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Reviews
Ko zaprem oci (1993)
Interesting
This Slovenian psychological thriller is interesting to follow due to a complicated story that never ceases to surprise you. A young woman, living alone and struggling to shake off unwanted men, becomes obsessed with a man who robbed the post office in which she works. A police officer called Ivan has a crush on her, but she is not interested yet plays friendly. One day she meets the robber again and a passionate affair ensues, which leads to an inevitable showdown between the two forbidden lovers and Ivan.
This film also examines Slovenia's communist past and draws parallels between it and their democratic, pro-capitalist present to show how much has changed and how much stayed the same. This is a prime thriller with good performances and should have gotten more attention than it did.
She's So Lovely (1997)
Wonderful
Every thing about this film is wonderful, except for the violence and the dark beginning. The performances by Penn, his wife and Travolta are all wonderful. This is actually my favorite Travolta role and this was the first time that he really dug beneath that cool and cocky exterior to show himself as a real actor, displaying a wide range of emotions. But the movie of course is carried primarily by Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn, playing two messed up lovers who are out of luck in every sense of the word. He loves her madly, while her feelings for him are difficult to understand. She seems to adore him, but then it becomes clear that she also is using him. When she is knocking at the door of the guy who abused her earlier and he starts to get nervous she asks him "Aren't you a tough guy?" and he replies no. That whole moment was very interesting and I think it said it all.
One interesting fact that I wasn't aware of when I watched this film is that it was originally set to be made in the 80's, with the legendary John Cassavetes directing. That made me wonder what kind of beast it could have been and I believe we would get a very different kind of movie. All praise to his son Nick though, for he is also a capable director, yet there can never be another John Cassavetes again.
James Gandolfini plays the nasty neighbor of Eddie and Maureen, a sort of a pre-Soprano signification of the creepiness and villain potential he is capable of, which he previously displayed in "True Romance". Harry Dean Stanton is delightful as always when he appears in such cameo parts. Although the second part of the film may be a slight let down after the strong first part, this movie is a definite treat for those who are sick of standard Hollywood fare and for the fans of Sean and Robin Penn and Travolta. The strength of the story and the performances is enough for a 10.
Rumble Fish (1983)
Best Coppola film of the 80's
This version of S.E. Hinton's classic is definitely the best thing FF Coppola has come with in the 80's. OK, Gardens of Stone and Tucker were both noteworthy, but Rumble Fish surpasses them both. Why? There are several reasons. The acting here is stronger and more exciting. Mickey Rourke gives his perhaps best performance here as Motorcycle Boy and fits perfectly in the part of the alienated young man who has become a cult hero in his hometown. Matt Dillon also does extremely well as Rusty James as well as Vincent Spano (barely recognizable here) as the nerdy but clever Steve and Diane Lane as Dillon's unfaithful but sexy flame Patty. Dennis Hopper also makes a strong appearance as Rourke's and Dillon's alcoholic father.
The visual side is of course one of the major strengths here. Everything is black and white, to conform with Motorcycle Boy's own color blind view of the world. Only the rumble fish are colored and the police lights at the end. The ending is truly well acted out by Dillon. Nic Cage, Chris Penn and Larry Fishbourne also appear as members of the gang once led by Rourke's character and now by his younger brother, who is put to test by the unloyal Smokey (Cage). It ends disappointingly for those who are cheering for Rusty James, but the very ending does bring hope.
I think that in this movie Francis Ford Coppola really showed his depth and versatility as director. Going from making a Vietnam movie to a teenage rebel movie is really not the easiest thing to do without risking to lose respect. But with this film, he gained my respect and I believe the respect of those who know and appreciate the true value of films.
The Beguiled (1971)
An exploration of sin and the dark impulses
The Beguiled is a pretty satisfying film for those who are after the things above. For Clint Eastwood's die-hard fans, it will be a disappointment. Although Eastwood does his best here in his so atypical role (except for the fact that his character is a charming womanizer, which he isn't so unacquainted with), the ambiguous nature of his character, which goes from being a sort of fallen hero to a manipulative and insatiable woman eater (to put it that way) will eventually be too much to handle for anyone used to see him play heroes in the best western tradition, morally a bit unclean but still without that dark side. I think he manages to pull this unlikely part off, but those who really steal the show are the two rivalising women, the schoolmistress Geraldine Page and the head of the students, played by Elizabeth Hartman.
We see that there is a potential devil in every man and a potential witch in every woman, especially when it comes to sexuality and sexual desire. Hartman's Edwina is the sweetest, most innocent girl in the world until she becomes infatuated with John McBurney and becomes possessive of him. This is what causes tragedy, as well as the headmistress' secret lust, the forbidden fruit. She carries a great and ugly secret about her incestuous relationship with her brother, whom she clearly idolizes still. The fourth factor in this "unholy" love spiral is the wicked Carol, played by Jo Ann Harris, who lures John away from his crush on Edwina and into her bed.
The whole nature of the story gives this film a sort of Gothic feel, which makes it a pretty rare thing in the Western genre, but a popular thing in the movies of the 70's. A unique achievement by the Siegel/Eastwood team and a movie not for the faint hearted.