Reggie_Charan Reviews

I Am a Sex Addict (2005)

Self indulgent and awful.

[1/10 · 1 December 2008]

It's been more than 48 hours since I watched this pitiful exercise in ego masturbation disguised as film, and I still can not erase that truly vile scene of the narrator receiving oral sex, out of my mind. While I can admire anyone willing to open up and bare their soul on camera warts and all, throughout the entire movie, I never once got the feeling that the director/star ever felt a bit of remorse that his obsession with hookers lead to the demise of several of his relationships with women. He also comes across as an egomaniac as well: none of the real women he was in relationships with look anything like the porn stars he used in the reenactments.

Find a better way to waste 90 minutes of your life.

Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten (2007)

Moving but ultimately unsatisfying documentary

[4/10 · 25 November 2007]

Growing up, Joe Strummer was a hero of mine, but even I was left cold by this film. For better and worse, The Future Is Unwritten is not a straightforward "Behind the Music" style documentary. Rather it is a biographical art film, chock full of interviews, performance footage, home movies, and mostly pointless animation sketches lifted from "Animal Farm." The movie is coherent but overlong by about a half hour.

The campfire format, while touching in thought, is actually pretty annoying in execution. First off, without titles, its hard to even know who half of these interviewees are. Secondly, who really needs to hear people like Bono, Johnny Depp, and John Cusack mouth butt licking hosannas about the man? They were not relevant to Strummer's life and their opinions add nothing to his story.

This picture is at it's best when Strummer, through taped interviews and conversation, touches on facets of his life most people did not know about: the suicide of his older brother, coming to terms with the death of his parents, the joy of fatherhood. To me, these were most moving because it showed Joe Strummer not as the punk icon we all knew and loved, but as a regular human being who had to deal with the joys and sorrows of life we all must face.

There have been better, more straightforward documentaries about Strummer and The Clash. (Westway, VH1 Legends, and Kurt Loder's narrated MTV Documentary from the early 90's come to mind.) Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten is for diehards only.

Miami Vice (2006)

Makes you wish for Don Johnson & Philip Michael Thomas

[2/10 · 30 December 2006]

Some random thoughts I had while watching Miami Vice:

1. The casting is among the worst I've ever seen in a movie: Colin Farell and Jamie Foxx just don't seem bright enough to work vice, the guy who plays their boss, Castillo, looks like Cedric the Entertainer's cousin, and Tubbs' girlfriend is nothing more than an overacting, Rosario Dawson wanna-be.

2. Gong Li's English is absolutely painful to listen to.

3. No one so much as cracks a smile in this film: Looks like it was about as much fun for them to film, as it was for us to watch.

Another instance of style over substance from Michael Mann.

Rent (2005)

Just wasn't that good

[5/10 · 9 April 2006]

I've never seen Rent on Broadway. In fact, I've never seen any musicals at all. I really liked the Hedwig & the Angry Inch soundtrack, though. Hearing that Rent was also a rock music based production, I thought I'd give it a try. Best I can say about it is that it reminds me of an episode of the 80's TV show Fame. Not much of an endorsement, I guess, but I thought Rent just wasn't that good.

There were a few songs that were memorable (Seasons of Love, Out Tonight, La Vie Boheme) but some real stinkers (You'll See, Tango Maureen) that had me reaching for the fast forward button more than once. I could relate to the story line of trying to make your way through life's ups and downs with the love and support of good friends around you, but except for Angel, none of these characters seemed particularly appealing. Have enough money for smack, yet you don't want to pay your rent? Sorry, that's not how the real world works, people. The cast seems to have all the charm of smug high school wanna-be thespians.

Bride & Prejudice (2004)

Just doesn't click

[4/10 · 14 February 2005]

This tedious bore of a film will be remembered as nothing more than Aishwaria Rai's first attempt to crossover to western audiences.

A novel concept, Bride and Prejudice takes a typical Bollywood style plot about the complications that arise when boy meets girl, and makes it palatable to American/European tastes. All dialog and songs are in English, and given that locations include Goa, London, & L.A., production values are very high. The colors in this film absolutely burst off the screen.

Now for the bad news: Rai is without question very attractive, but there is a stunning lack of chemistry between her and any male character in this movie. Also, the characterization of the mother as nothing more than a shallow gold digger, ready to pawn of her daughters to anyone with a buck, is very distasteful. The only person who brings life to this mess is Nitin Ganatra as the bumbling Mr. Kholi.

Battle Royale II (2003)

Doesn't hold a candle to the original

[31 October 2004]

The first Battle Royale had one of the most original plot lines I ever witnessed. I was hungry for more of the same, but sadly BR just left me cold.

First of all, the story is confused and somewhat hard to follow (still have no idea what was the deal with the teacher who forced them all into the game, then has a dramatic change of heart; also how did the kids get from Japan all the way to Afghanistan?). The film is blatantly anti-American without any discernible context. Using film as a vehicle for political/social commentary is to be applauded, but when you have nothing more to say than listing a bunch of countries America has had conflict with, it may be wise to just stick to making mindless, escapist fare and leave the thought provoking to someone like Michael Moore.

On the plus side, the cast is very attractive (the two lead actors kinda look like the Japanese versions of David Cassidy and Johnny Rotten). The production design and special effects are all top notch too.

Goodbye Uncle Tom (1971)

Makes "The Passion of The Christ" seem like Romper Room

[7/10 · 11 July 2004]

Anyone thinking of checking this film out: be warned, words can not express what an awesomely brutal experience it is to sit through. I'm a big fan of horror films, but nothing I ever saw came close to the feeling of revulsion this 30 plus year old film gave me. Trust me, you will have to use the fast forward button on your remote control several times sitting through this one.

A group of Italian journalists goes back in time to America during the time of slavery and documents what they see. The viewer is spared no amount of detail as we are shown what it was like to travel aboard a slave ship, be sold in market as common livestock, be raped, tortured hunted and killed, and basically denied even the slightest bit of human empathy or compassion at every turn.

While Roots covered the same subject matter a whole lot better, it came nowhere near delivering the visceral reaction of this film. For that reason, I recommend people watch Goodbye Uncle Tom. While by no means a great film, if society is truly never to forget the injustices and wrongs of the past, work like this is necessary viewing.

Lost in Translation (2003)

Overrated

[24 November 2003]

Not a bad film, but definitely not as great as some people here seem to think. (Greatest film ever? I don't think so.) The leads have no chemistry. Bill Murray's character is not very likable either. Japanese people are shown in an almost buffoonish way throughout the film. On the plus side, though, Scarlet Johansson is beautiful and the Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine are on the soundtrack (WOO HOO!)

Bollywood Bound (2002)

Worth a look

[4 November 2003]

The camera follows the travails of 4 Indo-Canadians back to Bombay as they pursue stardom in the Indian film industry. Except for the arrogant and pretentious MTV style VJ, Ruby, the kids are all quite likable and you can't help but root for them. Running time is too short, but anyone who has ever had a dream will enjoy this one.

Baise-moi (2000)

Definitely not for everyone

[3 November 2003]

Don't be swayed by all the negative comments, Baise Moi is a worthwhile film. Yes the sex is explicit, and much of the violence simply pointless, but underneath it all remains a compelling vision of two people on a road trip to hell. Both leads may come from porn, but their acting skills are totally credible. One of the most nihilistic movies ever made.

Bollywood/Hollywood (2002)

What A Letdown!

[11 April 2003]

Deep Mehta's Earth was absolutely devastating. I was really excited when I heard she was making a Bollywood style film about Indians living in the west, but this movie is a total bore. The plot lacks focus, the acting is atrocious, and the attempts at comedy fall flat at every turn. Forget this one.

Kill Me Later (2001)

Selma is worth checking out

[11 March 2003]

For me, Selma Blair is the reason to watch this one. She's got the creepy, vulnerable quality Jennifer Jason Leigh does so well, but she couples it with a smart-ass attitude. Movie is strongest in the first 40 minutes or so, as the constant running from the authorities gets a bit tedious after that.

Stripped (2001)

Tedious

[22 February 2003]

Tedious documentary that follows 5 or 6 women (including the director herself) as they make their living in the New York area as topless dancers. None really has much of a story to tell or much of anything interesting to say. Film fails to give real insight on life as an exotic dancer. Funniest moment (though probably not intentionally so) is when one of the ladies compares getting breast implants to the special effects in Star Wars.

Though not an exploitative piece of film making, the DVD box bizarrely touted that "2 of the 5 women interviewed have died."

Black Hawk Down (2001)

Mindless macho action flick pretending to have something to say...

[5/10 · 19 January 2003]

Here is Black Hawk Down in a nutshell: nameless, faceless white guys shoot at nameless, faceless black guys for two and a half hours. That's it. We're talking ZERO character development here.

The best war movies (Saving Private Ryan, Platoon, Full Metal Jacket) always tempered scenes of combat with a moral regret at human beings being forced to kill each other. Not the case with Black Hawk Down. There is actually little to differentiate this film and many of the mindless macho Vietnam revenge fantasy flicks of the mid 1980's.

Why it garnered such acclaim upon it's release is something I can't understand....

Sex: The Annabel Chong Story (1999)

Recommended, but clearly not for everyone.

[30 December 2002]

While a compelling film, Sex: The Annabel Chong Story never gives a satisfactory answer to the core question of why the titular character chose to sleep with over 250 virtual strangers in a single day. What could possibly be her motivations? What was she trying to prove? Chong herself makes vague statements about the act being an expression of female sexual empowerment and "an ego trip." Instances of sexual assault and drug abuse in her past are mentioned as well. In the end, however, the viewer is left with no better understanding of why someone would choose to follow such an extreme and potentially heartbreaking path in life. One thing is certain though, Grace Quek is one damaged human being. Playing neither the role of defiant punk slut rebel or vulnerable woman-child entirely convincingly, she ultimately comes across as a very confused young woman searching for an identity. Whether through porn or (hopefully) some more respectable means, you can't help but hope she finds it.