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marligotx
Reviews
Across the Universe (2007)
Do You Want to Know a Secret?
Wow. My teen-aged son recommended this movie to me. I expected crap, but this went far beyond my expectation. The oh-so-pitiful storyline. How to tell you? Trying to tie Beatles lyrics together, like a concept album, with some clown who looks like Paul McCartney...and the most ludicrous symbolism I've ever seen. "She's So Heavy/Carry That Weight"... astounding. See, a team of US soldiers walks the jungles of Viet Nam carrying The Statue of Liberty. The soldiers reminded me of Egyptian slaves, building the pyramids (in Hollywood movies, anyway), which my mind received as The United Slaves of America. Surely, that's not what the film-maker intended. Surely, we were being prompted to remember that 'Freedom isn't free'.
Anyway, Princeton is a shot location...a student drops out and is drafted. A rich kid gets drafted. Yeah, right. Anyway, an English kid is in the movie. So is a blonde American girl. And an Asian girl who is, by musical necessity, a lesbian? Her name's Prudence, and she locks herself in the closet (get it??), and is chided by her friends to 'Come out and play".
There's also a Peggy Lee-type aging rock singer who tries to belt out songs big, a la Janis Joplin...but she's run-of-the-mill American Idol material, at best...but with a LOT of hair. That's all there is. Somehow, the black guy goes from Otis Redding to Jimi Hendrix. Shrug. He's not the only token here, This cliché-fest is loaded with tokens. Nothing is real.
People get stoned. People get laid. People go to war (some return after pleasant musical run-ins with sexy nurses - wink!). Predictably, our English hero emigrates to the USA. I am at a loss to explain why the director didn't close the film with him standing next to the Statue of Liberty flashing a peace sign.
Images fall out like endless koolaid in a paper-cup.
Excuse me, I have work to do. I have to rescue my teenager from saccharine mediocrity.
La tragedia de Macario (2005)
Very impressive - all heart
This film is a testimony to small independent filmmakers all over the world. With determination, friends, energy and drive (but very little money) good films can make their way to the public. I saw El Tragedia de Macario on Sundance Film Channel, and was mesmerised. Not only is it well-acted, well-executed and heart-breaking, it is obviously a labor of love. The story of dozens of illegal immigrants from Mexico trapped in a container near Victoria, Texas - to die from heat/starvation is TRUE. Applaud to the filmmaker, Pablo Veliz, for documenting the event in this dramatisation. Lastly, this cinematic feat of genius isn't a slick, expensive production, and that's good. In the hands of a big studio and a Spielberg or Rodriguez, it could not pack the same punch.
Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005)
Puke
Total garbage. Even if one overlooks (or sees beauty in?) the pedophiliac themes - the hideous score, lousy acting/dialogue and headache inspiring plot line leave nothing to admire about this mess. How or why anyone could rate this film highly is beyond comprehension. This is strictly for the 'Piss Christ' crowd.
Those of you who are looking for a sexy film, don't look here. This is not an erotic film. It's not so much sexually perverted as it is socially perverted. I can't imagine putting children in scenes like that - what the hell were they thinking???
I just finished watching this film. Now I'm going to take a bath, and try to forget it.