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Reviews
Doubles vies (2018)
Thoughtful, Lightweight
This isn't Binoche's best work, but it's a thoughtful dig into the world of writers and publishing and the impact of the internet culture. Also, the film flunks the Bechdel Test spectacularly: Men do most the philosophizing, Men behave very badly, Men do most the talking and when women are alone they talk about...Men. Why did Binoche like this script?
The Machinist (2004)
I've seen this creepy plot before
Put succinctly, The Machinist isn't worth your time. You can see plenty of other creepy noir thrillers where the plot is about blocked memories (try 'Memento' or 'Fight Club', both much, much better). But why bother? The plot is more predictable than the writer would like you to think; judging from the documentary included in my DVD, he is just warming up to his subject matter, so let's not encourage him. But one critical reason to NOT see this film is to see Hollywood's new anorexia poster boy, Christian Bale, a man who truly takes Method Acting to a new low: 119 pounds. Thank God he has had a good run in 'Batman Begins', otherwise Bale would have this and 'American Psycho' to frame his career. What a shame. Good news: The photography is quite wonderful and the direction is good too. But a movie is more than pretty pictures and actors pacing their lines.
Empire Falls (2005)
A river drips through it
Go ahead and watch this film and, if you squint your eyes just right, you can almost see the achingly beautiful story that was the heart of Empire Falls, the book that finally won the brilliant Richard Russo a Pulitzer Prize. But to like this slow, sometimes gooey adaptation, you'll have to ignore the stiff, gimmicky narration (many will compare it to a Pepperidge Farm commercial) and amateurish photo-history digressions (Ken Burns ain't worried about the competition). The cast was equal to the book and, taken individually, it's hard to fault any one performance; as an ensemble, however, they are stuck inside a snow-globe world where even the surprises aren't surprises. A stronger cast may never be assembled again, all in service to such a mediocre translation of a really heartfelt, authentic story. And who is to blame? The author himself, who did his book no favor. Isn't there such a thing as a book that just ought to be left alone and not crammed into a film?
Hable con ella (2002)
A wonderful, haunting romance
I can't think of a movie that haunted me--in a good way--for as many days and weeks after, but Talk To Her did just that. Was it the remarkable and quirky plot, or the mysterious, haunting dance sequences, or perhaps the beautiful cinematography and city scenes? Or maybe it was just the emotional weight and resilience of the stories told, how each of us deals with loss and hope in our lives. Parts of the film are strange and magic, parts are bitingly funny, even dark. But you don't forget it. I cannot say enough about the movie. Enjoy it.
Une femme de ménage (2002)
Not worth the time
This little French film is very little indeed: a lo-cal plot that is predictable and pointless, lighter than air. The client is a 1-note depressive and his housekeeper/girlfriend is a young thing/prop in a dreary 2-note story. What exactly is the point of the story or why we care about either of them is not clear. Skip it.