Chris on "Matrix Reloaded" and more
I just can't watch America's worst star for 2 hours, no matter how great the effects surrounding may be. How has he done it? I don't know ANYONE who likes him. He's pulled the wool over everyone's eyes somehow and has become a major, bankable star. Costner baffles me too. Not only has he not had a hit since "Dances with Wolves" (practically) he has also been responsible for some major flops! (Remember "Waterworld"? "The Postman"?) I can't figure it out. I guess that's why I'm sitting here and they're making movies. Anyway, I'm totally psyched for "A Mighty Wind", Christopher Guest and Co.'s latest. Previews look great. Gotta go. Chris
Joel reacts
Pretty good list. I just saw The Salton Sea, and wouldn't put it in my top ten, but it had its' good points... mostly when Vincent Donofrio was on the screen. Also, in your runner-ups... One Hour Photo? Horrible script, I thought. The 9-year-old kid suddenly thinks the smiley guy who gave him a camera is sad, and gets upset about it? Nonsense. 9-year-olds aren't having empathetic doldrums over random gift-givers.
Oh, and I am a huge Star Trek fan and didn't like Nemesis at all. It felt contrived as hell.
Right on on many others, including The Pianist, BFC, and Chicago. We saw Chicago at the Zeigfield three seats away from Harvey Fierstien (yes, the voice gave him away), and then saw Natalie Portman and her Mom and Dad in the lobby afterwards. ("Mo-om... come o-on"... in true young-adult fashion) ;)
Keep up the good work,
Joel
Chris, take 2
Selvi and I saw "About Schmidt" last week and "Gangs of New York" yesterday. What did you think of that flick? I'm sure your review is posted but my computer (which is on its last legs) is acting up so I'm afraid to go anywhere too elaborate for fear of being booted off. I kinda liked it, but I thought it was too long. I knew the ultimate outcome 10 minutes into the picture so why spend the next 3 hrs. building to a foregone conclusion. I thought the history was great and actually the last 30 minutes were the most interesting for me. I still think Scorcese is one of the best around and Daniel Day Lewis' work was stupendous. Leo was good too but I could've completely done without Cameron Diaz. (her character I mean)
"About Schmidt" was great. Jack is one of those actors where you can just turn the camera on and say "go." A very different Jack, too. Not the swaggering, cooooollllll Jaaaack. I wish (forgive me) DeNiro and Pacino would follow his example if only for just one more film. Let's face it, we haven't seen the last of cooooollll Jaaaaack but it was a nice change. I'm getting a little tired of the other two and their transformations into characatures (sp?) of themselves. I guess it happens to all to a degree.
I've started a new rating system for the movies I see. "How Much would I have paid to see that movie?"
They're $10 a pop now here. "Schmidt" $7.50 "Gangs" $5.
All the best,
Chris
P.S. Just got the re-release dvd of "Amadeus." Great!! I'm about a third of the way thru the commentary track (by Peter Schaffer and Milos Forman) and it's a hoot. They have a great time doing it and are very insightful. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up!
Who wrote this? It's a good comment, so I'm curious who sent this!
Hey Paul. Just read the rant and I agree with you just about 100%. There's still a lot I've yet to see. Saw "The Pianist" yesterday and don't be surprised if there's an upset in the best actor category. Remember Jeffrey Rush in "Shine." But really, no matter who wins what, just remember this. When in doubt, "The Oscar goes to...Miramax."
Peter runs a film study class in DC
Hey Paul, our movie class watched Spiderman last
night--we looked at the intense identity struggles
faced primarily by Peter Parker and Norman Osborn.
Very Left Bank. Pretty good discussion. I asked
everyone what they thought of Kirsten Dunst's teeth,
and someone said they appeared a little 'blocky'. No
one said she looked half-stoned, but I think you're on
to something there. In the meantime, question: do you
think at the end, when Peter Parker walked away from
her at the cemetary, she knew who he was? Or is she
just suspecting at that point?
Let me know, I have students depending on my
"Hollywood Source's" info. Any dirt on Spdrmn 2?
P
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