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Reviews
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Gripping
It's not really a movie you enjoy; it's more a movie you experience.
First of all, it definitely should have been NC-17, with or without the digital figures blocking out all the serious sexual activity. The orgy scene is still incredibly adult, and it is still clear what is going on. Parents who take their kids to it are out of their minds.
The acting, directing, and other production values are excellent. Cruise has less emoting to do than Kidman, so it is a little easier to notice her performance, but his is remarkable in its own, subtle way. I've never seen a Kubrick movie before, but I understand he has a history of using long shots and pauses to achieve creepiness, and this is no exception. Color, music, and even extras are all used to emotional effect. For instance, fewer and fewer extras on the city streets as the movie continues and Bill finds fewer and fewer of the people he encounters are so innocent as they seem.
As for the plot, well, I can't exactly say I liked it, because that would imply the movie was a cheerful experience, and it was not. However, I did find it gripping and well-executed up until the end, at which point Sidney Pollack's character explained too much. It would have been better for him to throw Tom a few cryptic lines, leaving him and the intelligent viewer to figure it out for themselves. I already knew everything Sid said in that scene--the only real revelation he provided had more to do with Tom's response to everything. All in all, though, there was much humor, plenty of nice touches, and even a few understated running jokes.
I think the bottom line is whether the themes and their depiction work for you or not. They worked for me. The movie reminded me of the Hawthorne story "Young Goodman Brown" with a few touches of "Caligula" thrown in. I spent $8.50 to see it and I don't feel shafted--what more can one say?
Sleepers (1996)
Watch the first hour then make up your own ending
The first half of Sleepers is gut-wrenching, disturbing, and brilliantly acted by the young stars. Watching their mistake and the exorbitant price they pay for it, you feel their guilt and their subsequent victimization to the point of physical discomfort. You can't wait for the second act when the villains will be brought to justice and you'll feel just great about the whole thing. . .right?
Then you get the second act. It turns into a showcase for hot young over-actors who could learn a thing or two from their younger counterparts. DeNiro's character is the most compelling and the movie would have done better to involve him more, but because of the cursory examinations Ron Eldard and Billy Crudup (and the screenplay) provide their characters, you never fully believe DeNiro would do what he does. Brad Pitt and Dustin Hoffman try like heck to make their plotline ring true, while Jason Patric and Minnie Driver just sit there and whine as if the story itself provides the tension they lack.
Plotwise, the second half provides only one real moment wherein the wounds begin to heal, with the testimony of one of the villains. The rest of the act, the movie and Hoffman double plead their own case. They're innocent, but if they're guilty it's still OK. The nonsensical mafia subplot seems a weak device to tie up loose ends, and where does DeNiro come up with his ace in the hole anyway? Sloppy writing that leaves the viewer still licking the wounds of the first half.
City Hall (1996)
The worst thing I have ever paid to see
Wow, a movie about NYC politics seemingly written by someone who has never set foot in NYC. You know there's a problem when at one moment you expect the credits to roll and the movie continues on for another half hour. The characters are boring, John Cusack's accent is laughable, and the plotline teeters between boring and laughable. A horrible movie.
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Paltrow glows in giddy period comedy
Knowing your Shakespeare is a help but not a must in this fictional episode from his life. It is chock full of quotes and devices from his plays/sonnets, as well as knowing references to his contemporaries. All performances are stellar, but most impressive is Gwyneth Paltrow's radiant depiction of Shakespeare's inspiration. Not only can you feel her emotions but she must have the best accent coach in New York! Judi Dench, Ben Affleck, Joseph Fiennes, and Geoffrey Rush throw themselves into their often amusing but never undimensional roles.
Still, the joy of this movie for me was its appreciation for the words and the rapturous experience of writing them. The swirling lovemaking/rehearsal scenes, especially that of the balcony scene, draw you anew into the workings of Shakespeare the Playwright Genius even as you listen to words you read/heard a million times in English class. Maybe this film will kindle a love of Shakespeare's work in skeptical moviegoers who only give it a chance because of the cast list.
A Christmas Carol (1984)
Sometimes TV Movies Surprise You!
Usually a TVF on a movie means it wasn't good enough for the theater. Not in this case. Of the many versions and take-offs of A Christmas Carol, this one is not only the most faithful, but also has the best production values. The performances, sets, costumes, and effects are second to none. The atmosphere is haunting when appropriate and still lush and joyful as any good Christmas pic. They don't play this on the nets anymore, but if you can catch it on TV or rent it, DO!