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mikethegirl78
Reviews
Deuces Wild (2002)
Kalvert does it again!
I just saw Deuces Wild yesterday (opening day here in Seattle) and I have to say: I was impressed. I only saw this movie because a)I loved the basketball diaries (it has the same director) and b)it has Stephen Dorff in it. I went into the theater thinking "this is going to be so dumb, but hell! I'm avoiding seeing spiderman at all costs!" To my surprise this movie was horribly entertaining. I was glued from the beginning to the end. I must say though, the prolific presence of one Brad Renfro is really getting on my nerves. The poor lad speaks as if he's been hit in the face one too many times (even without the brooklyn accent.) I don't understand why he kept being so abusive to his poor, drunken mother. Anyway, overall it was very enjoyable. Good script/character development, great direction. Scott Kalvert really knows how to get actors to be their best. Great, great acting (even for the usually mediocre Renfro). I recommend that everyone see this movie rather than spiderman. Definitely.
Life or Something Like It (2002)
hmm...
I'm not really sure what to make of this movie. I saw the opening show yesterday afternoon because a friend of mine, Tony Dupe makes a small appearance in it (look for the guy w/the bald spot, brown hair and glasses in the sports bar near the beginning). Overall, the movie was mildly entertaining. I'm proud of Jolie for taking a very different role for her. I actually think she looks much better in her tight black social distortion T-shirt and glasses than her regular persona. The film, however, probably would have been more enjoyable for me if I had not had to deal with annoying people sitting behind me talking and guessing the next plot point ever couple of minutes or so. I wish these people would just stay home! In short, I would have to claim nuetrality on this movie, as of now.
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
words cannot express...
...how truly overrated this film is. Yes, the costumes are bright and exciting, yes, the cinemotography is interesting and unique but aside from those two things, there is nothing good about this movie! Good Lord! Who told Nicole Kidman she could sing? She is AWFUL! Her voice barely chokes out of her pasty throat. As for the acting, that was possibly even more atrocious! I think I would have ended my life right then and there if Kidman had won for best actress at the oscars. Horrible, horrible, horrible. Ewan McGregor is a whole nother story. What did Baz Luhrman do to this otherwise great actor? NOt only could the boy not hold a tune, he had no charisma whatsoever in this film (something McGregor ALWAYS has). Not only that, his supposed "english" accent was terrible! I felt embarrassed for everyone involved in this film. Especially with the opening sequence of "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Oh! Words cannot express my pain for the film makers. As a fan of musicals, this was nothing to take notice of. It counted on winning its audience by cheesy musical version pop-songs (they couldn't even do more than one original) instead of an interesting plot, characters and good script. If he were alive today, Kurt Cobain would never have allowed this.
Ghost World (2001)
A Truly Great Film...
Ghost world depicts the strangeness of life after high school. NOt really knowing what to do with your life and seemingly making all of the wrong decisions. Ghost World is a magnificant film that was robbed of an oscar, several in fact. In my opinion the best movie of 2001. The script is wonderful. The character development keeps you watching and wondering. I felt as though I were a part of Enid and Rebecca after viewing this wonderful, underrated film. Though I do not care for Thora Birches acting, she was quite good in this film. However, she was upstaged by the amazing Scarlett Johanssen, whom I know from Manny and Lo, another fine film. Anyone who has yet to see this movie should do so.
Bully (2001)
WORST MOVIE EVER...
Words cannot truly express how awful this movie was. What is worse, everyone seems to have really enjoyed it. There is nothing unique about Larry Clark. All he is is a pedophile who enjoys seeing teenagers strip naked and rut like cockroaches in a tin can. Truly sickening movie. There was no character development in this story at all (despite the fact it is apparently true). The motivations of these kids did not convince me nearly enough. It seemed to be a completely random decision that they made and, with the horrible script, seemingly unjustifiable. Larry Clark needs to seek some severe mental counseling and stop trying to make a reputation for himself as the town kiddie-rapist. NOTE TO DIRECTOR: IT is entirely possible to make a good film and not thrive purely on how riske you can be.