Reviews
The Corruptor (1999)
Stress Buster
The Corruptor was an action-packed police drama set in New York's Chinatown. Chow Yun-Fat, despite his boyish demeanor, is a very violent policeman who gets results by disregarding "the book." The Chow Yun-Fat of The Corruptor is a far more entertaining one than the smooth, suave Chow Yun-Fat of The Replacement Killers. Mark Wahlberg, surprisingly, is the seemingly naive corruptee, being corrupted by various sources including Chen (Yun-Fat), his partner.
The violence perhaps was gratuitous, but I enjoyed it. The car chase scene was the best that I have seen in years. The end result of an action movie for me is to experience an adrenaline rush. The Corruptor filled this tall order.
My one criticism is that plot was hard to follow at times, particularly with simultaneous double crosses. In the end, Chinese familial ties meant nothing.
The sound track was good, and humorous as well as the Fookienese gangsters were blasting "gangsta rap." (Was it DMX?)
9 Pts. out of 10 for The Corruptor. Mark Wahlberg put on a good performance.
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Syrupy Sweet
To be 1998's Film of the Year as judged by the Academy, the movie had to have been good? Yes, this was an above average film. The costumery was magnificent. Gwyneth Paltrow gave a convincing performance as Viola. Judi Dench also put on an excellent performance as the Queen. The Queen was cruel, perceptive, but highly likeable in the end.
My first criticism of the movie was the idea of weaving Viola and Shakespeare's star-crossed romance with the well-known tragedy of Romeo & Juliet. Perhaps it could have worked with a better script, but in the end the concept did not come off well because there was a clear distinction between the play and their real-life situation. The storyline felt forced-- and false. The plot would have been more interesting as simply a romance between Shakespeare, an aspiring playwright, and Viola, an aristocrat.
My second criticism of the movie was Ben Affleck's appearance. Whereas Gywneth and Fiennes became immersed in their characters, Ben Affleck was not able to cross the line. This was Ben Affleck as Ben Affleck. His character also had no noteworthy actions in the play that I could discern. In summary, his appearance was an irritant.
An interesting film. I rank it a 7 out of 10.
8MM (1999)
Dark and Thrilling
8 MM was an engrossing murder-mystery reminiscent of Basic Instinct. Tom Welles is a private investigator who must re-create a possible crime which occurred some five years ago. His only initial lead is a short "snuff" video found in a deceased industrialist's office safe after his death.
Nicolas Cage puts on an acting tour-de-force as Tom Welles, an introspective private investigator who must piece together an obscure set of leads in a search which is bi-coastal. Welles becomes so engrossed in his investigation that he re-visits old vices and takes on the air of a stalker. With the assistance of an aspiring musician temping as a porn store clerk (played by Phoenix), Cage penetrates deep into an underworld far seedier and sadistic than mainstream smut.
The plot, while perhaps farfetched, was believable throughout. The suspense was palpable and the action nearly non-stop. Just when you thought that the film's climax had been reached, the script mutated, taking viewers to even tenser moments. The plot was anything but predictable and had me guessing up until the credits.
Dino Velvet, the head of Dino Velvet studios, is masterfully acted by Peter Stormare. The crossbow is a nice touch indeed.
For those with a taste for the dark and out-of-the ordinary, 8 MM is a must-see. This is a much deeper film than Snake Eyes.
You've Got Mail (1998)
Slightly Disappointing
This film could have been a lot funnier and a lot warmer. With the explosion of the internet and e-mail, the film was perfectly timed. However, the plot could have been better scripted to highlight the humorous aspects of an online romance.
All of the characters were too neurotic, including the characters played by Hanks and Ryan. Due to these neuroses, it was hard to judge what the love interests' hearts were really made of? Was it their musings posted via e-mail? Or was it their cold daily behavior?
When the big connection came, I was unconvinced that it was true love and meant to be. Entertaining and a great date movie, but this film lacked the substance of Sleepless in Seattle. I rate it a disappointing 6 stars.
Payback (1999)
Hubba Hubba?
Well done Mel! I'd begun to lose confidence in Gibson's ability to make a credible action thriller, after the Lethal Weapon saga. But "Payback" was a tasty blend of action and comedy. Its style was reminiscent of the original Lethal Weapon, plus a jigger of Pulp Fiction. There's a lot more to this movie than the one-liners shown in the trailer. The characters were quirky and often surly-- they included jaded cops, corrupt businessmen, pimp bartenders, dominatrixes, ex-cons, and women of the night. The concepts of the "syndicate" and the "outfit" were particularly amusing, as was the character of Carter, the Harvard MBA managing the "syndicate."
My vote for quote of the movie is "If she stops hooking, I'll stop shooting people."
Thumbs up to Hollywood for a creative plot well executed by the acting skills of Gibson, Coburn, and Kristoffersen.
Stepmom (1998)
Thick Drama!
I had grown accustomed to Julia Roberts starring in light, fluffy comedies such as My Best Friend's Wedding and Pretty Woman. "Stepmom" began in a similar light tone, but quickly developed into a thick drama. I thought that Julia Roberts pulled off the part extremely well. Susan Sarandon's portrayal as Jackie was excellent.
The story was believable. The main characters of Isabel and Jackie were both developed indepth. The cruelty of Jackie and Anna towards Isabel could be discomforting at times!
In the end, I had great respect for both characters for their remarkable abilities to overcome adversity, although in very different manners.
Not to give it away, but Luke's technique of proposing marriage was extremely creative. Wish that I had thought of it first! I also enjoyed Jackie's Victorian style house.
The drama became very thick and moving towards the end. I couldn't help but to shed a tear at the climactic Christmas giftgiving scene.
Overall, I thought that the movie was very good, and would strongly recommend it. For those who've recently lost a loved one to cancer, I would recommend skipping this film as the subject matter is very serious.
How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
Not Quite In a Groove
Do not get me wrong, "How Stella Got her Groove Back" was not a bad movie. In fact, I found it a light and entertaining picture. Some of this pleasure however was derived from the fantasia setting of Jamaica and the marvelous physical appearances of both Stella and Winston.
I would have preferred a greater emphasis on how Stella and Winston overcome their formidable 20 year age gap. The side plot of Whoopi Goldberg succumbing to cancer was an unnecessary detour from Jamaica, and the burgeoning relationship.
While I greatly enjoyed the comic elements of Stella's sisters, I thought that the introduction of the friendly ex-husband at the barbeque was pushing it too far.
What would be interesting although perhaps uneconomic, would be a sequel which explores if Stella and Winston conquer their sizeable personality differences and come to enjoy a rewarding and stable relationship based less upon raw physical attraction.