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Hollywoodland (2006)
Surprisingly effective period thriller
So 2006 saw two early Hollywood murder mystery/scandal films. Despite normally hating DePalma (cue the flame war), I rushed out to see "The Black Dahlia," and only caught "Hollywoodland" almost a year later. Boy was that a mistake! Director Allen Coulter transitions marvelously from television in a film that functions as both a great old school thriller, and a decent biopic of George Reeves. Perhaps it's most glaring flaw is that super clunky title. (Yes, I know that was the original name of the landmark, but it is never referenced at all in the film, so it's just extraneous. Plus, there's a reason it was shortened.) The acting is just superb throughout. Adrian Brodie and Bob Hoskins can usually be depended on. The same with amazing character actors like Molly Parker, Lois Smith and Joe Spano. But as has been mentioned elsewhere, Ben Affleck is a minor revelation. Perhaps it really is just that he's been in nothing but crap for the last decade.
Best of all though is how in the last half hour, when I was getting frightened that the plot was descending into a tired, overblown conspiracy solution, it pulled back. The main character got enough smacks in the head to react just as I was to how futile looking for grand solutions to small crimes was. His final re-imagining of the death scene was a well executed realization of Ockham's Razor, without resorting ever to heavy handed narration.
Long story short, see it.
(Boy, I haven't reviewed anything here in ages. Never would have thought this film would bring me back!)
Intolerable Cruelty (2003)
Probably better than you've heard
No, it's not the best film for just about anyone involved. In particular this is the Coens taking it easy. But after a decade of unqualified gems, we can cut them a little slack.
The lead performances on the other hand are really excellent. Clooney is incredibly dashing, Zeta-Jones is stunning, and more importantly, both are very funny.
More a case of talented film makers servicing a genre exceptionally, than virtually reinventing movies from whole cloth. View it under these expectations, rather than as a chaser to Fargo or Lebowski, and you won't be disappointed.
Bringing Out the Dead (1999)
directionless
I should have known better than expect more from a movie by Scorsese and
Cage, who I normally can't stand. Cage just sucks any available energy off the screen. Maybe it's just me, but any Scorsese movie I've seen lacks any sense of pacing. This movie had at least three endings, a real pet peeve of mine.
However, if you want to see some great performance by John Goodman, Ving
Rhames, and Tom Sizemore, then you should check this out. Otherwise,
decidedly mediocre.
Gundress (1999)
below Shirow's level
Do not go into this expecting another Ghost in the Shell. It really isn't. Its more of a Bubblegum Crisis knock off. Five hot chicks, who work for another hot chick, pilot a squad of very kewl looking 'Land Mates', or power armours, and fight crime.
It has some neat action scenes, and some very original, if impractical robot designs. But it is ultimatly disapointing.
Homicide: The Movie (2000)
The best TV movie ever!
Not only was this movie better than all the final season of H:LOTS. But it was better than any movie made for TV I have ever seen!
Looking at the "Top 250" I see that only one small screen movie has made it: How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I think it is time to increase that group to 2.
I will admit that the original series had several shows that were better than this, but I didn't mind. I just LOVED being able to enter the world of the Baltimore Homicide Squad again!
Lola rennt (1998)
AMAZING!!!!!
I just saw this movie and was blown away. I was in Paris a few weeks ago and saw the posters for it and thought "that just looks stupid!" That was before I read the reviews. This movie has all the energy of a rock video, plus a damn good plot. In all this is the best movie I have seen since Shakespeare in Love, and almost beats even that! It puts Star Wars 1 to shame. Thanks for letting me put in my two bits.