An insurance evaluator seeks escape from his alienation, first by visiting support groups (for conditions for which he does not suffer), then through fighting.
This film is diverting: violent and comical- simultaneously a satire on consumerism, corporate values, therapy culture, the "mens' movement", and anti-corporatism.
The denoument is far too long, however, and the film could happily be reduced by 20 minutes.
Showing posts with label films 1999. Show all posts
Showing posts with label films 1999. Show all posts
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
The Limey (1999): review- 7/10
7/10
Charismatic cockney thug Terence Stamp seeks revenge for daughter's death in LA.
Charismatic cockney thug Terence Stamp seeks revenge for daughter's death in LA.
Enjoyable, shallow, violent and efficiently made. |
Monday, July 19, 2010
Magnolia (1999): review
7/10
A variety of interlinked characters in LA pass through personal crises.
It is elegantly and assuredly made: Tom Cruise is supurb and the film has definate momentum. However, the characters are not really allowed to breathe freely- they are just puppets, whose purpose is to serve the director's (presumably Christian) moral preconceptons.
A variety of interlinked characters in LA pass through personal crises.
It is elegantly and assuredly made: Tom Cruise is supurb and the film has definate momentum. However, the characters are not really allowed to breathe freely- they are just puppets, whose purpose is to serve the director's (presumably Christian) moral preconceptons.
Monday, July 12, 2010
The Cider House Rules (1999): review- 2/10
In Maine: an orphanage, an abortionist and his assistant. The assistant decides to leave the orphange to "make himelf useful": he picks apples.
This is a dawdling, pretentious film that fails to deal with the issues it raises about abortion and identity.
It is also extremely boring.
This is a dawdling, pretentious film that fails to deal with the issues it raises about abortion and identity.
It is also extremely boring.
Monday, June 21, 2010
10 Things I hate About You (1999): review- 9/10
Cleverly directed high school drama about two sisters, opposite in character: one outgoing, superficial and popular, the second a mean-spirited loner.
Their conservative father will only permit the first sister to date if the second sister also has a date: so rebel Heath Ledger is paid to ask the second sister out by the first sister's consort.
The twists and turns of plot are handled with wit and aplomb and the film is often very funny, and even insightful (which should perhaps come as no surprise given that it is based on "The Taming of the Shrew").
Their conservative father will only permit the first sister to date if the second sister also has a date: so rebel Heath Ledger is paid to ask the second sister out by the first sister's consort.
The twists and turns of plot are handled with wit and aplomb and the film is often very funny, and even insightful (which should perhaps come as no surprise given that it is based on "The Taming of the Shrew").
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1999): review- 7/10
Middle-class high school students play truant, visiting a glorious Chicago; all the while they are pursued by the school Dean of Students.
Though often very funny, the film too neatly resolves the questions it raises and is therefore less interesting than it might be.
Though often very funny, the film too neatly resolves the questions it raises and is therefore less interesting than it might be.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Sleepy Hollow (1999): review- 6/10
For some reason the film-makers traduced themselves.
The film starts off elegantly and wittily and both Depp and Ricci are enchanting, and there are some potentially interesting themes introduced about the limits of reason.
But the film then declines into a fomulaic action piece (albeit with gothic trappings) following obvious Hollywood conventions and becomes tedious.
The art direction is stunning. Alas, there is a cartoonishness about the film that seems very American to me.
This is the first of the film reviews I shall be publishing here. Previous reviews have been available on http://rateyourmusic.com/~tadeusz598
These reviews are written to be as concise as possible, and rarely contain plot summaries.
I shall, over time, transfer these reviews (and possibly re-write these in the process) from Rateyourmusic to here.
The film starts off elegantly and wittily and both Depp and Ricci are enchanting, and there are some potentially interesting themes introduced about the limits of reason.
But the film then declines into a fomulaic action piece (albeit with gothic trappings) following obvious Hollywood conventions and becomes tedious.
The art direction is stunning. Alas, there is a cartoonishness about the film that seems very American to me.
*
This is the first of the film reviews I shall be publishing here. Previous reviews have been available on http://rateyourmusic.com/~tadeusz598
These reviews are written to be as concise as possible, and rarely contain plot summaries.
I shall, over time, transfer these reviews (and possibly re-write these in the process) from Rateyourmusic to here.
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