annick.dries-2

This film is a remake of a Scandinavian film, set in Lapland, with the same midnight sun problem is in Alaska, apparently. Is this one a better version ? Probably not or not much. I think it's just a good quality action-thriller with more than average acting, although the sleepy face and following downspiral of Al Pacino seemed a bit predictable. After watching the tremendous Alaskan landscapes for more than an hour, it became a bit difficult for me to stay interested in all the juggling with guns and bullets in ventilation holes etc. I couldn't care too much about all Pacino's problems at the homefront, either. The scenes with the angry, questioning Pacino, on the other hand, helped me to stay awake alright. An interesting movie, that could have done with some more mystery and less explaining.

Dries, Belgium

I saw this one in 1994 and I was under the impression. Contrary to one of the other comments, I found Ian Hart's impersonation of Lennon strong: witty, hurting and sensitive at times. The interaction between Epstein and Lennon in a strange pre-Beatlemania atmosphere was fascinating: BEA-aircompany, Lennon going to watch some Gaudis in Barcelona (did he really know Gaudi at that time ?), Lennon picking up a girl (stewardess on the flight). It seems far from the peace loving prophet a few years later. And still, I think, much closer to the "real" John Lennon. The beautiful Bach-score (Goldberg variations by Glenn Gould) offers an impressing undertone to this portrait, which looks like a forebode of the dramatic short lives of both protagonists.

It's about 10 years ago I saw this film. It wasn't that bad. Biker movies were a genre in their own term. Jack Nicholson's and Adam Roarke's performances were credible. B-movie director Roger Corman was an influence on this genre of movies.

My rating: 7 / 10

After about one hour, I began to realise that this movie is in fact a remake of a German-language movie from 1958, namely "Es geschah am helllichten Tag" (in English: it happened in broad daylight). That movie is a nice retro nostalgic watching experience with an excellent and equally chainsmoking Heinz Rühmann in the main role.

The beginning of this version is quite strong (the interview and "confession" of the indian). But, sadly, for the rest of the movie, Sean Penn sticks to most of the original movie. (the children's drawing, the gas station, ...)The outcome of the plot is very predictable and thin. A story like this certainly worked in the fifties but not in 2002.

As for Jack Nicholson, it's always difficult to say whether he's doing an original acting job or one of his numerous versions of the Jack Nicholson madman character. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt.

As it is, I don't like it when people smoke too much in a movie.

Dries Van Dongen Belgium, Europe

In general, I enjoyed watching this film. Actually, I've watched it in 2 parts. I became a bit tired and, as one of the other commentators said, the film has some weaker parts.

But, again, as somebody else already said: it captures the spirit of the 1970-ies quite well. The way it's been filmed, the music and the fashions, of course.

I remember the music of the seventies as being slightly over the top. Rock wasn't dangerous any more. Instead there were good-looking but superficial megabands, like Humble Pie, The Faces, ... Stillwater could easily be one of them. The soundtrack refers to these bands.

Patrick Fugit does a good job as the teenager rock critic, growing up fast in a week. He looks like actor Bud Cort in Harold and Maude, another film about growing up, made in 1971.

As I said before the film has some boring sequences and sometimes uses the same rockstereotypes it's trying to make fun of (the electrocution on stage, the near airplane crash).

But in the end, it mostly succeeds in keeping the optimistic, ironical approach from the beginning, not in the least by the acting of Frances McDormand, as the intelligent but overprotecting mother.

Last but not least, Kate Hudson is perfectly cast as the Laura Ashley-like rockbabe looking for the rockstar of her dreams, always to be disappointed on new adventures

Don't take it too seriously and you're bound for a charming film experience

Dries Van Dongen Belgium, Europe

From the beginning on, it was clear that this was going to be a weak film. The acting was very bad to mediocre (Rob Morrow, who made me think of the Dustin Hoffman of the 1970s). The screenplay was even worse. It got a little better but towards the end, the whole film collapsed badly. I haven't really understood what part the female characters in this story had to play. The last scene on the graveyard was an anti-climax. Oliver Stone or A.J. Pacula would have made a different story, if they had found the material worthwhile at least. A waist of time.

From the beginning on, it was clear that this was going to be a weak film. The acting was very bad to mediocre (Rob Morrow, who made me think of the Dustin Hoffman of the 1970s). The screenplay was even worse. It got a little better but towards the end, the whole film collapsed badly. I haven't really understood what part the female characters in this story had to play. The last scene on the graveyard was an anti-climax. Oliver Stone or A.J. Pacula would have made a different story, if they had found the material worthwhile at least. A waist of time.