Philip Miseldine Reviews

Boogie Nights (1997)

This is not what you are expecting...

[26 December 1999]

I went to see this film in the local cinema, quite late after working a 10 hour shift at my supermarket to give me some spare change when I was back at University. And boy, I was not expecting what I got from Boogie Nights.

The first thing that grabs you about this film is its gritty, documentative style of direction and acting. Mark Walhberg is fantastic, especially in the scene with his mother where he really shows what a talented actor he can be. In fact, all of the actors do a fine job of pulling off this realistic, sometimes humorous, but overwhemlingly gripping film.

Afterwards, you won't even remember seeing Heather Graham naked bar her rollerskates... :-)

Head Above Water (1996)

This is nail-biting stuff!

[26 December 1999]

The great thing about this film is that once the usual character-building stuff is out of the way, you will not move an inch and your eyes will only move if you have a widescreen television...

Sterling performances from both Harvey Keitell and Cameron Diaz really make this film come alive and as incident after incident fall upon the hapless couple, you feel yourself gripping the chair more and more, your nails getting smaller and smaller, and the enjoyment increasing and increasing.

All in all, Head Above Water is a great film, with good (if not at times, erratic) directing, and with superb acting.