 Teen Movie Critic is a Dream Machine SiteThe Dream Machine --- The Imagination of the World Wide Web |
| Teen Movie Critic is a Dream Machine Site The Dream Machine --- The Imagination of the World Wide Web |
| Home | About TMC | Brothers and Sisters | Directors | Alphabetic Index | Guest Critics | Hall of Flame | Other Film Sites | Feedback |
For Best Actress, Susan Sarandon for her passionate performance in Dead Man Walking. I also think she should get it, because she has been overlooked too long by the Academy. It's a little tough to decide on the Best Actor category, but I chose between Nicholas Cage and Sean Penn for giving superbly realistic characters in Leaving Las Vegas and Dead Man Walking. Best Director should be Mike Figgis, for his gritty direction in Leaving Las Vegas. Finally, Best Picture. I would chose Apollo 13 for that award. You can read my review of the film to see why I thought this. Anyway, now that you've heard the choices! On with the show!
 Buy this poster at  |
A truly awesome movie! The film is one of the last great WWII epics, depicting the famed Normandy invasion. An all-star cast (Robert Mitchum, John Wayne, Henry Fonda), great cinematography and a brilliant recreation of the events of D-Day. The best performances come from Mitchum as a gung-ho soldier and Richard Burton as a British flyer. One of the better war movies of the era, it's neither anti nor pro war. It's just war. Plain and simple.
 Buy this poster at |
I thought this was going to be a great experience before I even saw the film. It was so over-praised, that I thought this comedy, about Southern California teens in the 80's, was going to be a work of art. However, even after seeing it two times, I've found that there is nothing special about this mindless, sexist junk. The only reason I decided to see it a second time was, I thought, there may have been some deep meaning to it all, that I just happened to miss the first time around.WRONG!!!. Jennifer Jason Leigh, a very talented actor, is wasted as a virginal young student, curious about sex, who is turned into a woman who will go to bed with anyone, after she first has sex. Other young actors are equally wasted in degrading, idiotic roles. There are two performances that shouldn't be overlooked. Ray Walston, as the fascistic teacher, is playing a role that you'd never think he could play. He does it well. The second performance is the best. Yes! You guessed it! It's Sean Penn as the ultimate spaced-out stoner, Jeff Spicoli. He made me laugh so hard, I thought I'd die laughing. Sorry to say, these two gifted actors are the only reasons to see this film. There is nothing else to recommend. Even with a female director, Amy Heckerling (Clueless), this is still smug, crude and blatantly sexist.
There is something else. When I wrote about Reality Bites, people wrote to me saying I was talking out my asshole about the subject. Maybe so. Maybe not. However, the subject of this film is something I do know about. I won't say whether these guys are realistic or not, but I will say that I definitely cannot relate to any of the things they do.
 Buy this poster at |
It's been a slow week. Robert Rodriguez's sequel/remake of his earlier El Mariachi is funny and interesting for awhile, then runs out of steam toward the middle. In this one, the mariachi (now played by Antonio Banderas) has come to wreak revenge on the drug dealers that killed his girlfriend.It has the same fast-paced action as Pulp Fiction, yet the violence grows mindlessly cartoonish. Still, Banderas certainly acts like the epitome of cool and there are some humorous cameos from Cheech Marin and Steve Buscemi (Airheads) as the voice of reason. All n' all, the film isn't bad, but not great either. If it's your cup of tea, drink up.
 Buy this poster at |
An extremely suspenseful mystery from one of the great masters of suspense- Roman Polanski. The film takes place in an unknown South American country, just after a nazi-like government has been deposed. Sigourney Weaver portrays one of the victims of the governments vicious torture tactics. She lives with her diplomat husband (Stuart Wilson) in a place similar to Tierra Del Fuego.One night, a doctor (Ben Kingsley), who has driven Wilson home, spends the night there. However, Weaver thinks she recognizes him as the doctor who beat, raped and tortured her. But she was blindfolded at the time, so, she only has his voice and some of his traits to recognize him by. She decides to tie him up and see if she can get him to confess to his crimes. The doctor, however, could actually be innocent, which could jeopardize Weaver's and Wilson's careers and lives. Soon, it becomes a battle of wills between Weaver and Kingsley. Weaver wants him to confess. Kingsley just wants to get the hell out of there.
An very artistic piece of work. Suspenseful from beginning to end. You never quite know whether or not Kingsley is innocent or if he is truly guilty. One of the best mysteries to be filmed in a long time. The problem is that the film sticks too close to it's stage roots, which makes the scenery a little dull after awhile. The actors however give powerful performances. Kingsley, Weaver and Wilson play characters that you can't help feeling sympathy for. Weaver, for the horrible ordeal her character went through. Kingsley, for the horrible ordeal he's going through. And Wilson, who is finally learning the truth about what happened to Weaver, but still can't decide whether he should help Kingsley escape or help Weaver in her interrogation. If you see this in your local video stores- rent it! You'll thank yourself for it.
The Dream Machine --- Network Services
...the best independent ISP in the Twin Cities