Change Your Image
sportellos
Reviews
L.A. Confidential (1997)
"This is the city of the angels, and you haven't got any wings."
"This is the city of the angels, and you haven't got any wings." It sounds like something out of a 1950's detective noir, but in fact it's just one of the many brilliant lines of dialog in Curtis Hanson's stunning detective drama "L.A. Confidential". Set in 1953, L.A. Confidential follows the stories (mainly) of three police officers: A sharp, straight laced, political animal, played by Guy Pearce, a violent brute with a hatred of women beaters, played by Russell Crowe, and a smooth talking, part time TV technical adviser, played by Kevin Spacey, all whom are giving A performances. Other wonderful characters include Captain Dudley Smith, played by James Cromwell, and Veronica lookalike hooker Lynn Bracken, played by Kim Basinger (who won the Oscar).
After a horrible shooting at a late night coffee shop in which six people (one of them a former cop) are brutally shot, the rather corrupt L.A.P.D begins an investigation, which leads all three of our main detectives on a winding, dangerous road of murder, Hollywood glamor, and mayhem.
The story is crafted brilliantly, with new layers being added to the story as it unfolds. We see how minor characters are connected in ways that are vital to the plot, and how in the end everything fits like a jigsaw puzzle.
The screenplay, written by Brian Helgeland and director Curtis Hanson, is top notch, with well rounded characters and cracking dialog. The set direction and costumes are perfect for the 1950's, and the cinematography is beautiful. Overall this is a film which I highly recommend to anyone who likes detectives, period pieces, or just a good story.
This is not B.S. I'm telling you. Just the facts.
The Critic (1994)
"It stinks!"
The tagline for this show is one that most certainly does not apply the content.
The Critic, an animated show for the older crowd, was an original and entertaining series that was shut down before it's time. It follows the story of Jay Sherman, a short pudgy, balding film critic who's job is to review bad movies for a living. Stuck with a growling boss, rich clueless stuck up parents, and almost no self-esteem, Jay tries his hardest to seem cool. This show is full of great Hollywood references, guest voices, and very funny film parodies such as "Apocalype Wow: The Musical", "A Few More Good Men" and "Forrest Gump 2: Gump Harder" just to name a few. Though there were only two seasons, this show was funny and entertaining and is most certainly worth a watch. It's available on Netflix if you're looking for it.
Hancock (2008)
A "SuperHero" for the older crowd.
From all the bad reviews i read, i didn't expect a whole lot going into the cinema, but i was wrong. Hancock was a very interesting and different take on the superhero genre and i give the director and writer credit. Like the title of my comment says, it's for the older crowd. The "profanity" isn't that bad; a little bit of language and some scenes with Will Smith drinking fairly heavily (if you really want to count that). The action scenes were well done and the effects were fairly polished. The acting performances were decent and the script was pretty well written.
HOWEVER
The last half hour or so is completely different from the rest of the movie. It shifts from a light, action/comedy to an intense drama. A villain is thrown in just for good measure, but fails due to lack of time to develop. Apart from that, Hancock was an interesting film which is worth taking a look at.
Rear Window (1954)
A Hitchcock Classic
*Somewhat of a spoiler on line three* I finally got around to seeing "Rear Window" last night and i got just what i expected; The timeless Hitchcock classic that i had heard so many great things about. It was filmed in such and interesting way and had such a gripping story that i didn't notice that the whole film basically takes place in the apartment of photographer Jimmy Stewart. Grace Kelly is charming as Lisa, Stewart's opposite in the film and all of the other performances are wonderful as well. The apartment courtyard set is really a treat to look at and its design is a key factor to the charm of this movie. Overall, this is probably Hitchcock's best and should be on your NETFLIX or video store rental list ASAP.
The Bill Engvall Show (2007)
Why?
I remember the good old days of TBS. Nice, hilarious comedies that you couldn't wait for more episodes.
Now, we have things like the Bill Engvall Show. What a piece of garbage. The promos only make it worse. I seriously almost vomited when the following conversation occurred: "Didn't your ex wife have a job?" "Yeah she was a magician, she made our money disappear!" WHO THE F*CK GOT PAYED TO WRITE THAT?!?!?!?!?!?! Please, TBS, get new writers. We all need it. I just can't believe that Bill Engvall is getting PAYED for this. He's barely trying. The same goes for Tyler Perry's House Of Payne. TBS, I EXPECT A CHANGE!
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Great thriller that will leave you thinking.
This film from Ethan and Joel coen is their masterpiece (In my opinion). NCFOM is a breakaway from their usual quirky style and really gives you something to serious to watch and think about. All cast members give incredible performances especially Javier Bardem as the haunting Anton Chigurh. The film provides good action and incredible suspense, but also keeps you gripped in the non action scenes. There is also a lot of symbolism and running themes throughout the movie, and they leave an incredible impression. The movie illustrates the changing state of the world. That is really the main theme and it is excellently expressed. The cinematography in this film is also incredible. Although it is just the barren west, it is portrayed with incredible light and shadow. This film is a true winner and will keep you thinking about it long after you finish.
Jumper (2008)
With movie prices as high as they are, don't waste your money.
This film isn't really anything special. Like other comments, it's an interesting premise, but poorly executed. One thing in particular that is bad are the emotions. If it's love, surprise, anger, astonishment, or anything else, the actors failed to do it well. Even the great Samuel L Jackson played a rather 1 dimensional character. I was disappointed in him. The action scenes are dull and fairly predictable, the only one that is somewhat intense is a car race through the Japanese capital. The locations are nice, but a lot of it is digital. The overall story seems a bit slow and predictable, and you'll be making comments in your head the whole time about what could have been done better and how. Anyways, don't see it in the theater, it's nothing great. If anything, get it on DVD when it comes out.
Overall 5.5 out of Ten
Misery (1990)
A Great Suspense Film
This is another great Stephen King novel adaption. As usual, it is set in a desolate, snowy area where there is no nearby life. Kathy Bates gives an outstanding performance as Annie Wilkes, a psychotic, yet caring woman who takes in author James Caan after a car accident. He is grateful, but soon learns that his "number 1 fan" has a few screws loose. A sheriff in the nearby town tries to find the lost writer and even brings his comical wife in on it. Great performances by the entire cast and a brilliant thriller with a great script/ story. Anyone who is a fan of Stephen King books/ film adaptations should see this great piece of work. Add it to your list of things to see!