Reviews

I cannot believe how many people are ripping this movie a new one. I just caught it on video, and I am already kicking myself for not seeing it in the theater. This was without a doubt one of the wittiest and smartest films of 2001.

Gene Hackman turns in an intense performance as Moore, an aging thief who has to do one last job to ensure the proper division of the loot with slime ball Bergman (Danny DeVito).

The crispness of the plot and dialogue really carries "Heist," and I was entertained for every minute of it. Mamet is the master of witty dialogue and over-the-top situations, and both are on display in full form here. The supporting cast is also top-notch, with Delroy Lindo standing out particularly.

"Heist" was very unfairly overlooked and trashed during its theatrical run, and now is a better time than ever to give it a look.

Grade: A

In the great spirit of "Pulp Fiction" and "Reservoir Dogs" comes "Boondock Saints," a pale shadow of the first two films I just mentioned. There is plenty of violence and bad language to go around here, but it never really materializes past the point of being senseless.

Willem Dafoe is good as Smecker, a cop investigating the "Saints," two brothers who feel they are doing the world good by personally ridding their city of all evil men.

The main problem with the film is the amount of unintentional humor that it elicits, particularly with the Dafoe character. The movie wants to be serious and have a message, but it just never happens. There is also a huge credibility problem with placing porn legend Ron Jeremy in what is a non-porn role. It is unintentionally funny to see him try and act.

The level of violence is so high that the viewer just becomes de-sensitized by about the middle of the film. There is supposedly a director's cut of the film which runs a half hour longer, sure to have even more bloodshed. The violence is done in such a tasteless and sloppy manner that sometimes you wonder if the actors are getting tired of it.

There are many other films in the crime genre that I would recommend before "Boondock Saints." In an effort to be memorable, it really comes off as just being unnecessary.

Grade: C-

Back in the late 90's there was a surge for the "disaster" genre of film. The idea of cities and people facing catastrophic circumstances showed its face again at the movies, mostly thanks to advancements in computer and special effects technology. We saw two volcano films, "Dante's Peak" and this film, "Volcano." To be nice, "Dante's Peak" is Oscar material compared to this rubbish.

"Volcano" does not even actually have a volcano, but rather the notion that the La Brea Tar Pits in California will erupt with lava. Oh, it happens. Sewer lids are blown sky high, and lava flows down the streets like traffic.

Perhaps "Volcano" aimed from day one to be a "B-movie." I am not quite sure, but either way it is a horrid film. Good old Tommy Lee Jones tries his best with a God-awful script, and still manages to feel professional. Anne Heche's role seems to be to simply state the obvious when it needs to be said.

And the special effects, they are awful! The movie never for one instant "feels" real because of the horrible effects and weak acting. The lava looks like orange bubble gum. It is laughable. The movie even milks its very existence by trying to elicit emotion from the audience.

A horribly dreadful film that I never plan on watching again.

Grade: D-

"Outbreak" is far from a horror film, but it stands as one of the more frightening films I have seen in the past few years. The notion of a deadly virus entering the United States and wiping out towns in a matter of days is frightening in my book.

"Outbreak" tells such a story, and does it pretty darn well, even if the last twenty minutes are a little bogus.

The deadly Motaba virus has found its way to the U.S. via a monkey that contracted the virus to a pet owner. Soon the virus becomes airborne and is infecting everything in its path.

Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, Morgan Freeman, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Donald Sutherland are all terrific in this film, which was extremely well-directed by Wolfgang Peterson. Definitely give this one a look.

Grade: A

Here is one of the few movies that I have ever walked out on in the theater. Being a good sport and hoping it would fare better I second time on video, I chose to watch it again. Someone give me my 90 minutes back.

With exception of the "Wayne's World" films, the vast majority of SNL skit-turned-films have been unbelievably awful. "Coneheads" is a fine example of one of the worst films ever churned out from a now-unfunny show.

Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin bring their SNL roles to the big screen, and they have a lot to be ashamed of. There are very few laughs in this movie. The late Chris Farley gives it a shot, but the script is so utterly awful that he cannot even bring some physical humor into it.

With recent bombs like "A Night At The Roxbury" and "The Ladies Man," SNL really needs to hang it up. "Coneheads" was released when the show still had talent, but it is not on display here. Painful.

Grade: F

Seeing as though I grew up with this movie as a kid, it is so hard for me to not be biased in a nostalgic way now. There are plenty of faults to point out in this movie. For instance, how could three teens hitch hike and skateboard halfway across the country without some kind of responsible adult taking notice?

Starring a young Fred Savage, Beau Bridges, and Christian Slater (in a completely forgotten role for him), "The Wizard" proves to be nothing more than an advertisement for the 8-bit Nintendo system these days. However, for kids, this is a solid adventure story, if not a little depressing in spots.

At the age of 12, this movie ruled. Today, at age 20, it seems a bit cheesy. And it defines the term "product placement." But I will still watch this movie any day, gaping plot holes and all.

As mindless entertainment and very 80's, "The Wizard" is an entertaining hour and a half. If you are looking for a solid script and acting, this is not the ticket. But for my generation, there is a lot of nostalgia in this forgotten film.

Grade: B

After years of hearing about this film I finally got around to watching it tonight. With a solid cast and quality script, does "Sea Of Love" add up?

There is nothing ground breaking here, but for the most part "Sea Of Love" is a very entertaining film. It is a guesser, but if you pay real close attention to the first half hour you can probably figure it out early on.

Pacino turns in a good performance, as do Ellen Barkin and John Goodman. Becker's directing is solid at establishing mood and location. This is a very spiffy-looking film with only minor believability issues and plot holes. A very crisp script.

In the end, "Sea Of Love" is well worth a viewing just to remind yourself that good suspense films used to be made. A solid hit in 1989, "Sea Of Love" still holds up today.

Grade: B+

"Night and Fog" is simply a brilliant piece of work. It was screened in my documentary film class the other day, and when the lights came up after it was over, no one moved or talked. A similar experience to when "Saving Private Ryan" ended.

No stops are pulled in this incredibly graphic depiction of Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust. In color, panning shots are shown of what the camps look like today, while black and white footage illustrates the horror of the camps while they were active.

I cannot stress enough that this is not for the faint of heart. Mutilated and dismembered bodies are shown in graphic detail in many scenes. It is repulsive, and extremely sad that people were put through such misery.

We have all heard about the Holocaust, but most likely have not seen footage like what is in "Night and Fog." A highly recommended film.

Grade: A

Vertov's "Man With The Movie Camera" is a stunning piece of work, especially for its time. The premise is simple: Follow a man around as he films whatever he wants, from wherever he wants.

The film is a splendid technical work, with many unique and interesting camera tricks on display. A new musical score had been created for the version I saw, which complimented the actual film extremely well. The many highlights in the film are Vertov's montages, which he loved to experiment with. Outstanding work.

As a fun fact, Vertov (who's real name is Denis Kaufman) is the actual "Man With The Movie Camera" in the film.

Grade: A

Here's one of the goofiest movies in many a moon, but it's also damn fun. Meathead Vin Diesel and pretty boy Paul Walker shake up the underground street racing world in "The Fast and the Furious," a movie that seems oh-so similar to "Point Break," which is superior. But if you like fast cars and loud movies, this is the ticket. Director Ron Cohen lets it all fly here, and it pays off. Great effects and nice, loud car chases. Grab the DVD and crank it.

Grade: A-

"Suicide Kings" took my by surprise on all cylinders. It has a simple plot, but it takes it and squeezes all of it can out of it. The result is thoroughly satisfying.

With very strong direction by Peter O'Fallon, "Suicide Kings" tells the story of five kids who kidnap a mob boss in order to use him to get information on the whereabouts of one of the men's kidnapped sister. The story twists and turns until the final shot.

Christopher Walken is outstanding as usual, as is Denis Leary, who is downright hilarious in this one. All of the other leads stand out because they each have a personality all their own. The acting is definitely the main factor that carries this one.

This is a great "guy" movie to watch over a few brews. Highly recommended.

Grade: A

Still standing as Jim Carrey's best work to date (and his big screen debut), "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" is one of the silliest and most enjoyable movies out there in the "over-the-top" comedy genre.

Snowflake, the Miami Dolphins' prize halftime show star, has been kidnapped. But by who, and why? Ace puts himself on the case to solve it.

Carrey is a one-man show with bizarre faces and very humorous dialogue. This is a talent showcase for him, unlike his fairly weak recent efforts. Although the sequel to this film fared horribly, this is still the premiere Jim Carrey film to watch.

Grade: A-

With a maze of plot twists and surprises, "Shattered" is one heck of a guesser.

The plot follows Dan Merrick (Tom Berenger) after a horrifying car accident. He suffers from amnesia, and must piece his life together post-accident. As he learns more and more about his past, his life spins out of control, leaving the most horrifying revelation for the end.

"Shattered" is carefully constructed and directed by Wolfgang Peterson. His cast really brings this one together, with great performances by Berenger and Bob Hoskins. It is simply impossible to guess the events in this film as you are watching it, and it is best to go into it knowing as little as possible.

"Shattered" is an excellent effort and film that has been wrongly ignored over the years since its release. This is a great rental for a cold and rainy Saturday night.

Grade: A

What a display this film is. A lesser person would find a million faults with "Back To School," but this is the perfect film to just sit back and watch in the most lighthearted mood you can be in.

"Back To School" is Rodney Dangerfield's best film overall, with huge laughs and a terrific cast.

When Thornton Melon's (Dangerfield) son Jason (Keith Gordon) decides to drop out of school, Thornton must take matters into his own hands in proving that getting an education is one of the most important things in life. To prove it, he enrolls himself in the university.

With excellent supporting roles by Sally Kellerman, Ned Beatty, Robert Downey Jr., and a show-stopping sequence with the late Sam Kinison, "Back To School" offers harmless fun for everyone.

One of the best products of the mid-1980's.

Grade: A

"Blazing Saddles" is a fine example of a film that could never be made today. Coming nowhere close to political correctness as we know it, "Saddles" is Mel Brooks' finest and funniest film.

Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder head a fine cast in this yarn about a black sheriff who is assigned to an all-white town. Back in the old west, this was not heard of or popular. Complete with racist and crude jokes galore, "Saddles" takes a swing at just about everyone. But man is it funny.

Brooks uses all of his resources here, and gets a laugh out of nearly every scene in the film. Slim Pickens steals every scene he is in as the bumbling Taggart, and Brooks himself is very funny as Governor Le Petomane. The late Madeline Kahn is also sensational as a drunken entertainer.

"Blazing Saddles" will always stand the test of time with its edgy humor and hilarious performances. Outstanding!

Grade: A

Can they save "Training Day"? Not quite.

"Training Day" definitely wants to be remembered as an in-your-face, gritty police drama. That it is, except it reaches the level of being so over-the-top that it becomes ludicrous. This particularly rings true for the ending, easily one of the worst of recent memory. I will not give it away, but it really had me scratching my head. The alternative ending on the DVD does not fare better.

Denzel Washington is a show-stopper for the entire film, giving his most over-the-top performance to date (it may even beat out "John Q"). He is obviously having fun, which is what I liked. Hawke is excellent in a difficult role. He has the perfect tone for the most uncomfortable scenes, but can still show authority.

Hothead Antoine Fuqua ("The Replacement Killers") directs with confidence here, and he had excellent production values to work with.

In the end, Washington was worthy of the Oscar (although I still feel Tom Wilkenson from "In The Bedroom" should have taken home the statue), Hawke was questionable as Best Supporting Actor, and a string of unlikely and unbelievable events ran this movie into the ground at about the 90 minute mark.

RATING: B-

Ray Liotta has made an art out of playing a psycho. With his quiet voice and glass eyes, Liotta can be charming one minute and chasing after you with a knife the next.

"Unlawful Entry" tells the story of a well-to-do couple who are terrorized by a seemingly friendly, hard-working cop.

This is the kind of movie that works itself up as the runtime grows. It takes excellent actors to pull this off, and Liotta, Kurt Russell, and Madeleine Stowe pull it off without a hitch. Like "Breakdown," another Russell suspense film, "Entry" always maintains the mentality that this could happen to you.

With solid acting and production values, "Unlawful Entry" is an easy recommendation.

RATING: A-

This little known movie written and directed by Emilio Estevez is near the top of my all time movie guilty pleasures list.

Estevez and Charlie Sheen play two garbagemen who stumble upon a plan by Maxwell Potterdam III (John Getz) that involves dumping hazardous waste into nearby harbors, thus destroying the underwater environment in their area. The city councilmen is also involved in this scheme.

However, this is all a loose plot for the hilarious shenanigans that ensue with Carl and James (Sheen and Estevez), their "observer", Louis (Keith David), and a couple of unlucky cops.

Keith David comes close to stealing the show from Estevez and Sheen with his character of Louis, a Vietnam vet who still suffers from a bit of shellshock. He sees everything through the eyes of war, and this makes for some hilarious sequences, particularly when the friendly pizza delivery man is kidnapped.

All in all, this is mindless, but funny entertainment. It is funnier than 90% of the comedies made these days, and many have never seen or heard of this film.

It should be noted that the VHS tape is out of print (although Amazon.com did release it as an "Amazon Exclusive", but it is now on special order). It can still be found at some rental locations, but has also yet to be released on DVD (I believe MGM has the rights to the film, but I'm not positive). Here's to hoping we see a DVD sometime soon!

Grade: A

I don't think that any of us have seen a film like Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within before. Sure, the basic storyline is recycled from countless other sci/fi films (plus a little anime), but no one has actually SEEN a movie like this one.

Hailed as the first film ever to come from a completely digital domain (meaning the first film to try and simulate actual human movements, unlike other "all digital" films such as Toy Story and Shrek), Final Fantasy breaks new ground without any argument. The movements, the reactions, and the scenery are all right on. This is possibly one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen, transporting us to another world that could not have possibly been created using conventional filmmaking techniques. Brilliant visual work.

If there's any downfall to the film, it's the somewhat stale story. While I enjoyed the vast majority of the movie, there were scenes where I think the pacing dragged a bit. I think the "Phantoms" were used to excess in some scenes, and were not all that interesting to begin with.

The voicings were well done. You'll notice many recognizable voices, such as Alec Baldwin (who I think phoned this one in), Steve Buscemi, and Donald Sutherland. Things were a bit out of sync during some dialogue scenes, but these are petty complaints.

On the whole, this is a breathtaking, if not a bit creepy, launch into the possible future of animated movies. This is eye candy at its finest on the silver screen.

Grade: B+

It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is simply one of the funniest films ever. Made in 1963, it showcases one of the best casts ever assembled for a movie, and uses all of them incredibly well.

When a group of strangers finds themselves helping a dying man after he ran his car off the road, they have no choice to believe his final words about $350,000 being buried under "a big W" in Santa Rosita Park. Thus starts the mad dash for the money, and nearly three hours later, the story is resolved.

Despite its very long running time, "World" never loses your attention. There is so much comedy here, and it happens at such a frequent pace that it is impossible for any scene to be slow. The filmmakers did an amazing job of keeping each subplot straight as we follow the adventures of all the people who are in the hunt for the dough.

There are so many standouts in this movie that it is impossible to point them all out without forgetting someone. The highlights for me were Jonathan Winters and Phil Silvers, as well as Sid Caesar. Unbelievable comedic talent in this film.

If you haven't seen this movie yet, by all means rent it. It holds up very well against the test of time, and it looks like new on DVD.

Grade: A+

Good old Sly Stallone. He sure has put up with a lot of criticism over the past few years, but he's a good sport, and if anything proves that, it's Driven.

I missed this flick in the theaters, and just now caught up with it on DVD. I was well aware of the bad rep this movie has, and I was the most eager to see what the big fuss was. You have Stallone, a seasoned action star in a film helmed by Renny (Cliffhanger, Deep Blue Sea) Harlin. Could it really be that bad?

The answer is no. In fact, I found myself getting into the film in many scenes. Unfortunately, the race scenes were the only ones. The race scenes are, in a word, stunning. The effects do go a bit overboard at times, but overall they are loud, well-shot, and most importantly, exciting.

What is so questionable here is the screenplay. Sly wrote the whole shebang, and it shows. These are some of the most paper-thin characters I have ever seen onscreen. We don't really care about the well-being of any of them, which is not good in a story that has many takes on relationships woven around Indy racing. The dialogue is as stale as three month old crackers, and the acting is very sub-par.

But there's always the argument of "who cares? People will want to see this movie for the race scenes." Understandable. I think that argument holds up well for Days Of Thunder, another racing film. However, the dry romances and dialogue get in the way of this movie, and that is why it did not fully succeed for me.

Overall, this film is not near as bad as its reputation. The production values are top drawer, but a bottom drawer screenplay rained on the parade.

C

Event Horizon is one heck of a ride. Although not overly original (it bears much resemblance to Andrei Tarkovsky's "Solaris"), it is still a fun and often frightening venture into the genre of sci-fi/horror.

Dr. Weir (Sam Neill) invented the Event Horizon, a space vessel capable of "faster than light flight." The Horizon has the capability to bend space, thus making it possible to travel millions of light years in a matter of seconds through an artificial black hole.

Unfortunately, just days after the Event Horizon's maiden voyage begins, it disappears without a trace. Fast forward seven years to the present, and the Horizon has reappeared near Neptune. Where has it been for the past seven years?

That's what Captain Miller (Laurence Fishburne) and his crew (consisting of Weir) set out to do. They board the ship and experience an evil far greater than anything they could have ever imagined.

Event Horizon is easily one of the most eerie and scary films I have seen in the past few years. The film relies on the creepy ambience of the set designs, and this is one of the many reasons it succeeds.

There is also an aura of mystery to the whole story. Where has the ship been? In many ways it is left up to the viewer to decide.

The performances are good. Neill, one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood, delivers the best performance as the shady Dr. Weir. Fishburne makes a good hero, along with a good supporting cast consisting of Kathleen Quinlan, Joely Richardson, and Jason Isaacs, among others.

One last word to the wise. This is by no means a "tame" film. There are dozens of disturbing images and gory deaths. It is probably the most gore that I have seen in a mainstream film in the last five years.

For those who dig sci/fi horror, give this one a look.

A-

Who is Keyser Soze?

Good question, and the answer will make your jaw fall flat on the floor.

The movie follows the testimony of Verbal Kint, the sole survivor of a deadly raid on a ship that was supposed to house $90 million worth of dope. McManus (Stephen Baldwin), Keaton (Gabriel Byrne), Fenster (Benicio Del Toro), Hockney (Kevin Pollak), and Kint himself were hired to retrieve the dope for "Keyser Soze." But who is he?

The Usual Suspects is one of the craftiest and most ingenious thrillers of the 1990's, or any decade. Christopher McQuarrie's screenplay was more than deserving of its Academy Award nomination. The same goes for Spacey's performance as Verbal Kint.

Plenty of crime/thrillers have come down the pike over the years, but what distinguishes The Usual Suspects is how the story is woven together. The story jumps back and forth in time quite often, but never once was I confused. It is ingenious the way it all comes together at the end.

And that ending.....oh boy. I think most regular moviegoers are familiar with the now legendary ending The Usual Suspects. Simply put, it has to be seen to be believed. Period.

An ingenious, very thought-provoking film. Highly recommended.

A+

Every once-in-a-while a film comes along that simply blows the viewer's mind. The Usual Suspects, A Simple Plan, and Magnolia are a few that did so for me. I can now add Memento to that distinguished list.

Memento is a dictionary-definition of top drawer filmmaking. Director Christopher Nolan, basing the story from his brother's idea, has put together the most intricate web of a movie that I have seen in some time, and my hunch is that it was not easy. The entire story is told backwards, with the opening scene actually being the conclusion to the story. This is the first film I have ever seen with a surprise beginning.

The story of revenge is really nothing new. It is Nolan's twist in his filmmaking that makes it all seem fresh.

Guy Pearce portrays Leonard, a man who suffers from the effects of anterograde amnesia, a disorder in which the victim can only remember events from a certain point forward (usually the event that caused the amnesia). The last thing he remembers is his wife being assaulted and killed. Now he is out to find the killers and get his revenge.

Because of Leonard's disorder, he must try and accomplish his revenge with notes and tattoos to remind himself of key facts. No easy task, but he is set in his ways, and wants justice.

Nolan puts the viewer directly in Leonard's shoes, making it easy for us to sympathize with him. This was crucial for the story to work, and Nolan accomplished it effortlessly.

Pearce, who has always favored roles along the lines of this one, plays Leonard flawlessly, with a fierce and determined look, and also that of desperation. The screenplay makes full use of him, and my hunch is that Pearce will have the character of Leonard engrained in him for the rest of his career. Excellent supporting roles are provided by Carrie-Anne Moss and Joe Pantoliano. Who should Leonard trust?

This is dramatic cinema at its best, and in my opinion one of the top three films of the year. This is the kind of movie you find yourself discussing with strangers in line at the grocery store.

Do yourself a favor and see the finest, most engrossing film to come along in the past few years.

A+

The Farrelly brothers follow-up Osmosis Jones with Shallow Hal, a comedy with a heart.

We meet Hal as a child as he talks to his father on his deathbed. His dad gives him valuable words of wisdom about how there is nothing more important in life than getting a little tail.

Fast forward several years and Hal (Jack Black) is shallow as ever with women. All he and his friend Mauricio (Jason Alexander) care about are a woman's physical appearance, that is until one day when he gets trapped in an elevator with Tony Robbins, who unleashes the demons that dominate his opinion of women, making it so he only sees what women are like on the inside, rather than their physical appearances only.

Things take an interesting turn when he meets Rosemary (Gwyneth Paltrow) a woman who looks perfect to him, but obese to the rest of the world.

Jack Black was a great choice for this material. He doesn't top his performance in High Fidelity as music junkie Barry, but his facial expressions and tone of voice make him perfect for the character of Hal. Jason Alexander plays the bizarre Mauricio, complete with spray-on hair and something that I think all of us are glad we don't have. And of course we get the usual assortment of Farrelly brother outcasts, this time a guy with uncontrollable dandruff, a top-heavy midget who walks on all fours, and some truly heinous women.

This is usual Farrelly brother fare (though not as "gross-out" as Dumb And Dumber), but what makes Shallow Hal different is the heart it has. The moral of the story is very good, and something that the filmmakers made sure to get across.

B+