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michaelzap
Reviews
Hollow Man (2000)
absolutely unwatchable junk
This movie is 10% generic sci-fi thriller and 90% voyeuristic rape fantasy. There are no cool special effects that can possibly justify such a horrendously vapid and evil script. If you are alone on a desert island with only this movie and two coconuts to bang together, go with the coconuts.
Fucking Åmål (1998)
Show it to your friends and family
An excellent story of adolescent girls wrestling with their sexuality and identity. The characters are subtle and complex, the dialogue is realistic and well-acted, and the plot flows naturally and elegantly (although it ends with a feel-good scene that is just a little too cliche). Films with positive depictions of lesbians are rare, and this one stands out among those few.
Festen (1998)
Don't spoil it!
This is possibly the single most shockingly real movie you will ever see. DON'T SPOIL IT BY READING ANY PLOT SUMMARIES, and don't tell anyone else what it's about after you've seen it either. Expect a very serious and deeply disturbing movie, but one you'll remember for years to come.
Pitch Black (2000)
A slick Aliens rip-off with some twists
Although there's no way to see Pitch Black without thinking about how derivative it is of the Alien series, it stands up on its own in this genre. If you're in the mood to see a well-produced human-versus-aliens sci-fi flick, you won't be disappointed. If you forget which came first and just judge each movie on its merits, I think Pitch Black is better than Aliens II-IV, and it even compares favorably with the first Alien.
Lone Star (1996)
no flash, no hype - just subtle genius
Lone Star is perhaps my favorite movie of all time.
Its simplicity is what appeals to me most. Somehow Sayles is able to weave a tapestry of characters and cultures into a plot that evolves as thoughtfully as a great novel, and yet it always feels natural and never forced. There is no pretense to this movie and no flash either - just a brilliant screenplay brought to life by exceptional actors and directing.
My only pet peeve regarding this movie is the terrible Spanish accents in it. But since Sayles took the extraordinary risk of making a Hollywood film entirely in Spanish afterwards (Men With Guns - a good movie, but not a great one like Lone Star), I quickly forgave him. And none of the accents are as bad as those in Traffic!
Killers (1997)
Not the worst movie I've ever seen...
...but you can see it from here.
I definitely don't understand why anyone would recommend this movie. Not a bit of plot, not suspenseful, not well-made. No point to having made it, really.
Completely forgettable in ever way.