Movie Reviews by Paul Preston
THE MASK OF ZORRO (***1/2)
Dear all of you who probably saw either "Deep Impact", "Armageddon", "Godzilla" or "Lost in Space":
The summer's action movie has arrived and it is
“The Mask of Zorro”
This letter is nothing other than a ringing endorsement from me, if that means anything. I caught a sneak preview and it reminds me of the Indiana Jones movies. Found within:
- a believable and likable hero (something missing if you look at the last few year's worth of movies. There's only Bond leftover from years ago. BTW - Zorro's director directed “Goldeneye!”)
- beautiful locales and cinematography.
- a directing style by Martin Campbell similar to Cameron and Spielberg in that the camera doesn't need to shake to replace the lack of action. In this movie, there is action and Campbell simply films it. The action stands on it's own without needing a "Con-Air" like crutch from the cinematographer.
- the stars of this movie are ACTORS. Not necessarily "action movie stars". They really drive the plot and raise the stakes AND they look damn good in a fight (also, Anthony Hopkins is the world's greatest actor, don't even debate me....).
So, this summer has had great movies, see “Bulworth” and “Out of Sight”, but as far as action goes, there certainly was no “Jurassic Park” or “Clear and Present Danger” yet this year. Not to say “Zorro” was brilliant in a “LA Confidential” kind of way, but it's smart, looks good, and has great action, which is nothing that any other action movie out there has. So if you're fed up with the MTV antics of “Armageddon”, GO see "The Mask of Zorro", it opens friday.
I'm Paul Preston, and the balcony is closed.
OSCAR RANT 1999
(This was written before the Oscars honoring the films of 1998)
Hi all, Paul Preston here. Had the NEED to vent on the nominations before the envelopes are opened Sunday evening. I'll probably have even more to say on Monday. Enjoy and send comments if the need overtakes ya. This will all eventually be posted at prestonandvolpe.com if you lose the mail for some reason. The post-ceremony rant will be there, too. Have fun!
Best Picture:
“Elizabeth”
“Life Is Beautiful”
“Saving Private Ryan”
“Shakespeare in Love”
“The Thin Red Line”
-This seems to be a pretty safe list. I would've injected a little dose of balls by nominating “Bulworth” instead of “The Thin Red Line”. I would've used a Thin Red Magic Marker to edit the hell outta that script. “Elizabeth” is the only nominee I haven't seen, and it's on the agenda for tomorrow afternoon before the Oscars. There was quite a lack of really risky films, vying instead for patriotism and beauty. I would've liked to have maybe seen nominations for “American History X” and/or “Pleasantville” as well. I'm also a fan of “The Spanish Prisoner”. “Life is Beautiful” is a good nomination.
Will win: “Ryan”
Should: “Ryan”
Best Actor:
Roberto Benigni – “Life Is Beautiful”
Tom Hanks – “Saving Private Ryan”
Sir Ian McKellen – “Gods And Monsters”
Nick Nolte – “Affliction”
Edward Norton – “American History X”
- My favorite nomination on the WHOLE list is Edward Norton's. He was great, and he did alot to make the film and achieve the success he did in the role. “Affliction” is also on tomorrow's agenda, and I haven't seen “Gods and Monsters”. The race is between McKellen and Benigni. Jim Carrey's no-show is not a big surprise, he'll have to stretch a bit more for recognition, and I believe he's got it coming up with “Man in the Moon”. I also would've nominated Jason Schwartzman from “Rushmore”. He made that very complicated character look easy to play. There's alot more going on there than people may give him credit for. People like the movie, but I think Schwartzman is a HUGE part of it's success. I also liked Travolta in “Primary Colors” and loved Beatty in “Bulworth”.
Will win: McKellan
Should win: Norton (but as I said, I'm a little less versed in this category)
Best Actress:
Cate Blanchett – “Elizabeth”
Fernanda Montenegro – “Central Station”
Gwyneth Paltrow – “Shakespeare In Love”
Meryl Streep – “One True Thing”
Emily Watson – “Hilary and Jackie”
- speaking of little knowledge, I've only seen “Shakespeare” to know the performances in this category. The race is quite clearly between Blanchett and Paltrow. I'd love to go on, but I still have viewing to do on this one.
Will win: Paltrow
Should: Paltrow (for years I've seen her on magazine covers 'cause she's PRETTY. Made me sick 'cause her movies sucked. At least she more than lives up to her hype now with a wonderfully romantic performance in “Shakespeare in Love”)
Best Actor In A Supporting Role:
James Coburn – “Affliction”
Robert Duvall – “A Civil Action”
Ed Harris – “The Truman Show”
Geoffrey Rush – “Shakespeare in Love”
Billy Bob Thornton – “A Simple Plan”
- Every year this is the category the is filled with great performances and is missing at least 5 or 6 more GREAT performances. This year the crime snub is Bill Murray, wonderfully snide and lonely as a millionaire in “Rushmore”. I thought Duvall's character was strange and sublime, but didn't have to deal with as much as Murray's. I hear Rush is even more brilliant in “Elizabeth”. Find out about that and Coburn tomorrow. People say the statue is Harris', 'cause he's due. Well, he's great, but I hope they go with Thornton, who was fu**ing brilliant in “A Simple Plan”. Human, quirky, funny, unpredictable, he was awesome, and, like last year when Burt Reynolds didn't win, I think they'll go beyond the "he's got it coming" way of thinking and hopefully go with Thornton.
Will win: Thornton
Should: Thornton
Best Actress In A Supporting Role:
Kathy Bates – “Primary Colors”
Brenda Blethyn – “Little Voice”
Judi Dench – “Shakespeare in Love”
Lynn Redgrave – “Gods And Monsters”
Rachel Griffiths – “Hilary and Jackie”
- Again, I've only seen Dench and Bates' performances. “Primary Colors” was a great film, much underlooked by most everyone and Bates is a moral and exciting center to the plight of the lead characters. I hope Dench doesn't get a "lifetime achievement" award and they give her the Bacall treatment. Bates deserves it. Missing from the list is Joan Allen for “Pleasantville”. Can she give a bad performance? She should be there, and you could take out Dench to make room. Judi Dench is awesome and all, but she got robbed last year for “Mrs. Brown”, it's too late to "make amends". Oh, let me not forget to praise great work in a bad film: Kimberly Elise deserves a nomination for “Beloved”. You really rooted for her grounded character amongst all the freaks.
Will win: Dench (as if one can predict the "Tomei - Paquin" category)
Should win: Bates
Art Direction:
“Elizabeth”
“Pleasantville”
“Saving Private Ryan”
“Shakespeare in Love”
“What Dreams May Come”
And now, I get pissed. No nomination for “Babe: Pig in the City”? Can anyone who saw this movie deny the sheer impressive magnitude of the sets!!!!!????!!!!! They were incredible! Half the sets in “Dreams” were special effects anyway, take that out and put in “Babe”, for the love of God!! Also could've stood to see “Rushmore” get another nod, the sets were the half the reason that movie had such glorious color.
Will win: “Shakespeare”
Should: “Shakespeare” (Even if you didn't dig the story or something, this is one of the most LUSH movies in a long time)
Cinematography:
“A Civil Action”
“Elizabeth”
“Saving Private Ryan”
“Shakespeare in Love”
“The Thin Red Line”
The photography of “The Thin Red Line” was the only thing worth watching, but “Ryan”'s was instrumental to the "you are there" feeling of the battles that bookend the film. “A Civil Action” had great photography, too. I could've even thrown nominations to “Rushmore”, “A Simple Plan” and even “The Big Lebowski”. There was alot of good work this year, but Kaminski owns this one.
Will win: “Ryan”
Should: “Ryan”
Costume Design:
“Beloved”
“Elizabeth”
“Pleasantville”
“Shakespeare in Love”
“Velvet Goldmine”
These are all fine nominations. Rarely do people get recognized for modern dress, though. (biggest ripoff ever – “Wall Street” not winning). So I'd like to throw another nod to “Bulworth”.
Will win: “Shakespeare”
Should: “Shakespeare” (more lush-ness)
Directing:
“Life Is Beautiful”
“Saving Private Ryan”
“Shakespeare in Love”
“The Thin Red Line”
“The Truman Show”
What a task to make “Ryan”. Give Spielberg the damn statue! Again, in tune with my picture nods, I would've acknowledged Beatty in this category in place of the meandering Malick. Weir should've won for “Witness”. I love the fact that the Academy gave Spielberg an award for "career achievement" after snubbing him so many times, and now he's gone on to win 2 Oscars and be nominated again for two! In your face, Ossy!!
Will win: Spielberg
Should: Spielberg
Documentary Feature:
“Dancemaker”
“The Farm: Angola, U.S.A.”
“The Last Days”
“Lenny Bruce: Swear To Tell The Truth”
“Regret To Inform”
um...didn't see 'em...
Documentary Short Subject:
“The Personals: Improvisations on Romance in the Golden Years”
“A Place In The Sun”
“Sunrise Over Tiananmen Square”
um...didn't see 'em...
Film Editing:
“Life Is Beautiful”
“Out Of Sight”
“Saving Private Ryan”
“Shakespeare in Love”
“The Thin Red Line”
Again, you gotta go with “Ryan” for making an action scene seem so interesting and understandable, even when the focus of the scene's theme is chaos. Too many action movies today (see Bruckheimer) edit all super-crazy to make up for lack of action. For years, Spielberg has been making the action tangible (“Raiders”, “Jurassic Park”) without confusing us. His editors are 75% of that work. Maybe even a little nod could've gone to “The Mask of Zorro” for the same feat.
Will win: “Ryan”
Should: “Ryan”
Foreign Language Film:
“Central Station”
“Children Of Heaven”
“The Grandfather”
“Life Is Beautiful”
“Tango”
I've read alot about this category, and I believe it's more FULL of good movies than usual. Still, I get to see about one foreign movie every 6 months or so. This time it was “Life is Beautiful”, and it was very, very good. And the Academy wants to give this guy an Oscar!
Will win: “Life”
Should: “Life”
Makeup:
“Elizabeth”
“Saving Private Ryan”
“Shakespeare in Love”
There was no real effects-laden show to dominate this category. I hear Blanchett's transformation is quite award-worthy.
Will win: “Elizabeth”
Should: Liz, why not.
Original Musical or Comedy Score:
“A Bug's Life”
“Mulan”
“Patch Adams”
“The Prince Of Egypt”
“Shakespeare in Love”
“Shakespeare” had a beautiful score, great theme and it's my pick. It's a shame to see “Patch Adams” nominated for anything. The animated films usually win here, and I liked the films here very much (especially “A Bug's Life” - ****), but the scores I can't remember.
Will win: “Shakespeare”
Should: “Shakespeare”
Original Dramatic Score:
“Elizabeth”
“Life Is Beautiful”
“Pleasantville”
“Saving Private Ryan”
“The Thin Red Line”
John Williams held back so much on “Pvt. Ryan” (thank God), that I can't remember the usefulness of his music in the film. The music I was affected by most was “Beautiful”'s. Wait, I was also affected by “The Thin Red Line”'s music - it wouldn't STOP. How obtrusive was that score? Take the nomination away and make room for James Horner's “Zorro” score or “He Got Game”, anything.
Will win: “Beautiful”
Should: “Beautiful”
Original Song:
"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" from “Armageddon”
"The Prayer" from “Quest For Camelot”
"A Soft Place to Fall" from “The Horse Whisperer”
"That'll Do" from “Babe: Pig In The City”
"When You Believe" from “The Prince Of Eqypt”
Please God, don't let that cheese-fest Aerosmith tune win. How laborious is that mess? Any of the tunes from “He Got Game” were more affective. The song from “Egypt” was good, but the Whitney/Mariah version of it has about 90% less spirit and soul than the movie characters singing it. And, I don't know if they're trying to oust Disney from this category, but the “Mulan” songs were pretty good.
Will win: “Egypt”
Should: “Egypt”
Short Film, Animated:
“Bunny”
“The Canterbury Tales”
“Jolly Roger”
“More”
“When Life Departs”
um...didn't see 'em...
Short Film, Live Action:
“Culture”
“Election Night (Valgaften)”
“Holiday Romance”
“Le Carte Postale (The Postcard)”
“Victor”
um...didn't see 'em...
Sound:
“Armageddon”
“The Mask Of Zorro”
“Saving Private Ryan”
“Shakespeare in Love”
“The Thin Red Line”
“Ryan”, “Ryan”, “Ryan”. I swear I was shot in the head during that film. If “Armageddon” wins, then it will be known as an "Oscar winning film." Then I will have to shoot myself in the scrotum.
Will win: “Ryan”
Should: “Ryan”
Sound Effects Editing:
“Armageddon”
“The Mask Of Zorro”
“Saving Private Ryan”
Again, a staggering piece of realism, give the award to “Ryan”
Will win: “Ryan”
Should: “Ryan” (and thank God, 'cause when a film like “Unforgiven” is winning best picture, it rarely sweeps the tech categories and some piece of crap film can pick up an Oscar, but hopefully this year's winner will win, and deserve it and show hacks like Bruckheimer and Emmerich how to utilize filmmaking!!!)
Visual Effects:
“Armageddon”
“Mighty Joe Young”
“What Dreams May Come”
“Dreams” had MUCH eye-candy. The effects were essential. Not that they weren't in “Joe Young”, but I kept saying (in the previews, what am I gonna do, pay for that crap?) "look at that effect" instead of "look at that gorilla".
Will win: “Young” (Oscar likes dumb stuff like that)
Should: “Dreams”
Screenplay, Adaptation:
“Gods And Monsters”
“Out Of Sight”
“Primary Colors”
“A Simple Plan”
“The Thin Red Line”
“Red Line”? “Red line”? Sheesh. Didn't see “Monsters”, like I said. “A Simple Plan” was tight, tight plotting and continual stakes-raising, which is always fun.
Will win: “Out of Sight”
Should: “A Simple Plan”
Screenplay, Original:
“Bulworth”
“Life Is Beautiful”
“Saving Private Ryan”
“Shakespeare In Love”
“The Truman Show”
Beatty's work here was great, and risky. Stoppard's wasn't as risky, but it certainly is popular and original. These are all great nominations, and all deserve the prize. I might have even thrown in “There's Something About Mary” for being funny as hell.
Will win: “Shakespeare”
Should: “Bulworth” (again, for balls)
OSCAR RANT 1999 (PART 2)
(This was written after the Oscar telecast)
Well, since my first Oscar Rant was delayed until the day before the show, my post-show response feels late, too. Thoughts:
PICTURE: “Ryan”. It will be the most-remembered film of this year. “Saving Private Ryan” is the first casualty of the excessive vote-lobbying that goes on in Hollywood. Once upon a time there used to be little articles in Entertainment Weekly telling the average film layman about the ads taken out in the trades to woo Academy voters to vote for certain films or certain actors and tech stuff. Now, it's giant articles reporting of huge, millions-dollar campaigns. Ugly. And “Ryan” would win if it were a strictly political contest! Best Picture because it's patriotic, epic, time period, etc. It just also happens to deserve it. “Shakespeare in Love” is a fine film, but I disagree that it's the year's best. It's an empty "victory" for Miramax.
ACTOR: Was Benigni a relief or what? Mini-rant: this year's Oscar telecast sucked. Whoopi was about as funny as dirt, it POKED along and the Debbie Allen nonsense was vacant and retarded and occasionally offensive to the fine musicians the dance was supposedly "supporting". For God's sake, gimme Seinfeld!!! What is he, busy?!? And all the songs were lame and were performed lamely. I certainly missed Springsteen, Neil Young and even well-written Disney tunes. That aside, Benigni provided a jolt of joy in the whole maudlin mess. And now that I've seen all the nominee's performances, what the hell, give it to him. I'm still a fan of Norton's, but he didn't have a chance. Nolte's good performance I thought was bogged in a strange script, McKellan shined in a story of underwhelming significance. Benigni did a good job in a good film, what the hell, give it to him.
ACTRESS: Blanchett, dammit!! The day of the Oscars I saw “Elizabeth” and was surprised how much I liked it. It's the old Hackman-Hoffman thing. Hoffman (in Rain Man) beat Hackman (in “Mississippi Burning”) in 1988. Rain Man was the more high-profile film, but Hackman did MORE in a film of less commercial success. Ditto Blanchett and Paltrow. Blanchett's character simply had more to deal with, and goes one step further to get my nod. But I still say I'm happy to have finally ENJOYED Paltrow in a film, way to finally live up to the hype.
By the way, did anyone else see “The Matrix”. I beat myself up when I bought a ticket: "Why am I seeing another film that looks promising, but will have Keanu Reeves ruin it simply by his mere presence (or non-presence as it usually seems)?" Judgement: he didn't ruin it. If you like to watch a VERY stylish flick where you get to see people kick ass, check it out. Granted Reeves doesn't have half the charisma of a Cruise or Gibson, but he looked great and didn't ruin it. I think "didn't ruin it" is about the best he's gonna get.
SUPP. ACTOR: Billy Bob got robbed. Point blank. Saw “Affliction” the day of the Oscars, James Coburn played a mean drunk. Not different from...well....actually no one in recent history has won for playing a mean drunk. It's pretty damn easy. Again, Coburn (Hoffman) - one note success. Thornton (Hackman) - multi-layered success, and hence, more impressive.
SUPP. ACTRESS: SPEAKING OF ROBBED!!!! There's a new category: Best Cameo. Now why wasn't Ted Danson nominated in “Ryan”, or Woody Harrelson in “The Thin Red Line”, or Marcel Marceau for “Silent Movie”? Gip, gip, gip!! Kathy Bates was as viciously robbed as Judi Dench was last year. Too little, too late, ya bastards.
ART DIRECTION: Upon a second viewing, I might disagree with the Academy, and change my vote to “Pvt. Ryan”. It looked great. They really were sticklers for place, it became a character even more than the England re-created for “Shakespeare”. Also, the characters of “Ryan” are so richly entrenched in that time, proper re-creation of war-torn battlefields is crucial. The players of “Shakespeare” are foolin' around with anachronisms so much that it takes away from what the Art directors have done.
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Right on.
COSTUME: I think we're all agreed that “Elizabeth” and “Shakespeare” had similar success and it was a toss-up. RANDOM THOUGHT: Geoffrey Rush deserved his nomination more for “Elizabeth” than “Shakespeare in Love”.
DIRECTING: Kudos, Steve, super achievement. I'm still a believer, however, in Rob Reiner's theory: lose the director's category and give an Oscar to the Producer and Director when a film wins Best Picture. Then again, in my world, “Ryan” would've won.
DOCUMENTARY CATEGORIES: Kudos, whatever won, super achievement.
EDITING: Right on. This man edited “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, for God's Sake!!!
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: Huzzah for Roberto! “Life is Beautiful” is so good, I think people are glad that it was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film so they can write it off for Best Picture and not have to mull over whether it's better than “Ryan” or
“Shakespeare”!! Decisions, decisions.
MAKEUP: I was just happy to see “Elizabeth” win something, 'cause it was good! I'm still pissed that “Broadcast News” was nominated for 7 Oscars and won NONE!
SCORE: Can't whistle dick from any of the nominees except “Shakespeare”'s theme, I'm glad it won. “Life is Beautiful” was a dead-on choice. Well done.
SONG: Much like "Beauty and the Beast", "When You Believe" sounds 1 MILLION times better sung by the film's characters than by Mariah "will screw for fame" Carey and Whitney "too damn boring to come up with an interesting joke nickname" Houston. For the FILM version, it's a winner.
Joel Siegel said that they should show the Best Animated Short IN IT'S ENTIRETY instead of that Debbie Allen BS. I think we ALL were intrigued by "Bunny", right?
SOUND, SOUND EFFECTS, VISUAL EFFECTS: Right on.
ADAPTED SCRIPT: Saw “Gods and Monsters” last week. I didn't understand why the story was imortant enough to tell. I'd rather see a story of James Whale dealing with his homosexuality in a homophobic Hollywood while trying to direct horror films! “A Simple Plan” was the most twisty, jolt-filled, unpredictable flick of the year. My pick, denied.
ORIGNAL SCRIPT: “Shakespeare” was a shoo-in. It's all good and everything, but I had a soft spot for “Bulworth”.
Overall, mild, tepid and lame. And we've already gone 3 months this year with nothing Oscar-worthy (except “The Matrix”'s effects). Let's hope we don't go another 9 with similar results....
-Paul
Anyone who has comments on the Oscars, I'd love to hear them!!!
REMEMBERING GENE SISKEL
Anyone who knows me knows that there are two guys and a girl who I'm guaranteed to see every week. The girl is my wife Karen. The guys are Siskel & Ebert.
Naturally, then, learning about the death of Gene Siskel was a big blow. This was a man who loved movies. Now, to me, that's about 4000 points of respect right there.
Gene Siskel helped change the way we all think and react to movies. If his show and his columns and reviews only made ONE person out there besides me demand an upgrade in quality and intelligence in this fascinating art form, than that's progress towards filling up the extraordinarily shallow idea pool that seems to be festering in Hollywood with scripts worth watching.
Remember "Simply Irresistible"? Me neither. Came out two weeks ago...
Gene's conversations with Roger Ebert took film criticism beyond the stodgy writer behind his desk to a thoughtful exchange that could be understood by everyone. More importantly, everyone could relate to their arguments, which always sought for the uplifting and empowerment of the art of filmmaking.
Besides a great critic, he was also a Bulls fan (and he'll never know how much they're stinkin' up the joint right now. I wish I didn't...). He was also a great father, husband and Chicagoan, endlessly giving to the city and to Parker Schools on Clark St. I had the pleasure of hearing him speak at that school in 1995, and even then he was backing the imagination and power of films that really deserved the recognition like “Pulp Fiction” and “Once Were Warriors”.
So, in a day dedicated to Gene, Karen and I went to the movies on Sunday, the day after he died. We've been more-or-less house quarantined while writing and rehearsing a play. With the play's opening last weekend, we have some "free time" (woohoo!) and we're finally catching up on some of 1998's most acclaimed films. We weren't going to spend a day dedicated to Gene seeing “Jawbreaker” or “My Favorite Martian”, instead we saw “Rushmore” and “Life is Beautiful”. I think Gene would've given our day a Thumbs Up. We certainly did, as they were both great films.
The guy LOVED movies.
So do I, dammit.
This sucks.
He will be missed.
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (****)
Damn...
I saw this letter coming. For those of you who weren't drawn in yet to see the pairing of Hanks and Spielberg (the film equivalent of God and Jesus saying "Hey, let's start a religion!"), you MUST SEE:
“SAVING Private Ryan”
This movie is bigger than all of us. I'll will not give anything away. This movie has images that will haunt me forever involving stabbings, bombs and general carnage. This, without question, is the most "YOU ARE THERE" war movie I've ever seen (surpassing “Full Metal Jacket”). I really thought I was shot 5 or 6 times.
Know this:
-I will not fight in a war.
-All veterans have my utmost respect.
-I didn't finish my popcorn (rare, but it was tough to eat and gape at the most masterful technical handiwork in a film since “Schindler's List” and “Goodfellas”)
Prepare yourself, this is the most BRUTAL film I've ever seen. Far more shocking in it's violence and RELENTLESSNESS than anything else. Yet, as my friend Mike said, "Spielberg is amazing in his ability to evoke the kind of emotions that you don't get in the majority of the films that make it to the screen today". And he does it in the context of the most scattershot, hellfire, death-infested land there ever was.
The ending of the film is sheer brilliance and says more than a trillion English Patients.
You must go.
I'm not kidding around here.
It's completely unwatchable in it's graphic detail, yet totally mesmerizing and you CAN'T TAKE YOUR EYES OFF IT!
Stop reading this and go buy a ticket.
THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY (****)
Alright, those of you who know me well are saying "Is this going to be a weekly column?" Well, no, but I had to write again to say GO SEE THIS:
“THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY”
Hands down the funniest movie of the year and one of the funniest movies I have EVER SEEN!!! To tempt you with a joke from the movie would be to give away too much. This flick has at least 12 MAJOR LAUGH scenes. Something I haven't seen since "A Fish Called Wanda." I see no reason why this can't be a classic like “Animal House” and “Caddyshack”. In fact, "Mary" goes further, does more outrageous things and has bigger balls than either of those "classics". This movie has things in it that you've NEVER seen before, guaranteed.
This is the Farrelly Bros. best film, too. They just keep getting better. It's funnier than “Kingpin” and “Dumb & Dumber”. I love the fact that they bring BIG performances out of B-list Hollywood stars like Ben Stiller (the best loser in years), Randy Quaid and Jeff Daniels.
This movie is F**kin' hilarious, Go NOW (before “Saving Private Ryan” comes out and I have to write again....)