Change Your Image
mrkramer
Reviews
Knocked Up (2007)
This has some good moments, but it's been really hyped
Well, this flick IS better and more original than your average Hollywood fare. That's not saying much, though. I saw previews for five summer movies before seeing this film and all of them looked horrible. After seeing The 40-Year-Old Virgin I had high hopes for this movie, but it didn't measure up. I wasn't expecting them to be alike, but I hoped that Knocked Up would be as touching and funny.
Unfortunately I found this movie inconsistent and the main relationship didn't make sense to me. The relationship between the two main characters seemed like wish fulfillment on the male director's or writer's part. I couldn't see her with him and I couldn't see her tolerating his teenage stoner lifestyle, however sweet he might be. It reminded me of that Seinfeld episode when George Costanza tells an attractive woman in the diner "I'm unemployed and I live with my parents" and she turns to him with interest and says "Hiiii!" or something like that.
In contrast, the relationship in The 40-Year-Old Virgin was sweet, quirky, enjoyable and much more realistic. All the characters were great and the jokes in that movie came thick and fast. There were a number of very funny moments in this film too, but there were also scenes that were very unrealistic or boring--i.e., the one with the bouncer outside the club, and part of the Vegas scene. I really wanted to smack the married sister and tell her to get a life. If I were Paul Rudd's character I would have been out of there pronto.
I did like it when the guys started to get into the back-and-forth insults that they used in TFYOV--I just wish there had been more of that. The two are both basically movies that accept and welcome nerdiness, quirkiness and difference, which is great. This one just didn't pull it off so well. I'd say, however, that if you're a teenage boy who likes to toke, you're going to love it!
Apocalypto (2006)
Bloody, beautiful, visceral
If you have young, sensitive children, leave them at home when you go to see this one. I'm still thinking about it. Apocalypto is unlike anything I've seen before in terms of subject matter. It's also a nail-biter and a popcorn movie with archetypal and somewhat clichéd themes. Yet it doesn't let up for a minute and is extremely well-done. One thought kept running frantically through my mind--Mel is NOT well. Wow. This film will delight the sadists among us. It's beyond visceral. Mel certainly makes a damn good action flick, however. The cinematography is gorgeous and gripping, and the ornamentation and decoration on the actors are engrossing and visually surreal. I kept thinking about some of the Cantina characters in Star Wars when I was watching the frightening scenes where Jaguar Paw and crew are walking single file through the crowd in the city. If you love great action movies and sci-fi, this one is for you. It's not a sci-fi flick, but it often seems like one! Apocalypto may be subtitled in English with dialogue spoken in Mayan dialects, but it is also exciting and suspenseful as hell.
Must Love Dogs (2005)
Boring, clichéd and depressing
I gave this movie 3 stars: 1 for the Newfoundland dogs (I do love dogs) and 2 for John Cusack. The rest of it bit the big one. I felt like this movie was expressly written to put depressed, forty-something single female asses in theater seats. Hmm. How...depressing. Did the producers test this in focus groups and take out any meaning or originality, or did it never have any in the first place? Bleah. I was hoping it would be an entertaining romantic comedy along the lines of Bridget Jones' Diary. That movie was predictable but fun and cute--I don't mind predictability in a popcorn movie if I'm well entertained along the way. This crappy film limped along with normally good but badly miscast actors implausibly acting poorly conceived, two-dimensional characters in stock situations. The only bright light here was the ever-charming John Cusack, who made the most of his dialogue. He's an actor we don't see enough of, unfortunately. To be fair, some actors delivered snappy and well-written lines along the way, but they sank under the weight of leaden pacing and a mish-mash of utterly boring plot developments that were mostly copied from more successful romantic comedies of the past. Don't waste your money unless you want to see all Cusack's films and need to check this one off. I wouldn't even recommend it as a video rental.
Anger Management (2003)
YOU will be angry you actually spent money to see this
This movie looked like it might be fun from the preview, and I like both Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler. There really is probably only one reason they were in this movie--for the paycheck. What a terrible, terrible film. It's highly uncomfortable to watch, features very bad Three Stooges humor, and is completely unrealistic. I don't mind stupid movies if they're funny, but this had only one funny minute in the whole film. If you feel some great need to see it, catch it on video. Just remember that you can't get those two hours of your life back. It's simply dreadful--full of exaggeration, stupid stereotypes, and cued movie music that tells you how you're supposed to feel. It's basically a typical big-budget Hollywood movie trying to take your money without giving you any real entertainment in return. If you want to see Adam Sandler in something sweet and funny, rent The Wedding Singer.
Girlfight (2000)
Compelling drama about gender roles and finding your niche
Well-acted and gripping, this film featured a completely convincing unknown cast and a redefining of what a woman can be. Some have complained that it's improbable that the character of Diana would face (SPOILER approaching) her boyfriend in the ring at the end of the movie. I don't think that the point is whether she really would or not. Yes, it's a long shot, but more bizarre events have occurred. In reality, I think this scene demonstrates a highly interesting psychological situation. It's a more symbolic than realistic moment. Why is it important to separate the personal from the professional? How do you overcome long-ingrained sexual stereotypes in a modern relationship? How does fighting for yourself make you more capable of being an equal and a real part of a romantic partnership?
Michelle Rodriguez is wonderful in the lead role. Her character, Diana, defends herself by channeling rage and frustration at her dysfunctional family life and dead-end future into becoming a skilled, focused athlete. Ironically, by fighting, she increases her self-esteem and becomes able to relate to others, instead of just giving in to her short fuse all the time. She gains discipline and an ersatz boxing family consisting of her trainer and her boyfriend, Adrian. Adrian makes you wish you could meet a man that masculine. Although it's a huge struggle, he doesn't let his pride get in the way of a relationship he believes in. He has the internal strength to overcome the unthinking machismo he has been taught to portray and feel. THAT is sexy. It also shows a lot of self-confidence. And as she says at the end of the film, the fact that he got into the ring with her and treated her like anyone else showed her respect. As she knows, she damn well deserves it.
Yes, this film is somewhat predictable. So what? It was highly realistic in an emotional sense. I sympathized with Diana's character and was completely engaged throughout. This is one of the better movies I've seen in quite a while.
Sud Side Stori (2000)
Good idea that could have been much better written and executed
This film, a Romeo and Juliet re-telling of the star-crossed affair between a local Elvis impersonator and a Nigerian prostitute in Sicily, is extremely inventive in its approach.
It tackles the integration of African immigrants into southern Italian society, taking the approach of a surreal musical. Giulietto is the Elvis impersonator, who lives with his three disgusting harpy aunts. They, like other townspeople and his fiancee scream at the idea of Africans living in Sicily. Romea is the beautiful African prostitute who falls for Giulietto after seeing him standing on a balcony in the center of town. Her African friends and fellow prostitutes, conversely, think Italians are just as disgusting as his the townspeople think the Africans are. Each side goes to a local "witch doctor" to try to cure Romea and Giulietto of their star-crossed love. This movie feels like some sort of cross between a campy John Waters film and Grease, with Italian/African iconology and a little voodoo thrown in. Sometimes it's over-the-top funny, but it becomes surreal and campy in a very unconvincing and tasteless way in some places. It plays into certain stereotypes, putting people down for being fat and including stupid lyrics about blacks and slavery. Some actors, especially the one playing Giulietto, seem to feel that mugging blatantly is an effective technique. That works much better in stage acting than in front of a movie camera. Also, the sets show evidence that the director didn't have enough money to carry off the more surreal special effects. For example, at one point Giulietto randomly appears in front of obviously fake volcanos with horns on his head, which look very like spray-painted foam. It seems to be an innovative A-movie idea trapped into campy B-movie status by funky but amateurish sets and uneven writing/songwriting/directing. I was interested in how it portrayed the plight of the African prostitutes who try to find a way to set up a life in Italy, and are trapped into endless prostitution by pimps and madams who take away their passports upon their arrival. It's hard to make this subject or the story of Romeo and Juliet a comedy, however, and the director doesn't succeed in doing so very well. However, the film is brightly colored, visually fun, reasonably engaging and original in its approach to social commentary. So I would sum up by saying it's a very mixed bag.
Almost Famous (2000)
A sweet, wonderful depiction of growing up around rock n' roll
This may well have been my favorite film and ensemble performance from 2000. I have seen it a number of times and it strikes a very personal chord. It makes me feel better every time I watch it. Cameron Crowe wrote a warm, poignant, and moving screenplay without making it cloying.
One of the reasons "Almost Famous" is so good is because all of the actors are extremely well-cast. Philip Seymour Hoffman is fantastic as usual. What an amazing, versatile actor. He's my favorite in a cast of favorites. Kate Hudson lives up to all of the hype she's gotten and Patrick Fugit was sensitive, observant, and adorably awkward. Billy Crudup and Jason Lee gave excellent supporting performances. Some have criticized Lee's acting, but I completely disagree. His angry, acerbic manner and testy delivery are extremely funny and accurate. Frances McDormand is perfect. Zooey Deschanel was great. And the Rolling Stone poseur-hipsters were over the top and funny.
Also, the soundtrack is excellent. Crowe did well to combine a few 70s AOR hits with lesser-known gems, instead of creating a Forrest Gump-like greatest hits package.
This endearingly captures teens and adults who see the beauty and heartache of the world through the prism of their much-adored rock n' roll music. As Billy Crudup says before a very funny scene at the home of some Topeka fans, "I'm looking for something...real." Everyone on the Almost Famous tour is looking for something real. They search for reality through the haze of a good-natured, perambulating slumber party laced with growing pains, sex, and the occasional mind-altering substance.
I was too young to remember this half of the 70s, but I'm so glad Cameron Crowe gave me a chance to view it through his rose-colored glasses. I give "Almost Famous" a 10 out of 10 for its heartfelt happiness.
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
Keanu strikes again
Watching this film is kind of like being downwind of a large cinematic garbage dump. It was supremely, incredibly, wonderfully bad. You can smell the dialogue and acting from miles away. Keanu is in full Keanu form with his Ed Wood-en quality acting. He is choice in Much Ado about Nothing, but he runs that performance a close second here. If you didn't realize that they all received plentiful paychecks, you might feel sorry for the many miscast actors. I recommend this if you're in the right mood for it! Great fun.
La capa gira (2000)
The Godfather it's not, but funny it is
This is a movie about petty criminals in Bari, Italy who are looking for a mislaid drug shipment. Much of the action focuses on two underlings sent to look for the drugs along the railroad tracks. They spend most of their time sitting around, getting high and making fun of each other. Also, there is a bored, world-weary pool hall owner who waits for this shipment as people keep coming in and asking him for supplies. He runs a pool joint/bar that is also an undercover place for gambling and drug-selling, and hangs out with various friends and patrons there. Oddly enough, I would recommend this to anyone who likes Kevin Smith's indie movies, although his fans will NOT be able to find it easily at the local Blockbuster, since Blockbuster generally has a foreign film selection consisting of one copy of "La Dolce Vita", one copy of "Life is Beautiful" and (I'm guessing for the future) 8000 copies of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." This involves a similarly goofy set of individuals, swearing, and humor, with a criminal and Italian macho twist. The dialogue is less ironic or consciously clever than Kevin Smith's, but is still very funny. It is very much a guy/bloke film, but I enjoyed it. The soundtrack is also fast-paced and good--it adds to the ambience as they all zoom around Bari in cars and on Vespas. Good fun!
Charlie's Angels (2000)
Rent something campy and funny, but skip this movie
I hoped that this would be so bad that it was good. Unfortunately, I didn't find it even remotely funny. (No...there were one or two funny scenes, but they did not a movie make.) It didn't even come close to becoming a camp classic. So sad! This had horrible acting and a high cheese factor--two of the necessary ingredients--but nothing funny enough to make it achieve the status of such wunderbar bad movies as "Better Off Dead" or "Rock n' Roll High School." I wasn't expecting award-winning performances, but I also didn't think it would be such a piece of crap. Even the normally fabulous Bill Murray couldn't turn this waste of space around. In any case, you should let it die in obscurity where it belongs.
Enemy at the Gates (2001)
Blah....
I've learned a lot about Russia, Germany and World War II over time. This movie was filled with improbably beautiful people acting in improbable ways. That's typical of a big-budget production, but in this case it didn't manage to interest me. I kept on thinking about the director stopping and starting these scenes in which cheekbones got more attention than the action or philosophy at hand. Go see it if you like Jude Law, Joseph Fiennes, or Rachel Weisz. Otherwise, don't bother.
Saroja (2000)
Interesting, often charming film about the evils of the civil war in Sri Lanka
This is the first Sri Lankan movie I have seen. I thought it was charming and sad. I also found some of the acting rather stylized, which gave the film a formal air in places.
SPOILERS AHEAD. The plot is an indirect introduction to the issues of the civil war that has beleaguered Sri Lanka over the past years, as portrayed by the actions of two families and surrounding villagers. A Tamil, who has been forced to join the Tamil Tiger group for survival, is severely wounded and hides in the jungle with his little daughter after his wife is killed and their house is burned down. While looking for food, the daughter meets a Sinhalese girl and they become fast friends. The parents of the Sinhalese girl take in both the wounded Tamil Tiger and his daughter at great risk to themselves. After their neighbors discover that they are harboring members of the "enemy," the Sinhalese couple defend themselves by saying that Tamils are equal members of the human family, despite their different ethnic identity. The film ends on a sad but hopeful note.
I have seen a number of human rights movies, and they can be self-righteous and black-and-white, no matter how good their goals are. Artistry often suffers at the expense of the political message. This film's plot also has little nuance. It spells out and promotes tolerance and human rights in general and in the specific case of the civil war. One would hope for the movie to get wide distribution in Sri Lanka and elsewhere for that reason. In any case, however, I felt that if it "instructs," it does so in a gentle and very palatable way. The little girl who plays Saroja, the tiny Tamil, is absolutely adorable, as is the slightly older Sinhalese girl she befriends and eventually calls "sister." They are the innocent, symbolic focus of the film and are delightful to watch. The older actors also did a decent job. In addition, I greatly enjoyed seeing the scenery and snapshots of daily village and family life in Sri Lanka.
Unfortunately, I doubt that this movie will get much distribution in most English-speaking countries. I would recommend it, however, for anyone who finds its subject matter and goals of interest and has the opportunity to see it at a film festival or other venue.
Woman on Top (2000)
Fun and frothy way to spend two hours
I've read some of the other comments on this film, and I'd agree with many of the criticisms. Yes, Hollywood. Yes, Foreign Film Lite. Yes, predictable plot. Yes, stereotypes here, there, everywhere. And it is not deep. This is a bit of a guilty pleasure, in my opinion. It's charming, with a fun, atmospheric soundtrack and some enjoyable performances. By the end of the movie I wanted to be dancing on a beach somewhere in Brazil. I'll forgive a lot of sins for a movie that makes me laugh reasonably often and has good visuals and music. If you like romance and fairy tales and fun and aren't in the mood for something penetrating or plausible, this would be a good one to check out. Penelope Cruz cannot help but be a movie star--she has a lot of charm in addition to her looks. Her husband character, Toninho, was very easy on the eyes. Their combined visual assault reminds me of the double-wattage Latin aesthetics of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Antonio Banderas in the Mask of Zorro--I enjoyed that film less than this one, actually. And her best friend, Monica the trannie, had a somewhat stereotypical gay supporting role, but was extremely funny--Harold Perrineau, Jr. made this his own.
Dancer in the Dark (2000)
Extreme, original, and ultimately boring and unsatisfying
This is a very extreme film. It has some strong positive aspects. For one, there is Bjork's voice, which is beautiful and odd as always. I would like to hear the music again, because I think the post-industrial sound is very interesting, especially in this context. Plus, I thought she did an unexpectedly great job at acting and capturing the camera lens with her dreamy, elvish look. She was appealing and very believable in an annoying and unbelievable role. Also, the film is highly original in examining and and reconstructing the musical. I've never seen another movie quite like it, and I really like that aspect of it. I didn't mind the camerawork, because it was as dingy and helter-skelter as the world it was portraying.
There are also some strong negatives, however. For one, the movie is boring, especially towards the end. And if a film is implausible on a practical level, which I think is a great idea, it should also suspend the viewer's disbelief. This did not. The only person who completely suspended my disbelief was Bjork, and she wasn't working with great material, so more power to her. I also thought Catherine Deneuve did a good acting job making her character believable as possible, although she was miscast as factory worker/best friend. She had less to work with than Bjork, if possible. It was very incongruous to see this former Marianne of France with her perfectly coiffed blonde hair and natural model-like elegance plopped down in this grimy factory world--Bjork fit in much better.
The film truly made me want to get up and walk out from time to time when nothing seemed to gel--the filming with the plot and the reactions of the characters. Nothing seemed to make any sense. It would take an awful lot of skill to make a (SPOILER coming up) murder trial/factory worker musical work. I was very interested to see if Von Trier could do it, but I ultimately don't think he did. I definitely won't see this one again. I have a hard time knowing how to rate this with one rating, so I don't think I will. I'd give it a 10 for originality of concept, filming and music; a 3/4 for keeping my interest; a 1 for gaping holes in artistic believability and a 10 for Bjork's performance. If you like Bjork and enjoy the concept of the musical, you'll get something out of seeing this, but be forewarned that it is stylistically incoherent and increasingly grim.
Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love (1996)
Stupid, pretty movie
Basically, this film gets a 10 for amazing scenery and costumes, beautiful people, and visual atmosphere. It gets a 1 for its screenplay. It reminded me very strongly of a very badly written romance novel, which I was not expecting. I saw this in the theater, and I remember laughing out loud at some of the unintentionally humorous dialogue. If you can stomach the inane sophistries that the characters throw out and you find the idea and look of India fascinating, it will satisfy you on a visual level. The actors and actresses are truly a sight for sore eyes.
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Fun, lovely piece of fluff
After having read the novella twice (once ten years ago, once last year), I decided to see the re-release on the big screen. While I've always thought Audrey Hepburn was classy and glamorous, I didn't picture her as this character. So the degree of authenticity and vulnerability she brought to the role surprised me somewhat. I thought she did a very good job. I had heard that Capote wanted Marilyn Monroe for the part. That I could picture very easily, and it would have been interesting to see her do it also--she would have added a softer, less chic dimension. Visually it was great fun to watch. Hepburn's outfits and makeup are wonderful. Along with the music, they mix that dash of 60s lounge into the classic Hollywood film atmosphere, and she and George Peppard look very good and have good chemistry together on screen. Plus, what a fantastic party she threw--I wanted to be there. There were some very funny moments at the party.
At the risk of being pc, I really disliked Micky Rooney's Mr. Yunioshi character, or should I say caricature. It detracted from the movie for me. Rooney would have been fine as a regular neighbor with his own look, because his bumbling was funny and slapsticky, but I truly found his fake Japanese accent, makeup and buckteeth, etc, very offensive. I think I would have still found his portrayal offensive in 1961, although it's hard to tell how I'd react in a different social climate. But overall, there are so many lovely scenes in the movie that I still really enjoyed it. It's not that profound, especially with the different ending. The novella is. But the scene of them kissing in the rain...classic Hollywood glamor that is to die for! Lovely filming. I'd give this a 7 out of 10.
Pride and Prejudice (1995)
Completely satisfying, beautifully cast, and faithful to the book
I re-read P & P at age 21 after having read it, unimpressed, at age 11. Older and wiser, I fell in love with it. I taped the miniseries in hopes that it might be decent, and my expectations were well surpassed. I'm glad I did tape it, since I've watched it many times since. The most accurate word to describe it is "delightful." The casting is generally wonderful, which is rare in a literary adaptation. When I looked at some of these other comments, I was interested to note that others had also had a problem with the character of Mrs. Bennet, who seemed more over-the-top in the miniseries than in the book. Now that I've seen it a couple of times, I don't have as much problem with her portrayal as I did then. I don't think that Susannah Harker is quite conventionally attractive enough to fit her role. The character of Jane Bennet is supposed to be sweet, quiet, and conventionally beautiful, outshining Elizabeth and her other sisters primarily on initial impression and on a physical level. There was no time when her looks outshone Jennifer Ehle's at any time in the series, so that was unconvincing, although she acted Jane's character very well. I found her to be much plainer than Jennifer Ehle, who amply possessed the lively, off-center attractiveness that Elizabeth is supposed to have. These comments are tiny criticisms, however, in the face of a beautifully realized, completely engaging film. The acting was superb. When you need something to do on a cold rainy weekend day, curl up with a cup of something hot and lose yourself for six hours. It deserves a 10 out of 10.
Ai no korîda (1976)
Obsessive sexuality on a symbolic level
This movie surprised me. I went to see it on a whim, because it was showing in the same theatre with a screening of the director's cut of Blade Runner. I didn't know what to expect, and I liked it better than Blade Runner. The sexuality is incredibly graphic, but in some ways, that almost normalizes sex. It is so much better and more interesting than pornography, but it shows what pornography shows. The couple is constantly having sex, but that didn't strike me as abnormal. They do whatever they want regardless of who might be around or watching--a sense of shame and sexual repression is completely absent. There's a dreamy, lazy intensity to their obsession with each other. The end of the movie strikes me as highly symbolic--in that respect, it indicates that sexiness and sexuality is primarily psychological, despite the way they relish each other's bodies. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who liked "Sex, Lies and Videotape" or "High Art." They have a similar psychological intensity.
The Wedding Singer (1998)
Sweet, very funny film
This is a very cute, warm romantic comedy that breaks out of the "chick flick" category. It's somewhat predictable, which I normally think is the kiss of death for a film, but that's completely overcome by its genuine warmth and humor. Also, it doesn't take itself seriously, and the occasional overacting and fun mugging for the camera works well within the context of the film. In some ways, it's like the underrated 1994 comedy with Mike Myers "So I Married an Axe Murderer." And it's about eight million times better than big budget romantic comedy vehicles like the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan flicks. I don't generally like Adam Sandler films because they seem to operate on a twelve-year-old boy level, but this one was worth seeing. There are good cameos from character actor Steve Buscemi and others such as Billy Idol. Those who have been to tacky weddings, suffered a humiliating, incredibly painful romantic break-up or grew up in the 80s will relate. Some scenes make me laugh every time I've seen it.
The Low Down (2000)
Very slow-paced
I didn't enjoy this film very much. Despite the decent acting, the characters seemed bored and boring. I did enjoy looking at Aiden Gillen! However, the pace was glacial, and I was checking my watch every three seconds to see when it would be over. I still don't understand what the "conflict" in the story was, if there was any conflict. I certainly don't need explosions, but I do like to have at least an idea of where a movie's plot is going. I think the idea of a slice of life film is great, but this didn't keep my attention.
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Stunning, overpowering visuals
One of the reasons I liked Pi so much was because of the hyperactive, hallucinatory quality of Aronofsky's cinematography. The visuals make this movie as well, along with Clint Mansell returning to do yet another great, haunting film score. Not only was the camerawork excellent, but all lead performances were great. As an original and hard-hitting film, it makes its mark. It very accurately and quickly portrayed taking a hit with a few quick shots. There's a stronger emphasis on visuals than coherent story, however--I found myself concentrating on the camerawork at the expense of other aspects of the movie. Also, I could not finish watching it--during a scene where (SPOILER) Ellen Burstyn is being fed, Jared Leto and Marlon Wayans are attending to his disgustingly infected arm and Jennifer Connelly is in some sort of group sex scenario, I had to get up and leave because I thought I was going to throw up in the theater. My nausea went away as soon as I was out. I've always had problems hearing people relate medical problems and been hyper-sensitive to portrayals of pain, so that might be why (or maybe the quick cutting did it). The last time I walked out of a movie was probably in the late 80s, however, so this was very unusual. It's especially unusual because I thought it was an interesting and original film. I'd warn anyone physically susceptible to portrayals like this to wait for video, although you might miss some of the visual effects.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
Okay movie with great soundtrack
I've always liked the Coen brothers' films, with my favorites being Raising Arizona and Fargo. This one is stylistically good and filmed very well, with some fun over-the-top performances from George Clooney et al., but for some reason it didn't resonate with me on any emotional level. I found it ultimately fairly forgettable. In short, it's my least favorite of their films. I probably won't see it again. The soundtrack is wonderful though--I don't even like country/folk music as a rule, but it's stayed in my mind so I just had to go out and buy it! It's beautifully sung and has some wonderful American folk music on it.
High Art (1998)
A beautiful, hypnotic film with a great soundtrack
I wanted to see this film based on the fact that it was well-reviewed and I thought it would be interesting to see Ally Sheedy in a role that stretched beyond her Weird Loner role in The Breakfast Club. This is one of the more moving love stories I've seen. The trippy, druggy music and slowly moving, intense, and starkly beautiful plot gradually made me feel like the movie junkie that I am! It kept me engaged from beginning to end. If you're in love with New York City, the idea of art, the art world and its pretensions, and you enjoy trancey music, you're in for a real treat. This makes my list of top 10 movies of the 90s.
Batman Forever (1995)
The worst movie I've ever seen
This was by far the worst movie I've ever seen. The first Batman movie was a fairly decent film. The series lends itself to having the possibility for some great performances in the Quirky Villain category. Jack Nicholson is a case in point. But this one had no apparent plot, it was horribly loud and boring, and the only reason I didn't get up and walk out was because I was there with some friend. There were some fine actors in this movie who should be ashamed of themselves. What a loser. Don't rent it on video--stay as far away as possible.
All About Eve (1950)
Fabulously witty film with acid, amazing dialogue
I first saw this movie at age 16--it hooked me then and for always. I've probably seen it six or seven times since. It's in my top 10 films of all time, along with American Beauty and Annie Hall. There is so much truth about human nature in this story about the theater world in New York. Bette Davis is unparalleled in her role as an aging, canny, beautiful and charismatic movie star. Anne Baxter plays Eve perfectly. And Marilyn Monroe gives a scene-stealing turn as a gold-digging starlet. You should not miss this for the incredibly sharp dialogue alone, not to mention the way it strikes a chord regarding the less admirable sides of human behavior. Grand, funny, semi-tragic and redolent of old Hollywood and Broadway, it deserves every Oscar it received.