deadparrot_jhl Reviews

New York Stories (1989)

Two out of three are great!

[27 March 2000]

This film is quite fascinating-in parts. My best advice to anyone renting it is to sit back and thoroughly enjoy the first segment by Martin Scorsese ("Life Lessons")-although you may be sick of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by the end of it, or you may have a new reason to love it. Then, I suggest you fast forward through the painful middle story by Francis Ford Coppola. I really tried to like it, seeing as how this was the same man who brought us "The Godfather." Alas, even I couldn't sit through it. Then, watch Woody Allen's very funny "Oedipus Wrecks." This short film, like Albert Brooks' "Mother" will have you going, "My God, it's Mom!" A satisfying rent. Try to get the people at Blockbuster to knock fifty cents off the price for not watching the middle part.

The Matrix (1999)

Waste of film

[18 January 2000]

This movie is a complete waste of celluloid, and it's box office numbers and number of fans who say it's "a great film" lead me to wonder about the future of the world. This movie has good special effects, some of the worst acting I've ever seen and the most non-existent plot line outside of music videos.

American Beauty (1999)

Spectacular

[9/10 · 30 December 1999]

Where to begin? How about with the obvious, this is the first movie since "Life Is Beautiful" to make me go "Wow" at the end. This movie totally floored me. I wanted to ask the manager to play it again, just for me. Kevin Spacey gives a wonderful performance as an Ozzy who's rediscovered himself, and Annette Bening is terrific as the Harriet who doesn't like Ozzy's newfound happiness. Wes Bentley shines in this movie as a cross between Boo Radley and Jimmy Stewart from "Rear Window". Thora Birch and Mena Suvari do a wonderful job, Thora as a typical teenager who is oblivious to her own beauty, and Mena as a self-absorbed teen model (which, by the way, I swear I went to high school with this character). Chris Cooper deserves many kudos for his potrayal of Ricky's father, Col. Fitts. Even Peter Gallagher was good in this movie. The cinematography is excellent, with colors made to both blend in and stand out. Many kudos to the entire cast and crew. If this film doesn't get evey Oscar coming to it, it will be the second year in a row that Dreamworks was robbed of its Oscar. Bottom line: this film is flawless, or damn near.