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587,528 | 783,721 | 295,238 | 7 | Not equal to the sum of its parts . | Personal Velocity squanders its run time on a narrated flick which is chopped into thirds with no synergism , each delivering a powerful though brief character study of a woman with issues . With some serious talent on both sides of the lens , this flick is more likely an auteur pleaser than an audience pleaser . Recommended for fans of Sedgwick , Posey , and Balk and indie lovers . Best saved for broadcast . ( B ) Note - According to the stats on this website , " Personal Velocity " is the antithesis of a " chick flick " scoring much lower with females than males . |
586,249 | 783,721 | 210,217 | 7 | Visually beautiful , well crafted , but esoteric . | A drama first and biopic second , " Pandaemonium " tells of the midlife of renown classical wordsmith and critic Samuel Taylor Coleridge who's life was not terribly interesting though he was on the cutting edge of 19th century neoromantic poetry . Probably taking some liberties for dramatic purposes , the film involves the poet's relationships with William Wordsworth , his opium addiction , his troubled marriage , and , of course , his struggle with the demons of the creative process . Visually beautiful , well acted , but a tad theatrical with some annoying interjections , Pandaemonium " is probably too esoteric for the film-going public at large . A splendid effort which will likely be most appreciated by those into classical literature - particularly 19th century poetry . ( B ) |
586,507 | 783,721 | 95,631 | 7 | Action-comedy-road trip-buddy flick blast from the past | Midnight Run is a dramedy about a bounty hunter ( DeNiro ) who has only to escort a passive white collar criminal CPA ( Grodin ) from New York to L . A . to collect $100K but finds his simple task becoming increasingly difficult as the FBI , the mob , and a competing bounty hunter get involved . Filmed all over the US and in New Zealand and packed with action , stunts , chases , shootouts , etc . what is a journeyman production at the core becomes an entertaining film able to hold interest over a 2 . 1 hour run . A durable blast from the past for fans of the players in the mood for a action / comedy / road trip / buddy flick . ( B ) |
586,857 | 783,721 | 361,309 | 7 | Insightful drama about marital infidelity | Perhaps the most difficult type of film to make is a serious human drama in which the story is told as much with the flux of unspoken thoughts and emotions as with words . Such films , usually wrought best outside the commercial influences of Hollywood , require life experience , empathy , maturation , and a melding of sensitivity with the rigors of film making to be brought with fidelity to the screen . " We Don't Live Here Anymore " is a good attempt at such a film which explores the matter of infidelity between a pair of best friend , middle class , married-with-kids couples . A bit awkward at times ( the whole rocks / water / kids thing seemingly out of place ) , this drama will likely work best with 30 + audiences who can identify with the issues confronting the on-screen couples . ( B ) |
586,885 | 783,721 | 108,956 | 7 | Three hours with three men | Dubbed " Then There Were Giants " on cable , this made-for-tv two part film spends three hours presenting a theatrical digest of the communication which ostensibly took place between FDR , Churchill , and Stalin during WWII . Against a backdrop of file footage and the various sets required for conferences ( Teheran , Yalta , etc . ) , the trio of heads-of-state build complex relationships of diplomacy as they map out plans for D-Day , the UN , and more . Lithgow , Hoskins , and Caine turn in excellent performances in this sterling characterization of the men who occasioned some of the 20th centuries most momentous events . Great stuff for WWII history buffs . |
587,156 | 783,721 | 118,564 | 7 | A excellent character study of a marginally interesting character . | Affliction peers into every nook and cranny of the Nolte character's life as it shows him , scarred from a life of abuse at the hands of his father ( Coburn ) , stumbling in every relationship in spite of good intentions and slowly unraveling like human entropy . An excellent film in all respects , this award winning drama accomplishes little more than treating the audience to some sterling performances : Nolte and Coburn in particular . Well worth a watch though of more interest to critics than the populace . |
586,223 | 783,721 | 338,135 | 7 | Rémy is a big fat stupid white man | The Barbarian Invasions builds its slice-of-death dramady around a college professor , Rémy ( Girard ) , who is dying from cancer by using his imminent death as an excuse to bring together all sorts of central and side characters including relatives and friends and even a heroine addict who pushes the final pleasures into the dying man's veins . The result is a manipulative dialogue-intensive tale which distills to little more than a string of conversations running the gamut from past exploits to philosophies of life to jocular meandering to pedantic blathering , etc . Personally , I found Rémy a less than interesting bore and the film a very slick , well crafted , but unsatisfying contrivance . However , its respectable marks from critics and public including some major awards suggest this sequel to Arcand's " The Decline of the American Empire ( 1986 ) " may have value for some . ( B ) |
586,945 | 783,721 | 372,824 | 7 | Pleasant and enjoyable | The Chorus is a subtitled French film about a portly , mild mannered teacher who takes a job at a marginalized boy's school and finding his young students to be unruly and disruptive he sets about to sublimate their behavior by organizing them into a choir . A sweetly sentimental tale with a Disneyesque feel , " The Chorus " plods along predictably in flashback and winds up quickly with a somewhat anticlimactic conclusion . A very pleasant , well crafted , and even-tempered film with some lovely choir music , " The Chorus " is a bit corny but should be a pleasing watch for sentimentalists and others interested in simple and heart warming film fare . ( B ) |
587,100 | 783,721 | 256,276 | 7 | Much ado about something | In " Possession " , a rough-hewn American poetry researcher in England ( Eckhart ) meets a lithe and icy Brit ( Paltrow ) and together they retrace the footsteps and thoughts of a renown English poet laureate of the mid-1850s , methodically piecing together unknown portions of his life involving romance , love , infidelity , and more , all the while falling in like with each other while trying to outwit their competition . Beautifully done though much too pat , this meandering odyssey of discovery is a kind of elegant dog in a Hollywood wrapper with a UK shoot . The film deserves much credit for structure , composition , execution , score , etc . However , most will find it just too much ado about too little . A film which is not likely to make you weep , laugh , or swoon but very well make evoke a yawn or two . ( B ) |
585,793 | 783,721 | 252,480 | 7 | Numbing horror | The Gray Zone transports the audience to the epicenter of evil during WWII's final solution to the Jewish question . The film deals with a group of doomed Jewish Auschwitz POW's who do the death camp's dirty work , herding unsuspecting Jews into the showers , carrying cadavers to the crematorium , harvesting the dead for gold dentalwork , etc . The film takes on a challenging subject with countless moral issues to ponder as it scrutinizes the nuts and bolts of mass extermination . However , it doesn't quite measure up to the potent subject with its theatrical presentation , clipped dialogue , time wasting filler , staginess , poor character depth , confusing language and dialect issues , and a rather contrived monologue at the end . Nonetheless , the films treats the subject with dignity , does not exploit or sensationalize , and recreates enough of the horror to impart a sense of what it must have been like giving it docudramatic value . Worth a look for anyone interested in the holocaust . ( B ) |
587,366 | 783,721 | 252,503 | 7 | You just can't find any good hired help anymore . | In " Heist " , Hackman plays and aging thief who , saddled with a beautiful young wife , no pension , and the disintegration of the old school thief ethic , decides to pull one last job so he can sail off into the sunset with his babe . The film , fraught with implausibilities , is all about who's the smarter thief ( which , of course , would be the one with all the loot at the end ) and deals with strategizing , conflict containment , greed , and other thief problems while forsaking action stuff ( stunts , chases , sex , etc ) as it labors through its somewhat convoluted plot . Good old Hollywood thief stuff with a solid cast worth a watch . Turn off brain and enjoy . |
585,915 | 783,721 | 175,880 | 7 | This movie comes at you like a traffic accident . . . | . . . and you'll likely slow down and look with the same morbid curiosity . A well crafted and well acted flick about a day in the lives of a handful of miserable Los Angeleans , " Magnolia " brushes up against issues such as terminal cancer , infidelity , suicide , drug abuse , incest , etc . P . T . Anderson supercharges the screenplay with enough energy to make its 188 minutes of misery , conflict , and wretchedness pass swiftly . Unfortunately , there's so much going on , character development is sacrificed and when the end comes we're not likely to really care one way or another about any particular individual and are left with only one burning question . What the hell is it with Anderson , the weather , and frogs ? ? ? |
586,233 | 783,721 | 179,769 | 7 | What a hoot ! | Dill Scallion , with Billy Burke in the title role , tells of the rise and fall of a fictional country / western singer . Full of tongue-in-cheek humor and endless good natured spoofing of country music , this fun flick is shot as a mockumentary with the usual jiggly shoulder cams , boom mics in the shot , grainy film , etc . " DS " gets off to a slow start and it's no frills approach may turn off many viewers early on . However , those who hang in there will find some seriously clever writing and dead pan lampooning during this 1 . 5 hour joy ride . |
586,479 | 783,721 | 316,465 | 7 | Heartwarmer | Radio is a fictional fact-based account of the relationship which develops between a South Carolina small town high school athletic director ( Harris ) and a mentally challenged black man ( Gooding ) . There's little going on in this sweetly sentimental film which juxtaposes campus life and football with family life and one man's life altering experience through a very rewarding though unlikely friendship . Oscar winner Gooding earned a Razzie nom for his portrayal while the critics pounded the film for it's sappy cornball approach to story telling and Gooding's exaggeration of his character . Nonetheless , the film earned respectable marks from the paying public who were touched by the heartwarming tale of a different kind of relationship . For sentimentalists only . ( B ) |
586,590 | 783,721 | 118,756 | 7 | En garde ! | On Guard , a subtitled French film , is all about Auteuil as an 18th century swordsman , mercenary , and bon vivant who finds himself the victim of treachery and the lone custodian of an infant who is the sole heir to a noble rank and great fortune . His task is to honor an oath and restore his charge to her rightful place in the face of countless bad guys with blades and his adopted daughter's growing ardor as she comes of age . Packed with evil men and beautiful women and wonderful locations and lots of swishing and clinking steel , " On Guard " should be a fun watch for anyone into swashbuckling adventure flicks who can contend with 2 + hours of subtitles . ( B ) |
586,848 | 783,721 | 337,960 | 7 | Lotsa heart | Danny Deckchair tells of the adventures of a young concrete truck driver who decides to tie a bunch of helium filled balloons to his deck chair to soar aloft . His plan is to take shears with him to cut away one balloon at a time thereby making his descent . Instead , he leaves the shears behind and the balloons carry him to a new life and a new love . This sweet , cute , fun little flick from down-under is a fresh and creative new addition to the much over worked romcom genre . With lots of heart and unpredictable predictability , " Danny Deckchair " should be an enjoyable watch for those who don't mind a little schmaltz with their romantic comedy fare . ( B ) |
586,211 | 783,721 | 307,901 | 7 | Classy trash | 25th Hour tells about the goings on in the life of a NYC man ( Norton ) the day before he has to report to prison for a 7 year sentence . The film offers an excellent cast and crew which manage to sink in fine style under the ever bloated ego of director Spike Lee , turning a film with potential into a protracted loser . Example : Out of no where , with no purpose , and completely incongruous , Norton goes on a rant of trite commentary about racial stereotypes in a bathroom . Example : Norton wants to be ugly when he reports to prison so the cons don't get fresh with him and then insists his best friend beats him up . . . like he can't take a hammer to his own face ( duh ! ) . For those critics in the world who get off on cinematic concoctions which ignore story for style and sense for sensationalism , " 25th Hour " may have some value . For the public at large , " 25th Hour " will be tedious , shallow , and contrived waste of time . ( |
586,601 | 783,721 | 112,681 | 7 | A serious docudrama from HBO | Citizen X tells the story of " The Butcher of Rostov " , nickname for a heinous and perverse Russian serial killer who claimed 52 lives from 1978-92 . The film focuses on the novice detective ( Rea ) who doggedly pursued the killer against all odds in the face of an uncooperative bureaucracy in self-serving and convenient denial . An HBO product for t . v . , the film offers a solid cast , good performances , spares the audience much of the grisly details , but plays out like a docudrama sans the stylistics of similar Hollywood fare . An even and straight-forward dramatization of a serious and comparatively little known story more interesting than " Jack the Ripper " . ( B ) |
586,077 | 783,721 | 286,179 | 7 | Good film , tedious story , shows us nothing new . | Sunshine State peers into the lives of a clutter of characters who occupy a small Florida beach town at risk of a hostile takeover by land developers examining the local's reflections , ponderings , musings , and interactions in the onslaught of imminent change . " Sunshine State " is technically and artistically excellent , imbued with a strong sense of local flavor , and hangs firmly onto that which is safe while failing to show us anything new . One can only wonder how dull must be one's life to find the lives of such boring people interesting . A tedious watch at over 2 hours and a bland PG-13 fare , " Sunshine State " will be most appreciated to more mature audiences who can better identify with the experiences of the characters and who are more inclined to be philosophical . ( B ) |
586,749 | 783,721 | 281,820 | 7 | A nice Nolte nicks with Nutsa near Nice | A Good Thief is a smart heist flick with Nolte at the center as a rogue with a heart and a habit who is as at home at a casino baccarat table as he is in the streets of Nice . This film is all about Nolte , a babe , and his gang of expert thief assistants who assemble to rip off a Monte Carlo casino under the watchful eye of the cops . This well crafted flick features a cosmopolitan cast , a crisp location shoot on the Riviera , a cleverly convoluted story which gets busy and stays busy , attention to detail seldom seen in movies , and a good musical score . Recommended for anyone into heist flicks but don't expect much else . This tight little drama is all about the heist . ( B ) |
586,453 | 783,721 | 118,682 | 7 | Now that's what I call a Band on the Run . | Telling of a rock group of four imprisoned females who escape and enjoy overnight commercial musical success because of their notoriety , " Bandits " is not of the sexsational genre of B-flicks about women in prison commonplace in America . Instead it is a stylish , artfully shot sort of quasi - musical - drama - rock - video out of Germany with verve , solid music , a creative story , and a captivating screenplay . " Bandits " , which received high marks from critics and viewers , is just real enough to get involved with while being just unreal enough to make rooting for the escapees easily rationalized . Love the ending . Worth a look for those into " girl power " and rock music . |
585,680 | 783,721 | 122,541 | 7 | Charming , clever , and contrived . | An Ideal Husband is a charming though contrived little 19th century English period comedy with the subtly sardonic sense of humor typical of Oscar Wilde . The film , which deals with the politics of society first , the politics of the heart second , and the politics of the state last , features all the trappings of the period , a solid cast , and a clever script . An amusing and enjoyable watch for those into 19th century English period films . |
587,623 | 783,721 | 118,671 | 7 | Interesting intellectual combat | Two couples share a home for a few days during which suspicions are hatched , intellectual war is waged , and verbal fencing dominates . " Bad Manners " is a dialogue intense film with a well wrought script and good performances by the ensemble of four . An intriguing watch for more mature audiences . |
587,495 | 783,721 | 202,641 | 7 | A big little movie | Two Family House tells the story of a 1950's Staten Island man ( Rispoli ) who finds that the road from dreams to reality is paved with difficulty but leads to happiness . A cute little romantic comedy with a big heart , " TFH " makes some big points about the importance of being true to one's own conscience above all else as it spins its simple tale . Well received by critics , " TFH " is an enjoyable watch with a message for everyone mature enough for a mild R rating . |
586,310 | 783,721 | 156,639 | 7 | A warm comedy romp . Bravehair . | The Big Tease is an under-rated , genuinely funny , and intelligently made film about a dauntless Scottish hair stylist , Crawford Mackenzie , and his quest for the globally coveted Platinum Scissors Award . A tour de force by Furgeson , the film delivers plenty of wry British humor and less subtle American hilarity with warmth and coherence , develops it's unlikely centerpiece ( Mackenzie ) , sticks faithfully to it's plot , and builds to satisfying and very funny climax . |
586,737 | 783,721 | 132,477 | 7 | A contrived Disneyesque feel-good flick . | October Sky has the feel of a purified and contrived Disney movie with the sole purpose of pushing the viewer's emotional buttons . Based on a true but thin story about a high school student who wants to be a rocket engineer and not a coal miner ( who wouldn't ? ) , this film is well shot , well acted , and full of implausibilities . For maximum enjoyment , disengage logic before viewing . |
587,340 | 783,721 | 307,987 | 7 | Excellent casting | He drinks and smokes and pukes and wets his pants and has sex in public places . He has a horrible attitude , a trash mouth , is mean to little kids , hates himself , and robs department stores . Ok , so he's not all bad , but he is without a doubt the worst department store Santa ever . There's not a lot of stretching required of Thornton to get into character in this flick which capitalizes on the grosser than gross sense of comedy / humor as it wends its way through a simple tale about a scamming Santa and his dwarf / elf sidekick who rip off a department store a year to avoid honest toil . A mildly creative love it or hate it flick which tries as hard to be disgusting as funny , " Bad Santa " has , for obvious reasons , received mixed reviews . Only for the thick skinned who aren't easily offended by bad language , bad attitudes , or bad , bad Santas . ( B ) |
586,529 | 783,721 | 256,103 | 7 | The absence of love | Intimacy tells of a divorced man and a married woman who have weekly loveless sex while each knows little of the other . The film explores the " why " of their peculiar relationship and follows the pair of protags to their inevitable conclusion . Whatever you know , think , or read about this film , it does break new ground as it pushes legitimate cinema one small measure toward its destiny by illuminating that dark corner of human behavior currently occupied only by pornography . Be prepared for graphic sex / nudity and some intensely personal scenes in a stark , austere , somewhat depressing but very courageous drama . Not for prudes , " Intimacy " will be most enjoyed by mature drama enthusiasts . ( B ) |
587,586 | 783,721 | 122,690 | 7 | Above average action / intrigue flick . | Ronin puts DeNiro at the center as a mercenary who is hired by people unknown to nab a case with contents unknown for reasons unknown . This international intrigue thriller set in France has all the usual Hollywood action excesses ( car chases ad nauseam , stunts , pyro , firefights , etc . ) , and excellent cast , and even a bit of a story which keeps us , the audience , wondering what's in the case , why do they want it , etc . during most of the film . " Ronin " is all business from the get-go and a cut above the average Hollywood formula action flick . Worth a look for those who few who may have missed it . |
587,330 | 783,721 | 290,673 | 7 | ! ! lebisreverrI | Irreversible is an art house experience which tells a story of a happy young adult couple who suffer ; she through rape and he through revenge . There's little story in this uncomfortably harsh film full of sex , nudity , vulgarity , and violence . What story there is is told a chapter at a time in reverse chronological order so we see the unhappy conclusion first and work back toward the happier beginning . In addition to the backward flow , the film uses strange floating camera techniques which could cause motion sickness and ends with a long strobing blank screen which could induce seizure in some people and laboratory animals . Given subtitles , gross unpleasantness , and imagery which is annoying if not offensive , the only reason any normal nonpervert would want to view this film would be to experience it . . . presumably the same reason people ride roller coasters while screaming with joyful terror . Certainly not for everyone , " Irreversible " is not good or bad but it is different . Recommended for realists with a taste for art projects and bitterly harsh drama . ( B ) Spoilers - > The most offensive sequences are a long violent anal rape of a woman and a man getting his head mashed to a pulp with a fire extinguisher . |
586,585 | 783,721 | 191,043 | 7 | The paradise of color | Tragedy and life's vicissitudes weight heavily on a laborer with a blind son in this plaintive tale from Iran . A lovely , simple , and heartfelt tale , " The Color of Paradise " is typically Iranian in its telling of a father who wrestles with his conscience as he begins to see his son as a burden interfering with his happiness and success . Hollywood blockbuster audiences will likely find this simple film just so much underdone sentimentalism . Film purists and those undaunted by cultural differences will appreciate the pastoral and lyrical beauty of this film most . ( B ) |
587,469 | 783,721 | 113,107 | 7 | Big man , small body | Frankie Starlight is a sensitive , plaintive , wistful and sometimes ethereal drama about the life of a man and his struggle with dwarfism . The film brings together an solid cosmopolitan cast as it tells the story of Frankie as both a man and a boy with scenes of each interleaved . Though the film is not evocative or compelling , it is mildly entertaining and well shot , directed , and acted . Good easy going stuff with little to fault . |
586,231 | 783,721 | 160,459 | 7 | An engrossing , well crafted drama . | The Lesser Evil tells of four grown men who have been keeping a secret since they were close friends in high school some 20 years in the past . Something has happened to bring them together again . The drama unfolds with the telling of two stories , past and present , with two casts of actors . The film whets interest , gathers momentum , and builds anticipation leading to a denouement which delivers a kick and nicely ties up the loose ends . A well crafted film with only a few subtle flaws required to make the story work , " TLE " is an engrossing , fast moving watch . |
586,774 | 783,721 | 240,772 | 7 | Same-O , same-o | Ocean's Eleven 2001 is just another classy zillion dollar Hollywood blockbuster . Top heavy with familiar faces and the usual high tech heist stuff borrowed from " Mission Impossible " which tells the old story about a slick crew of safe crackers who want to rip off the juiciest cache of dinero in Vegas . Entertaining but lacking personality , none of the players or crew distinguish themselves with this flick . |
587,518 | 783,721 | 273,300 | 7 | Carpe Diem ! | Jump Tomorrow , which roughly translates to " carpe diem " , is a romcom indie which creates an unlikely duo and then sees if it can get them together against all odds . He's big , black , socially inept , and about to be married . She's petite , Latin , fiery , and taking her boyfriend home to mom . On the downside , this film is a slow starter with a low budget and a distinct absence of star power and tinselization . On the upside , it is crisp , creative , coherent and imbued with subtle warmth and charm . Those in the mood for some low cal but tasty romcom fare might want to give this little semiprecious " gem " a chance . ( B ) |
587,484 | 783,721 | 113,083 | 7 | Chick flick for midlife | The Flower of My Secret follows a middle-aged married woman and somewhat neurotic novelist , Leo ( Paredes ) , on the verge of divorce from the handwriting on the wall to the separation to the final realization and adjustments required to get her life back on track . There's little plot to be found in this linear dramady which sees Leo bumping into the people in her life for brief tete-a-tetes and bouncing off her emotional walls as she tries to cope with the inevitable . Not Almodovar's best work , this busy , mildly humorous , dialogue-intensive contempo Spanish flick received mild approval from critical corners and the public alike . Short on story but very well composed , " The Flower of My Secret " will play best with women , especially Spanish speakers or foreign film buffs . ( B ) |
587,442 | 783,721 | 186,730 | 7 | The real Kindergarten cop | It All Starts Today is an open ended slice-of-life tale which takes us into the world of a good-hearted , dedicated , and hard working French Kindergarten teacher who has a lot more on his plate than finger painting . Protag Daniel ( Torrenton ) not only teaches but runs interference for abused kids , wrestles with the local mayor for funding , contends with vandals , and juggles a host of economic , social , and school political issues all the while maintaining a relationship with his girl friend and her son . Though there isn't much of an arc to the story , this well crafted film does create a likeable character who shows us that the opportunity for heroism exists everywhere in life . . . even kindergarten . ( B ) |
586,831 | 783,721 | 171,433 | 7 | A fresh , fun romantic comedy in a New York state of mind . | Keeping the Faith is just hip enough to breathe some fresh air into a stagnating genre without sacrificing the requisite " feel good " moments in the process . The film's 2 + hour run time is a bit long for it's simple plot , but it manages to stay focused and dish up enough creativity to make it time well spent . A very enjoyable fun flick . |
586,958 | 783,721 | 260,414 | 7 | 70 % Keitel , 25 % Skarsgård , and 100 % drama | In " Taking Sides " , Keitel is a U . S . Army Major in Berlin after WWII . His task as a denazification inquisitor is to separate the populous into black hats , white hats , and gray hats : In particular , one gray hat symphony orchestra conductor , Skarsgård . The film , which bears the ear marks of it's theatrical pedigree , focuses entirely on Keitel's investigation and interrogation of the conductor as it creates some serious dramatic moments which the principals dispatch in fine style . However , because of the esoteric nature of its content and the issues it examines ( eg : separation of art and politics , etc . ) " Taking Sides " will not likely have broad appeal and should be most appreciated by those into serious theatrical ensemble drama . It's worth noting that some potent parallels exist between " Taking Sides " and current events in Iraq which may make the film seem more poignant and contemporaneous . ( B ) |
586,098 | 783,721 | 256,009 | 7 | A beautifully crafted drama about suffering and retribution | The Devil's Backbone , a drama more than a horror or ghost flick with the supernatural relegated to the background , which tells the tale of a war torn and isolated orphanage for boys in Spain during the civil war of the 1930's . Among the inhabitants and players are a kindly headmaster , a one legged matronly teacher , an evil young male worker , a boy ghost , a couple of female helpers , and , of course , the orphans . At issue it a small amount of gold bullion and vengeance sought by the ghost . These elements are brought together with excellence of execution and a strong sense of art in a bold and powerful drama about survival in desperate times . Well worth a look for Del Toro fans and others interested in foreign cinema . |
585,949 | 783,721 | 382,737 | 7 | Entertainment over history | Henry VIII ( 2003 ) tells the story of England's King Henry VIII ( 1491-1547 ) . Ray Winstone is the centerpiece of the film as Henry , a robust and brutal but secretly sensitive King obsessed with siring a male heir to throne . The TV miniseries spends its 4 hour run focused on Henry's involvements with his six wives while dabbling in other benchmarks of his reign and taking liberties where possible for dramatic purposes . Not the best possible historical accounting of the period , this colorful and energetic film does offers some very solid performances and good production value . " Henry VIII " is an enjoyable primer for the not too critical viewer who seeks entertainment value over historical accuracy . ( B ) |
587,202 | 783,721 | 108,633 | 7 | A powerful dark drama with millieu and mood first and story second . | There's hardly a smile to be found in this dark , brooding , oppressively heavy drama which tells of an American DEA agent ( Keitel ) who comes to London to assist in the capture of a drug trafficker as the UK bends under the strain of a virulent drug trade . The camera spends most of the time examining the bleak , grim , and sad expressions of police , innocents , and others caught up in the drug war leaving the plot muddled and somewhat buried in its attempt to show that where drugs are involved there are no winners . A powerfully compelling drama for those who can appreciate the reality of the lose-lose nature of crime . |
585,975 | 783,721 | 105,256 | 7 | A slice of southern life . | Rich in Love is a slice-of-life film which takes the viewer into the goings on of a somewhat quirky Charleston , SC family . Highly romanticized , beautifully shot , well written and acted , " RIL " washes over you like a summer breeze as its plotless meandering breathes life into the characters such that at film's end you'll feel like an old friend of the family . A wonderfully crafted character-driven film from the director of " Driving Miss Daisy " , " RIL " is a somewhat obscure little " sleeper " which will appeal most to mature audiences . |
587,571 | 783,721 | 91,445 | 7 | The locust will be back soon . . . | . . . and " Lucas " is still a charming and sentimental little high school campus comedy with a message about what's important in life ( and it ain't football ) . Telling of a goggle-eyed " shrimp " ( Haim ) with little going for him , save his indomitable spirit , who tries desperately to win the affection of a pretty cheerleader ( Green ) , " Lucas " is a crowd pleasing blast from the past with its priorities in order . In this day when movies with messages are rare , " Lucas " is a good family flick ( for 13 and up ) worth revisiting . |
585,948 | 783,721 | 427,157 | 7 | Everything you ever wanted to know about the " dirty bomb " | The BBC and HBO teamed up to create " Dirty War " , a 90 minute TV movie about a terrorist " dirty bomb " attack in London . The film gets down to business quickly as it packs both the terrorist and the government anti-terrorist efforts into the film leaving little room for human interest subplots . On the terrorist side we follow the bomb from the smuggling of radioactive materials to assembly to deployment to detonation . On the government side we see PR and training exercises , intelligence gathering and analysis , interdiction , post-detonation response , and follow up . The film also imparts a sense of how Al-Qa'ida type terrorist cells are organized , the radical Islamic terrorist mentality , and terrorist strategies . A sort of anatomy of a " dirty bomb " incident , " Dirty War " will answer many questions lurking in the minds of a public becoming ever more aware of this insidious threat . ( B ) |
587,365 | 783,721 | 206,314 | 7 | How about that one ' Candy Cane ' , cum'on . . . break , break ! | In " Joy Ride " , two brothers ( Zhan & Walker ) get involved with a big rig driver over the CB radio while on the open road . They set him up as a practical joke and unleash all hell on themselves as the unseen subject of their prank , known only as " Rusty Nail " , turns out to be a maniacal killer . " Joy Ride " is a well crafted thriller which methodically builds suspense while avoiding the usual gore and guts of horror flicks . With only a few plot holes , this thriller should keep most on the edge of their seats . Worth a look especially for those who enjoyed " Duel " ( circa 1971 ) which is now circulating on cable . |
586,629 | 783,721 | 213,847 | 7 | A worthwhile film but a nebulous presentation . | Malena is about many things . . . . the people of a small Sicilian town during WWII ; a woman scorned by the town's women and admired by the town's men for her sensual beauty ; and a pubescent boy's obsession with the woman as he comes of age . Obviously the product of a talented auteur because of its technical and artistic excellence and its many poignant moments , " Malena " fails to focus clearly on its story such that the end result is somewhat less than the sum of its parts . The director of " Cinema Paradiso " , Giuseppe Tornatore , doesn't deliver a cogent product in " Malena " though the film has its moments . Recommended for more mature males . |
586,439 | 783,721 | 361,127 | 7 | Brave | The Woodsman takes the audience into the life of a working class pedophile following his release from prison . The film centers on Bacon as a man tormented by his perverse desires while struggling to carve out a life for himself in an unforgiving society . A brave film which received good marks from critics and public , " The Woodsman " takes no position , has no agenda , and answers none of the many questions it asks . It simply provides a sense of what life as a pedophile might be like and that's saying a lot . Those who expect a typical story arc may be disappointed by the morose moodiness of this open-ended downer flick while those who don't mind lingering in a world of aberrant psychology may find it an interesting experience . ( B ) |
587,513 | 783,721 | 264,464 | 7 | How to get a job with the FBI | Catch Me If You Can tells the story of Frank Abagnale , con man . With Spielberg in the director's chair and A-listers leading the way , you'd expect something a little better than this story about a kid who conned his way into jobs as a Pan Am pilot , a lawyer , a doctor , and into some serious money . Reasonably entertaining and well crafted , this film runs a tad long and is smeared with comedic overtones making it difficult to take seriously . It might have worked better as a serious rather than playful drama . Nonetheless , worth a look by anyone interested in stories about scamming . ( B ) Note - If you like this flick , you might want to check out Tony Curtis in " The Great Imposter " ( 1961 ) |
586,186 | 783,721 | 91,474 | 7 | A solid low cal and nutritious journeyman whodunnit | Manhunter tells of the brooding ex-FBI agent ( Petersen ) who nabbed Hannibal Lecter and gets called back into action to catch another serial killer / cannibal / wingnut . This the original Lecter flick focuses on the manhunt while delving into the disturbing think-like-a-cannibal mindset which Agent Graham must achieve with the help of his old adversary in order to catch the killer . More of a traditional whodunnit-style drama , " Manhunter " trades sensationalism for realism by emphasizing the hero over the villain . A solid journeyman flick with no huge stars , " Manhunter " makes for an intriguing watch which requires less dumbing-down by the viewer than either " Silence . . . " or " Hannibal " . |
586,117 | 783,721 | 338,290 | 7 | An excellent watch if you're interested in sex change | In " Normal " , an HBO feature film , a middleaged midwestern farming community family man ( Wilkinson ) reveals his plans to change gender . The film spends the entire run examining the reactions and adjustments of his family , coworkers , and community as he begins the process of transforming himself from man to woman up to but not including the required surgery . The result is an even , well managed , and delicate drama in which all the characters are exquisitely understanding and empathetic though the guy-to-gal protag does become a bit of a pariah as he moves from aftershave to perfume and there are periodic flare-ups as folks work to get their heads around the notion of a transgender in their midst . Though well executed , there's nothing particularly surprising in the film making it a lukewarm watch for all but those with an interest in the subject . ( B ) |
586,723 | 783,721 | 108,596 | 7 | Good stuff for more mature audiences | Wrestling Ernest Hemingway is an often poignant , sometimes plaintive , and always delightful slice-of-elderly-life old guy flick which , BTW , has nothing to do with wrestling or Ernest Hemingway . With the exception of Duvall's awful Cuban accent , Harris and Duvall shine in Florida's sun as they fully flesh out their somewhat eccentric and quirky characters in this wistful , slow moving , and light hearted musing . Artful and well crafted , " Wrestling . . . " is recommended for viewers with sufficient maturity to tap into the many age-related subtleties woven into to fabric of the story . Younger viewers may become impatient with the film's slow pace . |
586,853 | 783,721 | 386,092 | 7 | A love story | Amour de Femme is a French TV flick which tells of a married woman ( Fillières ) osteopath with a young son who falls in love with am unmarried female dance instructor ( Anderson ) . The film flows with the same natural grace and delicacy we've all seen in heterosexual romantic films bringing love to life from the initial encounter to the tender beginnings to the ultimate realization and beyond . Though the film deals with the married woman's inner turmoil and spousal conflicts , those tempestuous elements are minimalized with the body of the film dedicated to creating a palpable love with only brief sex and nudity . The fact that both women are extraordinarily beautiful makes this film an idealized rendering of lesbian love which is a pleasure to watch . Should be an enjoyable film for same sex couples with some appeal for the general public interested in the premise . ( B ) |
586,006 | 783,721 | 210,727 | 7 | High drama | Himalaya is about as exotic as films get . Using indigenous people in a remote and harsh corner of Nepal ( Dolpa ) , an adventurous French director ( Valli ) created a film about a superstitious and aging tribal chief who leads a caravan of Yaks through hazardous Himalayan reaches to trade salt for the grain required to sustain his people . The film is interesting inasmuch as it uses native nonactors in an extremely remote region of great beauty which is seldom seen up close and personal . The result , however , is not great drama and the scenics , though beautiful , are less breathtaking than I had expected . In fact , I found the " The Making Of . . . " featurette on board the DVD more interesting than the film itself . Considering the low entertainment yield of this ambitious project , it would probably have worked better as a documentary or travelogue . Nonetheless , this exotic - for - the - sake - of - exotica film should be much appreciated by those into films about foreign cultures or with a special interest in the Nepali . ( B ) |
585,737 | 783,721 | 210,741 | 7 | Fun , funny , fresh indie stuff . | I'll Take You There tells of a woebegone man who loses his wife to another and finds an unlikely ally in a blind date . Unlike most romantic comedies , this little indie is mostly tongue-in-cheek situational comedy featuring Rogers and Sheedy with little emphasis on romance . A sort of road trip flick with many fun and some poignant moments keeps moving , stays fresh , and is a worthwhile watch for indie lovers . |
587,158 | 783,721 | 96,163 | 7 | A somewhat over-touted but good European psychodrama | The Vanishing 1988 tells of the dogged search of a man for his girlfriend who disappears while they're together on holiday . Not a " thriller " , this psychodrama spends most of its time dwelling on the criminal mind of the abductor , the anxiety and angst of the abductee's boyfriend , and flashbacking to show what transpired from the abductor's perspective after setting up the story with the boyfriend's perspective . The film is well crafted realism and a worthy watch for those who don't mind subtitles . From the same novel as the later American version ( circa 1993 ) , movie purist agree this Europic is superior to the Hollywood product but then , aren't they all ? There are sufficient differences , however , to make viewing both films worthwhile . |
586,535 | 783,721 | 190,798 | 7 | Seldom is so much accomplished with so little | Solas spends its 100 minute run digging deep into the character of Maria ( Fernández ) , an attractive 35 year old brittle pessimist who bears the scars of childhood abuse at the hands of her father , drinks too much , and works as a janitor . A somber , plodding , plaintive character study , " Solas " fleshes out its small ensemble of characters well , illuminating the dark corners of Maria's hopelessness with an unlikely combination of her visiting mother's quiet courage and the friendship of an old man in a neighboring apartment . An award winning film hailed by the critics and an exemplar for American Indie makers , " Solas " will appeal most to more mature audiences into Europix . Those who enjoy this film may want to check out " El Abuelo " ( 1998 ) . ( B ) |
586,637 | 783,721 | 171,741 | 7 | A well managed story of friends caught up in civil war . | Shot Through the Heart is an even tempered , dogged , austere production of people caught in the rift in Sarajevo during the Bosnia war . The film focuses on two long time friends , both expert competitive marksmen , who find themselves as snipers on opposite sides of the conflict . Not unlike other " friend against friend " civil war stories ( eg : Gettysburg ) , the two men are on a collision course with the ultimate showdown . A well managed drama which imparts some sense of the strife in the splintering of Yugoslavia while telling its story of families and friends divided , " Shot . . . " is a worthy film making effort . |
587,090 | 783,721 | 217,505 | 7 | Over-wrought melodramatic history-fiction mishmash . | Gangs of New York mixes real American history with a weak fictional human drama and a thick coat of Hollywoodization resulting in an over wrought behemoth wannabe epic misfire . Scorcese pulls together bits and pieces of the Civil War conscription act , Irish potato famine immigration , Tammany Hall and Tweed corruption , race / slave issues , slum gangs , etc . and creates a milieu which has an off-target post-apocalyptic sort of feel and then tries to cram DiCaprio down our throats as a hero though he does nothing particularly heroic in the context of the film . The flick features blood and guts street riots reminiscent of " Braveheart " , a romance which doesn't work , an evil guy over acted by Day-Lewis and little else save a whole bunch of filler to give us a taste of the times and milk the extravagance for all its worth . In spite of all that , " Gangs . . . " received several Oscar noms and a thumb and a half up from critical corners with so-so approval from the public . Okay for fans of the principals and others into Hollywood blockbusters . Not for the jaded or those looking for substance or sophistication . ( B ) |
586,914 | 783,721 | 118,113 | 7 | Fun , lively , hip , and all Keener and Heche . | Walking and Talking is a slice of life flick which focuses on two thirtyish female best friends ( Heche & Keener ) . A dialogue-intensive plotless situational relationship light comedy , " W & T " offers good performances , a lively script , and a variety of situations with which thirtyish guys and gals will be able to identify . An enjoyable way to wile away 1 . 5 hours . |
586,296 | 783,721 | 286,516 | 7 | More of an experience than a story | Respiro will take you to a small fishing village on some Sicilian Island where it focuses on Grazia , a beautiful young mother who is either bipolar or just capricious with bouts of PMS or something in between . Regardless , her minor misbehavior becomes an issue with her family who wants to send her to Milan for some unknown fix . She doesn't want to go , she disappears , and yadayadayada . A fun little foreign frolic with a shallow story and little more than a lot of charm , personality , and rough seaside scenic beauty going for it , " Respiro " makes for an enjoyable watch though its lack of substance , story , and bells and whistles should put it the " must see when I get around to it " category . ( B ) |
585,762 | 783,721 | 104,685 | 7 | What happens when you realize you don't like the people you love ? | . . . Chez Nous looks at this compelling question through the life of one Aussie woman who's self esteem is constantly undermined by the men in her life . This film is a psychodramatic , realistic , and intelligent look at the clockworks of a nuclear family held together more by mutual need than love and respect . The camera studies the slow disintegration of the family unit and the rebirth of Beth ( Harrow ) , the principle character . Well made , earnest , honest , and insightful . An interesting watch for more mature audiences . |
586,549 | 783,721 | 96,219 | 7 | Strangely fascinating | Talk Radio peers into the studio and life of a late night talk / shock jock who has to keep the on-the-air patter going while juggling other issues . The film , which received good marks from critics and public alike , capitalizes on that same kind of strange fascination that turns motorists into lookie-loos at traffic accidents . Stone and Bogosian manage to deliver dramatic intensity in spite of a thin plot and little more than some of the usual love / hate Howard-Stern-esque talk radio repartee with a bunch of late night freaks and weirdos in this pseudopsychodrama which will play best with talk radio devotees ( eg : Howard Stern fans ) , Jerry Springer audiences , Roger Ebert and the like . ( B ) |
586,525 | 783,721 | 317,179 | 7 | Good show , Showtime ! | The charm of " Bobbie's Girl " isn't so much in the story as in the telling . A sweetly sentimental slice-of-life feel good flick from Showtime , the film tells of a middle-aged lesbian couple operating a tavern on the coast of Ireland who unexpectedly find themselves with the yin-yang of a wee lad and the " Big C " in their midst . The film offers fine performances from a core cast of four who fully flesh-out their characters making for an easy emotional buy-in . Those who have become used to the usual exaggerated dramatic film fare may enjoy the soft-peddled delivery of this lilting , life-affirming drama while others may regard it as uneventful fluff . Note - Those who might be turned-off by the same-sex relationship at the center of this film should know that the lesbianism is very understated and tastefully presented . |
587,460 | 783,721 | 155,713 | 7 | That's the way . . . uh-huh , un-huh . . . | That's the Way I Like It is a flick which would never work on paper but manages to be thoroughly enjoyable on the silver screen . It's all about Hock ( Pang ) , a Singapore store clerk who wants no more than to kick butt like Bruce Lee and own a motorcycle but meets a disco dancing hottie who convinces him there are better things to get into than motorbikes . Always fun , upbeat , and good natured , this little English language flick out of Singapore is a kind of " Enter the Dragon " meets " Saturday Night Fever " meets " All in the Family " colorful comedy drenched in nostalgic hit disco tunes . Fun stuff especially for anyone who has ever done the Hustle . ( B ) |
587,677 | 783,721 | 236,640 | 7 | A misunderstood movie about a misunderstood disease | Prozac Nation is a case study of clinical depression with Ricci as a Harvard frosh trying to cope with her own identity crisis , poor self esteem , and uncontrollable mood swings ; the expectations of an over-compensating divorced mother ; the absenteeism of a shallow father ; and the sincerity of a love she can't believe is real . The film does a good job of accurately representing the destructive influences of the disease of depression in spite murky flashbacks , a hazy narration by Ricci , and a melodramatic and contrived feel . A showcase for Ricci , who meets the demands of her role , this film's lukewarm reception may have more to do with the lack of understanding of the Jekyll-Hyde nature of the depressed person than a poor presentation of the character . ( B ) |
586,246 | 783,721 | 264,796 | 7 | A good ol ' fashioned Hollywood product in a modern wrapper | Life is a House tells of a dying architect ( Klein ) who razes his dilapidated shanty and builds a new home . The house in " . . . House " is a metaphor . . tearing down the old , building the new , putting asunder old regrets while erecting a legacy for those left behind . Entertaining though contrived , " . . . House " sports a solid cast , doesn't get too weepy or sappy , is full of poignancy , and sanitized for audience protection . In the final analysis , " . . . House " delivers good old fashioned three star Hollywood entertainment which will be enjoyed by all but the most cynical . |
585,766 | 783,721 | 160,127 | 7 | The film only Hollywood could make . | Charlie's Angels has it all . Comedy , drama , action ; state-of-the-art effects , stunts , pyro , sets , sound , music , costuming , makeup , etc . , crouching babes , hidden hotties , and even a hanging Chad . Nonstop in-your-face big budget entertainment front to back but sadly only worth about . Hooray for Hollywood ! |
585,784 | 783,721 | 118,163 | 7 | A flick for the more mature chicks | The Whole Wide World , an old school melodrama , tells of a simple school teacher in 1930's Texas ( Zellweger ) and her relationship with pulp fiction writer Bob Howard ( D'Onofrio ) who created such characters as Conan the barbarian and Kull the conqueror . A simple tale of two people , there's little meat on the bones of this flick though it is a sincere and earnest drama which tiptoes quietly through the relationship of the two protags in fine style . " The Whole Wide World " is a chick flick which will play best with more mature audiences . ( B ) |
587,229 | 783,721 | 313,196 | 7 | Solid Mexican drama | The Crime of Padre Amaro is not worthy of the controversy it spawned but is worthy of anyone interested in a subtitled Mexican drama about an ambitious young priest in a rural diocese who succumbs to the desires of the flesh only to find the one transgression leads to another . Although the plot is worn and the story melodramatic and lacking intensity , the film offers an abundance of colorful characters , rich dramatic textures , solid performances , and good artistic and technical execution . Will play best to young adult audiences and foreign film buffs . ( B ) |
586,482 | 783,721 | 324,619 | 7 | Ya think ? | Spinning Boris tells a tall tale of three American political campaign consultants who are retained by the Russians to help an ill , oft intoxicated , and very unpopular Boris Yeltsin win Russia's first post-Cold War democratic election . What you'll get is lots of snappy patter as the culturally challenged Goldblum , Schreiber , and La Paglia try against all odds to spin Yeltsin with the help of his daughter and a meager cast of characters . What you won't see is anyone standing in for Yeltsin or anything really Russian save some file footage and postcard shots of Moscow . An obviously contrived but cleverly wrought dialogue-intensive synthesis about a hapless trio of election engineers out of their element , " Spinning Boris " conjures humor and heart which should appeal most to those into political comedy / dramedy . ( B ) |
586,991 | 783,721 | 268,995 | 7 | 100 weight Hollywood goo | The Majestic tells a tedious and melodramatic tale ( circa post-WWII ) about a man ( Carrey ) who loses his memory and through a case of mistaken identity becomes a small town hero . . . blaa , blaa , blaa . A very well crafted film with mixed critical reviews , " The Majestic " flows like honey , sweet and viscous , through countless fabrications of poignancy , romanticism , and idealism with forces of good and evil more obvious than an elephant in an outhouse . " The Majestic " heralds the golden age of Hollywood in time and milieu and will likely please sentimentalists while serving as an emetic for realists . Note - Some may consider the obvious knock-off of the renown Civil War letter by Sullivan Ballou as a tribute . I personally bristled . |
586,279 | 783,721 | 286,261 | 7 | Kind of like going to the dentist . | All or Nothing is a slice-of-wretched-life flick about a miserable dysfunctional working class London family . There's little arc to the story of walrus Phil Bassett and family who move sloth-like from day to day unhappy and unfulfilled . Undoubtedly an excellent film by film making standards , Mike Leigh puts the audience in the position of having to accept his characters ' plaintive existence on faith by not showing the psychodynamics which perpetuate their misery and just giving us the result . In other words , we see sad people stewing in their own juices which makes the buy-in difficult and the protagonists more ignoble . Personally I was happy to see the foul mouthed fat kid keel over from heart attack though I don't think that was how Leigh intended the audience to react and I suspect many a weeping wallower was wringing tears from their hanky . Given a 2 hour run , misery throughout , and character we couldn't care less about without charity , most will find " All or Nothing " more nothing than all . ( B ) |
586,840 | 783,721 | 256,524 | 7 | Cute little diversion for oldsters and Allen fans | The curse of the jade scorpion refers to the post hypnotic suggestion given by a night club hypnotist to an insurance investigator ( Allen ) and his efficiency expert inter-office rival ( Hunt ) . Both become embroiled in a jewel theft caper and spend most of their time at each others throats in this circa 1940 noir romantic / comedy ( emphasis on the comedy ) played out to saxy jazz strains and the usual fast talking gag-a-minute Allen repartee loaded with 30's vernacular . Those old enough to be familiar with " shamus " or " Sophisticated Lady " will likely get the most enjoyment from this easy going but busy little comedic venture in which Allen's signature hi-brow Freudian New York state-of-mind gives way to a lower brow , softer , and slightly more romantic attitude . Fun stuff with a great ending for Allen fans . ( B ) |
586,949 | 783,721 | 252,287 | 7 | Interesting , entertaining , and copasetic . | Bojangles tells the story of legendary hoofer Bill Robinson who tapped his way to stardom and success as America's highest paid black entertainer only to die penniless . Hines brings charisma , charm , and lots of great tappin ' to the title role in this polished and sanitized biography . A fun watch especially for those who love tappin ' . |
586,100 | 783,721 | 268,978 | 7 | Hypekill . | There's little doubt that " A Beautiful Mind " is an excellent film . There's also little doubt that it was buoyed from buzz to Oscar acclaim by hype , strategic PR , and a gullible public . Taken in and of itself the film is rather ordinary among excellent films and not worthy of much of the critical acclaim it garnered . I personally found much of the film uninteresting , tedious , and downright boring . After all , how does one relate to someone whose accomplishments are so abstract as to be buried in esoteric symbolism and someone whose illness is so intangible as to be a state of mind ? The beauty of mathematics and the war with the demons of delusions were not brought sufficiently into focus by the film which spent too much time trying to develop a rather uninteresting character , making his delusions our delusions , spicing it up with a car chase and shootout , fleshing out the mental ghosts , and showing the principal's eccentricism with endless scribbling on window glass . Compensate for the hype , keep expectations low , and enjoy . |
585,878 | 783,721 | 245,712 | 7 | Like being seduced with a hammer | Amores Perros is a subtitled Mexican film which tells three stories , each on a collision course with the other . Although the film is well cast and artistically and technically excellent , it is somewhat overwrought and inclined to wear on the audience at it's dramatic tales are pounded into us as opposed to making us yearn for more . One question every auteur should be prepared to answer when asked by an audience is " why should we care ? " " Amores . . . " works well on most levels but it's not likely Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu is prepared to answer the question . |
586,122 | 783,721 | 364,800 | 7 | More soap opera than history lesson | The Last King is a 3 hour , two part miniseries from the BBC which traces the life of King Charles II who ruled from 1649 until his death in 1685 . The upside of this film includes its sumptuous appointments and excellent cast . Well directed and crafted , the film is engaging , passionate , and delivers a strong sense of Charles II , his Monarchy , and the period . On the downside , however , the film is very difficult to follow given the absence of any prologue or didactics , the mixing of sir names and titles , and the presumption of some knowledge of the history of the time . The film squanders time on the sexual intrigues and personal relationships of the womanizing King while largely ignoring the more historical and profound matters of state . The Dutch Wars , for example , are barley mentioned while much time is spent on the machinations of one of his mistresses , Barbara Villiers making the film a bit more of a soap opera than a historical chronicle . Nonetheless , this elegant film is a must see for anyone interested in King Charles II and a should see for those into stories of the history of England's monarchy . No one does English period films better than the Brits and this one has production value equal to any similar films from Hollywood . ( Note - the DVD I watched has no CC's or Subtitles with much dialogue spoken in whispers or thick English , French , of Portuguese accents ) . |
587,649 | 783,721 | 313,043 | 7 | More of the same and that's a good thing | CSI : Miami follows the very successful formula of it's parent , " CSI " ( Las Vegas ) with Caruso heading a team of criminologists who spend most of their time connecting the forensic dots to solve murders . Those who can get past Caruso's incessant smug smirking , an ME who talks to her cadavers , some very undeveloped characters , far fetched stories , and fast and loose science / technology will find fast moving and solid no-brainer entertainment with color , educational value , a social conscience , and good IL ' family values subliminals . Season 1 develops a story thread involving the Caruso character's dead brother / narc and the cop / widow ( Milos ) which is carried over and pushed forward in season 2 making it of some import to watch the seasons in chronological order . As with the original " CSI " , this series sibling has high end production value , a beautiful Miami Beach venue , cool show & tell didactics , and a never-a-dull-moment flow . Newcomers to " CSI " should check out the top of the Nielsen's " CSI " ( Las Vegas ) first as it sports the most popular ensemble . Once into " CSI : Miami " you'll find the cross-over to " CSI : New York " in the next to the last season 2 episode which puts Caruso in NYC working with comrade in gloves , Gary Sinise . Good prime time TV entertainment not to be taken too seriously which makes for an enjoyable continuous DVD watch for the not too jaded palate . ( B ) |
585,721 | 783,721 | 245,562 | 7 | Overkill | Less would have been more in " Windtalkers " , a story about two WWII Marines who wage war on Saipan while forging a reluctant unspoken bond of friendship . Cage plays a battle hardened Sergeant whose is assigned to protect from capture at all cost an American Indian ( Beach ) " codetalker " who uses his native Navajo language to encrypt radio messages in support of the ground assault . The film offers state-of-the-art war action but buries the human drama in excesses during its protracted 2 + hour run . O'Connor , for example , was completely unnecessary fluff as were the Native American rituals , scenes in Monument Valley , etc . An enjoyable product from action auteur Woo for those into war flicks . ( B ) |
587,408 | 783,721 | 245,540 | 7 | A film about " America's Schindler " but no Schindler's List . | Varian's War tells of Varian Fry , an American citizen who sets about to liberate the great minds of Europe in the years prior to American involvement in WWII . An entertaining historical drama built for Showtime , this well made but somewhat scripted and theatrical film illuminates the mechanics of Fry's mission but is more stilted than engaging , more mechanical than compelling , and possibly bit off a piece of history bigger than what it could chew . Worth watching more for historical than dramatic value . |
586,894 | 783,721 | 299,977 | 7 | Think " Crouching Tiger , Hidden Dragon " | Hero is by all accounts a very big if not huge movie with plaudits aplenty from critics and public . The film tells a sort of epic adventure fairy tale about an assassin ( Jet Li ) and a handful of cohorts who conspire to kill a king which is high melodrama Chinese style and not likely to have a great appeal to westerners . What sets " Hero " apart from most other martial art films is the spectacular locations , sets , costumes , music , CGI , and state-of-the-art production value . Lyric , beautiful , and very Asian , " Hero " will play best with fans of " Crouching Tiger . . . " who don't mind watching people flying around like Peter Pan while flailing away with their swords . ( |
586,681 | 783,721 | 210,584 | 7 | Outstanding ! ! | Bootmen is one of those films which will not have mass appeal but which will appeal massively to those with whom it resonates : A fact which accounts for a meager 1 . 5 stars from Ebert with a critical majority voting " awesome " according to efilmcritic . com . A sort of " Footloose " meets " Stomp Out Loud " down under , " Bootmen " tells of a young Australian steel worker who puts together a steel-on-steel tap show benefit against all odds . Thumbing its nose at the typical Hollywood excesses ( sensationalism and melodrama ) , " Bootmen " sticks earnestly to it's purpose mixing love , sex , violence , death , angst , and woe with music and tap dancing in a rough sort of Aussie style while waxing to its climactic " feel good " conclusion . A great watch for anyone into rhythm or tap in film , Aussie flicks , or just plain creative movies . |
586,002 | 783,721 | 104,812 | 7 | Sweet stuff for romantics and sentimentalists | In " Map of the Human Heart " , a down and out middle aged Eskimo man recounts his life story to an Arctic cartographer ( Cusack , who has only a few minutes on screen ) which constitutes the bulk of the film via flashback . His story begins with his puppy love relationship with a young half-breed girl in a hospital . From there the adorable child couple are torn apart only to have fate bring them together again as adults under the less than idyllic circumstances of WWII . The film meanders from the dramatic to the poignant to the romantic to the horrific and back to square one where it continues the story in present day . Beautifully filmed and well executed though a bit clumsy at times , " Map . . . " spackles up its many plot holes and provides a thoughtful fantasy camouflage for its lack of resolution in the end while serving up very pretty Kodak moments such as making love on a barrage balloon or dancing in the rafters high above an orchestra . " Map . . . " is sweet stuff for romantics and sentimentalists who can overlook it continuity and credibility issues in the interest of the human heart . ( B ) |
587,345 | 783,721 | 364,930 | 7 | Painfully sad | Aileen : Life and Death of a Serial Killer ( 2003 ) is a documentary about the life of the notorious Florida serial killer , Aileen Wornous , who inspired the much lauded film " Monster " . Not to be confused with " Aileen Wornous : The Selling of a Serial Killer ( 1992 ) " , also by Nick Broomfield , this film provides background on Wornous who was selling sex for cigarettes as a 9 year old child in Michigan and follows her life from criminal trials to death row up to her execution ( which was not shown ) . The film paints a portrait of a troubled woman who descends into paranoid schizophrenia as the end nears all the while maintaining the unexpectedly undaunted , matter-of-fact demeanor of one very much reconciled to her fate in spite of being trapped in a system with no recompense for abuse in childhood nor insanity in adulthood who well may have been failed by the criminal justice system as well . A worthwhile watch for those interested in the Wornous story , especially as a follow-up to " Monster " . ( B ) |
586,669 | 783,721 | 386,588 | 7 | No hitch in Hitch | Hitch is all about Will Smith as the Alex Hitchens aka the Date Doctor , a dating consultant to socially inept men who need some polishing to become skillful navigators of the dating scene . A fresh and fun new age flick with old school values which mixes good advice with wit and charm as we watch the Date Doc work miracles with a portly and clumsy client while wrestling with his own foible fraught relationship . " Hitch " is a thoroughly enjoyable little flick with good casting and solid production value which makes a creative foray into the tired old romantic comedy genre with very pleasant results . Worth a look by anyone 13 and up in a romcom state of mind . ( B ) |
587,651 | 783,721 | 113,448 | 7 | Shoudla been titled " Jack and Amy " | Jack and Sarah is all about a British man , Jack , who finds himself stuck with a new born daughter , Sarah , while mourning the loss of his wife . As he struggles with his grief , he takes on an American nanny , Amy , ( Mathis ) who , with and in spite of assorted family and friends , helps him find happiness again . A tad long for a romcom at almost 2 hours , this easy-going and light hearted flick gets moving and keeps moving with enough side characters and subplots neatly knitted together that the time passes swiftly . Unabashedly sentimental but with a little edge to it , " Jack and Sarah " works well , doesn't stereotype too much , ignores the obvious opportunities for culture clashing , and passes on the schmaltz . Cute , fun , and fresh , " J & S " should make an enjoyable watch for anyone looking to wile away a couple of hours with some romantic comedy fare . Now on broadcast with R-rated language and G-rated CC's . ( B ) |
586,437 | 783,721 | 100,470 | 7 | A slow moving drama about hope and despair . | Journey of Hope tells of a poor Turkish family and their odyssey of hope which spirals downward into despair as they travel to Switzerland in search of prosperity . Although this Oscar winning film is fairly well crafted , it is lacking in substance and has many implausibilities . Much of the film's 1 . 7 hour run time is get on the bus , get off the bus , get on the boat , get off the boat , get in the van , get out of the van , etc . ; time which could have been better spent or left out completely . The story has a predictable conclusion , especially for those who have an awareness of the common crime of trafficking in illegal immigrants . A worthwhile and reasonably entertaining watch but over-rated . |
587,140 | 783,721 | 183,649 | 7 | Stu stands still | Phone Booth is all about Stu ( Farrell ) who is held captive at gun point in a downtown Manhattan , NYC phone booth by a psycho sniper ( Sutherland ) dictating his demands via phone from somewhere in the surrounding buildings . An intense , high energy psychodrama , " Phone Booth " is pound for pound better than most flicks including " Liberty Stands Still " which has almost the identical premise . For those who can make the huge leap of faith required to swallow a boat load of plotholes during this Farrell tour de force , a spellbinding 80 minutes of entertainment awaits . ( B ) |
585,735 | 783,721 | 183,659 | 7 | A excellent but marginally interesting film | Pollock tells of the life of American abstract expressionist painter Jackson Pollock . A excellent film in most respects , this tour-de-force by Ed Harris has one glaring flaw . Pollock simply wasn't a sufficiently interesting subject to expect his biopic to have mass appeal . We've all seen films of alcoholic , neurotic , tormented artists and " Pollock " is just another to add to the muddle of Van Gogh , Picasso , Toulouse-Lautrec , and others . " Pollock should appeal most to those with an interest in painting . |
586,229 | 783,721 | 113,849 | 7 | A picture postcard perfect little tale | A Month by the Lake has strong parallels with " Up at the Villa " as both films are about the idle rich who spend time at a villa in the North of Italy in the days prior to WWII . " A Month . . . " is a sublime story about a very starched Brit ( Fox ) and a somewhat capricious lady ( Redgrave ) . Both mature , in late middle age , the principals stumble along on a collision course with love in this sweet , airy , picture postcard perfect little tale . An enjoyable watch for more mature audiences . A must see for Redgrave fans . |
587,110 | 783,721 | 113,851 | 7 | Under-rated girl talk film about what makes women special . | Moonlight . . . is a slightly massaged and sanitized but insightful and warm look at a woman ( Perkins ) coping with grief with help from a distaff trio of family / friends . A beautifully crafted piece of work at all levels , this dialogue-intensive film spares us much of the usual mourning melodrama and gets right into the healing process with humor , charm , and sensitivity while exploring the principal's relationships and not lingering too long on the central grief issue . Overall , an entertaining piece which , IMHO , was scored too low by IMDB . com users because of the male side of the jury . Recommended for more mature audiences . . . and Ebert , wake up and smell the roses . |
587,524 | 783,721 | 280,653 | 7 | One man's crusade against the holocaust and the Pope who did nothing . | One of a plethora of films about the WWII Jewish holocaust , " Amen " is a fact / fiction accounting of German SS officer Kurt Gerstein's futile attempts to ameliorate the extermination of Jews in Nazi death camps ; particularly his appeals to Pope Pius XII whose papacy was at the center of a firestorm of postwar criticism for everything from negligence to cowardice . This serious minded film portrays Gerstein , a technical consultant who reluctantly helped plan the gassing of Jews , as a man tortured by conscience who attempts to exploit his position with the SS in support of the Jews . " Amen " offers good production value for a story which is probably too esoteric and anticlimactic to have broad dramatic appeal among movie patrons . Given that the ratio of fact to fiction is lost in history and the outcome is a given , " Amen " will find little appreciation beyond those with an abiding interest in the holocaust . ( B ) |
587,446 | 783,721 | 293,662 | 7 | Oh yeah . . . umm-hmm . . . kick that booty , bad boy ! ! | The Transporter tells of an Brit ex-Army macho mercenary driver-for-hire in the South of France who will deliver whatever wherever with no questions asked and gets embroiled in a thrill a minute escapade when one of his packages turns out to be a passenger . An obvious and predictable formula action flick with some okay stunts , firefights , thrill rides , and even a little sky and scuba diving , " The Transporter " is just a good old fashioned machoduck not-to-be-taken-seriously funfest with all the requisite titillators except T & A , sex , and nudity . For action junkies only . ( B ) |
586,980 | 783,721 | 253,474 | 7 | Music was his passion . Survival was his instinct . | The Pianist is doubtless well crafted and technically and artistically sound albeit naive and conventional . The film parses into one hour of a stereotypical and exploitive regurgitation of the horrors of the Nazi reign over the Warsaw ghetto , where every German soldier is more evil than Satan and every Jew a pathetic victim , and one hour of Brody living like a rat foraging for sustenance amid the Warsaw ruination . Only in the very end does the film introduce a bit of irony and a sympathetic Nazi after countless missed opportunities to breath something fresh into what is just another in a very long list of films about the infamous ghetto ( Families torn apart , summary executions , etc . ) . Brody delivers a fine performance as a pianist and the film's centerpiece but is not required to perform the range of emotion deserving of a little gold statuette . Overall , the film is worthwhile but shows us nothing new and exploits rather than honors the memory of those Polish Jews who died in the conflict . " The Pianist " will play best with those who have not yet had their fill of Warsaw ghetto films . ( B ) |
585,852 | 783,721 | 86,979 | 7 | Good fodder for film buffs . | The Coen's much heralded breakthrough flick " Blood Simple " is devoid of just about everything we go to movies to see . No wondrous exotic locations . No awesome stunts , action scenes , martial arts , car crashes , or shoot outs . No enticing romance , love , sex , nudity . No sumptuous sets , elaborate costuming , etc . Rather , " BS " is a simple tale of simple people told in a simple way which has been lauded by critics and public alike . How the Coen's could pull off such a coup with such a simple indie is the art and the paradox of " BS " . Now a noir classic , " BS " is full of plot holes but lulls the escapist audience into a sense of reality . Good fodder for film buffs which will be quickly forgotten by the common man . |
586,259 | 783,721 | 117,615 | 7 | Funny , wistfully sentimental , and utterly charming | Shall We Dance ? , a light-hearted flick from Japan , tells of an overworked accountant and family man who is attracted to a dance studio by a beautiful woman he see's from the train during his daily commute . What he finds in the studio are lessons in dancing and , most of all , himself . Funny , poignant , and utterly charming , " SWD " is an award winning film well worth a look by more mature viewers . ( B ) |
586,318 | 783,721 | 236,285 | 7 | Solid entertainment and a must see for jazz lovers . | A romanticized dramatic biography , " For Love or County " tells the true story of trumpet virtuoso Arturo Sandoval's escape from Cuba and oppression of artistic expression . A well composed and entertaining production , this film packs ideological and political conflict , a love story , and plenty of authentic Sandoval music into a two hour run . Perhaps most importantly , the film makes clear that freedom of musical expression is , to the musician , as important as freedom of speech ; especially when that music is jazz . |
585,920 | 783,721 | 209,189 | 7 | The Substitute : Failure is not an option | Not One Less tells the story of a teen girl who takes a job as a substitute elementary school teacher in a poor rural village and must keep her flock of kids in tow despite her obvious lack of qualifications . Like most traditional Chinese films , this one has a moral which is something like : A good heart and determination will lead to success even in the absence of resources and ability . The kind of film people will likely describe as quaint , sweet , charming , etc . , this flick is all of those things including dreadfully slow . When all is said and done , one can only wonder if this lovely little tale was worth the time spent . Will play best with those into traditional Asian storytelling . With English subtitles and CC . ( B ) |
587,462 | 783,721 | 144,142 | 7 | Upbeat , hip , fun , and deceptively smart | Committed is all about Graham as an irrepressible optimist who goes in search of her self-estranged husband who has gone in search of himself which all leads to a sort of kookie , upbeat comedic odyssey involving a bunch of side characters and issues . A fresh , fun , and unpredictable little flick , what " Committed " lacks in story it makes up for in good naturedness and subtle morals and maxims . If you enjoy this little chick flick , which received slightly above average reviews by critics and public alike , you might want to check out Lisa Krueger's hit Indie " Manny & Lo " ( 1996 ) . ( B ) |
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