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Spyral777
Reviews
Siesta (1987)
An Underrated Gem
This film really deserves a better rep than it appears to have. It's not a fast moving film by any stretch, but it does a commendable job of portraying the phantasmagoric experience of the protagonist (played by Barkin). My strong suspicion is that people who have rated it poorly were wanting it to be a standard love story or follow a more traditional plot arc, and that it certainly does not do. Just the cast of this film should indicate that it's not your run of the mill flick, and every single member of the cast turns in a stunning performance (even the visually stunning but acting-challenged Grace Jones). The production values are good, and I really found the cinematography to be quite beautiful (but it -is- Spain, so that's not so surprising). Lastly, the Miles Davis soundtrack is haunting, poignant and beautiful. In my judgment, you can tell a lot about a person's response to this film by how they responded to Lynch's Mulholland Drive. If you like one, you'll like the other.
Kinsey (2004)
Brave, well done and under-appreciated
Bill Condon's biopic of Alfred Kinsey's life is a phenomenal gem of a film, and I really believe it should have received a warmer welcome than it did. Liam Neeson and Laura Linney both gave stellar performances. Ironically this movie, and the reception it got, shows how far backward into ignorance the country is slipping. Had this movie been made in 1975, nobody would have noticed the sexual content. But there were those who found its themes a little too bold (exactly like they found Kinsey himself back in the 40s) -- oh, the irony. You'd think people living in the 21st century would be beyond that. I found the ending just a little vague and unsatisfying for my taste, otherwise this movie would have been a 10.
Onmyôji (2001)
An unrecognized gem
An extraordinary period piece, Onmyoji masquerades as a simple fantasy morality tale, but it has many more layers than are immediately obvious. There's an enigmatic quality to the characters' relationships that actually makes the viewer think about what's taking place between the characters. Not only is it a strikingly beautiful film, but the performances are flawless all around. The story is fresh, the actors are interesting. With a couple of very minor exceptions, the special effects are interesting in a way that they often aren't in the standard American blockbuster. In some ways it's what Star Wars - wished- it were, but isn't. Now that Onmyoji is available on DVD, I hope it becomes more accessible in America. This film easily deserves the level of success attained by Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon