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Reviews
America: Freedom to Fascism (2006)
must-watching for every American
This 45-minute documentary is a gem.
Everything I need to know that I didn't learn in kindergarten--nor grammar school, high school, college, or post-graduate work.
How did we get so dumb? This movie is now easily viewed on video-sharing websites so there is no excuse not to see it.
Please watch it, tell your friends about it, make your kids watch it. I think we're in a race against time to wake up as a nation (in the United States) or, as newly enlightened individuals, if not able to save this nation, to begin again, perhaps, armed with the knowledge and ideals being made known by means of the Internet and works like this one, and to reconstitute a new country like the one our Founding Fathers envisioned.
God Bless America.
The Real Housewives of Orange County (2006)
It's "Arrested Development" (cue music).
Theme 1: Extreme materialism is normal.
Theme 2: Wanting something for nothing.
Theme 3: Wanting something in exchange for something other than hard work.
Theme 4: "We have morals."
Theme 5: "I behave like X, but tell my children not to behave like X."
Theme 6: I work hard, so I deserve to play hard.
Theme 7: Knowledge is valuable if it helps you make money.
Theme 8: Wealth = achievement.
Theme 9: My family means everything to me--10 minutes a week.
Theme 10: Responsibility is cultivated through having something, not through doing something.
My First Mister (2001)
Touching film compromised by unnecessary twist
This is a fantastic idea for a film and one that doesn't conjure up any easy comparisons, perhaps Harold and Maude. Key to the execution of the writer's ambitious vision were the touching performances by Albert Brooks and Leelee Sobieski in the two main roles.
The movie is focused more on the teen-aged girl's point of view as she tries to pull middle-aged Albert Brook's character into her world, which is an interesting way to go but not very believable. Albert Brooks shines in an understated way.
The movie lets down a bit after the first 1:13 and should have been shorter. The movie has too many characters that remain undeveloped throughout the movie, features an unfortunate plot twist at the end involving a relative Albert Brooks' character didn't know existed, and offers strange elements that detract from the movie's realism (e.g., the "I see dead people" facet and "Caspar the friendly wife" quirk--the purpose of the latter being completely lost on me). I think two love interests were introduced merely to remove any lingering ideas the viewer may have about the nature of the characters' relationship, which we are assured is platonic. I thought the moral of accepting of other people as they are could have been underlined a bit more in place of the unnecessary plot turns.
The film's worth watching for the story idea and for the performances of Brooks and Sobieski. I'm glad I didn't see it in the theater because I would've embarrassed myself.