery. This one gets a 5 out of 5.
* The Lives of Others: (2006 - Drama, historical / Germany - Leben der Anderen, Das) This absolutely amazing movie was written (from a Novel) and directed by one immensely talented director - Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (this was his first feature length film). It was acted by some splendid German actors - Martina Gedeck (Mostly Martha), Ulrich Mühe, Sebastian Koch (The Tunnel), Ulrich Tukur. This movie takes place in East Berlin, before the fall of the wall. I was stationed in Berlin while the wall was coming down, and watching this movie brought me back to the cold war in a very poignant way. Here is the story of East Berliners under the watchful eye of the Stasi. The all knowing, all powerful Stasi. Able to crush dissidents with a mere whisper, to banish your family members to gulag just for thinking the wrong things, for writing the wrong words, 'acting' the wrong way. Here is a story of how the Stasi came to turn it's malevolent eye upon one promising East German author. An amazing story of humanity, suffering and hope. Nothing in this movie is wasted. I was mesmerized by the direction, spellbound by the acting, and dumbstruck by the authentic look and feel. A powerful and important film that comes oh so late after the cold war has ended. 5 out of 5.
* In the Line of Duty - The F.B.I. Murders: (1988 - Crime, action, drama, thriller) This Comcast on Demand feature is based on a real life FBI case. Directed by Dick Lowry, this made for TV movie starred Ronny Cox, Bruce Greenwood, Michael Gross, David Soul and others. The story - Set in Florida during 1985, two men go on a crime spree. Robbing banks and murdering anyone who happens to get in the way, these two losers turn a sleepy Florida suburb into the terror capital U.S.A. These low life losers manage to elude the FBI, despite their daring daylight raids. The fact that it was made for TV was hilited by the mediocre acting, poor sound quality, terrible soundtrack and overall low production value. The best part of this movie was the shootout at the end of the movie. If you can't force yourself to watch the poor acting, and the movie starts to put you to sleep, just fast forward to the shoot out at the end of the movie. It's the only part worth watching. I didn't care for this movie. 2 out of 5.
* Sherlock Holmes - The Woman in Green: (1945 - Crime, drama, adventure, mystery) Here is one of the classic Sherlock Holmes stories (Presented in B&W or color - Choose color if you want to see 'the Woman in green'). Based upon the novels by Arthur Conan Doyle, this movie featured Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes, Nigel Bruce as Dr. John H. Watson, Hillary Brooke as Lydia Marlowe and Henry Daniell as Professor Moriarty. Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick - Dr. Watson, are called upon by Scotland Yard in order to solve a mysterious case of murders. Someone is stalking and slaying women in the heart of London. Could it be the notorious Dr. Moriarity? This movie was well written and executed, but the acting lacked commitment to the characters or plot, and that made it a very boring movie. Holmes and Watson were o.k. The nefarious Moriarty seemed to be a civil and likeable fellow, and the rest of the cast was unremarkable. Warning - Spoiler follows - The story involved some preposterous plot whereby persons are hypnotized in order to commit murders, and then blackmailed afterwards - How diabolical. How ridiculous! 2 out of 5.
* Carrie: (2002 - Horror, drama) A remake of Stephen King's tale. This remake is remarkably good, despit its made-for-tv origins. Directed by David Carson, it's the acting and some reliance on the 1976 movie (I rated that 5 out of 5), that makes this movie stand on its own. Carrie White is a shy young girl, just on the verge of adulthood. Carrie isn't your typical teenager, she has a gift - As she approaches sexual maturity, her gift is begining to emerge in a more powerful way. At home she's ruled over by a fanatically religious mother, who is constantly attempting to shield Carrie from the evils of society, boys, and Carrie's own powers. Carries zealous and overprotective mother is only one of the problems in her life. Being a teenager isn't all that easy when you're 'different', and Carrie's classmates are constantly harrassing her in school. Always teasing, taunting and pushing Carrie, they're in for a deadly surprise as Carrie learns to control her ever increasing powers. A truly great horror flick. This made-for-tv version gets a 4 out of 5.
* The Frighteners: (1996 - Comedy, horror, fantasy, thriller) Directed by Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings trilogy), and starring Michael J. Fox, this movie feels very much like a Stephen King novel brought to the screen, but it's not... I've seen it before, but this time around I watched to Special Edition version on Comcast. It's a Light hearted spooky film. Reminded me very much of Ghost Busters. Fast paced, to complement Michael J. Fox's acting style? The plot is an amusing 'I see dead people' mechanism where the main character is able to see the recently departed. As he uses his 'gift' to bilk the unwitting public, we're slowly turned on to an underlaying plot involving his dead wife and a serial killer who's more 'deadly' than he was when he was living. I liked the movie, but I guess I'm not the demographic. I give it a 3 out of 5.
* The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman: (1974 - Autobiography, history, drama) While NetFlix recommended this for me, I watched it from Kim's queue, as mine was full when I wanted to add it. This made for tv movie takes place during the early 60s. The civil rights movement is in full swing, and a big-city journalist travels to Louisiana to interview Ms. Jane Pittman, a 110 year old former slave who's lived through the Civil War, The First World War, and the Second World War. Ms. Pittman tells him her story in her own words. A narrated trip through America's past as seen through the eyes of a black woman born into slavery, liberated by Abraham Lincoln, and shaped by the segregationist south that she grew up in. This woman's story is intertwined with the present day (movie takes place during the 60s) struggle of blacks in America. As the narration brings from past to present, the two stories merge in the films final moments. Excellent drama with some superb acting by Cicely Tyson. The screen play (by Tracy Keenan Wynn) was an excellent adaptation of the novel by Ernest J. Gaines. If you have any interest in the civil rights struggle, slavery in America, or American history, then this is a must watch movie. I rate it 4 out of 5.
* Baghdad ER: (2006 - Documentary) A made for tv documentary aired by HBO. This movie was in Kim's queue, and my Father in law recommended it. Warning - Not for the squeamish. The footage in this documentary depicts many gruesome facts of a MASH ER. Made in Baghdad during a two-month period in 2005, this documentary reveals the real-life drama of a MASH unit in Baghdad. This is not an episode of M.A.S.H. and Alan Alda isn't cracking wise throughout the episode. The U.S. Army's 86th Combat Support Hospital may reside within the 'Green Zone' but the action in this documentary doesn't confine itself to the sterile white walls of a hospital. Just what do our men an women in uniform endure in the combat zones of Iraq and Afghanistan? Pop in this DVD and you will be shocked by the red blooded results of war; as a steady stream of human tragedy illustrates the meaning of sacrifice in our military. Lacking a specific agenda, this documentary doesn't pull the punches as it provides an inside look at the human cost of war. Extremely well edited and produced. 4 out of 5.
* American Gangster: (2007 - Crime, drama, thriller) I watched this while on vacation in May of 2008. Kim's dad had a copy, and since it was in my queue I took the opportunity to view the unrated, extended version. I was attracted to it by the director. I like Ridley Scott's work (Blade Runner, Alien, The Gladiator), but I'm not much of a Denzel Washington fan. The cast also featured Russell Crowe, Cuba Gooding Jr., Ruby Dee, Josh Brolin, John Ortiz, Chiwetel Ejiofor and others. Set in the 70s, this crime drama tells the tale of Frank Lucas (Played by Denzel Washington) a black man, a drug lord, a morally corrupt individual who builds a heroin import and distribution empire which threatens corrupt police and the mafia. On the other side of the coin is the rarity of Richie Roberts (Played by Russel Crowe), an honest and dedicated cop. Roberts heads up a joint narcotics task force targeting the Heroin network of Frank Lucas. The story, based on actual events/people, was compelling and thrilling. Hard to tear your eyes away from and superbly paced. Unfortunately, it was a bit predictable, and very violent. Denzel Washington's portrayal of Frank Lucas was typecast and flat at times. It seems like he plays the same character in every role he's cast in. Russel Crowe was good, but still somewhat typecast. Josh Brolin stood our in his portrayal of a crooked cop. The direction and set work were excellent. Ultimately, it was the true events behind the story and the excellent direction that garner this movie a 4 out of 5.
* The Idiot: (1951 - Drama / Japan - Hakuchi) Another movie co-written and directed by Akira Kurosawa. This one is based on a novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. A dark compelling story of love, infatuation and insanity. The story takes place in northern Japan. On the island of Hokkaido, farm country on the outskirts of Sapporo, in the middle of winter. The setting is a perfect backdrop for the drama which follows. Two characters compete in love for a woman who's both damaged and desirable. Starring Setsuko Hara, Masayuki Mori, Toshirô Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Chieko Higashiyama and others. I recognized two of the actors. Mifune (a long time favorite of Kurosawa) and Shimura (another regular in Kurosawa films). Despite the fact that this disc contained the edited 166 minute movie (from 265 minutes), it was still a long, slow, torturous journey into the bleak desperation of these characters. The characters are extremely complex, rich and compelling. The film follows four main characters. Two men and two women. One, Kameda (played by Masyuki Mori) is a pardoned soul. A soldier who was seconds away from execution by firing squad. Released from the sanitarium, this 'touched' fellow returns to Hokkaido in search of solace and healing. Accompanying him on his journey is Denkichi Akama (played by Toshirô Mifune), a gruff independent rascal. The two part upon reaching Sapporo, only to be reunited in a strange love triangle when the two become unwilling adversaries for the hand of Taeko Nasu (played by Setsuko Hara), a damaged but beautiful heiress. Complicating matters is Kameda's relationship with Ayako (played by Yoshiko Kuga) - a pure and uncomplicated woman who loves Kameda deeply. As these characters descend into this tragic, complicated and engrossing love story, we're treated to some spectacular acting and direction. Unfortunately, the brilliance of this movie was marred by some horrible editing. Cut from 265 to 166 minutes, interstitials fill in the missing parts of the film. These crude interstitials break the tempo of the movie and serve as a poor substitute for the missing material. The score was poorly treated, and the obviously brilliant music dulled by poor production/reproduction. The subtitles were also somewhat lacking, as there was obviously a great amount of missing dialog. Despite these production and editing discrepancies, the movie itself is a masterful character based drama. I give it a 4 out of 5.