howardross Reviews

Lady Macbeth von Mzensk (1992)

Well done production

[8/10 · 8 November 2000]

Shostakovich is my favorite composer after Alfred Schnittke but I had only heard not seen the opera. He wrote the lead role for Galina Vishnevskaya wife of Rostropovich who sings this performance. Nicolai Gedda sings the role of Sergei. The film is obviously not big budget as you can tell from the titles and other things but they are good performances all around and I like the sets, costumes and stylish film work. there are not really any special features on the disk but I was just glad to finally be able to see the opera. I think it was probably more entertaining than just watching a filmed stage version.

The Thief (1997)

Wonderful coming of age film

[8/10 · 16 June 2000]

This film is done to high standards - the story's convincing, the acting's right on and the cinematography is fine. Tolyan is charming despite his great faults and you can understand why Katya stands by him. Katya's motherly love and her need for Tolyan are well depicted. Tolyan is not a pure user and in his own dysfunctional way wants to help Sanya mature as a male. Tolyan has mixed feelings about Tolyan but looks up to him as a male figure. In short this movie is good at exposing the feelings and motivations of it's characters. It's marvelous that Sanya's character is so well played by such a young actor.

Xinghua san yue tian (1993)

Solid but not noteworthy ***SPOILER***

[8/10 · 15 June 2000]

The acting was good but the script developed limited aspects of the characters. Xinghua obviously is pregnant by her brother in law because she's shown to be sick a couple times. At the end she seems to be leaving to be with her brother in law because she's headed for his grove of trees and her husband has died chasing his greed - but I had some doubt because the brother in law had been unreliable in the past and she may not have forgiven him. Also the film did not have the beautiful cinematography that some of the better known Chinese films have.

Sex & the Other Man (1995)

Interesting character piece in the spirit of "Four Rooms"

[8/10 · 9 June 2000]

Engaging movie with a stage feel (most of the movie takes place in two rooms) and and eccentric sense of humor - each of the characters is flawed but I empathized with them. Jessica ends up having to make a decision and having to deal with Bill's jealousy.

The Well (1997)

Good acting diminished by crippled script. ***SPOILER***

[6/10 · 2 June 2000]

This movie had interesting aspects that kept me watching but it was unsatisfying. The characters seem to be genuine personalities but repeatedly do implausible things. Kathey hits and kills a pedestrian on the way home - the rational Hester thinks it's better to hide him in the well than report it as an accident. Kathey is delusional and has conversations with the man and sends down food. Hester who is willing to send Kathey down to recover the money she believes he stole is'nt willing to let Kathey go down and realise that he's dead. The film is washed in blue light the from start to finish which in a strong film might be an artistic flurish - but in this case seems to be an attempt to make it a defacto art film.

It's a near miss but finally it's just a passable film.

Angel Baby (1995)

Solid unromantisized movie

[8/10 · 2 June 2000]

Gritty endearing movie that rings true -- there are so many movies that are fables that tell us that mentally ill people are purer and wiser than the rest of us - like Russian village idiots --- this one tells us that they're real and complex people that ought to be loved but should'nt be left to manage their own treatmeant.

The Last Days of Chez Nous (1992)

Subtle powerful drama with a comic touch.

[9/10 · 2 June 2000]

This film is a favorite gem. It is Bergman like in its convincing depiction of family relationships and emotions. It's a very round presentation of life - it shows the comedy and pettyness. You really feel the air of grief in the family. The cinematography is crystal clear - as if the family is being studied under glass. It mostly takes place at home but there's a liberating road trip.

If you like character study dramas what this one.

The Browning Version (1994)

Much more effective than 1951 production.

[10/10 · 22 May 2000]

This production was much more involving than the 1951 production - It was much clearer how the teachers career and marriage had come to it's present state. I felt empathy with the teacher and his wife seeing how tempting the choices they followed were. In the 1951 version the wife is a bimbo, the schoolmaster a dullard and the student a brat. In this version all the actors are excellent and the three central roles really get to shine.

Hurlyburly (1998)

Perfect Movie of It's Kind

[20 May 2000]

The movie is about a circle of drug using and abusing Hollywood friends who are very wordy, take their thoughts very seriously and follow their own morals. These are not characters everyone will want to know - but it's superbly done and the characters are all types you might expect to find in that milieu.

The Sheryl Crow song during the closing credits ends the movie perfectly. The film is very modern in it's post religious outlook in that it suggests that there is no inherent meaning to life and that this is nothing to be depressed about.

Betrayal (1983)

Excellent Psychological Drama

[20 May 2000]

This is a really fine movie with excellent characterizations. I've never seen Patricia Hodge in anything else but in this movie she's the equal of Irons and Kingsley. It's interesting how the movie starts with the very emotional end works it's way back to the innocuous beginnings.