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frankcwalsh
Reviews
Brand Upon the Brain! A Remembrance in 12 Chapters (2006)
I stopped the DVD after an hour when it became repetitive
I stopped the DVD after an hour when it became repetitive. Before that, it was an interesting but weird movie. It's filmed as a silent movie with the characters dressed in the robes and hair styles of the early 1900's. Nobody talks but you do have a narrator who told you what is happening and words written in white on a black background that let you know other things. It's made in black and white with grainy images and I actually had to check the date of he movie o make sure it wasn't 70 years old. It was interesting but slow for about 40 minutes, until the story stopped moving. I debated whether to stop for about another 15 minutes then fast forward for another five then finally stopped it. I don't mind movies made today in black and white(I'm a big fan of film noir), and I like movies that are different. What I don't tolerate are movies that are boring and waste my time.
A Woman Under the Influence (1974)
Sometimes the slow timing adds to the tension and other times it's boring
If I concentrate on Gena Rowlands or Peter Falk, I am mesmerized by the story. This movie has intentional awkward scenes and takes time to dwell on the characters behavior when you just don't know what to say. The movie does move, it does have a purpose and a story to tell, and it stays with the story. It does not deviate. Sometimes the slow timing adds to the tension and other times it's boring. When it's boring, I start to notice that some of these other characters are uneasy as if they have not had a lot of experience as actors. Gena Rowlands does not have that problem. I was completely taken in by her performance of a mentally ill person. I would not see this movie again, but would recommend it to others with reservations for the above mentioned reasons.
Crossing Delancey (1988)
One of the best of the Romance movies
I hate romantic comedies, sports movies, horror, and adventure; so I only see the best and this is one of the best movies I've ever seen.
In romantic comedies it rates right up there with Annie Hall; As Good as it Gets; Sleepless in Seattle; and Working Girl.
Most of the romantic comedies suffer from being a repeat of another better movie. The phrase stop if you've seen this before occurs during the trailer advertisement on TV that I mute as soon as I can. This movie is different.
This movie has a simple story to tell, and it tells it well. There's no fluff or filler just to take up time.
It's a gut wrenching view of the snobbery we feel and have felt put upon us. The movie looks at ourselves through the eyes of another. I recognized myself and my motivations.
The characters are charming and scheming without being over the top. The movie has one other attribute that it shares with excellent movies, it seems over too fast.