clocksnmirrors Reviews

An American Haunting (2005)

MORE Hollywood THAN HISTORY

[4/10 · 14 May 2006]

I was very disappointed by this movie. I went to numerous websites to get an idea of the actual events upon which this story was based. Watching the movie I kept waiting for certain key elements that were basic to the history of the Bell family. They never surfaced. Instead the producers decided to deliver typical horror movie visual shocks accentuated with blaring sound. And don't get me started on the conclusion. This movie was WAY OFF! I feel cheated.

Although I don't know why I'm surprised. Hollywood is about making money. I suppose the way to do that is to delivery cheap shocks rather than to engage peoples mind's.

I gave this movie 4/10.

I Heart Huckabees (2004)

B.Y.O.A (Bring Your Own Angst)

[10/10 · 2 July 2005]

It isn't often that a movie provokes thought as well as laughter, but "I Heart Huckabees" manages to hit both marks.

This movie is about the search for answers to questions that most of the characters don't seem to know they're asking. And their guides along the way, deftly portrayed by Hoffman, Tomlin and Huppert stir the pot of confusion in this boiling mess of angst, deception and discontent. And it's funny! While the performances by Schwartzman, Law and Wahlberg (sounds like a law firm) were wonderful and engaging, the real star of this movie is the writing. It's very thoughtful without being heavy-handed. And the humor manages to take material that usually comes across as pretentious and makes it palatable for common-folk like myself.

This is a great movie if you're in the mood to revive in your mind the ultimate questions "who are we?", "what are we?", "why are we?" At the age of 41 I'd pretty much put those questions to bed, but it was fun to wake that sleeping part of myself and ponder while having a lot of laughs along the way.

See this movie.

Showboy (2002)

Surprising, Compelling and Very Touching

[9/10 · 17 August 2004]

If you've ever found yourself down and out, you may want to take a lesson from Christian Taylor. He's our hero in the mockumentary Showboy, a story of the triumph of persistence in the face of marginal talent.

This feature doesn't strive to achieve the rhythm or style of a Christopher Guest comedy. There is something far more genuine in the gently comedic portrayal of Christian as a man whose life takes an abrupt left (or right) turn and who is forced to come to grips with one dream lost as another emerges.

Christian is being featured in a documentary about young brits working in Hollywood. Unfortunately for him, as the movie starts, Christian is being fired from his writing job on the show Six Feet Under. On the pretext of researching a character for a nonexistent screenplay he claims to be writing, he leads the documentary crew on an excursion through Las Vegas as he auditions to become a "showboy". There's only one thing holding him back - Christian is not in any way a dancer.

As we follow him from dance hall to strip club and beyond, we meet a sprinkling of celebrities, including Whoopi Goldberg and Sigfried and Roy, all of whom make you believe that this is really "for real". In fact, one of the biggest surprises about this film is that I found myself, on several occasions, wondering whether this wasn't an actual documentary. The performances from top to bottom were all so natural that I really began to believe.

The other big surprise for me is that I fell utterly in love with Christian.

He's a gay character who is inoffensive without being bland, and sexy without being salacious. He gets knocked down but he never quits. And I love that there's nothing saccharin in the portrayal. And darn if he doesn't pick up a dance move or two.

This movie warmed my heart. And trust me, that's no easy feat. If you're willing to sit down and participate in a slice of a life that's humorous and touching, this one is definitely worth your while.

Flirting with Disaster (1996)

Wonderful road trip movie!

[10/10 · 31 May 2004]

This is a really fun and funny movie with a great cast giving great performances of a great script. It just all works in a very casual way. You won't have to work hard at all to enjoy the ensemble cast that includes Ben Stiller, Tea Leoni, Lily Tomlin, Alan Alda, Mary Tyler Moore and a host of others.

The story follows Ben Stiller on a quest to find his biological parents. What I love about Stiller is that, as in most of his roles, he is at the center of a maelstrom of insanity. Well, if not insanity, certainly a lot of neurosis. This movie has all the elements of classic comedy: mistaken identity, drugged dinner plates, gay cops, armpit worship. There's something for everyone!

If you like wacky family fun then check this one out.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

I LOVE this movie!

[10/10 · 31 May 2004]

It's hard to know where to start when talking about a movie with so much to offer. This dark tale about southern family dysfunction has something for everybody with a cynical bone in their body.

Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman both look good enough to eat! And their portrayals drip with bitterness and passion. In fact, everyone in this adaptation has an axe to grind. And grind they do, against each other. If you like a good catfight then you must see this catfight classic!

What's really satisfying about "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof" is that, when you get past the wonderfully written and expertly delivered barbs, you get a look into the real pain in these people's hearts. There is poignance among the thorns. As with most bullies, this whole family beats mercilessly on each other because they are, in reality, weak and afraid.

This is no "feel-good" movie but rather a "bad-news-buffet". If you've not treated yourself to this classic, do yourself a favor, wait until you're feeling bitter about getting passed over for a promotion or getting dumped by your mate and then rent it and settle in for some dysfunctional family fun. You'll feel right at home with Big Daddy and the rest of the gang.

Club Dread (2004)

Doesn't live up to Super Troopers Standard

[25 May 2004]

To be brief, I was disappointed. Where Broken Lizard hit the comedy nail on the head with Super Troopers, they failed to generate any chemistry at all with Club Dread. The jokes fell flat, the performers all seemed out of their element, the movie failed on every level. I think the success of Super Troopers came in that they "actors" didn't have to stretch too far to be believable as immature pranksters. They were all playing almost the same character. There was not enough acting talent among them to pull of the range of different personages they attempted in this misguided effort. Too bad. Chadrasekhar is doing great though directing the new show "Arrested Development". Hilarious stuff, that. Hopefully he will be able to translate some more of that to the big screen again....

Chicago (2002)

SPECTACULAR SPECTACULAR

[10 September 2003]

Renee Zellweger earned her Oscar! Multi-textured, multi-layered, and in all ways spectacular, Zellweger truly manages to astound. Choreography and camera work together with precision. This movie is one of the best ever examples of musical vision realized.

I wish I could shake Rob Marshall's hand!