Reviews

Do they really think you only need to put together a good-looking actor and a good-looking actress to make a movie? And that an unbelievable story (even by Hollywood standards), a super-pretentious connection between the two characters, and several unfunny jokes won't show up?

Really, although a bit suspicious at the beginning (which usually leads to enjoy the movie, at least to some extent), I didn't think it would be this bad!

This movie is simply wonderful! It's got it all: laughter, sorrow, beauty, poetry, truth. All in a simple yet intense story--like life! You won't get distracted for a second.

10/10

P.S. Somebody tell Hollywood you need a good story to make a good movie, and there are so many good stories out there.

Apart from the fact that the movie doesn't deliver what's promised in the back of the case (a thriller), Roth didn't seem to me so good as other reviewers think. Ormond is better, but the whole supposed chemistry isn't convincing. Of this troubled story of passion the actors seem to portray only the troubled part.

5/10

Ok, so I'm not a Kieslowski fan (although I liked his Ten Commandments a lot): reader, be advised. But this must be the most boring film I've ever seen (and I've seen many).

I swear I was well awake when I hit the play button of my VCR. One hour later I had to struggle to keep my eyes open; because, I thought, I will get the sense of this movie, sooner or later. That never came! I didn't feel anything for, or learn anything from, Veronika or Veronique, except that they are two girls played by the same actress. Where's the beauty of this all? The filtered photography? The pointless coincidences? The lost looks in Jacob's face? Nice actress, but I looked that lost many times and that didn't make a movie out of my bad day.

You know people say "I want my two hours back"? I thought it was an expression, but with this film I really felt that way. Better, I was honestly furious at the screenwriter and myself, for having been cheated.

I'm not even sure why I'm writing this note. I suppose it's because I was shocked I only saw one comment in this page, and not thirty thousand, as I expected.

That's probably due to the fact that everybody--at least in the U.S.--knows this TV show. It's so immensely famous that it is hard to say anything about it at all.

On the other hand, for the sake of those who have never seen a Seinfeld episode, you missed (so far, I hope) the best TV comedy series of the millennium! Impossible to describe: after all, it's the "show about nothing"! It's humanity translated into laughter... It might take a while to get you geared into the show (but not if you live in New York), but then you'll never have enough of Jerry, George, Elaine, Kramer.

P.S. Jason Alexander is just sublime!

...and see the movie anyway.

That is, don't do like I did: I generally like Woody Allen's works (sometimes a lot), but when this one was released, commercials were throwing at my face all the time this impressive list of box-office hitters that starred in the movie! So I got put off and said to myself: "The story must be lame, if he needs to attract the crowds this way". Plus it wasn't Allen's style--at the time, at least.

But recently I happened to rent the movie and I really liked it. I mean, don't expect suspense or action. It's a Woody Allen film! And the story is more or less the same as in most of his other films. But this is what people love or hate about this director.

So, if you like him, this movie has all the ingredients for a pleasant time: wit, (self-)irony, paranoia, New York, a prostitute, and lots of deep queries about life. And the big stars make it for good acting, after all.

This the movie I've seen the most times, seventeen, and I think it's about time I watched it again! I can only say that there's some genius in it. I'm not sure what it is, but you'll feel it as soon as you let yourself go to the great music and the surrealism of the story.

10/10

This is a very odd movie to review: at first one might say it's big crap. And it is. It seems as though it was written by a 9-year-old kid (a boy, to be exact). Everything is so predictably silly! My friends and I used to make up these sorts of stories, but got tired at age 10.

However, for this reason, it might be one of the funniest movies you'll see in a while. Certain situations are so involuntarily hilarious!

Highlights: (1) "A vampire that can walk in the daylight is unstoppable ... unless we can stop him!". (2) The girl tied to the bed with no reason in the world for being naked. (3) Notice that the weapons (we're talking heavy rifles and the like) are never handed over, but always thrown--guess wouldn't look cool otherwise!

The movie gets a 3 because, after all, it makes you laugh. I only have one question. Has anybody seen the John Carpenter of "Assault on Precinct 13"?

If you're a guy and don't know how to spend those 3 bucks in your pocket, then rent the video and admire splendid Claire Forlani. If you're a woman you can find much better movies featuring Brad Pitt. Hardly anything else is in there. Too bad Anthony Hopkins couldn't save this flick.

I wasn't born and raised in the U.S., and I loved this movie as an involving, touching, yet sober view on three decades of American history. I'm led to think that pure-breed Americans (especially if in their fifties now) must have loved it even more. Anyway, the historical events of a country mingled with the personal life of this naive but strong character make for a great narrative device. Excellent movie for everybody.

If you are Italian and old enough to have lived there in the 70s/80s, then you will probably get the point of this movie: Moretti's conflictual relationship with the (then) Italian Communist Party. But that doesn't change the fact that the film is weird and delirious.

If your clique is the intellectual/radical/snobbish kind, you'll have to say that the movie is superb.

If none of the above applies, then pick another film.

Sorry to break the mainstream, but I really don't like this movie. Why? Because it has no rhythm, let alone a plot. Ok, it's Fellini's memories and visions, but he makes it hard to share them. Even for someone who comes from that area in Italy. Bottom line: boring.

It's hard to describe why this movie is great: it just sucks you in. It might take more than one vision, but there is something about the story (and the excellent filming) that gets you in touch with that part of yourself that is still wondering what we are doing in this universe. Not a Star Trek kind of a movie.