Review
Apocalypse Now Redux
- Director
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Year
- 2001
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- Review date
- Wednesday, January 30, 2002
Apocalypse Now (1979) is one of the quintessential war movies and one of those Francis Ford Coppola classics. Now, I never actually saw the original version. I might have done so one of these days but then this restored version arrived at multiplexes around here. I couldn’t resist watching it on the big screen in all its glory. I made the right decision...
Captain Benjamin L. Willard (Martin Sheen) is appointed a new mission during the Vietnam war: he must find Colonel Walter E. Kurtz (Marlon Brando) and kill him. The man has apparently gone mad despite a brilliant military resume and will cause less damage dead than alive. Thus Cpt. Willard starts the journey which will bring him through different places and situations in a world surrounded by death, suffering and craziness.
Apocalypse Now is not an easy movie to sit through. It’s almost claustrophobic in the way the somber atmosphere almost suffocates everyone involved. The violence, the fight for survival, the craziness.
For it is there that the movie makes its strongest statement. At least for me. At various stages of the trip Cpt. Willard meets several different people all immersed in their own situations. Still there’s one thing in common: they’ve lost all traces of innocence. They’ve been manipulated. They’re not who they used to be. They’re not “normal” people anymore.
There’s an underlying message inside here in which we find that even Cpt. Willard cannot live without the war anymore. This could clearly be seen in the first part of the movie. He’s become a zombie, an addicted man with one purpose. When we finally meet Colonel Kurtz it’s all really bizarre and mystic, but scary as well. And I don’t mean scary in the usual kind of way. It is terrifying because we see what war can do to people. We wonder if these men would be happier being dead. What keeps them going? When did all this happen?
To convey all this madness Francis Ford Coppola got an amazing cast that really paid off. Martin Sheen stands out as the man through which we see it all. He’s a conflicted, strong fighter who has lived through a lot yet he’s still learning in the way. Robert Duvall steals every scene he’s in and Dennis Hopper leaves a strong impression. Both play rare roles. On the other hand, you can spot a very young Harrison Ford in a couple of scenes. And finally there’s Marlon Brando, who’s more presence than anything else here, but with the right touch.
A different, more spiritual perspective on war...
“The horror, the horror…”
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Screen Actors Guild Nominations
- Posted by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- News date
- Tuesday, January 29, 2002
The Screen Actors Guild nominations were announced this morning and I must say I'm not that happy with the results. You see, the SAG always throws in a little controversy by doing some unexpected things, but usually they come in the form of one unexpected actor getting a nod or something like that. Well, this year they've decided to go crazy and shake things up
a lot.
Why is that? First of all, Nicole Kidman was snubbed. How weird is that? Then, as they always like to do, they chose Jennifer Connely as Best Leading Actress, not Supporting as it has been known in the past months. Some names that haven't been present in the Oscar race at all got nommed, including Ethan Hawke, Kevin Kline, Dakota Fanning, Judi Dench (for
The Shipping News), Cate Blanchett, et al. Then they also snubbed Will Smith and Marisa Tomei, two sure bets. So, yeah, they're unique, but I wonder how much of this will play out to influence the Oscars. We'll just have to wait and see...
Male Actor in a Leading Role
Russell Crowe,
A Beautiful Mind
Kevin Kline,
Life as a House
Sean Penn,
I Am Sam
Denzel Washington,
Training Day
Tom Wilkinson,
In the Bedroom
Female Actor in a Leading Role
Halle Berry,
Monster's Ball
Jennifer Connelly,
A Beautiful Mind
Judi Dench,
Iris
Sissy Spacek,
In the Bedroom
Renée Zellweger,
Bridget Jones's Diary
Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Jim Broadbent,
Iris
Hayden Christensen,
Life as a House
Ethan Hawke,
Training Day
Ben Kingsley,
Sexy Beast
Ian McKellen,
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Cate Blanchett,
Bandits
Judi Dench,
The Shipping News
Cameron Diaz,
Vanilla Sky
Dakota Fanning,
I Am Sam
Helen Mirren,
Gosford Park
Ensemble
A Beautiful Mind
Gosford Park
In the Bedroom
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Moulin Rouge!
Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries
Alan Alda,
Club Land
Richard Dreyfuss,
The Day Reagan Was Shot
James Franco,
James Dean
Gregory Hines,
Bojangles
Ben Kingsley,
Anne Frank
Female Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries
Angela Bassett,
Ruby's Bucket of Blood
Judy Davis,
Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows
Anjelica Huston,
The Mists of Avalon
Sissy Spacek,
Midwives
Emma Thompson,
Wit
Life Achievement Award
Edward Asner
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Review
Empire of the Sun
- Director
- Steven Spielberg
- Year
- 1987
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- Review date
- Monday, January 28, 2002
Steven Spielberg has so many classics under his slate that some of his other movies become somewhat forgotten. That’s a pity, since they’re mostly good, or, as in this case, quite exceptional.
A young English boy (Christian Bale) struggles to survive, and grow up, amidst World War II, while Japan occupies China and thus sends every British person to concentration camps. During his journey, Jim gets to know Basie (John Malkovich), an American who will be pivotal in his life.
Empire of the Sun is a beautiful, haunting movie that shows us the horror of war through the eyes of a child. It is a whole new different perspective as innocence and curiosity must face off with survival and reality. Still, there’s something that will never be lost: the soul; the soul of a child who dreams of airplanes and flying. His vision of life is uncomplicated until everything is taken away from him.
The movie is not so much about war as it is about Jim becoming a man. We can see the transformation, the effects of war, and the way he never gives up and becomes an exceptional kid. I couldn’t stop crying in the scene in which Mrs. Victor (Miranda Richardson) starts to put all of his stuff back in his old bed. It’s heart breaking and it’s real, it’s there, it’s what happens.
The movie has been somewhat criticized for its grandiose scope and the fact that it’s a bit more than what is required. That happens especially towards the end, but I didn’t have any problem with that. You see, this is a movie that is more than a straightforward war tale; it is also a spiritual journey, a movie about dreams, about loss, about finding a meaning.
It’s funny to see Christian Bale as a child when he’s done so much work as an adult. Spielberg certainly has an eye for kids and this is no exception. Bale gives an extraordinary performance. There’s never a false moment and he handles all of his scenes admirably. He might be a child, but the role requires him to be an adult. He’s flawless.
Epic, poignant, touching, hard, words that describe this journey through the empire, the empire of the sun.
“I can’t remember what my parents look like.”
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Box Office Results
- Posted by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- News date
- Sunday, January 27, 2002
Great weekend at the box office! Tons of millions were made after five different releases entered the top10 and, suprisingly enough, they all generated solid openings. Perhaps the most unexpected bit was Mandy Moore actually doing the best among all the new releases. Frank must've been right. It was a good move and it bodes well for Britney Spears. Go girls!
On other news,
A Beautiful Mind was definitely helped by the Golden Globes, since it slipped only 1% compared to last week and is on its way to cross the 100-million mark soon. Who would've said?
- Black Hawk Down
- $18.2M, $60.1M total - Snow Dogs
- $13.6M, $39.3M total - A Walk to Remember
- $13.5M, $13.5M total - The Mothman Prophecies
- $11.8M, $11.8M total - A Beautiful Mind - $11.7M, $93M total
- The Count of Monte Cristo - $11.5M, $11.5M total
- I Am Sam - $8.3M, $8.5M total
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - $8M, $258.6M total
- Kung Pow: Enter the Fist - $7.2M, $7.2M total
- Orange County - $4.6M, $34.2M total
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Spooky, epic, romantic, funny, a touch of it all
- Posted by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- News date
- Friday, January 25, 2002
Complaining there aren’t enough movies out there? Well, I sure don’t know why, but here’s something for you: four new wide releases!
The Mothman Prophecies – Richard Gere stars in his spooky thriller about some supernatural events having to do with a monster, a presence... a thing. I don’t know exactly what, but I will as soon as I see the movie. Wondering how safe a bet it is? Surprisingly enough critics are giving it high praise for what it is and what it tries to accomplish. Overall it’s said to be quite good, oh yes, and scary.
The Count of Monte Cristo – Jim Caviezel, Guy Pearce and Richard Harris headline this new adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic. It has been given numerous treatments, but this fresher one is certainly not sparking any good feeling. It seems director Kevin Reynolds does not succeed in making an intelligent and compelling movie out of this story. We’ll see how audiences think.
A Walk to Remember – Pop star Mandy Moore ventures into movies with this small production about a shy Catholic girl falling in love with the man of his dreams. Or is he? Oh, the eternal question! Anyway, the reaction has been, not surprisingly, dreadful. Mandy is not getting such bad reviews as Mariah did, but she ain’t getting much love either.
Kung Pow: Enter the Fist – A comedic martial arts movie created (literally) by Steve Oedekerk which pokes fun at this type of movies while actually trying to be one. Unfortunately ‘tis no good one either.
And that’s it. Just remember, whatever you do, try to have fun!
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Review
Orlando
- Director
- Sally Potter
- Year
- 1992
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- Review date
- Thursday, January 24, 2002
Somehow I had always been intrigued with this movie. From the moment I knew it was about a person who was born as a man but ended up as a woman I became hooked. I finally got the chance to see it and it clearly was a disappointment, even if I still consider the premise a fascinating one.
The movie chronicles the life of Orlando (Tilda Swinton), a character who lived 400 years, first as a man and then as a woman. The movie spans through different eras, scenarios and historical periods. Starting in the 17th century, Orlando finds himself at the orders of Queen Elizabeth I (Quentin Crisp), later becoming a foreign ambassador, and finally a contemporary high-society lady.
The movie is based upon a novel by Virginia Woolf which must’ve been way more compelling on book. At least I guess so.
Orlando, as a movie, proves to be visually stunning but alarmingly shallow. There’s never a real connection between us and Orlando. He/She moves from period to period, from day to day, more as a figure than a human life. The constant lack of dialogue doesn’t help either. We never know the motivations of the character or what exactly is on his/her head.
Moreover, the movie wants to make a statement about the changing roles of life and the importance of the sexes while never really achieving it. If Orland himself/herself does not show the slightest surprise or reaction to the changes in his/her body and persona, why should we care, why should we even bother to extract some meaning out of it? Because if it is there then it’s in a very weak form.
Another problem is that if Orlando is not a fully-developed character, you can picture out the rest of the cast. Billy Zane shares first credit with Tilda Swinton, yet he only appears in a couple of scenes. At the end,
Orlando becomes a journey through time frames, but with nothing meaningful in the inside to attract attention if only the way societies and the role of people change through the years. It’s a pretty picture, but nothing more.
Tilda Swinton, on the other hand, delivers a strong performance. I must admit to having trouble accepting her as a man. She’s got quite feminine physical traces and even thou she spoke and behaved like a man we always knew it was a woman. Not to blame her for her acting abilities, albeit for her looks. Still, she’s rather impressive and surprising at every turn.
Special mention should also be bestowed upon Quentin Crisp, who plays a woman, none other than Queen Elizabeth I, while being a man. It’s hilarious yet totally credible.
Something is missing here. Director/writer Sally Potter unfortunately loses the mark.
“Same person. No difference at all... just a different sex”
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Review
Deliverance
- Director
- John Boorman
- Year
- 1972
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- Gon Curiel a.k.a. Groucho
- Review date
- Wednesday, January 23, 2002
Four businessmen (Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty and Ronny Cox) leave their routine for a weekend canoe trip through the Cahulawassee River. Their trip begins among savage waters, eventually dragging them into a disastrous world where survival doesn’t seem easy at all.
James Dickey’s novel of rapid waters, murder and man’s dark side was adapted by himself and awesomely directed by John Boorman. The result is an excellent action thriller that never lets go, not only action-wise but inside the characters’ minds. The audience gets so involved with these guys that it’s hard to remain untouched by their suffering; for instance, the final scene starring Voight is completely poignant.
Voight is good as usual; Beatty good too in his film debut; but it is Reynolds who steals the show as a Toshiro Mifune-esque adventurer. This could be his best performance to date. Bill McKinney and Herbert Coward are unbearably scary as the guys who change the course of our heroes’ trip—and lives.
This film features one of the most mesmerizing musical numbers ever (the “Dueling Banjos”) and manages to capture more aspects of human behavior than most films. How small it seems and how grand it really is, means a bunch.
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American Society of Cinematographers Nominees 2001
- Posted by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- News date
- Wednesday, January 23, 2002
The American Society of Cinematographers has just unveiled their nominees as to what they considered the best work behind-the-cameras of the year. This guild is the most prestigious when it comes to cinematography.
Check out who made the list:
Roger Deakins -
The Man Who Wasn't There
Bruno Delbonnel -
Amélie
Andrew Lesnie -
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Don McAlpine -
Moulin Rouge!
John Schwartzman -
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Review
Twin Peaks
- Director
- David Lynch
- Year
- 1990
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- Review date
- Tuesday, January 22, 2002
Even if I consider myself a David Lynch fan it is not because I always love his work. Lynch is a director who’s always making different things. He’s got a particular edginess difficult to find in any other filmmaker. He’s full of ideas and imagination and I always respect anyone who sticks to their vision and who dares to be different. That’s what Lynch represents, love it or hate it. Well, I love it for the most part.
Twin Peaks, the movie, was conceived as a TV pilot of what was going to be a complete series. It is there that it all begun. Of course, by now, the series have become a cult product and a prequel was later made with less luck. For Lynch fans it may all be fascinating. It is common audiences that may have some difficulty with his work. I’m kind of in the middle.
Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee), one of the most popular girls in the small town of Twin Peaks, has been found raped and murdered. Sheriff Truman (Michael Ontkean) quickly starts investigating what happened until FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle McLachlan) arrives to take over. Suddenly hidden secrets start emerging around the girl’s world. There’s more than meets the eye with her boyfriend Bobby (Dana Ashbrook), her best friend (Lara Flynn Boyle) and just about a dozen people who got to know her.
There’s two ways you can watch this pilot: as a movie on its own, and as the starting point of a lot more to come. I must say that having the latest perceptive might help more to enjoy the experience thoroughly. I myself have not seen the entire series, but somehow I don’t want to. Sometimes I like it more when things are left to my imagination. There are characters here that come and go with no apparent reason. There are huge plot points left unanswered that will leave you wondering for ages.
And that’s not to mention the controversial finale. I must say when the movie ended my first reaction was that of anger. It was as if I had spent the last hour and a half watching one movie and suddenly a totally different one took place in the last 15 minutes. Nothing made sense and I was left there toying with thoughts in my mind that didn’t know what path to take. Now that some time has passed I’m a little bit more accepting. After all it’s Lynch. What was I expecting?
I also love the way Lynch has his very own style. This movie is filled with atmosphere, from the way it is shot to the way the music plays. It is full of Lynch-ian moments which I just love. Peculiar characters, peculiar dialogues, peculiar events that are just there for the sheer pleasure of it.
Finally, I guess the best way to describe this movie would be by calling it a “suspenseful melodramatic thriller with no easy answers, no way out”.
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Directors Guild Nominees 2001
- Posted by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- News date
- Tuesday, January 22, 2002
First it was the producers, now it's the directors. That is, because the Directors Guild Association has just announced its annual list of nominees. Do note that in more than 50 years the DGA has just failed five times to award the director who went on to win the Oscar. Rather impressive!
Check out the nominees:
RON HOWARD -
A Beautiful Mind
PETER JACKSON -
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
BAZ LUHRMANN -
Moulin Rouge!
CHRISTOPHER NOLAN -
Memento
RIDLEY SCOTT -
Black Hawk Down
Rather an interesting list if you consider Robert Altman was completely left out of the competition. That's really weird, since he just won a Golden Globe and has been considered one of the favorites since the awards season began. Also abstent are David Lynch and Todd Field, two often-mentioned names.
The inclusion of Nolan, on the other hand, is quite weird. I actually think it's more than deserved, but he has been singled-out lately more for his screenplay than for his direction. I'm really happy the DGA actually took him into account.
Now, does Ridley Scott's inclusion mean a new wave of acclaim for
Black Hawk Down, as I was mentioning two days ago, is on the way? Might be...
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Review
Notorious
- Director
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Year
- 1946
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- Gon Curiel a.k.a. Groucho
- Review date
- Monday, January 21, 2002
Alicia Huberman (Ingrid Bergman), the daughter of a Nazi war criminal, is asked by a handsome CIA agent (Cary Grant) to help the Agency track the activities of some of her dad’s former friends in Brazil. She can’t say no, so she does so: gladly, in fact, after she falls in love with Devlin, the handsome agent.
You see, the task is not easy. Alicia must get personally involved with Alexander Sebastian (Claude Rains), a subject of special interest for the CIA. Devlin not only encourages her to agree but is even willing to let go of her completely if necessary. Thus resulting in a love triangle of very big proportions.
Thrilling, subtle Hitchcock espionage tale focuses very much in its characters and very little in their international affairs, which is actually good. As a result, the audience is continuously involved with their feelings and affections, which makes up for a suspenseful finale that doesn’t need much paraphernalia to work perfectly.
The performances are all top-notch. Grant is good, Bergman better and Rains simply unbelievable, transmitting sympathy though his character shouldn’t be liked.
Hitchcock, Grant, Bergman and Rains each have better films in their filmographies—but having them all together as a team in such a good film makes this an irresistible and unforgettable experience.
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Golden Globe Winners 2001
- Posted by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- News date
- Sunday, January 20, 2002
Finally the Golden Globes were handed out in what translated to a quite surprising night. The winner of the night was definitely
A Beautiful Mind, followed by
Moulin Rouge. They both had the most nominations, but it still was shocking to see
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring walk away empty-handed. That won't do any good, since the SAG awards are next and they only cheer actors. Tonight
A Beautiful Mind emerged as the clear front-runner in its way to the Oscars.
Now, I sucked at predicting tonight's winners. 7 out of 13. Damn! But you have to give me credit for predicting correctly the main categories. It was in score, song, foreign movie (a general shocker), screenplay and with that fellow Broadbent (impossible to guess, by the way) that I didn't do any good.
Overall it was a good show and I liked what the Foreign Press did. Also notice how Australians did extremelly well. Way to go!
BEST MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
A Beautiful Mind
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
RUSSELL CROWE,
A Beautiful Mind
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
SISSY SPACEK,
In The Bedroom
BEST MOTION PICTURE - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Moulin Rouge
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
GENE HACKMAN,
The Royal Tenenbaums
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
NICOLE KIDMAN,
Moulin Rouge
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
JIM BROADBENT,
Iris
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
JENNIFER CONNELLY,
A Beautiful Mind
BEST DIRECTOR - MOTION PICTURE
ROBERT ALTMAN,
Gosford Park
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
No Man's Land - Bosnia
BEST SCREENPLAY - MOTION PICTURE
AKIVA GOLDSMAN,
A Beautiful Mind
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - MOTION PICTURE
CRAIG ARMSTRONG,
Moulin Rouge
BEST ORIGINAL SONG - MOTION PICTURE
"Until..." –
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Box Office Results
- Posted by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- News date
- Sunday, January 20, 2002
As expected,
Black Hawk Down took the top spot at the box office, albeit in a more impressive way than what was thought at first. It marked the best Martin Luther King weekend opening ever. Even though the movie was snubbed at the Golden Globes, a box office success could help its chances with Oscar, so keep an eye on this one, because it could very well come back for a revenge. It has already started...
On other news, the highest-grossing movie of the year (so far),
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, has finally left the top10 after a very successful run.
We'll see how the list shifts after the Golden Globes are handed out. Until then, check this one out:
- Black Hawk Down - $29M, $30.8M total
- Snow Dogs - $17.5M, $17.5M total
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - $13M, $245.9M total
- A Beautiful Mind - $11M, $73.9M total
- Orange County - $9M, $26.9M total
- Ocean's Eleven - $5.7M, $170.5M total
- The Royal Tenenbaums - $4.3M, $36.2M total
- Kate & Leopold - $3.4M, $42M total
- Gosford Park - $3.3M, $11.2M total
- Vanilla Sky
- $3.1M, $93.1M total
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Sundance Film Festival Awards 2002
- Posted by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- News date
- Sunday, January 20, 2002
So yet another edition of the Sundance Film Festival has come to an end. The awards' gala was just held and here's the list of winners. Do note that most of this names won't ring anything to you, but we'll see at the end of the year, when and if distributors do a good job marketing them. Just look at
In the Bedroom, a movie that won a couple of awards last year and that is now vying for a triumph at the Oscars. Anyway, from what I've heard
Tadpole is the movie that left the biggest impression this year and it was picked up by Miramax, so watch carefully...
Grand Jury Prize, documentary -
Daughter from Danang
Grand Jury Prize, drama -
Personal Velocity
Audience Award, documentary -
Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony
Audience Award, drama -
Real Women Have Curves
Audience Award, World Cinema (tie) -
Bloody Sunday, U.K./Ireland and
The Last Kiss, Italy
Directing, documentary - Rob Fruchtman and Rebecca Cammisa, Sister Helen
Directing, drama - Gary Winick,
Tadpole
Cinematography, documentary - Daniel Gold,
Blue Vinyl
Cinematography, drama - Ellen Kuras,
Personal Velocity
Freedom of Expression Award -
Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony
Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award - Gordy Hoffman,
Love Liza
Jury Prize, Latin American Cinema -
The Trespasser, Brazil
Jury Prize, short film -
Gasline
Special Jury Prize, documentary -
Senorita Extraviada
Special Jury Prize, documentary -
How to Draw a Bunny
Special Jury Prize for originality, drama -
Secretary
Special Jury Prize for ensemble cast, drama -
Manito
Special Jury Prize of acting, drama - America Ferrera and Lupe Ontiveros,
Real Women Have Curves
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Golden Globes Predictions
- Posted by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- News date
- Saturday, January 19, 2002
Well, it's time to make those Golden Globe predictions. The awards' ceremony will take place this Sunday and the buzz is through the roof. After the Globes we get the SAG and then the Oscars, but this Sunday a lot of things will clear down a bit... or will they make matters more confusion?
Anyway, please note that I have not seen a lot of the nominated movies, yet I will try to do my best predicting who'll win based on what I've heard. My choice will be highlighted in bold form:
BEST MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
A Beautiful Mind
In The Bedroom
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
The Man Who Wasn't There
Mulholland Drive
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
RUSSELL CROWE, A Beautiful Mind
WILL SMITH,
Ali
KEVIN SPACEY,
The Shipping News
BILLY BOB THORNTON,
The Man Who Wasn't There
DENZEL WASHINGTON,
Training Day
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
HALLE BERRY,
Monster’s Ball
JUDI DENCH,
Iris
NICOLE KIDMAN,
The Others
SISSY SPACEK, In The Bedroom
TILDA SWINTON,
The Deep End
BEST MOTION PICTURE - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Bridget Jones's Diary
Gosford Park
Legally Blonde
Moulin Rouge
Shrek
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
GENE HACKMAN, The Royal Tenenbaums
HUGH JACKMAN,
Kate & Leopold
EWAN McGREGOR,
Moulin Rouge
JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL,
Hedwig And The Angry Inch
BILLY BOB THORNTON,
Bandits
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
THORA BIRCH,
Ghost World
CATE BLANCHETT,
Bandits
NICOLE KIDMAN, Moulin Rouge
REESE WITHERSPOON,
Legally Blonde
RENEE ZELLWEGER,
Bridget Jones's Diary
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
JIM BROADBENT,
Iris
STEVE BUSCEMI,
Ghost World
HAYDEN CHRISTENSEN,
Life as a House
BEN KINGSLEY,
Sexy Beast
JUDE LAW, A.I. Artificial Intelligence
JON VOIGHT,
Ali
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
JENNIFER CONNELLY, A Beautiful Mind
CAMERON DIAZ,
Vanilla Sky
HELEN MIRREN,
Gosford Park
MAGGIE SMITH,
Gosford Park
MARISA TOMEI,
In The Bedroom
KATE WINSLET,
Iris
BEST DIRECTOR - MOTION PICTURE
ROBERT ALTMAN, Gosford Park
RON HOWARD,
A Beautiful Mind
PETER JACKSON,
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
BAZ LUHRMANN,
Moulin Rouge
DAVID LYNCH,
Mulholland Drive
STEVEN SPIELBERG,
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Amélie - France
Behind the Sun - Brazil
Monsoon Wedding - India
No Man's Land - Bosnia
Y Tu Mamá También (
And Your Mother Too) - Mexico
BEST SCREENPLAY - MOTION PICTURE
JOEL COEN & ETHAN COEN,
The Man Who Wasn't There
JULIAN FELLOWES,
Gosford Park
AKIVA GOLDSMAN,
A Beautiful Mind
DAVID LYNCH,
Mulholland Drive
CHRISTOPHER NOLAN, Memento
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - MOTION PICTURE
CRAIG ARMSTRONG,
Moulin Rouge
ANGELO BADALAMENTI,
Mulholland Drive
LISA GERRARD & PIETER BOURKE,
Ali
JAMES HORNER,
A Beautiful Mind
HOWARD SHORE, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
JOHN WILLIAMS,
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
CHRISTOPHER YOUNG,
The Shipping News
HANS ZIMMER,
Pearl Harbor
BEST ORIGINAL SONG - MOTION PICTURE
"Come What May" – Moulin Rouge
"May It Be" –
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
"There You'll Be" –
Pearl Harbor
"Until..." –
Kate & Leopold
"Vanilla Sky" –
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News
A war all over
- Posted by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- News date
- Friday, January 18, 2002
Hi everyone! It’s Golden Globe weekend. Ironically, it’s also the weekend in which the two movies that are vying for the Best Picture win will lose at the box office to a movie that was clearly snubbed at the Globes:
Black Hawk Down. Anyway. Check out what’s new today:
Black Hawk Down - The aforementioned movie is finally getting a wide release today after making it into many top10 lists and getting a couple of awards in the way. That enthusiasm was clearly shown today as critics’ praised the movie for its sheer depiction of war. It is said to be a highly realistic movie directed with an assured hand by Ridley Scott. Sounds like a must.
Snow Dogs - Cuba Gooding Jr. stars in this Disney movie aimed at kids which is not getting any praise at all. Critics are not being kind to it and I kind of think they might be right. The movie doesn’t sound any good...
So there you go. Lots of worthy stuff to check out are more movies keep getting wider releases. Check them out and have fun!
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Review
Sex, Lies and Videotape
- Director
- Steven Soderbergh
- Year
- 1989
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- Review date
- Thursday, January 17, 2002
Much has become of director Steven Soderbergh in the last couple of years, but sometimes people might wonder where he actually came from. Has he always been so good? What about his past? Well, it all started with this little movie, an independent feature that went on to win the Palm d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. From then on, it was all uphill.
The story revolves around the lives of four people. John (Peter Gallagher), a successful lawyer, is married to Ann (Andie MacDowell), an unhappily repressed woman. John’s having an affair with wild Cynthia (Laura San Giacomo), who happens to be Ann’s sister. One day Graham (James Spader), an old fried of John, returns to town little knowing the effect he’ll have on all of them.
When reading the provocative title of the movie one might get the wrong idea about it. Yes, it is about sex, but surprisingly enough almost everyone keeps their clothes on throughout the entire movie. What’s the catch then? Well, the movie really is about sex, lies and videotape (literally), but it is all treated in a more profound level. It is, most of all, a movie about the human condition.
Steven Soderbergh wrote a story about four peculiar and very interesting characters looking for some meaning in their lives. That’s what it’s all about. And you might be surprised at the twists and turns the movie takes as it moves towards its end. More surprising still is the way everything happens in conversations. That says a lot about the power of dialogue and good writing to create a compelling and dramatically effective movie.
That said, it is also the actors who bring such an interesting approach to life. Andie MacDowell is extraordinary as a woman trying to live in a false world that doesn’t exist. James Spader, on the other hand, is spooky but effectively low-key as the most bizarre character who makes it seem as if he were the most normal with ease.
These are characters looking for freedom, for redemption. It is a journey to the basics.
“And what would you know about a normal frame of mind?”
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Review
Lawrence of Arabia
- Director
- David Lean
- Year
- 1962
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- Gon Curiel a.k.a. Groucho
- Review date
- Wednesday, January 16, 2002
English lieutenant T.E. Lawrence (Peter O’Toole) is sent from his base in Cairo to meet Prince Feisal (Alec Guinness) in Saudi Arabia, and once there decides to stay and help the Prince in his cause, becoming a living legend, an example to follow, and a threaten to many people’s interests.
Outstanding biopic of a remarkable man, a triumphant film that’s larger than life not only in its running time (which is necessarily long) but in its reach as an epic and a storyteller. The true story of Lawrence is told through his own eyes, making it easy for the viewer to understand his reasons for everything that he does. Eccentricities like his love for the desert and his despise for formality could hardly be understood hadn’t this film told its tale so clearly.
Dazzling action sequences are beautifully photographed by Freddie Young and accompanied by Maurice Jarre’s haunting score. All this in one of the best-looking widescreens of history. My good friend Morris once said that this could easily be the best photographed film ever. Well, isn’t he right!
Performances by Omar Sharif, Anthony Quinn, Claude Rains and all others make the trip even more enjoyable; the final scene (a quick metaphor of Lawrence’s whole life) is unforgettable.
Undoubtedly David Lean’s greatest triumph, though not as easy-going as other masterpieces of his like
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957).
A film all film lovers must see.
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Review
Big
- Director
- Penny Marshall
- Year
- 1988
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- Review date
- Tuesday, January 15, 2002
When the opening credits appeared on-screen I immediately knew I was in for something very special. Among others, James L. Brooks was producing, Penny Marshall was directing, Gary Ross had written the script, Barry Sonnenfield was behind the photography and Howard Shore was behind the score. If you add the Oscar-nominated performance of Tom Hanks then you could possibly ask no more.
Josh Baskin (David Moscow/Tom Hanks) is a 12-year old kid who wishes he were big... literally. The next morning he realizes his wish was granted as he wakes up as a thirty-something man. He must then deal with the difficulties of a grown-up and ends up finding a job at a big toys corporation headed by Mr. MacMillan (Robert Loggia) where he meets a beautiful woman (Elizabeth Perkins) with whom he gets involved.
Big is a movie that could’ve gone wrong in innumerable different ways. In the hands of less capable people it could have turned out to be too schmaltzy, too corny or simply too unbelievable. It is thanks to Tom Hanks’ performance and the assured direction of Penny Marshall that we buy the premise and follow it effortlessly with such a level of enjoyment.
The movie also has a pretty clear message about the meaning of never letting go that kid we all have inside. After all, there lies the innocence, the fun, the uncomplicated vision of the world. It is just a matter of being brave, of being authentic, of keeping things simple.
But of course, Josh is a tailor-made part for Hanks. He’s simply perfect and you can see he’s having fun playing the character. I can’t picture out another actor in the same role. It is a great comic performance.
Look out for that scene with the big piano! It certainly is unforgettable.
“Well, okay... but I get to be on top!”
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Review
The Grapes of Wrath
- Director
- John Ford
- Year
- 1940
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- Gon Curiel a.k.a. Groucho
- Review date
- Monday, January 14, 2002
During the Great Depression, a hardened young man, Tom Joad (Henry Fonda) returns from prison to his family and finds nothing but desolation where his home used to be. Thus he gets to know the awful truth, as his family had to leave the place that now belongs to a corporation. The happy return of Tom is contrasted by the forced departure of the whole family. They then go to California searching for work and happiness. Unfortunately, their trip is not easy, and their fate not as happy as they imagined…
Loving adaptation of the John Steinbeck novel doesn’t spare any tragedy and simply portrays the characters and their situations as realistic as they could be. Yet the film is beautiful, as it manages to communicate the ultimate message of the novel, glorifying family union and social conscience. Some scenes are truly heart-breaking.
The Tom Joad character is probably the most complete throughout its evolution and Henry Fonda does a remarkable job. However, Jane Darwell steals the show as the strong Ma Joad who never loses her hope.
One of those non-western masterpieces by John Ford. An excellent film.
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News
Ted Demme dies at 38
- Posted by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- News date
- Monday, January 14, 2002
A sad loss today folks! The news of director Ted Demme’s death have just hit the net. He died Sunday afternoon after playing a basketball game. Apparently he had a heart attack and collapsed before there was anything to do about it.
Demme was 38 years old and had a bright future ahead of him. He directed only a few movies, but he definitely left an impression. I specially love two of his creations:
Blow (2001) and
Beautiful Girls (1996), but he also directed Eddy Murphy’s
Life, and the cult movie
The Ref.
He started out on television before moving on to the big screen and was currently preparing a movie with Ewan McGregor and Heath Ledger.
Ted was also nephew of the acclaimed director Jonathan Demme. Our condolences go to his family. He will always be remembered.
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News
Box Office Results
- Posted by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- News date
- Sunday, January 13, 2002
For the fourth consecutive week (and, as it looks, the last),
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring took the top spot at the box office. In a close second place came
A Beautiful Mind, which is starting to show impressive legs. It’s funny to have these two movies fighting since it is believed the final Oscar race will also be between them. Anyway, good for them!
Elsewhere,
Orange County had a very solid debut in third place.
Gosford Park entered the top10 despite not having a wide release yet and
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone became the ninth highest-grossing movie of all-time in the US. ALI disappointed leaving the charts only in its third week of release.
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - $16.1M, $228.2M total
- A Beautiful Mind - $15.8M, $59M total
- Orange County - $15.1M, $15.1M total
- Ocean's Eleven - $7.5M, $162.4M total
- The Royal Tenenbaums - $6.4M, $30M total
- Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius - $5.5M, $69M total
- Vanilla Sky - $5M, $88.4M total
- Kate & Leopold - $5M, $37.4M total
- Gosford Park - $3.7M, $6.7M total
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - $3.4M, $305M total
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News
Broadcast Film Critics Awards 2001
- Posted by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- News date
- Saturday, January 12, 2002
The Broadcast Film Critics Association handed out its awards last night at a gala attended by many stars. The organization gave
A Beautiful Mind a strong push and even though my Salma didn't win it was great enough to be nominated. Check out this year's winners:
Best Picture:
A Beautiful Mind
Best Actor: Russell Crowe,
A Beautiful Mind
Best Actress: Sissy Spacek,
In the Bedroom
Best Supporting Actor: Ben Kingsley,
Sexy Beast
Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Connelly,
A Beautiful Mind
Best Director: (tie) Ron Howard,
A Beautiful Mind and Baz Luhrmann,
Moulin Rouge!
Best Acting Ensemble:
Gosford Park
Best Screenplay: Christopher Nolan,
Memento
Best Young Actor/Actress: Dakota Fanning,
I Am Sam
Best Animated Feature:
Shrek
Best Family Film (live action):
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Best Picture Made for Television:
Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows
Best Actor in a Picture Made for Television: James Franco,
James Dean
Best Actress in a Picture Made for Television: Judy Davis,
Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows
Best Foreign-Language Film:
Amélie
Best Song: (tie) Enya, "May It Be,"
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and Paul McCartney, "Vanilla Sky,"
Vanilla Sky
Best Composer: Howard Shore,
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News
The country goes orange!
- Posted by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- News date
- Friday, January 11, 2002
Only one new movie is getting released today and even if it doesn’t look any special or remarkable, critics are giving it a warm response. I’m talking about
Orange County, a new movie starring Colin Hanks, Tom’s son, and Jack Black. It is a teen comedy, but fortunately it isn’t crap as they usually are. It is said to work quite well. The only question remains if the audience will be able to appreciate that as well.
On the other hand, Miramax’s
The Shipping News is expanding a little wider. Starring Kevin Spacey, Julianne Moore and Cate Blanchett it might be worth a look even though critics have not been very enthusiastic about it in the last couple of weeks.
Anyway, we’ll see. Right now, just have fun!
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Review
Brazil
- Director
- Terry Gilliam
- Year
- 1985
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- Gon Curiel a.k.a. Groucho
- Review date
- Thursday, January 10, 2002
Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce), a government bureaucrat in a fictitious retro-future, manages to have an independent mind though forced to follow the rules of the system, which are seemingly obeyed by everybody else. Just when things look worse than ever, he decides to correct a deadly administrative error, and incidentally meets the greatest of all renegades. He then decides to go for his dreams and goals, and encounters as many enemies around as he never imagined.
Pryce is excellent and hilarious as a system-fighter in one of the worse-looking bleak futures ever put on film. Robert De Niro delights as the renegade Harry Tuttle, who goes against the flow for the pleasure of it. The rest of the cast is mostly good.
This film contains major criticism and dense black comedy, but in ways fails to entertain. Claustrophobic at times, it does manage to communicate its message, but also asphyxiates the viewer. The results are not really satisfactory.
Worth viewing but not ultimately triumphant, this difficult film could be catalogued along with excellent films such as
Metropolis (1927), only for viewers with a stronger stomach.
The visual effects and production design are excellent.
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News
Producers Guild Association Nominees 2001
- Posted by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- News date
- Thursday, January 10, 2002
The Producers Guild Association has just announced their nominations as to what they consider the best productions of the year. This is the first Guild organization to hand out their nominations, but it should be noted that they're highly important and influential. Usually the winner here goes on to win Best Picture at the Oscars. It reflects highly upon what's to happen. So who made the list? Check it out:
Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures
A Beautiful Mind - Dreamworks SKG
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - Warner Bros.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - New Line Cinema
Moulin Rouge! - Fox
Shrek - Dreamworks SKG
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Review
And Then There Were None
- Director
- René Clair
- Year
- 1945
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- Review date
- Monday, January 07, 2002
As a huge Agatha Christie fan, I’ve always been interested in movies based on her books.
And Then There Were None is one of the best adaptations and one of the most suspenseful movies ever made.
Ten people (including Barry Fitzgerald, Walter Huston, Louis Hayward, June Duprez and Judith Anderson) are invited to a mysterious island by a man who is not present. At dinnertime, a record is played which accuses all of them of committing murders. Suddenly one by one start to die with no clue on who might be responsible or who will survive.
Based on the book “Ten Little Indians,” the movie does not try to be anything else than a nail-biting experience. Part of the fun is to try and guess whom the killer is or what’s going to happen. Who’ll be the next victim? Why? How? As the story approaches its end quite unexpected things keep happening until the final revelation pops up.
Director René Clair knows exactly how to handle the story in order to make it even more attractive. He does not only know how to create genuine tension, but also how to do it in an interesting visual way.
The cast also works wonderfully well. It is an ensemble movie and it shows. Everyone embodies their part with pizzazz and their characterizations are full of small details in order to make them look suspicious, totally innocent or simply ambiguous.
And Then There Were None is definitely the best adaptation there is of this book that has had countless versions made out of it. This is the one folks. A true gem of a movie!
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News
National Society of Film Critics Awards 2001
- Posted by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- News date
- Monday, January 07, 2002
The National Society of Film Critics has just weighed in with their choices as the best of the year. The group is formed by 52 of the major critics there are in the country. It's a who's who of prestigious reviewers and their choices are always somewhat less-commercial than other critics' groups. Last year they named
Yi Yi the best movie of the year. This time around their choices are not that offbeat. Check them out:
BEST MOVIE
Mulholland Drive
BEST DIRECTOR
Robert Altman,
Gosford Park
BEST ACTOR
Gene Hackman,
The Royal Tenenbaums
BEST ACTRESS
Naomi Watts,
Mulholland Drive
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Steve Buscemi,
Ghost World
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Helen Mirren,
Gosford Park
BEST SCREENPLAY
Julian Fellowes,
Gosford Park
BEST FOREIGN FILM
In The Mood For Love
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Christopher Doyle and Mark Li Ping-bing,
In The Mood For Love
BEST DOCUMENTARY
The Gleaners and I
BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM
Waking Life
FILM HERITAGE AWARD
My Voyage To Italy
SPECIAL CITATION
Faith Hubley
It's impressive the kind of support
Mulholland Drive keeps getting. Still, it'll be interesting to see if the Academy pays any attention. We'll see...
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News
Box Office Results
- Posted by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- News date
- Monday, January 07, 2002
Receiving the new year with an AFI Best Picture win,
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring continued to reign at the box office and even crossed the 200-million barrier. With many awards yet to come and weak new releases, the movie is set to do phenomenal business in the next weeks.
On the other hand,
A Beautiful Mind expanded into more theaters and delivered excellent numbers. It should also fare well in the next few months considering the attention it's got from many critics' groups.
In other news,
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone just entered the all-time top 10 leaving
The Sixth Sense behind.
Monsters, Inc. also took an important spot in the all-time lists: the 20th.
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - $23M, $205.5M total
- A Beautiful Mind - $17M, $38.2M total
- Ocean's Eleven - $11.7M, $152.6M total
- Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius - $9.2M, $62.5M total
- The Royal Tenenbaums - $8.7M, $21M total
- Ali - $7.6M, $50M total
- Vanilla Sky - $7.4M, $81.3M total
- Kate & Leopold - $6.7M, $31.1M total
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - $6.1M, $300.5M total
- Monsters, Inc. - $4M, $244.7M total
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News
AFI Awards Winners 2001
- Posted by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- News date
- Sunday, January 06, 2002
The first big awards ceremony of the year has just taken place. That is, when the American Film Institute handed out their awards at an elegant ceremony held this Saturday night. The countdown begins as the buzz grows bigger for some pictures, smaller for others. The AFI Awards might be somewhat new, but they're certainly important and a clear indication of what may happen in the future. Check out the winners:
Best Movie
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Best Actor
Denzel Washington,
Training Day
Best Actress
Sissy Spacek,
In the Bedroom
Best Supporting Actor
Gene Hackman,
The Royal Tenenbaums
Best Supporting Actress
Jennifer Connelly,
A Beautiful Mind
Best Director
Robert Altman,
Gosford Park
Best Screenwriter
Christopher Nolan,
Memento
Best Cinematographer
Roger Deakins,
The Man Who Wasn't There
Best Digital-Effects Artist
Jim Rygiel,
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Best Editor
Jill Bilcock,
Moulin Rouge!
Best Production Designer
Grant Major,
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Best Composer
Craig Armstrong,
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First weekend of the year
- Posted by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- News date
- Friday, January 04, 2002
The first weekend of the new year is usually a slow one for new movies. January is actually known for being the month when studios dump the movies which they don’t know what to do with. Fortunately it is also a month in which acclaimed movies receive wide releases so everyone can see them. This is no exception.
Impostor - Originally intended as a 40-minute short which would be part of a trilogy, this is actually an old movie finally getting a release. Gary Sinise and Madeleine star in this sci-fi flick based on a Philip K. Dick short story. Reviews are not being any good, which means the movie might go unnoticed. Too bad.
On the other hand, two critically-acclaimed movies are expanding wider. The first one is
A Beautiful Mind, which is said to be the movie to bit at this year’s Academy Awards. With powerful performances from Russel Crowe and Jennifer Connely and an appealing story, the movie should do well.
Gosford Park is Robert Altman’s latest ensemble movie. It takes place in the 30’s and follows an Agatha-Christie-like plot that also serves as a satire. An impressive international cast headlines it and if reviews are any indication, the people are going to love it. The movie has certainly been garnering momentum as a clear award-frontrunner and it only needs one last push to become a safe bet.
So there you go. Plenty to see, much fun to have!
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Review
The Game
- Director
- David Fincher
- Year
- 1997
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- Review date
- Wednesday, January 02, 2002
David Fincher is one of the best directors working nowadays. I’ve always been his fan and will never cease to. He has never done a movie I disliked and that’s saying a lot.
The Game is just one example…
Nicholas Van Orton (Michael Douglas) is an unhappy wealthy and divorced man who suddenly receives a strange gift from his brother (Sean Penn): an opportunity to participate in some kind of game which will change his life. When he decides to participate his world is turned upside down and strange things start to happen when a beautiful young woman (Deborah Unger) appears in his life.
The movie has a title with two meanings: on one side it is a reference to the plot, but on the other hand it refers to the way the movie plays with our minds. We never ever know what’s going to happen and until the last minute we get a sense of everything that happened just before. It is a weird trip, but one worth taking.
The movie also boasts an emotional impact. We know Nicholas’s problems and we identify with him at every turn. It’s just that sometimes the real meaning of life gets lost and some people need a little push to realize how precious it really is.
Fincher excels behind the cameras, bringing a sense of claustrophobia and darkness that are necessary to the plot. He also delivers a fast-paced exciting, suspenseful movie.
The acting is right in every possible way. Douglas has no difficulty in playing this kind of guys and he is accompanied by a solid supporting cast. I got to know Unger here and she’s radiant. Sean Penn is also a very welcomed presence in a small supporting role.
Overall, a very good movie!
“Discovering the object of the game is the object of the game”
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Review
Vanilla Sky
- Director
- Cameron Crowe
- Year
- 2001
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- Gon Curiel a.k.a. Groucho
- Review date
- Tuesday, January 01, 2002
A millionaire editor (Tom Cruise) turns 33 and celebrates his birthday in his house. After years of living like a careless hotshot and an irresistible womanizer, David falls in love with Sofía (Penélope Cruz), a girl his best friend (Jason Lee) just met. Thus he dumps the girl he’s currently dating (Cameron Diaz), which turns out to be a terrible mistake.
Awful, unsettling remake of the haunting 1997 Spanish film
Open Your Eyes (Abre los Ojos), that offers disastrous results: the main character is a jerk, his drama not so terrible, the dialogue often forced and/or phony, the situations hard to believe, the characters too talky, the ending frustrating; it seemed to me like
Open Your Eyes was a real-life event, and
Vanilla Sky a really bad adaptation of it.
It’s not only that I’m a fan of the original. Independently,
Vanilla Sky is, in my opinion, a terrible film. Cameron Crowe tries to create romantic, funny and cute moments inside a story that has no place for them, at least the type that he likes. All the charm that this story’s characters could have is misinterpreted or completely lost. Tom Cruise’s character should be treated as a complete winner or a complete loser, but there’s always something that prevents it to go so far. Why? Aren’t we supposed to go for it? Let us live the tragedy!
Good editing and a well-chosen soundtrack make the experience less tragic for the viewer. Jason Lee, Kurt Russell and especially Cameron Diaz shine in the cast. The real disappointment comes from Tom Cruise and especially Cameron Crowe. Give us Eduardo Noriega and Alejandro Amenábar instead.
Look fast for Steven Spielberg in David’s party… that is, if you dare see this movie instead of
Open Your Eyes!
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Groucho wrote at 6/22/2002:
Groucho wrote at 6/22/2002:
Woo-hoo for Zellweger and McKellen! Too bad for those who were expected and are missing, though...