SDJerry Reviews

A Serious Man (2009)

Oy Vey

[1/10 · 15 October 2009]

I saw this film, one week prior to its opening, at a special sneak preview for members of my synagogue. Not one of us Jews got it, liked it or understood how this got green-lighted or why it was made. In fact, all of us hated it. The fact that every review I now read is glowing makes me think I saw a different film than they did. That this film would appeal to anyone who was under 50 and not Jewish is downright unbelievable to me. One of our party fell asleep and we did not feel the film was good enough to warrant waking her up. The unanimous opinion of those of us who saw this film was that "there's two hours of my life I'll never get back".

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Vintage, classic Quentin

[10/10 · 21 August 2009]

Inglorious Basterds was an extremely entertaining flick. Necessarily lengthy to weave the differing story lines together (a la Pulp Fiction)this film is an instant classic.

The writing was superb (as befits a script he worked on for 8 years).

I also enjoyed the subtle little directorial touches, such as the lengthy wait from the time "Batman" is introduced by Lt. Aldo until he actually shows up on screen. I particularly liked the fact that 50-60% of the film is sub-titled, lending to the authenticity, instead of having German and French actors speaking English to each other with German or French accents.

The casting was superb as was the acting. Whereas the entire plot line is a fantasy, I have to say Mr. T. pulled it off splendidly.

Typical Tarantino violence makes this film not one for the squeamish or for those under 13-or-so.

The scene on the final moments, where the Jewish GIs are indiscriminatingly machine gunning down the tuxedoed and evening-gowned Nazi theater goers, kind of reminded me of the scene from Schindler's List, when Ralph Fiennes was taking target practice from on high shooting and killing the unsuspecting poor Jews down below in the camp. Turnabout is great to watch.

I saw it at a 9:45am showing on opening Friday. Every seat in the theater was occupied. I mean 100% sold out.

Inglorious Basterds should be every Jew's "Rocky" or "Roots".

I could go on-and-on but what's the point? It's a great film. If you like Tarantino, if you like Brad Pitt, if you like the slaughter of Nazis, then---what are you waiting for?----GO SEE IT.

My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss (2004–2005)

Absolutely hilarious

[19 December 2004]

In this age of pranking, I cannot believe this many educated and ostensibly smart people would fall for the shenanigans pulled by "Mr. Todd". Despite the mansions and yachts etc. it is inconceivable to me that these folks are clueless as to the propriety of "Mr. Todd"'s antics.

I missed episode #4 and I'm bummed out over that. All in all, the concept is brilliant and the show is F-ing hilarious. I cannot wait to see who the mystery person really is. I would have loved to have been the actor playing the boss.

The winner won't mind as they collect a quarter million bucks cash. The 15 losers will, no doubt, be livid.

Crossballs: The Debate Show (2004)

Hilarious---just absolutely hilarious and outrageous. A home run.

[1 August 2004]

This fake show takes professional comedians pretending to be "experts" in one field or another, and has them debating real experts in those fields, on a CNN-Crossfire-type show.

Combined with video clips prepared in advance, and hilarious graphics re-iterating something that's just been uttered a second previous, this parody is hilarious because of the outrageousness of the characters played by the comics, as well as our knowledge that the real experts think they are on a bona-fide cable interview program, and we know they're being had.

It's brilliant, outrageous and simply hilarious. I laugh so hard and so often during Crossballs that damn near soil myself each time I watch.

Jake 2.0 (2003–2004)

It's okay!

[24 September 2003]

This show is just as entertaining as the recent "Sliders", "The Invisible Man" and Chris Gorham's prior Showtime series "Odyssey 5". It's sci-fi and it's okay. Not GREAT but it really is okay. There is no reason to avoid watching this program. And Marina Black is really nice to look at.

Hitler: The Rise of Evil (2003)

He was totally insane

[20 September 2003]

For years I have accepted the doctrine that Adolf Hitler was not pure evil but in fact was quite sane and that he did what he did and that he caused what he caused because he was a sane and rational evil, no-good, son-of-a-bitch.

If this movie is based upon anything historically concrete then we must all surmise that Hitler actually was totally insane, a "crackpot" of the highest order. That the German people were taken in by a nutcase, who merely delivered speeches with a great delivery, says something not good about the German people.

As someone who over the years has seen lots of stock footage of Hitler, I can state that Robert Carlyle's performance was memorable. He captured Hitler's essence. Carlyle delivered a magnificent acting performance. It was the equal of George C. Scott's "Patton", Ben Kingsley's "Ghandi" and Randy Quaid's "L.B.J.". This film should be mandatory for by all high school students, to show what one little big-mouthed prick can do if good people do nothing.

Wild Card (2003–2005)

Not too bad for a summer cable series

[3 August 2003]

Wild Card is not too bad for a suummer series on a "basic cable" network. Fisher's performance leads the way as a Vegas dealer suddenly thrust into taking care of her recently-killed-in-a-car-accident sister's three kids (16, 12 and 10). She's good. Of course, I have only seen the pilot but it has made me want to continue watching.

24 (2001–2010)

The greatest

[14 April 2003]

"24" is simply the greatest and most entertaining continuing drama series in television history. Each and every episode has the viewer on the edge of his or her seat. A few of the plot elements are a little far-fetched, but this show's undeniable and irresistible attraction is its drama. To me it is the #1 "event television" program this couch potato has ever seen.

The Pitts (2003)

A worthless waste of time

[1 April 2003]

This show is so lousy that I am surprised it made it to air. Whoever green-lighted this project should be job hunting very soon.

Horrible script. Over-acting. Idiotic situations. I swear to God, this program is worse than "Oliver Beene". "The Pitts" makes "My Big Fat Greek Life" look like "Friends". A completely stupid waste of time.

Meet the Parents (2000)

Does not live up to the hype and buzz

[6/10 · 12 October 2000]

This is a funny film, but not a non-stop journey into motion picture hilarity, as "Scary Movie" earlier this year was. The hype, buzz and advertising made me believe this was one of the funniest movies in the past decade. Not so. It's funny enough, but, after a while, the father's nuttyness gets to be a little too much and, frankly, quite annoying. I did not hate it, but after seeing and reading everything, was diappointed. Teri Polo is beautiful and finally gets her rightful place in a big-time flick. Should make her a star, just as "Almost Famous" did for Kate Hudson. Owen Wilson is also effective as Kevin. Blythe Danner seems to phone-in her role as Mother. And Bobby D, is well, okay in the role, but my qualm is not with him but with the writer. Funny, but not great.

Gladiator (2000)

Too long

[6/10 · 11 May 2000]

This 2.5 hour film was, easily, half-an-hour too long. There are several spots where boredom sets in during oh-so-excessively-too-long scenes. Yet, Ridley Scott opted to use rapid jump cuts during the battle scenes, leaving me almost dizzy, and not totally certain of what I had just seen.

At 2 hours, this would be a much better film. As is, I gave it a "fair" "6".

Son of the Beach (2000–2002)

Baywatch meets Police Squad meets Get Smart

[16 March 2000]

If you were a fan of the "Police Squad" tv series and movies and of the 1960s tv show "Get Smart" and enjoy seeing gorgeous bikini-clad women then this is the show for you. The first product from Howard Stern Productions is downright hilarious. Even the character names are significant: "BJ" (received her nickname from her high school football team), Mayor "Massingale", (as in douche), the mayor's oh-so-gay adolescent son "Cody" (in honor of Cody Lee Gifford), and muscular German-exchange lifeguard "Chip Rommel" (I guess they couldn't call him Chip Hitler or Chip Goerring or Chip Eichmann).

As Stern himself describes it, this show is "cleverly stupid". This show is one that must be taped and watched with remote control in hand, because the dialogue's humor is often very subtle.

This show is very, very funny. And real easy on the eyes too.

American Pie (1999)

What's the big deal about being unrated?

[7/10 · 5 January 2000]

Rented the "unrated" version, the one, they say, "I was not allowed to see in theatres". Missed it in theatres. Watched the "not rated" version. What's the big deal. What is it about this version that makes it unworthy of an "R" rating? I have read others' comments here on I.M.D.B. and still cannot figure it out. The film had its funny moments, as well as its "groaning" moments. All-in-all a good, not great, film. A funny, not hilarious, film. A wonderful not-to-be-missed film for horny teenage boys and twentysomething men. A see-it-if-you-can film for everybody else. Once again, the "unrated" version, being advertised as the equivalent of an NC-17 version, isn't. Not by a longshot.

Galaxy Quest (1999)

The funniest movie released this Christmas season

[9/10 · 26 December 1999]

This movie is hilarious. It is similar in plot to that of 1984's The Last Starfighter", except that instead of a hot-shot teen-aged video games wizard, the aliens get out-of-work actors who appeared in a Star Trek-like series in the 1970s to be their real-life heroes. The great Alan Rickman is outstanding as a once-Shakespearean actor, who likely took the Galaxy Quest gig 20 years ago to make some fast coin, never realizing that this role would forever torpedo his acting career because of the typecasting and second, that he'd have to make a living by resorting to personal appearance fees at "Galaxy Quest conventions". Sigourney Weaver looks and acts great, as does everyone, including Enrico Colantoni (the bald photographer on NBC's "Just Shoot Me") as a very funny alien. This movie is terrific, including a fine performance from Tim Allen, who, really, can act.

The General's Daughter (1999)

There's a lot more than what's readily apparant at first.

[8/10 · 25 June 1999]

Travolta is very good (finally) as a military criminal investigator who pursues a murderer of an Army captain despite impediments (official and unofficial) placed in his way. Stowe is fine, as is Cromwell as "The General". James Woods, as always, is terrific as he elevates any film in which he participates. Sadly, however, Clarence Williams III may be the worst black actor currently working. On the other hand, the lovely Leslie Stefanson is an actress from whom one cannot take their eyes. In addition to radiant beauty, this gal can act. Roger Ebert and guest critic gave this film "two thumbs down" because of, what they referred to as, too graphic scenes of violence against "The General's Daughter". They are wrong. Even my very squeamish wife found no objection. This is a film definitely worth the price of admission.

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Genius

[10/10 · 11 March 1999]

Spielberg demonstrates that he is the greatest filmmaker of all time. This film is, perhaps, the most spectacular achievement I have ever seen in cinema. I am still in awe days after having seen this film. I thought Schindler's List was, perhaps, the greatest WWII depiction I had ever seen, but no more. This film realism is so real it is hard to believe that this production was,in fact, after all, a drama and not a documentary. My mind is now permanently blown. Steven Spielberg is the ultimate.