Change Your Image
movieman-46
Reviews
Cast Away (2000)
An amazing experience.
The best way to describe "Cast Away" is that it isn't a movie, it's an experience. It seems like so much more than just a movie, it is almost like you are living on the island with Tom Hanks. For the duration of the film I found myself totally lost in it. I was also a cast away.
There are a few films which are able to have just one brilliant moment in the whole picture. "Cast Away" contains several, if not the entire movie itself. The plane crash is one of the most intense scenes in recent memory, and rivals anything in "The Perfect Storm." The scenes where Chuck (Hanks) is trying to make a fire have a desperation and perseverance that accompany them. The raft scenes are also outstanding and incredibly suspenseful.
The best part of "Cast Away" is no doubt Tom Hanks. I have never seen an actor carry a film on his shoulders like Hanks does. The majority of the film is Hanks, and only Hanks. It takes an amazing performance to pull something like that off, and he delivers. His emotional state throughout his time on the island changes, and he doesn't have to say anything. It's all in the eyes and the body language. Tom Hanks may not beat Russell Crowe for best actor, but a nomination is assured.
The mastermind behind "Cast Away" is none other than Robert Zemeckis. He directs with patience and maturity. He allows Hanks the breathing room to make the tedious island scenes work. I have not seen editing this effective since "JFK." He delivers a movie with a lot of suspense and drama. The film's end is one of the best I've ever seen, and really is appropriate.
Go to the theater and experience "Cast Away." Remember to bring your beach towel and sun block.
Unbreakable (2000)
An Unforgettable Tale of Self-Discovery
I must say, this movie had one of the greatest ad campaigns I have ever seen. It revealed nothing about the movie, but yet intrigued me enough to make me want to see it. This was probably for the better. If I told a "sophisticated" adult about this movie's plot before they saw it, they would most likely write it off as pure cinematic cheese and not bother with seeing it. That would truly be unfortunate, as Unbreakable is one of the most stunning movies I've seen in a long time.
I will spare a plot summary, except to say that Unbreakable is not what you expect. It is, at its core, a story about finding one's true self. But that isn't all it's about. Also sandwiched inside this theme-heavy movie are many other well known archetypes, such as good vs. evil, and you can't let bad things happen to good people. Even though people will come out of this movie saying, "I've never seen anything like that before," they really have, if they thought about it.
Unbreakable is visually stunning. I can't think a movie that has used photography to convey a mood like this before. Unbreakable even tops Shymalyan's previous hit, The Sixth Sense, in this regard. Every scene was carefully crafted, and you really get the sense that the storyboards were used to their full potential.
Unbreakable shares many similarities to The Sixth Sense, but this is not a bad thing. Shymalyan knows what worked for him in that movie, and has added that in this movie. The changes come in the form of a regression. Unbreakable feels very old-fashioned. There are many similarities that can be found between this movie and old superhero stories. I don't mean Superman, more like Batman and X-Men. Unbreakable has found a way to express very old messages in a new fashion.
I can see where some people would not like Unbreakable. They just got blindsided by a movie that they did not expect. I, however, was pleasantly surprised and recommend this film highly.
The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)
Brilliance on the links
"The Legend of Bagger Vance" is one of those movies that comes around and defines a sport. "The Natural" did it for baseball, "He Got Game" did it for basketball, and "Any Given Sunday" did it for football. Now, golf has a movie to call its own. "The Legend of Bagger Vance" is a stunning and magical journey about the sport and a few souls who are affected by it.
"The Legend of Bagger Vance" is the story of two people whose lives are directly affected by a drifter named Bagger Vance, played by Will Smith. Those two people are Rannulph Junuh, played by Matt Damon, and Hardey Greaves, played by J. Michael Moncrief. Junuh is a WWI veteran who was once known as a great golfer, maybe the greatist. His experience in the war left him shaken, and he loses his swing. Hardey Greaves is a child who loves golf and wants to be just like Junuh. His father is another victim of the Great Depression, and is made to sweep the streets. Junuh is invited by his former girlfriend, Adele (Charlize Theron), to compete against two of the best golfers in the world in an exhibition match for $10,000. Bagger Vance tries to help Junuh find his "authentic swing" before the big match.
"The Legend of Bagger Vance" seems to be more than a movie. It has a life of its own. Robert Redford employs some beautiful cinematography which gives the movie a magical air. However, some people may see it as too much of a "Halmark card", but to each his own. I especially liked the scenes where everything disappears but the course, they really draw you in. Some have called the dialogue hokey, but I just think they were trying to keep it in that time period. Remember, people did talk like that. The only real flaw in this movie is the beginning. The exposition seems to move way to quickly, and they ask you to ingest a lot of background information. But, it was based on a book which had as long as it wanted to explain things, and we only have two hours. So, this isn't really a bad thing.
In the end, I came out of "The Legend of Bagger Vance" feeling good. It does the sport of golf justice in a way no other movie has.
American Psycho (2000)
Slasher, with style and wit.
American Psycho is a rare and refreshing movie that breathes new life into the horror film genre. However, to call American Psycho simply a slasher film, is wrong. This film rises above all genres to become an instant classic. Ever since the original Scream, killer movies have tried to follow a very familiar and formulaic path. American Psycho delivers all the horror, but still tells an intriguing psychological tale of a killer in the 1980's.
American Psycho tells the story of Patrick Bateman. Bateman works on Wall Street, and is basically a rich yuppie trying to fit in. He listens to all the latest music, like Huey Lewis and the News, and does 1,000 crunches every day. This is Patrick Bateman by day. By night, he must satisfy a terrible blood lust.
Patrick Bateman is played brilliantly by Christian Bale. Bale displays Bateman with an absolute coldness. It is as if the only humanity displayed by him is when he is killing someone. I think that Christian Bale is someone to be watched and I see Oscars in his future. He takes on a role which he describes as being, "an acting teachers nightmare." Christian Bale, however, is an absolute dream as Patrick Bateman. To think that the role originaly belonged to Leonardo DiCaprio. Nobody else could have played Bateman except Christian Bale.
American Psycho is masterfully directed by Mary Harron. She injects the film with a sort of style that is all its own. Not only style, but substance. Every scene hints at the psychological make-up of Patrick Bateman. It's very kinetic, as it rises faster and faster to an unbelievable climax.
Overall, American Psycho is a must-see movie for those who have the stomach for it. If possible, see the unrated version, as it shows Mary Harron's true vision.
The Perfect Storm (2000)
"They That Go Down to the Sea in Ships"
These words are engraved on a statue in front of the Gloucester Fisherman's Memorial. This film is dedicated to such men. The Perfect Storm is one hell of a movie. It's strengths include mind-blowing special effects, a dramatic score, and a suspenseful true story. Let's start with the special effects. Back in the early days of CGI it was easy to tell what was, and what wasn't. Digital effects have come a long way since then. The computer allows for the storm to become a big digital monster. It is like a full-blown character created by the computer, like Jar Jar Binks. The musical score by James Horner is spectacular. I believe it to be the best musical score of the year so far. The Perfect Storm is an amazing story which will keep your eyes glued and your hands clutched to the arm rests.
The Perfect Storm is not "perfect" though. I'm sorry, I had to. It has a script that is far from it. The actors look like they're really struggling to make something out of it. Clooney especially.
Still, everyone should see this movie in the theater. The effect will be lost if you wait for video. Pay the money, and sit in that uncomfortable chair. It is well worth it.
The Patriot (2000)
Identity crisis
The Patriot has been described, rather prematurely, as an american Braveheart. While The Patriot is nothing like Braveheart, it is still far from the greatness of that movie. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad movie, just flawed in two very annoying story elements. The first is death. I won't say who dies, but there are a lot of key characters killed off. So many, in fact, that I stopped caring after a while. The other problem is the biggie. The filmmakers, apparantly, couldn't figure out what type of movie they wanted to make. There are revenge movies, like Gladiator. There are movies about wars, like Saving Private Ryan. The Patriot seems to want to be both of these movies at the same time. The lead character vows revenge on a british soldier. This is a movie on its own. However, they try to place american history in very inconvenient places. I couldn't figure out if the movie was made to show Mel Gibson's character, or to give an insight into the American Revolution.
The Patriot isn't that bad though, and it has its strong points. Mel Gibson gives another stunning performance as our hero. He seems to posses the same drive that allowed him to play William Wallace. Heath Ledger shows that he is ready for the spotlight with his role as the rebellious son. Jason Isaacs is one of the best villains in a year with all kinds of great villains, such as Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator, and the storm in The Perfect Storm. The Patriot is a three star movie, which is too bad. It had some great potential.
Gladiator (2000)
The best so far
Simply put, Gladiator is the best movie of the year so far. It doesn't bring back the Rome epic, it redefines it. CGI has allowed Ridley Scott to show Ancient Rome as it truly was. Gladiator also has more than just special effects. It has a riveting story of revenge, amazing acting performances, and great action. The action is not as plentiful as in Armageddon, but the scenes do come and they are amazing. Breathtaking cinematography, and an epic as well as solemn musical score help Ridley Scott's grand vision. I predict best actor nomination for Russel Crowe, as well as best supporting actor nomination for Joaquin Phoenix. Go see this movie. NOW!!!!!
Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000)
A Good Sequel
The Nutty Professor was, in my opinion, the return of Eddie Murphy's greatness. The best parts of that film were the dinner scenes with the Klumps. So, naturally a sequel would be made that featured the family for the entire movie. My first reaction to such a sequel was bad. I thought that The Klumps would be a typical sequel in which the characters were milked for only their funny one-liners. If you want to know what I'm talking about, watch Austin Powers 2 compared to the first. I thought that The Klumps would be a detestable movie with no heart. I thought wrong.
It is true that since There's Something About Mary movies have gone that extra mile to make themselves grosser. However, the one thing that movie had above those since, was a heart. That heart was what made you endure the sickness that ensued. The Klumps has a lot of crude jokes, including a rather unsavory segment with a giant hamster. But the film's large (pun intended), heart was what made it memorable. Janet Jackson does a very good job as Sherman Klump's fiance, giving him a much more meaningful relationship than in the first film. Sherman is still the star, but the other characters get their valuable screen time. In the first film, the Klumps were nothing more than a joke. In this one, they each have meaningful characterization. That is what makes The Klumps much better than it first appears.
If The Klumps has one flaw, it is the pacing. The movie starts out so fast that you barely have time to comprehend everything. However, this is corrected as the film progresses.
Besides being the funniest movie of the year so far, The Klumps is a story of love, marriage, and family. It is one of those movies that makes you smile. It leaves you with that warm, fuzzy feeling in your stomach, and unlike most comedy sequels, it isn't rising vomit.
What Lies Beneath (2000)
Brilliant, but severely flawed.
What Lies Beneath is a mixed bag. On one hand, it has some of the most brilliant camera tricks in recent memory, and has several great twists. On the other hand, Harrison Ford's character is not very believable, and it is way too long. Let's start with the good. What Lies Beneath uses state of the art cinematography in conjunction with CGI. This results in some strikingly eerie, and sometimes beautiful, scenes. The story is good, but takes way too long to get started. That is the biggest problem with the movie, time. What Lies Beneath runs at near 2 and 1/2 hours, when it could easily be cut to 2 hours. There are great scares, but there are too many. However this does make the entire movie suspenseful, which was probably the intention. Still, there is a side story about a man murdering his wife which has almost nothing to do with the main story, and this goes on for a whole 1/2 hour. There is an amazing twist with Harrison Ford's character, but for some reason I just didn't buy it. If it had been shortened by at least 20 minutes, I am convinced that What Lies Beneath would be a suspense masterpiece. Great effort though. Check it out anyway.
X-Men (2000)
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Hollywood didn't screw it up. Thank you. I had such a low expectation of this movie, I almost wanted to throw something at the screen every time I saw the trailer. Even that couldn't keep me from the theater on opening night. I was the one with my eyes closed and my hands together, praying for this to be what I had dreamed for an X-Men film. I was not let down.
Sure, there are a lot of changes from the comics, but it didn't stop me from enjoying the movie. The movie is centered around two future X-Men, Wolverine and Rogue. The others are just scenery, mostly. Their characters will probably be viewed with more depth in sequels. Hugh Jackman may be to tall and skinny for Wolverine, but, WHO CARES!!!!!! He plays the part with the right wit and attitude you would expect. Anna Paquin works well as Rogue, even though she is very young. She is the mutant that we feel sorry for throughout the movie, and rightfully so. The villans are there to provide an opposing view on how mutants should handle humanity's hatred of them. Magneto, (Ian McKellan) is almost understandable in his violence. Still, I found myself rooting on the heroes at the end.
I couldn't be happier with this stunning adaptation. It has just the right amount of humor, action, and memorable characters you would expect from an X-Men film. That is what kept me glued to the seat of the theater on opening night. I was the one with a smile on my face.
The Kid (2000)
Uplifting
To all of you 40 year old's going through a mid-life crisis, The Kid is the movie for you. The Kid is about a man who has completely lost touch with his inner child. He has a chance to regain it when his 8 year-old self visits him in the present. Bruce Willis is great working with kids, and he seems to be having fun in this movie. The 8-year old is funny, and completely different from his 40 year-old self. The best scenes, however, are the ones when they show similarities between the two. My only problem was that the movie seemed to drag at the end. Overall, The Kid is an uplifting story which kids will like, but adults will get the most out of.
Rushmore (1998)
An instant classic
Rushmore is a very original film. So original that I can't put into words why it was good. Instead I'll explain the plot and give a brief summary.
Rushmore is a movie about a strange love triangle between an eccentric 15-year-old and the president of a steel company, and a kindergarten teacher.
Max Fisher is the 15-year-old student. He is more interested in fitting in through extra-curricular activities, than getting good grades. His grades begin falling considerably though, and he is threatened to be expelled if he doesn't bring them up. In the meantime, he falls in love with a kindergarten teacher named Mrs. Cross.
Mrs. Cross is open to Max's friendship, but not to his love. Max resents this deeply. He tries every measure possible to win her hand, including building an aquarium. Mrs. Cross is not ready for any kind of relationship anyway, because she is still clinging to the memory of her dead husband.
Mr. Blume is the third person. He is a wealthy man who owns a steel company. His marriage is gone, and he pretty much despises his two kids, and the feeling is mutual. He is a very delicate man whose sanity is questioned more than once. He sees Mrs. Cross through Max, and soon falls in love with her also.
Max doesn't like this. The war begins. Both men try different dastardly deeds to win Mrs. Cross. Comic mania ensues.
Rushmore is the best movie I have seen so far this year. The entire cast turns in great performances, especially Bill Murray. The movie is very unusual in terms of structure. It is divided into acts, like a play. The 60's-70's music in the background goes well with the movie in a way that's hard to explain. In conclusion, if there is one movie that you see this year, make it Rushmore.
The Prince of Egypt (1998)
Groundbreaking
I had the pleasure of seeing The Prince of Egypt last weekend, and I was astonished. I must say that this is the greatest animated movie of all time, and one of the greatest movies period. I say this not only because of its artistic value, but also because of the impact it makes. The Prince of Egypt is not a child's silly cartoon; it is the exact opposite. The Prince of Egypt is a tale of hope, faith, and dread. The film gets very depressing at times. Dreamworks has made a movie that will surprise everybody and crush all animation cliches. Now let's talk about the movie itself.
The Prince of Egypt will hook you from the first minute. The title will appear on the screen in complete silence except for the sound of the wind blowing. Then the clouds slowly move away to reveal the horror beneath. Slaves. Thousands of slaves, working on an Egyptian monument. It then shows troops running through the town and stealing babies from their mothers. The pharaoh Seti has ordered that all Hebrew first borns be executed. A mother manages to slip by the troops unnoticed and places her youngest son in a basket. She sets the basket on the river and it takes the baby to the palace of the pharaoh. The pharaoh's wife finds the baby and names him Moses. This movie shows the life of Moses. That is all I'll reveal.
The Prince of Egypt is very thematic. It is intense at times and I don't recommend it to children under 7. I can't explain this movie without telling you about it, so I'll say this. Go see the Prince of Egypt, or you will be missing out on one of the best movies of the year.
The Siege (1998)
Horrifying
The Siege, by all means, is not a horror picture. It will, however, shock and disturb you more than any teenage slasher picture. The Siege is about what can happen when our freedom is taken away from us, and we are forced to declare war on ourselves. I won't reveal the plot, because the surprises start from minute one. I will say that The Siege is one of the best movies of its kind, if there is one of its kind. The best part about it is that at first it seems so different of a movie that you believe it to be total fiction. But when you get out of the theater you realise that the events in the movie could happen tommorow, or next week in your own city. Instead of relying on big explosives and mass destruction to make this movie they decided to go for really creative ways to tell the audience that something big has happened. Like all of the FBI agents' phones ringing at the same time. The thing that puts the cherry on this sundae is Denzel Washington, who's performance is so riveting that he alone will keep you on the edge of your seat. I pity the person who doesn't see this movie. I can't wait to get to the theater to see it again.
Pleasantville (1998)
Original
Pleasentville is a very surprising and excellent movie. When I saw this movie I didn't know what to expect. The underlining plot is that two teenagers are fighting over a remote and are sucked into an old tv show called Pleasantville. The two teenagers bring their world with them and transform the black and white town into color. However, this is done very gradually, and this makes for very cool b & w mixed with color effects. The film covers issues like racism, emotion, and just having a good time. Even though the plot is weird, I know it's probably been done before. But this movie is done in such an innovative way that it is an instant classic. This movie will definitely be in the Oscar race, and has a good chance at winning. I guess what I'm trying to say is that Pleasantville is swell!
Antz (1998)
The best animated feature ever!!!!!
Antz is an incredible movie! There is no other animated feature that has come along that has been this ground breaking, with the exception of the first one, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Antz has got everything that a movie needs these days. It's visually stunning, with great computer animation displaying the huge ant colony, as well as great work on each individual ant. Antz also is very funny, not childish. It plays out like a regular film, just with computer animation. This movie was incredibly casted. A huge collection of stars were in this movie, but they don't just put them in and throw them away. Each person has a particular part in the storyline, even though they leave they may show up later to lend an important hand. I'm not going to reveal the plot of this movie, because that would ruin the fun. All I'll say is definitely see this movie, and don't be worried at all about it being too childish. Antz is great entertainment for absolutely everybody.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Unforgettable
Saving Private Ryan is the most hauntingly realistic movie of all time. While sitting in the theater witnessing this extraordinary piece of cinema history, I couldn't help but think about what it must have been like that day, in Normandy. Although I felt like I was right there on the beach with the brave soldiers who risked, and gave their lives for us. This is a movie that makes you think. Oscar caliber performances delivered by every member of the cast, especially Tom Hanks. The story involves Private Ryan, who's brothers died in the d-day invasion, and the eight men sent to return him home. Eight men sent to save one may be unfair, but their soldiers and will follow orders, no matter what the cost. This movie has many very gory moments, but what else do you expect from the man who brought you Schindler's List and Amistad, Steven Spielberg. This is my favorite movie of all time, and I recommend it to anyone who can handle it. It's been said that war is hell. But I can't imagine a hell being any worse.
Blade (1998)
Finally, a good comic book translation
I am tired of films like Batman and Robin taking a good comic and draging it in the mud. Thank god someone had the sense to make Blade. I read comic books, and I am severely disappointed with the attempts Hollywood has made to turn them into movies. Blade is excellent. With no corny script, and action sequences with a very graphic nature, Blade pays homage to the comic. Wesley Snipes does a great job as Blade. He had a very dark yet cool presence. If you liked the comic have no fear about seeing this movie.