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Ramblingon
Reviews
Mulholland Dr. (2001)
The stuff that dreams are made of
(POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW)
Twin Peaks with a lesbian twist. What can I say, David Lynch RULES! Oh and don't worry about the plot if it confuses you. Just relax and enjoy the multiple scenes of sapphic bliss. But if you really want to have all the answers, there's an excellent article at salon.com that provides a detailed explanation of every aspect of this intriguing story, including who the "calm but dangerous" cowboy is. Nudity is involved so you might want to leave your little ones at home for this one. Both Naomi Watts and Laura Elena Harring are top-notch actresses. Harring is sensuous and, shall we say, quite "gifted" :) However, I especially fall for this Betty gal, Watts' character for the first two thirds of the movie. I just find her so... well, poised. And adorable. I was moved to tears when she's gone. Two-thumbs up to the talented Naomi Watts, whose portrayal of both characters are seamless and convincing.
I give this cinematic MASTERPIECE **** out of 4
Sugar & Spice (2001)
Surreal
To me, the most memorable part of this teen satire is the surreal robbery scene. The director's stylized approach, combined with the eerie soundtrack as the "betty dolls" march towards the store entrance, makes for a dream-like quality to the sequence.
The movie though, as a whole, is just mindless entertainment that you forget about the minute you walk out the theater. Of course, as a cheerleader movie buff, I'd have gladly paid to just watch those 5 cuties in their little skirts prance around in a shopping mall. Mena Suvari, Marley Shelton and the gang certainly deliver in that respect :) To watch sexy cheerleaders, also check out The Replacements, Bring It On, and American Beauty.
I give it **1/2 out of 4
Don't Say a Word (2001)
My all time favorite suspense thriller!
This movie tells an interesting story with some exciting action scenes. Great chemistry between Michael Douglas and Brittany Murphy. Sean Bean makes a good villain, menacing but not over the top. Michael Douglas is at his usual suave self. I'll watch any of him films. But I'm especially taken by Murphy's character Elisabeth. Like another critic rightly stated, given the circumstance this character could have been annoying and obnoxious. But instead, under Murphy's talented portrayal, Elisabeth appears so sad and vulnerable that your heart just aches for her and you want to pull her in your arms and give her a long comforting hug. Yet you can also feel her inner strength when she realized that she must overcome her own fears in order to help save another person's loved one. She was able to elicit viewers' sympathy. We feel sad for her traumatic past and we care about what happens to her. At one point I was moved to tears, when she was overcome by the pain of her resurfaced memory and trying desperately to reach out for her dad, oblivious to the incoming train.
Two thumbs up to the movie and all the ones who made it a success. **** out of 4