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Reviews
The Life Before Her Eyes (2007)
An often misunderstood film about choices and the value of life.
This film isn't just about survivors of a school shooting. It's about hopes, dreams, and fears in relation to what a life can be or may never be. It's also about friendships, mistakes, regrets, misplaced love, choices, and how everything can change in the blink of an eye.
I would have preferred a bit more character development and stronger performances at times. But, that's somewhat forgivable considering the poetic message that the film ultimately strives for.
The tragic (and sadly still relevant) topic of school shootings is only a framework for a story about choices and the value of life.
This is a very good and very underrated film.
P. S.
I started writing this review three days ago, only to see the news yesterday of the school shooting in Uvalde Texas at Robb Elementary School. 19 children killed, and two adults. A horrific tragedy.
My heart goes out to the families of those victims and to everyone affected by ALL violent acts (everywhere in the world). I continue to hope for a future where every life is cherished, protected, and celebrated.
Choose LOVE.
The Shape of Water (2017)
The Shape of Garbage
Is this what passes for "Best Picture" these days?
Yes, the cinematography is wonderful, casting is perfect, acting is on point, and the soundtrack is quite nice. Even the story is creative and unique, albeit goofy to the point of idiotic. And that's the main issue with this film, the screenplay.
There are a few nice sentiments concerning alienation and finding your voice via love, but everything decent and good is trapped within a story that feels like a bad episode of the X-Files. For those who enjoy reading deeply into incredibly shallow art, this film will probably seem like Shakespeare.
Don't get me wrong, I've certainly enjoyed my share of bad movies - but I always recognize them for what they are. It irks me when a poorly constructed mess is touted as a masterpiece. The Shape of Water is at times entertaining, but it's often just downright stupid.
The Straight Story (1999)
The Straight Review
Poetic. Beautiful. Heart wrenching. An all-time classic for the ages. Truly a great American film.
Richard Farnsworth rightfully received an Acedemy Award nomination for Best Actor. In my humble opinion, he certainly should have won.
This film is easily deserving of nominations (and wins) for Best Director (David Lynch) and Best Original Score (Angelo Badalamenti).
The screenplay, soundtrack, direction, cinematography, and acting are powerful and exquisite.
There's no need for me to offer a critical break-down of the plot. This film is perfection within simplicity.
Highly recommended to anyone and everyone.
Blue Velvet (1986)
Entertaining, but seriously overrated.
I'm a huge fan of other David Lynch efforts, such as Mulholland Drive (a masterpiece) and Lost Highway (a misunderstood gem). In comparison, Blue Velvet is a much more accessible film but is a far less rewarding experience.
Dennis Hopper is often praised for his performance as Frank Booth, but in many instances it's just over-the-top improvised screaming and swearing. A paper thin character lacking any quality dialogue.
Isabella rossellini is a wonderful actress, with talents far exceeding those needed to play the poorly written character of Dorothy Vallens.
Laura Dern and Kyle McLaughlin deliver fine performances, although McLachlan seems too old for his role as "student" Jeffrey Beaumont.
In my opinion, Blue Velvet has never been the great film that many critics have claimed it to be.
It does feature a very good soundtrack.
Greenland (2020)
Worse than a bad TV movie on ScyFy.
The plot; The Government waits until the last minute to select a limited number of families for shelter from an impending Extinction Level Event (an asteroid striking the Earth). We follow a rather uninteresting family as they experience many obstacles while trying to reach their destination.
Bland acting, poor writing, bad special effects, and cookie cutter directing. Greenland isn't just a lifeless film, it's not even as good as some of the mediocre disaster films created 20+ years ago.
The best film on this topic is still Deep Impact, released in 1998 (22 years prior to Greenland). If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.
Greenland feels like a bad TV movie made for the SyFy channel. It's a film that I'll never revisit.
Voice from the Stone (2017)
Stylish. Atmospheric. Mysterious.
Not recommended for those looking for a typical horror film, or a grand mystery to solve. This a tale that unfolds in a rather traditional way, reminiscent of a film such as The Others.
Beautifully directed. The locations are magnificent and the wardrobe department also did a fine job. This is a wonderful film to look at. The acting is fabulous, each character is perfectly cast. The script is perfectly suited to the material, building to a resolution that may disappoint some, but satisfies in that it leaves quite a bit to ponder.
In the end, this is a simple story about
finding something very important that's missing from your life. How parts of who we are can become trapped or lost. How our lives can become in disrepair. Whether it's finding a voice, a lost feeling of passion, a loss of love, a loss of a loved one, or a struggle with poor health (both mental and physical). Sometimes we are given an opportunity of re-birth.
"I try to think of a time before this. I hardly know the woman I see. But the past is a dream from which we wake with each new morning. We are, none of us, quite who we were." - Emilia Clarke / Verena
There are several theories concerning the resolution of the film. Some stress psychology and mental health, and others suggest the paranormal. You should ponder it on your own before looking up those theories.
Considering that most moviegoing audiences prefer their movies to be "thrill packed", I can understand the negative reviews. However, I found this to be a very entertaining, satisfying, and thought provoking film.
I Kill Giants (2017)
A meaningful message is nearly lost within a muddled script.
All the pieces for a wonderful film are here; excellent acting, quality directing, adequate special effects, a good soundtrack, and the core of a powerful story. Sadly, the script is the weakest link.
We only get a superficial glimpse into every topic that really matters. Even the characters themselves are seriously underdeveloped. But, even as it is, I hope the underlying message reaches anyone who needs it (which is just about everyone at one time or another).
I'm only giving the film five stars, because it really doesn't work on so many levels. 10 stars for the heart (and message) of the film.
We ARE stronger than we think!
Lost and Delirious (2001)
Incredibly Moving and Unforgettable. Beautiful and Tragic.
A deceptively simple plot will lure you into an emotionally charged, powerful, and moving tale that you will NOT soon forget. This is a film about finding yourself, confronting emotional obstacles, and intense mental anguish caused by loss and judgemental views. But, most of all it's a film about LOVE.
A well crafted, sharply directed film with honest and heartfelt acting. Incredibly moving and unforgettable. Paulie, Tori, and Mouse will live in your memory forever!
It's disheartening to see negative reviews by those who misinterpret the story. It's perfectly fine to not like the film if it doesn't resonate with you, but sad to see negativity for all the wrong reasons. I'd like to briefly address a few of the more common complaints...
* No. This film doesn't use the so-called "bury-your-gays" trope:
Those who claim this film should be disregarded because it supposedly uses the "bury-your-gays" trope, honestly miss the ENTIRE POINT. Did Romeo & Juliet use a "bury-your-straights" trope? Love is often beautiful AND tragic, regardless of labels for sexual orientation.
PAULIE : "Lesbian? Are you f*cking kidding me, you think I'm a lesbian?"
Mouse : "You're a girl in love with a girl, aren't you?"
PAULIE : "No! I'm Paulie in love with Tori. Remember? And Tori, she is in love with me because she is mine and I am hers and neither of us are lesbians!"
If you're expecting a film about "lesbians", you may be disappointed. This film is about two people who love each other, who just happen to be the same biological gender.
* No. This film doesn't portray the LGBTQ community in a negative way:
The film is also about mental health struggles (depression and anger) during situations of great loss. That's not directed specifically at the LGBTQ community, as some seem to incorrectly think. It should go without saying that people of all sexual orientations can have mental struggles, possibly intensified by love and loss. This isn't a film about "a crazy lesbian". Why would a film so directly make it clear that love rises above all labels and then target one such label in a negative way? Please, don't miss the point.
* No. The nudity isn't exploitive, inappropriate, or gratuitous:
There are a few short love scenes that feature nudity. The scenes are beautiful, expressive, and tastefully filmed.
* No. A sad ending doesn't ruin the film.
I would have loved for a different outcome for Paulie. But, in our minds we can certainly envision a different outcome in a world where love heals and truly conquers all.
Lost and Delirious is one of my all-time favorite films. Highly recommended.
Dune (2021)
vapid monstrosity of mind numbing mediocrity.
Incredibly, this film caused me to gain a newfound respect for the 1984 David Lynch adaption, which was itself quite the disaster.
At the heart of Lynch's failure was an inability to adequately create a most important and necessary special effect, the massive sand worms. Specifically, during the "riding" and end battle sequences. Certainly there were scripting and production issues as well, but it's the poor effects in those scenes that fully bring the film to its knees. In comparison, Villeneuve has the latest and best special effects at his disposal and still manages to deliver a visually dull film.
Yes, the story of Dune is certainly more than just a vehicle for special effects, but it's the abysmal screenplay that fails to deliver anything of interest. In fact, the 1984 film (although deeply flawed) is more poetic, has better dialogue at times, and is far more interesting.
To be honest, I found the book to be just as boring and uninteresting. So, perhaps this film could indeed be considered a successful adaption. It's kind of a genre of Sci-Fi for pompous simpletons. Those finding deep meaning within meaningless things. A story that has a reputation for complexity and depth, but it's all just world building with familiar tropes.
Also in comparison, the 1984 film had far superior casting.
An Academy Award for best original score? Has the bar really been set that low? Hans Zimmer definitely provided music that's just as lifeless and monotonous as the entire film itself. A teenager with a laptop could have probably accomplished the same thing.
Total lack of directorial style, unremarkable visual effects, poor dialogue, boring soundtrack, and a cast of interchangeable, forgettable actors. It moves at a snails pace without any intellectual rewards (or any other redeeming qualities) whatsoever.
Trance (1998)
Lynchian, stylized tale, about addiction.
The original title of this film was TRANCE. In the U. S. it was released direct-to-video as The Eternal (with the tagline, "kiss of the mummy"). The new title (and marketing / cover photo) are incredibly misleading, do a horrible disservice to the film, and attract the wrong viewing audience.
Although the film does indeed feature a mummy (of sorts), this is NOT a typical horror film in any regard. In fact, the horror aspects are not to be taken literally. This is a film about alcohol addiction (and also addiction in general). The story is told as a kind of dark fairytale. Similar to David Lynch films such as Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive, if a person can't see below the surface, it's going to be a very disappointing experience.
Negative reviews are usually from those expecting a traditional horror film, unaware that the awkward dialogue, unrealistic plot changes, and at times wooden acting, are purposely executed to create more of a dreamlike state.
The film definitely doesn't rise to the level of a David Lynch project, but director Michael Almereyda brings a steady amount of style to the screen. For those looking below the surface, it's a good and often misunderstood bit of entertainment.
Alison Elliott is superb in her role. One of Hollywood's most underrated actresses. I'd highly recommend a few of her other films; The Spitfire Grill, Wings of the Dove, and Lawrence Bridge's "12" (which was filmed over a period of 10 years).
Excellent soundtrack.
SPOILERS
The "mummy" (Niamh) is primarily a representation of addiction within the main character of Nora. Niamh also represents a failed relationship, unresolved emotions surrounding an abortion, and a desire to give up on life. We're shown three different versions of Nora, two are played by Alison Elliott (Nora / Niamh) and one by Raina Feig (as Young Nora). Depending on a viewers interpretation, the child Alice may also represent a facet of Nora's personality or even her childhood.
We see temptation represented by the character Joe, who conveniently appears at the most inopportune moments.
We see the process of addiction beginning with something as simple as a child (Alice) lighting a cigarette for her Grandmother. Notice the final scene when Alice decides to light a second cigarette for herself. The cycle begins again.
Enjoy the visuals and the surface story, but understand that it's just an illusion and cover for what lies beneath.