mdesantis Reviews

Fear X (2003)

Too Much Left In the Air

[29 December 2007]

I enjoyed Turturo and Remar and 3/4 of the film was top notch i this genre. As others have said, the ending destroyed the movie by leaving too much to interpretation.

Theory 1 - Harry Caine and his OCD had a psychotic break with reality which was climaxed at the hotel and his meeting with Remar's character in Montana. Problem with this is why have Remar talking with other characters about the unintentional death of Caine's wife because a dirty cop had to be taken out.

Theory 2 - There was a "Code of Silence" conspiracy by law enforcement and everything that was shown to happen(meeting Remar at the hotel, getting shot, going into some rage and blanking out?) and Caine's confession of murdering the cop(Remar) that killed his wife all actually happened but the police covered it up. If so, then where is his bullet wound? How much time had elapsed?

This movie worked like a finely built superhighway that was left unfinished.....

The Unseen (2005)

Definitely Worth Viewing

[9/10 · 10 November 2007]

I had not heard of this film and the actors are not household names. What you have here is a moving story about the loss of innocence, pain and anguish, suffering and forgiveness. A little film with a big and universal message.

"The Unseen" depicts the worst and best of our natures. Kudos to Lisa France for her story and for the cast which brought this work to life. You should definitely make a date to see "The Unseen".

"The Unseen" reminds me of "To Kill A Mockingbird" and "Crash" for its substance and theme. The narration and acting by Philip Block as the blind man Sammy brings clarity to the viewer as the past and present are compellingly linked together. Treat yourself to this fine film.

Boston Legal (2004–2008)

Episode Idea

[25 April 2006]

Maybe bring the main cast from "LA Law" (Jimmy Smits, Jill Eichenberry, etc.) on as a "dream team" defense teamed with Spader, Shatner... Perhaps Ray Liotta/James Earl Jones/Kevin Costner can be in Boston promoting the music Group "Boston" and possibly a "Field of Dreams 2", sequel when someone is killed/beaten,raped/robbed during a concert at Fenway Park. Could be a two-part episode. Throw a few ball players in there to testify. A little background music from "Boston" would be a nice touch. The promoter could even be a sleeze who runs off with the proceeds.

May cost a few $$ to make the episode but could be good for sweeps week. Hey, if you use my idea, drop my check in the mail....

If you think this is a hoot, there are some other wobbly wheels spinning in my head for other shows....

Crash (I) (2004)

Show This in High School

[10/10 · 21 November 2005]

This is a movie that should be shown in a civics or social studies class in high school. This film does a tremendous job conveying how far this "melting pot" of a nation has come and how far we need to travel to move beyond the shallow ugliness of racism. The performances of Matt Dillon, Don Cheadle and so many others brought the silent undercurrents of racial prejudice into the spotlight in a very powerful and anecdotal way.

This story may be a morality play, but it is a story that is played out every day in America and other parts of the world. "Racism" and "Sexism" are subjects that current and future generations will need to deal with if we are to survive as a civilization rather than succumb to our fears and ignorance. The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is fresh in the psyche of America as we continue to remain divided by class and race despite political rhetoric to the contrary.

"Crash", "American History X", and "Schindler's List" are a few films I believe could be valuable teaching aids that our educators can use if we seriously want to engage our children in the discussion of our failures, victories and challenges in how we relate to one another in the short time we have on this planet.

The Forgotten (2004)

Very Disappointing

[22 August 2005]

This film wasted the services of some fine actors such as Julianne Moore, Gary Sinese, Alfre Woodard to name a few. At the beginning, I thought the film had some potential pitting the theme of dementia against a cover-up conspiracy. As the film progresses, however, it becomes fragmented and loses credibility. You are left with a few good special effects, too many silly chase scenes and an ending that simply didn't work for me. As with other films that start out with promise, (such as "28 Days Later", which, by the way was much better), "The Forgotten" takes you on a trip to nowhere and back and you would rather forget about where you have been.

In short, this was a coulda, woulda but didn't film.....

American Gun (2002)

Wow!!

[10/10 · 30 July 2005]

I had never heard of this movie but caught it On Demand on cable. The late James Coburn was absolutely brilliant in this film. I am sure this may not be an NRA favorite, but you cannot watch this film without feeling how much impact and how much of a scar a few seconds of human error can cause when a trigger is pulled. The "message" of this film is as loud and clear as the retort of a gunshot. This is truly a powerful film, yet it was made in such a seemingly understated way.

The entire "journey" that Martin Tillman(Coburn) makes in this film completely absorbed me right through to him staring into the camera at the end of the film.

If you ever get the chance to see this film, do it. Don't expect to feel good when it is over, but do expect to think about it for a while.

I don't think I will ever forget Coburn's response when asked if he believed in God and he says, " I believe in God, but I'm just not sure what to make of him."

There are plenty of other moments in this little film that have stuck with me long after I watched it. That happened to me with a another little film called "Tender Mercies" with Robert Duval made quite a few years ago. Both films do a tremendous job showing the human struggle to overcome tragedy with dignity and perseverance.

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Worthy of its Oscars

[10/10 · 30 July 2005]

What can you say? Clint Eastwood is like a fine wine that just keeps getting better with age. "Mystic River", "The Bridges of Madison County", and "Million Dollar Baby" from a guy who made spaghetti westerns 40 years ago. Hilary Swank is an "A" list actress. This performance was on par with her portrayal in "Boys Don't Cry." Then, of course, there is Morgan Freeman. Well, actors just don't come any better than him. Too many great characters in so many outstanding films. "Shawshank Redemption", "Driving Miss Daisy", "Bruce Almighty" and on and on....

So, what do you get when you take a great script, a quality actor/director, more quality actors and the big screen to showcase it all? You get one of the best films of the year and a film that will instantly be securely on the list of top films of all time.

A great motion picture does not need awesome special effects, loud musical scoring, fad or fashion. It just needs plain old-fashioned quality film making where talented people perform at the top of their craft. Just like films such as "To Kill a Mockingbird" or "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", "Million Dollar Baby" will be as much of a gem decades from now as it is today.

Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)

Enjoyable Film

[8/10 · 30 July 2005]

Tyler Perry is a funny and talented man. The movie was both funny and touching. The acting was solid throughout. I am looking forward to "Madeira's Family Reunion".

Some people may think this movie denigrates religion, women, blacks, etc. I think the purpose of this movie was to do exactly the opposite and I think it succeeds for the most part. Perry does take material from other films, and I can see some similarities to "The Klumps" with Eddie Murphy's characters and even "Mama's Family" with Vicki Lawrence. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery and if done well, as in this case, I see no problem with it.

Considering all of the over-hyped trash being churned out today, it is reassuring to see a clever playwright bring his characters to film and bring laughs and tears from the audience.