haroonr1 Reviews

Fanny and Alexander (1982)

Alexandar (only), not Fanny

[6/10 · 24 July 2007]

This movie, at least the way it has been edited and released in its theatrical version of 188 minutes, is really only about Alexander. I'm not sure why it's called "Fanny AND Alexander," because Fanny really doesn't have much to do in this film except just be present as a character with almost no lines and no real scenes either. Pretty much everything is from the viewpoint of Alexander. Is this an editing flaw? Were many other scenes left on the cutting floor? This is a fine film but certainly not an outstanding one that people make it out to be.

Please don't submit irrelevant flames by saying what a great director Bergman was.. That's not the point I'm disputing. He made some very good films. Only, this is not one of them.

Klute (1971)

At best, an average thriller-drama with fine acting by Fonda.

[6/10 · 22 January 2007]

This is quite an over-rated movie. I am a bit surprised too by the words of lavish praise by some other users on this forum. And some seem ecstatic by the fact that Fonda plays a hooker (oh wow!). That is not a good enough reason to be impressed. I don't discount the fact that she acts very well in her Oscar worthy performance here. But there have been other outstanding performances: On Golden Pond, Julia, Coming Home, China Syndrome, etc.

I feel the movie has some shortcomings:

1. Structurally, if the culprit is identified already with over 30 minutes still remaining in the movie, it can't be that suspenseful as people make it out to be.

2. There just isn't enough depth in the relationship between Bree and Klute, the way it has been shown, for us to really believe that she will get together with him in the end and move out to another town.

3. And then as someone said, the movie should have been titled "Bree" and not "Klute," because Fonda really steals the show from Sutherland, who plays his typical wooden face and is not very believable as a private eye. Sutherland has played enough neurotic types in his lifetime, and somehow his personality fits that as well, so that he might have been better cast as one of Bree's clients rather than as the good detective.

4. Klute threatens Bree with revealing tape recordings of her conversation if she does not provide him information and surprisingly, she willingly tries to comply. Now why would she do that? It is clearly illegal to wiretap on someone without a court order. And that too is given only to law enforcement agencies, not to private dicks!

Don't get me wrong. It is a decent movie, no doubt, just not good enough as the flurry of comments on this forum.

Cheers!

Summer of '42 (1971)

A lyrical coming-of-age film that mirrors one's own growing up

[8/10 · 18 September 2006]

That one lost love, that first kiss, or even the wish of having had either one is so very precious. And this movie captures one such association.

The novel on which it's based on is an absolute gem. I was 17 when I read that and I finished it in one sitting -- totally hypnotized. The movie does justice to the book though it falls in that typical 95% of population whereby the movie is not better than the book.

The lead actor is fine. But Jennifer O'Neill steals the show with her brief but absolutely lovely appearance. Just her smile is enough to traverse through the deepest corner of one's heart. She fits the role perfectly.

The love theme from this movie won the Oscar and deservedly so. The music alone will keep this movie alive in the record books but this is a very personal film. And for those who relate to it, it is a sublime movie watching experience that cannot be forgotten easily.

The Perfect Storm (2000)

Seldom before has the ocean been captured in all its majesty and wrath as in this one. Movie lovers searching for more gripping drama need to look elsewhere; this one is about special effects - period.

[17 April 2001]

Seldom before has the ocean been captured in all its majesty and wrath as in this one. Movie lovers searching for more gripping drama need to look elsewhere; this one is about special effects - period. But that is not to say that the movie does not offer any insights on the backgrounds of its main characters. Indeed, it does that, but has chosen to capitalize more on the wizardry of its FX folks.

The story is based on a true incident in 1991: The Northeaster, or `storm of the century,' and how it hits the fishing boat, Andrea Gail. But there are other isolated incidents on the side that create enough suspense on their own; like the rescue of the smaller sail boat and its three-person crew by the Coast Guard.

George Clooney looks tough as the skipper of the boat. He even sacrifices some of his good looks for the sake of the role - a slight beard this time. He looks convincing as the obstinate captain who is determined first to go to the troubled waters to catch more fish, and then to brave the storm once fate befalls it on him and his crew.

Mark Wahlberg and Diane Lane star as the two lovers who are separated by the ocean between them. While she is waiting for him, he is determined to side with his skipper in his time of adversity. Mary Stuart Mastrantonio, who is on another boat, plays Clooney's friend, and is trying desperately to get him to change his course.

The only scene that I recall as being unnecessary in this one, is the copy cat of `Jaws', where a shark enters the fray of the catch amidst all the sword fish, and attacks one of the crew members. Barring this shot of the director at cheap thrills, everything else is in its place, and knows when to explode and when to be serene - pretty much like the ocean itself.

Director, Wolfgang Peterson, has other blockbuster hits to his name such as Das Boot, In the Line of Fire, Air Force One, etc., but this one leaves them all way behind.

Too many scenes in this movie make you sit up in your seat, but my favorite is the 50-ft. wave at the end.