Reviews

Much like the protagonist in the story, the film is all style no substance. For some reason, whenever I go to see a movie in the theater I eat a large bag of candy and a huge soda, I don't do this anywhere else in life but for this movie it was strangely fitting. At first, when watching Grand Budapest, It was Visually appealing and indeed Anderson may have missed his true calling as a premiere interior designer for the European aristocracy, as each scene is set up perfectly. My problem with the movie, and all Andersons movie's post Rushmore for that matter, is you don't really walk away from the films having gained anything as far as insight into life, or rewarding feeling you may have after let's say watching Woody Allen's "Blue Jasmine" which was layered. Sure, GBH was pretty to look at, and it is fun to see all the great actors (mostly used as props in the same way the villains 1932 Sara lea motorcycle was used) but when leaving the theater this time I felt a bit sick after, and I'm not sure it was completely the fault of eating the large bag of candy and sugary soda, in fact I felt more sick than I usually do after leaving the theater.

This movie was worth while, it was interesting, entertaining and made you think. For a fan of the shining, or Kubrick or conspiracy theories this was a great film. Junk science came to mind a few times, to me the most interesting parts of the film were the details which were brought to the attention of the viewer which Kubrick definitely had a hand in, the conspiracy theories, ideas about the holocaust, extermination of the native Americans and faking of the lunar landing were a bit more out there but intriguing and I wouldn't put anything past Kubrick. The most interesting point of the film to me was the discussion of post modern works of art and the claim that irregardless of the authors intent, themes can be found which might have been or have not been consciously intended. Overall, the mind of Kubrick, his eye for detail, his humor and overall brilliance is what is most evident when watching this film. If one looks for themes and ways to make connections they can be found in many different places, overall this can lead to seeing reality though higher levels of awareness and if one is lucky enough glimpses of enlightenment, that was the broader and most important theme in this movie.

Where to begin? this movie was beyond bad, two hours of my life I will never have back. Almost amazing how many plot holes, problems and just down right insulting situations to the intelligence of even the most idiotic movie goer. I've seen funnier stuff at the laundromat while watching my clothes tumble around. My five year old step son could have written a funnier, more believable, intelligent script, and he has, he is quite talented.

Very few times have I left a comedy angry, but this was one of those rare occasions. I should have realized when I saw the crowd come out of the previous showing with looks on their face like they had just been duped into buying a 1982 Chevy Malibu with the body of a 1968 camaro on top of it's frame. If I could go back in time and change one thing in my life it would be to have not seen this movie.

The way to watch this film is with the Nicholson commentary. This is a very good art film with intriguing ideas and an existentialist theme, however the pace is so slow that at times you would get bored, Nicholson's commentary fits perfectly into this and adds a great deal. Today this would be considered way to slow. In the seventies art films like this were able to have long shots with little or no dialogue. In this world of video games and high budget cgi action its refreshing to see something that you can get absorbed in or lost in like a dream, and reflects more accurately the pace and events of real life.

The story narration flips between past, present and location. At times it can be a bit difficult to follow, both where they are and when they are, but this adds to the overall intrigue of the film. Identity, time, place are all interwoven together. The themes are Bunuelian in many ways and this type of film, with real ideas and themes about the existence of life and what it means to live with an identity are explored very well. Movies like this simply aren't being made today.

The name of the game in this film is "understated." Everything, from the performance by Nicholson to the sex scene, or implied one, and car chase, or implied one is not over the top. Maria Schnieder doesn't give a stellar performance. In the commentary, Nicholson states she was on pain pills for a back problem, however it was well known at the time she had a drug problem. Seems like she was on drugs throughout the film. Maybe heroin or some kind of downer, I watched this film in many ways to see her follow up to "The Last Tango in Paris" where she was vibrant, charismatic, and very sexually charged. This film, seems like she is more subdued, jaded and reserved and she is still only 23 at the time this was made. "Last Tango In Paris" took its toll on her, even by this point it is apparent she was damaged by what had happened during the aftermath of that film.

Like many people out there I'm sure, I had a loose understanding and knowledge of Basquit, but this film is very enlightening by filling in the missing gaps that I personally hadn't known about his life as told through those closest to him. The Director, who had a friendship with Basquit, does a wonderful job of interviewing people who knew him to really paint a full portrait of the mans character. Brilliant, creative, very sensitive.

Basquiat of course, rose to fame from the streets even though his father was a well off accountant. His life story is sad, in the crusty, white world of art in the late seventies and early eighties in NYC, the obnoxious liberals who Basquiat was often demeaned by, because of his ethnic background which he felt, probably rightly so, like he was being viewed as some kind of primitive animal. Very sad, very moving film about a gifted artist and one of the best of the 20th century.

So much has been said and divulged over the years about Vietnam and the atrocities committed, both in Hollywood films such as "Platoon" "Full Metal Jacket" and many others as well as by the random veteran or family member who may have served, but to see the actual soldiers that either witnessed or participated in the horror while the war was still raging is something else entirely, and too see how fresh it was, and how young these guys were at the time. This generational nightmare takes it to a more real and personal level. the men gathered to divulge what they had participated in or witnessed in Vietnam in April of 1971 in Detroit, showed extreme bravery by willing to testify. At that point in history, the returning soldiers were spat on, in almost a national denial, those who didn't go to Vietnam couldn't wrap their brains around the fact that it was rancid all the way up, no one was stopping the chaos and anarchy that was happening in "The Nam" so they blamed the returning soldiers. The men who fought were victims, the whole experience was horrendous from top to bottom. America the beautiful indeed.

First off, let me say this is a movie with a great cast of actors, most of them going on to really define themselves in other movies as true talents. That being said, this movie is really dated, and if it was other people acting in it would fail completely. Having lived in Ann Arbor for five years on the campus of the University of Michigan, I can honestly say that the director truly did capture the smug self importance of university of Michigan alumni. This he got down perfectly, as well as the narcissism and ego of the baby-boomer generation, who hypocritically dove head first into greed and money after sowing revolutionary oats in the sixties.

But most of all, this film seems to be about the confusion and despair those of that generation were during the early years of the , capitalist 80's. The characters reconnecting after one of their college friends killed himself because he felt he was a failure, speaks volumes for the self induced pressures placed on those of that time. Real or imaginary, failure didn't seem to be an option.

Tom Berrenger as the movie star character of J.T. Lancer, a take off of T.J. Hooker of course, seems the most out of place amongst this group of friends, he doesn't seem like a Michigan graduate, way too good looking and far less cerebral. Jeff Goldblum would be perfect, he would have been a student and graduate from Michigan, intelligent, smug, self important, selfish.

The woman who wants a baby, the character played by Mary Kaye Place, she claims she just wants someone to "Plant the seed" but when Jeff Goldblum offers she says something sarcastic about how it wasn't romantic, if she truly just wanted someone to plant the seed and nothing more romance shouldn't be a consideration. This of course is just one flaw in the film. Overall, at the time this came out, and for people of a certain generation I'm sure this was an important film, but now in this day and age it is way less relevant, as many wish they had the luxury of choosing to reject capitalism, most are struggling to get by during this time of the great reset.

Above average sitcom, which isn't saying much. My first thoughts about "the Office" are don't any of these people date anyone outside of "the office"? I don't know about you people, but when I have worked in offices most people that worked in them dated or were married to people that were not working in the same space, sure a few did here and there but that was the exception instead of the norm. Second, the surrogate laugh track is provided by either A. references to why something should be funny by the actors speaking to the camera in mockumentary style, or 2. a slight look or wink to the camera to let us know we should be laughing, usually by Jim saying "Hey! isn't't this funny?". In my humble opinion, this is both primitive, and stupid as far as jokes go, don't tell me I should be laughing, if it's funny, I will laugh without having to be told it's funny. Like I said earlier, this is an amusing sitcom at best, slightly different than the standard pathetic sitcoms with a laugh track but in reality still a donkey dressed up in lipstick and high heels. Demonstrating the low brow level of intelligence and base stupidity that remains and will remain to pass for entertainment to the masses.

Like "Sex and the city" last summer was a film for women who acted stupid and vulgar, who dredged up the most moronic and insipid aspects of American culture, this is it's spiritual twin, the movie of the summer, the comedy that will make 300 million dollars, that morons will be quoting over and over even though the lines were not clever or quotable. The film is one five minute joke stretched out for what seems to be an eternity. I saw this today and spent 20 bucks including food on this piece of garbage, two hours of my life gone forever, if only I was as lucky as the characters in the film and could have forgotten the entire thing, what happens when you see the hangover stays with the hangover, that would be great. I actually left the theater hoping I didn't see anyone I knew as I was walking out because I was so embarrassed to have sat through the entire film. All in all this movie was no where near as good as the book, boring as hell, lame, stupid, embarrassing. It will make 300 million dollars this summer.

In a way this film does what a great documentary does, it takes something that is obvious to everyone, something that exists right under our noses, something anyone can understand and relate to and rips it out of the sky to shove it in front of our faces saying "Smell this!" Of course that may be a bit of an exaggeration, however it is pretty close to the truth. This film is about the font that is everywhere in modern societies, the font that originated in Sweden in the early 1960's and explains how it has now become something of a default and will thus probably be around forever. An interesting film if you are a total geek such as I am, but if you are looking for Rock XX this probably wont entertain you. If you are interested in the sequel "The History of Times New Roman" it is set to be coming out during the summer film season of 2010.

I stumbled upon this film on Netflix while perusing the documentary section and I'm very glad I did. This was very moving and thoughtful film, the filmmaker weaves his own life story into that of the subject, who was a precocious four year old boy in the Haight Ashbury sixties and now an adult trying to figure out his own place in the world. A very quiet meditation on life, relationships, the impermanence of everything we think will last forever. It was like watching years fly by in the blink of an eye, which in a way they actually do, both beautiful and depressing. Possibly not for everyones taste but as someone who didn't live in the sixties or have anything to do with those times it was still a fascinating peak into life at the time and the people who lived during that era.

The fact this movie wasn't seen by many people is more proof of it's greatness. This film is hilarious and sad, it's so on point that it is sickening. What is ostensibly five hundred years in the future is right in front of us today. Human's are de-evolving, becoming far less intellectual and are in no ways advancing. Thanks to this brilliant, scathing look at society and our future, we could change it, but of course we will all prolly be too busy "batin" to care. This should be required viewing in high schools all across America along with "1984" and "Utopia" as well as "Animal Farm" At times you don't know whether to laugh or cry when watching this masterpiece, from the mind of Judd, we are given another glimpse into the greatness that is the great unwashed, a view into the ugly mind that is the American psyche, and treated to many product placement advertisements. A must see for everyone, even if you don't quite understand what its about, go see it!

Perhaps I was expecting too much from this comedy. Ben Stiller films can be funny when done well, "The Cable Guy" "Zoolander" "Reality Bites" etc. but this one tried to beat the same jokes over and over. Pretty predictable and kind of boring towards the end. The best laughs came in the start of the film with the Mach previews, but then the jokes form the beginning were recycled over and over. I'm not sure if this film was trying too hard or not hard enough. Tom Cruise has a comedic turn as "Les Grossman" the billionaire backing the film, and the scenes with him dancing were pretty funny. All in all, not worth ten bucks, but probably worth renting on Netfix or watching on cable if you are really stoned.

Incredibly well done Woody Allen film probes the depth of the human psyche in ways few other films of the time do. The upper echelon of society is exposed to be as corrupt and sinister as that of the mafia which the bourgeois look down their noses in disdain. The story is a mix of comedy and high drama, a great work of art.

Alan Alda is great as an arrogant director, hilarious. Martin Landau plays a doctor with his own secrets, he engages in an affair and then attempts to take care of the problem. His brother is a mafioso who has one of the most memorable roles in any woody Allen film and has a great line that basically sums up this film. "I can't afford to live in this world of mansions and pools, I live in the real world" All in all, one of Allen's best films to date, complex, thought provoking and insightful

This is the quintessential Woody Allen film and defined a generation of people at the time it came out in 1977, many of his later films repeat the same ideas and themes of this one. Great romantic comedy, possibly THE romantic comedy of romantic comedies. The film centers around Allen in his typical nebbishy character, and his romantic involvement with Diane Keaton. Very funny, great 1970's feel, really captures the mood of Manhattan at the time, a time capsule which feels slightly dated but in a fantastic nostalgic way, not in a outdated campy way. Sums ups Allens theory about life pretty well, people in New York don't have to worry about much so they create their own neuroses. A template for what a romantic comedy should be to all those trying to write or make films.

Like the title of the film "Interiors" is as much about the psychology of the characters as it is about the mother who decorated the inside of homes. Fantastic, scorching drama by Woody Allen, his best. The film centers around the lives of one family, they each have issues to work out and they interact with each other based on personalities that are in strong opposition to one another. As the film unravels it resembles something close to a Bergman film, dark, brooding and deeply subconscious. Allen definitely was influenced by Bergman while making this film.

Allen, who is typically known as a comedic writer and director shatters the his own mold with this one and demonstrates his range and insight.

from the opening shot of "Manhattan" with Woody Allen speaking over the pictures of Manhattan and the music of Gershwin, this film is pure magic. Firing on all cylinders, Allen hits an artistic peak with this film following success from "Annie Hall" and the brilliant "Interiors" Allen finishes out the seventies with a crescendo that matches that of the Gershwin song that opens film.

The stark black and white images of New York City, in the summer, in the winter in snow, and with fireworks truly demonstrates Allen's love affair with the great city, this is an ode to the city of his birth as well as a fantastic period piece, the last second of the 1970's and it feels that way when watching this movie. It has such a strong 70's feel that its great for that one aspect alone, however, many more fantastic aspects exist in this film. Mariel Hemingway is beautiful and outstanding, the love triangle with Diane Keating, Allen and Michael Murphy is skillfully expressed and crafted, and the ending is superb. This is one of those rare films that gives the viewer chills, and not just once but many times. Simply stated, this movie is why people who love film, love film.

This film is better upon the second viewing, the first time I saw this I thought it was somewhat dated or boring, I couldn't have been more wrong. Initially I watched this film because it was directed by Haskell Wexler whose work I admire, and I'm from Chicago and had heard it shows much of the city and the riots of 68. I enjoyed seeing the city forty years ago to see what was the same and what had changed, much has changed yet much remains the same from what I have seen of the people, places, buildings etc. It was great to see the Kinetic Playground on there, Chicago's electric ballroom, and other area's such as Lincoln Park. On the second viewing, I realized that this is a very important film in that it adroitly captures a moment in time, a moment we can never have again that is lost forever, that one second in our history that pivoted us as a nation between innocence and awareness and possibly that crucial moment which has brought us to the point we are at today. This movie is very important as a document of history, not to mention how well it's shot. The angles, the color, the way he goes in and out of focus make this a true gem that gets better the more you see it. Great soundtrack as well, Zappa, Mike Bloomfield and others.

I have to be honest, I really wasn't expecting much out of this film, I mean, Stiffler in a serious role? but wow was I pleasantly surprised, pleased as punch I would almost say. A truly heartfelt film, you get the sense the writer/director genuinely felt for his subject, which from what I have read about this film is really based on a true story which makes it even more funny in my opinion. The stuff in this movie is so funny it could not have been made up! Really well done with the writing and directing and I think it was the writer/directors debut film? which to me is even more impressive. Some of the scenes had me rolling on the floor with laughter, all in all well worth seeing, great, original and heartfelt, I really look forward to seeing more from this writer/director and I heard a rumor he plays the banjo!

When I saw this film for the first time in the theater in 1996 it was shortly after Ace Ventura had come out and a bit after Carey had left "In Living Color" what I was expecting was a screwball comedy, what I got was a dark cinematic masterpiece that I didn't appreciate until two years later when a friend insisted I watch it again. Jim Carey in this film demonstrates that he is a genius. One of the most talented, best acted, comedic performances of all time, no joke. This film is brilliantly written, not a bad note, skillfully directed and coupled with outstanding acting from Jim Carey this becomes one of those rare cinematic gems that like a fine French wine or Farrah Fawcet gets better with age, as time goes by this film gets better and better with each passing year and can only truly be appreciated with repeated viewings.

As a Tim Burton fan going back to seeing "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" in the theaters, I have followed Tim Burton's career and seen all his films. He is a true talent and "Sweeney Todd" did not disappoint. In Victorian England, Sweeney Todd returns to his home of London after being falsely imprisoned for fifteen years by the dastardly Alan Rickman, to find his wife ostensibly dead and his daughter imprisoned. He seeks revenge and quickly decides to take it out on all of London, not just the man who did him wrong, this was an interesting twist. The tone, as one could imagine, is very dark and Gothic, what Burton does best, but what makes Burton stand out amongst almost everyone else is that his visual style is accompanied by a very brilliant and dark sense of humor. The combination of these two things, together with fine acting performances, the boy who played Toby was outstanding, truly made this a haunting, surreal, dreamlike film that was well worth the price of admission. Who doesn't love Tim Burton's take on London? Dark, dirty, foggy and man those meat pies!

This is getting sad, really really sad. This was AT BEST an average film. Like so many films of 2007, gimmicks and marketing as well as hype take the place of good film-making. I'm starting to think people don't know what makes a film great anymore. This story HAS been done MANY times, don't go crazy for this movie because it is a COEN brothers and you think you MUST like it. The story worked for the most part, but WAKE UP PEOPLE! this wasn't that great or original a film! We have seen this story before, we have seen these characters before, because he had a cattle killer and an off-center haircut, don't think this was something fantastic.