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Reviews
Donnie Brasco (1997)
Pacino back to his best.
In some ways this film is about what wiseguys do on their days off. It's that low key. Almost a love story in other ways. We're all fascinated by gangsters because we would all like to have their morals, or should I say lack of morals. This de-glamourises the myth. Depp as an undercover FBI agent made me fear for his sanity. Pacino as the low ranking mobster, who's ambition is to run a bar in Florida, earnt my sympathy. All in all the central pairing of Pacino and Depp works well. It's intelligent, moving and well observed. I can't really fault this film... But if you're expecting Tarantino style action and violence forget it.
Boogie Nights (1997)
How did they manage to make this film so boring?
Most people have a view on pornography... except it would seem Paul Thomas Anderson. This film fails to tackle it's subject matter with any depth, it is neither funny, moving or shocking. It could and should have been all three. Instead it looks like PTA spent too long in film school instead of the real world. I kept waiting for the film to start... it eventually seemed to get going an hour and a half into the film. But by then it was too late... I didn't care about any of the characters and it descended into formulaic pap about divorced mum misses kids, good time girl wanting an education, arrogant stud turning cheap tricks, arrogant film maker having to face up to reality. A slice of violence and a happy ending. This is pure vomitsville...