Change Your Image
Bronze
Reviews
Anne Frank: The Whole Story (2001)
The whole story, a realistic story
This movie is so much more realistic than every other Anne Frank film. For starters it does not show Anne as a saint-like person and although she was a great, great person, she was just like every other girl (excuse me) young lady, she had her faults, and beyond Anne there were the others who had their problems.
Anne was magnificently played by Hannah Taylor Gordon. She is one of the best Annex that I have seen yet. She was perfect in her characterization and really made you love her. You looked at her on screen and you were caught in love with instantly, she was like magic on screen. She as well as Ben Kingsley and Brenda Blethyn both deserve Emmy nominations for their work.
Otto and Auguste van Pels were spot on. Ben playing Otto Frank not as a regal saintly savior of the Annex members (although in many respects he really was) but as a guiding light, the leader, and the most intelligent. Brenda Blethyn turns in another great performance as the spoiled and unadaptable Mrs. van Pels. Great in all her scenes you learn to give sympathy to this woman in a way you don't give anyone else, especially when you see her in the end.
The rest on the Annex members were also nice. Edith Frank was shown as she might really have been in real life. A woman going through a mid-life crises of sorts. Looking back and perhaps not being quite satisfied with her marriage and life. Peter van Pels was as I've never seen him before. The actor was excellent and gave life to Peter which is something I've always wanted to see from the Peter van Pels actors. Mr. van Pels and Mr. Pfeffer are wonderful too. And all of the Secret annex occupants really made a great relationship with the workers.
Lili Taylor pulled of a nice performance as Miep, very selfless and hard working. The rest were great too, including the warehouse worker. However, my main complaint was that Bep Voskuijl was shown to be an utter ditz. Maybe she was written this way because Miep said that that was the way she was, however, I did find it somewhat sad to see her portrayed that way.
The crew also pulled of excellent work. The costuming was nice. Barbara Lane was able to show with good quality how that Franks, van Pels, and Mr. Pfeffer were not poor. Never were they poor, they were very well off. I feel many costumers in the past have assumed that because they were all Jews being persecuted and in hiding that they were poor. Although the quality of clothing would have gone down with time (as shown) she still was able to put forth wonderful work. As did the art department going into nice detail to recreate the annex and the Frank house. Brilliantly filmed all around, power to the writer and producers for going outside the annex.
The Hollywood Fashion Machine (1995)
Well-made, very nice, and unique documentary series
An original AMC series production and about Hollywood fashion both behind-the-scenes and its impact on society, HFM has been very successful and is one of the best documentary series on television. American Movie Classics has succeeded once again in preserving a piece of movie legacy and they did it with style. Although maybe not the most famous thing on television, Hollywood Fashion Machine is a well-made and designed series which is worth giving a look every once in a while.
The Only Way (1970)
Touching and straight-forward.
With great acting on all accounts with other good aspect (including Art/Set decoration and Music Score) this becomes a great movie detailing about the heroism of the Danish Christians in protecting their Jews from the Nazis. All actors perform brilliantly making this a should-see movie. Especially for movies telling about Danes helping to save their Jewish population from the Nazi concentration camps.
Comedian Harmonists (1997)
A movie of true Harmony
Telling the tale of a true sextet of German singers who just happen to start their group just before the Nazis begin taking over Germany. It shows their struggle to start and their eventual success and how it affects them and their women and wives. It certainly is a movie which ever one should see, and I will always wonder why this movie was not nominated for an oscar.
American Beauty (1999)
It makes an impression
I have one thing to say about this film. That is: It's impact rivals that of Schindler's List. Everything in this film was phenomenal. From Kevin Spacey and Sam Mendes to the extras. This film definitely deserved more than just five oscars.
Love Is Never Silent (1985)
It was great. That's all you can say about it.
This truly is one of the most beautifully made films of the 80's. The directing was picture perfect and the performances by the actors was magnificent. Their work was extraordinary it is puzzling to me why none of them ever got any awards for their performances. Everyone was perfect right down to the extras. This movie is truly worth paying five dollars.
L.A. Confidential (1997)
L. A. Confidential vs. Titanic
Acting: Kim Basinger got an oscar for her performance to prove that L. A. Confidential has better acting. Titanic got two nominations but even those performances were not the best they could have been.
Directing: Curtis Hanson got the nomination but Cameron the oscar. Why? Cameron's movie was more popular. Curtis Hanson was able to direct scenes so that they flowed together. In L. A. Confidential all of the scenes came together. In Titanic it was going from one scene to the next except it never flowed and never particularly came together.
Screenplay: The screenplay in L. A. Confidential was cutting edge, straight at you, and perfection. In Titanic. " I'm just a tumbleweed blowing in the wind "
Musical Score: The score for L. A. Confidential went right along with the movie. There was never a moment when the music did not draw you into the scene. With Titanic it only distracted me. I also recognized several of the melodies from other songs.
So why did Titanic beat L. A. Confidential for the Best Motion Picture oscar? Popularity. My Score 10/10
Schindler's List (1993)
It is great with passion
Martin Scorsese was right. A jewish director could do a better job. Steve Spielberg made this the best film anyone could make it. Everything about it was done with great care and great respect for the 11 million victims of the Holocaust. The acting was also done with care and respect. Liam Neeson playing Schindler had the best male performance while Anna Mucha ( Danka Dresner ) and Embeth Davidth ( Helen Hirsh ) had the best female performances.
Although it isn't a film you would enjoy seeing you should see. Just so you can find out what really happened in the Holocaust.
The First Olympics: Athens 1896 (1984)
Very consistant
It was great historically. It showed at least once all of the countries that competed and got the winners correct. The acting and directing was consistent. There were also some great shots. Although not outstanding it is a worthwhile film to see
My score 9.662/10
A Will of Their Own (1998)
How Could It Be Told Better
This is an excellent docudrama about women in the 20th century. Ellen Burstyn proves to be the best performer as a stiff high society matron. Although some of the acting was a bit weak the other performers were still great especially Michael Muhney and Elizabeth Marvin. Costumes and Art/Set decoration was wonderful and this is an Emmy bound movie. It completely changes your view of men during the turn-of-the-century. This truly is a mini-series to see. It could not have been done better.
My Score 9.8/10
Titanic (1996)
Not the best but good
I have seen just about all off the Titanic movies there are. This definately isn't the best but it is worth seeing. Most Titanic movies portray the Astor's, the Straus's, Molly Brown, the wireless operators, and the captain. But this film also shows the story of the Allison's which is never told and they portrayed the story remarkably well. It also showed the third class story as well and did a good job with that one as well. It is a good movie to watch even though it is slow at times.
My Score 7.1/10
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
A Classic
Matthew Broderick and Alan Ruck really did deserve Oscar nominations for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor because they did a great job in this film. It was well written and funny. This is the film to see especially if you are about to go back to school.
My Score: 8.6/10
The Spitfire Grill (1996)
A Top 10 Film of 1996
The Spitfire Grill is, in my opinion, one of the best film of all time. I am very disappointed that it didn't win the Academy Award for best picture. Much less even get a nomination because this film is truely better than The English Patient. It also deserved nominations for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Art/Set Decoration. Everyone should see this film it is extremely outstanding.
My Score 9.8/10
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
An outstanding film
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is an excellent film that everyone should see sometime in their lifetime. John Williams' score for E.T. is one of the best ever written and every single award E.T. got E.T. deserved
My Score 9.9/10
Kundun (1997)
Brilliantly Done
I rented Kundun the first day it came out at blockbuster. I knew it would be good but it was better than that. I very dissapointed with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded best Cinematograghy, Art/Set Decoration, and Original Score to Titanic because Kundun deserved them more. Kundun is an outstanding film showing Tibet in all of its wonder. This is a film that everyone would enjoy watching.
My Score 10/10
Titanic (1997)
It deserved half of what it got
Titanic was a good movie indeed but it was Leo that gave the film a wrong impression. Titanic got 11 oscars but didn't really deserve most of them so I have included the oscars Titanic got and who it should have gone to Art/Set Direction should have gone to Tianic Costume Design should have gone to Titanic Cinematography should have gone to The Wings of the Dove Director should have gone to James Cameron Original Score should have gone to Phillip Glass for Kundun Original Song should have gone to Titanic Visual Effects should have gone to Starship Troopers Sound should have gone to Titanic Sound Effects Editing should have gone to Titanic Best Picture should have gone to Good Will Hunting
If you don't agree with me that's fine, I will let you have your own opinions but I still think the public has been very unfair to other films
Gattaca (1997)
Surprisingly wonderful
When I first rented Gattaca I rented it just to see the Set Decoration but the movie totally surprised me. It was Superb! I was disappionted that Uma Thurman didn't get any awards for her performance. She was fantastic! Micheal Nyman also had a well-composed score and he really deserved his Golden Globe nomination. Gattaca is a must see for anyone. My rating 8.7/10
Mrs Brown (1997)
This was, in my opinion, one of the ten best films...
This was, in my opinion, one of the ten best films of the year. Judi Dench truly deserved the Golden Globe that she got for her performnace. The motion picture was spectacularly done.