jpsrock

IMDb member since December 2001
    Lifetime Total
    5+
    IMDb Member
    22 years

Reviews

Stevie
(2002)

Incredibly Moving
I thought this film was incredibly moving... I became so involved in all the characters and the action... I felt like it opened my heart to a lot of things about making good decisions and about being self-destructive. And also about the power of being able to change things, too. What was particularly amazing is that even though this was a documentary all the characters were so cinematic; and the plot - including the back story which was gradually unveiled - couldn't have been more dramatic or moving than if it had been a work of fiction.

There was criticism the movie was too long but like a good novel it took it's time in visiting some of "lesser" characters like Stevie's friend Tim and the local supremacists and it's pacing allowed us to gradually really get to know all the many characters like Bernice, the Grandmother and Tonya. Even though there was real sadness and pain in this movie, I loved it in a heartfelt way and recommend it to everyone without reservation.

Rat Race
(2001)

a great comedy
I don't understand why this movie didn't become a smash hit. Read the 330+ reviews on us.imdb.com - they say it all - this movie is a delightful, madcap, comic feast. It hit so many comedic right notes (and avoided so many wrong ones), people loved this movie. There's a greatness to laughter and this one touched it. This movie will be considered a classic.

PS: If you rent it on dvd and you liked the movie, the deleted scenes are worth watching because you'll want to keep on laughing.

Happiness
(1998)

i've been down (But would rather not be)
This movie wallowed in the downside of our nature - there was no affection for the characters - I felt the director wanted me to sit next to him and snicker at all the lowly people that exist on this planet: I know there are pedophiles I know there are lonely women I know there are homicidal people I know there are crank callers who masturbate... Get the picture? The director informed me of nothing new nor did he have world view that picquied me interest... I'll remember the directors name to be sure... I never see another movie he directs with such vemon against humanity

Lovely & Amazing
(2001)

not just for ladies
I didn't know what this movie was going to be about when i walked into the theatre. If I had I would have stayed away - on paper it's your class "chick flick" - three sisters working out their problem and a neurotic mother facing a "health crisis". However, I'm really glad I saw it because this was a not a manipulative tearjerker: Not at all: I felt like I spent time with four real human beings (the mom + 3 sisters). Catherine Keener was great in this - she was in turns immature (she loves cartoons :-)) , likable, maybe sometimes not so likeable, maybe lazy, the kind of actress for whatever reason you can't take your eyes off of. The actress daughter played by Emily Mortimer hit just the right notes of insecurity and authenticity - when the guy she sleeps with tells her not to get a boob job because "she's an original" I felt like "Yeah, she really is!". Anyways I really thought this was a good character driven movie - the director obviously had an affection for her characters and I did to - I recommend this movie.

My First Mister
(2001)

Made for tv?
I was disappointed by this movie. The teenager had no screen presence - Leelee S. is way overrated an actress. Most of the adults besides Albert Brooks were portrayed as idiots. The ending was contrived. The quality was about on par with alot of middle of the road made for tv movies.

The Tailor of Panama
(2001)

sweaty grimmy alcoholic impirealistic = Entertaining,man
It's been over a year since I first saw Tailor of Panama. It's stuck with me - the images of Geoffrey Rush as the tailor, his American wife - a seeming mistmatch in casting - but effective and Anti James Bond played with just the right amount of corpulence.... See it - sweat - enjoy good acting, strong locale, and a plot which serves well to entertain and ends well to satirize America.

The Tailor of Panama
(2001)

sweaty grimmy alcoholic impirealistic = Entertaining,man
It's been over a year since I first saw Tailor of Panama. It's stuck with me - the images of Geoffrey Rush as the tailor, his American wife - a seeming mistmatch in casting - but effective and Anti James Bond played with just the right amount of corpulence.... See it - sweat - enjoy good acting, strong locale, and a plot which serves well to entertain and ends well to satirize America.

Lola
(1961)

Lovely and lyrical [spoiler]
The movie's main characters are Lola and Roland. Lola is a single mother waiting for the return of her lover. Roland is waiting for meaning to come into his life. Roland falls for Lola but Lola remains true to her love.

The construction of the movie is solid. It's established early that Lola's lover will return. In addition, there's a meaningful side story involving a young woman and her mother. The young woman is a young Lola & indeed gets involved with the same American sailor who Lola is spending time with. These characters unify the movie and serve as a foundation for the story.

The movie reminded me of Eric Rohmer's Tale of Winter. In that movie the heroine also awaits the return of her lover while raising their child. The storyline in Lola in some sense is simpler and yet there's more levels that exist - the characters of Roland and the "other" Lola and her mother are truly interesting. In Tale of Winter, the men in her life (Loic and Maxence) are more one-dimensional. In Tale of Winter, the whole POV of the movie centers around the main character. I liked the shifting focus between Roland and Lola as the story was told.

Other comments: * The ambience and photography was lovely and Anouk Aimee was beautiful and charming. * The Michel Legrand music is beautiful - he even uses a lovely theme which will return in Umbrellas of Cherbourg.

Jeux interdits
(1952)

a very lovely movie
I loved the experience of watching this movie because it was so full of the mystery of childhood - and yet set against a war time setting it was also bittersweet - the young girl's performance was unbelievably good - the classical guitar music between scenes worked well - all the characters were shown in a loving way foibles and all... full of good humor, I felt so good watching this movie

  • I'm going to see it again soon!

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