m.wijdenes Reviews

The Night Listener (2006)

They made one huge mistake

[5/10 · 20 July 2007]

I loved this novel. The movie unfortunately was not so gripping as that novel was and in my opinion it is all due to one huge mistake. If you still want to watch it, then don't read any further. ***SPOILER*** They should have never put the boy in there as the character here portrayed by Culkin. In the book there is always mystery about that and as a reader you slowly realize that there is no boy. It completely upsets the whole mood and idea this novel was describing. ***SPOILER END*** I never read this book as a mystery thriller, it's human drama, but the makers of the film thought different and that's why viewers are so disappointed with the twist ending that never delivers. The book is also a lot more funnier. Actors do a fine job, I don't hold a grudge against Robin Williams here in this film as some people do, although it's a long stretch why a hot young stud like Bobby Cannavale would date a grumpy, self-loathing granddaddy as Williams. An interesting failure

Dreamgirls (2006)

Wigstock

[4/10 · 4 March 2007]

First, I'm a big fan of musicals. Love them to death. But not everyone of them works on the big screen. And ultra-fast editing sure will not help transferring it from the stage to the screen. When you don't get any time to get to know the characters and learn to care for them, the whole thing will fall flat. The art directors and costume department unfortunately upstaged the directing department in this movie. On the sunny side: drag queens all over the world will have years of material to work on for their new acts. Best thing about the whole thing is Miss Hudson who shows more acting chops by raising an eyebrow than Beyonce's whole acting career so far. And uttering a few swearing words will not turn you into a serious thespian, B ! Effie's 'big' number could have been so much more effective if they just had dared her to let it sing on a bare stage without the editing. Well, on to 'Hairspray'. Let's pray for that one.

Love Actually (2003)

Crap Actually

[2/10 · 23 January 2004]

Too many characters, a shoddy script and simply not enough laughs. Very disappointing stuff. Half of the story lines should have been thrown out due to uninteresting characterization. Hugh Grant & Colin Firth should have swapped roles. Grant as prime minister is really stretching it. The US president confrontation is unfunny and badly written. Thank God for Thompson & Rickman who are the only ones that breath life in their underwritten parts. I rather had seen a movie alone about their marriage-on-the-rocks. Plus hats of for Laura Linney who does wonders due taking part in the worst storyline about the sole character who is severely punished for rejecting love. And this is supposed to be a feel good movie ?

Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999)

zero out of ten

[1/10 · 29 May 2000]

I don't mind lowbrow comedies. I can watch them if at least it shows that they put some effort in the making. This "comedy" falls flat : badly written, badly acted and very sloppily directed. Very uninspired soundtrack: "Call me " when the hungarian (?)male gigolo walks in; excuse me !! The jokes are very stale and you see them coming from miles away. A film in where Chi Chi La Rue's Jabba The Slut(really, the jokes are this lame) is the most developed (no pun intended) character, is lacking on every possible level. Really, not even worth to see it on video.