One of the nuns in the nunnery is up to good as they find a dead baby in her wastebasket. But wait! She was bloody all over and unconscious the whole time. Where is the foul play? Jane Fonda is the court-ordered psychiatrist on the case, and Jane Fonda has big problems with God. Can she maintain her objectivity when her past leads her to such bias? This film is not as profound as it likes to think it is. What is a story about a virgin birth, is something that seems altogether filthy, and if God truly did have a hand in this affair, a cruel and malevolent God He is. Anne Banecroft give a great performance as the mother superior, but Jane Fonda is quite annoying in her ethical, psychiatrist routine. Meg Tilly also suffers some severe fits of overacting. Certain sub-plots are brought into play concerning Jane Fonda's own family, but are never followed up upon. What is supposed to be the story of enigmatic mothers by the end just bursts into unintelligibility. Not a complete waste of time, but somewhat of a waste of time.
Reviews
12 Reviews
The Adventures of Mark Twain
(1985)
Mark Twain to Collid With Halley's Comet
1 November 2006
This is some great claymation. Great detail caught in the facial expressions, lots of characters and settings. This film is truly a captivating visual experience. Mark Twain is driving an airship to Haley's Comet into his demise, and his characters Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn have stowawayed themselves on the ship. Some of Mark Twain's other stories are told in the process in claymation, and creation, death, and the afterlife are all explored. This film is not just for kids as it has a very adult sense of humor and some very deep themes. I really enjoyed it more than I expected too, definitely a classic in clay-animation.
Brotherhood of Death
(1976)
Ku Klux Klan, Guerilla Tactics, and a Funkaliscious Soundtrack
31 October 2006
The story of 3 friends who go through the Vietnam War, and return to the deep south, only to have to fight the white supremacists back home. They fight fire with fire. There's no pacifism in this flick starring 3 different 1970's NFL stars. All in all this is a one-dimensional story of racism, and I have no huge desire to ever see this again. It is run of the mill good black men against evil white supremacists, the same story we have seen a million times before. It does have some good shootouts, and clever tricks, and the funk music never stops, but all in all nothing spectacular. However if you are a fan of Blaxploitation check out; you might get more out of it than me.
Prison race war!
29 October 2006
This is just hilariously bad. Richard Roundtree is the only actor who can even remotely act in this film. The film begins with a guy raping another guy, and a kung fu action scene where the protagonist avenges the rape. This is in no way dramatic, but everything looks is so ridiculous I was in tears laughing. Thats what earned this film a 4 where it otherwise would have received a one or a two. The action sequences are few and sub-par, and the film really seems to think it has a captivating story worth telling. If you like ridiculously dumb lines, by guys who shouldn't be acting, race war ridiculousness, and tons of silly hairstyles, this ones for you. If you are interested in a story thats actually worth watching avoid this one. Also one of the main characters is a sympathetic child molester! Also I could have sworn one of the characters with with no lines who gets killed appears again in a later scene.
Belle de Jour
(1967)
Since when is the surreal so boring?
28 October 2006
With such an engaging subject matter, prostitutes, sexual infedilities, rich prudish woman exploring her sexual side....why such a snoozefest? I do not speak French, but I found the acting average and the characters we dull and predictable. The dream sequences are dumb one-dimensional symbolism Freud would have laughed at. What is everyones fascination with Catherine Deneuve in this film? She has a deer in headlights look about everything she encounters, and she offers nothing new to the character she is trying to portray. I do not speak french but the bad acting translated itself straight through the language barrier. The scenes were often not funny enough to laugh, and not dramatic enough to be moved or interested. The surreal aspect isn't even engaging enough for this to be pondered. Perhaps I don't undertstand the surreal aspect, but I'm really not sure what people see in this film. The interesting premise and themes are present and this is what kept it from being a complete bore.
A manhunt for the ages
24 October 2006
Peckinpah is quite the director. Seeing this after the Wild Bunch I am starting to come to this conclusion. His films are gritty, stylish, violent, bloody and smart. This bilingual film has it all. An ambiguous romance juxtaposed with a desire for "dinero", Alfredo Garcia must be found! The film is dirty, dusty, and spans a voyage from Tijuana, to Mexico, City and further south. If severe and realistic violence, dead body parts, constant violent against women bothers you, avoid this movie because there is quite a helping of each. There is nothing glorified in this movie, just pure, bloody, rough, and harsh, this is the way the modern day western is supposed to be. Peckinpah has complete control at all times.
Big Bad Mama II
(1987)
Dead cops and Politicians! Mama style!
24 October 2006
What a terrible movie! The acting in this film is about the quality of a high school play, or a story driven pornography film. This is not pornography in this film, but there sure is a lot of gratuitous nudity! This is one of the only redeeming qualities of the film, one of the only things that saved it from receiving a rating on one star. Also there are a million cops that die in this film. Hardly offensive though since the violence is so unrealistic we can only laugh. But breasts pop out and become exposed in the most surprising and hilarious times, if you enjoy really really bad movies check this one out. This is a Bonnie and Clyde type story, where a mother and her two daughters are out for revenge. This film also features a sex scene with two of the oldest people i have ever seen rolling around naked!
Elevator to the Gallows
(1958)
love, murder, and mistaken identities
7 October 2006
This is a great film that just happened to be on free on demand movies, and there wasn't a dull minute. Louis Malle is one of those directors who is truly a master of his craft, a director who you have complete faith in, knowing that he is in complete control of the camera at all times. The cinematography is beautiful, and if you have a photographer's eye you are sure to be pleased. The story isn't bad either. It begins with a wife's lover, killing her husband, so the lovers can run off together. But its not that simple, things get a bit more complex from there. Miles Davis provides the smooth jazz soundtrack, which is just another great element to this film. Malle is someone I have personally become a fan of lately, and after seeing this, I am going to make a an effort to see his whole catalogue. This film is stylish and intelligent, but still has an underlying sense of humor, which gives it a lot of charm. Great stuff.
12 Angry Men
(1957)
old fashioned drama juggernauts light up the screen with dialogue
19 September 2006
This film's budget must have been miniscule, but nevertheless it is more interesting to look at and listen to than 98% of movies out there! The personalities in this film represent a microcosm of American, and the attitudes contained therein. There are leaders, skeptics, ignorant ones, and those who care about justice and the American way. This film is a celebration of the American justice system. This is a film where the story is capture by great dialogue and great monlogues. The shots that capture the subtle emotions and movements of the characters are magnificent. No over-pretentious or over melodramatic ending, but a satisfying one nonetheless. Here the American Justice system is put to the test and the patience of 12 angry men is put on trial on one of the hottest days of the year...
Crash
(1996)
sex, drugs, and head on collisions
12 September 2006
If only this story were true to life. If your average girl really was turned on when she was in a car accident and I would be purposely sideswiping all the most attractive girls on the interstate. But most of the time after you hit someone's car your chances are nil. Thats what makes this movie interesting. Its odd factor. There are some really disturbing shots in this film and some awkward love scenes, but like a good car accident you won't be able to take your eyes off of it. The characters are detached and zombie like while the fetishize about the strangest of things. Lots of allusions and reenactments of famous car accidents, Cronenberg did his homework. The characters in this movie are bizarre to the extreme. Rosalina Arquette shows that handicapped women can still be sexy. Holly Hunter is the woman in the business suit gone wrong, and Debra Kara Unger is detached and catatonic to the point of creepiness. Wonderful performances all around especially by Spader and and Koteas as well, as the portray characters hypnotized by obsession very well. If you want to see a disturbing yet always interesting film, in Cronenberg-esquire perversity, check this one out!
Once Upon a Time in the West
(1968)
Leone approaching perfection........
2 September 2006
If you are a fan of westerns, or great film-making in general, you must see this film. The film is very long, but you won't even notice. There is not one boring/mediocre shot in this movie! Leone is at the top of his craft, and everything is a visual feast. The characters are deep an unpredictable (the plot will keep you guessing). Bronson, Fonda, and Robards put on a clinic for the rest of the acting world. The film is about the railroads, and the towns and people that lived in their development. It is also about vendetta's long past. Once Upon In the Time is nothing new, as far as westerns go. It's a typical genre stuff. Vengeance, railroads and big business vs. the little guy. Yet this film is more entertaining and well made than 99% of westerns. Bronson is the mysterious stranger, Fonda is one despicable villain, and Robards is HILARIOUS. This is arguably Leone's best film (even though it is Eastwoodless) and i can't recommend it enough.
The Wild Bunch
(1969)
Old timers who still know how to have a good time
29 August 2006
The Wild Bunch are a great group of hard-drinking and whoring guys out on one last job! No loyalty to any nations or creed, they are still able to find some honor and live by a code of loyalty and camaraderie. Approaching an epic length (about 2 1/2 hours), it never seems long. Beautiful and grand scenery (I suggest watching on a big wide screen) and plenty of action and some brutal gunfire. This movie has important themes but never escapes a light-hearted tone. Definitely one of the late classics of the western genre. Its setting is far later than most westerns, approaching 20th century, and we see the effects of the industry pushing themselves into the west. This is up there with one of my favorite westerns and I love the characters, and the ending is particularly satisfying but there were a few character and angles I would have liked to have seen developed more. But I wouldn't want to compromise the movie's charm with such changes.
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