In
1950s New York, a lonely private detective afflicted with Tourette's
Syndrome ventures to solve the murder of his mentor and only friend.
Idiosyncratic adaptation of a Jonathan Lethem novel reduces the original's narrative into a superbly acted and cast and complex neo noir crime drama; the 1950s period settings are excellent.
A musician helps a young singer find fame as age and alcoholism send his own career into a downward spiral.
Excellently produced and directed musical melodrama with good music and extraordinary performances throughout, but, all in all, it is simply an old-fashioned tearjerker.
A linguistics professor and her family find their bonds tested when she is diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.
Good, but not very thorough look at the descent into Alzheimer's and its impact; great vehicle to showcase Julianne Moore's talent, together with a capable supporting cast.
A family unit begins to bow under the pressure of a failing marriage.
A subtle slice of suburbian life on the verge of tragedy, well balanced with a superb cast.
On rewatching: Like I said, but maybe a bit pretentious.
Maltin***: "Coming-of age tale set in Long Island in 1979...covers
familiar turf with some original touches and winning performaces. Lean,
independent film..."
Ron Stallworth, an African American police officer from Colorado
Springs, CO, successfully manages to infiltrate the local Ku Klux Klan
branch with the help of a Jewish surrogate who eventually becomes its
leader. Based on actual events.
This well-made satire is quite entertaining, although not so much as caricature, since the abusrd premise, based on true events, is in itself already quite amusing; nonethless, it does have some considerable political bite.
In Pittsburgh, an accomplished pathologist uncovers the
truth about brain damage in football players who suffer repeated
concussions in the course of normal play.
Professionally made and well cast investigative drama has good intentions revealing a suppressed truth about professional American football, but remains very much in the conventions of this subgenre.
Forty years after the death of Elvis Presley, a musical road trip across
America in his 1963 Rolls Royce explores how a country boy lost his
authenticity and became a king while his country lost her democracy and
became an empire.
Unusual documentary tracing Presley's life with a colourfully mixed collage of statements from film stars, musicians and analysts; the result is both a portrait of the artist as well as a critical comment to his cultural impact.
An estranged family of former child prodigies reunites when their father announces he is terminally ill.
Elaborately produced and obsessed with details, the story itself hardly goes anywhere, and the star cast is treated like pawns in a game of chess.
Halliwell*: "The fun here lies in the details - dalmatian-spotted mice, battered taxicabs, the elegant pages of an imaginary book - rather in the disjointed narrative, which sets the scene deftly and then collapses."
Maltin**1/2: "Rambling comedy has the same likable, eccentric qualities as the filmmakers' BOTTLE ROCKET and RUSHMORE and benefits from Hackman's savvy performance, but strains for effect and essentially has no story."
In an old school Las Vegas casino, its top gambling jinx breaks his
curse when he falls in love, much to his boss' consternation.
Unusual and quite original story wins through intelligent direction and a perfect cast.
Maltin***: "Clever story is perfectly cast; Baldwin is terrific as the hard-edged casino boss who decries the transformation of Vegas into Disneyland. Everything clicks - until the final scene."
The tumultuous early history of the Central Intelligence Agency is viewed through the prism of one man's life.
A detailed history lesson exemplified through the biography of a tragic anti-hero.
On second view: subtle and atmospheric, and the cast is impressive.
Maltin***1/2: "Gripping story...De Niro's treatment uses THE GODFATHER as its dramatic template, quite successfully. Damon is excellent and surrounded by well-chosen actors in every part, no matter how small."
A New York socialite, deeply troubled and in denial, arrives in San Francisco to impose upon her sister.
Intense variation on A Streetcar Named Desire convinces thanks to subtle direction, a great ensemble and a spectacularly good performance by Cate Blanchett.
Maltin***1/2: "Fascinating study...you can't take you eyes off her, especially in Blanchett's riveting, Oscar-winning portrayal. Allen's sharp-edged screenplay offers food for though about ethics, morals, friendship, family, and our consumerist society. It also provides great parts to a superb ensemble of actors, with an especially eye-opening performance by Clay as Hawkin's ex. Many people see this as a variation on A Streetcar Named Desire."
A small town girl and a city boy meet on the Sunset Strip, while pursuing their Hollywood dreams.
Deliberately simple-minded musical rehashing a staple of 70s hits, made by and made for people who hate real rock music and who think it's just a part of Tinseltown.
Maltin**: "Dreary film adaptation...Performed live on stage, this may have been fun, but the mivie is just a collection of caricatures and cliches, and plays like an endless string of music videos."
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