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Reviews
An American Crime (2007)
controversial characterization, but pays off
There's not much I can add that hasn't been already eloquently stated, but I just wanted to respond to some of the commenters who expressed disappointment that the true extent of Gertrude's sadism was not shown, and that she was overly humanized. While I sympathize with the desire for the true facts to be known, I think that humanizing her was a very good decision. By making her even marginally likable, the film forces us to ask ourselves several important questions: Why is she doing this? How much of it is outside circumstances and how much a defect within herself? If I at some point find myself feeling for her, what does that say about her, and about myself? If she is capable of this, am I? Is anyone? If so, why? How can this be avoided? Can it?
Fantastic Voyage (1966)
Mildly amusing, but probably not worth your time unless you like laughing at really bad acting (I do)
This is an good movie to show as an anatomy lesson. They made a few gaffes, but by and large, stuff is accurate. And I will admit that for the 60s, the special effects are phenomenal. But the plot drags (especially the beginning--how long can you watch something shrink?) and has holes, and the acting is horrible. Raquel Welch's character Cora has three basic tasks: to stand around looking pretty, to occasionally hand something to her boss, and to every once in a while do something that requires her to scream "Help! Somebody please help!" Still, I suppose that's more tasks than the other characters. Grant just stares at the camera in a grim and determind way, Dr. Duval recites inspirational quotes like he's reading them off a calendar positioned outside the window, and Dr. Michaels sits around being bald and muttering darkly in an accent.