Change Your Image
pmacdonell-1
Reviews
Premonition (2007)
Problems with time consistency and consistency of "message"
Since others have already mentioned the numerous plot holes in this mess, I don't feel it's necessary to repeat them here. I will add, however, that plot consistency is crucial when a viewer is given the task to try and figure out what is happening. I love movies like Memento and Butterfly Kiss that screw around with time. I am good at keeping track of the time (immediately noticing the time problem with the daughter's face cuts) and enjoy the challenge of trying to figure out what's happening. The lack of consistency in this movie was incompetent and lazy.
Another problem with the movie was its feeble attempt to present a deep message without providing it. Although there was a pretense about the importance of love and faith, it was her decision to honor her love for her husband that led her to attempt to save her husband's life. Ultimately, this love resulted in his death. The decision to honor this love was partly influenced by a discussion about faith with her priest. So her faith caused his death. If what happened to her happened to me, I'd throw faith out the window and never set foot in a church again.
Simply put, this movie shows a lack of respect for the intelligence of audiences.
Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story (1986)
Knew him; saw it
I knew Mitch Snyder pretty well before the big shelter on 2nd & D opened. There are limits on what can be presented in a "made for TV" movie. The TV version of Mitch Snyder was as cuddly as a teddy bear. Most TV characters are I suppose. The real Mitch was a bit more complex. He could be impossible and egotistical. He didn't respond well to 'feedback.' Since ending homelessness was his personal struggle, he pushed himself beyond his limits and encouraged those who worked with him to be equally dedicated. He wasn't mellow. He wasn't cuddly as a teddy bear. He was, however, extremely interesting. More important, he did more to bring homeless awareness to the forefront of the national conscience than any other person or organization.
If anyone wants to know more about M. Snyder and the early CCNV, see if you can dig up a wonderful CBS documentary (narrated by Martin Sheehan) called "Promises to Keep." It reveals more about CCNV's struggles than "Samaritan." It also provides accurate glimpses into M. Snyder's character.