Reviews
Le violon rouge (1998)
Magnificent! The most heartfelt and ambitious film I've seen in years!!
I operate an Art Theater in Central Illinois that has just finished a run of The Red Violin. We had to hold it over for three weeks because the response from our patrons was astounding!
Too many times certain so-called 'critics' forget what it is a movie is even supposed to accomplish. These poseurs get so wrapped up in their petty arguments over artistic motive, they often fail to see true genius in front of them!
"The Red Violin" is a perfectly textured masterwork of the first order! From its incredible music score, to its fantastic art direction, to its flawless performances from an International cast; this is a DON'T MISS experience!
See it on a MOVIE screen; don't wait for home video to blur its pristine images!
My highest compliments to all the persons involved with making such a wonderful and heartfelt film!
I didn't want it to ever leave my theater!
Murder in a Small Town (1999)
Excellent atmosphere and impeccable art-direction combine for a very absorbing and enjoyably diverting entertainment!
Set in the mid-1930's, this excellent diversion avoids the pitfalls of many films portrayed in this period by combining excellent atmosphere and impeccable art and set direction! This reminded me of the beloved 'Thin Man' series, in that a character who is NOT a law enforcement professional (indeed, Wilder's character is a stage director) assists the police in a murder investigation. This was consistently surprising, and had a way of making those old cliches work again! I HOPE this is the beginning of a series of films with this character! Gene Wilder has been under-utilized for far too long!! AND, the always excellent Mike Starr even gets a chance to display his operatic chops! Starr, one of the best character actors working today, was said to have designs on a career in opera before making his niche in Hollywood! He gets a surprising chance to demonstrate how talented he is in that area!!