svale0510 Reviews

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

because the stars are cool people does not make this cool

[1/10 · 14 December 2005]

Just because the stars are cool people does not make this a cool movie. Quite the contrary. Forget the hype; this is a TV sitcom that seems to drag on and on. You begin to loose respect; these people are just cashing in. I saw the DVD and would be really angry if I had spent the 50 bucks going out to the movies costs these days. No story or imagination just two big names and two big pay cheques. One gag for the entire film. We seem to deserve these no brain required films; we just eat 'em up and don't ask that the bar be set higher. Meanwhile independants without financing are broke and demoralized; people with stories can't even get in the door. Ever study end credits? Everyone even the drivers and water boys are juiced in through old Hollywood family. We get the movies we deserve. Stay away or get over your no subtitle phobia. And I LIKED Legally Blonde! I'm not some art movie nut case.

A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004)

The real New Orleans that is probably gone forever.

[9/10 · 3 December 2005]

New Orleans is a major character in this film. Not the French Quarter as we usually see but the slums that gave us the music and character of this unique place in all the world. You have to ask yourself why and how did a first time unknown director get two major stars to make this budget film in three weeks in August of 2004. The answer is script, script and script. A good story seems harder to find than $100 million in LA. We have remakes of remakes of TV shows and comic books. The story is very good; the look of the film is great and Travolta and Johansson bring their gifts to the lead roles. Deb Unger is particularly fetching and dignified. The real New Orleans that is probably gone forever after the Katrina disaster is reason enough to cherish this film and add it to your permanent collection. Also loved the way JT used that old Gibson LG-1 as a prop and actually played it and sang a few tunes!

Domino (2005)

See it!!

[10/10 · 3 December 2005]

Tony Scott has done it again. Pushed the envelope. The only good review I could find was in the New York Times...this tells you a lot about how far ahead TS is. Of course all the people who liked all those DVDs you hated yourself for sitting through hated Domino. These are the same people that hated Man on Fire or Revenge. The new levels of technique Mr. Scott has been trying out have bothered many film goers. However, ask yourself how many directors and studios are cranking out product that is completely middle of the road and presents absolutely no challenge to the audience. I certainly think there is much more room for the major budget film industry to take risks and give the audience some choices and challenges. I would hate to see these efforts dampened by bean counters!