xTapoutx

IMDb member since June 2006
    Lifetime Total
    1+
    IMDb Member
    17 years

Reviews

Ali
(2001)

Overrated? All signs point to yes
This film is a prime example of when Hollywood gets its hands on a biographical account of someone's life and continues to dramatize it to ludicrous proportions. Muhammad Ali: one of the greatest boxers of all time and he had an interesting life out of the ring too. However, this movie focuses more on overly dramatizing these outside-the-ring moments than it does capturing the essence of his greatness; which was winning fights. There is only brief mention of Ali's second fight with Frazier and nothing at all of their 3rd fight, "The Thrilla in Manilla" (arguably one of the greatest boxing matches of all time). Also, there is no mention of the 2nd fight between Foreman and Ali. Being a huge fan of historical boxing, this really bothers me.

My next bone to pick with this film is the way all of Ali's opponents (with the exception of Frazier) were portrayed as unsavory individuals who only wanted to destroy people in the ring. In other words, Ali is made up to be a near flawless guy while everyone else is plagued with vice and a terrible disposition. One thing that really irked me about the two matches that were shown against Sonny Liston are as follows: 1) Fight #1- Sonny Liston forfeited the fight due to a dislocated shoulder. NOT because he couldn't take any more of Ali's punishment.

2) Fight #2- There is no mention in the film that Liston threw the fight because of tie-ins with the St. Louis mob. Ali is portrayed as a really angry dude who annihilated Liston in response to the death of Malcolm X.

My last gripe with the film is the RIDICULOUSLY long intro and other assorted parts throughout the film where Ali first meets and romances any of his various wives. This film could have easily been 1 hr. 45 min. instead of over two and half hours and could have included more factual elements in regard to the actual boxing aspect.

On the bright side, the acting was superb (especially Jon Voight as Howard Cosell) so I'd give this movie a 5 out of 10; nowhere near perfect but it won't kill you either.

Private Parts
(1997)

Guaranteed to laugh at least twice during this film
This a funny movie. That's the bottom line. Whether you're a Howard Stern fan or not, this film has some funny material in it; not because of the dialogue, but just because of the way the characters execute it in the filming. If you're a Stern fan (which I happen to be anyway), you will most likely find this biography of his rise to fame as both a very funny movie and a lesson in life on how someone on the bottom can rise to the top through perseverance and a never ending dedication. If you're NOT a Stern fan, you will most likely still admire this film to some degree. And if you don't like it, it will certainly help you understand STern a little more and see what makes him tick.

The only major problem that I observed through this film is that it can't quite decide whether it wants to be a 100% side-splitting comedy or a touching drama with humorous elements weaved into it. Therefore, this movie kind of sits uncomfortably on the fence between comedy and drama. Although the comedic parts flow smoothly, the occasional dramatic moment comes off as cringingly awkward.

Overall a good film. I recommend it to those who aren't easily offended.

Jackie Brown
(1997)

Solid film, brilliant script
Once again, Quentin Tarantino proves why he is arguably the best screen writer in Hollywood. Although the story behind Jackie Brown was adapted from an Elmore Leonard novel, Tarantino uses the already existing characters to his advantage, capitalizing on their traits to and personalities to spew forth Tarnatino-like dialogue. This is the type of crime film that should please any fan of the genre: it's very detailed, possesses excellent dialogue, and has an intricate plot that makes sitting through the 2 1/2 hr. film well worth the wait. Jackie Brown is a gritty, straightforward film that packs a punch and is highly recommended.

The 'Burbs
(1989)

You've Had Those in Your Trousers All Day?
Oh man, where do I even begin? This is a film which I have been a huge fan of since I was a a real young kid. It's always been one of those movies that you can throw in the DVD player on a rainy day or one of those days when you just feel terrible and are staying home from work or school. The way Joe Dante directs this film is perfect: it hold the tone of a late 80's/early 90's flick, yet still has an ageless essence that everyone can relate to.

Tom Hanks plays the type of role that suits him best; an everyday guy that faces some kind of huge task (in this case it's proving that his neighbors are human sacrificing devil worshippers). Bruce Dern plays my favorite character, a militaristic Vietnam veteran who is filled with paranoid fear about the people across the street (and he never fails in delivering hilarious one-liners. Example: "Smells like they're cooking a goddamn cat over there!"). Rick Ducommun fits perfectly as annoying, yet oafishly good humored friend of Hanks' and is really the one responsible for the suspicions they all share about the Klopeks. Carrie Fisher, Corey Feldman, and Courtney Gains round out the cast of believable, average citizens.

The key to enjoying the film is in being able to relate to it. If you can't relate to this film, chances are you won't enjoy it. But for me personally (and many others on here) this will go down as a personal favorite that never tires and never ceases to provide needed humor in time of need. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys lesser known films from big-name actors.

See all reviews