Reviews
Before and After (1996)
Believable and touching
By the end of this movie I was in love with Jacob Ryan (Furlong) a 16-year-old who is accused of murdering his thankless girlfriend. The movie is obviously geared in favor of Jacob who causes the death of Martha Taverner, a two-timing teen (Alison Folland) then suffers the consequenses. Jacob's concerned parents (Liam Neeson and Meryl Streep) are wonderful and convince you to love Jacob as much as they do despite his flat-out don't-care attitude. Even so, Edward manages to pull off a few heart wrenching scenes. Jacob's sister Jude (Julia Weldon) is indeed a loving young girl who cares about the truth as well as the welfare of her brother. Despite what critics say, I found the Ryan family most believable and even touching at times. The way they talk to each other and relate to one another is not unlike real life. However,there are holes in this story, almost leaving it open for a TV series or somesuch to fill in the gaps.
Little Odessa (1994)
Realistic- unlike other films of this type.
Overall, this is an excellent film that sets it apart from others like it. There are times where it is very very slow and hard to read, yet this somehow makes it more realistic. Furlong plays Reuben Shapira, a teenager living in Brooklyn with his family. The plot basically begins when Reuben's older brother (Tim Roth) returns home to visit their dying mother.Roth plays Joshua, a hitman involved with the Russian Mafia. He is back in Brooklyn on business as well as to see his mother (Vanessa Redgrave)one last time. Reuben is a great fan of his brother much to their father's (Maximillian Schell) disliking. Both Roth and Furlong show little emotion throughout nor does Moira Kelly who plays Roth's clueless girlfriend.However, I feel that the lack of emotion stems from the depressing over tones which are vital in portaying the overall feeling of the movie.
Clifford (1994)
Comedy at its Finest
Clifford is a comical masterpiece. Martin Short's performance as the 10-year-old trouble maker is believable and hilarious and in my opinion his best work. Charles Grodin gives the best performance since the HeartBreak Kid playing the nerve-wracked Uncle Martin who is forced to watch over Clifford as he makes his life a living hell. Mary Steenburgen is perfect as Miss Sarah Davis, Grodin's sweet and naive fiance. This is not your average comedy. The jokes presented and the portrayal of the characters is phenomenal. It is the kind of movie you would want to see again and again and tell your friends about. The messages in this movie are a subtle and touching after-thought when the uproar is over.
Brainscan (1994)
A Teenage Mind Trip
Edward Furlong plays Michael Brower, a teen who spends his spare time playing video games and spying on the beautiful girl next door (Kimberly played by Amy Hargreaves). One day Michael calls a number his clownish friend (Jamie Marsh, who is basically good for a few dry laughs) gave him and thus discovers Brainscan, a new interactive video game with a goal that reaches beyond innocent entertainment. Upon receiving the game, Michael is taken over by "Trickster" (T. Ryder Smith) a funky sorta freakish guy who looks like a cross between an '80's glam rock star and a Jim Henson creation gone horribly wrong. Trickster forces Michael to continue to play the game in which Michael finds himself deeper and deeper in trouble. Although Michael is a believable character, he is awfully hard to warm up to. This is a good movie for teens who are into sci-fi, but not exactly a cinamatic materpiece.
Pet Sematary II (1992)
Enjoyable Sequel- A Fall Classic
In my opinion this is Edward Furlong's best movie. Not only is it suspenseful, exciting and somewhat funny at the right times, Edward himself delivers a believable performance as Jeff Matthews, a 14 year old who has just lost his mother in a freak accident.He has just moved to Maine with his father into a creepy old town known infamously for it's so-called "Pet Semetary".Furlong is adorable and the rest of the cast (which inlude Anthony Edwards of ER as Jeff's father and Jason McGuire as Jeff's overweight school friend) are brilliant, tying the story together to its predictable climax that you don't mind sitting through. Clancy Brown plays the ghoolish Gus, Jeff's friend's stepfather who is hilariously creepy both before and after his trip to the semetary. Although this movie doesn't connect much to the Creeds, of the original Stephen King Pet Sematary film, it makes a great new story and an enjoyable sequel. In addition, this movie has a killer soundtrack and as I see it, has already become somewhat of a Fall tradition.