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tedhinshaw
Reviews
As Good as It Gets (2003)
The Film has no Flaws, brilliant!
The script is so well written, how could this film but be a masterpiece. It is beyond belief incredible! Multiple theme tangents coming together to form a fine unifying whole. I thought Jack Nicholson's performance in this film is one of his best; my other favorites of his are "Five Easy Pieces," "Carnal Knowledge," and "One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest." He plays the mean codger so well, believably well in this, we cower at each and every mean spirited word out of his very mouth. Ouch! Helen Hunt is remarkable! A real actress playing a real role. It's hard to believe this is a Hollywood picture, everything is so real in this film! Italian film, maybe!
My favorite part of watching the CD version of this film is the commentary from the main actors and director/writer. So much went into making this movie great. The actors add to the dynamics of the film by letting us know how they admire one another's acting skills. Especially Jack, who'd think he'd be so generous?! Interesting how the director places screen writers and directors in various background/minimal roles: they dutifully make the film rock.
Please, if you haven't seen "As Good as it Gets," do so immediately, you will not regret it!!
Shiqi sui de dan che (2001)
An artistic movie with moral merit!
I really enjoyed watching this film for a second time recently. A story of a young peasant from the outskirts of town (Beijing) struggle against societal oppositions, finding work, keeping bike from preying thieves, and learning survival skills. Beijing is not an easy town to tame!
At times very funny! At times very violent, makes you want to turn your head in disgust. The violence is to prove a point. No good comes from it, whatsoever!
I think this film is well made. The pace is smooth. The acting is superb. I especially like the acting of the employer who hires the main character as a messenger boy. He is what you would call a prudent business man with heart!
Please take some time out of your day and watch this tense movie with moralistic themes: rich versus poor, right versus wrong, bullying versus stubbornness. A winner in my book!
Delirious (2006)
An Exceptional film!
This film has it all. The characters in the film aren't two-dimensional which is a breath of fresh air. I mean they really have soul. These characters have been damaged in some way in their lives but all have a redeeming quality that has you wanting more! The script is an original masterpiece. The lighting and photography are exquisitely dark and real. The editing is humorously witty: a paper is thrown down in one scene and a bomb goes off on the television in the next, which sets up the emotional tension in the next scene exquisitely (you'll recognize this if you see the picture)!!!
I especially enjoyed listening to the director give his take on the DVD as the movie plays. He has his "doctor" there to supervise him with thorazine, an occasional shot of JD whiskey, how cool is that! I guess you might say, who knows what is real or unreal about life anyhow!? He could really be crazy, I doubt that!! So you essentially get two movies for the price of one. A fine movie and wonderful bonus: ability to see the movie again with director commentary. Just Brilliant.
I must say that Steve Buscemi's acting is exquisite. He could have been a great silent film era actor, All one has to do is turn the sound off and watch his expressions. Not over acted but superbly expressed with a realistic demeanor. Love this actor!!! Not a handsome actor but a real one, which I prefer over the prior.
Please, if you have any cinematographic artistic LOVE in your spine, don't you dare miss DELIRIOUS!!!
The Illusionist (2006)
Wonderfully composed suspenseful who "dunit" mystery.
Of course you wouldn't go wrong choosing this film to watch, for it is such a masterpiece and a film with fantastical special effects added in good measure for pleasure. The performance by the prideful crown prince Leo (Rufus Sewel) is starkly real and had me trembling, for he did embody a scary, soon to be (dread not!) potential power in the throne with a brashness of behavior amplified by the deviousness of the plotting magician. The cinematography and editing out did itself with fine finery. I loved this movie and its fantastical plot, unpredictable and nail biting at its best. The costumes glowed with authenticity. Get this film and be prepared for a labyrinth of a good ride!
U-571 (2000)
Superb nail biter, don't buy what other reviewers write, this movie rocks!
Having seen other world war II u-boat thrillers, such as "Das Boot," I would say that this film ranks high on the list for suspense and authenticity.
The movie is well paced, with never a dull moment. The characters are believable and not two dimensional. The growth of Matthew McConaughey's acting and depiction in the screenplayh from a novice to a champ is well crafted. The photography and editing are above the norm.
The action is believable. I found myself in a semi-state of panic with every depth charge facing the crew. Unreal how an American sub sailing crew could take charge of a German u-boat on such short notice, but this is Hollywood and anything and everything is possible.
A classy touch to the script is when a German prisoner taps on the u-boat's wall --"destroy me." His sabotaging stunt is soon found out and done away with! I wondered how could the Americans understand the German message? Later I realized that the American radio tech who deciphered it, spoke German earlier in the film and could have easily deciphered the message.