Change Your Image
dogbowl
Reviews
Siskel & Ebert & the Movies (1986)
Roeper proves that he knows nothing about film each week
Richard Roeper knows nothing about film. His criticisms are entirely based upon whim, and how he thinks the movie should have been made. He never does a proper review of the actual material. He isn't a proper film critic, just a casual moviegoer. When Siskel & Ebert first began At the Movies on PBS, it was their intent to bring professional film criticism to a mass audience. What happened, Roger? Why did you give up this mission and choose someone without a proper film education? Whenever he can't back up his complaints he resorts to saying, "It just didn't work for me." This show used to hold a higher level of journalistic integrity. Roeper destroyed this...
The Lifestyle (1999)
Very funny film that gives insight into an uncommon lifestyle
You want to see a film with lots of naked old people??? Then The Lifestyle is for you. I had the pleasure to see this at the Seattle International Film Festival. This is a great crowd movie that is full of uproarious moments. All of the subjects have a very good sense of humor about the way they live, and this makes the film very enjoyable. Perhaps the strangest thing of all was that their lives were actually quite banal. That is, until they started the group sex! It gives whole new meaning to keeping "up" with the Joneses. Highly recommended!
Thundercrack! (1975)
One of a kind film that should not be missed by students of the weird!
I had the pleasure of seeing this at a midnight screening of the Seattle International Film Festival. Wow. This may have been the strangest film ever produced. It is a comedy, a claustrophobic thriller, a love story (well, sort of), a monster movie, and a porno all at once. It would be not enough to simply describe as satire, it is far more than that. You should not pass up the opportunity to see it on the big screen if you have the chance. Any fan of the bizarre can't miss this one. Highly recommended!
Salò o le 120 giornate di Sodoma (1975)
Horrible, sickening, sensationalist garbage
Passolini reveals madness in his final film. How can one regard this as a masterpiece and keep a straight face? There is no substance here, and nothing is achieved other than the limits of what one can actually get away with on screen. Truly absurd in every respect.
Le ciel et la boue (1961)
Help is only a radio away...
When I was growing up I imagined adventurers to be fearless daredevils who travelled into unknown lands by themselves. Boy was I wrong. Apparently the only people who could afford to travel in the older days were rich society men who you can bet would never carry anything by themselves. This documentary was the academy award in 1960, but when viewed by today's standards looks like it is full of a bunch of whimps. The "adventurers" never lift a finger themselves and when any sort of danger arrives they radio for help. Having supplies airlifted to you at the drop of a dime isn't very impressive if you ask me.
The Brandon Teena Story (1998)
Fascinating story, terrible filmmaking
The story of Brandon Teena is fascinating, true, but was terrible filmmaking. I saw this at the Seattle Internation Film Festival, and the filmmakers were there to introduce it themselves. The audience loved it, but purely just for the subject matter. The truth is that this film was put together poorly. The quality of the whole production was lousy, and nothing new or interesting was revealed. It was a second rate true crime documentary that even the subject matter couldn't overcome. It is too bad that the only interesting character in the film appears only in photographs.
Frat House (1998)
True or not, this was the most entertaining film at the Seattle Int. Film Festival
Despite allegations of staging, this was one of the most entertaining documentaries I have had the pleasure of seeing. Even if some of the scenes were staged, you still get to witness the unbelievable torture that these young men had to endure. The film is a very guilty pleasure, and will make you cry with laughter. Forget all the controversy and enjoy this riotous film.
Exotica (1994)
Haunting, melancholy film about loss and the strange ways we are all connected
Egoyan has created an amazing labyrinth of human interaction. Exotica is a puzzle where each layer is slowly peeled away revealing the ways in which a group of seemingly unrelated people are connected. The mood of the film is haunting and melancholy, almost a dream-like state. It is a wonderful film to get caught up in. The mood draws you into that world. Egoyan is one of the few auteurs out there, let's hope he can remain that way after his new found recognition.