All posts by Tony Hughes

1997, Comic Books, Crude Talk, DO NOT MISS, Explicit sexual discussion, Gay theme, Love Story, Mostly About Sex, Vulgar

Chasing Amy (1997)

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From NetFlix:

Comic book artist Holden meets the perfect woman, only to learn that she’s a lesbian. Their friendship develops into something more when Holden confesses his love for her, but secrets from her past threaten their relationship.

From the moment “Chasing Amy” started I was hooked. Oddly enough, the film, suggested to me by NetFlix streaming, is now 15 years old and I had never seen it. Probably the best summary of this film is a direct quote from the Wikipedia article:

“Chasing Amy explores gender roles, sexual mores, and the limits of friendship with a mixture of sensitivity, raw honesty, and director/screenwriter Kevin Smith’s signature raunchy humor.”

Be prepared: without a doubt “raunchy” best describes the explicit sexual discussions occurring throughout the film. But this constant series of crude verbal give and take is, believe it or not, part of the film’s charm. Everything is so out in the open that either you are turned off or you just relax and go with the flow. Keep in mind that the characters are supposed to be young people in probably their 20’s or early 30’s. Sometimes the chatter seems a bit juvenile.

Whether or not you can accept the outcome of the film is probably up for grabs. To avoid any “spoiler” I cannot discuss each character’s final decision. But at least be aware that the film has a sad ending.

Most important among the actors (whose ensemble acting in this film is wonderful) are:

  • Ben Affleck (Holden, as in “Holden Caufield”) was a mere 25 years old during the filming. For about 15 seconds there is a shot of his buddy Matt Damon.
  • Jason Lee (Banky) was 27 years old. Lee had the lead role in the TV series “My Name Is Earl”.
  • Joey Lauren Adams (Alyssa) was 29 years old. She played Addie int “The Break-Up”.

There is NO visual sex except for kissing (including between two women). If you can be comfortable with the very explicit sexual discussions then I would go out on a limb and say: DO NOT MISS!

2009, Ballet, Based on true facts, Detective, Disturbing Image, Imperfect, Mental Illness, Murder Investigation, Nudity, Psychological Thriller, Sex Scenes, Suspense, True Story, Unusual

In Her Skin (2009)

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From NetFlix:

When pretty 15-year-old Rachel (Kate Bell) goes missing, the police dismiss the incident as a runaway, but her parents don’t believe it. Soon everyone suspects envious 19-year-old Caroline (Ruth Bradley), a heavyset, acne-ridden daughter of a domineering father (Sam Neill). Simone North writes and directs this Australian drama, which is based on a 1999 news story. Guy Pearce and Miranda Otto also star.

Why does it seem that almost every Australian film I watch is somehow out of the ordinary or even a piece of eccentric originality? “In Her Skin” fits this description even though it is oddly imperfect in certain aspects.

Stay with the film because the beginning seems like a dull, ordinary film about a missing girl. What held my attention was the fact that the story is a true one based on a 1999 news story. You meet many familiar Australian film stars:

  • Guy Pearce (Rachel Barber’s father) is currently in “Prometheus” and “Lawless”. He has here a somewhat secondary role.
  • Sam Neill (Caroline’s father) plays an aloof, ego-centric, uncaring father. He was 62 during the filming. When he was a mere 30 years old he played Harry Beecham in “My Brilliant Career”, which was the first time I ever saw him.
  • Ruth Bradley (Caroline) was 22 at filming. She OWNS this film. She delivers a believable and utterly chilling portrayal of a psychotic who craves the approval of her cold fish of a father. In fact one thread that kept me interested was to see how and how soon her clever plot would unravel. This film is NOT a mystery. You get to watch Caroline’s unraveling in detail. Expect one ugly murder scene.

    If you look for Ruth Bradley in IMDB you see a photo of a very attractive woman. Somehow in this film she is anything but attractive. Conceivably she put on weight just for the film just as Robert De Niro did in “Raging Bull”.

Unfortunately the film drags on after the climax. We have to sit through a funeral, family grieving, and Caroline’s continuing fantasies in prison. However, at the very end the screen text tells us a bit about the Barber family.

One irritation for me was that the skeptical police who refused to investigate never seem to be admonished in the film. But then the film and story itself is more than enough of a reminder of their abject failure.

Worth watching if only because it is somewhat unusual.

2005, AIDS, Clever Plot, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Gay theme, Mostly About Sex, Psychological Drama, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Wonderful acting

The Dying Gaul (2005)

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From NetFlix:

When Jeffrey (Campbell Scott), a slick Hollywood studio exec, offers gay screenwriter Robert (Peter Sarsgaard) $1 million to transform a screenplay’s homosexual protagonists into heterosexuals, Robert takes the bait — and ends up sleeping in Jeffrey’s bed. But complications ensue when Jeffrey’s wife, Elaine (Patricia Clarkson), begins unraveling her husband’s secrets, with nail-biting consequences. Craig Lucas directs in his feature-film debut.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss of a loved one, infidelity, jealousy, betrayal, and revenge make this tragic gay-themed film an intense experience.

Of the three protagonists, only the wife Elaine, despite her faults, shows a compassionate soul searching for the right thing to do. However, this tragedy would have made Shakespeare proud as each of the three characters move slowly but surely to their deserved sad ends.

Such a well-made and involving gay-themed film deserves a DO NOT MISS!

 

 

1991, Drama, Dysfunctional Lives, Melodrama, Sex Scenes

Crooked Hearts (1991)

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From NetFlix:

Director Michael Bortman also penned the screenplay for this potent drama based on Robert Boswell’s novel. Sparked by a troubled relationship between family patriarch Edward (Peter Coyote) and defiant eldest son Charley (Vincent D’Onofrio), the dysfunctional Warren clan finds themselves beleaguered by conflict and tainted by scandal. But things come to a head when middle son Tom (Peter Berg) returns home after dropping out of college.

Welcome to the life of yet another dysfunctional family in which children tend to fail spectacularly in important ventures, brothers make other brothers’ girl friends pregnant, father’s have affairs, etc.

What we have here is not a pretty scene.

If the film has a theme, it is “why can’t Charley leave home?” or “to what horrible lengths must Charley go in order to leave home?”

At least you get to see known actors early in their careers. During the filming:

  • Vincent D’Onofrio (born 1959) was a young looking 32 playing a young man of 26. Of all his roles, this approached most “normal”.
  • Noah Wiley (born in 1971) was 20.
  • Peter Coyote (born in 1941) was 50. He was, after all, the father.
  • Cindy Pickett (born 1947) was 44. She played the mother.
  • Juliette Lewis (born 1973) was a mere 18 playing a much younger little sister.
  • Peter Berg (born 1964) was 27. He does a great job as the brother Tom in this film, but for me his name just does not ring a bell. He played “Pistol” Pete Deeks in “Smokin’ Aces”.
  • Marg Helgenberger (born 1958) was 33. She is now well known as Catherine Willows in “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”
  • Jennifer Jason Leigh (born 1962) was 29. She played Tom’s girl friend Marriett

If I were not a Vince D’Onofrio fan, and if I did not enjoy watching know actors when they were just starting their careers, then I might not have initially chosen this melodrama. But the story was good enough to keep me interested to the end. Tom’s final family toast weepily tied together the story.

During the final credits Tom reads Ask’s “List of Things”.

1999, Acceptable Trash, AIDS, B-movie, Basically Sad, Crude Talk, Disturbing Image, Dysfunctional Lives, Explicit sex, Gay theme, Gloomy, Imperfect, Love Story, Mediocre, Sex Scenes, Unusual

The Velocity of Gary (1999)

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From NetFlix:

Though they’re rivals for the love of a bisexual porn star named Valentino, an aimless hustler and a volcanic waitress must find a way to set aside their differences as Valentino gradually succumbs to the AIDs virus.

If you are a Vincent D’Onofrio fan, then you are already used to abnormal behavior. In this poorly written film you get to see known stars at an early stage in their careers: VinceD’Onofrio (“Law and Order: Criminal Intent”), Thomas Jane (“Hung”), Salma Hayek (“Desperado”), and Ethan Hawke (“Gattaca”).

This review of a poor film is NOT a recommendation. But if you really want to see D’Onofrio and Jane engaging in French kissing, be my guest. Who would have thought?

2003, Acceptable Trash, British, Comedy, Nudity, Slapstick

Johnny English (2003)

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From NetFlix:

There’s a Frenchman after the crown jewels and the throne itself — but not to worry, Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson) is on the case. Well, actually … maybe a little worrying isn’t out of order, considering how clumsy Johnny can be! Luckily, his zeal more than makes up for his bumbling manner. Let’s hope that can help solve the crime of the century; if not, love in the form of double agent Lorna Campbell (Natalie Imbruglia) might.

British slapstick is not for everyone. However, if you have enjoyed Rowan Atkinson (“Mister Bean”, “Blackadder”) in the past, then you may get some real belly laughs watching this farce.

Let us hope that John Malkovich who plays “Pascal Sauvage, the Greedy Frenchman” made a lot of money playing in this comedy because I found his performance embarrassingly bad.

Have fun and always remember — I LOVE TRASH!

2011, Corny, Dysfunctional Lives, Feel Good Not For Children, Flirting, Slacker

Jeff, Who Lives at Home (2011)

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From NetFlix:

Siblings Jay and Mark Duplass direct this comedy focusing on two brothers — one a moderate success, the other still living with Mom. A trip to the store for glue, however, turns into an encounter with destiny for the stay-at-home slacker.

Do now films glorify slackers so regularly that I must add the film category of “slacker”? Granted in this year of 2012 unemployment is a genuine problem, but Jeff does seem to live in la-la-land. For the entire film he chases after any experience that is connected with the name “Kevin”, sometimes to his real detriment.

Jeff has a brother Pat whose marriage is in trouble. At least Pat is employed but he could be a lot more responsible and also responsive to his long-suffering wife Linda. Their situation and discussions ring very true.

Their mother Sharon (played by Susan Sarandon) comes off as a needy, lonesome woman who has no idea how to help her son who lives in the basement. Her flirting with an anonymous admirer is fun to watch and also a bit sad. Surely there are a lot of women in her position.

Finally a somewhat extreme episode unites Sharon, Jeff, Pat, and Linda. Probably we needed this episode to turn the film into a “feel-good”. Nice try!

Not boring, sadly current, worth a watch.

1994, British Mystery Series, Cooking and food, Detective, TV Series

Pie in the Sky (1994)

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From NetFlix:

In spite of an intense desire to leave police work forever, Detective Inspector Henry Crabbe (Richard Griffiths) finds himself continually pulled in to help solve crimes even after leaving the force to open his dream restaurant, Pie in the Sky. It seems that Assistant Chief Constable Freddie Fisher (Malcolm Sinclair) can’t manage without Crabbe’s brainpower — and refuses to grant him full retirement. Maggie Steed co-stars in this BBC comedy-drama.

Detective Crabbe spends probably more time talking about food than he does working as a detective. Many episodes do not even involve a murder. Which is a way of saying, these episodes from BBC TV are “gentle” detective stories which do not offer grim situations.

More “As Time Goes By” rather than “Waking the Dead”. Try a few. The series went on for years.

Love Story, Magic, Mediocre, Scam Artists

Death Defying Acts (2006)

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From NetFlix:

When legendary escape artist Harry Houdini (Guy Pearce) offers a handsome reward to anyone who can contact his dead mother beyond the grave, a sultry Scottish psychic and con artist (Catherine Zeta-Jones) takes up the challenge. But when the two fall in love, the boundaries between truth and deception become blurred. Directed by Gillian Armstrong, this entertaining period costume drama co-stars Saoirse Ronan and Timothy Spall.

As a typical Guy Pearce film, you get a story with beginning, middle, and end. Subtlety need not apply. Both Guy Pearce and Catherine Zeta-Jones are well matched as acceptable but unexceptional actors. In addition both their film characters are well matched as “con” artists who admit as much to each other.

Nothing special but watchable.

1996, Abduction, British, Detective, Mental Illness, Serial Killer, Sex Scenes, Stalker, Suspense, Unusual

The Cold Light Of Day (1996)

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From NetFlix:

A troubled former cop uses an innocent young woman as the unsuspecting bait in his plan to catch a serial killer. A well-crafted thriller featuring gripping performances from a talented cast.

Once again I stumbled onto this off-beat serial killer film offered under NetFlix streaming. While not as professionally smooth as mainstream films, the plot, details, and acting is not bad (or should I say, has the feeling of an indie film).

Filmed in the Czech Republic, the actors speak with British accents. Subtitles are available. (By the way, that is currently one advantage of NetFlix streaming over Amazon – only NetFlix offers subtitles.) None of the actors are familiar to me. Anna, the child character, is acted very well by a child actress. Also the serial killer (whom we see throughout the film) is really creepy.

My only complaint is that a bad policeman who bullies innocents into confessions never gets his comeuppance.

Not at all a complete waste, just different from the usual styles.