Change Your Image
billm75
Reviews
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Give Ellen Burstyn The Oscar Now!
I never thought I'd see a performance to equal(if not surpass) Hilary Swank in "Boys Don't Cry" and Reese Witherspoon in "Election" so soon, but Ellen Burstyn has done it here. Her "reason to get up in the morning" monologue is one of the most powerful 3-4 minutes in film history.
This is a very harrowing story about drug addiction, and not for everyone. David Aronofsky shows he can make the leap from small budget films and can handle dark material without being exploitive or glamorizing(although some of the editing and visual effects are borderline in this regard). Great cameos from Paul Gullette and Keith David.
Based on a novel by the author of "Last Exit To Brooklyn" so you should be prepared; there are no laughs, like in "Leaving Las Vegas" or "Trainspotting". The editing and visual effects are much better than the repulsive "Natural Born Killers"(though again, borderline cutesy and repititive). Great score by The Kronos Quartet.
If you liked BDC, LETB, LLV, T'ing, Bad Lt. and Drugstore Cowboy, go see this. Both RFAD and Christiane F. should be mandatory viewing for Jr. high students, but our govt would rather have a "War On Drugs" and "Just Say No". Pathetic and tragic.
Note to reviewer below; Burstyn was not in "Cuckoo's Nest"(that was Louise Fletcher); she was in "The Exorcist".
See Christiane F.(subtitled version if possible) if you liked this.
Jennifer Connelly is the most beautiful woman in the world, period.
S.F.W. (1994)
Great Book, Horrible Movie
The book "S.F.W." by A.M. Wellman is fantastic. The movie is garbage, although the ending is better than the book's.
It was cool to hear Rainbow's "Light In The Black" in a movie, but what's up with Spab and his brother smashing up his room??
Look for the book, and rent "City Of Industry", "Election", "Chasing Amy" and "Another Day In Paradise" to see the various cast members in something good.
Boys Don't Cry (1999)
Absolutely Brilliant Performances, But It's Not For Everyone
I won't rehash the plot of this movie nor wax philosophical about man's inhumanity to man. There is one overriding reason to rent this movie: The sheer joy of watching a great artist give the performance of their life.
Watching Hilary Swank(and to an only slightly lesser extent, Chloe Sevigny) here, is like watching Hendrix at Woodstock and Monterey, Michealangelo at the Sistine Chapel, Montana in the Super Bowl and Jordan in the NCAA/NBA Finals. It is simply, IMHO, one of the two best acting jobs of the last thirty years, the other being Robert De Niro in "Taxi Driver". Swank is charismatic and mesmerizing in a way the real Brandon/Teena could've only dreamed about. Her facial expressions and body movements are enthralling and letter perfect. You can't look away from the screen for a second.
Writer/director Kimberly Peirce accomplishes the near impossible by making these losers all seem much more dignified and sympathetic then they actually are/were(watch the documentary "The Brandon Teena Story" and read the book "All She Wanted" to see what I mean).
WARNING: This movie is very depressing, profane and violent, and is only loosely based on what actually happened. However, I think that Swank's glorious light brightens the gloom more than enough. Peirce very wisely adds a nice coda(Swank voiceover) at the end.
For a real trip, watch "The Next Karate Kid" right afterwards! :)
Story/filmmaking: 8 outa 10, Acting: 10+ outa 10.
Quiet Days in Hollywood (1997)
Hilary Tries Her Best in this German Homage to Tarantino, But...
This early Hilary Swank movie showcases Ms. Swank's charisma but little of her talent. She has a thankless role(the foul-mouthed but philosophical hooker with the ubiquitous heart of gold), but to her credit she speaks her ridiculous lines(I'm sure the German to English translation didn't help) without embarrassing herself.
Hilary is only in the first and last vignettes, and the first is a total waste; she's just not meant for this kind of role(but who would be). The later scene is the best part of this film and there's a moment where she jumps in the shower(no nudity shown) and exclaims "It's cold!" with a wonderful smile on her face that lightens the whole(rather depressing) affair up. Her repartee w/ Peter Dobson(and doesn't his voice sound EXACTLY like Martin Sheen's?) is natural and funny, if poorly written.
Natasha Gregson Wagner is similarly wasted(as she was in Another Day in Paradise(a very good movie BTW)).
The rest of the movie makes it painfully obvious that the director/writer has worn out his copies of Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, esp. the diner scene with Chad Lowe.
A professional effort but it's only for Swank/NGW/Tarantino fans.