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Reviews
Safe House (1998)
Inconsistent but powerful
This movie concerned the life of a paranoid retiree who was formerly employed with the Defense Intelligence Agency who was convinced, with good reason, that there was a plot made on his life. This role is not quite the role in which Patrick Stewart shows his genius, but he gave a stimulating performance nonetheless. There were also a few scenes which were positively Hitchcockian in their broken suspense. There were certain scenes which were quite fragmented and did not keep a very good sense of forward motion and continuity. However this movie was a very interesting and rather well acted piece.
The Insider (1999)
Excellent acting by main charaters
The Insider is a powerful movie about the corporate strong-arming of big tobacco and CBS News to prevent a sixty minutes journalist, played by Al Pacino, and a tobacco whistle-blower from taking their story to press. The three lead actors, Al Pacino as Lowell Bergman, Russel Crow as Jeffrey Wigand, and Christopher Plummer as Mike Wallace all gave splendid performances which were astoundingly moving. Although the acting of Diane Venore and some of the other smaller role actors left something to be desired, the movie itself was a splendid piece of work which was certainly one of the year's best.
The Omega Code (1999)
Very Inconsistent Movie
The Omega Code was a model of cinematographical inconsistency. There was a bit (but precious little) of good acting, primarily by the two prophets and Rostenberg, who only appeared once and had no lines. Otherwise the acting was decidedly bad. The plot line was rather weak, and only partially based on already questionable Biblical interpretation. Certainly not one of the year's best.
The Madness of King George (1994)
The best movie of the decade.
This amazing film is easily the best movie of the decade, way >outscoring any other film of late. If one thought that Nigel >Hawthorn would give the best performance in this movie, one >would only be one actor off. Hawthorn was certainly excellent, >but nothing in recent movie history can compare with Ian Holm's >portrayal of Doctor Willis. Sir Ian is a master of facial >expression (as seen in his other productions, especially "All >Quiet on the Western Front"), and this performance is prime >example, especially concerning his masterful use of the eyes. >The musical editing is also amazingly wonderful. Handel is used >throughout, reaching its climax in the first gagging scene with >"Zadok the Priest". This is an almost perfect instance of the >dreadful (in an inspiring sense) irony possible through movie >sountracks. This movie should go down in history as one of the >best
Animal Farm (1999)
Good, but ruined by ending
This movie was a gem of production with an amazing cast of voices. Ian Holm gave an especially convincing performance as Squealer, and Patrick Stewart was good as Napoleon. The movie was spoiled, however, by the Pat Boone/ Disney ending, with everything working out just fine. In this case, a tragic ending would have been much more convincing.
Elizabeth (1998)
Appalling history
The notion that Elizabeth was a free and promiscuous lady before her "metamorphosis" is appalling, and is totally ungrounded in historical fact. It is obvious that Her Majesty was a lady of good senses, not prone to this kind of rubbish.
Titanic (1997)
Very dissapointing movie
This movie had it's themes backwards: the part about the Titanic itself was incredibly well done, and very suspenseful. However, the love story was more predictable than the story of the ship. It was the stock love story, which has been beaten to death over the years. Leonardo Di Caprio gave an un-convincing performance which destroyed the movie even further.
All Quiet on the Western Front (1979)
A movie of contrasts
A remake of the 30's movie, All Quiet on the Western Front gives a poignant view of World War I from the German perspective. Ian Holm gives an especially inspiring performance as Himmelstoss, the German corporal. The movie's main theme is showing the contrasts between the rip-raring new recruits with the depressed, war-weary battle veterans.
The 13th Warrior (1999)
Best of the year
This movie, a setting of an already excellent book, masterfully shows the honor and tradition of the vikings. This is the best movie of the year by far, and is certainly one in the line of Mctiernan's gems. I will certainly see this movie again and again.