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Reviews
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
A Masterpiece!!!!
This is simply the definitive American film about the endurance of the human spirit.A wrongly convicted man spends twenty years in a brutal prison, never losing his hope for freedom. A beautifully written and directed film by frank Darabont.A true representation of what the art of film can be elevated to. One of the greatest films ever made.
American Beauty (1999)
Superb !!!!
Every so often a film comes along,that unlike most others inspire such inner thought and self reflection that it takes on a life of it's own. American Beauty is filled with such an Immense spectrum of Life it's hard to describe. On the surface Kevin Spacey plays a 42-year-old married man who's lost touch with the Beauty of life, Distant from his wife and daughter he becomes Infatuated with her rather sensual classmate. She awakens his senses and creates some rather interesting circumstances. This by no means can relay the films deeply layered tapestry of suburban life. A brilliant Directorial debut by Sam Mendes, American Beauty will evoke discussion for years to come among film students and film lovers like myself.
Powder (1995)
Extraordinary
Much was written at the time of it's release, mostly concerning the conviction of it's writer/director Victor Salva on a sexual molestation charge. All that aside "Powder" remains a extraodinary film worth a look. A young man is dicovered living in the basement of his recently deceased Grandmother. Obviously an albino he soons reveals a intellect and abilities unlike any human before him. Sean Patrick Flannery gives a great performance as the youth.Salva does a fine job of coveying his difficult entry into surroundings he's never expereinced. Others in the cast are very good as well including Mary Steenburgen as the head of the school he is sent to, Lance Henrickson as the local sherrif in a more sensitive role for him, And finally Jeff Goldblum as the science teacher who realizes what the young man is and the potential of mankind to evolve into a more humane species. I don't think many people gave this film a chance based on the bad press Salva received. It's certainly one of the best films i've seen in recent years.
The Ox-Bow Incident (1942)
"A Western Classic"
Director William Wellman's Somber classic is one of the finest examples of the insannity of mob violence. Always a hard film to watch, the film is not pretty detailing the ugliest of human nature. Great performances by All including Henry Fonda, Dana Andrews in a truly great performance and Frank Conroy as the Insanse former Major. A Dark and disturbing film I highly recommend it.
White Heat (1949)
Explosive Cagney
James Cagney was just simply Dynamic in his last great gangster role. As Cody Jarret the hoodlum with a mother fixation, he created a truly frightening character.Top notch Direction by the great Warner's director Raoul Walsh and a great cast that included Virginia Mayo as his two-timing wife, Edmond O'brien as the T man who infiltrates his gang, Margaret Wycherly as his beloved Ma and Steve Cochran as Big Ed. A truly masterful scene is the one in which Cagney goes berserk in the prison dining room,upon hearing of his mothers death, and of course the finale atop the oil refinery is one of films most famous. Finally the icing on the cake Max Steiners awesome score.
The Munsters (1964)
Classic Comedy
Without a doubt one of the funniest sitcoms ever. I grew up watching the reruns and have always felt that the portrayals of Herman Munster(Fred Gwynne and Grandpa( Al lewis) were absolutely brilliant. These guys were Comic genius's. I remember hearing somewhere that Gywnne didn't like to be remembered for this show. I guess he considered himself a more serious actor. Didn't see much of him in later years except for two good roles in " The Cotton Club" and "The Secret of my Success". Al lewis had a chain of restaurants called grandpa's in the eighties, and often appeared on Howard Sterns radio show. On one appearance he blurted out the F word during an FCC rally Stern was having in NY. The delay being off it came over the airwaves.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
BRILLANT
A landmark American film that challenges it's audience to let there imagination provide the real horror. We are watching the supposed footage of three film students who disappeared in 1994 while making a Documentary on a local legend called the Blairwitch. A local myth about a witch who was cast out by the town 200 years before. The students are led by a determined young woman who wants to make her film at all cost. The trio starts out well enough but are soon reduced to three frightened and lost people who are faced with trying to maintain their sanity. They become aware that something or someone seems to be tracking there every move. The nights are filled with voices around their tent and strange artifacts left in their paths.The finale is a scene of such terror that I won't soon forget it. In an interview several years ago Francis Coppola said that one day someone's going to take a video camera and make a great film, it's happened, Blair witch project shows what film can be, a highly original totally collaborative effort by all involved. Not since Orson wells directed Citizen kane over 50 years ago has their been a more interesting exercise in the art of filmmaking
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
BRILLANT
A landmark American film that challenges it's audience to let there imagination provide the real horror. We are watching the supposed footage of three film students who disappeared in 1994 while making a Documentary on a local legend called the Blairwitch. A local myth about a witch who was cast out by the town 200 years before. The students are led by a determined young woman who wants to make her film at all cost. The trio starts out well enough but are soon reduced to three frightened and lost people who are faced with trying to maintain their sanity. They become aware that something or someone seems to be tracking there every move. The nights are filled with voices around their tent and strange artifacts left in their paths.The finale is a scene of such terror that I won't soon forget it. In an interview several years ago Francis Coppola said that one day someone's going to take a video camera and make a great film, it's happened, Blair witch project shows what film can be, a highly original totally collaborative effort by all involved. Not since Orson wells directed Citizen kane over 50 years ago has their been a more interesting exercise in the art of filmmaking
Citizen Kane (1941)
Towers above any film
Much has been written about Citizen kane... greatest movie ever made, classic Etc, Etc. Nothing could come close to describe this Masterpiece. As a life long film fan, I had heard of it,but had never seen it.I finally saw it in 1990 at a theater and was truly amazed. What a twenty five year old kane did was truly monumental, If not for anything else, visually he advanced film 40 years in one stroke. no other film of it's day can compare to it's cinematic genuis. his use of deep focus, lighting and incredible editing is truly groundbreaking. the film is a study in filmmaking from a guy who had never made a film before. Welles film was to much for the audiences of his day. I frankly don't think the audiences of his day was sophisticated enough to understand what they were seeing. And of course the behind attempts by Wiliam Randolph Hearst to destroy the film are well documented. I grew up admiring a lot of film makers use of the camera, after seeing Kane I realized he used it first to create images unlike any before. In my opinion kane will alway's be the greatest film ever made because it took film to a place it had never been. Filmmakers are still trying to catch up.
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
A Good Beginning!!
I thoroughly enjoyed the film. I'll admit it took a little while to get use to the fact that you won't be seeing the familiar characters, but Lucas has laid a good foundation for his story. The most challenging story to tell is the one of Anakin Skywalker. He's cast a very good young actor named Jake Lloyd ,who for some reason has been getting some pretty bad press about his acting. This central person so important to the Starwars legend is wonderfully told. Jedi knight Qui-Gon Jinn played by Liam Neesen sees the force in the child and takes him under his wing. The much talked about villian Darth Maul, while not seen much is used effectively. Basically a Hitman he's a person of few words but totally impressive. The light saber battle is spectacular.
As for the technical aspects of the film, it's loaded with state of the art digital effects that are a wonder to see. All in all the StarWars films will in years to come be a gauge by which to view the advancement of film technology. Lucas at the forefront in this field will undoubtedly use the future episodes to introduce the world to these advancements. Lastly I couldn't help thinking that while movies have certainly improved in terms of effects and sound, the actual film itself hasn't.
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
A Good Beginning!!
I thoroughly enjoyed the film. I'll admit it took a little while to get use to the fact that you won't be seeing the familiar characters, but Lucas has laid a good foundation for his story. The most challenging story to tell is the one of Anakin Skywalker. He's cast a very good young actor named Jake Lloyd ,who for some reason has been getting some pretty bad press about his acting. This central person so important to the Starwars legend is wonderfully told. Jedi knight Qui-Gon Jinn played by Liam Neesen sees the force in the child and takes him under his wing. The much talked about villian Darth Maul, while not seen much is used effectively. Basically a Hitman he's a person of few words but totally impressive. The light saber battle is spectacular.
As for the technical aspects of the film, it's loaded with state of the art digital effects that are a wonder to see. All in all the StarWars films will in years to come be a gauge by which to view the advancement of film technology. Lucas at the forefront in this field will undoubtedly use the future episodes to introduce the world to these advancements. Lastly I couldn't help thinking that while movies have certainly improved in terms of effects and sound, the actual film itself hasn't.
Titanic (1997)
Titanic Achievement
I must say, I'm rather amazed at the negative comments that have been submitted to IMDB. I strongly disagree and in my opinion any serious student of film and no I don't mean people that went to film school, upon viewing this film wouldn't be struck by it's true greatness. Towards the end of the film Bill Paxton's character states that while he was involved very strongly in the search for titanic's treasures "He never let it in". That is What Cameron has achieved above all else,Writing a story that brings the passengers of the ill fated liner to life. We of course all have heard the story of the Grand Ship that was at the time the Technological marvel of it's day. It's tragic sinking at the hands of an Iceberg in the North Atlantic was a huge blow to Man's quest to conquer nature. Cameron could have easily written a cheesy screenplay and turned it into a 70's Disaster movie, but he has created characters you care about. I've always found that films that have a huge box-office are easy targets for people to criticize, in general most blockbusters don't garner the acclaim that Titanic did. The Box office in America and around the World was unlike any before it, and I suspect it will be a long while before a film will come along to achieve what it has. TITANIC is The Gone With The Wind of our generation, that from NY Times critic Janet Maslin, and I whole Heartedly agree!!!!!
Sharky's Machine (1981)
Reynolds Last Great Film
Simply put this is Reynolds last great film before his lean period, that saw him decline in popularity.Directing as well, this film has it all. As Sharky a detective bumped down to the bowels of the vice squad, Reynolds was excellent as the gritty but vulnerable veteran cop who falls in love with a prostitute played by Rachel Ward.the scenes in which Reynolds has Ward under surveillance are beautifully shot and capture the cops Loneliness and growing attachment to Ward. it's a very tricky thing to pull off and somehow it works. A great supporting cast portray his fellow cops in particular, Charles Durning, Brian Keith,Bernie Casey, John Fielder and Richard Libertini. The villains are perfect, Victoria Gassman as the crime boss and Henry Silva as his junkie brother who kills on his command. To top it off the film has been laced with a great jazz score. Overall this film has really been overlooked. In my opinion this film Rates right up there with Lethal Weapon,And of course Burt did his own stunts.
Ghost Story (1981)
classic Horror film
There are films that scare with the familiar themes found in most horror films, but this one is different. The ghost in this story who terrorizes is really the victim of a horrible death at the hands of a few young men in turn of the century New England. A fine cast including Fred Astaire, Melvyn douglas and John Houseman with a great performance by Alice krige make this film not one to watch alone.Also a great romantic and errie score. All the elements of true horror without all the blood.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
classic musical
A landmark American Musical from the studio who defined them in Hollywoods Golden age.Metro Goldwyn Mayer utilized the new cinemascope process to create a spectacular film. From Stanley Donens direction to Michael Kidds brillant choreography a flawless production, topped off by Johnny Mercer lyrics and music by Gene dePaul They just don't make them like this anymore !!!!!!