miniwidge's Reviews

Quills (2000)

10/10

23 December 2000

Warning: Spoilers

Okay, it's not the most magnificent movie of all time. It is definitely the best movie I've seen in this very forgettable year of plodding movies. There were several things that were noticeable. The play that was acted for the benefit of the Doctor (Caine) was just like a mirror or the audience viewing "Quills". Some were offended, others were shocked and some left. The ones that stayed were fascinated by the debaucher "monster" - the Doctor or de Sade. At least de Sade never forced the chambermaid. He at least understood the meaning of the word love. He had a distorted view of it, but he was far less a hypocrite than the Doctor. Joachim Phoenix can act (!). I knew he could perform lines adequately, but this is the best bit he's ever done, including "To Die For" and definitely better than "Gladiator" in which he simply preened. (SPOILER) What is it with Kate Winslet and watery graves ("Titanic" [not her, but close], "Hamlet", "Quills", and rain-related near-death pneumonia in "Sense and Sensibility") Amazingly enough, there was more male than female nudity. I think this is a first. Not integral to the comments on the movie, but a couple of days after I saw the premiere, it struck me as a surprising fact.

I can't wait to see it again.

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Musical Magic: Gilbert and Sullivan in Stratford (1984)

8/10

Not your average documentary

25 August 2000

How do you "comment" on a documentary? The "magic" part of the title gives away some of the secrets in costuming and staging that appear to happen on their own on stage. The work is so intricate, the choreography is so perfectly timed, the sets are so brilliantly created that, as you are watching the performances, things happen that seem magical or unbelievable. It is all the work of hundreds, if not thousands of hours. Amazing, if not a little bit of showing the magician's tricks before you see the act.

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The Mikado or the Town of Titipu (1987 TV Movie)

7/10

fun to watch

25 August 2000

If you want to see a brilliant performance of Mikado, played to perfection with expert timing and panache, don't watch this version. If you want to see a hammy version with Eric Idle strutting around in 1930's english gentlemen's private club society, this is the one to watch. It's a lot of fun and a good intro to Gilbert and Sullivan, but after this, rush out and rent the Canadian Stratford version. You'll see the difference between good and great. Nobody does G&S better than Brian McDonald and the Stratford group.

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Shadowlands (1993)

Haunting

25 August 2000

I have read the "Narnia" series from start to end about 7 times in my life. It's magical every time. I saw the TV version of "Shadowlands" (with Joss Ackland) long before I saw this version, and I'm tossed. The TV version was more involved and probably more accurate (the number of kids, little things), but Anthony Hopkins is hard to beat. He can elicit the best acting out of anyone, including Debra Winger, whose best roles involve her dying at one time or another. I cry at this every time, but I'd like to see the TV version again for comparison. I remember it being dryer...definitely less passion. Although "Shadowlands" can't be considered passionate by most people, I find that the more subtle form of romance and love far more passionate that the blatant versions usually provided in movies. And no, I'm not old and codgery. I like to be romanced.

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Prime Suspect (1991)

10/10

As perfect as they come.

25 August 2000

This is far above the average cop series, let alone a made-for-TV cop series. Helen Mirren is, as always, outstanding as Tennyson. The rest of the series is as good as the first, which is, in itself, rare. Usually, sequels or continuations of a series try to follow the same general plot and characterizations and fail because of their lack of originality. Prime Suspect is riviting from the first to the last.

One extra note...did anyone watching it recently notice that the original victim's boyfriend was played by Ralph Fiennes? Shows that quality breeds quality.

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Great Performances: Monsignor Quixote (1986)

Season 15, Episode 1

10/10

Watch this movie!!

25 August 2000

If you like a movie with wit, great acting, a great plot, interesting sub-plots, great dialogue, charm, sarcasm, theology, friendship and gripping from start to finish, then this is the movie for you. It's not "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure", but hey, you can't have everything (I AM kidding). With a story based on one of my favorite author's best books, there is very little wrong with this movie, if anything. From Sancho's drunken rantings on communism to the Monsignor's choosing of socks, this is a memorable, touching movie in the best sense. Even the Monsignor's innocent "great sin" makes me smile. To top it all off, two of the best actors of all time star in it. The two also star in another PBS-type movie called "A Foreign Field". Not quite as good, but still incredible.

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This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

This Is A Comedy!!!

25 August 2000

My comment summary may sound obvious, but when the movie first came out, I actually had to tell someone that it

was NOT a "real" band. The lead singer was "Lenny" of "Lenny and Squiggy" fame and that Anjelica Huston is not a

set designer.

Hilarious from start to finish. I watch it about once a year to

get my funny bone re-energized again. Made me a die-hard

Rob Reiner fan.

Not, however, the first of it's kind. There may be an earlier

one, but the first "mockumentary" of a band I saw was "The

Ruttles" by Eric Idle, mock/honoring the Beatles.

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Victor/Victoria (1982)

Victorious

25 August 2000

I saw this movie when it first came out. I've watched it as

often as I can (without making it boring) ever since. It had

me from the opening Mancini score, through all the plots

and sub-plots, and right through to the last note.

Every once in a while, when I'm in a crowd and I'm pushing

through, I find myself murmuring "pahdon me, s'cuse me,

pahdon me, s'cuse me" á la Leslie Ann Warren. Her "see

you in choich" line killed me.

The final scene, from Robert Preston in full regalia to

Graham Stark recognizing them...AGAIN to ...everything

was the best ending to a movie I've ever seen. By far Blake

Edwards' best movie...even over the original Pink Panthers.

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Ragtime (1981)

One of my favorites

25 August 2000

I don't know if too many people know this, but the main

event in this movie is based on an event of the time frame

presented (1930's), where a wealthy man was shot in the

middle of a party by his girlfriend's ex-lover. I remember that

her name was Evelyn Nesbitt, which is the name of Elizabeth Perkins' character. This was the first time I had seen Mandy Patinkin, and I

became an instant fan. The way the stories start separately and wind themselves

together by the end is fascinating. Excellent writing and

acting, a treat for movie fans.

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Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

8/10

Agatha Christie's Best

25 August 2000

This is one of the first videos I bought, and I've watched it ...oh, I don't know...about 20 times or so. I'm never sick of it. Perfect timing and acting, Albert Finney is as good as David Suchet in the role, and head and shoulders above Peter Ustinov. The cast is brilliant, with a few exceptions, who are luminous (Wendy Hiller and Lauren Bacall...what can you say?). Never a dull moment.

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The Music Man (1962)

9/10

Dream of Now...Dream of Then

25 August 2000

Wow. How many musicals can you name that go from huge, invisible bands to a touching love song and back

again? How many can you name that have so ingrained themselves into our culture that at least two of the songs

are repeated with some frequency on a current hit TV show

(Ally McBeal)? How many can you name with the late, incomparable Robert Preston? "The Music Man" has all this and so much more. I could probably hum off all the

songs without even thinking. It's a catchy, thoughtful,

charming, witty, boistrous, over-the-top production that is

well worth watching.

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The Haunting (1999)

1/10

blech

11 August 2000

How can ANYONE give this movie a 10/10?!?!?!? The special effects and sound are top notch, but everything else SUCKS! Bad acting (Shame on you, Liam and Catherine!), bad story, bad plot (oh, wait...there isn't one), no suspense, just a bad, bad movie. Luckily, I saw it for free on a preview. I thought they should pay me for having seen it.

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Gulliver's Travels (1996)

8/10

The best adaptation of the book. Period.

11 August 2000

I guess I have to write something here, although I think my one summary says it all. I'm not a huge Ted Danson fan... nothing against the man, just hasn't "done it" for me. This covers the sides of Swift's novel that were never covered before. You can tell the cast was having a wonderful time filming this.

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The Tenth Man (1988 TV Movie)

10/10

You can't go wrong with this one.

11 August 2000

I remembered this movie (and subsequently ordered it) because of Anthony Hopkins' incredible role. When I received it from my movie retailer, I realized that the other actor in it was Derek Jacobi, who has become my favorite actor of all time. To top it off, the woman is Kristin Scott-Thomas who hadn't come into her own yet. This is an amazing cast, from a novel from an amazing author. Watch it! Watch it!

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

9/10

Can you think of a better UFO visits Earth movie?

11 August 2000

I loved it as a teen, still love it as an adult. One of those enduring movies. Especially love all the references to "Pinocchio". Only one negative comment - do NOT watch the "special edition", only the "collector's edition". For some reason the S.E. took out most of the scenes of Drefuss making the Devil's tower model in his living room...even the bit of throwing the shrubs through the window. What do we get instead? Shots of the inside of the spaceship. Now there's a fair trade.

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