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timothyinchina
Reviews
London Voodoo (2004)
A movie with potential ruined by poor casting.
'London Voodoo' is a story about a corporate New Yorker who moves to London with his wife and child. The wife discovers the remains of a voodoo shrine in the cellar of their London apartment with very predictable consequences. While voodoo is normally associated with creole culture in the southern United States, London's vibrant Afro-Caribbean culture also maintains some remnants of voodoo practices. The minimal cultural differences between Britain and the US begs the question as to why US actors were needed in this film in the first place. The acting is amateur and wholly unconvincing. Movie fans will be sympathetic to what the movie is trying to achieve. However, this movie is destined for the bargain basement.
Crash (2004)
A movie which sets out to explore the interconnectedness of human relationships.
This is a compelling movie where the cast of characters maneuver like dodgem cars as the story lines bring them into direct impact with one another. Set in Los Angeles, the multi-ethnicity of the characters and the associated stereotypes challenge viewers to grapple with provocative comments about how power is exercised and negotiated in a social environment where there is no black and white, only shades of gray. Heroes turn into villains and vice versa as viewers are challenged to take sides, then eat humble pie. Don Cheadle and Matt Dillion deliver thoughtful performances, while Sandra Bullock appears a little out of her comfort zone playing a character who is hostile towards a world that leaves her afraid to walk down the street at night. Perhaps the movie can be criticised for biting off more than it can chew. There is overt dialogue which pontificates about certain aspects of ethnicity and social justice. This leaves the audience with a feeling of 'so what'. Despite this, the movie is well worth a look.