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CerebralInTheCity
Reviews
The Fugitive (1993)
A well done thriller
I saw THE FUGITIVE on cable. I really enjoyed it. It is a winning story, based on an old TV series. The characters were created by Roy Huggins.
The story, written by David Twohy, and the screenplay written by Twohy and Jeb Stuart, created many highs and lows, and kept it suspenseful all the way through. It is about a doctor's wife that is murdered. The murderer gets away and the doctor is convicted of the crime. The doctor escapes from going to prison and tries to find the real killer, while a persistent U.S. marshal is on his tail.
The direction by Andrew Davis was superb, mixing a human drama within a thriller with lots of action sequences.
This movie worked very well as a movie. The story and the script seemed very crafty. I was rooting for the main character (Harrison Ford) all the way and also for the lieutenant (Tommy Lee Jones) and his team ( Joe Pantoliano, Daniel Roebuck) who were after him.
I Love You, Man (2009)
A surprisingly good comedy
Paul Rudd is funny as Peter Klaven, a real estate agent who realizes that he has no male friend to be his best man at his future wedding. So, he tries to meet men. He meets Sydney, played with great comedic skill by Jason Segel. They hit it off. Too well. Peter's fiancée makes him choose between her and his new found best friend.
The whole cast is perfect. Along with Rudd and Segel, there is Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, J.K. Simmons, Jane Curtin, Jon Favreau and Jaime Pressly.
Director, John Hamburg creates a very appetizing mood to enjoy the antics. He knows comedy and knows how to direct actors in comedy.
The well written script by John Hamburg and Larry Levin goes beyond just the comedy and explores what friendship is all about.
Theodore Shapiro contributes with a very fine score.
I enjoyed this film a lot.
Channels (2008)
Given the romance, it was so affecting that it caught me off guard.
"Channels" is very affecting movie, a romantic comedy with a mix of some profoundly sincere thought.
A character named "Black" (appropriate for his mood in the beginning) is a movie producer on the rise, who is having a hard time dealing with a movie that he is producing. The head of the studio feels that Black is messing up with his creative personnel. With all that is going on, the only place Black finds any solace, is when he goes home and routinely channels surfs, not really watching what is on the TV. He does, however, take note of a certain character, "Katherine", who appears on a specific TV series that comes on regularly. He is enchanted by her. Then one night, through an odd, unexplainable circumstance, the character appears in his apartment.
They decide to figure out what is going on, but instead, eventually fall in love with each other. At a certain point, Katherine says that she simply doesn't care about making sense out of it all, and that they should just believe in their love and that is what matters, and that is what is "real." Black hesitates. And in that hesitation, he may have lost her.
There is an interesting symbolism of a train passing by in his dreams. The train, representing time passing, fits in with his not taking advantage of the opportunity that appeared to him at a moment in time. The moment he hesitated. So, he tries very hard to get her back
Channels stars Nat Christian, a completely honest actor, who is very interesting to watch. He imbues his characterization with a kind of poetic philosophical artistic stroke. Projecting a character's philosophy is an interesting place to go for an actor. And, in a restrained characterization, he makes it look simple .
"Katherine" is played by Kim Oja, whose terrific talent matches her endearing nature. Oja seems very comfortable playing both comedy and drama, and she pulls it off.
There are other marvelous actors, such as Ed Asner, John Kassir, Joan Van Ark and Taylor Negron. They were cast well, because each brings specific characterizations to this piece.
The score by Rossano Galante is stirring and fits in with the poetic nature of "Channels."
The writing and directing also had Nat Christian at the helm. He blends his thematic and cinematic vision with a commanding skill, allowing us to laugh at times, feel the romance, and still ponder the central question With two lovers in a strange situation, if one believes strongly enough in the "love" could that make the situation real?
Casablanca (1942)
One of the greats
There as been so much said about this classic movie that I doubt I can add much in the way of a review. However, I will express my thoughts, because I would still like to show my appreciation for this movie.
I am very appreciative, because CASABLANCA captivates, holds our interest and entertains from the first frame of the movie until the very last.
The script by Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein and Howard Koch is excellent, without a boring section in it. It develops the characters beautifully as the story progresses.
Michael Curtiz's direction is 100 percent. Curtiz knew just how much importance to give each scene, all the while keeping the "romance" part of the movie at the forefront.
The acting is perfect. Although I've heard of many actors being up for the part, I can't think of anyone being better suited for the male lead than Humphrey Bogart. Ingrid Bergman is just beautiful. She doesn't need to do much, because her eyes are so expressive.
The supporting cast consists of great actors, including Claude Rains.
Here is a movie that didn't have any elements of action or sex or real violence, or any of the benefits of digital effects, yet it shines masterfully.
It's no wonder that Casablanca has made it on most critic's top ten lists.
Ran (1985)
A must see
Okay, the story by Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni and Masato Ide is only part of the beauty of this movie.
The real creator/maker of RAN is Akira Kurosawa. The colors, the composition, the imagery, the symbolism and the movement are all choreographed to touch our hearts, minds and imaginations. And they all come together this way because of director, Kurosawa.
This is one of the most breathtakingly visual films that I have ever seen. I'm not sure TV sets ill do it justice, with all of the color and contrast controls.
The movie deals with classic plot devices like greed, power, loyalty and love. To be sure, it was adapted (so I've read) from William Shakespeare's KING LEAR. If so, then it was a brilliant adaptation, because, even just visually, the story works.
I would highly recommend this movie.
Grease (1978)
A great musical
Director Randal Kleiser knocks it out of the park with this musical.
Personally, I don't find the 1950s era all that interesting. All I've seen are leather jackets, greasy hair and a superficial gangster type of attitude with the bad boys.
But Kleiser takes all of those elements, which ultimately was written by Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey and Allan Carr and Bronte Woodard, and has a whole bunch of fun with them. That translates real well on the screen.
Also contributing to the fun and energy of GREASE are its main characters, portrayed beautifully by John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing and Jeff Conaway.
The music is fantastic all around. All of the songs seem to capture an era gone by.
The choreography is one of the most amazing things about this movie, and it is by the very talented Patricia Birch.