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Reviews10
joesmith2007's rating
Well, yes, agreed (with jesse-26) it *is* good for a few laughs. But to claim that "... only certain people can appreciate..." (it), as jesse-26 did -- um, isn't that comment a bit self-righteous? Isn't that comment a bit, um, typically ...
... Toronto?
I mean, that's the attitude of Toronto's intelligentsia. That they're sooooooo far above the rest of us (Toronto being the "center of the universe", of course), and that the rest of us -- especially red-states and blue-provincers -- could not possibly understand these deep intellectual ramifications.
Because, after all, given we don't have Master's degrees and PhD's, since, if we did, we'd live in civilized places like Toronto or Boston, etc.
And, "...if you respect the characters you'll really get the humour..." -- again, more of the left-wing, high-brow, intelligentsia "holier-than-thou" Toronto thinking that really burns my butt.
Other than that, I love the musical scoring in Billable Hours; top-notch.
... Toronto?
I mean, that's the attitude of Toronto's intelligentsia. That they're sooooooo far above the rest of us (Toronto being the "center of the universe", of course), and that the rest of us -- especially red-states and blue-provincers -- could not possibly understand these deep intellectual ramifications.
Because, after all, given we don't have Master's degrees and PhD's, since, if we did, we'd live in civilized places like Toronto or Boston, etc.
And, "...if you respect the characters you'll really get the humour..." -- again, more of the left-wing, high-brow, intelligentsia "holier-than-thou" Toronto thinking that really burns my butt.
Other than that, I love the musical scoring in Billable Hours; top-notch.
Helpful•651
Naiveté and simplicity are not the hallmarks of this wonderful cinematic masterpiece, as other commentators would have you believe. Instead, this film presents a 40 year old allegory of everything that America is doing wrong today. One becomes 'gelé' as each morsel of film unrolls and presents us with chilling portents of what is to become of American foreign policy, today, in the 21st century.
I find it almost disturbing that the authors and screen-writers knew -- in 1963 -- that the United States would deteriorate into the war-mongering world-wide dictatorship that it has now become. Every single element portrayed in "The Ugly American" -- from the U.S. military/industrial complex to the quest for phoney 'freedom', to the self-righteous White pitying of the starving and wretched Coloreds, to the supposed fight for 'democracy' -- has become the cause celebré of the red-state revolution, the Republican manifesto.
God help us.
I find it almost disturbing that the authors and screen-writers knew -- in 1963 -- that the United States would deteriorate into the war-mongering world-wide dictatorship that it has now become. Every single element portrayed in "The Ugly American" -- from the U.S. military/industrial complex to the quest for phoney 'freedom', to the self-righteous White pitying of the starving and wretched Coloreds, to the supposed fight for 'democracy' -- has become the cause celebré of the red-state revolution, the Republican manifesto.
God help us.
Helpful•3925
For 40 years directors have been trying to replicate Hitchcock. Schumacher has come close. Those of my generation have been waiting for that void (Hitchcock) to be filled by a worthy protégé; he may've arrived. Having turned two Grisham books into exceptional movies, Schumacher may have what it takes.
Were he to have filmed "8 MM" in black and white, it could have even passed for film noir. The cynicism required of that genre's characters is certainly there (though Cage's in the end spoils it a bit with too much of a "Leave it to Beaver" type finish; I would've ended on a darker note centering on the dissolution of his marriage. Lower camera-angles a-la "The Collector" would've enhanced the fear factor). Chris Bauer's "m-my name's George..." as he lays in the rain in the cemetery at the end, nervously putting on his glasses ... chills are sent up one's spine.
Chills that Hitchcock would have given us. Schumacher, you've got what it takes. Just keeping making more like "8 MM".
Were he to have filmed "8 MM" in black and white, it could have even passed for film noir. The cynicism required of that genre's characters is certainly there (though Cage's in the end spoils it a bit with too much of a "Leave it to Beaver" type finish; I would've ended on a darker note centering on the dissolution of his marriage. Lower camera-angles a-la "The Collector" would've enhanced the fear factor). Chris Bauer's "m-my name's George..." as he lays in the rain in the cemetery at the end, nervously putting on his glasses ... chills are sent up one's spine.
Chills that Hitchcock would have given us. Schumacher, you've got what it takes. Just keeping making more like "8 MM".
Helpful•96