Reviews

(2002/John Sayles) ***1/2 out of ****

"In the beginning.....there was nothing."

Small towns are often used as the backdrop for many films, but seldom is the concept often explored. "Sunshine State", like many other films that tackle the concept, offers a slice of life into the world of the people who inhabit a small town, which is, in this case, a beach front town in Northern Florida.

Plantation Island is a picturesque small town. It's residents include many people ranging from different races, including whites, blacks, and Native Americans. But it goes a little deeper. Some of the characters are native to the area, some are just visiting. Edie Falco plays a down-to-earth motel owner, Timothy Hutton plays a land developer, Angela Bassett plays a woman who has just returned to the island after having left when she was 15, and Bill Cobbs plays a retired doctor who doesn't like where the future of the town is going. Throw in a couple of philosophical golf players, and there you have the island of Plantation.

This film has Robert Altman stamped all over it. And that's basically what it is: a toned down mosaic of Floridians, that looks like it was done by Robert Altman himself. This is a very good movie, with deep characters and a story with multiple layers. But the story and scenery can't make up for the periodic lulls here and there. All in all, an above average film that is worth a look.

-30-

Hard Eight (1996/Paul Thomas Anderson) ***1/2 out of ****

The camera opens to a diner called "Jack's Coffee Shop". A semi is pulling out of the parking lot. After it pulls away, two people are revealed. A young man sitting by the door with his face to the ground, and an older man who is walking towards him. Even though we can't see his face, we know he is old, just by the way he moves. He asks the young man if he would like some coffee and cigarettes. And this is how Paul Thomas Anderson's first film begins.

"Hard Eight" is about a down and out loser named John (John C. Reilly), who sits outside a diner, until he is encountered by a mysterious old man named Sydney (Philip Baker Hall). Sydney offers him $50, and a lesson in gambling. Before to long, they are in Reno, making lots of money. Then two people get in the way of their friendship: Clementine (Gwyneth Paltrow), a hooker/waitress; and Jimmy (Samuel L. Jackson), a mischievous security guard who seems to be hiding something.

I never thought that Paul Thomas Anderson could make such a grounded film with substance. His usual films are flashy ensembles, and they move fast. But "Hard Eight" is a different story. It is a slow paced Film Noir, that is both quiet and observant. The cinematography is drab, and the direction is tranquil. Philip Baker Hall and Paltrow turn in good performances. But it is Jackson who really shines. The twist could have been over done, but instead, it is handled nicely and effectively.

"Hard Eight" is by far one of the most interesting character studies of the 90's. I like this cool side of Anderson, and I wish he would use it more often than his usual over the top formula (although I like both). This is no classic, but I found it worth buying.

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Big Fish (2003/Tim Burton) *** 1/2 out of ****

The great director Sydney Pollack once said that musicals aren't made that much anymore due to the fact that today's society has lost a lot of it's innocence. I feel the same way about films of the fantasy genre. They represent that childhood nostalgia type of magic that isn't found in today's films. Probably the last well made fantasy I saw was "Pleasantville". That was until yesterday, when I went to see "Big Fish".

"Big Fish" is about a southern man named Ed Bloom (played greatly by Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney). Ed spends all of his adult life telling tall tales to his son, and just about anyone who will listen. But eventually his son gets older and stops listening (and is played by Billy Crudup). Once he finds out his father is dying, his son Will intends to seek the truth of his father's life. After hearing many stories, he soon realizes that maybe the 'big fish' stories were the most important thing about his father.

Never before have I seen such a film that is so bizarre, odd, random...yet so colorful, likeable, enjoyable, and rewarding. It is a nice feeling to go to a movie and be taken away by such magical scenery and extraordinary characters. Tim Burton does a great job at bringing this magic to the screen. The performances also stand out. Ewan McGregor turns in a tour de force performance, so great that you automatically like him, and root for him the whole way. The rest of the cast do a great job, including: Albert Finney; Jessica Lange; Helen Bonham Carter; and Steve Buscemi. The score, cinematography, writing also contribute in making this film one of the most magical experiences you will ever have at the movies.

"Big Fish" is being compared to "The Wizard of Oz" lately, and it is almost an updated version of it, that still has charm and innocence, yet a solid story with a sense of humor. One of the best films of 2003, and a definte must see!

-30-

Do the Right Thing (1989/Spike Lee) **** out of ****

Human nature is what comes to mind when I think of "Do the Right Thing". I've always wanted to see a film that perfectly shows how people's deep feelings and cruel intentions can be expressed through great amounts of pressure. And this is the concept of the very complex, yet very beautiful film: Do the Right Thing. It shows real people under pressure, and how they interact with one another, as the evils of their souls fidgets out of them, like fire ants running out of an ant hill as it is slowly destroyed by a little boy.

"Do the Right Thing" is a day in the life of the residents of a city block in Brooklyn, on the hottest day of the year. They consist of a kaleidoscope of different characters and different nationalities. And as the day progresses, and the temperature rises, the racial tension grows between them, and by the end of the day, the inevitable culture clash happens. The "hero" of the film is Mookie (played by director Spike Lee), a delivery boy who works at the local pizzeria run by Sal (Danny Aiello in an Oscar nominated performance) and his two sons.

The great thing about this film is that all the characters are flawed, which can only add to the immense realism of the film. "Do the Right Thing" has many admirable qualities as well. The cast is top notch. Spike Lee and Danny Aiello really carry the film, and they get great support from the two old pros Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, as well as many now-famous celebrities that owe a lot of their success to this film. The film helps to introduce such now well known stars as Samuel L. Jackson, Martin Lawrence, and John Turturro. It contains many odd camera angles and scenes where characters talk directly to the camera, all of which are elements that Spike Lee is now famous for. The film's odd mix of a jazzy score, to a soundtrack by 'Public Enemy', is striking.

The sad thing about this film is that it is often misunderstood, and sometimes considered anti-white. This is not the case. Nearly every nationality is depicted, and all have their flaws. Another element of the film that is also misunderstood and controversial, is the riot scene near the end of the picture. It is hard to explain it without spoiling it, but I will say that in the end, Mookie did the right thing.

"Do the Right Thing" is a groundbreaking cinematic experience that should not be missed. Unfortunately, this is easily the most under-appreciated films of all time, and easily the best film of the 80's. For such a bad decade of films, this one closed it with a bang.

-30-

There's Something About Mary (1998/Bobby & Peter Farrelly) *** out of ****

The Farrelly Brothers have a reputation for crossing the line in their comedies. They are known for sick humor and making fun of disabilities. I am not a fan of their work, and try to distance myself from their movies as much as possible. But, I was pleasantly surprised with "...Mary", because if you look beyond the gross humor, there is actually a story.

Ted (Ben Stiller, in one of his funniest roles) feels that there is something missing in his life. After seeking therapy and help from his friend (Chris Elliot), Ted seeks Mary (Cameron Diaz), a girl he once knew in High School, who he "almost" took to the prom. Through the help of a sleazy Private Investigator (Matt Dillion), he finds out that Mary now lives in Miami, and tries to see her, but little does he know that he isn't the only one obsessed with her. And pretty soon, we all start to realize, maybe there is something about Mary.

Don't let my complements confuse you. This film has 'Farrelly Brothers' written all over it. This film breaks every possible rule: poking fun at the mentally challenged and victims of Polio, animal cruelty, genitalia, oral sex, masturbation, sperm, and a strange fascination with abnormal teeth. When the film was finished, I was surprised how much I liked it. I don't usually go for comedies, and normally I would not have liked this type of film. But there is something in the characters that is likeable, and if you look beyond all the disgusting humor, you will find a nice little love story. There are also many twist and turns, giving this film a hint of Film Noir. And there's something about how they write the film that makes you laugh at things you don't normally find funny.

I approached this film because of two reasons: The first reason being that I am a huge Ben Stiller fan; and the second being my parent's strong recommendation. I really liked this comedy, and I recommend it to all looking for a great laugh.

-30-

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968/Sergio Leone) **** out of ****

The beginning is legendary. Three gunmen arrive at a train station in the middle of nowhere. They wait, and they wait some more. In the background is an annoying sound, and at the same time, a fly buzzes around. Then the train arrives. They get up, but no one gets off. Then, they here the sound of a harmonica. They turn around, and standing there is Charles Bronson. He asks them where there boss is, and they say that he sent them. Bronson asks if they brought a horse for him, and one of them responds (snickering), "Well, it looks like we're shy one horse". Bronson shakes his head and says, "You brought two too many", and then he kills all three of them.

"Once...." tells two stories. One about the progression of the railroad, and one about revenge. Jill McBain(Claudia Cardinale) has just arrived out west, and when she reaches the house of her new husband and his family, she finds them all dead. Frank (Henry Fonda), a ruthless assassin, has just done the deed, and is working for a more sinister corporation. Cheyenne(Jason Robards) is a traveling desperado who helps Jill in her struggle over the property she has obtained from the recent death of her husband. And a wanderer who not only plays the harmonica, but can shoot too, secretly stalks Frank, in hopes of revenge.

"Once..." is Leone's Western Masterpiece. It is both poetic and operatic. Leone has proven with this film that he is the master of detail. With his slow pacing, long periods of silence or no dialogue, extreme close-ups, excellent score and cinematography, and close attention to detail, he has made the most artful and unconventional western of all time. The performances are great as well, and it is interesting to see Fonda play such a bad guy, when he usually plays the Jimmy Stewart-type nice guy. My favorite scene (besides the opening), is after the family is slaughtered in the beginning, and Fonda is about to finish off the little boy who is still alive. The close-up on Fonda's face is amazing. With those big blue eyes and that wicked smile, he is easily one of the scariest villains in cinematic history.

Leone has done the same thing with the Western genre that he did with the Crime genre when he made "Once Upon a Time in America", he has made it amazing art film that ends up as poetry on screen. The film requires a lot out of you, but when you find out the twist in the end regarding Bronson's character, then you realize that it was all worth it.

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The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966/Sergio Leone) **** out of ****

There I was, sitting in this filthy theater, looking at my watch, waiting.... Then the lights dim, and that familiar theme song started. Everyone knows it, and has hummed it at least once. I'm talking about the classic theme to "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly". You might not remember it off hand, but you'd know it if you heard it. The screen lights up, and the movie has started. To me, this was the chance of a life time to see such a classic film on the big screen.

"The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" is about three men searching for gold during the final days of the Civil War. The three men are of course the Good (Clint Eastwood as 'Blondie'), the Bad (Lee Van Cleef as 'Angel Eyes'), and the Ugly (Eli Wallach as 'Tuco'). Blondie and Tuco are two criminals who work together. When they have a falling out, Tuco tries to take revenge on Blondie, but instead, both men accidently find out where $200,000 in gold is buried. At the same time, Angel Eyes is also looking for the gold. Eventually, their paths meet at a POW camp, and that is where the real fun begins. "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" is a prequel to a "A Fistfull of Dollars" and "For a Few Dollars More". I have seen neither of them, so I can not judge which is the best of the trilogy.

"The Good..." is probably one of the most entertaining films of all time. From beginning to end, I was glued to the screen, and it being on the big screen helped me enjoy it even more. Unlike Leone's later work, such as "Once Upon a Time in the West", this film isn't as slowly paced, and less poetic, but more enjoyable. Although, the Leone trademarks can be found throughout, such as the extreme close-ups, the amazing and famous score, and enough flies to feed a colony of frogs. The performances are amazing. Eastwood is ultra cool, Van Cleef makes a great bad guy, and Wallach is so funny, he steals the show! In fact, I was surprised by the sense of humor the film had. The funniest scene, in my opinion, was when Tuco is trying to read a letter left by Angel Eyes, and he reads it saying, " 'See you soon, id..." "id..." "ids...' ", and Eastwood takes the letter and says, " 'Idiots.' It's for you." Maybe it's not as funny written down, but on the big screen, it is laugh-out-loud funny.

Another thing about this film that makes it different from Leone's other westerns, is that it just as much a war film as it is a western. It shows the hardships of war from both point of views, which is hard to find in a lot of conventional and mainstream war films.

The music is probably my favorite thing about the movie. It plays a powerful role in it. Take for instance the scene in which Tuco finds the graveyard that they have been looking for the whole time. He runs through it, looking for that certain grave containing the gold. If it weren't for the music, and Leone's amazing style, then this scene would be pretty standard. But the music sets the pacing of the film like a train that is slowly accelerating. As the music speeds up, Tuco speeds up. As the music becomes for powerful, Tuco becomes more eager and greedy. This is one of the great scenes of this great movie.

In the end, "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" isn't as artful or as operatic as Leone's later "Once Upon a Time..." films. Instead, it is much more enjoyable and humorous.

-30-

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001/Wes Anderson) ***1/2 out of ****

In motion picture history, there are classic examples of dysfunctional families, from the Corleones to the Roses. But "The Royal Tenenbaums" brings to the screen the most oddest dysfunctional family in the history of cinema. The Tenenbaum family is led by Royal (Gene Hackman) and Etheline (Anjelica Huston). They have three children: Chas, the financial kid; Margot, a young playwright (she's adopted) and Richie, an all star Tennis player. Before the kids become prodigies, their parents seperate, and they live with their mother.

But when the kids grow up, that is when the problems start to happen. Chas (Ben Stiller) has just lost his wife, and is at the verge of a mental breakdown. He always fears for his twin son's safety, to the point of having all three of them wear the same colored Adidas Track Suits! All Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow) wants is to be accepted. She has gone through many relationships since her childhood, including a Jamaican recording artist, a French woman, her husband (Bill Murray), and her most recent affair with her brother's boyhood friend, named Eli (Owen Wilson), who is now a successful writer with a serious problem. And the last child, Richie (Luke Wilson), had a breakdown during a Tennis match, and has been avoiding the family ever since. Oh yeah, he is also in love with his sister! And finally there is Danny Glover, the family's accountant, who has just proposed to Etheline.

What keeps this above the level of your ordinary family comedy, is the colorful and rewarding style by director and writer Wes Anderson. The soundtrack is also very interesting. Gene Hackman and Ben Stiller turn in funny performances, but the rest of the cast is kind of goofy, yet at the same time, surprisingly likeable. The film's offbeat approach is what glued me in, and now I want to go out and watch Anderson's other film, "Rushmore". And Alec Baldwin does a nice job as the narrator.

It's not really a laugh out loud comedy, but it shows the funny and some-what twisted side of a dysfunctional family of geniuses. And you thought your family was strange...

-30-

Mystic River (2003/Clint Eastwood) ***1/2 out of ****

After watching "Seabiscuit" last July, I promised myself that I would see as many oscar-worthy type films as I could this Oscar season. Naturally, "Mystic River" was at the top of my list. But unfortunetly, I never got to it, and it seemed to vanish from my memory.....until it won Best Picture at the National Board of Review. Then what do you know? It stops playing at theaters near me on Friday, so I only had a few days left before it was to late. After seeing it, I am glad I saw it before it was too late.

"Mystic River" starts out as one story, then goes to three stories, and then back to one. It starts out in Boston in the late 70's. Three young friends are writing their names on the sidewalk when a man, who appears to be a cop, takes one of them away, and....well, there is no easy way to say it. So flash forward 25 years later and the boys grow up to be Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, and Tim Robbins. Penn (the neighborhood thug), is trying to come to terms with his daughter's recent murder. Bacon is a detective assigned to the case, while trying to communicate with his pregnant wife who recently walked out on him. And Robbins (the one who was kidnapped), is slowly loosing his sanity. And to top it off, he is a suspect in the case, and his wife (Marcia Gay Harden) expects something. Also along for the ride is Lawrence Fishburne as Bacon's partner, and Laura Linney as Penn's second wife.

What keeps this above the level of an ordinary cop movie, is the powerful performance by Robbins and Penn, the master storytelling by Eastwood, and the classic 'Stephen King-like' theme of lost innocence. This is the best ensemble acting since "Magnolia". When the film was released, this was lots of praise for Penn's performance. But in my opinion, Robbins performance was just as good, and Harden also did a nice job. There was only one thing that bothered me with this film (and it is nothing big): Like others have mentioned, they should have left it with Penn walking down the street. But the rest of the film is excellent. This is the best of 2003, and I hope this goes far at the Oscars. And even if it doesn't, this will still be the best of 03, and nothing can change that.

This film is hard to watch in some points, and is very sad (especially Robbin's character), but still an excellent story with superb acting. See while you still can!

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`The Last Samurai' (2003/Edward Zwick) *** out of ****

`If you spent your whole life looking for the perfect bloom, it would not be a wasted life'- Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe)

The quote that I mentioned above is one of the many memorable quotes said by Ken Watanabe in the film `The Last Samurai'. The film stars Tom Cruise as a Civil Veteran who is fighting personal demons within himself. He gets an offer from a Japanese official to train the Emperor's modern army, and to help wipe out the remaining Samurai, who hold on to the traditionalism of ancient Japan. After the first battle, Cruise is captured and forced to live with the Samurai for a few months. During this time, he comes to realize what is important in life, and who he should be supporting.

For me, this film was the most anticipated film that I wanted to see this year, next to `Kill Bill'. And I am sad to say that I am somewhat disappointed. I was filled with mixed emotions as I walked out of the theater into the rainy reality. I was hoping this film would be a major Oscar contender, but I don't think it is worthy of any nominations. Cruise's performance was good, but not worthy of a nomination. The cinematography and score, however, were very well done. The directing (Zwick won Best Director at the National Board of Review), was good, but nothing spectacular. The best actor in the movie is not Cruise, but Ken Watanabe, who plays the Samurai who takes Cruise under his wing. He gives a great performance. In my opinion, the film sold its soul to Hollywood with the ending, but the final battle was surprisingly emotional and the film should have left it at that. But instead, it was longer than it should have been.

The parts of the film that take place in the Samurai village are by far the best parts. And the use of rain and the sun rising and setting are artful additions to the film's quality. But when the story focuses back on `civilization', that is when the film gets a little dull. It has a few ‘Kurosawa' moments, but don't go in expecting `The Seven Samurai' or `Yojimbo'. Instead, expect a cross between `Dances With Wolves' and `The Patriot'.

The film's themes are what really interested me. My knowledge of Japanese History is limited, but I am led to believe that the ‘way of the Samurai' was in fact the way of life in Japan for a long time…until the mid 1800's, when this takes place. The film portrays the end of an era. The ending of a way of life, known as the Samurai. The ancient battle between traditionalism and secularism. The film asks the question: Is change always a good thing?

The film has ambition and contains some greatness, but much to my dismay, I did not find it to be the best film of the year which I had hoped it would be. But, it was a worthy effort and I recommend it.

-30-

`Bruce Almighty' (2003/Tom Shadyac) **1/2 out of ****

Many people (myself included), at one time or another, wish that we could obtain the powers of God himself. And that is the concept of `Bruce Almighty'. A wacky TV reporter, who is trying to take his career seriously, while his life seems to be going down hill, gets the opportunity to use God's powers to see if he could do a better job. But, like most `what if?' comedies, this film runs out of steam before too long, and the ending is as satisfying as one might hope for.

Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey) is a good reporter, he just is not taken seriously. So when he loses the big promotion (and his job), and gets the shit beaten out of him in the same day, he starts to lose his faith in the big guy upstairs. And who could blame him? But then, he gets a visit from someone he never would have expected.GOD (played by Morgan Freeman). Then, for the next few weeks or so, he gets to take God's place while he takes a vacation. What follows is a sometimes funny, sometimes routine comedy that does not add up. But part of if it is fun. Especially when in references `Dirty Harry', and when Nolan takes revenge on the people that did him wrong on the worst day of his life.

Jim Carrey does a good job, but it is not his best comedic performance. However, it is good to see him in his old form, for he has not made a decent flick in quite awhile. For all the actors (and even actresses) who played God in other films, Freeman is funny in the role, but he is not given that much to do. Joining these two is Jennifer Aniston, who in my opinion, is one of the sexiest actresses out there today. Despite these two well known faces, this is Carrey's movie.

`Bruce Almighty' is your average 'what if?' comedy. It contains the usual funny moments that you might expect from other films with a similar concept, but after all is said and done, this ends up as one of those 'ok' comedies that you should rent first, instead of going to see it at the theater.

-30-

Timeline (2003/Richard Donner) ** out of ****

Michael Crichton has written some of the most entertaining novels of the late 20th Century. "Timeline", one of his more recent novels, has just been adapted onto the big screen by the man that brought you Lethal Weapon.

I saw the movie with my parents, and both of them read the book. After the movie, we went to dinner and discussed it, and they informed me how poorly adapted the film was from the book. Judging by the comparisons that they made from the book to the movie, I think it is safe to say that the film was poorly adapted into a Hollywood popcorn flick.

The story is about archeologists in France who go back in time to rescue one of their own, who is in great danger. So they travel back to 1357 France to search for the father of one of the archeologist (Paul Walker in a horrible performance as usual). There are two good things about this movie: The Final Battle sequence; and Gerald Butler. Butler plays one of the archeologists who is very fascinated with the new environment that he studied about in his own time. He is easily the most likable character of the bunch. The final battle sequence was very good and entertaining (unlike the rest of the film).

The main thing that ruined the film for me was Paul Walker. In my opinion, he is the worst actor in Hollywood today, and the script didn't help. Though there is some hope...the film is suspenseful in some parts and at one point even has a conscious and some honesty. For instance: After one of the archeologist kills a soldier, instead of acting natural, they are perplexed, and actually sit down and think about what they have just done. So, there is something going for it.

In the end, it all comes down to this: "Timeline" is just a book adapted onto the screen as Hollywood garbage. But there are some good qualities. -30-

A Beautiful Mind (2001/Ron Howard) **** out of ****

"There is nothing scarier than finding out that the people you know have not died or gone away, but were never even there to begin with."-- Dr. Rosen (Christopher Plummer)

"A Beautiful Mind" tells the haunting story of world famous mathematician John Nash (Russell Crowe), and his struggle to overcome his schizophrenia, and to regain his sanity. Joining him on this emotional and paranoid journey is his wife Alicia (Oscar Winner Jennifer Connelly), a concerned doctor (Christopher Plummer), and several invisible people including his college "roomate" (Paul Bettany), and a secret service agent (Ed Harris).

Ron Howard does a remarkable job at bringing the true story of John Nash to the screen. He shows the film through the eyes of a troubled genius, which is at times magical, and at other times menacing. All the performances are excellent, and very powerful. This is undoubtedly Crowe's best performance. My favorite scene is after Alicia found out that John wasn't taking his medication, and as she starts to drive away, and he stops her and says, "She never gets old. How can she be real if she never gets old?". In my opinion, this is the most powerful scene in the movie. The music also helps make the story telling process exceptional.

All in all, this is truely a masterpiece. I remember when it came out, a lot of people on IMDb didn't like it because it beat LOTR at best picture. But in my opinion, LOTR will never be able to match this, EVER.

-30-

Jackie Brown (1997/Quentin Tarantino) **** out of ****

The openings of many Tarantino films are classic. They usually began with some great dialogue at a diner or bar, and set the tone for the film itself. But with `Jackie Brown', you get the exact opposite. What you get is pretty straight forward: The rolling of the credits accompanied by a song (and a small homage to ‘The Graduate'). But, the normal credits do set the tone for the film. They clearly state that this will be Tarantino's most normal, serious, and realistic film.

The plot is about a flight attendant (Pam Grier) who gets caught smuggling her boss's gun money into the United States. Instead of getting sent up river, she teams up with a FBI agent (Michael Keaton) and a local cop (Michael Bowen) to bust her employer (Samuel L. Jackson). But then she thinks up a plan that works toward her advantage. Along for the ride are Robert DeNiro (an ex con), Bridget Fonda (Jackson's hot and cold lover), Robert Forster (in an Academy Award Nominated performance as a burnt out bail bondsman), and Chris Tucker as a loud mouth lowlife.

Just about everything in this film is great, if not everything. Tarantino has once again gives past actors another shot at fame (Grier and especially Forster). This is Tarantino's most realistic film, probably due to the fact that the story is based on the novel `Rum Punch' by Elmore Leonard, which he adapted into an interesting caper film and blaxploitation homage. The characters are not larger than life like they were in `Pulp Fiction' and in `Reservoir Dogs', they are real people, and that is why they are so likable. The pacing is also excellent. I have read some reviews saying that it is to slow, but the pacing reflects the mood of the two main characters. Grier is tired of her dead-end job, and tired of making $16,000 a year. Forster is tired for practically the same reasons as Grier. And their tiredness is the slow pacing that most of the film has.

After watching one of the documentaries on the second disk of the DVD, I greatly respect Tarantino's casting decision of Robert Forster. He was saying that he could have easily cast someone like Gene Hackman in Forster's role, because Forster was a Z-list celebrity making films like `Vigilante' or `Maniac Cop 3'. Although he appeared in bad movies, his performances were still good. And Tarantino saw this in him, and gave him the opportunity to show the world that he was here, and that he hadn't lost his chops.

When the name ‘Tarantino' is brought up, usually `Pulp Fiction' or `Reservoir Dogs' comes to mind. But this should not be. `Jackie Brown' is not considered as one of Tarantino's better films, and this is sad, because it is just as good (if not better) than the first two films mentioned. Excellent!

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From Dusk Till Dawn (1996/Robert Rodriguez) {written by Quentin Tarantino} *** out of ****

The opening is pure Tarantino. A Texas Ranger pulls into a gas station and makes everyday chit-chat with the cashier. And then, before you know it, people are getting shot, the gas station is exploding, and the opening credits start. Even though the opening is excellent, the second half of the movie is not as good as the first half.

"From Dusk Till Dawn" is written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by his good friend Robert Rodriguez. Both of their famous trademarks are made in the movie. The story is of two criminal brothers (George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino) who drive across Texas taking hostages (Harvey Keitel and Juliette Lewis) and hope to make it across the border to a rendezvous at a bar. But what they find is a bar where the customers come straight from Hell.

Like I said early, the first half of the movie is excellent. It begins as the coolest movie I have ever seen. What more could you ask for? You've got George Clooney, one of the coolest actors today, in a film done by two of the coolest guys in Hollywood (and one of them is even in the movie!). And Salma Hayek is the sexiest woman on the planet! After seeing her dance, I completely forgot why they were even at the bar. But then....it happened: The Vampires. The second half of the film takes a turn for the worse when it goes wacko and all the customers in the bar turn to Vampires, and the brothers and the hostages are forced to work together to fight against them.

This is truely a great film, not in the fashion of Citizen Kane, but just for the entertainment and coolness factor. This is one of the rare movies that you never want to end. If it wasn't for the poor second half, I would give it a higher rating, but in the end, the film defines cool.

-30-

Four Rooms (1995/Allison Anders; Alexandre Rockwell; Robert Rodriguez; Quentin Tarantino) **1/2 out of ****

Welcome to the Mon Signor Hotel! Once a major hang out spot for movie stars of the 30's, 40's and first part of the 50's, it is now an out of date fire hazard, and it is falling apart! But on New Years Eve, a new bellhop will have the craziest night of his life in this very hotel.

When I was thinking of Tarantino flicks to purchase, "Four Rooms" came to my mind. At first I was hesitant, and for good reason. After all, I had read nothing but bad reviews for this film. But what I found in it was a bizarre little comedy that wasn't so bad after all.

"Four Rooms" is an anthology film with four 'episodes' about a fading hotel on News Years Eve, and with a quirky bellhop named Ted (Tim Roth) and his misadventures on this one crazy night. The first episode entitled "The Missing Ingredient" is about a group of witches staying in the hotel who need some sperm in order to complete a spell. And guess who knocks on the door...Ted the bellhop! The next episode, "The Wrong Man" is a shorter episode about Ted getting mistaken for another man. This is certainly the strangest of the episodes. Then next comes the hilarious "The Misbehavers". Ted is asked to babysit two kids of a Mexican gangster (Antonio Banderas in a parody of himself), and how everything possible can go wrong. And the final episode, "The Man From Hollywood" (the best) is directed by Quentin Tarantino. It is about a cocky Hollywood new-comer (Tarantino also in a parody of himself) who rents out the Penthouse for New Years Eve, and then plays a dangerous game that ends the film in a very funny way.

I must say that I was pleasantly surprised with this film. After reading all the bad reviews, I was afraid I wouldn't like this it, but it wasn't as bad as they said. Rent it if your curious or bored, but don't buy it expecting it to be like other Tarantino films. Not bad, not great, just average.

-30-

Natural Born Killers (1994/Oliver Stone) {written by Quentin Tarantino} ZERO out of ****

What a messed up film! Whatever statement Oliver Stone was trying to make with this film is lost in this extremely bloody nightmare. Oliver Stone must have been on serious drugs while making this, and Tarantino must have when he wrote the original story. I have lost some respect for both of them after viewing this horrible film.

"Natural Born Killers" is about a girl named Mallory (Juliette Lewis) who is molested by her father (Rodney Dangerfield) and has a strange childhood. She then meets Mickey (Woody Harrelson), who helps her break away from her scary home life by killing her parents. The two psychos then set out on a killing spree across the American desert. Along the way, they encounter an obsessed journalist (Robert Downey JR using an Ozzy accent ), a corrupt cop who wears women's underwear (Tom Sizemore), and a prison warden (Tommy Lee Jones).

The point Oliver Stone was trying to make (I think) was that the media glorifies killers and murderers. But the film is told in such a grotesque and strange manner that there is nothing likeable about it. And the fact of the matter is that this film could have been told very well in a toned down manner, but Stone felt the need to glorify the gory deaths and glorify these sick sick people, who are probably the scariest people to ever hit the big screen.

I wouldn't recommend this film to anyone, but maybe someone out there might like it. Roger Ebert certainly did. And I usually trust his judgement. But maybe my faith in Oliver Stone will be restored when I watch "JFK". Everyone beware, even diehard filmfans.

-30-

True Romance (1993/Tony Scott) {written by Quentin Tarantino} *** out of ****

I recently purchased a boat load of Tarantino flicks, and this was one of them. Sure it wasn't directed by him, but their are still many of his trademarks (hamburgers and kung-fu films) featured in the film.

I want to start out by saying that this film has the finest cast I have ever seen on film. It starts out as the strangest Romance I have ever seen, but quickly changes gears into a violent/action/thriller. The films starts out with a nerdy Elvis fan in Detroit named Clarence(Christian Slater) who has a one night stand with a call girl named Alabama (the very sexy Patricia Arquette). They soon decide that they love each other and get married. Then, Clarence takes it upon himself to kill Alabama's old Pimp (Gary Oldman in dreadlocks ). This is were the ultra bloody/violent fun begins, when they take it on the lam.

Other players in the cast are Dennis Hopper (Clarence's father), Christopher Walken (a ruthless mobster), Brad Pitt (the ultimate stoner), Val Kilmer (Clarence's vision of Elvis), Chris Penn & Tom Sizemore (two cops), James Gandolfini (a cold-blooded hitman), and Samuel L. Jackson as a Drug-dealer (very small part). The only problem I have with the cast is that a lot of the characters either are killed off or disappear before they can develop fully. The best scene is when Walken interrogates Hopper's character. It is surreal to see such great actors in the same scene. Excellent dialogue too. I also found it strange to see Hopper in such a toned down role.

Some die-hard Tarantino fans might not like the fact that it is not directed by Tarantino, but that isn't really a problem. Tony Scott ('Enemy of the State' and 'Spy Game') does a credible job directing, if not a little fast paced. But the film has that "we've seen it all before" feeling, especially with the blood soaked climax.

All in all, a worthy effort. A must for Tarantino fans, but others rent before purchase. The DVD is excellent, and a great addition to my collection.

-30-

The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade (1967/Peter Brook) **** out of ****

"He who kills without passion, is a machine."- Marquis de Sade (Patrick Magee)

What does one look for in a film? I suppose it has something to do with personal interest, but the reason why I was fascinated with the film mentioned above, was because of its abnormally large title. As I was strolling through Blockbuster today, I noticed that it carried this film on DVD. And I thought to myself, "Isn't it rare that my local Blockbuster is housing such a rare 60's arthouse film?". So I took advantage of it, and rented the movie. And this is what I found within it...

Never before has a title been so self explanatory. It serves as the film's plot description. It is basically a filmed play about the French Revolution and the last days of Jean-Paul Marat (Ian Richardson). The catch is: It is performed by patients of a mental hospital in France (in 1808). And it is directed and acted in by a famous patient at the hospital: The Marquis de Sade. It is performed to the Administrator and his family, and many local citizens who care to watch. The point of the show is to prove that the hospital's rehabilitation methods are working, but de Sade has a far more ambitious goal than that. And the play is constantly interrupted by the administrator, who feels it should be more "politically correct" for the recent times. But after the second act, the inmates have secretly taken over, and he is forced just to watch in horror, as are we...the audience.

It is very hard to classify this film. At some points, it is a drama. At other points, it is a thriller, mystery, horror, comedy, and even musical (the musical numbers are very strange). But for the most part, it is a two hour history lesson. All the performances are excellent, and haunting (especially Glenda Jackson's performance). The film has a bizarre tone about it, and is easily the most eerie film I have ever scene. When I called it a history lesson, you might have lost interest right then. But, all the actors (especially the narrator who speaks only in rhymes), looks directly into the camera as they speak. It is as if they are talking to you, and as if you are the only one watching. This gives you the feeling that you must sit up and listen, or they will be angry with you.

"Marat/Sade" is the most unique, and most ghostly film I have ever scene. I only recommend it to fans of theater, and of course film buffs. Though the film requires your greatest attention, it is oddly rewarding.

-30-

When I first bought Kingdom Hearts, I thought it was going to be the coolest game in the world, but instead It was horrible.

With no Rpg like final fantasy, it's horrible, and they took the coolest final fantasy characters and mixed them into a pile of rubbish. That's stupid! I mean, Sora breaking Cloud's sword? C'mon! Cloud's sword is better than a stupid key!

My advice don't buy this piece of crap, and save the fifty bucks.

Rating 4 out of 10

This has got to be the worst zelda game ever. It is boring,you have a time limit (that's the worst part)and it doesn't have one thing related to the other zelda games. I can't belive I bought this three years ago. What a waste of money.

My advice: don't buy this.

I went into this movie expecting it to be strange, and believe me, it was. I also thought that Adam Sandler couldn't pull it off, but he did.

The film starts out like a dream sequence that you would find only in a Fellini film. A car crashes, and a piano is left in the street. Barry (Sandler), takes the piano in his possession and pretty soon his whole life is turned upside down.

Barry is a paranoid private business owner with social anxiety. He has problems and doesn't know how to talk to people. But as soon as the piano comes in his possession, his life begins to change. First, he calls a sex-line and pretty soon people start to come after him. Second, he starts to by $$$ worth of "Healthy Choice" food, in hopes of getting Frequent Flyer Miles. And third, he falls in love.

This film is an interesting Mosaic of a man, and three different factors that affect his life. I really liked it. I thought the music was great, as well as the art direction. I was also very surprised by Sandler, who I thought, pulled it off very well.

So in the end, I'm still not sure weather I have figured this film out yet, or if there is anything to figure out, but I highly recommend this film to anyone who is looking for something that you don't see everyday.