Reviews
Soul in the Hole (1997)
NICE TRY, BUT OFF THE RIM
As is usual when opinions are as polarized as two below, the truth lies somewhere in between.
This is a rushed-feeling, over-long, rather incoherent film that lets us experience a fascinating aspect of American life by watching a year in the mentor-student (and almost father-son) relationship of two passionate, opinionated, talented, striving and tragically flawed men.
It is worth watching because the intertwined stories of Kenny and Booger will teach you things about life and love, coping and forgiving, failure and success. It is, however, extremely poorly edited, telling you far more than you want to about many things and far less than you should about others.
I predict that SOUL IN THE HOLE is a film you will WANT to like better than you actually DO, an often fascinating, but ultimately frustrating experience.
Lola rennt (1998)
A great film; everything "Pulp Fiction" wanted to be but wasn't
Some critics are going to say this German film is derivative of the crime comedy-dramas of American indie filmmakers: "Pulp Fiction", "Bottle Rocket", "The Usual Suspects", etc. While Tom Tykwer has undoubtedly seen the above, he has surpassed them all with a fierce individuality and genuine ability to surprise. Tarentino and company could learn a lot from RUN LOLA RUN about creating likeable characters and telling their story in a film that uses (as opposed to abuses) clever cinematic tricks to keep an audience both on the edge of their seats with suspense and howling with laughter. Filled with irony, sympathy and style, this film gives the lie to the old stereotype of Germans not having a sense of humor. Enjoy America Enjoy.