Cinefila Babis Reviews

About Schmidt (2002)

A warm view of life from the eyes of an antihero

[5 March 2003]

about schmidt could be considered as one of the best movies of the year. it is. Not the best, not the greatest, not the worse, that's for sure. It is a magnificent work of art that has been brought to my consideration late, here in argentina, and i fear that it has only been premiered here because of it's oscar nominations. I believe that those were correctly given, because the movie, to make it short, is great. Jack nicholson in one of his great performances. He gives the best of himself in this film. I was very surprised with kathy bates (naked!!!!) and hope davis, who didn't give all she had to give in mumford. Dermot mulroney.well he's dermot mulroney. Hard to believe that alexander payne (election), responsable for the awful writing of the worst jurassic park movie ever, can pull off a stunt like this by directing and writing about schmidt, one of the best movies of the decade. After the forgettable election, i was wondering: `what happened to payne?'. Well, not really, to tell the truth i didn't like the movie at all, but the director could do so much more, and we can see that here, in his latest movie. Payne offers us a review of life itself, from the eyes of a retired ensurance employer that has lost the charm of life at the age of 66. after the sudden death of his wife, he is forced to rearrange things, with his daughter's (davis) wedding to a total loser (mulroney). And we see a particular relationship between schmidt and a young boy from africa, a pen pal, whom he takes under his wings after seein a commertial; this little boy will have a very important participation in the movie. Well, to close, this movie could be an oscar winner, add it to your must see list. *** out of ***** yours sincerely, see you next time in a very interesting movie,

cinefila barbara

The Shining (1980)

Kubrick's greatest horror movie of all times. Must see.

[24 August 2002]

Stanley Kubrick is well known in the world because of his masterpieces, movies like 2001 a space odyssey, A clockwork orange or Full Metal Jacket. But those are other movies, yet to be review by me. In this case I chose one of the best horror movies of all times, The Shining. This review will be divided in three parts you will see below.

PLOT: The plot is very Kubrick like. The novel has been written by Stephen King, a master of terror. Jack Torrance moves with his family to an old hotel to the be keeper for the winter. Everything looks perfect, until the father ( Jack ) turns into something like an imaginative alcoholic. The booze brought problems in the past, he hurt Danny (the son) in his shoulder while being drunk. Danny is a very important part of the film, he has supernatural habilities, even an imaginary friend named Tony. That's why he starts seeing strange things in the hotel. Then it all develops in the most scary movie I've ever seen. As you can see, the plot promises to be really freaky. But how does the viewer get scared?. We all know the low budget ( and sometimes high budget films ) with the monster and all the makeup, that doesn't really scare no one. That's why The Shining makes an art of visual effects.

VISUAL EFFECTS: Can you get scared if you see nothing? Depends on the screenplay. In this case, every single sentence is superb, all together make this script into a masterpiece. The creepy monster doesn't appear and we feel the fear in the air. The sutil appearances of the visions and phantoms make this movie better that any othe that spent millons of dollars on make-up. It all seems very natural. Something you will not regret: the pool of blood. That was probably one of teh high moments visual effects in this film. But how can we see the fear? It's in the faces, it's all in the faces.

PERFORMANCES: Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance, psycho dad. Shelley Duvall as Winifred, Alias Wendy Torrance. And Danny Lloyd as the boy, the key to the whole drama. You can see in Nicholson's face he's really mad. The psycho part, really good. To express fear, we have Shelley Duvall. Later we would see her in The Portrait of a Lady. I can see in her face that she's really scared, and i trust her expression, because I really got scared. Danny is the mistery. He's boy in this case, and this is one of the few movies he made. But he acts very well. Danny, you have an A, and so does this movie. Peaz, out.

The Others (2001)

Another Amenabar film that leaves you at the edge of your seat!

[25 May 2002]

THE OTHERS is the greatest example of the limit of human creativity. Alejandro Amenabar is clearly one of the best directors in the world. Not only because he can create the excelent climax of horror film, because he can go pass the teenager masked killer films and give the horror gender a whole new definition.

This movie belongs to the Amenabar style, as proved in Abre Los Ojos, another excelent high recommended movie, because the resolution is only at the end of the film and not everybody is who they seem to be. The plot is around Grace Stewart ( Nicole Kidman ) and her two children( Alakina Mann and James Bentley ). The children have a misterious condition that doesn't allowe them to be exposed to any light. That is why their house is dark, and lonely. Her husband is off to war and the servants dissapear. Thats when Ms Mills ( Fionnula Flanagan )arrives to serve in the house and a series of events lead them to believe the house is haunted by evil spirits.

This is clearly one of the best movies of the decade, and the best horror movie ever. I am glad that I've found a movie that doesn't include a masked killer, a young girl tormented by him, and low quality special effects.

Nicole Kidman appears in one of her most impressive roles of the year, with Moulin Rouge. The children are impressive actors, it's very surprising; it is a revelation to find such good actors that are KIDS these days. And Flanagan is an excelent actress as Mills. This is the final statements. THE OTHERS the best horror movie ever, one of the greatest Amenabar's movies. Hello good horror, goodbye bad teenage films and ugly sequels.

THE END

28 Days (2000)

A film to remember. Bullock's greatest choice. I really enjoyed it.

[3 May 2002]

Gwen Cumming ruined her life, and her sister's life aswell. And now, she's got to pay for what she has done. Addicted to alcohol, she must attend a rehabilitation institute until she recovers. And although she doesn't want to, the strange characters that habit there will help her through the tuff times.

Betty Thomas ( Well knowned by her work in Dr Doolitle and Private parts - the lame Howard stern biography - ) surprises us this time with a drama that can rip tears out of your sensible grandma.

Sandra Bullock ( some times drama queen, sometimes comedy queen ) returnes again with an outstanding performance in this film. The polt turns aroun Gwen's life, her childhood, with her drunk mother, the relationship with her sister and the guilt she feels about ruining her wedding.

No more to say, except that the male character is Viggo Mortensen ( ARAGORN!!! )

The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

Spielberg's HUGE mistake!

[15 March 2002]

This is, for sure, the most awful movie Spielberg has done. Not only because of the lack of creativity, but because of the wrong developed script and the meaningless characters. Because Jurassic Park 2 is not an innovation like the first one, but is a failure and the worst movie Spielberg has ever done. Let's speak clear: the dino's movie isn't quite an innovation, it had been seen before, and in spite of all the great names and the reputation of the director, the movie will not be remembered as a work of art. The character of Ian Malcom is the same as in the first one ( why the great Sam Neill isn't in the sequel?) and a new character is added to this sequel.

The Idea is not bad, but there are some aspects that aren't quite developed. Why two islands, instead of one? The breeding explanation takes out the conspiracy idea that might have helped in the soft plot. Of course, this movie isn't what we would call horrible, but it's enjoyable. In comparacy to the first first one, it is a flaw. Spielberg had the opportunity to play safe and stick with a cult movie that our grand children will see, or go with the sequel. I say again, it is not as good as jurassic park 1, but The Lost World is good in a sequel kind of way. Let's face it: sequel's aren't like the first movie, but is not like if you're gonna walk out of the theatre. The Final Thought: Spielberg could have done better, but The Lost World is enjoyable.

THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK Directed by Steven Spielberg Script by David Koepp Novel By Michael Chrichton Jeff Goldblum, Julianne Moore 1997

REGULAR 5

Shooting Fish (1997)

Funny comedy about how the easiest plan can fail, if a third person walks into it.

[2 March 2002]

Jez & Dylan are a very diferent pair. Maybe that's why Georgie finds in them a gold mine. Stefan Schuartz's Shooting Fish ( 2001 ) is a funny comedy about two con artists who, without a family, start to "save" for the house of their dreams. Of course, they define them selves as the 90's Robin Hood, telling Georgie ( played by an unknowned Kate Beckinsale ) they're saving for an orphan's housing proyect. Jez ( Stuart Townsend, a rising british star ) wants to tell the truth, but Dylan ( the american Dan Futterman ) thinks they should go for what they've always wanted.

The plot is probably common, but that doesn't stop Shooting Fish from being funny, romantic, and, in some way, human. Of course it has it's failures, but, if you like it, it's good.

Jez is a computer geek, a wizard with a degree... and social incompetence. Dylan is dislexic, but he can convince anyone with his endless charm. They grew up in public homes, and now they want a house of their own. Georgie is an inocent medicine student, and she needs the money to save her retarded brother's school.

As I said before, the plot is common, but it's original at the same time. It's cleary a Masterpiece, although for some is lack of sense or it should be more adult. But that doesn't stop Shooting Fish to become one of the funniest UK comedies, among with East is East and Trainspoting.

Shooting Fish is a british expression for the action of stealing, to defraud. And that is what they do, only the orphans mentioned before are them.

When the law catches them, they'll have to tell the truth to Georgie, But: Will she forgive them?

This tells us all: even the easiest plan can fail, if you fall in love

SHOOTING FISH Dan Futterman, Stuart Townsend, Kate Beckinsale Directed By Stefan Schuartz Written By stefan Schuartz & Richard Holmes

VERY GOOD 8

Memento (2000)

What would happen if the life you know isn't true at all?

[1 March 2002]

A camera is the only weapon Leonard Shelby has to record his life. Without it, he's helpless. All the people he knows, where he lives, remain a mystery without it. His body is covered in tatoos and silly notes. His life has only one purpose: he seeks revenge. Christopher Nolan's Memento (2000) is probably one of the best thrillers ever. With and outstanding plot, the scrip, also written by Nolan, starts from the end and ends in the beginning. If you're a little lost first, you'll understand it. The plot isn't perfect: is you watch it at least ten times, or you pay all the attention in the world, and you don't enjoy the movie, maybe you'll see the flaws. But Memento still is the best Thriller since Se7en.

Shelby doesn't remember anything he did ten minutes ago. He suffers from a condition called short term memory loss. Maybe that's why many unknowned characters travel in and out of Shelby's life without his knowledge. Natalie helps him, why? Is Teddy his mate? He has to trust the facts, because he can't rely on his memory. All he knows is that his wife was murdered and he must have his revenge. To all people he's a joke, and if he discovers something but he can't write it down, the information is lost for ever. All he has is a license plaque. And various tatoos all over his body.

The question is: when he has his revenge, will he remember it? Most likely not. That is a fact to follow if you watch this movie.

Shelby's strange condition could help other people like the characters mentioned before. Will they use Shelby, because they know he wont remember?

Guy Pearce is Great in the part of Leonard, Carrie-Ann Moss finally got a decent part, and the best of them all, Joe Pantoliano, as Teddy, The nice guy with many secrets.

The Only thing left to say is: this is probably one of the greatest movies ever, and Nolan will be remembered as a master of mystery. The movie is nominated for the Oscars. Memento deserves it.

MEMENTO Guy Pearce, Carrie-Ann Moss, Joe Pantoliano Directed by: Christopher Nolan Written By: Christopher Nolan 2000 VERY GOOD