Arlington Road (7/99; R) Jeff Bridges stars as a widowed father who begins to suspect that his "perfect" neighbors (played by Tim Robbins and Joan Cusack) have a sinister secret. Due to his accademic research of terrorism, Bridges' character has come to learn that there is often frightening discrepency between surface appearances and harsh reality. This intelligent thriller is very effective. Mark Pellington's direction, Bobby Bukowski's cinematography and Angelo Badalamenti's chilling score create a claustrophobic atmosphere that leads the audience to feel as on edge and insecure as the main character. (added to video 11/29/99)
Beautiful Girls -- with academy award winning actors such as Timothy Hutton and Mira Sorvino as well as delightful performances from Rosie O'Donnell, Uma Thurman and young Natalie Portman (keep an eye out for this girl!), this film about a group of high school buddies who reassess their lives during the week of their ten year reunion is worth a look. Fairly good music, too. There's even a snippet of a Split Enz song.
Beloved -- the main reactions we'd heard prior to seeing the film were "the film has changed my life" or "I just didn't understand it!". Well, after viewing for ourselves, we can understand how the movie might have a major impact on some people's lives....but we just don't understand what people don't understand about the film. There are many films that are difficult to follow because too many scenes have been cut, but this film seemed very complete and included all the information necessary to follow the story. Of course, there are some aspects of the film (like any good literary work) that are open to interpretation, and perhaps some people don't like that. Jonathan Demme's film adaptation of Toni Morrison's novel about the insane horror bred from the insanity that was slavery stars Oprah Winfrey as a slave haunted by personal demons and memories of murder and survival. This project, which was a long labour of love for Winfrey, Demme and members of the cast, is long and hard film with a disturbing plot and equally disturbing visuals. Beloved is a powerful film which is not pleasant to view but is good to see nontheless.
Big Night (1996, R) Minnie Driver, Ian Holm, Isabella Rossellini and Tony Shaloub star in one of our favorite films. Two brothers try to save their Italian restaurant by staging one special night. Stanley Tucci directs this Excellent film that does for Italian food what Babette's Feast does for French cuisine.
Das Boot: The Director's Cut -- now available on video, 60 minutes of new footage in Wolfgang Petersen's own cut of this 1982 Oscar winning anti-war film. This video features today's advanced sound technology, bringing ultra realism to this authentic undersea adventure inspired by the actual experiences of a WWII German photojournalist.
Breaking the Code- Sir Derek Jacobi stars in this 1996 BBC production about Alan Turing who was instrumental in the British war effort for his development of the enigma machine but who was harassed by the government after the war for breaking codes of behavior.
Don't miss the Brother Cadfael Mysteries! All three volumes of the BBC/ Mystery Theater production is now available on video, with Sir Derek Jacobi as Cadfael, of course.
Camp Nowhere this film about a group of kids who, with the help of a former drama teacher (Christopher Lloyd), fool their parents into sending them to a camp of their own making is not a bad film for families with school age kids - 9-12 or so. (Our six year old critic friend was a little displeased with the film's ethics i.e. that these kids were getting away with lying)
Character , directed by Mike van Diem, won the Oscar for best foreign language film. It tells the story of a young man who grows up under the shadow of his illigitimacy, his mother's aloofness and his father's cold cruelty. This background compels the ambitious young man to educate himself and to find a way to rise above his lowly station in life. We enjoyed listening to the Dutch in the film. The movie itself is less enjoyable than interesting but is powerfully compelling in an eerie way.
Cold Sassy Tree (1989) Joan Tewkesbury directed this fine, for cable-TV, production of Olive Ann Burn's novel. It stars a very young Neil Patrick Harris who narrates the tale of how his grandfather (played by Richard Widmark) turns their turn-of-the century rural Georgia town on its ears by marrying a young yankee woman (Faye Dunaway) a few short weeks after the death of his wife! Although there are a number of "hallmark" moments in the film and deals with a few serious issues, it is generally very funny.
Conspiracy TheoryMel Gibson and Julia Roberts are great together in this film. Azrael would have liked more car chases, explosions and the like but still gives the movie her paw up. Actually the movie wasn't exactly what was expected by the minds behind the Die Hard and Lethal Weapon enterprises -- but the humor was still there -- an exciting, interesting and fun movie. Really enjoyed the homage to Lady Hawk, too!
The Crucible (1996, Nicholas Hynter adaptation of the Arthur Miller play starring Winona Ryder as Abigail Williams and Daniel Dey-Lewis and Joan Allen as as John and Elizabeth Proctor. Although Hynter plays loose with the details, he does capture the group hysteria and multiple reasons behind the accusations of witchcraft in Salem.
Dangerous Beauty--Marshall Herskovitz' beautifully filmed movie stars Catherine McCormack (Mel Gibson's wife in Braveheart) Veronica Franco, a 16th century Venetian who follows the advice of her mother (played by Jacqueline Bisset) to become a courtesan like her mother had been when she discovers that the man she loves cannot marry her because her father has squandered her dowery and her lover's patrician family requires a marriage of state. Based on a "true story" novel by Margaret Rosenthal, this film attempts to educate the audience about the plight of premodern women for whom the choice to become a prostitute may have appeared much more desirable to marriage which imprisoned them in a hell of ignorance and "perpetual inconsequence." The only other option offered (within the film) would be to enter a convent where one would at least be able to be educated. Veronica is more attracted to a life of pleasure and becomes a successful courtesan and court poet who competes in duels of swords and verse with a courtier who feels threatened by her popularity. Veronica even gets to save Venice by using her special talents to gain military aid from the King of France. Although glamorized throughout most of the fil m, the courtesan's life is also shown as having less than positive retirement benefits and also serves as a fine target for overzealous Inquisitors in search of scapegoats during hard times. If not for the history lesson, then see it for the costumes, scenery and fine acting.
A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia -- possibly would be better if you are familiar with the story of Lawrence of Arabia (we weren't). Still, a cold look at the politics of colonialism and oil. Siddig El Fadil (yes, Dr. Bashir for you DS9 fans) and Ralph Fiennes both give engaging performances as the "uncrowned kings of Arabia"
Deep Impact - although this film had a terrible trailer (much too long and slow), the film itself is surprisingly good . Director Mimi Leder's focus is more on the human element than on special effects in this disaster film about a possible extermination level event but in contrast to the trailer, the pacing is good and the story is gripping. The movie is kind of a cross between Independence Day and Apollo Thirteen in its feel and does provide more good propaganda for NASA. We're just not sure what the implications are of having Morgan Freeman as president of the USA. Does it mean that having a black president means the end of t he world - or just that it will take that long before Americans will elect one?
The Devil's AdvocateA very interesting and, we hate to admit it, but enjoyable film. The Keanu factor is of course always a plus as was Pacino's over the top performance -- but the true highlight of the film was the lovely South African actress playing Reeve's wife. She really should have been up for an Oscar for this performance.
The Devil's Own -- (1997, R) Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt in an ethical thriller. Do situations like that in Northern Ireland rewrite the rules of good and evil?
Double Happiness (1994, PG-13) insightful film written and directed by Mina Shum about growing up Chinese in America.
Elizabeth --sure, we had to go to Atlanta to see this one, but it was worth it! This costume drama of love, power and political intrigue deals with the uncertainty surrounding the possibilities of Elizabeth's choice of marriage. Cate Blanchett is breathtaking as the young Virgin-Queen-To-Be!
Enemy of the State (R)-- Well, there aren't any aliens, but Will Smith is as likeable and heroic as we've come to expect, playing a young attorney whose life is turned upside down when he obtains a certain tape. The fact that they save Gene Hackman's character for the second half of the film is but a nod to the strength and integrity of the story.
The English Patient this 1996 academy award winning Anthony Minghella film based on the bestselling book ( check out our review of the book)stars Ralph Fiennes as Count László Almásy, Kristin Scott Thomas as Katherine Clifton Juliette Binoche as Hana. What can we say. We saw the film, fell in love with Fiennes although were a little peeved with the story line (we're getting tired of the whole idea of ill-fated love that will never work out = incredibly romantic. It's very unhealthy, you know). Still, we thought it was a beautiful movie. Then we read the book and absolutely adored it. We just wish that the Kip's character got more airtime - but then we'd need another hour, huh? Well, we just saw the film again on video and it really holds up on the small screen as well. On second viewing, (and perhaps aided by the book?) we were even more impressed with the complex textures of the film which are enhanced by the expert soundtrack. This is truely a masterful film!
Entrapment (4/99, R) Why is it that we love to think of master thieves who can get away with the most impossible heists? I'm not sure what lures us to this romantic notion, but I have to admit that I fall for it. I also fell for Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones as "reluctant" partners in crime. Sure, it's not the greatest movie ever but it's a nice movie with attractive stars and lots of action and intrigue, twists and double-crosses. You decide.
Ever After -- ok we waited for the dollar movie on this one, but needn't have. This fairytale adapted for 90's sensibilities starring Drew Barrymore as "Cinderella", Anjelica Huston as her evil stepmother and Dougray Scott as Prince Henry is a nice feel-good film. Although, we had slight problems with a few small details, literal minded kitties that we are, we thought they did a great job of recreating a sixteenth century atmosphere. We absolutely adored the sets and costumes! Maybe with a little help from this film from now on the Cinderella Syndrome will mean that girls no longer wait around for princes to come and rescue them from life, but that they can teach their princes how to live....we can only hope.
Gattaca-- What would the world be like if science allowed us to clean up our offspring genetically -- eliminating all genetic weaknesses, ailments -- wouldn't that give our children the best possible chance for a good life? Wouldn't every parent want to do so? This film, starring Ethan Hawke (who only has one facial expression) and Uma Thurman, asks this question and poses others as well. (One question I had is if in this future world everyone is so concerned with good health and reaching one's fullest potential why were people still smoking?) Although a bit slow, this is a good thought provoking film.
Good Will Hunting - a good film but a bit overrated. Minnie Driver's talents could certainly be better served than they were in this boys' film.
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