18.2.01
::Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - director Ang Lee; starring Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen, Chow Yun Fat, Sihung Lung.
17.2.01 -- Wow. Crouching Tiger was amazing. Set in an indeterminate time in China, this film explodes with passion, action, and dreams. I wish more American films were like this...an astounding storyline, fantastic action scenes, passion that doesn't border on the "grotesque".
posted2/18/2001 10:51:26 PM
3.2.01
::Finding Forrester - director Gus Van Sant; starring Sean Connery, Rob Brown, F. Murray Abraham, Anna Paquin, and Busta Rhymes.
2.2.01 -- Simply inspiring. It's a classic theme. Old grizzly man finds hope and "youth" again when young, hopeful man comes in to his life. Of course, it was with a twist...old man is a literary genuis and so is the youth. I don't know if I was astounded by the film or the mini-writing lessons of the film itself.
This was a quietly unpretensious film with great art direction. The characters were fleshy and warm. Self importance only existed in the characxterisation. Busta Ryhmes was sweet...a departure from the traditional rap cross over...not hoolum...but a concerned older brother. Sean Connery gleamed, he was both the tough grizzly bear and the lost weeping child...he has come along way in his career. Rob Brown was glowing in his first acting venture, this boy shows raw talent and a great sensitivity. Their was an understated black and white love weaved in to the plot...it may have gotten cut in the editing room...I am glad it did not dominate the film.
What was put forth in this film and preserved was the idea od second chances and iintegrity in a world that gives neither a chance.
posted2/3/2001 09:44:19 AM
22.10.00
::Pay it Forward - director Mimi Leder; starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, Haley Joel Osment
20.10.00 -- So I wonder who's going to be nominated for an Oscar this year? This film is stunning. Story to direction to acting to idea it is perfection. It is a rare gem of a movie that is a pure slice of life...real with the up and downs that go with it.
Hope and second chances move this film--the idea that individually, working through hope and faith, can in fact change the world. Taking a more active approach than the passive ripple in the pond effect--Pay It Foward shows us that action speaks louder than words, louder than the mighty, louder than the violence. The innocence of a child is a precious thing and they should be credtied with more than they are now.
This film is a delcious web of story telling. Not an aspect of this film was left unfinished, unraveled. Each thread was woven and tucked and brought out in to the intricate design Ms. Leder created with this film. She reminds us that no we are not alone...we are never really alone.
This film made my laugh and sob. A slice of life that truly inspires the soul.
posted10/22/2000 02:51:26 PM
14.10.00
::Meet the Parents - director Jay Roach; starring Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Bylthe Danner, Teri Polo
11.10.00 --- A hilarious movie with fantastic word play. A typical Ben Stiller flick--playing the typical Ben like character, but who cares his movies are always funny and spastic. De Niro was masterful as always...(I've heard his a fabulous kisser to boot)...and he never made Ben look like an idiot...just the character. Grin.
At times the film was almost painful to watch...merely cause you knew anuther "fock-up" was going to happen. The laughter was a kind of release from the agony of watching a sweet man stumble through the "dangerous" world of meeting the parents.
And to wrap it up, let's just say my boy friend is terrified to meet my parents now. (Of course, mine really are distrubed.)
posted10/14/2000 10:29:30 PM
1.10.00
::Remember the Titans - director Boaz Yakin; starring Denzel Washington, Will Patton
30.9.00 -- An intense, involving, rewarding, masterful film, that makes you stand up and cheer. Based in the turbulent 70's smack in the middle of racial integration in Virginia, this "football" movie takes us to a place in American history that we must not forget. The gem in this movie reminds us all that no matter what colour our skin might be we all have souls; and that acknowledge we must retain our rights as humans.
Not a rose-tinted look at this time period, but a frank and true story of a man's resolve and triumph over hatred and ignorance; all the while facing his own pride and weakness. The result is a town a little less prejudice and a group of young men a lot more valiant.
This film made every audience member stand up and cheer a number times. It is heartening to know that we have come a little further in the fight of equality. I give it a bag full of stars. It even better knowing that its a true story.
posted10/1/2000 09:01:48 PM
25.9.00
:: Almost Famous - director Cameron Crowe; starring Jason Lee, Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson
23.9.00 - Cameron Crowe is just god...amazing movie. Very well told...executed with finesse. Perfect blend of romance and rock star hi-jinxs and coming of age. We all know the story...basically the story of Cameron's rise to fame...young kid loves music writes like shakespear hooks a writing gig with Rolling Stone and tags along with a rock band...eyes wide open baby.
The actors and their chemistry is perfect...Frances is a godess...I adore her completely. She plays a very protective mother, that despite her severe maternal instincts...actually raises her children to have wisdom as well as knowledge. Kate Hudson spun a magic web around us...taking us high and how and then level again...ending on a high note. The one liners were beautiful, the hooks lasting, and the tangents sublime. And the guys were cute.
A sweet movie, it made me feel good. Well worth the $4 dollars my boyfriend paid. (You don't thinkI actually pay full price for movies,...I'd be broke if I did.
posted9/25/2000 01:03:21 AM
20.9.00
V and V-the Final Battle - director Kenneth Johnson; starring Marc Singer, Jane Badler, Faye Grant
19.9.00 - I first saw this television movie in 1984, I was 6. I absolutely loved this movie. The story was great, for the time the special effects were dazzling. This film shaped 75% of my childhood play. Imagine Barbies copulating, torturing each other, and eating each other. It was your basic aliens invade Earth under a friendly guise, but really have alterior and sinister motives --but we rebel and dominate classic sci-fi themes. (That's were the torturing and eating came from...the sex...well it was rampant) Basically the aliens looked human but were really reptilian--they needed water--so they wanted ours--all of ours. Apparently water is a precious and rare commidity (a lot of pro-environmentalism over tones), as was food--yep you guesse dit we were the food. It's a great film...yes the effects are 20 years out of date and the acting is eh...but man it's the memories...its the idea. It should be re-made.
I rented the entire 8 hour mini-series and watched it all. Ah warm fuzzy child hood memories. I definately recommend you check it out.
posted9/20/2000 08:21:53 PM
16.9.00
::Romeo Must Die - director Andrzej Bartkowiak ; starring Aaliyah, Jet Li, DMX, Isaiah Washington, Russell Wong
15.9.00 - I saw this movie in the theatres months ago and rented it last night. A nice little spin on Romeo and Juliet. Got a litttle somethin-somethin for the action driven guys and sizzling romance for the ladies and soft hearted men. Since it has Jet Li (a looker by the way) there are some very well done Kung-Fu in every other scene. It's very well done and beautifully filmed. For the techies hooked on special effects...there are a few bits where we get to see a computer generated X-ray images showing the audience just how and where some one was damaged irrevoacably.
And for the ladies--it's Romeo and Juliet. "Two households, both alike in dignity..." Only the heroes don't die and bad guy is vanquished. I liked this version of Shakespeare's classic...it used the play as a spring board and flew with it's own wings. The love story is subdued -- the chemistry and sizzle is there but it shares equal screen time with the action. Aaliyah plays a strong female role model...no simpering (thank you) and Jet is oh so sensitive and honour bound. Unlike Romeo and Juliet--they are not lost in the conflicts around them...they swim above the current and to the shore.
posted9/16/2000 03:52:20 PM
11.9.00
::Saving Grace - director Nigel Cole; starring Brenda Blethyn, Craig Ferguson, Martin Clunes
9.9.00 - We all get a little desperate don't we? I haven't laughed so hard in weeks. A little joint venture never was funnier. In the states, at least my part of it, this film was woofully under-publisized. I walked in thinking in would be a delightful, funny English comedy...if they let on that it was about pot and subsequent hi-jinks we'd have lines for miles. I know in Austin there would be people diving for the screen.
It all surrounds a middle aged gardener (Grace)--touted the best in the world--and her debt ridden husband. We meet his coffin in the first second of the film and learn he just took a long step out of a plane. Days after the burial Grace finds her self under a mountain of debt. With no other option but putting her skill to use...we follow Grace through her town and it's loving occupantes to London and it's surreal underbelly. Never fever a complex, rich story winds itself through cannibis leaves and ends with a spectular and warm ending.
Should you see it?? YES!
posted9/11/2000 06:14:08 PM
4.6.00
Dream for an Insomniac - director Tiffanie DeBartolo; starring Ione Skye, Jennifer Aniston, Mackenzie Astin
I love this movie! A irrepressible dreamer who can't sleep...typical premise...girl mets boy...fall in love...but boy has girl friend...girl must win boy for herself..and love triumphs all. It's entertaining sweet, energetic, and hopeful. Liberal doses of Frank Sinatra, Bono and literature. It always makes me smile...and sometimes cry because I have no love. But it does keep me from total despair.
Dream has a great sound track...lot's of Frank...the art direction is interesting...the script is very fun. Go see it.
posted6/4/2000 06:01:39 PM
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