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Moulin Rouge! (2001)
What can I say?
I'll be brief on this one. This movie was just surprisingly SPECTACULAR! "Moulin Rouge" is a cinematic masterpiece in the making, and is sure to be one early contender for next year's Oscars. The performances of everyone are very good, and special praise must go to both Ewan MacGregor and Nicole Kidman, who are perfectly cast and possess an amazing screen charisma and chemistry together.
"Moulin Rouge" is probably the next film in my collective movie recollection that will become a cult favorite of mine, and I can't wait till this film is out on video!!!
My rating is 8.4 out of 10.
Beaches (1988)
great tearjearker
"Beaches" is definitely one of those movies you watch when you're in the mood to just have a good cry, and nothing else. Critics have hammered this movie because of its predictablility and overtly melodramatic flow, but in a strange way it is what I like about this movie. For some reason, this movie sits well with me, and I am usually a very thorough critic of films. Perhaps it is because I happened to catch the movie when I was just hanging out at home with nothing to do.
Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey were pretty good as chums, and I actually began to care about the characters. Impressive cast also helps to make "Beaches" a pleasant watch, and although the script isn't neccessarily impeccable, it is still worth seeing. Also the soundtrack to the movie is worth the effort.
My overall rating is a 6.8 out of 10.
Blow (2001)
an interesting look at the pitfalls of the drug industry
"Blow" is a movie which definitely serves as a moral lesson to those who have ever thought about becoming involved within the narcotics game. This movie is well acted, well directed and does a fantastic job of allowing viewers to see firsthand the destruction, uncertainty, and danger of becoming entrenched in the fast money of this multi-billion dollar industry.
Kudos to Johnny Depp in a role that gives him an opportunity once again to flex his acting chops. After a string of unforgettable roles, he delivers in this one. Ray Liotta as always was phenomenal, and newcomer Penelope Cruz is decent as Depp's wife.
Overall, this movie was great on many aspects because it isn't a sad, soppy, preachy melodrama. This movie contains real, layered characters with some depth that allows you to sympathize and at the same time pity the characters and the circumstances in which they find themselves. This film isn't neccessarily Oscar-material, but it's a very good cinematic effort. My rating is 7.7 out of 10.
Empire of the Ants (1977)
laughably bad
Well I must say that I have to add my two cents in on this one. I hate to be one to jump on the bandwagon, but in this case I just have to. This movie was horrendous!!!! So bad to the point where I actually laughed during parts where it should have been terrifying. No wonder Joan Collins has refused to even discuss this dreadful picture when asked about it. The storyline...BAD, the acting.....BAD, the direction....BAD, the special effects....REALLY BAD. I was surprised to see Robert Lansing in this film. He is a fine actor and I guess even great actors fall victim to insipidly idiotic pictures. This was made during the 70's, when disaster films and giant animal horror flicks reigned supreme. Can't find any redeemable quality about it whatsoever. My overall rating: 2. That's being generous, because I would have rated it a 1 if it weren't so hilarious.
A Family in Crisis: The Elian Gonzales Story (2000)
obvious rush job, could've been better
Being a South Florida resident, I practically watched this whole sad story unfold right before my very eyes. It almost seems surreal that this whole saga happened. I, like many Americans, had conflicting emotions and there seemed to be no easy answer to it. Nevertheless, I was eager to watch the movie when it came out. Although this movie has some good quality acting, there are serious faults with it.
This movie could've been a hell of a lot better if Fox had actually taken the time to really write a good screenplay. This is the film's major flaw. The film tries to cram in so much detail in a two hour time frame that the sequence of events becomes confusing at times. There were so many twists and turns to the real life drama that it should've been done as a two-part miniseries. Apparently, the powers-at-be at Fox were so eager to be the first to do a film on the story that they didn't care to really develop a good, cohesive screenplay. It's a shame too because the caliber of actors in the film is extraordinary, and they do the best they can with a lackluster script.
The acting performances here are solid and gripping, most notably Esai Morales as Elian's devoted dad and Miguel Sandoval as the great-uncle Lazaro. The performance of Laura Herring as the anguished cousin was also decent, although there were moments were her portrayal seemed to be way over the top particularly towards the end of the film. Alan Rachins also gives a worthy performance as the Miami family's attorney.
To its credit, the movie does try its best to present the story from a neutral perspective, allowing the viewers to sympathize with both the father and the Miami relatives. That in itself is remarkable given the nature of a story that could easily slant one way or the other.
Overall, the movie could've been better but it is still somewhat watchable. My rating is 5.8 out of 10.
Valentine (2001)
the same old stuff
I saw this movie a week after its release, and sadly, I wish that I wouldn't have. Just another unoriginal and mindless horror film along the likes of "Prom Night" and "I Know What You Did Last Summer". Horror films have to be fresh, original, and SCARY in order for it to work. Just wait for it to hit video.
The Brothers (2001)
Great premise, but.........
As someone who is always pleased to see African-Americans depicted in a positive light in films that have nothing to do with drugs, crime, or violence, I was eager to catch "The Brothers". It seemed on the surface to be the male version of "Waiting to Exhale". The story of four Black professional males dealing with the universal problems of intimacy, relationships, and dating made for a unique and refreshing concept. However, compared to other dramas such as "The Best Man" and "Love Jones", this movie seemed to fall flat.
The acting performance of Morris Chestnut is really a standout here. Ever since his breakthrough as Tre in "Boyz in the Hood", he has really proven himself to be a great and capable actor when given the right material. His character, Jackson, seems to be the only one with any dimension at all. It's just sad that he hasn't been able to crossover and achieve the acclaim and attention that his "Boyz" co-star Cuba Gooding, Jr. has been able to do. The rest of the entourage, however, is not quite as impressive. D.L. Hughley, who is one of the funniest performers out there, seemed sedated and unconvincing in his role as the sexually unsatisfied husband longing for more "intimate" contact with his wife (Tamala Jones). When given the right material, Hughley can really shine and the role just didn't seem to suit him. Bill Bellamy, one of the most overrated comedians out there, really is the most disappointing. After watching his performance, I am even more convinced that he is just not capable of acting. I find many of his performances to be over the top, full of buffoonery, and well frankly, just not funny. His character, the obnoxious attorney who has complete contempt for women, could have been played better by someone who is funny but also someone who is able to create believablity and add layer to the character. Shemar Moore of "The Young and the Restless" fame seemed to hold his own with the rest of them, and does a decent job as the executive who is happily expecting to marry the woman whom he finally discovers is "the right one". The rest of the cast does a mediocre job with a script too bland to be memorable.
There are some amusing points here, but overall the film doesn't have many. My recommendation is 5 out of 10.
Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001)
Extraordinary for a TV-Movie
I must say that Judy Garland has never been a favorite icon of mine, although many of my friends adore her. My impressions of Judy Garland have always been the classic star who seemingly had it all but lost it due to drugs and addiction. But what struck me most about "Me and My Shadows" was how the film was able to portray Judy Garland as a human being, not just a typical star immersed in tragedy, which unfortunately is too common among Hollywood legends.
Lorna Luft should be truly proud of this film which will I predict sweep the Emmy Awards this year. Judy Davis was mesmerizing!!!! Watching her performance literally sent chills down my spine. I haven't seen an actress completely transform herself into another actress so brilliantly and believably. Faye Dunaway, who was literally Joan Crawford in "Mommie Dearest", was not even as good as Davis. She has always, in my opinion, been seriously underrated as a dramatic actress. This performance is undoubtedly the best of her career, and she deserves all of the praise she has been garnering. Tammy Blanchard was also remarkable, and Victor Garber was good as well. The acting performances of all were truly breathtaking and just goes to show that true talent doesn't always lie at the feet of the "Hollywood star machine." The pace of the movie was just right, and it seemed to truly encompass the scope of Judy Garland's life, leaving out minor details such as her first marriage and subsequent abortion.
If there was a complaint, it would probably be that Liza Minnelli was not mentioned a great deal here, but the movie itself was not about Liza. This was a truly well-crafted cinematic effort that doesn't particularly cast Garland as a victim, but not as a saint as well. That balance is needed to truly avoid this movie from becoming a sad, soppy melodrama. Overall, this will stand the test of time and really allow the public to see first and foremost the dark side of Hollywood back in the days of the studio system.
I highly recommend seeing this movie. Even if you're not particularly familiar with Garland, the acting and storyline will keep you glued to the television set.
My rating is 9 out of ten.
The Mexican (2001)
Totally disappointing.
I was really eager to see this picture being that I've been pleased with the roles that Julia Roberts has tackled in recent years (My Best Friend's Wedding, Erin Brockovich, Stepmom). She has grown tremendously in terms of her acting ability, and I was even more excited that Brad Pitt, another fine actor, would also be starring with her. Needless to say, I was very disappointed in the picture. As I sat through the movie I couldn't help but wonder whether or not Roberts and Pitt just wanted to work together badly or whether they just did it for their huge Hollywood salaries. They are both A-list stars, and I'm sure that they both have access to the best of scripts and directors, but this movie was just not one of them.
The Mexican seems to be a movie which tries to blend both comedy and action simultaneously, but fails dismally in that attempt. The direction was sub-par and the screenplay just didn't add up. The acting performances of Pitt and Roberts were lackluster, and despite the fact that I do enjoy them as actors, they seem to have no chemistry together whatsoever. Not a highlight of either of their careers.