tuscanimpressions Reviews

Crash (I) (2004)

Superb ensemble in a film that has to be the sleeper of 2004

[10/10 · 13 December 2005]

Give the setup 15 minutes and you won't regret the investment. A gritty story of life as many people live it without ever recognizing it. Set in LA but could be any big city. An honest and well-written script that deals with many social issues but never gives in to the temptation to simplify or overstate them. Twists and turns, deeply human and personal; emotionally draining in some tense scenes; wonderful story-telling; laughs that suddenly hook you into high drama. Difficult -- and unfair -- to mention specific actors in such an shining ensemble, but Ludicrous showed more acting ability than I thought he had. Don't watch the writer's remarks until afterward.

Suspect Zero (2004)

Don't quit too soon

[6/10 · 1 June 2005]

The first half of this movie is cut like an MTV video and lacks sufficient character development and information about motive. But stay with it. Once the director throws you the lifeline of plot key and retrospective, you're in for a wild ride with plenty of tension. Sure, there's the gratuitous chase and wreck but pay no attention. If you rent the disc, don't miss the alternative ending. It is an interesting thought -- and could be seen as a set up for a sequel -- but you can bet focus groups didn't like it. Aaron Eckhart isn't convincing as the protagonist -- maybe Tommy Lee Jones or Robert Duval -- but Ben Kingsley's maniacal character more than carries the film. Carrie Ann Moss is a shadow.

Fury (1955–1960)

Girls loved it too!

[28 August 2004]

As a child, I was a great fan of the Fury series also and was delighted to find in the mid 70's while living in LA, a local station ran the reruns on Saturday mornings. The tension of watching Fury rescue Joey never lost its appeal to me even as an adult. Was I the only fan who ate her beef stew and biscuits out of tin pie pans? I wanted so much to be a cowgirl. Probably had some influence to my moving to LA at the age of 21 and living near where many of the scenes of the 50's westerns were filmed. If anyone out there would like to start a petition for their public TV stations to resurrect the quality TV programs of the 50's, I will sign it. I doubt the alphabet stations are interested in people who are clothed. Let's bring back: "Maverick", "Sugarfoot", "Lawman" "Cheyenne" and of course, "Fury". Gosh, I loved that horse!