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Lara Durden
People who don't know what they want get alot that they don't.
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Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Disturbing movie
This was an excellent film. If you like propaganda.
For your drug education you will learn: ===> Drugs will give a sweet high for a short time ===> You believe you can do anything!!! (on drugs) ===> And you will do ANYTHING -for drugs (yes, even that) ===> Drugs will take (over) your life and destroy your dreams ===> Drugs will leave you writing in pain in the fetal position ===> There are no happy endings for those on drugs
I watched this back in 2001 (NC-17 version). Recently I re-watched the last ten minutes (darn youtube). The film making, the quick cuts, the close ups, the integrated stories, the escalating music score, Jennifer Connelly's beauty and Keith David's gaping teeth as living props: this is superior film making. Every trick in the book was used, and it worked without seeming contrived. Aronofsky was a genius at creating that intense trapped drug feeling for the audience. The intense fear I felt was real. I was doomed and I won't/don't do drugs! I hated what I felt at the end of this movie. I don't think I'll ever watch this film again.
If the object of this movie was to scare the holy crap out of me- it worked. It also led me to believe that when a close family member was an addict, there was no answer. They would simply be a struggling addict, forever. Not true!!!
===> There are happy endings. Don't do drugs or get help.
If this is a lie that tells the truth, I want the whole truth.
Adventureland (2009)
LOL funny
You know, when they call it a "coming of age story" I tend to shy away. But if I Ryan Reynolds is in it, I'll watch it. Even if he only gets 5 scenes. What makes the film truly worth it is Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg. Both actors exemplify the new "cool." Something almost trademarked by Micheal Cera. It is great story, with complicated love matters and summer relationships. It had great over-the-top funny moments without being gratuitous (are you reading, Ben Stiller?) Totally funny and hip movie thanks to Superbad director Greg Mottola.
Saw at Sundance (don't really think it is a typical Sundance movie). Look for it in wide release in March.
Smokin' Aces (2006)
Intense Horror flick
This was almost a horror flick. It is better than most other horror flicks! Although their is no concrete killer (come on, they were all hired killers), I felt I was in the intense scenes of a horror movie. Unsure who is going to survive, unsure of what would actually stop the bad guys, unsure who is a good guy. Unsure of how much gore they are going to subject me to. I was covering my eyes half the time. It was great. I even felt it had a few throw backs to the genre. (The chainsaw, the torture, the Stephen King like family in the woods...) It has a twisted plot of sorts. A bit hard to keep up with, but they repeat nearly everything said. And smart people will guess the obvious surprises, but ain't nobody seeing the morally twisted end coming.
Everyone was a great scene stealer. Love the director for getting all this talent in the same moving and exploiting them for what they are worth. And for me, Ryan is the next Brad.
The Descent (2005)
Creature Feature Flick
So a 1950's creature feature flick. But at least in the 1950's they would have sold it as that. The movie would be better named as "the attack of the mole people." The summary lies, it isn't a descent into a cave from hell or have any kid of mental struggle that we get twisted into. Not at all! The girls get lost in the cave, find monsters, try to escape.
However, the Actresses pulled it together and were not cheesy and dumb. They for the most part they were quite clever and watchable. Unless one of them becomes super famous and wins an Oscar or marries a soccer player, not worth mentioning again. It is intense and needs a soundtrack. Consider it a alternate on Halloween and you get to the video store too late for any of the popular favs.
Last Resort (1994)
It's after midnight that I watch this
This always shows after midnight, mostly at 2 a.m. Strangely, at that ungodly hour I am drawn to watch this show, yet again. I have seen it many times over the years. I saw it again just two days ago.
There is no plot. It has no jokes, unless they are puns on sex. The extras are badly painted cut outs. All of the characters seem to have no main objective. I not sure what the film makers wanted for me to get out of these 90 minutes. I'm not sure how it starts or how it ends. And truth be told, as distorted as the plot sounds, I don't believe this movie was drug inspired. It was set out to be cheesy.
The part that has me up at night watching is it's unpredictable nature. Because I am uncertain of any action in the movie, the following action is even more confusing. Had they filmed this movie in any conventional way, It would have never been watched. Because it is so crazy and unpretentious, it works in it's capacity. Would I recommend it to a friend? As long as don't have to watch the movie with them.
Spy Game (2001)
How great is this movie?
We can play a game, the pro's and con's of this game. Now, we have Robert Redford despite his age- and it shows in every close up- is still cool enough to have Brad Pitt as a follower. Then we come to Brad Pitt, Super Spy. Doing unbelievable things for America, it makes me wonder about what these people actually need to do everyday. There is amazing shots and an entire scene on the roof of a building that seems so surreal it's cool. Which is the fault of intense director Tony Scott. We add a contagious soundtrack, ultra spy environments, events that would fit into history, and spies that have no respect for to humanity, we would have what seems to be a reality based movie.
Now the con's. Okay this movie is predictable. It's a spy movie. I don't want an ending I know from the start, I want an ending that satisfied all the answers that were swimming in my head, yet somehow evaded explanation. This did not happen in this movie. Everything was obvious, although Redford's performance did fool many.
And my other problem, they didn't use Brad Pitt enough. He is immensely talented, and they used him to demonstrate how much pain one person can take for the right reasons. The plot alone justifies that, Pitt was not allowed to demonstrate his character. He can be so cool and so unbelievable in roles. This didn't happen here.
But all in all I gave it a 10- what is the point of something actually being truly perfect. The film was great and very impressive and entertaining. Great waste of time.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
I wish I was this cool
I'll admit, this was different than I expected. But that's okay I liked it anyways. Cheesy? No Good Filmmaking? No Entertaining? Yes
It was a very hip flick. Has a good soundtrack. Good characters. Even better outfits. What appeared to me as shortcomings and things that disturbed me about the film I later recognized as the fault of the director. (And yes I realize some of you all see "Com-Air" as the greatest action flick of all time) There seemed to me a few shots that could have worked better (i.e. just before she jumps in the river). It seemed to me he was perhaps trying to copy John Woo. Then again, who am I to judge?
Anyhow ultra cool flick. Very sly smile worthy. Very fast paced. Simple plot. (So us girls don't have to worry our pretty little heads about it.) I do miss some of the lines used in the promotions such as "this is where I start to have fun" and "I said you would try to kill me" but the movie worked well without it them. And I do wish they would have had an actual conversation between Alex and Lara.
Their isn't a whole lot of humor nor Die Hard type sympathy for the heroin. It has a rock and roll type attitude. I do find it fascinating that the girl actually gets to kick butt here. In Matrix, Trinity was allowed to do some shooting, but no fighting and Neo kills more than her 3 to 1. Ripley, of the Alien series, is a lonely heroin of the movies, but she has reservations. She is driven more by her emotions and the need to survive. G.I. Jane kicked butt but the public rejected her. We could go on. But this is new. Lara is really allowed to be smarter, better, and faster than everyone else.
Cool movie.
Alien³ (1992)
Holding your own with other aliens.
So you too want to direct an Alien film. Best thing to do is not follow Ridley Scott and/or James Cameron. If this cannot be avoided (and hello! it can't) proceed with being creative, because it won't matter anyway.
I am a huge fan of the Alien franchise. Alien was my favorite show when I was a kid, I don't mean when I was 15 more like when I was 5. So back in '92 when this installment bombed at the box office, I was sad. I never went to see it because of what others told me, like Ripley dies and we are again limited to one Alien. So what's the point?
I did not see this until a year ago. Oh it is oh, so cool. So good. It didn't see until after I saw "Fight Club" and realizing what a great man David Fincher was. It is one of those times when you just need to ignore other's negative comments.
I cannot comment enough on everything that makes it a perfect ending to the series. The reversal of being trapped with the beast again. The doom that lines ahead that we know so much of. Ripley becomes more of a character as the only female on the planet. It is quite the thriller to the end. The continuation of the weapons department valuing something so ugly and vile or humanity. It was great as far as filmmaking. Aliens was great as far as entertainment. See the difference? Anyways, don't be thrown off. Give it more than a chance. It is deviant, but holds it's own.
Raising Cain (1992)
Creepy
I saw this last night on cable. It is something that I won't rent but had always noticed at the video store.
It was entertaining. Lithgow entertains you. Of course when I watch this now I try not to think of his 3rd rock from the sun character when he plays some of the younger characters of Cane. I don't think it stunk. It was a little outlandish, but still worth watching. In fact I want to see more movies with split personality based characters.
The worst thing was the director. He moved too slowly to create suspense. I gave it an 8 because it did freak me out and created confusing yet insightful and sequences.
Fight Club (1999)
Have you heard about Tyler Durden? v-2.0
This movie, like many other Fincher film's, leave me with a restlessness. Like someone is actively taking my life away from me. If I don't stand up and claim it and DO SOMETHING with it than I might as well be dead. There is no greater love story than this one. A perfect film.
The first 30 minutes of the film sets up life as it is. As we accept it. One man tries to find a place in the world. What subjects himself to is no longer living a full, happy, honest life. Tyler, the great savior, shows us the way it ought to be. And what we can become.
I asked back in 2000 "Question this: In 5 years see how many people will be talking about The Sixth Sense and then ask who has ever heard of the genius..........Tyler Durden." ;) Seriously. This movie still reigns as the GOD of all that is cool and disposable.