lindaseigelman Reviews

Macbeth in Manhattan (1999)

A Witty and Clever take on Macbeth finds a home in Manhattan

[9/10 · 3 April 2006]

Having seen and loved Greg Lombardo's most recent film "Knots" (he co-wrote and directed that feature as well), I decided to check out his earlier work, and this movie was well worth the effort and rental. Macbeth in Manhattan is a tongue in cheek, excellent take on the Shakespeare favorite, updated and moved to NYC. I was impressed by the underlying wit and intelligence of the script and was wowed by the way the storyline of the production in the movie mirrors the storyline of the play itself - and very cleverly at that. The trials and tribulations of life in Manhattan parallel many a Shakespeare play, and Central Park was rarely put to better use than as the woods around Macbeth's castle. Mr. Lombardo obviously has a fond place in his heart for New York and New York stories (Knots is a funny and warm sex comedy about six thirty-something New Yorkers set primarily in a charming Brooklyn neighborhood, with Manhattan offices and a downtown loft thrown in for good measure) and has spent considerable time around the plays of Shakespeare. The movie is well-paced and the story reflects a deep understanding of the essential drama at the core of Macbeth. It reminded me of Al Pacino's "Looking for Richard" - another wonderful Shakespeare "play within a movie." I highly recommend checking out Macbeth in Manhattan.

Knots (2004)

Funny, sexy movie with witty repartee

[9/10 · 3 April 2006]

Knots is a funny, sexy and entertaining movie about six thirty-something characters experiencing life and love in NYC. Credit must be given to the co-writer/director, Greg Lombardo, for making this diverse group of actors a believable set of friends and lovers. John Stamos just about steals the movie. This role is clearly the precursor to his new TV series which even borrows the name "Jake" from one of the characters in Knots. Stamos' looks, charm and winning smile are used to great effect. Paulina Porizkova was a wonderful surprise. Having not seen or heard anything about her in a number of years, she is well-cast as the story's sexy catalyst. Scott Cohen and Annabeth Gish are a married couple with a very real relationship that gets played out on a number of levels. Michael Leydon Campbell is sweet as Jake, the underdog. Credit also goes to the director/producers for casting Tara Reid against type. Set primarily in Brooklyn with some action in Manhattan, the homes and offices look realistic and lived in; you feel like you could hang out there and enjoy spending time with these interesting and quirky characters. The movie is well-written; the story is moved along by a couple of unexpected twists and turns, including the ending, and the dialog has some great repartee and one-liners. A very enjoyable and worthwhile 90 minutes. Check it out.