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Reviews
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
A-875-b6
It is not without serious consideration that I sit down and write a review of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. I stall, just because of the fact that I don't want to be part of his lame joke. You see, in the latest Kevin Smith fiasco he tries to make us (his audience) feel ashamed for not liking his films or his style of filmmaking. So since I don't want to be one of the people Jay and Silent Bob beat up at the end of the movie, I won't review it, I'll simply give him some advise. Who am I to give advice? Well, I am a fan. And I have been very pleased with his earlier films but lately he just seems distracted and un-focused. He has lost his touch. He had, and still has from time to time, a talent for telling stories about the mundane things in life, Clerks and even Mallrats (which he hates so much for making) completely take place in everyday events. He makes it interesting. And that's a gift, but is a gift he seems to be neglecting. The past two films Jay and Bob and Dogma have been driven by a plot that is so ridiculous that they seem to be written by another man. So my first advice is stick to the mundane, you make it great.
Secondly, Stop using Ben Affleck in your movies the man sucks! There's a particular painful scene in Jay and Bob where they go to see Holden McNeil, played by Affleck, then man can't even play a character he has played before. The Holden that Jay and Silent Bob go to see is not the same from Chasing Amy, in fact I'm convinced that Jay and Silent bob ran into Ben Affleck in New Jersey. And from that scene advice three comes in from his own voice, Holden says "I'm not interested in making money off Dick and Fart jokes
" Follow you own advise man. You can make movies that matter. People still talk about Chasing Amy and about how great and how honest it is. We love honesty; we can take a story about heartbreak a lot more than another joke about pot.
Advice number four, We can never take enough Jason Lee. Give us more. Your Two best characters Brodie and Banky both played by Lee should have their own chance to shine, specially Banky who is such a endearing character. Mad is funny and Lee is the Olivier of Mad acting.
Five and the most important advice I can give, believe in yourself. Jay and Bob reeks of insecurity. All of the jokes fall flat on its face just because you apologize for the fact that is not the greatest joke in the world. Just like you apologize for Mallrats what the f@(k is that about. F*(k them if they can take a joke. Just be funny, quote Star Wars, tell it from the heart and don't get involve in silly plots, they're unnecessary.
And last, don't hate us for not being the most sophisticated audience out there. We can't help it.
Lo
Thomas est amoureux (2000)
Not Even a Hang Over could stop me from seeing this Film...
I got up early on Sunday to catch a matinee of Thomas in Love. I had a horrible headache (from all the drinking I did the night before) and i almost thought twice about going to see this french Sci-Fi story about an agoraphobic. But i got up, put on my clothes and head over to the Nuart, my second favorite place in L.A. The movie was astounding, told completely thought the computer and video/phone system that Thomas uses to keep in touch with the world. The movie has a very hopeful and frightening feeling to it, simultaneously, a walking contradiction, like Thomas himself. The film has a very sterile and detached details to it, which is the reason for my fear. Internet will only separate us more, one does not need to live the house, or socialize. With great special efx (that add to the story, not take over), and a simple, almost under written characters, the director manages to pull two love stories in two hours both of them different and haunting, like love itself. The acting was difficult just because is all talking heads, but still is fascinating.
The Center of the World (2001)
"One of the Best Films of the Year, and Probably the Greatest F*(@ Film Ever made."
It really feels good to see a great movie and last night I saw the Best Film of the Year (so far). Actually, I liked this movie so much that it will end up in my top five list of the year. So I went to the 9:30 showing of The Center of The World, and that film worked in every possible level. The story is a simple one, dot COM Millionaire hires stripper, who he has a crush on, to go to Vegas for a weekend. She gets $10,000 he gets all the fun he can handle. We have seen this done very badly before. But what Wayne Wang does, to me, is Film History. The film doesn't go the usual route, feelings are not allowed, this movie is about the Battle of the Sexes. The Battle of the Sexes, How more cliché can one get, well if the capital of cliché is Tokyo, this movie lives in New York, that's how far away from cliché this movie is. Women and men are enemies in a battle that is never going to end and no one is going to win. Every single scene between the Millionaire and the Stripper are clear stand offs. I won't pushed the matter on, this film is a F#^( Film. There are at least seven sex scenes in it and in every one of them, the battle becomes more and more brutal. Who is in control, which has the power, who is more beautiful, who is not a wh*%@? The Millionaire thinks he has the power, Stripper thinks she has control. The Film was excellent. I could go into more detail why this movie is perfect but I won't. Some of my reasons are maybe too cruel for the public's ears. Is better just to let you come to your own results. The film was done very boldly, it was shot on DV and until now I didn't like the results but this movie once again, changes my mind about some topics. Is almost a documentary about these two people and the battle that they are both going to forfeit. So the format and the style fit the movie like a glove. Both actors, who you probably have never seen before, are great. And the writing seems to me a bit minimal. This is a movie that screams improvisation, but very well thought out improvisation. The film had a very surreal touch to it, and I think Vegas should be the one to thank for that. Hotel rooms, bars and the Vegas surroundings are the main backdrop, and it still creeps me out. Is one of the most haunting films I have seen in a while. Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention that this movie is plot-less, and is just as interesting as anything anyone could come up with. In a month were everything that is coming out are stupid Tom Green movies, I'm happy I discovered this one in time. And for the newspapers, if you want a sound bite, see what you think of this one. "One of the Best Films of the Year, and Probably the Greatest F^%( Film Ever made." Lo
Enemy at the Gates (2001)
Through the Gates of a great Movie Through the Gates for a great Through the Gates for a great Through the Gates for a great
Enemy at the Gates was AWESOME!!!! This weekend after my long over due shave, I ran to the 9:45 showing of Enemy at the Gate and, from the credits on I was blown away. I'm convinced that this movie was made by someone who not only is a very sensitive artist but a gifted filmmaker, no hack could ever pull this film off, is impossible. This film not only has a very specific opinion about war, but about the ties made and responsibilities taken. My first impression of the movie, and those of you who saw it I'm talking about the boat scene, it was going to be a plain testosterone ride but, I was way wrong. This movie hates war, hates war just as much as the Nazis, the Russians and just the whole thing, that's why is great and remarkable. All the characters have a sense off responsibilities but at the same time an even bigger sense of doom, after all they are in the middle of a war, and as stated it's the worst place to be. The fact that is by all means a "sniper movie" the characters were not what you would see through the view finder of a rifle, the are well crafted individuals who want to not only help the Motherland but get themselves out of this situation. Every character has it's remorse and dreams even if they are not stated they are there, not underwritten, just written by the acting, which is to say the least, superb. Every single shot fired was frightening to me, not only because of the moral consequences but because of the toll it was taken on the characters, for every Nazi a Russian will die. And now to the part I loved the most, in the middle of the awful war of guns, a love story brews. The great thing about the love story is that him and her were in love with the situation not the person. She was in love with the legend that he was and he was just in love with the pretty girl who likes the man everyone thinks he is, perfection. During the sex scene everyone in the theater was laughing. I know why, when you watch that scene without thinking about what i just stated the sex may seem impossible, why would they fall in love with each other you just met 30 minutes ago, well is simple escapism. They are escaping the war by running into each other. And off course the twist that makes the love story complete is that the man who truly knows her and the way she is, his love is not returned. Sad but the base for a great story, where the biggest conflict is surviving this war. Without a doubt, in my top list of greatest war films ever, also in the list Full Metal Jacket, Paths of Glory, Bridge on the River Kwai.
I saw other movies this week end but fact is I don't remember them. Not only is it one of the best of the years but one of the best crafted films since Eyes Wide Shut. It was a great way to start the weekend.
Lo
The Caveman's Valentine (2001)
The Fisher King Murders
Ok, there's nothing that ticks me off more than going to see a good movie and when the movie is over noticing that I was one of three people in the theater. What the hell? Well this was my experience in "Cavemen's Valentine". In the cross-fade movie dimension this is The Fisher King meets The Fisher King with a murder mystery. Believe me comparing any movie with the Fisher King is one of the Highest honors I can reward any movie, I love the Fisher King. But getting back to the Caveman, it's your usual genius homeless man, finds a dead body, tries to do some truth searching, needs to make his daughter proud, and at the same time we understand his madness and his world. Well, it works. I know I wish it had a little more soul and less investigation but I guess in a gimmicky world this movie needed the dead body to get made. Samuel of course is great, is probably one of his best performance. And the writing except for the silly "I did it" ending it was right on. We understand the madness just by being part of it, and like Romulus we hate that it stop us from accomplishing little tasks like, writing our new symphony. I love the look of the film, I loved the fact that he is a musician, the music in this film is beyond just soundtrack, is a character, the music is Romulus. And something else I could not believe that they did so well. Romulus is haunted by a ghost, that is something that has being done but, not like this, this movie talks about the ghost that haunt us, ghost of the people we love, the ghost of the people we wish we were there for, the ghost of the friends or family we need, and the ghost is of a person who's very much alive. That moved me. Go see it it's great, Hopefully next time I go see it they'll be more than three people in the theater.
The Five Senses (1999)
The best movie I saw all weekend long.
It's out on rent so, rent it.
Man, is really good. It deals with a few stories that are connected if you think about it, mainly by a building.
Love, lost, memories and discoveries are the main emotions that drive this movie. Again, another perfect film that's plot-less. This film even has an event, which has been done over and over in film but, just because you are not attached to a plot it seems like the most original event in the movie. Mothers, daughters, friends and fathers are all living their lives, like any of us, not noticing the small things in life. Our sense, specially sight and sound are over stimulated by this beautiful movie. The little simple things is what drives this movie and god that's filmmaking, that's art. Let me tell you how good it is, is so good, the movie was over and I stopped the DVD and started it again, I was it twice last night I think I'll see it tonight again.