angdev Reviews

Cradle Will Rock (1999)

A Brilliant Depiction of the Universal Struggle of Artists

[6 March 2000]

Tim Robbins creates a brilliant social commentary in the same in-your-face style as "Bob Roberts". I adore the statements Robbins makes about social politics, as well as the problems with the idea of "art for art's sake". He lyrically tells the story of the struggle of performing and visual artists around the Depression era, choosing between their art and their livelihood--a struggle that is universal for artists through the expanse of time. The concept of this film is a breakthrough for the big screen, since Hollywood seems to be the capital of "selling out". The comments on artistic integrity are strong and literally moving in the acting of an amazing cast, as well as the way in which the story is edited to David Robbins' beautiful score. The entire film is simply poetic. This film is truly a masterpiece to any artist, or to anyone who knows what it like to compromise your values to survive.

Dead Man (1995)

A Captivating Turn on the Traditional Western

[5 March 2000]

Jim Jarmusch gives an excellent twist to the western in "Dead Man". In personal experience I have not been fond of the western genre, but this is definitely an exception. The entire story depicts William Blake dying of a gunshot wound--something no western will depict--and dramatizes the event for the sake of commenting on the overuse of violence in the western genre. The film takes a tangent from a traditional story by following the victim of one occurrence of violence. Another poignant fact is the attention given to Native Americans. As Native Americans are referred to as savages in most western films, the irony is in the idea that here the white man is the savage, heartlessly killing himself. The layers of meaning in the script and the way concepts are brought full-circle conveys the idea of the circle of life. Also, the attention to historical detail makes this film particularly enjoyable, mainly because it steers clear of most stereotypes. An interesting feeling that is brought to the film is in the style of the scenes--the writing and editing makes them seem like chapters in a novel, or some sort of chronicle. Combined with an uneasy score that wonderfully complements the overall mood, Jarmusch creates a highly engaging depiction of the wild west.

The Blues Brothers (1980)

An Eccentric Cult Classic

[5 March 2000]

This definitive cult classic combines two of the pioneers of Saturday Night Live in a hilarious comedy, indulging into their characters from the show. John Belushi and Dan Akroyd are Jake and Elwood Blues, two eccentric brothers who are "On A Mission From God". They seem to inevitably find themselves in large amounts of trouble. The most fun is living vicariously through them as they stick it to the police and other authority figures and evade the consequences. Blues fans will rave over the fantastic soundtrack full of classic blues tunes from the biggest stars. This film is one that will have you quoting lines, singing along, and quite possibly dancing like Elwood. By the way, sunglasses can be worn at all times, black never goes out of style, and dry white toast is quite possibly the world's perfect food.

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Epitome of the Golden Era

[4 March 2000]

This film has always been a favorite of mine. It is the epitome of the golden era of Hollywood in both the script and the production. This film embodies all the reasons why America loves film (or at least why they did at that time) through its self-reflexive plot. We see the glamorous lives of Hollywood stars, allowing us to feel like we are a part of the life of which so many moviegoers dream of. Gene Kelly, as always, charms the audience with his many talents, which are greatly complemented by Donald O'Connor's comedy stylings and Debbie Reynolds' beautiful voice and acting. For years this film has been treasured by audiences for the style, production value and just the pure enjoyment of the film and it would be a crime to miss such a jewel.

Fast, Cheap & Out of Control (1997)

Fascinating Representation of Contrasting Subjects

[2 March 2000]

I was amazed at how Errol Morris abstractly tied together four people with such contrasting occupations. I was skeptical before seeing the film--after all, how on earth would anyone relate a lion tamer, topiary gardener, mole rat specialist and robot expert--but Morris pulls it off excellently. The ties between certain details of each interview either tie visually or conceptually with one of the other interviewees, and the beauty is in the way the ideas are strung together. The quirky soundtrack is fantastic, giving a twist to circus music that carries the mood of the film, as well as help Morris to make serious comments about life. At any rate, this is a very enjoyable documentary, even to those who strongly dislike documentaries.