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Reviews
Budbringeren (1997)
An Inauspicious Introduction to the Films of Norway
Doesn't anyone in Norway take a bath regularly is all I could think of during most of the viewing of this misguided effort. The film wanders so much that the viewer begins to think that they are making it up as they go along. The characters are never clearly developed, and their relationships are even less understood. Story? There really is none. This is truly an amateur effort. It will now be difficult for me to avoid films from Norway in the future.
Celebrity (1998)
If you're a Woody Allen fan, you will like it. If not, well...
This is a rather typical Woody Allen film. It is overly written and has a large cast of today's well known screen personalities with some stars. The dialogue is the usual talkly Allenesque verbiage, for which he has become famous. Kenneth Branagh has the "Woody Allen role", presumably because Woody has become too old for it, and performs Woody's ticks and mannerisms to the point of parody. The weaknesses in the film are (1) that Branagh is able to earn the interest of such attractive women (never believable), and (2) Joe Mantegna's interest in the Judy Davis' paranoid, goofball character is never remotely believable and is in fact never explained. What is remarkable is that Allen is able to bring out a wonderful performance by Winona Ryder, something I have never seen before from this wide eyed, cupie doll actress. This film is probably only going to be really enjoyed by strong Woody Allen fans and fans who like to see a lot of "movie stars" parading across the screen.
American History X (1998)
A vivid, yet humanistic, story of prejudice gone wild along with its tragic consequences.
Edward Norton gives a mesmerizing performance (a shoo-in for an Oscar nomination) in this story of Nazi skinhead philosophy and the tragic ramifications of blindly believing in that philosophy. Most of the other actors give splendid, well directed performances giving full support to the literate and realistic script that carefully and succinctly presents the arguments for both sides. The story is spellbinding in the telling and this well paced film keeps the viewer's attention riveted for most of its length. This is one of those movies whose profound impact will stick with you long after leaving the theater, and not enough good things can be said about Norton, who, with this role, rises to become one of the top actors now working. Any thoughtful filmgoer won't want to miss this film.
Passion in the Desert (1997)
Can you believe a desert love affair between a soldier and a leopard?
This is another film where the cinematography is the best thing to recommend it. That would be fine if the film were a travelogue, but as a dramatic exercise in cinematic artistry, that is not good enough. The theme of inter-species respect and co-operation ventures timidly into the forbidden world of inter-species love, but its approach is stereotypical, indicating a lack of understanding of the behavior motives of either species. As with many films, one always wonders what could have been achieved by a more innovative director and a more creative screenwriter. Alas, we probably will never know.
The Land Girls (1998)
The twist of dealing with female libidos doesn't really work to entertain.
Beautifully photographed in the English countryside, this odd film about three English women assigned to work on a farm during World War II provides the promise of heat but never delivers. None of the characters (perhaps the director should have focused on fewer characters to provide proper depth) nor the relationships between the characters are remotely believable. This film exhibits a dangerous trend in films today where the mentality of the 90's is transposed onto the 40's. Directors and screenwriters would be well advised to do more homework on the period in which their films take place. Further, good acting and excellent production values cannot overcome a mediocre script or lackluster direction.
Hurricane (1997)
A mediocre, uninspired first directing effort by Morgan Freeman
Morgan J. Freeman, perhaps our finest actor working today, gives us a pedestrian and uninspired film that includes most of the cliches of growing up in the lower class ghettos of a large city. While he draws good performances from his young actors, the story meanders and never goes anywhere, leaving the viewer wholly unsatisfied as the final credits roll when too many loose ends remain undeveloped.
Living Out Loud (1998)
A movie difficult to categorize has great charm.
Endearing performances by Holly Hunter and Danny DeVito, along with solid support by Queen Latifah (is that her real name??), make this charming film a must see for the romantics among us. While classified as a comedy, real drama highlights the relationships and life's issues presented. Characters, with warts and all, lend a believability to the richness of the story. The script is very well written, with strong dialogue to underscore the chemistry between the actors in the lead roles. See it quick before it leaves your local multiplex.
Meet Joe Black (1998)
Death's delay provides a well made romantic fantasy.
Led by a splendid performance by Anthony Hopkins, this fantasy about death will provide a romantic feeling to even the most jaded cynic. Pitt hangs in there, but any mention of him receiving an Oscar nomination is truly misguided and wholly undeserved. The underlying themes of the inherent dishonesty in business and the ruthless tactics of those focused only on the making of money is forthright and believable. But the emphasis is on the love story, and the chemistry between the young stars culminates in a well directed and tastefully titillating love scene. Strongly recommended for those whose tastes are insatiably romantic.
An African Dream (1988)
Excellent acting increases the pleasure of a banal telling of a true to life story.
An unknown, but competent cast of actors, bring a special appeal to this rather run-of-the-mill allegedly true story of an Englishwoman who moves to South Africa in 1906. She quickly becomes disillusioned by the way in which blacks are treated and cheated by the white rulers, and is well ahead of her time by refusing to take her place as a nonentity in the hierarchy of the de facto white aristocracy farmer class. Her naive orientation toward fairness upsets the status quo, and creates problems for her and for those she cares about. Never a truly inspired film, it is engrossing nevertheless.
Beloved (1998)
A too long film badly in need of a good editor.
At nearly three hours, this overly serious film exhibits why it will never receive the Oscar for editing. While Oprah may have had good intentions, the film does not succeed as entertainment with its preachy tone intermixed with a supernatural approach that makes no sense. Sadly, Oprah (who was so wonderful in "The Color Purple") gives an inconsistent performance that might indicate that she didn't understand the character she was playing. Of course, the director (Jonathan Demme) could have stepped in and assisted her, but few people will probably challenge this powerful woman in anything she does or says. I suspect that her heavy involvement as producer acted to torpedo the film in the end. As for me, never was I so glad that a film was over, and I felt that I had just wasted three hours of my life. Respectfully, I would ask Oprah to return to her talk show, and leave movie making to the professionals.