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Reviews
Bella Martha (2001)
Heartfelt, funny, with great performances
Wherever this film ventures, it succeeds. The food element is genuine, and as appealing as any food movie. The story is heartfelt and touching, and credible. The humor is not dominant, but it is very funny where it is used. One of the most interesting aspects of this film is how its main characters fit some common stereotypes, yet don't feel at all like stereotypes. Martha is so much the uptight, regimented German but has so much submerged below the surface that you can still identify with her. Just when you think she's loosening up, there's the hyperventilation scene. Mario would not stand out in most movie scenes, but set in Germany, his quirky flirtatious charm is attention-getting. Lina is portrayed brilliantly, and I look forward to seeing if this young actress will be in more films available in this country. Martina Gedeck was so convincing as Martha, I have a hard time imagining her in any other role, but I have no doubt that she has other great performances in store. A very rewarding, satisfying film.
Jerry and Tom (1998)
Unrealized potential
Great cast, even good performances, could not save this film. It's like the director tried to emulate Mamet and Tarantino at the same time, and failed at both. The dialogue was good, but the pace dragged and the timing was awkward. To emulate Mamet, it needed denser dialogue. Danson and Macy were at their best, and Durning's performance was great, but all were wasted. The technique used to transition from one scene/time to the next was clever the first few times, but became tiresome. The Rockwell character lost credibility after a few years of his boss still saying he was a good kid. He was a loser from the start, and anyone could see that he could never be a professional at anything, even that profession. I love the genre, and I genuinely tried to like this film, but I felt like I wasted my time.