Coop-8 Reviews

American Psycho (2000)

As Good As It Could Have Been

[15 April 2000]

Let me just start off by saying that American Psycho is, in fact, my favorite book. I think that is a hilarious and razor sharp satire. A wonderfully funny black comedy, albeit (at times) a very graphic and disturbing one. Obviously I had very mixed feelings about the idea of an American Psycho film. It was something that I wanted to see, but at the same time, I didn't think that it could be pulled off. So it was with great reservations that I went into the theatre to see the film. I loved it. I think that Marry Harron has made the best possible adaptation that ever could have been made from Ellis' book. Without presenting a literal adaptation Harron manages to stay very faithful to the tone and spirit of the novel. The idea of combining the Huey Lewis/Genesis/Whitney Houston chapters with the murder scenes was brilliant. By keeping the on screen violence to a minimum she let the satire shine right through. Christian Bale's performance was fantastic. He managed to portray Bateman not just as a monster, but also as the dork that he really is. The infantile behavior of Bateman and the men around him is almost perfectly captured from the novel. My only real complaint is that the movie could have been longer. There could have been more conversations between Bateman and the guys, Bateman and Evelyn, Bateman and Courtney. It would have added so much more depth to characters that, as is, run the risk of becoming flat. Overall though, I really enjoyed the film. This may not be the best movie that I see all year, but I think that it is as good an American Psycho movie as any fan of the book could have hoped for. 7/10

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)

Very Sharp and Timely Satire

[10/10 · 1 July 1999]

Had South Park been released a year ago it may have been the cause of a parental over-reaction like the one seen in the film. However, in the wake of the "crackdown" on violent and vulgar movies and TV shows that has followed the Littleton killings, South Park has become a very sharp bit of satire about free speech and censorship. Although there is still potty humor 'o plenty much of the film is extreamly witty and well done. A very funny film that makes a dead-on statement.

eXistenZ (1999)

Get to the end before you judge eXistenZ

[8/10 · 2 May 1999]

It may be hard to get through the first half of this movie, but try. Once you get to the end all of the bad dialog and odd performances make sense. Just keep in mind that everything in eXistenZ is deliberate and the film knows some things that you don't. This is one of those movies that gets better the more you think about it after you leave the theatre. Do be warned that eXisteZ is kinda gross. If you've seen "The Fly" or "Naked Lunch" then you know how creative David Cronenberg can get with gross-out make-up effects, and in eXistenZ he really lets his imagination go.

Happiness (1998)

Impossible to ignore

[10/10 · 21 February 1999]

Happiness is just one of those movies that you'll either love or loath. There is no middle ground on this one, it's just impossible to ignore. I think that the volume of user comments here will attest to that fact. Anyway, my personal opinion is that Happiness was one of the best films of 1998. I thought that it was hilarious. Yes it was also disturbing but at its core Happiness is a comedy. At any rate "Happiness" is much much better than the similarly structured "Playing by Heart," which, although it was a much warmer and brighter film than Happiness, was one of the most mind numbingly insipid things I saw all year. I thought all of the performances in "Happiness" were fantastic. Dylan Baker was particularly noteworthy as the "model" father and husband who is secretly a pedaphile. The scenes between Baker and his son (particularly the last one) were amazing. Philip Seymore Hoffman (who I think is hands down one of the best actors working today) is fantastic as a chronic loser who gets off on making obscene phone calls. My one complaint about the film is that Hoffman's character should have been given more screen time. Camryn Manheim ("The Practice") is great in a small but memorable role as Hoffman's neighbor who has a secret in her fridge. I realize that this film is not for everyone, but I think it's fantastic and would have to recommend it. I would have to provide a word of caution though. Don't see this film on a first date. In fact don't see this film on any date, unless you are VERY confident in the strength of your relationship. Also, try to remember that this is a comedy. You'll probably feel dirty for wanting to laugh at this film, but go ahead and laugh anyway. Trust me, it's funny.

One more thing: "Happiness" has the best last line of any movie I've seen in a long long time.

Zero Effect (1998)

The best movie that nobody saw in 1998.

[10/10 · 21 February 1999]

Here's the thing about "Zero Effect," you have to see it more than once. It's one of those movies that just gets better every single time you see it. I was upset that this movie didn't see the sort of theatrical success that it really deserved, but I have a feeling that it may very well become a cult classic. Bill Pullman (who I normally can't stand) really threw me for a loop as Daryl Zero. I really can't recommend this film enough.

Permanent Midnight (1998)

Underrated Film, Fantastic Performance

[21 February 1999]

Permanent Midnight, while certainly not the best film ever made about heroin addiction, is a very solid film that was largely over looked by both critics and the public. The brightest jewel in this film's crown is Ben Stiller's performance as Jerry Stahl. I found it interesting that while Stiller got loads of attention for getting his "package" caught in his zipper in "There's Something About Mary" (which is a very funny moive) hardly an eye was blinked when he gave the performance of his career in "Midnight." I think this film proves the theory that often comedic actors give the best dramatic performances. Do yourself a favor and rent it.

Your Friends and Neighbors (1998)

One of the best of 1998

[10/10 · 21 February 1999]

With his second film Neil LaBute more than makes good on the potential he displayed in his amazing debut film "In The Company of Men." Like "Men" "Your Friends and Neighbors" his an unforgiving, unrepentant, and unflinching looks at relationships. LaBute's script is sadisticly funny and all of the performances are top notch. Aaron Eckhart is particularly impressive in a role that is a complete 180 from his charecter in "In The Company of Men." I think that Eckhart is definitely going to be an actor to watch out for in the coming years. Ben Stiller also gives a fine performance, although not nearly as good as his fantastic turn in the highly underrated "Permanent Midnight."

But it was without a doubt Jason Patric who stole the show. Never having been a huge fan of Jason Patric I was totaly blown away by what he did with this character. It could have been very easy for Patric's character to have been simply a retread of Chad, Eckhart's character in "Men," and at first that's what he seems to be. However, by the end of the film you realize that LaBute as a writer and Patriic as an actor have managed to do the impossible, they have created a man worse than Chad. Where Chad was really just a huge jerk, Jason Patric's character in "Friends" is just out and out evil. Patric's "shower monologue" was one of the best movie scenes in 1998, and in a perfect world Patric would have been given an Oscar nod for best Supporting Actor.

Rushmore (1998)

One of the best, funniest, and most original films of 1998

[9/10 · 22 January 1999]

Rushmore is hands-down the funniest movie of 1998. It is an amazingly original and smart piece of filmmaking, and there is not doub in my mind that it will be with us for years to come. Director Wes Anderson has more than fulfilled the potential that he displayed in his debut film "Bottle Rocket." Everything about "Rushmore" is totally first rate. The script (co-written by Anderson and Owen Wilson, who played Dignan in "Bottle Rocket") is as sharp as they come and defies any sort of genre classification. The performances are top-notch. Jason Shwartzman gives the most memorable debut performances I've seen in a long long time and Billy Murry totally shines in a role that he was born to play. Rushmore stretches beyond being a simple high school movie and moves way past those sappy coming of age dramas where the only emotions seem to be laughter and tears. People are going to be watching this one for some time to come. If there is any justice in this world Bill Murray will be given an Oscar nod for this film. I can't wait to seen what Wes Anderson (who is well on his way to becoming one of the best filmmakers of his generation) does next.

The Keep (1983)

High-brow horror film coulda been a contender.

[30 November 1998]

The first fifteen-twenty minutes of The Keep are totally flawless. The film very carefully builds itself up using mood, atmosphere, wonderfully dreary camera work, and a haunting musical score. The mystery of what exactly the Keep is and what exactly it was built to contain starts off as a very engadging and suspenseful one. However, about half an hour into the film The Keep drops the ball and quickly becomes little more than a glacially paced, high-brow version of every "monster in the house" movie that you've ever seen. If atmosphere were any substitute for originality then The Keep might have a leg to stand on. As it is though spooky sets and music do not a good movie make. This could have been a legitimatly great movie, but instead it landed somwhere between mediocre and not-that-bad. The film shoots very high as it attempts to address some very complex issues about the nature of good and evil, but somehow it misses the mark and ends up just sounding silly. Try as it might The Keep never really manages to pull off the "thinking man's Alien" schtick that it seems to be aiming for. One of the film's biggest flaws lies in the fact that the evil creature gets more and more stupid looking as the film progresses. It starts out as an unseen force (scary), then becomes a foggy cloud (slightly less scary, but effective), then a barely visable monster covered in bits of fog (not scary), and finally a guy in a dumb looking rubber suit (laughable). I do have to say that the cast is top notch and they all do a fine job regradless of how little they are given to do or how slowly they do it. Also, the film looks great and has enough mood and atmosphere for three films. The music by Tangerine Dream is worth hearing if you're into that kind of thing. Overall however I wouldn't want to spend another two hours of my life watching this movie again. There are better movies in this genre that deserve more attention. They may not have the lofty thematic goals of The Keep, but at least they reach the lowly shlocky ones they are aiming for. In the end that makes them much better (and more enjoyable) movies.

Mitchell (1975)

"Heart pounding! Veins clogging!"

[20 October 1998]

I must say that as bad as this film is, the Mystery Science Theatre 3000 version of it is one of the funniest things I've ever seen. I know that it has been released on video and I'd recommend picking it up sometime. MST3K at its very best.