Winter 1999

Reviews are listed alphabetically.

8mm -- [C]
Joel Schumacher (Batman & Robin, A Time to Kill) directs a thriller about Tom Welles (Nicolas Cage), a private investigator asked to find the origins of a "snuff" film found after the death of a powerful aristocrat. As he begins to stumble upon the truth, searching through missing persons files and sneaking through underground porn sales, Welles staggers into danger, putting he and his family at risk. 8mm is dark and disgusting, attempting to make the audience side with Welles in his vengeful punishment on the bad guys. Unfortunately, the film's drawn-out conclusion is boring and unentertaining. Cage hasn't picked a decent role since his Academy Award winning Leaving Las Vegas performance.

Gods and Monsters -- [A]
Ian McKellan gives an award-winning performance as Frankenstein director James Whale, a openly gay man in a not so open Hollywood. Lynn Redgrave and Brendan Fraser support in a film than is nothing less than powerful.

Hilary and Jackie -- [A-]
Hilary (Rachel Griffiths) and Jacqueline du Pre (Emily Watson) are talented young sisters who, at times, feel fiercely competitive but always hold an unbreakable sisterly bond. As Jackie becomes more acclaimed around Europe, a long separation from Hilary becomes detrimental to their relationship for the rest of their lives, until Jackie is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Hilary and Jackie is a tragic and true story of two sisters who had always fought for the happiness of the other, even above her own.

Life is Beautiful -- [A-]
Roberto Benigni combines the hope and happiness of a loving family with the tragedy of the Holocaust as a Jews.

Little Voice -- [B-]
If not for the performances of Brenda Blythen and Michael Caine, Little Voice wouldn't get the attention that it receives. The story of a shy squeky-voiced girl L.V. (Jane Horrocks) breaking from her turtle shell in a dazzling musical tribute to her dead father is cute but not especially award-worthy. Blythen is screechingly perfect as her irritating house-wrecked mother and Caine is on key as the sleazy show biz agent who tries to make himself rich with L.V.'s talent. See Little Voice for the music and for the farsical performances. Everything else is forgettable.

The Prince of Egypt -- [B+]

Rushmore -- [A-]
In Rushmore, Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) is a 16-year old geeky extra-cirricular god at an all-boy academy who suddenly becomes interested in first grade teacher Ms. Cross. His obsession tears him from his pathetic middle-aged friend Blume (Bill Murray, in the performance of his career), his young buddy Dirk, and most importantly from the school he had grown to love. Wes Anderson's coming-of-age comedy is funny and optimistic. Even the most insane and confused teenagers can find happiness.

Shakespeare in Love -- [A]
Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes are flawless in the sharp, romantic tale of the creation of Romeo and Juliet. The screenplay is clever and uniquely intertwines life and fiction. It is likely that Shakespeare in Love will recieve many Oscar nominations and probably deserves them all. John Madden shows that he can handle a complicated storyline and a large cast as well as he can a small slow-paced film like Mrs. Brown. And needless to say, so does the always on key Judi Dench.

She's All That -- [B-]
Freddie Prinze Jr. plays Zach Siler, the most popular guy in school who is dumped by prom queen shoe-in Taylor Vaughn. Looking for a confidence boost, Zach makes a bet with his pals that his popularity is strong enough that he could make the introverted art-weird Laney Boggs (Rachel Leigh Cook) queen of the prom in just 6 weeks. Of course, she ends up being really hot and he ends up being really sensitive and they fall in love. Both leads are likeable enough on the screen to ignore that the storyline seemingly came out of a 7th graders English notebook.

A Simple Plan -- [B+]
Small town brothers, a penny-loafered store manager Hank (Bill Paxton) and greasy social outcast Jacob (Billy Bob Thorton) find about $4 million dollars and a dead pilot in a small wrecked airplane, while hiking through the park with Jacob's friend Lou. They convince each other to keep the money and make it look like the cash was never there. A string of unpredictable events follows as trust diminishes and is replaced by fear. A Simple Plan is suspenseful, and for a moment, it persuades you not to be greedy or dishonest again.

The Thin Red Line -- [A-]
Terrence Malick presents a more artistic portrayal of WWII than Saving Private Ryan. And it is more focused the realistic depiction of the individual and his pawn-like role.

Waking Ned Divine -- [B+]
Although I'm crossing my fingers that it doesn't earn an oscar nod for Best Picture, the film is well worth watching. Charming, funny.