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willist1
Reviews
The Mentalist (2008)
Light-hearted entertainment
For those that seek reality on crime shows, they will never find it. The Mentalist does not "work" because it is realistic, it works because the characters have been developed and are fun to watch interact.
This show is about entertainment. It is that simple, so seek not to find realism on The Mentalist (or on any of the myriad of crime shows on TV—none of them are realistic).
"LaRoche" has suddenly appeared, and it is easy for me to dislike him. Maybe that's the point?
NOTE TO THE MENTALIST PRODUCERS: Pay Aunjanue L. Ellis whatever it takes to bring her back. "Hightower" was superb in her role. Aunjanue L. Ellis ("Hightower") is an accomplished actress that will be missed. I wish her well. Frankly, I wish she could come back to the program somehow.
The Mentalist is hilarious. The characters are great. This program is about being entertained, and it does that for me.
B.T.K. (2008)
could it have been any worse? nope.
Grossly inaccurate and made for shock value, it could not have been any worse.
I have several books on this case, including:
(1) one by (former profiler) John Douglas, "Inside the Mind of BTK: The True Story Behind the Thirty-Year Hunt for the Notorious Wichita Serial Killer." Douglas was involved in the case from the 70s, and he knows his subject. His book is the most objective one I have read yet on Dennis Radar.
(2) "Bind, Torture, Kill: The Inside Story of BTK, the Serial Killer Next Door" by Roy Wenzl, Tim Potter, Hurst Laviana, and L. Kelly (they were in Wichita, or most of the 4 were, during BTK's reign of terror). It is an odd book, for, imho, the authors seek to "remedy" the opportunities the Wichita PD missed catching the Dog Catcher, Dennis Radar, and they do so by lavishing praise on homicide chief Ken Lendwehr. The truth is BTK would probably still be at large if not for the FBI, imho.
"The Hunt for the BTK Killer" (2005) is, by far, the most accurate movie on Dennis Radar.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)
Outstanding; almost as good as a movie can be.
Patrick Süskind wrote the book in 1985. It took 20 years to fashion his splendid book into an unforgettable movie. (The book is also splendid.) The movie begins almost at the end (Jean-Baptiste is being "interrogated") and then starts back at the birth of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, an "abomination" that fits no mold.
Passionately he works to perfect his craft. He succeeds. Or, does he succeed in his own mind? When he (so-to-speak) "unveils" himself in the square in Grasse in one of the great scenes in movie history.
A criminal? A dictator? The Messiah? For sure, he is NOT a normal human. Decide for yourself what he is as you watch this acclaimed movie. You shall not forget this one.
Heaven (2002)
Catherine Blanchett --grossly underrated, remarkably skilled
Blanchett is superb in Heaven. It is a movie that is subtly unnerving.
If you are not familiar with her work, this is a good place to view her remarkable skills.
Is she a terrorist? Not in reality.
Is she simply angry? Yes. Yet her drastic action is sparked by so much more than anger.
Why are her many complaints buried by authorities? Or, are they buried?
This one is memorable.
Blanchett is grossly underrated. If you've not seen her works do so. You will not be disappointed.
Whispers in the Dark (1992)
This is not reality, nay-sayers. It's entertainment.
Earth to whomever? This movie is fiction. Like fiction on the silver screen, TV, or a book, it is not meant to educate. It is meant to entertain. Anyone failing to grasp this fundamental truth should not rent this movie or watch TV or watch 99% of the movies ever made. They should, instead, watch documentaries.
Of course the killer is obvious from the beginning. He and the other actors turn in average (at best) performances.
Annabella Sciorra was 28 when this movie was made. She was a good choice for an entertaining movie. Yes, she would "supernova" in The Hand That Rocks The Cradle when compared to this movie. Yet that means not that her performance was poor; indeed, she shines in Whispers In The Dark.
Overall it is an enjoyable movie for those that realize that fiction is almost always predictable when it appears in a movie.
It entertains, and that is what it should do.
The Girl Next Door (2007)
Harrowing, disturbing, almost impossible NOT to watch
SINCE THIS IS MY FIRST POST EVER ON THIS FORUM: Okay, all of the below is merely my humble opinion. If no one agrees with me about this flick or other flicks I may address, that's fine. I'll not be offended.
"THE GIRL NEXT DOOR": It is not a good flick. It is an EXCELLENT flick because it addresses a taboo--domestic violence--that ends up with people, including children, in the morgue. 10 ranking, no question.
This movie is based upon actual events, as has been mentioned. What makes this movie so deeply disturbing to me is that this type of incident still occurs.
"Ruth Chandler"? She isn't a mom I'd want (and that is a comical understatement because it is a enormously gross understatement). Blanche Baker, aka "Ruth Chandler", slowly yet onward and upward (steadily) "ratchets up" the violence as the movie progresses. Ketchum's book portrays "Ruth Chandler" as sadistic, frightening, disturbed women, and Baker, in this movie, "pulls it off." Her performance makes this film work. She's the turbineadmittedly, a grim, dark turbinethat drives this movie.
Director Gregory Wilson ("We Own the Night" and "Home Invaders") did a great job matching the novel with this movie. Way to go, Mr. Wilson.