Change Your Image
exidor411
Reviews
Whatever (1998)
a subtle portrait
I thought this film was a thoughtful reflection on an overlooked period of time. The significance of it's taking place in 1981 was the last hurrah of the "Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll" era. AIDS soon followed, and casual sex died. The sex is a big part of the story, a realistic portrayal of a teenage girl's struggles with her newborn womanhood.
The peer pressure to do drugs, smoke, and have crazy meaningless/meaningful sex, all induced by the young idiots around her, happens to most American kids. Anna's dreams of art school are nearly crushed by the combination of her friends, her lonely, pathetic mother, and the usual teenage self-deprecation. It's not hard at all to relate to this character.
It seems that this movie was too subtle for some viewers. Perhaps some people don't want to know the female side of stories we've seen the male counterparts of (quite redundantly) through the years. I welcomed the fresh point-of-view the film possesses. My only true beef would be that it may have been a little too long, but then again, wasn't this writer/director Susan Skoog's first film?
A good film with fine direction of realistic performances (with the exception of the "nerdy" teacher - ugh) and a nice accompanying soundtrack. Overall, I liked it quite a bit.
The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy (2000)
A nice surprise
I really did not expect to like this film. My buddies said it was the best depiction of gay men in films ever. With a hype like that, the film had the odds stacked against it.
But several minutes into it, I realized that I was wrong. This is easily the most realistic portrait of the gay guys I have known. Sure they whine a bit about their lovelives, but I haven't known ANYONE single and in their twenties who doesn't! (Granted, the boys in "Broken Hearts Club" do it with more wit than most people, but it is a MOVIE, for God's sakes.)
Very funny, moving, and a great cast to boot (Tim Olyphant and Dean Cain stand out in a very strong ensemble). I highly recommend this film.