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Reviews
American Psycho (2000)
A future cult classic?
Although I liked this film immensely for it's originality, and unique style, I still do not fully understand the storyline. I have not yet read the other users reviews, but at this point I still wonder whether the murders were a dream, or were real, but covered up by the family of Paul Allen. I suspected the latter, but am still not sure. Anyway, the most remarkable part of this film is the performance of Christian Bale. His character was dark, debonair, menacing, and hilarious at the same time. Some people have compared him to Jack Nicholson in the shining, but I would say this is more like Rod Serling playing a combination of the Alex character from Clockwork Orange and Jack the Ripper. This is a great surprise, given his earlier work, and probably will elevate him to superstar status in short order. I can see him as a leading candidate for portraying a number of roles from the next James Bond, to Count Dracula. He also does such a great Rod Serling imitation that he would be a natural as a host for a new Twilight Zone. Anyway, this is a great film and I highly recommend it to
anyone.
The Insider (1999)
Winner - Most Overated film of the year
I was really disappointed by this film. It features lots of one dimensional characters, another tired variation on the standard hollywood corporate/government paranoid conspiracy plot, and a highly over rated performance from Russell Crowe as "The Insider". What really bothered me the most though was the performance of Al Pacino. This is a guy who gave what I consider to be the two of the best performances of any actor in my lifetime. I am talking about the Godfather I&2. His other early performances in Serpico, Scarface, etc.. though not up to the Godfather standard, rank right up there. Several times during the Insider I kept thinking to myself, is this the same guy??? I had the same thoughts while viewing his other recent film in which he played a football coach. That film was so bad, I can't even remember the title. One part I will remember most about this film is the portrayal of Mike Wallace. It was a hoot! If you have not seen the film, Christopher Plummer acts as if he is playing Mike Wallace on Saturday Night Live. It is a totally
tongue in cheek funny send up (I really don't think Mike could be that much of a buffoon in real life). I could see why Mike was so mad about the characterization. Hats off to Christopher Plummer for providing some comic relief to an otherwise boring film.
Double Jeopardy (1999)
Excellent remake!
This film really surprised me in that it was involving from beginning to end. Ashley Judd and Bruce Greenwood give stand out performances in this remake of an old classic. My only reservation is Tommy Lee Jones portrayal of the parole officer, which seemed much too close to the character he played in the fugitive. However, the film is still thoroughly enjoyable and unpredictable.
The DVD looked exceptional on my new Pioneer HD510 widescreen television. I was especially impressed by the scenes filmed in New Orleans. It really captured the essence of the Bourbon street area.
The Astronaut's Wife (1999)
A good B movie idea - Poorly executed
I had read some of the poor reviews for this film prior to watching it so I knew what to expect. This film has a really good (though far from original) plot involving two astronauts whose bodies are taken over while on a space mission. The aliens (occupying the bodies of the astronauts) return to earth and proceed to impregnate their wives with alien sperm. The women both become pregnant with twins, who are expected to become pilots for an alien designed spacecraft (This was all only vaguely explained in the movie). The wives, of course, do not know this initially. The movie is really quite similar in many ways to Rosemary's baby in that the alien occupied astronauts are protective of their host wives who were chosen to have their offspring. It also takes place in New York to add to the similarities. The real problem with this movie is that the the sense of menace is not sufficiently built up in the three quarters of the movie. When Johnny Depp returns from space, he does not seem any different then when he left. Towards the end of the film, he finally starts showing his colors, but there should have been some signs early on. It is almost as if the Director forgot to tell Mr. Depp that he was supposed to be an alien, and then noticed the problem after it was too late. In summary, I could not recommend this film, even as a video rental. It lacks an adequate build up in suspense, and the rational behind the aliens motives was not fully explained in the film.
Lola rennt (1998)
One of the best films of the year! Breathless pace, highly original!
This is a German film with english subtitles. I usually am reluctant to rent foreign films, but made an exception here because of all the rave reviews. After watching this film, I can honestly say that it lives up to all the hype. The plot is very simple. A girl gets a call from her boyfriend who has just lost $100,000 of a brutal mobsters money. He has twenty minutes to come up with that amount, or he will probably be killed. What follows is three separate 20 minute versions of how the girl and
her boyfriend react to their situation. The message of this film is really about how every little random event in our lives plays a part in our fate. The breathless pace, and addictive soundtrack of this film are reminiscent of the highly popular computer game Doom. The viewer is sucked into the action, which proceeds non stop from the beginning to the end.
I would also like to mention that the sub-titles did not detract at all from my understanding and enjoyment of this film. In summary, this is truly one of the best films of the year, and highly recommended. It is a very encouraging to see really original films such as this come onto the market. Hopefully we will see more from this film maker, and the actress who played Lola.
Taxman (1998)
The Taxman is Obnoxious!
I found this movie personally offensive for the way the main character, a tax investigator is portrayed. This character was so obnoxious, I had to turn away in disgust. Basically, here is the plot. A tax investigator, "Walter Mitty type" dreams of making the big score on a tax evasion case and becoming famous. He decides to go after the Russian mob, headquartered in the Brighton Beach section of New York, who are allegedly buying up gas stations, and then siphoning off the sales tax receipts. However, the tax investigator is so clumsy, aggressive, and undisciplined in his approach to catching these criminals, that he sabotages his own efforts constantly. This guy is so ignorant and obnoxious, you feel like slapping him around. If I had to pick a food to compare with this guys personality it would be Limburger cheese. It just out and out smells bad!! Anyway, the ending is very predictable, and the only memorable part of this movie is how obnoxious the main character was.
New Rose Hotel (1998)
One of the worst films of 1999!
This was an awful film!! Such a waste of good actors. I am commenting on only the first 30 minutes because I could not stand to waste any more time waiting for an involving plot to unfold. This is about a corporate thief (Christopher Walken) who along with his associate (Wilem Defoe) hatch a plan to convince a brilliant researcher to leave the corporation he works for by using a whore to seduce him. It appears they intend to keep him under their control by catering to his need for ego and sex gratification. Visually this film looks about as seedy as you can get. It appears to have been badly edited together with scenes of Tokyo, or some Japanese city. In summary, do yourself a favor and bypass this one. It belongs on the all time stinker list.
The World Is Not Enough (1999)
The best Pierce Brosnan Bond yet!
This is first Bond film that I have truly enjoyed since the days of Roger Moore. The last Bond Flick was so bad I could not stomach watching it to the end. What an awful plot!!! This film really has an involving story which is accented by the action scenes, rather then the other way around. Pierce Brosnan seems to be maturing well into the role.
While Denise Richards is the featured Bond Girl; Sophie Marceau is the one you remember long after the movie ends. (It takes more then cookie cutter beautiful features to create a sexy character) Robert Carylye of "The Full Monty" and "Ravenous" looks to be on the verge of stardom. His character was not the usual one dimensional villain we see if Bond films ( or lampooned in Austin Powers movies). In summary, this is a very entertaining Bond movie from beginning to end. I hope the producers continue along the same vein in future Bond efforts.
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Fast paced, engaging, funny! Highly recommended!
This is a movie that I put off renting until there was nothing else on the shelves. I know it had rave reviews printed on the box, but so did some other English films like "The Full Monty" , "Trainspotting", "The General", and "Waking Ned Devine". Those were all films with "rave reviews", but I can't say I truly enjoyed any of them. One of the things that irritated me was the accents. They were hard to follow sometimes and it often interfered with my understanding of the plot. Anyway, my lukewarm reaction to the above mentioned films caused me to stay away from "Lock, Stock, and Smoking Barrels" because I thought it would be similarly disappointing. WAS I WRONG! This film is an absolute gem. The film I would best compare it to is
"Pulp Fiction". This film is an extremely fast paced roller coaster ride of twists and turns from beginning to end.
In a nutshell, it is about a group of guys who pool their money so one of them (A fellow with a talent for reading faces) can make a big score by playing poker with a local mobster. Naturally, the fellow loses all his friends money, and then some. The guys then hatch a zany scheme to recoup their friends losses by carrying out a robbery. I will not spoil the rest of the movie for those who have not seen it. Highly recommended! One of the 10 best movies I have seen in 1999.
Being John Malkovich (1999)
Original, Offbeat, Entertaining, but over rated!
I noticed this movie is ranked as the 20th best of all time by IMDB users. While I agree this movie is entertaining,
very original, and offbeat; It is clearly not the 20th best movie of all time. I might consider it for top 20 for 1999, but that might be a stretch since there are so many other worthy contenders. Not that the movie is bad, I think it is very good and worth seeing (on video). Cameron Diaz and John Malkovich himself are standouts in this film.
Ba mùa (1999)
One of the best films of 1999!
Please do yourself a favor and see this film. It is a beautiful and touching masterpiece. The film is set in a large city in modern day Vietnam. I believe it was Saigon. The film centers around the lives of several individuals. There is the ex-Marine (Harvey Keitel), hanging around an old GI bar (now a restaurant), hoping to find his daughter; The cyle taxi driver, who yearns to romance a local call girl; the flower girl who volunteers to write for a reclusive poet who lost his hands to leperacy; and the little boy who sells watches and cigarette lighters in hotels, bars, and the street. All these characters are weaved beautifully into the story like a boat moving slowly but surely up a river to a wonderful place. I have seen very very few movies in the past several years which qualify as true works of art. This movie is the real deal. .