Reviews

With a perfect mix of sound and images, Cherbourg stands apart from all other movies. From the establishing shot, the visuals are breathtaking; expressionistic colour and lighting are used to set the stage for this tragic story of lost love. Meanwhile, modern music sets the tone for each scene and for the dialogue, which is entirely sung. However, although this is a musical, the film remains realistic and it seems as if none of the story is impossible or ludicrous. In fact, the actors are not even wonderful singers, but rather average players upon the stage of the world which seems to turn in spite of their efforts to stop it. This is by far something wholly different from any other movie ever made. The only drawback is the often poor translation of the dialogue that may leave some of those who do not speak French with a bad taste in the mouth, but not without a tear in their eye! A Romance Classic!!!!!

This is actually a brilliant comedy that utilizes the subtle jab to the funny bone rather than the thundering blow. Unfortunately, this type of humor died out sometime in the middle of the television show NEWHART's run. Why? Read The Wasteland! I don't know! Ishtar works in the same vein as Billy Wilder and Preston Sturges. No, the jokes do not come out and slap you in the face... You have to look for them to find them. Needless to say, do not rent this if you want a cathartic, mindless jolt. However, do not slam this movie just because it isn't slaptick or screwball. (Which are the only kind of comedies made anymore!) Elaine May comes from the comedy team of Nichols and May (Yes, Mike Nichols! [In fact one could argue that the comedy in The Graduate is bad for the same reasons as the comedy in Ishtar is supposedly bad.]). This duo practically perfected the witty, acerbic brand of humor which is now completely missed and misunderstood but was used masterfully in this film. In the age of Saturday Night Live and Ace Ventura, a comedy of this sort most assuredly would bomb and continue bombing. Nevertheless, if you are sick and tired of being force-fed ridiculously bad, hackneyed comedy then I suggest renting Ishtar (then buying some Nichols and May albums and watching the Bob Newhart reruns on Nick at Nite). Oh... Carter was President when I was born by the way... This is not nostalgia!

Perhaps one of the worst movies of the decade, JVtV is a sophomoric comedy that was never meant to be one. The story begins rather slow and then spirals into complete stupidity. With their performances, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan remind us that they once made _Bachelor Party _ and _Innerspace_. One highlight is Meg Ryan who supposedly plays three different women yet seems to never change her character. This is not the dynamic duo's finest hour! If you're looking for romance, re-rent _Sleepless_. This one has all the charm of McDonald's and the Drive-In.