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Reviews
Gacy (2003)
A couple of spoilers below.
Several years ago I watched the TV mini series 'To Catch A Killer,' (1992) about John Wayne Gacy. I knew the name and was vaguely familiar with his crimes, but that was all. The movie starred Brian Dennehy and I thought his performance was outstanding. I came away from that movie with the idea that Gacy was an intelligent, cold, and calculating killer. Dennehy was absolutely horrifying as Gacy.
I recently watched the movie Gacy (2003.) The character of Gacy was a total contrast from the movie mentioned above. In this film Gacy is a bumbling buffoon and doesn't appear smart enough to get his shoes on the right feet. On more than one occasion he is assaulted by the young men that work for him for failure to pay their wages. They even openly refer to him as a faggot and call him other disparaging names such as 'fatass,' etc.
Gacy's character in this film is whiney and indecisive. I'm now curious to know which portrayal is more closely aligned with the real Gacy.
Ted Bundy (2002)
No spoilers below, just some thoughts after viewing the movie.
I viewed this film after reading Ann Rule's account of her personal relationship with Ted Bundy entitled, 'The Stranger Beside Me,' copyright 1980.
The movie actually does a good job of portraying how Bundy selected his victims. It doesn't, however, give you any insight into what contributed to his psychosis. Just like in the book mentioned above, Bundy seems to agonize over the fact that he was illegitimate. Lots of people can be classified as illegitimate, but they aren't serial killers so I'm not sure what significance that plays in the big picture.
One distinction that this movie has versus 'The Deliberate Stranger' starring Mark Harmon is that it shows Ted Bundy as the thief and shoplifter that he was. While he was intelligent, handsome, and well spoken, he was a college student without an income and that is how he survived.
The movie moves along pretty fast and in my opinion the writers could have and should have spent a little more time on the driving force behind such sociopathic behavior.
Was it a great movie? 'No.' But, it was a good movie and the storyline seems to fall inline with other accounts that I have read.
Just as an interesting side note, I believe that the character of Beverly (seen briefly at a party) is really Ann Rule??? I noticed that all the original names were changed with the exception of Ted Bundy of course.
Tea and Sympathy (1956)
There may be a spolier or two below - beware!
I recently saw this movie for the first time. I have been reading through some of the comments and the overanalyzing runs amuck. One commentary even goes so far as to blame society for the spread of STDs by forcing young, confused men to seek out prostitutes to prove their manhood. Yet another excuse to dispel personal responsibility. Unbelievable!
This movie, I'm sure, was racy for it's time (1956), but in 2003 it's par for the course. To me the movie is silly and way overacted. It does, however, strike some cord. Perhaps it's the harsh reality that kids are cruel. They always have been and they always will be. Young people have suffered loneliness and anxiety at the hands of classmates since the beginning of organized education. Some of the commentaries are as if only those that may be gender confused are suffering. At the school that I attended those most likely to be ridiculed were: short, tall, skinny, fat, read-headed, had a big nose, etc.
The movie spends a great deal of time skirting the issue of homosexuality. It even comes dangerously close to child molestation, but the makers are sure to propagate that the male in question is turning 18 on the very day that he purportedly becomes a man.
I think the watcher of the movie should take it for just what it is: an overzealous attempt at tugging the hearts strings with a cast of mixed up and confused characters.
Moonlight Mile (2002)
I thought it pretty much stunk!
Is it just me or could it really be that the only reason Susan Sarandon takes a role these days is to push her agenda? Her character in the movie is exactly how I envision her to be in real life. She always has an axe to grind. Right of the bat, in the movie, she makes her signature remarks about Republicans and anyone stupid enough to vote for them. What is it with these hollywood types that think they are so high and mighty? The fact that they think they stand on higher ground than the public at large is laughable. I so disliked her character and her portrayal that it blinded me to any good thing that may have been in this movie.
The Accident: A Moment of Truth Movie (1997)
Good flick, but I have a few problems with it.
Lizzie Williams is a high school senior and an honor student with a drinking problem. Now, I know parents automatically want to believe their children but these parents were so consumed with their own affairs that they didn't notice that their under-age daughter was constantly getting smashed??? It's not like she was doing a little drinking with friends...she was getting hammered...often. Also, if you discover that your child is addicted to alcohol, would you continue to keep it in your home? If you have any sense, the answer would be, "No!" On the other hand, the movie does a good job portraying the perils of under-age drinking (or any age of drunkenness for that matter) and the consequences that may follow.
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Bravo!
Ron Howard took the tale of a twisted and painful life and made it into a masterpiece. Although, from what I have read and understand; this biography of John Forbes Nash Jr. doesn't quite tell the whole the story. That doesn't really matter though. You still come away with the intended affect...brilliant and tragic was this man.
Watch the movie. It is outstanding.
Vanilla Sky (2001)
Long and boring and a general waste of valuable time.
I am so tired of being told that you must be an intellectual to understand or appreciate "any" movie. The real truth is that we don't all like the same things whether it is food, clothes, hairstyles, TV shows, sports teams, or movies. You don't have to be an intellectual to recognize a bad movie. I've seen lots of them.
Too many directors/producers are making movies for a select few instead of being focused on entertainment for the masses. If the truth were known David Lynch, Cameron Crowe and the late Stanley Kubrick probably wish they were William Wyler. Wyler captivated his audiences and managed to show human beings at their best and worst without one drop of blood or naked bodies, and with no expletives.
Don't waste your time with Vanilla Sky, especially if you are a Cruise fan, as I am. You will be disappointed.
Mulholland Dr. (2001)
Is it more disturbing to make movies like this or watch them?
I can't say enough bad things about this movie, so I won't even try. I can, however, say one really good thing. Rebekah Del Rio's version of Roy Orbison's "Crying" (Llorando) in the mysterious theatre, Silencio, is mesmerizing. Don't watch the movie; just go buy the soundtrack.
David Lynch is at it again. The problem is that nobody has ever understood what `it' is to David Lynch. Several scenes in this movie were actually shot for a TV series, but apparently nobody had the guts to commit to another TV show with Lynch. Those shots were mixed with new shots and hence the disconcerting `Mulholland Drive' was born. That's why the movie doesn't make any sense. And, let me go ahead and respond to the many that will come after me saying, `It's not supposed to make any sense, you just aren't sophisticated enough to get it.' Guess what? You don't have to be sophisticated to like this movie. You merely have to be like sheep that are led to the slaughter. In order to feel superior you buy the Hollywood/liberal version of what it means to be sophisticated. I, on the other hand, decide for myself what I like and don't like and why.
From Hell (2001)
This movie assumes a great deal and deludes the rest.
I applaud the attempt of the writers to draw you into a `who really shot Kennedy?' type of plot, but the movie chases rabbits and the viewer soon becomes bored and uninterested. Although there was much speculation and many suspects, the truth is that the identity of `Jack the Ripper' was never known. The movie is well made and Johnny Depp plays his character flawlessly, with the exception of the occasional slip on the British accent. If you like a thriller that doesn't have to make any sense then this is a must see. If, however, you prefer more truth than fiction, you might want to skip this one.
All the Pretty Horses (2000)
This is an odd movie, most notable for the beautiful scenery.
Interesting how two people can view the same film and have such differing opinions. The shooting technique of this movie had a touch of Oliver Stone...you know what I mean...odd camera angles and close-ups of nothing at all. The love story is completely irrelevant to its surroundings. There was absolutely nothing to make these two people fall in love. It was nothing more than lust and animal attraction. The story of the three young men who cross the Rio Grande in search of work and a better life is interesting enough...but it soon becomes diluted with the introduction of Penelope Cruz. Let's face it; she's a terrible actress! And, just when did Hollywood take on the role of making a movie for just 10 people? Oh, wait a minute, I remember now! They have steadily been alienating half of their audience in order to teach us a social lesson and enlighten us with their values. Well, I hate to tell you Billy Bob, but I missed your lesson and even had I gotten it, I'm sure I would have whole-heartedly rejected it!