Cinema Paradiso (1988)(Int)

Original title: Nuevo Cinema Paradiso
Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
Writer: Giuseppe Tornatore (Story and Screenplay), Collaborating writer: Vanna Paoli
Cast: Philippe Noiret, Antonella Attili, Marco Leonardi, Agnese Nano, Salvatore Cascio, Jacques Perrin, Pupella Maggio
Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy

Among all the amazing things about Cinema Paradiso, the one that amazes me the most is the fact this was only the second feature film of director Tornatore's career. I'm not amazed because he managed to make such a great movie so early in his career, as that's not such an unusual feat anymore. I'm amazed because the entire premise, feel and direction of the movie is that of an old man with a lot of experience within the industry. Prior to the success of this movie, it's said Tornatore spoke of it as his obituary to traditional movie theatres and the industry in general. That's spoken like the the movie speaks, and it's amazing he didn't have more movies behind him while saying so.

I watched the international edition of 124 minutes. Next time around I'll watch the longer one, if I can get my hands on it, because this is a celebration of cinema, movie theatres and friendship you don't want to end. While its main focus is on the nostalgia of a theatre and its personal connections, Tornatore have managed to touch on several of the essentials of life as his story progress. While there's a couple of choices you can point towards as flaws or reasons to degrade it, I find the overall accomplishment of Tornatore's efforts such a heartfelt testimonal it should be viewed by all; and if not by all, so at least by everyone with a love for movies.

Raising Helen (2004)

Director: Garry Marshall
Writer: Story: Patrick J. Clifton, Beth Rigazio Screenplay: Jack Amiel, Michael Begler
Cast: Kate Hudson, Hayden Panettiere, Abigail Breslin, Spencer Breslin, Joan Cusack, John Corbett, Helen Mirren, Felicity Huffman
Genre: Drama, Rom-Com

Raising Helen tells the story of Helen Davis (Hudson), a single twenty-something party girl working at a model agency, who suddenly lose one of her two sisters to a car accident. According to their will, her dead sister and husband are leaving Helen in charge of their three children despite the third sister Jenny being the more adult and obvious choice.

The premise leaves it all wide open to the audience, and without managing to make us grow more fond of any of the main characters, Raising Helen becomes a forgettable and as predicted story it feels like we've seen several times before.

Hudson is charming enough, but lacks charisma to really embrace the part and make us care. Panettiere and Abigail Breslin really haven't got enough depth in their parts to do a lot, but it's nice to watch both in a movie from their pre-fame.

The Princess Bride (1987)

Director: Rob Reiner
Writer: William Goldman (Novel and Screenplay)
Cast: Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Wallace Shawn, André the Giant, Fred Savage, Peter Falk
Genre: Family, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Comedy

If The Princess Bride was a young man, he would probably by those who loved him be described as honest and brave, with a boyish charm. Those who wasn't such fans might say childish, spoiled and full of him self, but therein lies the beauty of any entertainment. It's all in the audience's own experience of it.

There was a time almost anything Rob Reiner touched turned into gold. He was a mainstream King Midas of Hollywood, with the successes of this movie along Stand by Me, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, This is Spinal Tap and A Few Good Men, all made in a period of eight years. Not all of them box office successes, not all of them critically acclaimed and not all of them even acclaimed by the masses, but all of them have a devoted fanbase.

The Princess Bride followed his pre-teen adventures of the boys in Stand by Me released the year prior, but this adventure is made in an old-fashioned way, much like the way old folk tales are told. I love the way they go into the movie, I love the grandpa reading story angle and I adore the first half hour of the movie all together. It's funny, light, magical and hints at several old tales, as well as it stands on its own merit.

Sadly the acting isn't great, but for a while you're really not caring that much as the charm of it's poor quality flows much like the story it self. After a while the story slows down a bit, and then the acting and the entire story's build-up starts to become a little annoying. Yet, not more so than we're able to forgive thanks to its overall charm. I would predict this as a sure hit with the children, but it works for the rest of us as well. It reminds us of a different time, a different kind of storytelling and for many probably about their childhood when they watched it for the first time them self. Haven't seen it prior, I have no such nostalgic reasons to enjoy it. I still do enjoy it, and are actually not surprised at all of its high overall ranking and top 250 spot at IMDB despite its flaws.

DOA: Dead or Alive (2006)

Director: Corey Yuen
Writer: Story: J.F. Lawton Screenplay: J.F. Lawton, Adam Gross, Seth Gross
Cast: Jaime Pressly, Devon Aoki, Hollay Valance, Sarah Carter, Natassia Malthe, Eric Roberts
Genre: Action, Adventure

DOA: Dead or Alive is based on a video game and in several of the scenes they don't only embrace it, but almost pays homage towards it. For actors and actresses not among the best to begin with, several scenes seems rushed as I've seen these actresses do better when given the chance.

Still. This is a movie you only watch for popcorn purpose, so the lame story and the weak acting can be forgiven as long as it entertains. Sadly there's a major lack in that department as well, and DOA goes into eternity as just another video game made into a crappy movie.

Brazil (1985)

Director: Terry Gilliam
Writer: Terry Gilliam, Tom Stoppard, Charles McKeown
Cast: Jonathan Pryce, Kim Greist, Robert De Niro, Katherine Helmond, Ian Holm, Bob Hoskins, Jim Broadbent
Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Drama

There's no doubt Brazil is another proof Terry Gilliam's mind doesn't work quite like the rest of ours. He creates an imaginative  universe on his own terms, and manages to keep spurring our interest with small details. In Brazil he takes us into a dystopian bureaucratic world, filled with creative whimsical inventions as well as old fashioned retro stuff carried on from way back. All stitched together in an impressive way considering it's 25 years since he made this.

I'm not even going to grasp more on the essence of this movie. I'll just say this: Even if Gilliam's kind of movies aren't quite your cup of tea, like it seems it ain't mine, there's still so much to take with you from it. You're not bored, he'll keep your attention with imaginative storytelling and the world he created is worth the runtime alone.

The Visitor (2007)

Director: Thomas McCarthy
Writer: Thomas McCarthy
Cast: Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleiman, Danai Gurira, Hiam Abbass
Genre: Drama, Music, Romance

The Visitor takes us on a human journey, touching on several relevant issues in our societies today. We meet college professor Walter Vale (Jenkins), a lonesome widower without much spark left. That all changes when he travels to New York to present a paper he co-authored, on paper at least, and find his apartment rented out to a young couple by a schemer. As their lives touch on each other, Walter finds new appreciations and encounters new problems never before on his mind.

It's a heartwarming story as well as a reminder of what some take for granted and others chase. It doesn't exactly surprise you as it takes its slow turns and bends, but I guess many will really appreciate McCarthy's style. He knows what story he's looking to present, and does so in style. He's also got great actors, and especially Jenkins grows with his part.

Hellboy (2004) (DC)

Director: Guillermo Del Toro
Writer: Screenplay: Guillermo Del Toro Screen story: Peter Briggs, Guillermo Del Toro Comic book: Mike Mignola
Cast: Ron Pearlman, John Hurt, Selma Blair, Rupert Evans, Karel Roden, Jeffrey Tambor
Genre: Superhero, Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Hellboy is more centered around the story, than the strength and abilities of the main character, unlike most superhero movies. It's a refreshing change strengthening the genre along Nolan's Batman series, but there was something to be expected with Del Toro at the helm. He's proven before how he can handle the monstrous without forgetting the story, like he did in well known Pan's Labyrinth a couple of years later as well as in his earlier works.

I like the way they got his origin out of the way quickly, and rather focused on the story at hand despite both being connected through the evil forces. I'm less impressed with the balance of the main good guys, their interactions and the handlers', but at least I'm rarely bored throughout Del Tore's ride.

4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)

Director: Tim Story
Writer: Screenplay: Don Payne, Mark Frost Story: John Turman, Mark Frost Characters: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby
Cast: Jessica Alba, Ioan Gruffudd, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Andre Braugher
Genre: Superhero, Action, Sci-Fi, Adventure, Fantasy

While Fantastic Four wasn't very impressive, it wasn't embarrasingly awful like 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer is. It's got all the flaws of the original, and adds several new ones like a annoying wedding focus no-one thinks is neither funny nor interesting or original, there's a old trick view at the villain side and the super powers aren't any better than they were the first time around, making all fights and CGI-scenes more uninteresting than watching almost anything else.

This movie makes the Transformers sequel look almost Oscar-worthy in comparison. I'll tell you that's no small feat.

Fool's Gold (2008)

Director: Andy Tennant
Writer: Story: John Claflin, Daniel Zelman Screenplay: John Claflin, Daniel Zelman, Andy Tennant
Cast: Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaughey, Donald Sutherland, Alexis Dziena
Genre: Adventure, Rom-Com, Fantasy

I like the genre, but Fool's Gold was boring. All the searching for lost treasure at sea-angle is so much worse than than even Into the Blue, and the romance-angle is killed by McConaughey's lack of credibility and acting ability. If I ever see another movie with him, I'm perfectly happy about it. Dazed and Confused was one of his first roles, and he's never been close to deliver like that since. Kate Hudson is no Jessica Alba, to keep the comparison towards Into the Blue alive, but Hudson got charisma on her own. Sadly there's no sparks with her leading partner, and then this movie are coming close to running on fumes.

Sutherland's part is more a grandfather figure than anything else, and Dziena keeps delivering bimbo-parts with quite the conviction. Their father-daughter issues doesn't elevate the movie, but at least it helps cutting into McConaughey's time on the screen. At least that's positive.

Fish Tank (2009)

Director: Andrea Arnold
Writer: Andrea Arnold
Cast: Kate Jarvis, Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Griffiths, Kierston Wareing, Jason Maza
Genre: Drama, Teen

Fish Tank is a kick in your stomach, without having to go to the extremes. It demands your attention, without screaming at you. We've seen life at housing estates before, we've seen British harsh realism before, we've seen teens acting out before, but this time we get it all at once. There might be fewer guns at the British estates than the American ones seen in "The Wire", but the longing for a way out isn't any less understandable.

Mia, fifteen, living with her drunk of a single mom and her little sister, Tyler. Mia's suspended from school. A rebellious and fight-picking outcast looking to get away from her fish tank. Dreaming of making it as a professional dancer. Getting out of there thanks to her moves. Anything but her everyday life as she knows it. Life might just have something else in mind. Her mother's new boyfriend comes into their life, and we get to take part in Mia's changes.

Arnold takes us on an interesting journey. Not only is her description of Brit's white trash life perfectly accurate, but she manages to get all those small details right: The anticipation of what's about to happen, from a person who knows what's coming. The desperation in a run. The hope in a touch. I'm equal amounts of impressed and worried, as it just takes a certain kind of knowledge and experiences to get right so much of what she brings to this movie.

Knocked Up (2007)

Director: Judd Apatow
Writer: Judd Apatow
Cast: Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jason Segel, Jay Beruchel, Jonah Hill, Martin Starr, Charlene Yi, Harold Ramis, Kristen Wiig
Genre: Comedy, Romance

The biggest problem with Knocked Up is the many kind of movies it tries to be, and how it fails at delivering any of them balanced and focused. The comedic entourage of Apatow makes Segel, Beruchel, Hill and several others line up as supporting acts, but their adolescent part of the story isn't in sync with the rest. Worst of all; it's really not that funny either. Rudd and Mann are set-up as the regular couple, with all the problems coming along, as a cautionary tale for our protagonists. As with the entourage, this couple doesn't either manage to either elevate them self into a major part of the primary story, or as a worthy sub-plot.

Thus far we're not happy, but it gets worse. Our leading one night stand couple are also divided as to which story they are spread at. Some parts aiming for comedy, some parts aiming for character development according to the new circumstances and some parts aiming for romance. Again. This can work, but just doesn't in this particular movie.

How come I still manage to rate it at five of ten? I do enjoy several scenes a lot, there's no doubt quite a lot of comedic talent here and some of the touchy romance stuff is also triggering that this-is-so-sweet-I-can-forgive-the-ten-minute-set-up parts. It doesn't defend more than two hour runtime, but every so often it shows in glimpses what each story could bring to the table on its own. That's some reward, but it also makes you wonder if there wasn't material enough for two different movies being a lot more focused, balanced and funny on its own.

Fantastic Four (2005)

Director: Tim Story
Writer: Marvel comic books: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby Screenplay: Mark Frost, Michael France
Cast: Jessica Alba, Ioan Gruffudd, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon
Genre: Superhero, Action, Sci-Fi, Adventure, Fantasy

Fantastic Four is anything but a fantastic movie. The story lacks the magic so many other superheroes have been accompanied by, and while both Chiklis and Evans are doing well to show off their emotional state, Gruffudd lacks both charisma and credibility, Alba's part is laughably one-sided and not even McMahon have the charismatic side any super villain needs to elevate the movie. When it comes to the fights, their powers and CGI in general, I wasn't impressed.

There's something to be said about the dramatic parts actually managing to be a + for a superhero movie, but that's at least close to being the reality here. Some comedic talent in the dynamics between over four, but overall this was rather disappointing. Hopefully the next villain will have a lot more glow on screen, and being done with explaining how the fantastic four came to be, maybe the story will be better as well in The Silver Surfer.

Groundhog Day (1993)

Director: Harold Ramis
Writer: Story: Danny Rubin Screenplay: Harold Ramis, Danny Rubin
Cast: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance

Bill Murray as weatherman Phil, re-lives Groundhog Day over and over again in the small town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.Whatever he does, when a new day starts he finds himself in the same bed at the same B&B and the radio waking him with the same music and the same talk.

Phil being a self-centered and grumpy man, who didn't want to go on assignment to Punxsutawney in the first place, have to re-live his nightmare as a blizzard keeps him there along with his producer Rita and his cameraman Larry.

This is most of all a classic comedy, and Murray is nothing short of excellent in this role. I wish they had cast someone other than MacDowell as Rita, but back then some casting agents thought she had something as she was cast in several roles too good for her. She lacks chemistry with Murray, lacks comedic timing and charm and was one of the reasons I strongly considered dropping my rating down at an eight. Still. The script and Murray is just too good to punish that hard for her part. A don't miss classic comedy.

Killers (2010)

Director: Robert Luketic
Writer: Story: Bob DeRosa Screenplay: Bob DeRosa, Ted Griffin
Cast: Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Tom Selleck, Catherine O'Hara
Genre: Action, Comedy, Romance, Thriller

Killers' cast Kutcher and Heigl in the lead, and I've never once denied I really have no idea why they keep casting Kutcher in lead after lead. He's got severe lacks in the acting department, and for the rest of his package I'm not the one to judge. I haven't exactly jumped at the Heigl-wagon either. So far she hasn't impressed me that much, but The Ugly Truth and Knocked Out come across a lot better than most Kutcher is involved in. I've never seen "Grey's Anatomy", and I guess most of her range should have been known from there by now.

Anyway. My point is this, if I had one when I started rambling: I went into this with low expectations. The premise wasn't half bad, even if it feels like just another take on Mr. and Mrs. Smith and the likes, but they soon enough start tripping over them self undecided on which movie to make. The suspense part isn't any good, the plot is awful and at several points should that have been obvious to the characters as well as the actors, writers and director. There's also, just to point to one specific, a phone conversation which should have led to a chain reaction regarding the main story, but obviously doesn't. And the drama parts are in general very weak, much because of Kutcher, but that might just be me.

The comedy have some really enjoyable scenes and quite a few semi-funny ones, which makes me enjoy myself more than I feared. Still combining comedic attempts with driving ahead the story or involving dramatic parts, equally often crushed the attempted jokes. There's also something to be said about inconsistencies on how a character evolve, which seems to suit the attempted jokes, but that's hardly surprising looking at the premise from a serious point of view. Anyways. I'd like to point out the last three seconds of the movie was enjoyable as well. In hindsight I can't believe I've never seen that in a movie before.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Story: George Lucas, Philip Kaufman Screenplay: Lawrence Kasdan
Cast: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, John Rhys-Davies, Denholm Elliott, Alfred Molina, Wolf Kahler
Genre: Adventure, Action

I've seen Raiders of the Lost Ark several times in the 80's and 90's, but this is actually my first revisit this millennium. It's been 29 years since Spielberg made it, and it's still the best of the adventure action genre. Entertainment the way these movies are meant to entertain. Without a CGI-department trying to blowing our brain with their creativity every third second, but rather take us along on an inspired adventure with easy-to-hate bad guys, historical relics and an old-fashioned protagonist.

I'll admit Ford have never been among my favorite actors. I find his acting range rather limited and maybe even more so his facial expression's range. Still. Indiana Jones is one character he was born to play. Indy doesn't need a wide range. We like him because we can always rely on him to do as expected, rather than because he's got such a wide range of abilities.

It's not perfect, by all means, but it's purely enjoyable, even the third, fourth or fifth time around. It inspires the adventurer in all of us, it triggers our imagination about historical artifacts, exotic destinations and its paced and driven enough to not become tiresome. For the rest it's like a lifelong best friend you can rely on: It guarantees entertainment. It's the standard every other adventure based movie is compared to. A truly must-see classic in every possible meaning of the expression.

Scent of a Woman (1992)

Director: Martin Brest
Writer: Screenplay: Bo Goldman Novel: Giovanni Arpino Characters suggestion/Original screenplay: Ruggero Maccari, Dino Risi
Cast: Al Pacino, Chris O'Donnell, Gabrielle Anwar, Bradley Whitford, Philip Seymour Hoffman, James Rebhorn
Genre: Drama

Not until rating Scent of a Woman did I notice this movie is an American make of the same novel as the 1974 Italian movie Profumo di donna. I have no idea what compelled them to do so in such a manor, but nevertheless they did. It's about two and a half hour, one full hour more than the 74-movie, and I'm quite bored throughout most of it. It's supposed to be a drama, but there's nothing dramatic about it. It's so clear-cut, follow-the-dots, you-get-what-you-expect Pacino set-up, it's ridiculous.

I admit Pacino does well. He also won the Oscar for leading actor for it. O'Donnell was rather forgettable. There's scenes where he's not even worthy to be a prop. The two small appearances by Gabrielle Anwar and Bradley Whitford was very pleasing. Being a huge fan of Whitford that probably doesn't come as a surprise to anyone, but the role he got is so perfect for him. And I could hardly believe Anwar was the same as we see regulary on "Burn Notice" these days. Not only was she stunningly beautiful back then, but she nails her part as well. Seymour Hoffman's part is not worth noting at all, sadly.

157 minutes of cliches, a one-man show much in need of a deeper story and some scenes Martin Brest must have been an idiot for allowing. Thankfully there's some great acting there and several interesting scenes, both helping to defend some of the time spent to watch this. I'll never do it again though.

Show Me Love (1998)

Director: Lukas Moodyson
Writer: Lukas Moodyson
Cast: Alexandra Dahlström, Rebecka Liljeberg, Erica Carlson, Mathias Rust, Stefan Hörberg
Genre: Teen, Drama, Romance

I've always assumed Fucking Åmål (original title) was one of those movies where my impression of it wasn't as much of its quality, but rather of hitting home with its time or even that period of my time. It's always been a personal favorite of mine, but with a rather old VHS-player, I haven't seen it for years now... until today.

Elin is beautiful and popular, but bored to death in the small-town piece of Sweden her hometown Åmål is. She's impulsive, longing for everything there's to discover in the world and she fears nothing more than growing old in Åmål, even thought being like everyone else comes a close second. Agnes sure isn't like everyone else. Her family moved there 18 months ago, she's sad and friendless, and secretly in love with Elin.

We follow these two teenagers lives, comparable as each wants their life to be something else, from their opposite social status in a pre-millennium small town of Scandinavia. Small towns with their teenagers getting wasted at home alone parties, with their floating crushes and the small minded ideals challenging everyone. A place where outsiders like Agnes never fits in and thrill-seekers like Elin never get satisfied. Moodyson have done a real nice job describing growing up in such a town, despite having to use a couple of cliches. I don't mind. There's usually a good reason something becomes a cliche in the first place.

Most of all its a story told with awareness of what he's trying to tell. He could so easily have pitched it as the lesbian girl trying to fit in or as a romantic movie. Thankfully he didn't, and instead we're witnessing a tale of youth, growth, heartbreak, love and everything else a boring small town has to offer, and then some, without going overboard, without pushing an agenda or creating a fantasy. It's just a simple story, told with a lot of talent and even more heart.

WALL·E (2008)

Director: Andew Stanton
Writer: Original Story: Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter Screenplay: Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon
Voice-Cast: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin
Genre: Animation, Sci-Fi, Adventure, Romance, Family

When I first watched WALL·E I wasn't very impressed, and my rating of it did reflect that. However. The continuing hype, and the knowledge of the quality produced by these Pixar people in other movies, made me promise myself to check it out again later. Well. Later is today, and boy was I wrong the first time around. Must have been one of those days, because this movie is brilliant.

The story is simple, futuristic and, as always with these guys, a somewhat cautionary tale suitable for the entire family. Unlike most other animated projects the last decade, this one doesn't rely heavily on witty clever dialogue and layered jokes. They've rather decided on telling their story quietly, almost subtly, relying on great animated work, an eye for details and, maybe more than anything, a lot of heart.

WALL·E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-class) is a cleaning robot lonely working at Earth, 700 years after mankind left for outer space due to all the garbage making it inhabitable. The only company WALL·E got is a cockroach, but watching a romantic movie every night he dreams of someone to hold hands with. His usual everyday life gets interrupted with the arrival of a space ship, and we get to follow WALL·E's first new contact in centuries.

Stanton, Docter and the rest of them have outdone them self in this movie, by going in a new direction. Maybe the reason I didn't really get into it the first time around was because I watched it a night I was in the mood for some easy double-layered gags going along great animations. This isn't it. This is more European in its style, once again proving also Americans actually fancy good stories more than anything as it was by far the most liked Pixar movie since the original Toy Story (which I really didn't like, but might have to give a second chance as well), only recently getting competition from that franchise's third installment.

Mulholland Dr. (2001)

Director: David Lynch
Writer: David Lynch
Cast: Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, Justin Theroux
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller

Mulholland Dr. being a work of David Lynch's brain, it's highly recommended to watch this movie sharp. He'll let you embrace the characters, and then he throw impulses at your brain making it rather difficult to be indifferent towards his work. Just finished watching it for my very first time, I've got to admit I find it difficult to rate it confidently. I think this one will stick with me for a while, and the probability is most definitely there for it growing on me both prior to and after second time watched. For now the only thing I'm confident saying is this: It's most definitely a movie well worth having seen.

We follow doe-eyed Betty arriving Hollywood, Rita who's escaped a murder attempt at her life and Adam having a rather unique day at work, even for a movie director like him. While the tale unfolding mught feel all over the place for a while, it still keeps you interested much thanks to the atmospheres created and the characters faced. As Lynch keeps spinning his web, you'll find yourself increasingly interested in these people, these shadows of Mulholland Drive.

If I stay healthy and live on for years, this is most definitely a movie I'll revisit.

The Last American Virgin (1982)

Director: Boaz Davidson
Writer: Boaz Davidson
Cast: Lawrence Monoson, Diane Franklin, Steven Antin, Joe Rubbo
Genre: Teen, Comedy, Romance, Drama

I don't know much about writer and director of The Last American Virgin, Boaz Davidson, but he's been involved in a lot of movies. The only successful ones of those he's been limited to executive producer at best. Those directing or writing haven't made much fuzz. I also know he was in his early 40's when this movie was made, so that's more disturbing to me than anything else.

Why? Because this is a wannabe comedy, coming of as a directors attempt to get as much female nudity on screen as possible while being adolescent about it. I'm at least as much in favor of female nudity as the next guy, but at least don't pretend you're doing something you're not. Sex-comedy is, or at least was back then, a genre on his own, somewhere between porn and teen-comedy. This is neither as far as I'm concerned.

There's several scenes in this where it seems the director have been sleeping. Not surprising most of them are with dressed females. Sleeping how? Because actors/actresses, otherwise able to get their lines out like they meant it, suddenly appears like they are reading directly from the script, and the scenes are still not re-shot.

The reasons it doesn't get flushed down with a one-rating is the obvious; nudity, along with two factors that really salvages it; a good soundtrack and a couple of really good scenes actually managing to remember the dramatic parts of the story. However few and far apart, they show there's something home in the brain of Mr. Boaz Davidson. I'm pretty sure he could have made a good movie based on those scenes alone, but somewhere along the way I suspect he remembered his lonely geek years as a virgin and the result was projecting his fantasies from back then into the movie.

Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Director: Peter Jackson
Writer: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh
Cast: Kate Winslet, Melanie Lynskey
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Crime, Romance, Thriller

Heavenly Creatures is based on the true story of Pauline Reiper (Lynskey) and Juliet Hulme (Winslet) of Christchurch, New Zealand. They meet when Juliet's family moves there in the early 50's, and soon bond over imagination out of this world. Two teenage girls as much living together in their fictional kingdom of Borovnia, as in reality. Increasingly obsessive about each other, we get to follow their story both in reality as well as Borovnia thanks to Pauline's original diary and director Jackson's direction.

I don't know. Times have changed, and maybe am I to exposed to deep stories these days. At least the story of our two girls are bordering on boring at times. I actually find myself longing for the end, of a movie lasting the mere 99 minutes it does. Both thanks to Jackson's own choice of the beginning of the movie, but also because there really are no ending to hope for or feel rewarded with.

The opening credits introduces both leading actresses, and in Lynskey's case this was her very first part. Winslet had at least had some smaller TV-roles, but this launched her and only three years later she'd taking part in Sense and Sensibility, Jude and even in Hamlet as Ophelia, but most of all in the female lead of mid-90's blockbuster box office breaking romantic hit movie Titanic. In three small years she did four movies, starting with this one, and suddenly everone knew who Kate Winslet was. No-one can ever take that from the casting people of this movie.

Following (1998)

Director: Christopher Nolan
Writer: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Jeremy Theobald, Alex Haw, Lucy Russell
Genre: Crime, Thriller, Mystery, Drama

Only a couple of years before Nolan hit it big with Memento, he debuted as a feature film maker with this intense piece about a wannabe writer Following strangers for material. While the low budget and the acting keeps it from being as great as it could be, Nolan's talent is easily spotted. The story and the directing choices of scenes with tension and details, is the beginning of what we've come to expect from him later on. Also the mixed nonlinear storyline seems like a try-out for the making of Memento.

It's somewhat short, just shy of 70 minutes. The choice of shooting it black and white doesn't harm as much as you might think thanks to the genre, but in several scenes the lighting isn't good enough to avoid a blurry result. The actors haven't quite got the needed presence to really pull it off, but the script it self makes this still a stunningly bright debut as well as a movie most directors would've been proud of making even after ten years in the business. It's still just a whisper of what's to come from Nolan, but a whisper you really should see if you're even close to enjoy his filmography.

The Sting (1973)

Director: George Roy Hill
Writer: David S. Ward
Cast: Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Robert Shaw, Charles Durning, Ray Walston, Eileen Brennan, Harold Gould, John Heffernan, Dana Elcar, Jack Kehoe, Dimitra Arliss
Genre: Crime, Drama, Comedy

Four years after Hill directed Newman and Redford together as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the trio returns along Shaw as the cornerstones of The Sting. And what a masterpiece they managed to make this time. The leading acting trio is brilliant, Ward's script has the perfect balance he never found again and Hill's direction stitched it all together into one hundred and twenty nine minutes of cinematic excellence.

Set in mid-30's during the great depression, we follow a young con artist (Redford) searching revenge for his partners death. We're taking into the big con world, attempting to score big from the criminal New York/Chicago gangster (Shaw) who ordering the kill. To make things more complicated our con man is next on that hit list and he's never done big cons before, and have to partner up with a former big-con man (Newman) learning the trade.

From Joliet, Illinois, where we begin our story in September 1936 following a runner into his boss' office, to Chicago, the just above two hour ride never get boring, never lose touch with its the story it tells and it's constantly complex enough to keep us more than just a bit interested. The soundtrack consists solely of Scott Joplin's rags and helps keep an authentic 30's feel throughout the movie, reminding us the world was so different back then prior to internet, mobile phones and complex con stories in every half decent TV show. Made in the Godfather-period of movies, this is the Godfather of all con movies. Influencing a lot of the later seen attempts in the genre, but despite my love of the genre I've never seen any movie come close to this. 37 years later, and still this is most likely as good as the genre ever will get.

There's a couple of small nuances I could point towards if asked for non-perfect specifics, but this is one case where the sum of all parts make those minor concerns nothing but small drops of rain needed to see the rainbow. Behind the already mentioned brilliant trio, comes a bunch of actors and actresses giving life to a wide range of grifters, cops, gangsters and the rare honest man or woman. All very credible and well I might add. It's really not any reason not to love this movie. The only thing might be the lack of people screaming from the rooftops how great it is. Can't believe I've hardly heard it's praise sung, and as a result I haven't seen it before. A must see classic, both within its genre and within cinema all together. Nothing short of a masterpiece.

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Director: Pete Docter Co-directors: David Silverman, Lee Unkrich
Writer: Story: Pete Docter, Jill Culton, Jeff Pidgeon, Ralph Eggleston Screenplay: Andrew Stanton, Daniel Gerson Additional screenplay material: Robert L. Baird, Rhett Reese, Jonathan Roberts
Voice-Cast: John Gooman, Billy Crystal, Mary Gibbs, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly, Bob Peterson
Genre: Animated, Family, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy

Monsters, Inc. takes us to Monstropolis, a city populated by monsters of the kind coming out of your closet when you tried sleeping as a child. Monstropolis have energy crisis, but their everyday are not fueled by oil. coal or the likes. Their electricity is made from the screams of scared children, thanks to the work at the scare factory, Monsters, Inc.. A factory where monsters works in pairs, scaring kids to collect their screams. Top scarers are Sully (Goodman) and his helper Mike (Crystal), and we follow their lifes.

What scares monsters? Kids. The big scare is being touched by kids, and the monster's lives is getting tougher. Kids watch TV and movies, play video games and isn't as easily scared as they used to be, making some kids more curious than scared; resulting in kids trying to touch their monsters. Life as we know it in Metropolis changes as soon as a kid gets into the monster world, and therein lies our story as Sully was responsible of letting it in.

The premise is very good, the characters are diverse and enjoyable enough and the moral doesn't ruin the storytelling. Still they forget the funny a little too often to really entertain us like other animated movies does. All in all a pleasant experience though, but I don't think they'll hold on to the top 250 IMDB-spot much longer.

Fools Rush In (1997)

Director: Andy Tennant
Writer: Story: Joan Taylor, Katherine Reback Screenplay: Katherine Reback
Cast: Salma Hayek, Matthew Perry
Genre: Rom-Com

Fools Rush In was made a couple of seasons into "Friends", making Perry one of the moneymaker names of the genre at the time. Sadly it also means this part doesn't walk too far apart his Chandler Bing character from Friends, but without a lot of the needed one-liners to pull it off for almost two hours.

I like the premise. Two worlds collide in the aftermath of an one night stand, with cultural, religious and a lot of other subjects dividing them. I also enjoyed the very beginning of the movie. Both characters portrayed in their habitat, as Alex (Perry) is shown in his workaholic big city life and Isabel (Hayek) is shown beautiful and relaxed floating down a river in Mexico. From there the movie manages to create a nice way to mix up their lives, keeping the much needed feel still.

A pregnancy kicks of the real story, but we're about one-fourth into the movie. The second-fourth shows us their differences, without going over the top in any way, and I can accept it. From there they loose them self making this. The funny leaves the door, the differences is either pitched over the top or in wrong categories and mostly they forget to give the leading characters time to show chemistry on screen. Without it, our interest in the character quickly fade, and the last third of the movie we just want it to be over as quick as possible.

So in short I think they had the idea and they cast Isabel perfectly, as I can watch Salma shout at me for hours without looking for the remote. They just rewrote Chandler Bing, they left out funny as soon as they thought they had to get all drama and they didn't take the time to let us know enough about how they interact in everyday life. A movie idea someone can take with them and easily improve a lot, making it a possible hit.