Change Your Image
socalcarli
Reviews
Red Roses and Petrol (2003)
Just couldn't do it right
I was excited to see this premiere. "Irish", "Malcolm McDowell", and "Dramedy" were things that attracted my attention. I was thrilled when my friend invited me to the preview. What was good? The music, the setting, and Malcom's acting, although he looked pretty ridiculous in a bow tie at his librarian's desk reciting poetry to the video camera.
Sadly, the drama was overwritten then overacted. It became annoying and quite unbelievable. Pretty soon it was "God, please just get me away form these people!!!" - like a bad telenovela or midnight cat fight, I'm not quite sure.
The "big secret" was really just a small one, and one that everyone would have been much happier if it hadn't been kept a secret. The son was an unbearable ass. The older daughter cycled from screaming to purring continually. I don't know why her fiancé stayed with her (or why most people stayed in the theater).
I did however, learn where Keith Richards got the "I snorted dad's ashes" story...
Bed of Roses (1996)
Restraining order please...
I've tried to like this film, really. In watching it, all I can think is, "This guy gives me the creeps, I would have gotten a restraining order". It also calls out CODEPENDENCE in capital letters. Was this really the conversation before making the movie? "Let's make a film that puts two chronically depressed, socially inept people into a relationship which deepens their isolation and encourages them to complain about how bad their lives are!" From what I've seen in life is that the last thing on earth we find attractive in a potential mate is constant self-pity.
The mood of the movie is distinctly 80-ish; brooding and slow. Don't get me wrong, the film has its moments, just very few of them.
Boys on the Side (1995)
Great Dark Comedy
I see this once every few years and remember why I think it's so cool. This is definitely a women's movie; about the friendships between women. Each one has her own personal challenges, like we all do in real life. They sometimes have difficulty with each other, like friends in real life. They depend on and support each other, like friends do in real life. The movie is both funny and sad, like real life.
I've always thought Mary Louise Parker is a great actress, though sometimes I have tired of her "victim" roles - before her "Weeds" days (love Weeds)! Here's Drew at her Drew-i-est, adding her own bubbly appeal to Holly, clueless as to how bad her relationship with the drug dealer (now dead - at her hands) was. Anyone who has tired of Whoopi's poor choice of movie roles (do I really have to list them?) will be refreshingly surprised at her skill in this movie. She really brings it to the table.
One more thing - boys ARE on the side here - but I have to mention a couple, because I really do love them! Matthew Mc in his younger days as Abe Lincoln; HONEST ABE, too cute, too by-the-book, but thoroughly engaging. Finally, James Remar, who I loved and loved to hate as Richard in Sex in the City, oozes sexiness.
I love a good dark comedy, and this is a great one.