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gmaland
Reviews
The Blackout (1997)
a great performance by Matthew Modine
I thought this was an interesting, psychological movie. I agree that some of the scenes were not necessary or especially redeeming, but Matthew Modine's portrait of a confused substance-abusing actor was brilliant - the best thing I've seen him do. There's a scene where he takes a drink of vodka after a year of sobriety that is just incredibly convincing. If you liked (appreciated) Leaving Las Vegas, you should check this one out.
Happiness (1998)
A brilliant movie, but not for everyone.
This is one of the best movies I've ever seen, but I would hesitate to recommend it to people whom I don't know pretty well. It explores aspects of life and living (and suffering) that most films avoid or actively deny. And it does so brilliantly. The characters are vividly real, and there is such a strong sense of situations unfolding in real time that it's truly mesmerising. I felt like a fly on the wall, eavesdropping on conversations I could never hear otherwise. I think many people would absolutely hate this movie, partly because it doesn't pass judgement on behaviours that are repulsive to the bulk of humanity, and partly because it exposes us to them at all.