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Reviews
Newton's Law (2017)
Don't Waste Your Time
I got through 17 minutes of it and that took multiple viewings. It's that bad. Cliche after cliche. The daughter looks as if she is in her 40's, the husband can barely deliver a line, the props are terrible, the bar scene looks the inside of a Trader Vic's restaurant from 50 years ago.....please don't waste your time.
Van Gogh (1991)
Great Portrait of Van Gogh & His Last Days
If you haven't seen this movie yet, set aside a few hours and treat yourself to this gem of a film.
Jacques Dutronc is great as the Von Gogh, but Alexandra London is fantastic stealing almost every scene she is in with Dutronc. Bernard Le Coq as big brother, Theo, turns in a good controlled performance as well.
The supporting cast is also first rate.
The movie covers the last two months of Van Gogh's life from his arrival in Auvers sur Oise ( then a sleepy suburb 17 miles from Paris) until his death from apparently self-inflicted wounds. He is buried there by the way, next to his brother Theo, and the inn where he stayed is still standing. (Google "Auvers-Sur-Oise") The sad part is that Van Gogh appeared to suffered from a form of depression, if it were today it could have been treated with proper medication. If he had lived 110 years later he might have been fine.
I loved the research they appeared to do on everything from period trains, blacksmiths, inn keepers, farmers, day laborers, other artists and family members. It has an authentic feel to it.
Another good part is the lack of a sappy soundtrack to detract from the story at hand. The lack of a soundtrack renders it almost as if you are standing in the same town watching what is going on. "Excuse me, are you Vincent Van Gogh?" The picture is beautifully photographed and as one IMDb'er from France pointed out in his comments "some sequences along the river look like Renoirs's paintings" It's true.
Don't miss this.
Because I Said So (2007)
Diane, Say it Ain't So.
I am usually pretty generous in grading movies and try to find some redeeming features in every movie I see. This had none.
Diane Keaton was great playing the post-menopausal, brooding, person in search of someone in "As Good As it Gets", but it really feel flat here.
She needs to shut-up, take a chill pill, (preferably a handful), stop making such bad choices, and be the great actress that she can be.
And please Diane, no more scenes in your underwear.
Lauren Graham was good but seemed a bit out-of-sorts. I liked her a lot better in "Bad Santa."
The kid was obnoxious, the dog was silly, and so was the preposterous situation where DK can't turn off the computer. People are not that stupid.
Mandy Moore was pretty good and will be a good actress someday, in spite of that silly orgasam scene. (Normal mothers do not talk about this with their daughters. Some may, normal and above do not.) That scene spoiled all the good momentum the movie had built up to that point and really ruined the movie.
Really bad. I am so glad it is over, and that I used a free Blockbuster coupon that was about to expire to watch this dud.
Everything Is Illuminated (2005)
Great Road-Trip Movie With a Brain & a Heart
Liev Schreiber is one of my favorite actors. Says his lines, does his job and goes home, as it were.
I never knew he could direct. And direct this well at that.
I have never seen anything like this movie recently. It has humor, good music, good story, interesting characters, original camera work, nice locations, and moves at a quick pace.
"Welcome to Ukraine." says Grandfather as he shares a potato that fell on the floor. You get an idea this not going to be an average road-trip movie.
Road-trip movies are cool in the States, but seem to be even better when they are abroad. The Ukraine in the summer. Wow, I never knew! All the while Grandfather letting on less than he knows. You know something is coming. Something from the past.
There seemed to be no other way to end the movie than the way Schreiber did. I tried thinking of other endings but this seems to have been the only way. I really like the way it ended.
The past while the past is still part of who we are now.
Goya en Burdeos (1999)
Like Watching a Dream
The film opens with a dream sequence, Goya walking in pajamas at night in the streets of a French city, with couples people going about their business, it looks and feels like a Saturday night in the Spring.
The rest of the movie is about the same, floating here and there with some great music and dance numbers to break up the dream like sequences.
His conversations with his daughter are touching and a good way to brush up on one's Spanish.
Most of the scenes take place at night. He favors the night because of the effect it has on his perception of the hues of the paint.
If you are interested in art, or like to paint this is a great movie to watch especially in you are in bed and ready to fall asleep.
Definitely a movie to watch at night.
Enjoy.