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Reviews
Charming Billy (1999)
Great movie, really well acted
I caught this on IFC the other day (Thank God for that channel). I was blown away. Although the cast is relatively unknown, they do an amazing job of following one man's descent into madness, and the chilling effects on those around him. I am really perplexed by all the "controversiy" that surrounded this movie, yet torture films like SAW III and Hostel don't ruffle any feathers. Although disturbing, Charming Billy is a story, not just a bunch of scenes where naked women are cut to pieces, brain surgery is performed with drills, and everyone is basically a little dumber for watching them. Catch this hidden gem if you get a chance.
The Birth of a Nation (1915)
I like DW, but I was bored
I have no problem with either DW or silent films, I just thought this was boring and not nearly as good as say, Potemkin or Broken Blossoms. And the fact that the overt racism, as with Gone Wiith the Wind, is glossed over is disturbing. I understand some peoples problem with silent films, and I would not recommend this one as a starting point. It feels twice as long as it's already too long run time. If you want to see a fine example of DW's, I would suggest Broken Blossoms. I found it far superior. If you are trying a silent for the first time, I would suggest either City Lights or Metropolis, both very fine examples of the genre.
Saw (2004)
Good idea done in by horrible acting
First the good. The idea of a terminally ill man forcing others to re-evaluate their wasted lives is a solid premise. The sets were sufficiently dingy and creepy. The "traps" set by the killer are inventive and twisted. And I admit I didn't see the ending coming at all.
Now the bad. I am not a fan of fast motion camera work. I understand what the director was going for in using it, but I didn't feel it worked. As for the acting, that's this films Achilles heel. Cary Elwes and Danny Glover are way over the top. Between Cary's blubbering and Danny's bug-eyes, you would swear you were watching a high-school play.