Mattias Reviews

Charmed (1998–2006)

First three seasons are worth watching

[6/10 · 24 January 2016]

Having bought the DVD box set, it took me four years to watch all the 178 episodes. The final verdict - this show should have stopped long before the 8th season. Starting off as monster-of-the-week type of show, the writers cleverly opted to expand the universe and include story arcs over one or more season.

The most interesting was the introduction of Cole Turner, Phoebe's love interest who was also a powerful demon bent on destroying the sisters. After Cole Turner leaving the show in the fifth season, the fans had to make do with an endless string of demons attacking the sisters ad nauseam. Finally came the 8th season where it is obvious that budget cuts have made the producers go for the cheapest production possible with almost no on-location scenes, almost no scenes at the Piper's club P3 or the Bay Mirror that would require hiring extras and Leo being written out of the show for no sensible reason.

So although the first three seasons are enjoyable, the rest is a mostly confusing mess and it jumped the shark when Piper had her first child in the fifth season. The principal cast was competent but extra credit should go to Billy Drago as the demon Barbas whose every appearance is worth watching.

Baywatch: Rescue Bay (1994) Season 4, Episode 18

Baywatch cast make fun of themselves

[6/10 · 19 February 2012]

I don't usually recommend people to see Baywatch episodes but this particular is well worth watching because of its tongue in cheek look at the production of a TV show, "Rescue Bay", about lifeguards on a beach in Malibu. The show includes a cast that is chosen more because of their looks than acting skills: Dolph Apolganger is the lifeguard lieutenant Mike Tower, police officer Sly Hutchinson is patrolling the beach with a revolver that would impress Harry Callahan and we have the budding romance between two of the lifeguards, a perky blonde and a beefcake.

"Rescue Bay" also includes a lot of female lifeguards running around on the beach in skimpy swimwear. Finally the Baywatch cast shows that they don't take themselves and the show too seriously.

The Postman (1997)

Worth watching

[6/10 · 1 July 2008]

I have always heard that The Postman is a stinker but after 11 years I had the opportunity to see the movie for myself. I had my doubts of being able to sit through a 2h 50 min movie but the plot managed to keep my attention the whole way through. This is a post apocalyptic story but I could very easily see this as a 1950s western - set in the Wild West in 1873 with Gary Cooper playing a lone postman, Dan Duryea the leader of a gang of thugs wrecking havoc on a small town without a sheriff and perhaps Ann Blyth as the young widow who reluctantly falls for our hero.

Perhaps the patriotic themes that the film associated with the post service was a bit over the top, it looked like the movie was trying to do with the mail man profession what Backdraft did for firefighting. I'm not saying this is a very good movie and I certainly found Dances with Wolves much better but I think it's worth the time to see it.

Miss Conception (2008)

Pretty good

[6/10 · 24 June 2008]

I thought it was pretty good. The plot centers around a 34-year old woman who is about to hit menopause early. I've always felt that Heather Graham is an undervalued actress who could go far with the right material, eg. "Broken" (2007) but I think that the plot would have been more credible with a slightly older looking actress, Graham still looks like 25. Perhaps the scenes with Zack's adventures in Ireland and his ditzy production assistant wasn't really essential to the plot. I never really understood why Georgina fancies Zack at all when the chemistry and emotional depth between Georgina and her friend Clem appears to be much deeper. The incident with the sperm sample and the birthday cake felt very contrived.

I noticed the frequent use of "Darling" and "Sweetie" which at times made the movie sound like a P.G. Wodehouse novel or an episode of "Absolutely Fabulous". Kudos to first time screen writer Camilla Leslie for making a new twist on the romantic comedy formula.

Repli-Kate (2002)

Surprisingly good

[6/10 · 4 May 2008]

I really didn't expect much when I sat down to watch this. After all, what can you expect from a movie that has "National Lampoon" on the cover or Eugene Levy in the cast? And to a extent I got was I expected: a "Weird Science" for the 21st century with a silly script and lame actors who has a problem with timing their lines.

The surprise was Kate herself or rather Repli-Kate, played by Ali Landry. I loved how she played the manly Repli-Kate, burping and guzzling beer, a big contrast with the sweet Kate the journalist. I wish the movie would have gone more into the aspect of male and female stereotypes to poke fun at them, unfortunately the producers preferred to have Eugene Levy running around shouting "penis" to everyone.

Shadow Puppets (2007)

Pretty good thriller

[8/10 · 29 July 2007]

I didn't know anything about this movie before I started watching it. As it turned out, I was happy to find a well made thriller. Obviously it didn't have the Titanic (1997) budget but the filmmakers managed to achieve the necessary mood with what they had.

The only disappointment was the evil spirit itself who looks like Disney's The Phantom Blot. In _The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)_ (qv) Jonathan Shields says that a good scary movie only needs haunting music, shadows that move in the darkness and so on, not a man dressed in a monkey suit. The menacing evil being should have kept to the shadows, up front it doesn't look very frightening.

It has been claimed that this movie is a rip off of other movies. I haven't seen any of them so I'm judging this movie on its own merits - 8/10.

Maid in Manhattan (2002)

Maid in Notting Hill

[7/10 · 7 May 2006]

Remember the romantic comedy Notting Hill starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts? This is very similar but moved across the pond: a famous person accidentally meeting and falling in love with a regular guy/girl. Keeping the romance secret, the breakup and the concluding press conference where all the pieces fall together.

Too bad Ralph Fiennes is stiff as a board compared with Hugh Grant and the romance between him and Marisa the maid is quite unconvincing. Jennifer Lopez fares pretty well but I wish she would broaden her range of roles and play something else than gorgeous but feisty Latino women.

The message that the high and mighty usually ignores maids, butlers, waiters or servants got lost somewhere and in the end the spunky maid wasn't a maid at all but management material. But what can you expect from a romantic comedy?

Vinnare och förlorare (2005)

Plot only mildly interesting

[7/10 · 7 August 2005]

I wasn't very impressed with the plot about a distracted jockey who tries to have his race horse win the races. It was more interesting to learn about Magda (played terrifically by Märta Ferm), her problems at school and how she gets a new friend, Helena the bingo caller.

It is a bit surprising to see Daniel Gustavsson as a 30-something single father and I'm not quite sure that he comes off really well. Didn't he play teenage sons only a couple of years ago?

The film's star is instead Frida Hallgren who seem to appear in film after film with increasing ability, although she doesn't cry or have a fit in this particular movie. Maybe it was wise that the plot didn't get into deep about a possible romance between Fredrik and Helena and the subplot about Helena's vegetarian dog sitter could have been scrapped altogether.

Amorosa (1986)

The potential was great, not the actuality

[6/10 · 16 December 2004]

Mai Zetterling apparently felt very much one with Agnes von Krusenstjerna and saw similarities in her own life. It is a pity that Zetterling wasn't able to tell her story in a very interesting way.

In the scene with the dinner on the boat I am reminded of Bergman's Fanny and Alexander, depicting happy people and the Swedish summer, young love and romance. Unfortunately, the film is only depressing after that as von Krusenstjerna becomes ill.

Stina Ekblad makes a magnificent job as the frail author and so does Erland Josephson as her husband/lover/co-author. The problem is that although they are both great actors, their lines sounds rather theatrical and unnatural.

Zetterling had the potential of making a classic movie with a great cast and I'm sorry to say that she failed.

I Am Sam (2001)

Penn's overacting

[6/10 · 5 September 2004]

A lot of people think that that this is a terrific movie, to a large extent because of Sean Penn playing a mentally disabled Starbucks clerk. His portrayal of this single father with a seven year old daughter was apparently so convincing that he received an Academy Award nomination. If you are one of those who think Penn was stunning in this movie, let me ask you: do you remember Sam's friends, the four gentlemen Mr. Grumpy, Mr. Wise, Mr. Goggles and Mr. Smiley, also mentally disabled? In the scenes with Sam and his friends it is obvious that Penn is only acting. Maybe they are, maybe they are not disabled in real life but my point here is that Penn is trying so hard, yes, overacting, it's almost as if he's gonna split his pants or something. If the friends are actors too, their acting disabled flows smoothly and natural unlike Penn's.

As far as playing a mentally disabled person, Penn don't hold a candle compared to Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man (1988) or Leonardo diCaprio in What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993).

This is also a movie about a custody battle. Kramer vs Kramer (father fighting for custody) is still the ultimate custody battle movie followed by Hollow Reed (gay father fighting for custody). Oddly enough, when the movie ended I still wasn't convinced that Sam having custody of his daughter was the best solution...

Järngänget (2000)

Forselius a bright spot

[3/10 · 5 September 2004]

-"Do you need any help?" the guys shout to the two sisters in the canoe when they first meet. "Yes", they should have answered, a crash course in acting. With such a young cast, some leeway should be given for not achieving the level of Sir Laurence but still. The only bright spot here is Emil Forselius, as the quiet brother with a bad conscience. Of course, Per Oscarsson always deliver memorable roles but there's not much here for him to sink his teeth into.

The story itself is meandering with a subplot about a mother in the hospital who lives in her own world and a stolen summer house that doesn't really lead anywhere.

Utanför din dörr (2002)

Fresh approach

[8/10 · 7 April 2004]

It's nice to know that it is possible to make a genuinely interesting romantic comedy even if the budget is limited. Also, there is a fresh approach here with the woman trying to attract the attention of the man. Lina Englund in particular is really good here as the "doomed-to-be-single" Sanna. And Eric Donell too, playing the shy André who suffers from Tourette's syndrome, thus believing that nobody could ever fall for him.

Also, it is nice to see other parts of Sweden than central Stockholm. The last couple of years have seen a decentralizing of filmmaking in Sweden and I hope this can continue - as long as the movies do not become marketing for the local board of tourism.

A Different Way (2003)

OK acting, lousy script

[5/10 · 8 January 2004]

This story of a 17-year old poet, vegan and above all loner has its share of faults. The major fault is the script. Tove Edfeldt is in all the scenes and she is not a capable actress enough to carry the movie herself. Her character Hannah is a goody two shoes who loves leaving her poetry in corner shops, won't get a driver's license and who prefers vegan coffee drinks and I can't help feel a bit nauseated by this self appointed world savior.

Perhaps the director Olofson are trying to say something profound about TV reality shows and their impact but the whole idea is simply far fetched. And although Tove Edfeldt has a lot of acting experience her lines are platitudes. She is talented and I look forward to seeing more of her in the future, with a script that will do her justice.

Apart from this, the supporting cast are mostly unknown to me and I get a feeling of amateur night, e.g. Hannah's two friends at school. But I noticed Mathias Rust replaying his role from Show Me Love (1998) as a guy showing off his cellphone.

The Last Tycoon (1976)

Overlong, overrated

[4/10 · 7 January 2004]

There is one scene where Stahr and others are watching the final cut of a movie in a showing room. When the movie is over and everybody gets up to leave one man remains sitting. It is the editor who has died quite suddenly. Editor Richard Marks has worked on a lot of well known movies but I guess he would rather forget this one. And the editing is one of the problems with The Last Tycoon, we get to see a lot of people opening doors, closing doors, walking up stairs or down stairs. No wonder the movie clocks in at 122 minutes. Another problem with the pacing is that people talk slowly. In a movie people must talk much faster than in real life, a movie is not radio and the audience is waiting for things to happen.

Another problem is that I never understand where the movie is heading. Not because the movie constantly surprises me, it is simply heading nowhere. A very young Robert de Niro is simply gliding around, going where the situation takes him. The little love story between Stahr and Kathleen remains pointless. At least with a good old war movie you know it will end with a big explosion and the nazi bad guys killed. Director Elia Kazan was very aware of how vague the love story was scripted but couldn't do much about it.

The only memorable is Jack Nicholson's five minutes as a union organizer but his and others talents are wasted in this overlong and overrated drama. Unless you are trying to see all of Robert de Niro's movies you better stay away from this one.

Broadcast News (1987)

Holly's moment - SPOILER

[7/10 · 31 December 2003]

I haven't actually seen a lot of movies with Holly Hunter, but seeing her in Broadcast News was a pleasant surprise. She is a hard-nosed journalist, Jane Craig, who has devoted all of her time to TV news show. Her colleague Aaron Altman has carried her torch for a long time without saying anything. The love triangle is completed by Tom Grunnick. He is the slightly aloof ex-sportscaster who is the new reporter. To Jane, he symbolizes everything she doesn't like about news reporting - turning it into edutainment, not serious business. Much to her surprise, Jane finds herself attracted to Tom.

Holly Hunter is doing a great performance as the perky journalist. But I don't quite see what she finds so charming about her new colleague, Tom. It's something with them that prevents us from getting up close and personal with him. Almost as impressive is Albert Brooks, who gives his all in the role of a professional who gives more than 100 percent for his job but doesn't get quite as much in return. Actually, for a while I thought he was Steve Guttenberg from Police Academy (1984). He has a few funny lines and if this was a Meg Ryan-picture, they'd call it a romantic comedy.

Running over two hours, a few scenes could have been edited or left out completely, eg. Jane's and Aaron's trip to Central America. Also, I'm a sucker for happy endings and had preferred a different ending than just a reunion between the three of them seven years later.

The Song of the Scarlet Flower (1956)

Predictable melodrama

[4/10 · 16 December 2003]

I don't know why a story about a farmer's son with an endless string of love affairs who become a rafter should interest the public but I guess that Svensk Filmindustri (SF) wanted a project that would keep director Gustaf Molander occupied. Melodrama should fit him like a glove after 30 years of directing but the script is simply over the top. The movie is overlong and the one exciting part, the river contest between Olof Koskela and Falk over the attention of Kylikki, the pretty farmer's daughter, should have finished the movie.

The rest of the movie is predictable and anybody can tell what will happen after the establishing shot of the first meeting between the rafters and the farmer's sons as they enter a village.

Anita Björk as Kylikki is doing her best with her part but good acting can not save a script based on a stuffy novel. In two smaller roles, Edvin Adolphson, as Kylikki's father, and Axel Slangus, as the chief rafter, are wonderful.

Daybreak (2003)

A movie about lies

[7/10 · 5 December 2003]

Most of all, this is a movie about lies, about how people lie to themselves and the people around them. A heart surgeon is constantly lying to his loving wife, an older woman is lying to herself about who is to blame for her failings in life and a married couple are lying to themselves why their daughter has disappeared from their lives.

Director Björn Runge has shown his versatility for the bizarre and grotesque before, e.g. the short En dag på stranden (1993) and so yet again. Also, the script has neatly woven together the three stories, we move from one family to the other effortlessly - when one family is having dinner, so has the next one, when one family is shouting and screaming at each other, so does the next one.

Despite this, I have a nagging feeling that it could have been even better. The plot line itself, interchanging between unrelated people, is similar to Svenska hjältar (1997). And as far as Pernilla August is concerned, this is one too many roles as a cheated wife this year.

Under the Red Robe (1937)

A disappointing final effort

[5/10 · 27 November 2003]

With the aid of the Swedish Film Institute, a collection of Victor Sjöström's movies will "tour" around the world to various film clubs and like so I have had the pleasure of watching most of the movies he directed. Sadly though, Sjöström's final effort proves to be the most disappointing. Conrad Veidt is without a doubt less dashing than Errol Flynn playing a debonair French swordsman - with a German accent.

He's not the only one though with an accent, Annabella with a thick French one, her sister the countess speaks the Queen's English and the men at the inn sounds like peasants from the English countryside. It is all rather confusing.

I don't know why Sjöström accepted the direct this movie, perhaps he was eager to direct again but too many constraints were put on him. The end result looks like any movie that includes musketeers or cardinal Richeliu.

Only a Mother (1949)

Beautiful but a bit boring.

[6/10 · 16 October 2003]

Alf Sjöberg has without a doubt together with cinematographer Martin Bodin created a visually stunning movie and the scenes from the midsummer celebrations reminds me of the similar scenes from Sjöberg's Fröken Julie, released the following year.

The movie has other flaws though. Perhaps Eva Dahlbeck in the lead role as Rya-Rya does not have the strength to pull this off. She was in her late 20s at the time and she is not quite convincing as an old woman on her death bed with skin smooth as silk. It is also difficult to understand why she rejects the man she loves to marry a slob with a face that only a mother can love.

Seeing this today, it is a bit comical to see something that is supposed to look like a two people immediately after a date rape when it is obvious that Rya-Rya hasn't taken her clothes off or even has had her hair messed up.

Detaljer (2003)

More middle class drama from Norén

[6/10 · 10 October 2003]

One must agree that this is a very daring film, daring in the sense that it revolves around the life and times of four people in the upper middle class; a publisher, an author, a drama writer and a doctor at a mental ward. With unusual careers like this it is undeniable that the whole subject feels distant. Also, there is nothing unusual about the ever changing relations between these people, actually I leave the cinema with a feeling that I have seen all of this before. Of course, this is happy hunting grounds for Lars Norén who always seem to be writing about the emotional problems of today's middle class.

Hundtricket: The Movie (2002)

One of the most interesting from 2002

[7 November 2002]

From two young directors comes this delightful romantic comedy about Simon who dreams of finding his true love. A remake of a short with essentially the same cast it is sometimes obvious how the plot has had to be stretched to the limit for a feature-film length. E.g. Kjell Bergqvist can always make a character out of every role he plays nowadays, but he has several scenes although his character doesn't add one thing to the plot itself. It takes quite a while before Simon meets Mia the first time and the end with the chasing police car and what Simon does at the airport is just too unbelievable. But you can't separate romantic love from silliness, can you?

One of the year's most interesting feature-film debuts in Swedish cinema. 7 / 10.

She's in the Army Now (1981 TV Movie)

Is this film over yet?

[4/10 · 5 October 2002]

I can only recommend this to a die-hard Melanie Griffith fan. To anybody else who wants to see female recruits in basic training, go find Private Benjamin (1980) with Goldie Hawn instead. This is a rather boring account of a couple of young women doing seven weeks in an army camp. I've done basic training myself and it wasn't a holiday home like the one they seem to have in the US. Doing push-ups and practicing at a fire range, is that all? If you want a better account of army life, rent Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket (1987).

A Thousand Acres (1997)

Scattered showers

[5/10 · 16 September 2002]

The cast is superb but the script is hopeless. It scatters its potential in all directions: a bit of courtroom drama, breast cancer, a farmboy lover and a childhood of sexual abuse until your head is spinning. And it's not the fault of the cast, Jessica Lange in particular is superb.

That Darn Cat (1997)

This is far from Spielberg's class

[1/10 · 26 July 2002]

I guess there are two ways to make a movie with kids as the intended audience. You can either say to yourself a) "Let's make a movie that kids today will love!" or b) "Let's make a movie that I would have loved when I was a kid!" The second approach explains why Steven Spielberg often make movies that appeal to a younger audience. Prime examples are E.T., The Goonies or Indiana Jones. That Darn Cat is an example of the first approach. You see these flat, unbelievable characters saying things that is supposed to be funny but isn't. The plot itself is enough for a ten minute short, but instead it goes on and on. And although I'm not a kid, I don't quite understand what in this movie is supposed to be fun for kids? The clumsy cops chased by a dog, the old lady with a tweety bird or Christina Ricci's sarcastic oneliners? One actor showed a spark of talent with his very acrobatic humour: Doug E. Doug playing the FBI agent.

Killer Tomatoes Strike Back! (1991)

It tries so hard, but fails so miserably

[2/10 · 12 April 2002]

As far as I can see, this third installment is basically more of the same. This time it is detective Lance Boyle teaming up with babe scientist Kennedi Johnson to fight the vile vegetables. It is also a sendup of tabloid television and trash talkshows. I guess you shouldn't expect much of credibility from a movie about killer tomatoes, but I guess this is as credible as the intended market, 10-14 year olds, need.

The movie tries to play in the same league as Loaded Weapon or Naked Gun police spoofs, but just like the Police Academy sequels, it doesn't have the budget to go through with it. This kind of movies needs at least one joke a minute - as a minimum. The movie has a few good jokes but not nearly enough. Dr. Gangreen's hideout looks cheap, the water in the piranha tank is dyed black since there no piranhas and, most important, it is filled with second-rate actors. Neither Rick Rockwell or Crystal Carson had much experience before - or has had much since, at least as far as feature films are concerned. (Rick Rockwell is now, well, famous as the millionaire in 'Who wants to marry a millionaire?') And some scenes are superfluous, like Lance Boyle visiting the zoo or the irate guy at the bank.

If you like horror movies and the Police Academy series, you will love this. Otherwise, spend some time benefiting humanity instead.