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Reviews
Mysterious Skin (2004)
Massively Overrated
One of those movies that's a little too indie for its own good... I think Araki was so enthralled by the subject matter that he forgot to hire good actors? Five minutes into it -- as soon as Brian's shrill, totally implausible mother appeared on the screen -- I knew I was in for an ordeal. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is by far the best thing in it, but really he simply stands out because his physical presence is very compelling and his acting isn't quite as bad as everyone else's. Really, really not recommended -- and not because of the subject matter, just because it's not a very good movie. A.O. Scott believes Araki may be on his way to being the "American Almodovar?" He's got a long way to go, in my opinion...
The Ladykillers (2004)
An Amusing Tidbit from the Coen Bros.
Not up there with "O Brother" or "Fargo," but definitely better than "Intolerable Cruelty." Best thing about it is the dialogue -- there are a lot of really funny lines (though some of it is hard to understand). The plot -- a remake -- is a basic black comedy crime caper story where a gang of oddballs gets together to steal a bunch of money from a casino and everything eventually goes wrong. Tom Hanks is solid -- his character is quite a creation -- and the old lady is funny too. Of course -- this being a Coen Bros. creation -- there are lots of minor characters who are really amusing. Marlon Wayans' character is annoying, though -- he's just sort of a typical p***ed-off, smart-ass, black guy. The cinematography is lovely, of course. And by the way, there is an AMAZING gospel choir and great gospel music throughout.
Hidalgo (2004)
Entertaining, but corny as all git-out
A lukewarm attempt at an old-fashioned "ripping yarn" kinda movie. High points include some lovely scenery; Omar Sharif as a powerful Bedouin sheik; and, to some extent, Viggo Mortensen as Frank Hopkins, the half-Indian long distance rider who brings his Mustang, Hidalgo, to "Arabia" for a 3,000-mile race. Viggo looks great in his 19th-century pants, and definitely looks good on a horse, but struggles with some pretty cheesy dialogue. Low points include that dialogue, plus some very muddy lighting in a lot of scenes. And overall, it's just corny. But if you're a fan of "the Big V," it's probably a must-see. I must say I enjoyed those pants quite a bit.
Miracle (2004)
Not Bad at All
Movies on this kind of feel-good subject matter (especially when you know how it's going to turn out) can really only be SO good... but such an uplifting story can also only be SO bad. It's a great story with interesting characters (particularly Herb Brooks), inspiring and worth retelling. This movie could have been a lot more slick and manipulative, and to the director's credit it's not. In spite of his bad wig (Patricia Clarkson, who plays his wife Patty, has a pretty bad one too), Kurt Russell is quite solid as Coach Brooks. He's one of those leaders who declares early on, "I'm not here to be your friend," but of course earns the love and respect of every guy on the team. The guys -- all unknown or little-known actors -- are good (and look pretty authentically like I remember guys that age looking in 1979-80), though of course there is little individual character development. It is nice to get to know Jimmy Craig, the goalie, over the course of the movie, because it becomes quite clear that he pretty much saved the big game. The Russians had a million shots on goal and he blocked all but two. Overall, "Miracle" is a solid movie with a story that's worth revisiting. The period details are spot-on and even though the ending is no secret, it's quite inspiring.
In the Cut (2003)
IGNORE THE CRITICS AND SEE IT
"In the Cut" is a VERY sexy movie that continues some of the themes Jane Campion explored in "The Piano" (my favorite movie ever) about what women want and how they come to trust men. The central plotline about Meg Ryan's and Mark Ruffalo's characters is really intriguing. she's very attracted to him, but doesn't trust him. He's almost the perfect man -- handsome, confident, and extremely good in bed -- except oops, he might be a brutal serial killer of women. Not unlike Harvey Keitel's character in "The Piano" (except Mark Ruffalo is indisputably hot) -- he's clearly the man who can save Holly Hunter's life and make her happy, but there's a lot to get through before she can accept that. "In the Cut" is set in a pretty realistic, gritty version of NYC, and Frannie's dilemma is a logical extension of what it would be like to be single in a big city -- how would you know that you could really trust any man you might meet?
The finale is a real nail-biter -- though you've figured out how it will probably end, and you know it will be really satisfying, the last ten minutes are pretty excruciating as you wait for those events to unfold.
The only flaw I could find in this film is an excessive use of Dogme-styl e handheld camera work. Meg Ryan does a fine job, Jennifer Jason Leigh is good as her half-sister (they have a very intimate, almost sexual relationship), and Kevin Bacon provides welcome comic relief as a creepy guy who can't stay away from Frannie.
Ignore the critics and see this movie... particularly if you are a fan of Jane Campion's films, of Mark Ruffalo, or of films that explore the complex emotions and sexual desires of women.