Reviews
Plots with a View (2002)
Excellent black humour
Once again seeing this kind of movies turns me more and more into English humor, not too often seen on screen since the days of Monty Python and Man About The House. Too bad.
Brenda Blethyn (Who I first saw in Saving Grace early in the year, another must see by the way.) just excels, as Alfred Molina does. The rest of the cast, while virtually unknown to me, turns on great performances too. The film starts slowly and gradually gains in pace and amusement - midway I had tears in my eyes from laughing.
All in all, a funny English movie, a thousand times better than the supposedly 'funny' garbage that comes from Hollywood.
Saving Grace (2000)
The kind of film Hollywood would never dare make
I just thought it was excellent and I still do. I'm grateful we're still able to see different stuff from what Hollywood almost floods us with. Saving Grace is smart and enjoyable - those who feel offended by the marijuana thing better go see the America's bride sort of movie.
Saving Grace also shows that a funny movie doesn't have to be stupid. I was laughing my ass off during most of it but also pondering questions about what was the female lead character supposed to do to pay her deceased husband's debts.
In a nutshell - a witty storyline with typical English humour and good acting and directing. You couldn't ask for more.
7/10.
Dogville (2003)
Boring as hell
Just saw it late afternoon, and I was induced to yawning or even falling asleep for a while. I didn't leave the room in the hope that as the film went on it would improve and take a fast pace, but man was I wrong.
I'm not keen on Hollywood blockbusters (Most of which are lame) but neither am I on endless drags like Dogville. I may like independent stuff as long as it's visible, but this eternal piece should be recommended for people suffering from insomnia. If I had known this movie is totally filmed in what looks like a typical theater stage I would've saved four or used them to see something better.
I don't doubt the people involved in its filming and playing have done a good job, but the whole thing seems too weird - come on, a town in the middle of nowhere with no landscape in sight but darkness, etc...
I won't carry on as not to spoil it, though I think readers will know what to do by now.
In a nutshell, and using a typical Spanish saying, this movie even puts the sheep to sleep.
1/10.
The Song Remains the Same (1976)
A mixed bag
WARNING!!! There might be spoilers!!!!!
Despite being a great Zep fan (Actually they are my second favorite band, after Pink Floyd) the footage doesn't make them justice as far as I am concerned and gets clumsy every now and then. There are too many technical mistakes that even somebody like me with no knowledge on the matter can notice. At one point during Dazed and Confused the camera crosses the screen from left to right covering Jimmy Page.This and some other huge errors makes me wonder how this film got to make the final cut. Other flaws include music sounding that's not actually on screen. The viewers may wonder if this movie was made by a bunch of aficionados, as flawed the filming gets from time to time.
On the other hand, most of the performances are inspired though sadly the silly fantasy sequences sometimes prevent us from seeing the music be played. A few of those scenes are utterly embarrassing, like Robert Plant's, which I actually skip when I play the movie. Too bad Page's fine solo in No Quarter was edited. In fact there are better versions of the songs in the soundtrack than in the film. If you compare the video versions of some songs to the ones in the cd you can notice the latter were clearly retouched (Example of this are Robert's vocals in bits of Rock and Roll and Dazed and Confused).
Certainly some of the most enjoyable moments are those that seemingly did not happen in the venue where this was recorded (The credits dixit). Example of this is when the band manager, Peter Grant, and the tour manager Richard Cole are arguing with some guy (Probably the house manager) over him allowing unauthorized photos of the band to be sold in the hallways of the venue. The credits don't fool me though they claim these scenes didn't occur there. The same can be said of the footage of a long-haired fan being chased by the police inside the Madison Square Garden during Dazed and Confused. Catches our attention the fact that this footage gets abruptly to an end when the hapless guy has finally been grabbed and the cops take him to a room and slam the door just when the camera is about to enter. I don't even want to imagine what the police did to him, considering how little aware of human rights these guys are. Sorry guys, but this part doesn't seem fictitious.
By and large, The Song Remains The Same is a mediocre example of what was like to see Led Zeppelin live on their 1973 tour, that the band themselves does not consider their best, by the way. I like it overall but can't give a too high rating because of the mistakes listed above. Sure the band have more (and better) gigs taped and filmed, and they should have been put out instead of this poor sample. If Led Zeppelin were not one of my favorite bands I had been harsher on my review.
7/10.
Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii (1972)
Wonderful
This is what Pink Floyd were like before Dark Side of the Moon shattered their status as a cult band. By performing in such peculiar surroundings they showed they didn't care if this was a daring move - playing live with no public but an empty amphitheater build 2000 years before.
The songs are greatly performed - the only flaws are the filming, that sometimes doesn't show what it should. Examples of that are One Of These Days and near the end of Echoes, part 1. However, the video is a must see and have for any true Floyd fan. The Mademoiselle Nobs bit with the dog singing to a blues melody is amusing, reminding us of the same device used in the track Seamus from the Meddle album.
By the way, it is said there is one edition of this video featuring interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of the band in the studio, but unfortunately this is not the one I've got.
Forget about the lame stuff the Roger-less Floyd have put out and sit down, relax and watch a great piece of music.
10/10.
Territorio Comanche (1997)
I liked it
Well, some people have really come down hard on this movie, saying it's more of a documentary. So what? Although I haven't seen it since the year it was premiered, I do recall liking it. To me, what matters about a film is if it lives up to what I have come to expect, and this was the case. It's realistic stuff about the lousy war (Well, each and every one of them are lousy after all) that took place in Bosnia during most of the nineties. However, peace has not totally arrived there yet.
8/10.
The English Patient (1996)
Not bad, but not for me
This is a film I approach with mixed feelings, because while I think it's a good piece of work, its excessive running time (Three hours?) and the extremely sluggish pace don't make for a movie I want to see. Actually I watched it in the cinema (Thinking it would be 'faster') and I remember nearly falling asleep and wanting the movie to end.
Make no mistake. I'm not saying the movie is bad, but its flaws are what I've pointed out above, and if a film has a good cast and acting but lasts much too much, loses most of its charm. Similar examples include Magnolia or Gandhi, being the latter one I haven't seen nor I think I ever will. Not that I am fond of shallow stuff, but I don't like seeing films that could be used as a cure for insomnia, either. I'm serious.
However, I'm going to give The English Patient at least a rating of five, because you could do a lot worse.
The Net (1995)
Pretty good for Sandra Bullock
Well, first of all I have to say that while I am fond of Sandra Bullock for her personality, at the same time I think most of the films she's been in are not a must see. Exceptions include While You Were Sleeping and The Net. I know people will be outraged to see I'm not listing Speed but to me it's an overhyped movie, essentially due to Keanu Reeves' presence.
Actually I watched The Net last night on TV for the third time (First I saw it in English while I was in the US and the remaining two have been in Spanish) and I would like to say it's probably the best movie she's been in, although that's not saying much, given her weakness for being part of expendable stuff like 28 Days or any other titles I can't bother to name. Her acting in The Net is pretty good. I'm not saying the film is out of sight but nevertheless is better than the usual lousy thriller, and manages to keep you entertained and thrilled thru the whole movie.
7/10.
Friends (1994)
Used to like it, but now...
As the title above says, I used to be a fan of this show, because I was able to deal with all the annoying aspects (Goddamn noisy laughs coming from nowhere and for no reason, silly plotlines, etc...) but I finally got sick of it and quit watching.
It's not only that the show is unrealistic, but the fact that the storylines have become kinda old, predictable and overused (Everybody trying and dating one another, all women pregnant or on the way to be, etc...) and the nail on the coffin to me was the appalling news that they had renewed for a ninth season. NBC should be ashamed of this. After all, as the cast haven't earned enough money so far, let's give them a few millions more. I find myself wondering: Why not use this money in promoting new and better shows?
It's true what other users have written here - the cast is pretty lame at acting and the show is not funny, but the problem is you've got millions of people who like it. And I can't see how someone compare Friends to Seinfeld. The latter WAS a good show, and didn't have to rely on a cute cast for ratings. In Friends' case, it seems the cast was selected from a models' agency (In regards to the actresses, and they have gotten so thin and malnourished that it's sick to look at them now).
I only hope this season was definitely the last.
Man About the House (1973)
They don't make shows like this anymore, do they?
I absolutely LOVED this show when it aired here, even though I was a little kid by then. It had the kind of charm and mood that keeps you laughing until it hurts, the cast was excellent and so was the timing. If compared to what the sitcom genre has degenerated to (And I don't think it's necessary to name any specific title, most of the sitcoms are awful except Seinfeld) it's a crying shame that shows like Mad About The House are no longer made. Whatever happened to witty writing and great cast?
What you've got now in any sitcom is a cast full of supposedly cute girls who look like they just got out of a concentration camp, plus they can't act. And male cast is not much better, either. It seems any sitcom actor/actress must come out of a models' agency, as if the 'beauty' actually mattered more than the acting skills.
Somebody may accuse me of nostalgia, and I'm willing to be called that if it means yearning for good and funny shows like Mad About The House. The current sitcoms really stink. And I am looking forward to be able to get this fantastic show on DVD someday. By the way, The Roper was awesome as well.
10/10.
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Good acting, boring film
I am not a Russell Crowe fan, but found his a good performance, along with Jennifer Connelly's and Ed Harris'. But, in spite of this, the film turned out to be a little dreary and too long. Why on earth the current trend is making films as long as possible? Can't we have a good movie whose running time doesn't go beyond two hours?
Being a little sensitive when it comes to the same old political references, I got the willies when the "Russians-are-out-to-drop-a-bomb-on-us" quote came first. I thought we'd had enough of that bullshit in the past, but apparently not. To be honest, I didn't know the film's action was set in such a large period of time, starting in the early stages of cold war and ending in the nineties, but anyway that remark made me lose interest real quick. Plus the movie drags on too long. Any good film can be flawed by an excessive running time, like happens to be the case and, despite Crowe's great performance, his character is boring at times. I could not care less for John Nash if he is that dull.
To sum up, the film is not bad but, as for deserving so much hype, I sincerely doubt it. Not that this year there is a lot of Oscar-deserving movies as far as I know, aside from Lord of the Rings, of course. Maybe Bridget Jones' Diary should have been nominated, but I guess it's too "incorrect" for those Hollywood morons to take.
6/10.
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
A true masterpiece
To put it simply, this is one of the best movies ever, not only because of its incredible cast. The plotline is sharp and the pace is very good as well.
Just listing the actors involved you get impressed (Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey and Alec Baldwin). The latter, in spite of his brief appearance as the mean Blake, turns on a stellar performance.
I don't think the rat-race has ever been better described than in this film. The real world in most jobs is like we see here. If you don't make it to the top, you're just fired and that's it for you.
Too bad that movies like these (Realistic, to say the least) are not generally very accepted by the bulk of the public.
10/10.
Hill Street Blues (1981)
You can't beat it
This show started airing in my country when I was in my early teens, and before long I became hooked. Now that most of TV stuff is utter crap I remember Hill Street Blues once in a while, wondering why most of current shows are so bad.
Hill Street Blues was and will be the best and most realistic show ever made about the day-to-day life in a police station. The characters were believable, and so were the storylines. I definitely can say I miss it.
10/10.
Silver Streak (1976)
Not perfect, but enjoyable
It's been ages since the last time I saw this film, and I really miss not being able to see it every now and then. Indeed I don't remember a lot about it, but the fact that it's the kind of fast-paced movie I usually enjoy. Plus the end, when the train breaks into the passengers lounge. Sorry so short.
They don't make stuff like this anymore, and that's a shame. I guess some people may find it too "Seventish" but it's funny to me, considering that Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder's subsequent projects were definitely on the downhill slide, as far as I am concerned.
8/10.
The Navigators (2001)
An accurate description of the hell working life has become
This is by no means a movie to be seen for pure entertainment,. This is a REALISTIC movie, so those looking for kicks stay away. Otherwise you will be so disappointed.
I like this movie so much, especially since is the type of movie Hollywood would NEVER make. It sharply portraits how bad working conditions have gotten over the years (which is something I have witnessed firsthand). Treating people like dirt and firing them without a reason have become an end it itself.
Watching this film takes you to the core of what's going on at most workplaces, which obviously won't delight those who think life is pretty, because it ain't. Put your feet on the ground and search for that beauty - you are not going to find it in the treatment workers are getting anywhere. This is the real world, people, whether we like it or not.
While seeing this movie, never did I feel I was in the cinema. I could relate to what the characters were going through.
Of course the movie has no happy end, but if it did would be unreal.
10/10.
The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (1979)
No regrets
Ok, I was only ten or so when I saw this show in my country, but, in spite of what some people can say, it used to make me laugh a lot. I barely remember much about the show, but the fact that sheriff Lobo and his relative (I think he was brother-in-law) most of the times ended up in some wacky situation or failing to success.
Despite the possible flaws it might have, Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo was better than most of the crap nowadays airing anywhere in the world.
Although TV shows cannot be rated like movies here, I would give this show a seven or so.
The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (1979)
No regrets
Ok, I was only ten or so when I saw this show in my country, but, in spite of what some people can say, it used to make me laugh a lot. I barely remember much about the show, but the fact that sheriff Lobo and his relative (I think he was brother-in-law) most of the times ended up in some wacky situation or failing to success.
Despite the possible flaws it might have, Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo was better than most of the crap nowadays airing anywhere in the world.
Although TV shows cannot be rated like movies here, I would give this show a seven or so.
The Money Pit (1986)
Not perfect, but hysterical
The Money Pit may not deserve to be on top of everybody's list, but sure as hell it's one of the most hilarious films I've ever seen. For all of you who claim it's flawed, I get it, but please forget about that and enjoy the string of accidents that happen in that house. Do not tell me they're not funny.
I like both Tom Hanks and Shelley Long's performances, although his is funnier, as the hapless guy who can't find reliable workers for his new-bought house. Anyway, I have always liked Shelley Long since I first saw her in Cheers. She's always been very cute.
Perhaps The Money Pit is not a must have, but certainly a MUST SEE.
7/10.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Great acting, nasty storyline
I've got a love-hate relationship with this movie. A sort of a contradiction I know, but it happens to be the case. Both Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster give awesome performances, and the direction is fine as well, but the plot is too macabre for me to take, even if I have seen the movie more than once. Overall, the movie deserves a 8/10 rating from me.
The Commitments (1991)
Excellent
This is probably the best music-related movie I've ever seen. I can't say anything bad about it. The acting is superb, staying away from cliches, the soundtrack is very good and the story, pace and direction are great as well.
Warning! - There might be spoilers.
The Commitments is one of those movies you can see over and over again without getting tired of it. One of the best aspects (if not the best) is how realistic the storyline is. The process of putting a band together results complicated for Jimmy, there are rows between some of the band members and, when they finally seem to have managed to get over all obstacles, their first gig goes wrong because of an electricity-related accident. Later on jealousy and animosity surface again, causing the band to split up. The scene when Jimmy is walking alone at night and a car with Wilson Pickett in (He was supposed to attend their gig) passes by is so cool. Yes, the finale is not the classic happy ending we are used to, so what?
To sum up, an awesome movie from beginning to end.
10/10.
Don't Say a Word (2001)
Good although flawed at the end
Most of movies featuring Michael Douglas are supposed to be fine, and Don't Say A Word is no exception. The rest of the cast is great as well, especially Britanny Murphy, who to me is the best played character in the whole movie. She really excels as Elizabeth Burrows. Her performance gave me a chill.
As often as the storyline may have been used before, there's no doubt it is well-developed and manages not to bore you until they arrive to the island. That's when things start to grind. I do consider this part to be unnecessary long and murky. I think the criminals ending trampled to death is too macabre.
Despite the part on the island being too large and boring, the movie is well worth watching.
9/10.
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Quite good
Thelma & Loiuse, in spite of being considered a chick-flick, can be enjoyed by men as well. Being a lad I find utterly inspiring that another one (Ridley Scott) would make this movie. It's an original, fast-paced and funny road-movie by two women on the run. Both Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis give superb performances. The soundtrack is cool, too.
Being a guy, I can't see how some claim this movie is not for them because it portrays two women setting themselves free of a life where their hubbies were making all decisions without even asking their wives. Any bloke seeing this movie and feeling attacked or disappointed hasn't really gotten into it, sorry to say. Open your mind, ok? It was a time a movie put male chauvinists where they deserve.
The only aspect I don't like is the end. If it was up to me the last scene would have been the two women coming to Mexico in the sunset. Had this been a too optimistic finale, or what?
8/10.
American Beauty (1999)
A bit overhyped, but great
I was fortunate to attend the premiere of this movie in my city, without any glamorous people around, and it was a great evening. I don't remember seeing a movie this witty and funny at the same time. Blew me away. Maybe it has been overhyped, but that's how things are now when it comes to speaking of movies - either they're savaged or hailed as something too hot to be missed. I wish that scale would change and things were less extreme.
WARNING!! - LITTLE SPOILERS.
The acting is superb, especially Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening and the strange neighbour, played by Wes Bentley. How striking are his facial expressions while he and Jane are watching the video featuring the plastic bag being shaken by the wind. This scene is awesome. The two young females (Thora Birch and Mena Suvari) do a pretty good job as well. Too bad that, in the latter's case, she has a weakness for playing cheerleader's roles. Let's see how she has been in The Musketeer.
By the way, I wish we could do the same as Kevin does in the film - to tell our boss to get lost when we've had enough of abuse at work.
One of the things I most like about American Beauty is the huge number of memorable quotes in the script.
To sum up, a great movie, not recommended for people with dead brain cells, whose number, unfortunately, is becoming bigger as time goes by.
10/10.
The Truman Show (1998)
Amazing
The Truman Show is probably the only decent movie Jim Carrey has made, as far as I am concerned. I have been pretty embarrassed by any movie starring him so far but this one. Blew me away how great is his acting here. The movie's premise was some years before the whole (And appalling by the way) Big Brother/Survivor phenomenon with a lot of taste and wit.
Unlike many other films, The Truman Show manages to build a disturbing atmosphere, because you don't quite know what's coming next. The special effects are awesome, especially when he and his boat reached the wall in his getaway.
Overall, amazingly good and an accurate description of what would be like a person's mundane life being the plotline of a TV series.
8/10.
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Not bad, to be a musical
Not being fond of either romantic films or musicals, I must say Moulin Rouge lived up to my expectations. Early in the movie I was a bit bored by too much light and dancing and the rest of elements of a musical but, fortunately, things improved before long. It was the first time I really paid attention to a Nicole Kidman's performance (Yes, it's true), and the same can be said for Ewan MacGregor, who I hardly knew something about, aside from his appearance in Star Wars.
Though I have liked Moulin Rouge, my opinion on musicals hasn't changed.
6/10.