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Reviews
Razor Blade Smile (1998)
Could Have Been So Much Better
Apart from the very attractive Eileen Daly there really isn't much point in watching this. Which is a shame cos the ending is actually quite good. It's never quite sure what tone to take until the final reel, which if it had been like that all the way through would have been highly entertaining. Not a patch on 'Blade', but Ms Daly is certainly easier on the eye than Mr Snipes.
Permanent Midnight (1998)
Mixed Feelings
When this was released in the States there was a huge fuss over Ben Stiller not getting an Oscar nomination. I've waited two years to see what the fuss was about and although Stiller is very good, the film as a whole is pretty mediocre. A fine supporting cast is mostly wasted. Which in the cases of Owen Wilson & Janeane Garofalo is a crime. Stahl is not a very sympathetic character and any depth of motivation is merely hinted at and throughout the film you get the feeling you're in real life TV movie-land.
Wonder Boys (2000)
The World According to Grady
Michael Douglas reminds us all that despite having been in nothing but tosh for a decade or so, he is still a pretty good actor. He plays Grady, a college professor who's midlife crisis reaches a climax on the weekend his wife leaves him, his editor is in town and his mistress has some big news. Highly enjoyable comedy-drama, with an excellent supporting cast (particularly Toby Maguire). Not life-changing, but well worth a look.
American History X (1998)
Suffering and Love
Despite its many flaws, this is the most moving and challenging film I have seen in years. It deals intelligently with a wide range of issues affecting society and the individual. Racism being the most obvious, but also the need to take responsibility for our actions and do whatever is in our power to improve the world. If this sounds trite, don't worry, the film avoids sentimentality well (mainly due to the fine performances) and shows that the weapons that change the world are suffering and love. It is not afraid to raise questions that it leaves the viewer to answer, which can be frustrating, but ultimately more worthwhile. Somehow it also manages to be highly entertaining, with a rich vein of humour running through it. Director Tony Kaye shows his advertising roots too much but that can be forgiven. Not a perfect film, but certainly one that shows that cinema can deal with far more than car chases, bad sex and fart jokes.