I have many problems with this film, but I think the aspect that annoyed me the most was the presence of the ultimate media-whore, Larry King. How many friggin movies has this guy "played himself." Please, Larry, salvage what's left of your journalistic integrity and stick with your lame call-in show. These movie appearences are horribly awkward. Oh, yeah, as for the rest of the movie, it has an interesting premise that quickly falls apart. Zeta-Jones is pretty good with comedy, but Cusack looks sort of out of place in this one. Julia Roberts doesn't have enough to do, and the love triangle is ineffective. Considering the talent involved, this was a big disappointment. D+
Reviews
11 Reviews
Bad Seed
(2000)
Lousy d-grade cable movie disguised as an edgy thriller
2 March 2001
I saw "Preston Tylk" at the San Jose Film Festival and was actually excited to see it. The program billed it as a neo-noir thriller and described its interesting premise. A guy goes out for coffee, comes back and his wife is dead. After that, things get weird. Unfortunately, the premise doesn't hold the film together. The acting is poor, the characters are reaching (striving, in fact) to be more than cliches, and the story is boring and played out. "Preston Tylk" proves a sad fact that just because a film is independent doesn't mean it has something interesting or new to say. Skip it.
Mission: Impossible II
(2000)
A major disappointment
25 May 2000
What a tragic mistake for this franchise. Mission:Impossible is supposed to be about a team of spy breaking into unbreakable places and stealing unstealable things with grace and style. The first film was true to that legacy. But this second installment is a travesty. It bears no resemblance to the television series or first film, sans the theme song. Cruise works alone without help. And worst of all, the film is completely John Woo-ified. Super slow-mo ad nauseum. Overall, this film flat out stinks. Considering the talent involved (Robert Towne wrote the script) I expected much, much more. 2/10
Mumford
(1999)
Annoying and arrogant
27 September 1999
Maybe I missed the tie that binds the characters together (other then the fact that all have quirky problems), but this film seemed very uneven. Jason Lee does a good job as does most of the cast, but I really had a hard time caring about Mumford himself. Basically, he's a just some jerk who gets himself into a situation he must know is going to blow up in his face eventually yet he does it anyway and then has the nerve to act surprised when the situation comes to a head. It's a film that's a bit too dry for it's own good and as a result isn't enjoyable for the viewer. Skip it and go see "American Beauty" instead.
American Beauty
(1999)
A brilliant movie.
25 September 1999
About once or twice a year I see a movie that sets off alarms in my head. This is one of those movies. It's totally unique, strangely hilarious, and tenderly heartbreaking. I will recommend this movie to anyone who believes film is no longer art. Spacey outshines even himself in this masterpiece about the failing of a marriage and a man's misguided attempt at redemption on a wasted life.
Summer Rental
(1985)
You couldn't beat my dingy!
4 June 1999
Not one of John Candy's best films (nor Carl Reiner's for that matter) but still worth seeing for a few amusing lines. I wouldn't recommend actually renting the film but give it a shot if you run across it some Sunday afternoon on cable. Richard Crenna gives a good performance as the typical jerk and Rip Torn does his best "Captain McCalister" impression. John Laroquette is in this film too, but don't try to figure out why. I've tried to figure it out and can't. He's just there for some reason.
The Empire has no clothes.
21 May 1999
Overall not a bad movie, but by no means great. It suffers the curse of being the first chapter in a story of great things to come. There are moments of brilliance throughout and Jake Lloyd (as Anakin) is not nearly as bad as everyone says he is. Surprisingly, Lucas chose not to use a lot of foreshadowing on Lloyd's character. I can see both sides of the coin in that Lucas couldn't just make an evil kid because then Kenobi wouldn't train him, but I do think there should have been at least a little foreshadowing to show that this kid may be destined for bad things. Maybe in the next episode. See it for the duel scene between Kenobi and Darth Maul if nothing else and do your best to ignore Jar Jar.
The Wizard
(1989)
It's a 90 minute commercial that still manages to entertain.
21 April 1999
I saw this movie for the first time back when it first came out and Nintendo was the undisputed king of videogames. Things have changed over the years, but the movie still works in it's own way. The plot is pretty much nonexistent and is only there as an excuse to show kids playing what were then the newest and coolest videogames. I have no idea what Christian Slater was doing in this thing. He must have lost a bet. Fred Savage and Beau Bridges are both pretty good, but the movie definitely belongs to "Lucas." His one line (and you'll know it when you hear it) is worth the price of the rental. Intrigued? Check it out.
Batman & Robin
(1997)
Tears of rage.
10 April 1999
I went into this movie knowing two things. One, Schumacher is just plain bad as a director. And two, the fourth installment of a series is usually pretty awful. Both of these points were proven beyond a doubt as I watched the travesty that is "Batman and Robin." I have only walked out on one movie in my life (Second Sight) but this one came very close to joining the dubious but exclusive club. It's painful to watch and the memory of what you could have spent your money on instead will haunt you for a long time. Skip at all costs.
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