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TOM'S REVIEWS
**********03/07/04 ****************************
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FILMS
VIEWED OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS:
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Ratings
* * * * * *
Must See, An Artistic Great Film. Most Highly
Recommended
* * * * *
Well Worth Seeing, Good Film. Highly Recommended
* * *
* Worth
the Effort, Good Film. Recommended
* * *
Entertaining, Recommended Rental
* *
For Personal Tastes Only
*
Not Worth
You Time
0 Run!
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AT
THE MOVIES NOW
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THE PASSION OF THE
CHRIST (2003) * * * * *
Directed by Mel Gibson;
written (in Aramaic and Latin, with English subtitles) by Benedict Fitzgerald
and Mr. Gibson; director of photography, Caleb Deschanel;
edited by John Wright; music by John Debney;
production designer, Francesco Frigeri; produced by
Mr. Gibson, Bruce Davey and Stephen McEveety; released by Icon Productions and Newmarket Films. Running time: 120
minutes. This film is rated R.
WITH: Jim Caviezel (Jesus), Monica Bellucci
(Magdalen), Hristo Naumov Shopov (Pontius Pilate), Maia Morgenstern (Mary), Francesco De Vito (Peter), Luca Lionello (Judas), Mattia Sbragia (Caiphas), Rosalinda Celentano (Satan), Claudia Gerini
(Claudia Procles).
Other films
by Mel Gibson: Passion of the Christ,
The (2004), Braveheart
(1995), Man Without
a Face, The (1993)
The Verdict? It's a powerful
and moving
film. There's nothing here to get worked up about (except the
violence). Unlike Scorsese's Last Temptation of Christ (which I viewed
again in preparation for Passion)
the film doesn't really try to interpret or recast the story. One does
gain new appreciation for the sheer physical magnitude of the event. This
is the most violent film I've ever seen.
One comment from Roger Ebert that I really agree with (on CNBC's nightly news
Wednesday night) - "I review the film the director made rather than the
film I think he should have made." A lot of the reviewers seem to be
more concerned about the limited time frame of Christ's life that the film
covers. Well, it is called the "Passion of the Christ".
Mel intended to focus just on
this limited time frame. With caution, highly
recommended.
THE
WEATHER UNDERGROUND (2003) * * * *
Directed by Sam Green and Bill Siegel; directors of photography, Andrew Black
and Federico Salsano; edited by Mr. Green and Dawn
Logsdon; music by Dave Cerf and Amy Domingues; produced by Mr. Green, Mr. Siegel, Carrie Lozano
and Marc Smolowitz. At the Film
Forum,
WITH: Lili Taylor and Pamela Z (narrators), and Bernardine Dohrn, Mark Rudd,
Brian Flanagan, David Gilbert, Bill Ayers, Naomi Jaffe, Todd Gitlin, Laura Whitehorn, Don
Strickland and Kathleen Cleaver.
Where were
you in the early seventies? The Weather Underground was waging a war
against the Federal government by blowing up offices, buildings and other
targets. This documentary traces them from their beginning to where they
are today. It is an interesting arc. There are several films coming
out this year that re-examine the "revolution" of the late 60s and
early 70s or have it as the backdrop. My memory tells me there was
"something" in the air during that time. Good flick.
AGAINST
THE ROPES (2003) * * * *
Directed by
Charles S. Dutton; written by Cheryl Edwards; director of photography, Jack
Green; edited by Eric L. Beason; music by Michael Kamen; production designer, Sandra Kybartas;
produced by Robert W. Cort and David Madden; released
by Paramount Pictures. Running time: 111 minutes. This
film is rated PG-13.
WITH: Meg
Ryan (Jackie Kallen), Omar Epps (Luther Shaw),
Charles
Other films
by Charles S. Dutton: Against
the Ropes (2004), "Corner, The" (2000) (mini TV
series), First-Time Felon
(1997) (TV)
First, let
me state up front that I am a big Meg Ryan fan. But going to this film
after reading the early reviews, I had low expectations. Well, I liked it.
As implausible as it is, I found Meg credible as the lady turned fight
manager. Omar Epps and Charles Dutton too did a good job. The only
thing that was somewhat implausible was that three good people can be found in
the fight game. Tony Shalhoub was great as the
nasty fight manager-promoter ( a mini Don King). A flick with a good heart.
THE
TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE (2003) * * * * * *
Written and directed by Sylvain Chomet; 3-D animation
direction, special effects and compositing design, Pieter Van Houte; animation supervisor, Jean-Christophe
Lie; edited by Chantal Colibert Brunner; music by Benoît Cherest; production
designer, Evgeni Tomov;
produced by Didier Brunner and Paul Cadieux; released
by Sony Pictures Classics. Running time: 80 minutes.
This film is rated PG-13.
WITH THE VOICES OF: Jean-Claude Donda, Michel Robin
and Monica Viegas (characters) and M, Béatrice Bonifassi and Charles Prevost Linton (songs).
Other films
by Sylvain Chomet: Triplets of
Wow!
I was ready to concede the best animation Oscar to Finding Nemo without having seen The Triplets of Belleville. Big
mistake! Although the animation is not the crystal perfect computer
generated type in Nemo,
Triplets more than makes up for
it in creativity! Literally no dialogue is needed. That
provided no difficulty for the people in attendance - they were roaring with
laughter! The basic plot is: When her grandson is kidnapped during
the Tour de France, Madame Souza and her beloved pooch Bruno team up with the
Belleville Sisters -- a aged song-and-dance unit from
the days of Fred Astaire -- to rescue him. You've
never seen anything like this. A must see, highly highly
recommended!
TOUCHING
THE VOID (2004) * * * *
Directed by Kevin Macdonald; based on the book by Joe Simpson; director of
photography, Mike Eley; edited by Justine Wright;
music by Alex Heffes; produced by John Smithson;
co-producer, Sue Summers; released by IFC Films. Running
time: 102 minutes. This film is not rated .
WITH: Joe Simpson and Simon Yates (themselves) and Brendan Mackey (Joe Simpson)
and Nicholas Aaron (Simon Yates).
Other films by Kevin Macdonald: Touching
the Void (2003), Being Mick
(2001) (TV), Brief History of Errol Morris,
A (2000), Humphrey Jennings
(2000) (TV), One Day in September (2000), Donald Cammell: The
Ultimate Performance (1998), Howard Hawks: American Artist (1997) (TV), Moving World of George Rickey, The
(1997), Chaplin's Goliath
(1996), Making of an Englishman,
The (1995) (TV)
Two young
mountain climbers tackle an unclimbed route up a peak in the
ELEPHANT
(2003) * * * * *
Written, directed and edited by Gus Van Sant;
director of photography, Harris Savides; sound
design, Leslie Shatz; produced by Dany
Wolf; released by HBO Films/Fine Line Features. Running time:
81 minutes. This film is rated R.
WITH: Alex Frost (Alex), Eric Deulen (Eric), John
Robinson (John McFarland), Elias McConnell (Elias), Jordan Taylor (Jordan),
Carrie Finklea (Carrie), Nicole George (Nicole),
Brittany Mountain (Brittany), Alicia Miles (Acadia), Kristen Hicks (Michelle),
Bennie Dixon (Benny), Nathan Tyson (Nathan) and Timothy Bottoms (Mr.
McFarland).
Other films
by Gus Van Sant: Elephant (2003), Best of
Ballad
of the Skeletons
(1996), Understanding
(1996) (TV), Four Boys in a Volvo
(1996), To Die For (1995), Bowie: The Video Collection (1993)
(V), Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
(1993), Thanksgiving Prayer (1991),
My Own Private Idaho (1991), Drugstore Cowboy (1989), Ken Death Gets Out of Jail (1987),
My New Friend (1987),
The title
refers to the aphorism about the elephant in the living room that goes ignored
-- a problem that people refuse to face for so long that they are no longer
even able to see it. Gus Van Zant is not
everyone's cup of tea. Although he has made several well liked films
(like Good Will Hunting), he
mainly does those to put food on the table. More often he is attracted to
projects like Gerry or Elephant. Most people will approach
this film vaguely knowing it has something to do with a Columbine-like
incident. That's just what he wants for it makes you putty in his
hands (this is the guy who had the audacity to remake Hitchcock's Psycho a few year's ago!).
The film follows a series of students around school during a seemingly normal
day. Of course, you see evil and plots in every face and every corner -
but you are continually frustrated. The camera (and film-maker) never
take a position or point of view other than showing the mundane events of the
day until - . You keep expecting a hero to arrive on scene or
something. The viewer is forced to consider what they are really
seeing and what they really think about it despite their preconceived notions.
Most will find this extremely maddening and irritating - it's not presented to
you predigested like the evening news. In Psycho Hitchcock famously admitted to wanting to manipulate the
viewer but here the purpose is to NOT to manipulate the viewer.
Indeed there is an elephant in the living room. Highly recommended!
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OUT
ON DVD/VHS
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THE
LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST (1988) * * * * *
Directed by
Martin Scorsese; written by Paul Schrader; based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis; director of
photography, Michael Ballhaus; edited by Thelma Schoonmaker; music by Peter Gabriel; production designer,
John Beard; produced by Barbara De Fina; released by
Universal Pictures. At the Ziegfeld, Avenue of the
WITH: Willem
Dafoe (Jesus), Harvey Keitel
(Judas), Barbara Hershey (Mary Magdalene), Harry Dean Stanton
(Saul/Paul), David Bowie (Pontius Pilate), Andre Gregory
( John the Baptist), Tomas Arana
(Lazarus)
Other films
by Martin Scorsese: "Blues, The" (2003) (mini) TV Series
(episode "Feel Like Going Home"), Gangs of New York (2002), Bringing
Out the Dead (1999), My Voyage to Italy (Mio viaggio
in Italia, Il) (1999), Kundun (1997), Personal
Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies, A (1998) (TV), Casino
(1995), HIStory (1994) (V) (video
"Bad"), Age of Innocence, The (1993), Cape Fear
(1991), Made in Milan (1990), Goodfellas
(1990), New York Stories (1989) (segment "Life
Lessons"), Last Temptation of Christ, The (1988), Bad (1987)
(V), Color of Money, The (1986), After Hours (1985), King of Comedy, The (1983),
Raging Bull (1980), American Boy: A Profile of: Steven Prince (1978), Last
Waltz, The (1978), New York, New York (1977), Taxi Driver (1976), Alice Doesn't
Live Here Anymore (1974),Italianamerican (1974),
Badge 373 (1973) (some scenes), Mean Streets (1973), Boxcar Bertha (1972),
Street Scenes (1970), Who's That Knocking at My Door? (1969), Big Shave, The (1967), Viet '67, The
(1967), It's Not Just You,
In
preparation for viewing Mel Gibson's Passion,
I chose to revisit the last film that approached the subject. Americans
were used to the "wonder bread" version of
the story of Jesus up until this film (Jesus
of Nazareth (1977), The
Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), King of Kings (1961) - all good
films). Even the little seen Italian
The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1964)
(http://www.cinescene.com/dash/gospel.htm)
played it pretty much straight down the line. But Last Temptation was made by passionate
artists (Scorsese and Schrader) from a work of fiction (not the Bible as is
ordinarily the case) which takes as it's point of view that Jesus as a real man
with real human frailties, thoughts, desires, and strivings. Thus the
story of Jesus is transformed from mythos into psychological drama.
Naturally this is not looked kindly upon by some groups of Christians. I
remember walking through picketing Christians to see the film. Well worth
the effort. Highly recommended.
THE
OX-BOW INCIDENT (1943) * * * * *
Directed by
William A. Wellman; written by Lamar Trotti, based on
the novel by Walter Van Tilburg Clark; cinematographer, Arthur Miller; edited
by Allen McNeil; music by Cyril J. Mockbridge; art
designers, Richard Day and James Basevi; produced by
Mr. Trotti; released by Twentieth Century Fox. Black and white. Running time: 75 minutes.
WITH:
Henry Fonda (Gil Carter), Dana Andrews (Donald Martin), Mary Beth Hughes (Rose Mapen), Anthony
Quinn (Juan Martines),
William Eythe (Gerald Tetley), Henry Morgan (Art Croft), Jane Darwell
(Ma Grier), Matt Briggs (Judge Daniel Tyler), Harry Davenport (Arthur Davies), Frank Conroy (Maj. Tetley), Marc Lawrence (Farnley), Victor Kilian
(Darby), Paul Hurst (Monty Smith)
Other films
by William A. Wellman:
Light's
Diamond Jubilee (1954) (TV), Ring of Fear
(1954), High and the Mighty, The (1954),
Across
the Wide
Iron
Curtain, The (1948), Magic Town (1947), Gallant Journey (1946),
Story of G.I. Joe (1945), This Man's Navy (1945), Buffalo Bill (1944), Ox-Bow
Incident, The (1943),
Lady of Burlesque (1943), Thunder Birds
(1942), Great Man's Lady, The (1942), Roxie Hart (1942), Reaching for the Sun
(1941), Light That Failed, The (1939), Beau Geste
(1939), Men with Wings (1938), Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The
(1938), Nothing Sacred (1937), Star Is Born, A (1937), Tarzan Escapes!
(1936), Small Town Girl (1936), Robin Hood of El Dorado, The
(1936), Call of the Wild, The (1935), President Vanishes, The
(1934), Stingaree (1934), Viva Villa!
(1934), Looking for Trouble (1934), Female (1933), College
Coach (1933), Wild Boys of the Road (1933), Midnight Mary (1933), Heroes
for Sale (1933), Lilly Turner (1933), Central Airport (1933), Frisco Jenny
(1932), Conquerors, The (1932), Purchase Price, The (1932), Love Is
a Racket (1932), So Big! (1932), Hatchet Man, The (1932), ... aka Honourable Mr. Wong, The
(1932) (UK) Safe in Hell (1931), Star Witness, The (1931), Night
Nurse (1931), Public Enemy, The (1931), Other Men's Women (1931), Maybe It's
Love (1930), Young Eagles (1930), Dangerous Paradise (1930), Woman
Trap (1929), Man I Love, The (1929), Chinatown Nights (1929), Beggars of Life
(1928), Ladies of the Mob (1928), Legion of the Condemned, The
(1928), Wings (1927), You Never Know Women
(1926), Cat's Pajamas, The (1926), Boob, The (1926), When Husbands
Flirt (1925), Circus Cowboy, The (1924), Vagabond Trail, The (1924),
Not a Drum Was Heard (1924), Cupid's Fireman (1923), Big Dan (1923), Man Who
Won, The (1923), Second Hand Love (1923), Twins of Suffering Creek, The
(1920)
A little
classic much overlooked in its time. Most focus in 1943 was naturally on
the war and it was many years before Ox-Bow
was recognized as a great film (although it was nominated for Best Picture in
1944 against the likes of
GREAT
EXPECTATIONS (1946) * * * * *
Directed by
David Lean; written by Mr. Lean, Anthony Havelock-Allan, Cecil McGivern, Kay Walsh, and Ronald Neame,
based on the novel by Charles Dickens; cinematographer, Guy Green; edited by
Jack Harris; music by Walter Goehr; production
designer, John Bryan; produced by Mr. Neame; released
by Universal International Pictures. Black and white. Running time: 118 minutes.
WITH: John
Mills (Mr. Pip), Anthony Wager (Young Pip), Valerie Hobson (Estella), Jean
Simmons (Young Estella), Bernard Miles (Joe Gargery),
Francis L. Sullivan (Jaggers), Finlay
Currie (Magwitch), Alec Guinness (Herbert Pocket),
John Forrest (Young Herbert), and Martita Hunt (Miss Havisham).
Other films
by David Lean: Passage to India, A
(1984), Lost and Found: The Story of Cook's
Anchor (1979) (TV), Ryan's
Daughter (1970), Doctor Zhivago (1965), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Bridge on the River Kwai, The
(1957), Summertime (1955), Hobson's Choice (1954), Sound Barrier, The (1951), Madeleine (1950), Passionate Friends, The (1949), Oliver Twist (1948), Great
Expectations (1946), Brief
Encounter (1945), Blithe
Spirit (1945), This
Happy Breed (1944), In Which We
Serve (1942)
Before Zhivago,
before
OLIVER
TWIST (1948) * * * * *
Directed by
David Lean; written by Mr. Lean and Stanley Haynes, based on the novel by
Charles Dickens; cinematographer, Guy Green; edited by Jack Harris; music by
Arnold Bax; produced by Ronald Neame;
released by United Artists. Black and white. Running time: 105 minutes.
WITH: John
Howard Davies (Oliver Twist), Robert
Other films
by David Lean: Passage to India, A
(1984), Lost and Found: The Story of Cook's
Anchor (1979) (TV), Ryan's
Daughter (1970), Doctor Zhivago (1965), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Bridge on the River Kwai, The
(1957), Summertime (1955), Hobson's Choice (1954), Sound Barrier, The (1951), Madeleine (1950), Passionate Friends, The (1949), Oliver Twist (1948), Great
Expectations (1946), Brief
Encounter (1945), Blithe
Spirit (1945), This
Happy Breed (1944), In Which We
Serve (1942)
Like
Shakespeare, you can always find more Dicken's
stories that are ageless. Alec Guinness unrecognizable
and menacing as Fagin. Highly recommended!
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ANY COMMENTS? SEND THEM TO ME
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COMING
ATTRACTIONS IN 2004
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Kill
Bill Vol 2 - April 16th http://www.kill-bill.com/
King
Arthur - July
7th http://kingarthur.movies.go.com/main.html
Spiderman
2 - July
2nd http://spiderman.sonypictures.com/
Harry
Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - June 4th http://azkaban.warnerbros.com/
Star
Wars III - May
25th http://www.starwars.com/
Spartan - March 12th http://spartanthemovie.warnerbros.com/
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CURRENTLY
AND COMING TO THE FLICKS in
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Currently:
Monster
The
Cooler
21
Grams
In
Coming:
2/6 Pieces of April
2/6 The Girl with the
2/6
The Weather Underground
2/13 Elephant
2/? The Barbarian Invasions
2/20 Divine Intervention
2/27 The Triplets of
3/5
Touching the Void
3/12 The Statement
3/19 The Company
The Human Stain
In This World
The Magdelane
Sisters
Regular
Theaters
Flicks
http://www.theflicksboise.com/
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PRIMARY
FILM LINKS
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Internet
Movie Database http://www.imdb.com/
Movie
Review Query Engine http://www.mrqe.com/
New York
Times Reviews http://www.nytimes.com/ref/movies/currentmovies.html
Roger
Ebert
http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/ebertser.html
Coming
Soon http://www.comingsoon.net/
Foreign
Films
http://www.foreignfilms.com/
Cinebooks
Database http://www.tvguide.com/movies/database/
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