Big D-2001 Reviews

Dogma (1999)

A great new addition to the Kevin Smith collection.

[28 November 1999]

I have been a huge fan of Kevin Smith since his 1994 debut, "Clerks." I even loved the extremely underrated "Mallrats." His best of the first three did go to "Chasing Amy." Now, with "Dogma," it is Smith's most ambitious picture. It took on the controversial subject of religion and played its satire and takes it seriously at the same time. Boy, were there some really funny moments.

The best thing about Kevin Smith is that he puts so much effort into his dialogue. His characters engage in long conversation in all his movies that are never too long and always interesting. Here, his characters spit back and forth about their views of religion and explaining the plot, which was informing me even more by the next scene. The performances were pretty good. Linda Fiorentino is perfect here and is a fierce and compelling actress. She gave one of the best female performances of the 90's with "The Last Seduction," where she was unjustly robbed of a Best Actress Academy Award nomination. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck do their Matt Damon and Ben Affleck thing, but it still works. The movie does brighten up a bit whenever they come on screen. They work well together even though they give each other too much exposure outside of the movies. Chris Rock is pretty funny here because Smith gave him some pretty colorful phrases to work with. Jason Mewes as Jay is at his funniest here than any of Smith's previous movies. Unfortunately, I was rather bored whenever Alan Rickman came on the screen. For me, his tired and aging look took away from his performance and sort of brought the film down. Oh, well. Lately, I have become very distracted with Salma Hayek. She has lost the spark and fire I enjoyed so much in "Desperado" and "Fools Rush In." She is, well, okay, here, but at least she made up for her ridiculous eye-candy role in "Wild Wild West."

Anyway, I really did enjoy this film for what it was. It was funny, thought-provoking, insightful and ambitious. It was a good time at the movies. I can't wait till Kevin Smith's next film.

Being John Malkovich (1999)

One of the most original films ever made.

[28 November 1999]

This is definitely one of the most original films ever created. The whole concept was bizarre and surreal, but it make the journey all the more enjoyable. The script, by Charlie Kaufman, is quirky and hilarious but what the film has most going for it is the element of surprise: you never know what will happen next. The performances were wonderful across the board with an extremely talented cast playing roles against type.

John Cusack has made the biggest stretch he's made as an actor in a very long time. He downplayed his usual wise-cracking persona to play a more subtle and pathetic character. Great acting choice. If I didn't know Cameron Diaz was in the film beforehand, I would have had a hard time recognizing her. She was looking like bottom-of-the-barrel trailer trash throughout the movie and this is the best performance I have seen from her. I was never truly impressed with her as an actress before but my head was turned here and I hope to see more of this caliber from her. I have been a big fan of Catherine Keener since "Living In Oblivion" and she has further impressed me in "Walking & Talking," "The Real Blonde" and "Your Friends & Neighbors." She is a wonderful actress with a spunky, hard-edged and sarcastic presence that is unavailable to most actresses working in Hollywood today. Let us not forget John Malkovich, himself, for another great performance here. He, as Julia Roberts did in "Notting Hill," shows that he is not just playing a caricature of himself, but someone is his position with depth and ambiguity that, I imagine, is much different that himself.

The director, Spike Jonze, has recently starred in "Three Kings." By looks alone, you couldn't tell that he would bring to life such an extraordinary motion picture. This material, had it been in other hands, may not have been successful. It was handled with the right amount of comedy and surrealism. I hope this film is nominated for Best Picture next year.

House on Haunted Hill (1999)

An all right way to kill an afternoon...

[22 November 1999]

All right, well, at least it was better than `The Haunting,' this summer's big budget, special effects laden haunted house thriller. I still liked `The Haunting' on the basis of its production value, which is top-notch. One of the biggest problems with `The Haunting' was the script, which was a mess. The story was all over the place, the dialogue was poorly written. It did have a creepy mood to it, but the scares were few and far between and the ending was ridiculous.

Now, about `The House on Haunted Hill,' it wasn't gargantually better than the aforementioned film, but it was scarier. I got that impression from the opening scene, which was gory and somewhat frightening. Geoffrey Rush shows a lot of range in his performances. Here, he seems to play a role that has `James Woods' written all over it. Also joining the cast is Famke Janssen of `GoldenEye.' I am still trying to figure out how good of an actress she is, for she gives very good and very bad performances, depending on the quality of the script. Once again, Taye Diggs is on board. (This film opened one week after `The Best Man.' This film was #1 at the box office and `The Best Man' was #2. Very interesting.) I must say that I truly despise Chris Kattan of `SNL' fame. His last film, `A Night at the Roxbury,' is one of the worst films ever made and I am quite annoyed with his presence. Here, he doesn't even come close to redeeming himself for that piece of cinematic trash but buries himself deeper. Oh, well. Anyway, because of its modest budget, we are deprived of the huge special effects that were so occupied with `The Haunting.' There are a few nice special effects, although the effects in the ending aren't the highlight of the story and are almost as ludicrous and uneven as `The Haunting.' I am recommending this because it has a few effective jump scenes, some nice twists, interesting characters and a couple moments of sheer suspense.

The Best Man (1999)

An amusing and effective film.

[22 November 1999]

The last movie I can remember that kept me smiling throughout was `Notting Hill.' What `Notting Hill' and `The Best Man' have in common is that they are well written, sweet and funny romantic comedies with charming performances, the two best of its genre to come out this year. `The Best Man' wasn't as good as `Notting Hill,' but that doesn't matter, I still loved it. The film stars Taye Diggs, who has been a very busy boy lately. He has been in four movies in the last seven months and I hope he doesn't suffer from overexposure because he is a very talented actor.

The film was directed by newcomer Malcolm Lee, cousin of Spike Lee, one of the most innovative, powerful and underrated directors in the industry. `The Best Man,' oddly, reminded me of Woody Allen's 1997 film `Deconstructing Harry,' which also has a plot about a novel's account of personal relationships of the author. Its portrayal of African-Americans is very positive and direct. Hollywood often makes the terrible mistake of making black people drug-dealers, gangsters, pimps and slaves when they can be just as well adjusted and normal as white people. Interestingly enough, I wouldn't even call `The Best Man' a black film because the turmoils the characters face in this film are universal and can relate to anyone. Part of the picture's strongest features is how it discusses and deals with relationships and how business and pleasure should never collide. This is one of the year's best films.

Sleepy Hollow (1999)

One of the year's best...

[22 November 1999]

Tim Burton's `Sleepy Hollow' is a truly fun experience. This film is beautifully shot and directed, the score by Danny Elfman was incredible (as usual) and Johnny Depp gives one of his best performances of his career.

This is Tim Burton and Johnny Depp's third collaboration together after `Edward Scissorhands' and `Ed Wood.' Their films get better and better with `Sleepy Hollow' being the best of the three. The film is atmospheric, giving it a new dimension; it's one of the best-looking horror films I have ever seen. The use of color, contrast and how they reflect off the costumes of the characters are used effectively. As before, Johnny Depp gives a masterful performance. He is one of our generation's best actors. He is well known for his contrasting roles and his vigorous research for each. His best performances include `Donnie Brasco,' `Ed Wood,' `Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,' even though I hated the movie, and `What's Eating Gilbert Grape?' I have forgiven him for his cardboard performance in this fall's `The Astronaut's Wife,' which the film, more or less, belonged only to Charlize Theron. There were many moments in `Sleepy Hollow' where he is truly funny. His facial expressions are priceless and excellent across the board.

I will say that Christina Ricci is a very talented actress. She proved she is not just the girl from `The Addams Family' by moving to more adult roles in `The Ice Storm,' `The Opposite of Sex,' `Buffalo ‘66' and `Pecker.' She is one of the best young actresses working today, but her character is somewhat underwritten and caricatured. She did the best she could with it and she was just fine, but I felt Andrew Kevin Walker (writer of `Seven') could have gone further with her character.

Anyhoo, this film has some great special effects and very exciting and very gory death scenes. It's so bloody that's it's almost funny. There was a great deal of comedy in this film, particularly with Johnny Depp's character. He was such a conservative and upright citizen that no one other than Depp could have played it. This is one of the year's most exciting and exhilarating films.

The Bone Collector (1999)

A really creepy film with a real downer of an ending...

[13 November 1999]

`The Bone Collector' is, in fact, one of the creepiest thrillers of the decade. It is wall-to-wall with relentless suspense and powerful performances from Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. Unfortunately, after building such a tremendous amount of tension, the revelation of the killer is quite a letdown.

I am a huge fan of one of director Phillip Noyce's earlier films, `Sea Of Love' with Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin, which was one of the best thrillers of the 80s. He has a knack for generating anxiety in his audience. `The Bone Collector,' much like `Seven,' is very gruesome and disturbing. The production value is wonderful and creates a threatening atmosphere. The film is very fast-paced but what really drives the story along is the dynamic chemistry between Washington and Jolie. Academy award winner Denzel Washington is already an established actor and it would be pointless to point out his greatness. Now, Angelina Jolie, who won two much-needed Golden Globe awards for `Gia' and `George Wallace,' is one of the most beautiful and talented actresses in Hollywood today, and one of my personal favorites. I loved her in last year's `Playing By Heart,' a film that deserved more exposure than it received. I must also mention how much I respect Queen Latifah as an actress. She demonstrates here, and she did in last year's severely underrated `Living Out Loud,' that she is a great screen presence.

Women, nowadays, are getting more front-runner action-thriller roles by the minute. Recently, Ashley Judd starred in the box-office hit `Double Jeopardy.' She is also one of my favorite actresses and was great in the film, however, her performance was just too good for the screenplay to handle.

Anyway, about the downer ending in `The Bone Collector,' when the killer was revealed, my first reaction was, `THAT'S who the killer is?' The ending was rather unpredictable, but I think it was the actor alone that made it a disappointment, meaning I wished a different actor was the villain. All the tension I had during 90% of the film drained out of me at the ending. By that, it has missed greatness on the levels of `Seven' and `The Silence of the Lambs.' Oh, well. Having said that, I still maintain this is one of the year's best films because Washington, Jolie and Latifah were wonderful, the story was driven, Noyce's direction was uncanny and the suspense was very substantial.

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

I'll let my comment speak for itself.

[4 November 1999]

I'm sure you've heard everything there is to know about Star Wars, all its sequels, and its upcoming two new additions. We're all aware of such a big fan base surrounding the force. But does anyone realize that there are anti-Star Wars people out there? I hate it! I hate it! STOP going on and on and on and on about it ! My brain is about to explode.... It pollutes everything we see!!! You can't step on a bus, look at a bill board, walk into KFC or Burger King, watch TV, listen to the radio, look out your bedroom window, talk to your friends, talk to your enemies, visit your family, or even sling on your pants without seeing the bloody Episode One merchandise!!! Don't you see what they're doing?? They're zapping us with their little merchandising ray-guns, polluting our minds that one viewing is never enough May the force be with you???? WE'RE NEVER WITHOUT IT! Make these demons go away !!!! You're all powerless.... we must join a revolution, oh brothers and sisters! We WILL beat the force...sure, there will be some casualties....it took away some very good colleagues of mine...zapped their brains and made them queue hours and hours outside the movie theatre.... but.... we will succeed if we fight. START THE REVOLUTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (P.S. The effects were pretty good.)

The Story of Us (1999)

Great performances from Willis and Pfeiffer...

[23 October 1999]

Bruce Willis, in my opinion, is a very accomplished and underrated actor. Although many of his past characters are over-the-top, he never really plays them as such. He has a subtleness that suits him, which is why he is as successful as he is. Unfortunately, for a while, he has been typecast in his numerous action movies, that most of the general public has written him off as another cliché. That's a shame. His best performances, again in my opinion, have been in `12 Monkeys,' `Pulp Fiction,' `The Sixth Sense' and here as well.

`The Story of Us' works in many ways. The dynamic between Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer (an actress so wonderful that I can't put into words) is electric. Their non-stop fights are involving, sometimes comical and often painful to watch, but in a good way. There's a scene in the film when Bruce Willis is in a hotel and Michelle Pfeiffer is at home and they call each other back-and-forth, asking meaningless questions when the audience knows they want to talk about their martial problems. It was fascinating to me. Honestly, I have never seen the more successful `When Harry Met Sally…,' sadly, but this film is constantly compared to it since both films were directed by Rob Reiner. Rob Reiner is an eclectic director. He has, virtually, covers all the genres in the business. He has works ranging from romantic comedies (The American President, When Harry Met Sally…) to dramas (A Few Good Men, Ghosts Of Mississippi) to fantasies (The Princess Bride) to suspense thrillers (Misery).

There was some great supportive work from Rob Reiner himself, Rita Wilson and Paul Reiser. There is a scene I remember from the trailer where Rita Wilson is going on a tantrum about her husband's misplacing of toilet paper. I smiled in that scene in the trailer and I laughed out loud during the movie. Interestingly enough, while I liked the couple's bickering, I guess the movie could have been more successful if it wasn't relying so heavily on it, thus keeping this film from being one of the very best of the year. Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer are, in fact, at the top of their game and I liked their chemistry well enough to give it a strong recommendation.

Double Jeopardy (1999)

A great performance from Ashley Judd.

[21 October 1999]

*Possible spolier ahead*

Since all the trailers and marketing of revenge thriller `Double Jeopardy' gave away the juicy plot twist, I won't resist trying to conceal it. The film stars Ashley Judd as a woman framed for the murder of her husband and sent to prison, only to discover her husband is still alive. If anyone knows what the legal term `double jeopardy' means, you can probably guess where this movie is heading. This isn't a bad film, but it's not a great one, either; I liked it. I liked it because Ashley Judd is my favorite actress and she gives a strong performance here. I thought her last major motion picture, `Kiss The Girls,' was a much better showcase for her and the film, as a whole, was more successful. The director, Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy), creates a nice mood throughout the picture. One of the few problems with `Double Jeopardy' is that it's more of a drama than a thriller because there isn't much suspense. Ashley Judd made a very sympathetic character, which brought this film up from total oblivion. Her co-star Tommy Lee Jones was, more or less, playing his Oscar-winning role from `The Fugitive' but to a lesser degree. I did like the fact that there wasn't a tired love story involving Judd and Jones' characters. In a film like this, her objective is most important and there isn't time for an additional romance. I also liked the look of the film, the cinematography in the beginning of the film was gorgeous, and Judd simply looked stunning in a black dress near the end of the film. In conclusion, yes, I liked the film. It had some rather interesting scenes and a nice connection between the leads. Some of the prison scenes are good and Ashley Judd has never been better. It's just a shame that an equally strong script didn't support such a strong actress.

Fight Club (1999)

A fun, energetic and exhilarating motion picture experience from one of the most ambitious directors to come out in the 90s...

[21 October 1999]

Once in a while, there is a film that is so over-the-top and outlandish, that you don't have any other choice but to sit there and relish in all its greatness. Such a film is `Fight Club,' the second best film of the year. It is a fun, energetic and exhilarating motion picture experience from one of the most ambitious directors to come out in the 90s.

Like `American Beauty,' this year's best film, `Fight Club' makes the audience look within themselves and really ponder our existence, our place in the world, our inevitable fate and all those hours in between. The difference between the two films is that `American Beauty' takes a somber route and leaves certain elements to be pondered afterwards, whereas with `Fight Club,' the audience is pounded over the head with a sledgehammer with its thematic message.

This is David Fincher's fourth Hollywood picture. In 1992, he gave America one of the best-looking bad movies ever, Alien 3. He made his mark in 1995 with the intense, disturbing and intelligent psychological film, `Seven,' which is the best thriller of the 90s. Then in 1997, Fincher collaborated with Michael Douglas for the mind-bending `The Game.' `Seven' is one of the best films I have ever seen; whether I love `Fight Club' more is still in question.

The performances were flawless across the board. Edward Norton gives, yet, another powerful performance as the Narrator. This is his third best performance, after `American History X' and `Primal Fear.' Brad Pitt, a fine, underrated actor, is right at home here. He was also the star of `Seven' and here is another well-balanced role. I haven't seen many films with Helena Bonham Cater. I know she usually does English films, and I admired her choices she made for the role. In this film, she has made me want to rent some of her earlier works.

The whole Fincher-look to the film (yes, he has a look) complimented the story, the actors and the grittiness. This is a very violent film, containing some of the most violent sequences I have ever seen. The camerawork and cinematography was beautiful. There were some really wonderful shots in `Fight Club,' such as the camera moving through the contents of a garbage can.

`Fight Club' is, definitely, a guilty pleasure. The film is violent and darkly comic. There are moments where you may feel bad for laughing, but who cares? It's just a movie. At two-and-a-half hours long, this movie moves pretty quickly, in my opinion. The mega-twist ending comes out of left field and a very unexpected time; at first, it seems very contrived. It makes the entire film experience take a much different direction than you would have anticipated. You will not be able to predict this film and that is one of its greatest achievements. This is the second best film of the year, after `American Beauty.' See both films, back-to-back, with a friend and you'll have one of the most engaging conversations about life, your place in the world and your fate.

Three Kings (1999)

One of the year's best...

[21 October 1999]

`Three Kings' is one of the best films of the year. It is entertaining, fresh, original, has great photography, great direction and great performances. The film is set back in 1991 when the Gulf War ended. Four guys set out to reclaim relics that Sadam Hussein has stolen from Kuwait. The talented cast includes George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube and Spike Jonze. The speed bump I run into is that, while all the actors are good, they were hired because they are who they are. For instance, Ice Cube was… well, Ice Cube. In the various movies he has starred in, he can not seem to shake his urban `thuggish' quality. In every movie he has been in, he is, what I like to call, ABG (Angry Black Guy). George Clooney does his usual acting schtick, but he's improving more and more. He started to blossom in last year's `Out of Sight,' and he's even more commanding here. I forgive him for `Batman & Robin.' Interestingly enough, his character here is quite similar to his in 1997's `The Peacemaker.' Hmm. Mark Wahlberg, so effective with a difficult role in `Boogie Nights,' shines as well. Of course, to bring in the ladies, he must have the obligatory shirtless scene that shows how much he worked out in the gym. (I'll admit that if I had half the six-pack he had, I'd show up to work shirtless everyday.) Well, anyway, this film was very ambitious for independent director David O. Russell. His last film, `Flirting With Disaster,' is one of the funniest films of the decade. Reportedly, he spent 18 months researching the Gulf War for this project. It was a very ambitious step and, apparently, Warner Brothers had mutual feelings. The screenplay by Russell was very well written… I guess. I was never fully educated on the Gulf War or the events that have proceeded it. Oh well. Nonetheless, `Three Kings' is a very well-made film. It is energetic, the performances are sparkling, the cinematography was wonderful and the pacing was consistent. Strangely, it's one of the best war films I have ever seen and one of the best of the year.

Blue Streak (1999)

Martin Lawrence's best performance...

[10 October 1999]

Unlike the very dismal `Chill Factor', `Blue Streak' is very funny and very involving; however, like `Chill Factor,' `Blue Streak' has many cliches, therefore keeping it from achieving greatness; yet Martin Lawrence's comic timing is ingenious. This is Martin Lawrence's first solo leading role and he holds his own very well. His numerous antics were some of the funniest moments put on film this year. This film is a step up from some of his previous films, such as `Bad Boys' and `Nothing to Lose.' The plot is rather formulaic: a jewel thief hides a diamond in a construction building, goes to jail, finds the building is now a police station and impersonates a detective to get the diamond back. His partner must be the obligatory `dumb white cop' played by Luke Wilson, who, frighteningly, reminds me of David Arquette. Anyway, the movie is handled with skill. The pacing is just right, the jokes are in the right place and Martin Lawrence is a comic genius. The filmmakers know this movie isn't entirely original, but they have a lot of fun with it and it shows to the audience. The action scenes are handled well, notably, the ending car chase scene. There was also some good supportive comic relief from Dave Chappelle, who, I generally found repulsive after the horribly bad `Half Baked.' All in all, `Blue Streak' is a fun time at the movies, especially with the right audience.

Stigmata (1999)

Interesting, yet flawed film...

[10 October 1999]

At first, I was quite skeptical about seeing this film, which is why I finally went to see it. The trailers were less than extraordinary, but I felt I would give it a shot. `Stigmata' screams a 90s version on `The Exorcist,' but I was interested by most of it. A pet peeve I had about the film was that it was shot like a MTV music video, especially in the opening credits, where it seemed out of place. The premise was quite intriguing: mysterious wounds called Stigmata affect an ordinary young woman. When a Catholic Priest comes to investigate the so-called "miracle", he discovers someone...or something...and a message originating from the time of Jesus Christ may possess this woman. The young woman, played by Patricia Arquette, is a sympathetic character for the audience. I was never truly impressed by Patricia Arquette, even in this difficult role; in fact, the role I liked her best was in `True Romance.' Putting myself in her position, I could imagine what a frightening experience she was going through. The attacks were quite horrifying, like the subway train scene, they were well shot and edited. There was a good performance by Gabriel Byrne as the priest sent to investigate the Stigmatic events.

Granted, I am not a very spiritual person, so I am not sure whether the facts presented in the film are accurate. I am basing my critique sorely on its entertainment level and its conviction. There were ways of making this film more successful; for instance, a stronger actress could have been a bit more convincing and some camerawork could have been less flashy and more along the lines of `Seven.' As far as I'm concerned, `Stigmata' isn't a bad movie, but not a great one either. I was entertained by the film, but I couldn't help thinking there were better ways to improve it. I would recommend this film based on the violent attacks on Patricia Arquette's character, for they are worth the price of admission.

Three to Tango (1999)

Very cute, but formulaic...

[10 October 1999]

As romantic comedies go, they tend to become less and less original and more predictable. `Three to Tango' is such an example, but it has a certain sweetness to it that is very appealing. That doesn't go without saying it doesn't have its flaws, because it does; but, first, the chemistry between the two leads is electric. I really enjoyed Matthew Perry and Neve Campbell work together; they had a sweet connection. The film also stars Dylan McDermott, in a one-dimensional, thankless role. `Three to Tango' is about a rich businessman (Dylan McDermott) who mistakenly believes Oscar (Matthew Perry), who is bidding on a $90 million restoration contract, is gay and asks him to keep tabs on his mistress, Amy (Neve Campbell). Oscar, who is not gay, falls for Amy in a big way but she thinks he's gay. The plot follows the `mistaken identity' genre and big laughs illuminate from it.

Now, I think Matthew Perry is a very funny comedian; however, in this film, he is, very much, playing Chandler from `Friends' and his character from an earlier picture, `Fools Rush In.' He is quite a talent but he is starting to get typecast because of his personality. I always found Neve Campbell to be a unique actress. Even though, in every movie she does and `Party of Five,' she does the breathless `Neve Campbell-style' acting: always speeding through a sentence as if running out of breath, constantly moving her head from left-to-right and looking to the camera with her mouth open and showing her big front teeth when not speaking. I forgive her; she was worse in `54.' There's the always-dependable Oliver Platt, who is given little to do in a small part where he is given some pretty amateurish lines that made me cringe. Anyhoo, there were many moments where I found myself smiling widely. There also moments where I felt tension, even when I knew the film was a predictable as a `false scare' in the recent crop of teen horror flicks. (Sorry, Neve.)

I am giving `Three to Tango' a marginal recommendation because Matthew Perry and Neve Campbell make such an adorable couple, but I would better recommend this summer's `Notting Hill' for greatness on all counts.

Friends & Lovers (1999)

A stepping stone for how movies should NOT be...

[10 October 1999]

There are three kinds of bad movies: movies that defy reality but still entertain, movies that so bad that they're funny, and unforgivable pieces of cow dung that you watch in disbelief as it approaches badness from all directions. "Friends & Lovers" fits the last category like a wedding dress. It is one of the most jaw-droppingly bad movies I have ever seen. This film has, virtually, no redeeming qualities. The acting is wooden and unrealistic, notably by Claudia Schiffer and, surprisingly, Robert Downey Jr. One person I did like and care for was Danny Nucci's character, but he couldn't have save this film if his life depended on it. The characters carry on, endlessly, in boring, silly and uninvolving conversations. This cast could have had a lot of potential had they had a script that wasn't found in a garbage dump. I was never really fond of Stephen Baldwin, the only role I accepted him in was "The Usual Suspects." There was a moment in the film where is a graphic close-up shot of a man's genitals that is, not only gratuitous, but it ruined what could have been a semi-chuckle on my part. I don't know. All was lost on this film. "Friends & Lovers" ranks in the same field as 1997's worst film, "Gone Fishin'."

American Beauty (1999)

1999's best film and one of the century's best...

[5 October 1999]

"American Beauty" is one of the finest films ever made. It is masterful in plot, story, character structure and development, dialogue, set-up and payoff. The performances are the pinnacles of everyone's careers. Hopefully, this will be next year's Oscar gem.

Kevin Spacey deserves his second Oscar for his performance as Lester Burnham. Spacey is an actor who lets his character's through-line carry him through the story and it works beautifully. Spacey is one of the greatest actors of our generation and shows how he can preserve a role and let it develop the actor.

Annette Bening is at the top of her form as Carolyn Burnham. This is among her best work, including "The American President" and "The Grifters." She carries her own weight against powerful Spacey and they play their scenes well with the perfect amount of cynicism and malice.

I remember the first film I saw 17-year-old Thora Birch was "All I Want For Christmas" back in 1991 when she was 9 years old. She has done various supporting roles since in "Patriot Games," "Clear And Present Danger" and "Now And Then," to name a few. She has never made such an impression on me as she has as Jane Burnham. She has developed immensely as an actress and her maturity, mentally and physically, works well for here in this part. She seems to be one of those rare child actors, like Drew Barrymore, that's slowly making a transition from child-to-adult roles.

Newcomer Wes Bentley, 21, plays next-door neighbor Ricky Fitts, n one of the film's most difficult and challenging roles. Bentley makes a very sympathetic character, despite what he feels real beauty is (i.e., dead pigeon, plastic bag blowing in the wind). We, the audience, feel for him because of his heated relationship with his father, his deep appreciation for Thora Birch's character and his loneliness, which lurks within all of us. He has very nice chemistry with Thora Birch that's always interesting to watch; he's an intense star in the making and I hope to see more of him.

Mena Suvari, 20, makes an intriguing and provocative career move as Angela Hayes soon after recently playing "Choir Girl" in this summer's hilarious teen comedy, "American Pie." At first, it appears all her character must do throughout is act bitchy and seductive, but her last scene in the film signifies how good she was. She plays a cheerleader, who tries to seduce Spacey to reassure herself that she's attractive and above ordinary. I'm sure many of us, including myself, have felt that way before.

Last, but not least, Chris Cooper rounds out this wonderful ensemble cast as the stern, militant father of Ricky who has a few hidden secrets of his own. I have known Chris Cooper to be a great supporting character actor and here is no exception. By the end, we understand the reasons for his actions, even though we, most certainly, don't agree with the resulting outcome.

Every main character in this film is rather over-the-top, but they were played with such skill, style and finesse that it makes them believable all the same. We sympathize with Lester because we sense his discomfort and rediscovery all the way to his inevitable downfall. I understand why this 42-year-old man will fall for a 17-year-old girl. Of course, there are many reasons why it's wrong, but Lester doesn't so much love her, but the idea of her. There are no real villains in `American Beauty' and there doesn't have to be. It's not impossible to see Lester using Angela as an outlet to become more spiritually aware.

This film has `psychology' written all over it. Screenwriter Alan Ball has done a masterful job with his dialogue, character development and his view of `contemporary' American life and its `mask.' These characters are definitely stuck in `The Matrix.' Director Sam Mendes has an extraordinary visual style that translates to the screen with beautiful, vibrant colors and set design. He, also, knows the irony and satirical tone each scene hints at and requires.

The film has elements of other recent pictures, such as `Happiness,' `The Ice Storm' and a little bit of `Office Space.' Those were three well-made films, yet `American Beauty' exceeds all three combined. `American Beauty' is an exceptional exercise of the right actors with the right script at the right time. It is the year's best film so far, passing `The Sixth Sense,' even though both films have very little in common. The film's closing credits appeared and numerous couples sat in silence, staring at the screen and taking in the experience. When I went into the theatre parking lot, I watched an empty styrofoam cup flailing about in the breeze. Right then, I understood what Ricky Fitts meant by beauty. One of the most beautiful things I have ever seen is `American Beauty.'

Chill Factor (1999)

Well...

[1 October 1999]

Sometimes a movie can have a deep, long lasting effect on one's life. We all can agree that there is at least a hand-full of films out there that typify perfection in the cinema arts. Films such as 'Life Is Beautiful' or 'Saving Private Ryan' are great examples of works that cause us to dig deep into our psyche and ask questions about our existence, our soul, and so forth. There are other films that have equal merit, yet of a different nature. 'The Waterboy,' 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2' and 'I Got The Hook Up' for example, are crucial contributions to the world's cinema repertoire because they have given us a 'base-line' of just how bad art can be. Not only do films such as these help us better appreciate fine filmmaking, but also they provide us with a cornucopia of comedic materials. Most importantly, these insipid films serve another critical purpose: they entertain the less fortunate, intellectually challenged members of our plebian communities. Hence we MUST HAVE horrible, disgusting, foolish, cliché, nonsensical films in our society. Thank you Drew Gitlin and Mike Cheda (the writers of 'Chill Factor'). Thank you. You guys actually sat down and took the time to write a fine piece of cinematic history. Your film, 'Chill Factor' will join the ranks of ' The Waterboy,' 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2,' 'Gone Fishin,' 'Lawnmower Man 2,' 'Howard The Duck,' 'I Got The Hook Up,' and 'Leonard Part 6.'

Chill Factor (1999)

One of the year's worst movies, but still entertaining...

[27 September 1999]

Now, "Chill Factor," oh, my goodness. The movie was so bad yet pretty entertaining. I was never bored, but I can't find another movie this year that was so riddled in cliches. It brings zero originality to the formula and the action was rather standard. Skeet Ulrich bothers me so much because of his awkward facial contortions he makes in ALL his movies. I am starting to feel sorry for Cuba Gooding, Jr. though. He was great in "Jerry Maguire" but hasn't he been playing that role ever since? I liked him better in "Instinct" and the overall film even though everyone else hates it. Here, he was just annoying most of the time, playing SUCH a stereotypical black character. He's basically Jar Jar Binks in human form, but not annoying to that extreme. I don't even know where his career is going now. He should have been on the right track after winning an Oscar and he was for a while with "As Good As It Gets" and "What Dreams May Come." Well, there were moments where Cuba was hysterical, some zingy one-liners, but this movie is instantly forgettable once you leave the theater. Oh, well.

The Astronaut's Wife (1999)

Interesting set-up, terrible payoff...

[27 September 1999]

I rather enjoyed "The Astronaut's Wife" for its atmosphere, mood, great camerawork and Charlize Theron's performance; however, Johnny Depp didn't have anything interesting to bring to the picture and the ending was complete and utter bulls**t. I still give it three stars because it had such a great feel for build-up and suspense and Charlize Theron was incredible. If the ending was as powerful as the rest of the film, it would have made it into my top ten of the year.

The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)

A great-looking and stylish film.

[4 September 1999]

I have yet to see the original `The Thomas Crown Affair' so my review may or may not be a biased opinion. I really enjoyed this film because it was very stylish, had beautiful photography, beautiful costumes and beautiful actors. I must say that Rene Russo surely flatters the `middle-aged woman' because she is very much a knockout here for someone who is 44, respectively. Her wardrobe also contributed to making her one of the most glamorous looking characters I have seen in year. Now, moving right along… Pierce Brosnan seems to be very comfortable here, and he has reason to be: this is his `pre-James Bond' James Bond role before this Thanksgiving's `The World In Not Enough.' He fits the role just fine, I just don't think he was truly challenged. Having said that, Pierce and Rene had great chemistry together. They seem to massage the words before they say them and they ooze sexuality on the screen. Russo, however, challenges herself in her role for two reasons: she sheds her cookie-cutter image and becomes an engaging sex symbol; and she tackles her sporadic duty of leading-lady status, for she is mostly on screen in supporting roles. I appreciated how this film was more of a light romantic caper than an overly erotic crime thriller; it had a sweetness I didn't expect from this film. Many will compare this film to this year's similarly-themed `Entrapment,' which stars Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones, whom I thought had even better onscreen chemistry. The reason I rate `The Thomas Crown Affair' higher than `Entrapment' is because the dialogue was slicker and the caper sequences had more of a reality check. Director John McTiernan, of `Die Hard,' handled those scenes very skillfully and the twists and turns are extremely clever and inventive once played out. I recommend this for the nice chemistry between the leads, its stylish direction and Rene Russo's wardrobe.

Bowfinger (1999)

One of the year's best comedies.

[4 September 1999]

In a summer that will be notorious for raunchy, tasteless, gross-out comedies (see `American Pie,' `Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me,' and `South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut'), `Bowfinger' stands out as a witty, intelligent and ambitious comedy. It stars two comedy greats paired together, finally, to tell a satire of a producer resorting to desperate measures to make his dream film. Steve Martin is at the top of his form here, playing a character so miserable and desperate for a hit, he would devise a clever scheme to have the biggest star in the world in his film without him knowing he's in it. The star, hilariously played by Eddie Murphy, is Kit Ramsey, an insecure image-monger with a racial tip on his shoulder. He's crazy enough to believe these strange encounters with the actors Bowfinger has assembled. However, Murphy really shines as Jiff, an ultra-shy nerd with no acting experience that Bowfinger hires as a double for Kit. The way Jiff is played, Murphy gets much sympathy from the audience because we would feel his pain if he knew his new friends that he loves and respects were using him. The script, written by Steve Martin, is very witty and funny. He knows how much people want to be in the movies and he uses his experiences and resources well here. This is a major accomplishment for Martin and Murphy, one of the best films of both their careers. Why didn't they make a movie together before?

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

The most terrifying motion picture event of the century.

[2 September 1999]

Even after the substantial amount of hype surrounding this film before it was released nationwide, I still find this the scariest film I have ever seen. The concept was fresh and original: a group of college kids hiking through the woods looking for clues as to the legend of the Blair Witch, shot as a documentary. From what I hear, the story and myth was a fabrication of the directors and the actors improvised the majority of the film. Even after knowing all that, it was still an extraordinarily effective horror film. The realism of the picture is what heightened the intensity. The absence of a suspenseful score, "fake" scares and even a visible villain brought it above the recent "Scream"-style genre invading cineplexes today. The most effective special effect "The Blair Witch Project" uses is the audience's imagination. Our imaginations are so wild and vivid; it taps into our worst nightmare in various moments of the film. What I have learned as a child is that the noise in the dark is, usually, ten times scarier than what makes the noise in the dark. The performances were realistic and very emotional. The three actors displayed the most impressive improvisation I have ever witnessed. Heather Donahue gives an emotional and powerful performance, one of the best performances by an actress of the year. Also, the ending is one of the most hair-raising climaxes ever put on film. My heart was racing until its abrupt end, leaving me a very satisfied customer. See this film while it's still playing on the big screen; trust me, it's worth it. Or you can wait until it debuts on video October 26th. Either way, experience the most terrifying motion picture of the century.

The Sixth Sense (1999)

The year's best film so far...

[2 September 1999]

This is, by far, the year's best film to date: a very intense and emotional psychological thriller about a young boy who sees ghosts and the child psychologist who tries to reach him. Bruce Willis gives his best performance of his career. In my opinion, he's quite worthy of an Oscar nomination, but he'll never get one. He'll be lucky if he gets a Golden Globe nomination. The real treasure of the film is Haley Joel Osment. He gives the greatest child performance I have ever seen. It would be a travesty if he doesn't win Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards next year. Osment's performance makes me, as a theatre-acting major at University Of Illinois, feel envious of him, which I feel is a pathetic emotion. The writing and direction is flawless. The pacing is slow, but slow for a reason. We get a real sense of the characters and the situation and it makes us care about every one of them and their outcome. The ending, as many have said, is shocking and very effective. Nothing can prepare you for it; it's the best climax since, should I say, "The Usual Suspects." The ending makes you look at the film in an entirely different prospective and that is one of the film's greatest achievements. I highly recommend this chilling and haunting tale and should be remembered as a classic ghost story.

American Pie (1999)

The funniest comedy in years has finally arrived!

[2 September 1999]

Yes, "American Pie" is a tasteless, disgusting, raunchy and obscene, but it's also sweet and F***ING HILARIOUS! This film has been called a teenage version of "There's Something About Mary." However, I feel it exceeds "There's Something About Mary" simply because there were much more individually funny moments than "Mary." Sure, the "hair gel" scene in "Mary" made me fall out of my chair in the theatres, but those laughs were few and far between. In "American Pie," moments like that flooded of the screen into the back of the theatre. The distinct difference between "American Pie" and "There's Something About Mary" is that you can be along and still laugh hysterically at "Pie," whereas with "Mary," you have to feed off an audience's reaction to what is happening on screen. "American Pie" is the best and funniest teen film ever. It is hilarious, sweet and so much fun all at once. I will never be able to watch "Buffy, The Vampire Slayer" the same again and not think, "Say My Name, B****!" Those who have seen the movie already know what I am talking about.

Deep Blue Sea (1999)

Now, THIS is what a summer movie should be.

[2 September 1999]

"Deep Blue Sea" is, yes, a rip-off from "Jaws," but it is the best killer-shark thriller since "Jaws." However, leave your brain at the door and you'll enjoy this for what it is: an awesome summer movie experience. Renny Harlin, the director of two great action films, "Cliffhanger" and "The Long Kiss Goodnight," brings more flare to this picture. "Deep Blue Sea" is just one great action scene after another, building up excitement and suspense like a popcorn bag in a microwave. Of the characters in the movie, the best is, hands-down, the bible-quoting chef played by LL Cool J. He is becoming more comfortable as an actor and, here, he steals the show. You can sometimes tell the sharks are computer-generated, but I just didn't care. What the plot let become contrived and ludicrous, it made up in the action. The action scenes were so skillfully constructed, you're heart is racing until the very end. There is a moment when a shark attack is so sudden that the audience laughs when it's over because the surprise was so effective. And I must say, a certain cliché was completely thrown out the window as far as a last minute rescue. A strong recommendation is given to "Deep Blue Sea" for its skill and execute and for people who just want to have a kick-ass time at the movies.