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wchoff
Reviews
Australia (2008)
Hollywood Downer Under
At the end of this movie I was trying to decide whether I just disliked it or really hated it. When the closing credits appeared with comments indicating that this was an important treatise on the Lost Generations issue, I decided to hate it. This movie was more about Kidman and Jackman studying each other's bodies. Watch "Rabbit Proof Fence" for a meaningful portrayal of the Lost Generations issue since this movie was just a weak Hollywood screenplay applied to the Down Under. I was surprised to find on IMDb that this director/producer/writer produced the creative and fresh movies "Strictly Ballroom" and "Moulin Rouge!" Perhaps he has spent too much time in Hollywood and should return home until his skills return.
Killing Moon (1999)
Even for TV, this one is bad.
This is the worst movie I have seen in the past year. I rented it on tape and could tell right away it was a for TV production. My expectations lowered, but could not get to the level of this sub-TV-standard slop. The movie was obviously a low budget effort, judging by these examples: an interisland flight in Hawaii only had 20 passengers, the plane only had a flight crew of two, the set for the 737 was a DC-10 set from another movie and only 3 Federal agents became involved in a major medical/air disaster! The number of technical errors were numerous too, such as the one hour and forty minute trans-Pacific flight time from Hawaii to California. The worst part of this movie was the performance by Daniel Baldwin, one of the Baldwin boys. It is obvious why we see less of him than his other brothers. I had a hard time figuring out what the deal was with him making a heart-shaped design with the fingers of his hands across his belly as he walked stiffly around the control room. His overacting outbursts were ridiculous too. Avoid this one. Watch one of the old Airport movies instead.
Best in Show (2000)
Better than "Guffman"
I really liked "Waiting for Guffman" and "Best In Show" is funnier. John Michael Higgins was hilarious in the role that I would expect Christopher Guest to play. Fred Willard was also great doing a spoof of Joe Garagiola, who is a "color commentator" for the Westminster Dog Show. Having seen the Westminster Show isn't necessary to get big laughs from this movie, but it sure helps.
Message in a Bottle (1999)
Combine these movies
Combine "Sleepless in Seattle" with "The Horse Whisperer" and set the movie in North Carolina. Voila! "Message in a Bottle" It was also better than expected.
The Passion of Ayn Rand (1999)
Ayn Wouldn't Like It, Viewers Will
"Ayn Rand wouldn't like this movie" said director Christopher Menaul prior to its premier at the Sundance Film Festival. Based on the biography by Barbara Braden, this film focuses on the later years of Ayn's life and her affair with an associate. It would be a difficult task to make a movie that would focus on the genius of Ayn Rand. It is necessary to read her books to find this. Her real passion was for freedom and creativity, a result of being an immigrant to America from post-Revolutionary Russia. Instead, this film covers the sexual passion, which is only a minute element of the complexity of Ayn Rand. Her background, books and Objectivism philosophy are only given brief mention peripheral to the sexual involvement. Approaching it this way does create a more commercial result. It was produced by Showtime, so it probably will not be released to theaters, but should appear on cable soon.
The acting in this movie was outstanding and makes it more memorable. Of particular merit are Julie Delpy as Barbara Braden and Peter Fonda accurately portraying the meek Frank O'Connor.
A movie should be judged by whether it is the best product that can be created by the elements being used. On this basis, it succeeds.