Pinky-6 Reviews

Gattaca (1997)

One of the better futuristic films

[15 June 1999]

Gattaca is a very good film. It has a well-executed plot, which could have gone horribly wrong if interpreted incorrectly. The directing is wonderful, as is the set design. Everything is pristine, peaceful, and perfect, just like the society they live in is supposed to be. I'm not an enormous fan of Ethan Hawke, but he did well in his role. I am not a fan of Uma Thurman, and I felt she was utterly unnecessary and seemed to practicing impressions of Data instead of Irene, the character she was playing. A character I really loved was by an actor I am unfamiliar with: the real Jerome Marrow as played by Jude Law. Law stole every scene he was in, so much so that I found myself getting irritated when he was not on screen. Law allowed his character to emit such deep bitterness, then slowly allow it to grow to tentative hope in the success of his plan. I hope to catch more films from this actor. Gattaca is definitely not perfect, and one of the more prominent problems is the limited amount of society you do see. I would have liked to see other aspects of society as it functions daily. An interesting film to rent, if you ignore Uma Thurman.

A Life Less Ordinary (1997)

An interesting and difficult to judge film

[26 April 1999]

There are a lot of people who really, really would not like this film. There are also a lot of people who would want the violence, shooting, and general disturbing content to overwhelm the film. I'm sure there are also people who want Cameron Diaz and Ewan McGregor to get naked and remain that way. Then, there are the people who will sit back and watch this film. You will smirk at the introduction of Robert, the very real male lead. You will be a little disturbed by addition of the trigger-happy Celine. As the story progresses, you will begin to marvel at the wonderful characterization of Robert. You wonder if it is the writing or Ewan McGregor that makes him so real. You wish Cameron Diaz was given a little more to work with. You become even more infatuated with Robert. Then the introduction of the two match-making Angels. Jackson and O'Reilly. You wonder why more religious groups didn't throw a stink-fit over thuggish Angels. You enjoy Holly Hunter's attempted if not entirely successful performance. She honestly does try. Her partner is more successful. A helter-skelter scene ensues where everybody proceeds to attempt to kill everyone else. It's exciting, but you wonder if it is a good thing you've become so oblivious to violence. The scenes prior to the ending are amusing. The way the ending occurs is totally unexpected, and therefore not that great. I hate it when movies require additional suspension of disbelief. First you have to accept that Angels have no moral difficulty with terrifying humans out of their wits and people would actually behave this way, then you have to accept a sort of supernatural ending.

In short: Ewan Mcgregor; Fantastic. Cameron Diaz; one dimensional but not her fault. Angels;Holly Hunter tried, don't blame her blame whoever cast her. Delroy is definitely better.

Rent and analyze.

Cobb (1994)

Tommy Lee Jones makes me care

[9 December 1998]

I normally would have absolutely no interest in seeing a Baseball movie. But this is no normal Baseball movie. This is a movie with Tommy Lee Jones in it. He portrays a vicious, nasty, evil, abusive, racist, violent, rage-filled man. And his fans know, Tommy Lee Jones does this type of man as no other can. Although he is perhaps too young for the role, he was unfairly absent from the Oscar ballot that year. He made me laugh during his insane moments (of which there were many), he scared me during a particular brutal moment, and he made me cry during his weak moments. Side-kick Robert Wuhl seems a bit toady, but you eventually realize he loves Cobb <Jones as Cobb, at least> as much as you do. This is a wonderful movie. Worth renting, absolutely. For those of you whom doubt Tommy Lee Jones ability, rent Cobb, The Fugitive, and Heaven and Earth or Men in Black. This man is fantastic; he makes Cobb great.

L.A. Confidential (1997)

Intricate plot, excessive violence, and the inability of Kim Basinger

[8 December 1998]

L.A. Confidential had the opportunity to be excellent. Gorgeous setting, wonderful directing, adequate acting, and then it does a NYPD BLUE and down plays into police brutality and pointless, excessive violence. Guy I-have-perfect-bone-structure-Pearce gets a bit too intense for the moment on occasion. Kevin Spacey is of course extrordinary, Danny Devito is good, Russell Crow watchable. Then there's Kim Basinger, who won an Oscar for her role. Apparently there was some police brutality done to the judges, or would it be management brutality. Basinger is the most unimaginitive, boring, unentertaining person is this film. I would have LOVED to fast forward through her scenes, Gloria Stuart should have won for her monologues alone, in comparison to Kim Bring-the-teleprompter-closer-Basinger. And then there's the violence, I would have loved for this to be a psychological thriller, I believe that would have been much better. The plot could have been worked around it, there is such thing as off screen violence ,and it usually works just as well.

Heart and Souls (1993)

Enjoyable, if rushed.

[7/10 · 5 December 1998]

Heart and Souls is about a boy with invisible friends that happen to be ghosts, who died at the moment he was born. Only he can see or hear them. This movie is quite good, and Downey, Jr. is lovable in it, as are his ghosts. Be warned, there is one scene that, if you don't like seeing little boys abandoned and bawling, you will sob your head off, like I did. Unfortunately, H&S ends extremely fast, on the plot pretense of a time limit, but you know the studio ordered it edited and to a shorter length, but it still is a lovely movie. Rent it one weekend, enjoy.

Playing God (1997)

Curiosity asks, Why did they even make this movie?

[28 November 1998]

Typical action movie, except no nudity. Normal mindless violence, opening with a pointless, plot, advancing blood-spurting moment. David Duchovny proves he has very little range, Angelina Jolie provides ample view of her over-bite, and the only real entertainment is mobster Timothy Hutton's villain. Admittedly, this plotless movie does begin to pick up towards the end, actually gaining some intensity, of which it had none from the beginning. There are about two, wide-spaced, humorous moments in this movie, providing brief relief from David Duchovny's monotone monologues, but hey his lines were monotone too. If Duchovny was hoping this would be his big break, he (and we) are sorely disappointed. Perhaps if Hutton and Duchovny had switched roles, we might have had some, any moments of entertainment. A waste of money, do NOT rent this movie, it will disappoint.

Se7en (1995)

A scary, smart movie

[3 October 1998]

Most serial killer movies are predictable. Se7en differs from this. Most serial killer movies also revolve around identifying/capturing the killer. Se7en revolves around watching the serial killer, an absolutely terrifying man played by Kevin Spacey (not a spoiler) play with the police, Brad Pitt and Morgan Freemen. The plot about victims chosen by the 7 sins, may seem cliche, but the outstanding directing, acting, and writing is the heart of this terrifying movie. Not for the weak at heart, for there is plenty of gore, suspense, and suspenseful gore.