blindlemon Reviews

The Art of Breaking Up (2005)

Very disappointing - An am-dram stage production on film

[3/10 · 5 November 2005]

Three stars because it has Emmanuelle Beart, surely the most beautiful actress in cinema today, and talented too, in the right film - but this is not it.

This movie looks and plays like an amateur dramatic production you'd see in a village hall, which is very disappointing given the pedigree of the cast. Beart is always worth watching, sometimes mesmerising; Berling is a fine actor in the right role, but I got the impression after about 3 minutes that both were in this for the paycheck and not much else. A bit embarrassing for both of them, really, especially for Berling who is reduced to running around naked at one point! Check it out if you're a die-hard Beart fan, but don't bother otherwise.

She Creature (2001 TV Movie)

Watch it for Carla Gugino's English Accent

[6/10 · 5 November 2005]

Nothing special about this movie in itself - but worth watching for the remarkably talented Carla Giugino! As an Englishman, I have to say that Ms Gugino manages to pull off the incredibly difficult task (for any American) of acting throughout the film with the most impeccably correct English accent I've heard from any non-native actor, ever. If you thought Meryl Streep's accent was good in The French Lieutenant's Woman, or Gwynneth Paltrow's in any of her 'brit flicks', then take a listen to Carla Gugino in She Creature. Not only is her accent flawless, but it's also the most varied and wide-ranging in expression and tone I've ever heard from an American. While Streep and Paltrow are good, their accents can tend to sound a little one-note at times, as if they are simply repeating a few key sounds to get the effect; Ms Gugino, on the other hand, sounds every bit the native English lady - with so many lights and shadows in her vocal performance that, as an Englishman born and bred, I was reaching for the IMDb trying to figure out where she might have picked up such a varied accent. Prep School? Born in the UK? No, doesn't seem like it. Oh, and by the way, she looks fantastic in this movie too.

I would recommend any English person to check out this movie just for Carla Gugino's English accent. If you can find even a hint of Sarasota anywhere I'll be amazed.

Blonde (2001)

See it for Poppy Montgomery

[6/10 · 2 February 2004]

Not a bad biopic - though, not being a fanatic, I can't vouch for the accuracy. Although long (over 3 hours) time passed quickly - borne along by the appealing performance of Poppy Montgomery as MM.

I've never see her before, but will look out for her in the future after this convincing performance. Interestingly, her portrayal of the younger Norma Jean seemed to better capture the essence of Marilyn's fragile appeal than the later scenes when she became "Marilyn".

As for the production itself, the script was effective (if a bit tame) and the inhumanity of the Hollywood Machine was well portrayed. The supporting cast gave workmanlike performances too - but with Poppy on screen in almost every scene, who's going to waste time looking at them?!!

Spy Game (2001)

Drivel, drivel, drivel

[2/10 · 27 January 2004]

I did not like this movie. It was the WORST Robert Redford movie I've seen - and, as if that wasn't enough, the WORST Brad Pitt movie I've seen too.

I won't bother describing the plot - something about rescuing a rogue CIA agent (Pitt) from a Chinese jail - suffice to say, it was pretty non-existent. And, even worse, all told in cutaways and flashbacks, with an overdose of pointless helicopters, explosions and seen-it-all-before rip-offs of half decent war and spy movies.

I suppose there could have been some tension building as to whether Pitt would get rescued - but there was none. It was obvious from about 5 minutes in that Pitt would be the subject of a rescue attempt, and the movie might have been watchable if we'd been unsure (or even cared) whether this would succeed - but hey! All I cared about was that the tedious and VERY LOUD soundtrack kept waking me up!! I kid you not - despite the continual noise I managed to sleep through most of it.

Total rubbish. Thank God I didn't pay good money to see it!

A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999)

Magical atmosphere, beautiful faces, highly entertaining

[7/10 · 16 September 2003]

I can't believe some of the nasty comments people have been making about this film! Come on - it's not supposed to be a textbook interpretation, and nobody was looking for an acting Oscar either.

For my money this is an excellent screen adaptation of this classic play, and should be shown to every teenager who has to study the text - before they start to read it.

Every scene is a visual treat, and the magical atmosphere, so difficult to sustain in a theatre, is there in every frame. Also, I've never seen Michelle Pfeiffer look so gorgeous. I bet she's got a couple of stills on her wall somewhere!

Some people have commented on Calista Flockhart's performance as being too "whiny" - but hey! it's a whiny character, and I suspect this is just the usual "anti-flockhart" brigade, whining on as usual. Get a life people!

Personally, I feel that if you view this movie as an amusing entertainment, in the same way that the original play was intended, then you won't be disappointed. Sure, Hamlet it ain't - but I suspect that Will S himself would have been pretty pleased with this!

En cada feria un amor (1961)

A grown up film

[12 September 2003]

Nothing groundbreaking here - but this is a grown up film, well handled, and worth a look. The cinematography, acting and direction are all above average - and Ms Ledoyen is a joy to behold! The film is slightly let down by a rather "lucky" plot twist towards the end, but is otherwise very believable. The fact that this middle-aged lawyer falls for the pretty young girl comes as no surprise, but it's the very inevitability of this, despite his best attempts to resist, that makes the film ring true. Recommended.