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Reviews
JFK (1991)
Fact or Fiction?
As testament to how cleverly Oliver Stone's JFK was made, most people cannot distinguish where the real footage facts stop, and the storytelling and director's artistic license begin. A History Channel documentary even attributed the public's overwhelming belief in a JFK assassination conspiracy to Oliver Stone's 1991 film. While it is important to remember that the movie is a dramatic work of fiction, it is certainly fun to watch and gives rise to several good questions about the assassination of JFK.
The cast is quite amazing--Kevin Costner, Kevin Bacon, Sissy Spacek, John Candy, Tommy Lee Jones and others, topped off with a John Williams film score are cause enough for me to recommend this film. Save 3 hours and watch JFK
The Illusionist (2006)
A film lover's film
This is one of those rare films that encompasses everything that a film should--it's grippingly entertaining, and award-worthy. The only reason I limit it to 9 stars is because of my hesitation for giving any movie 10. That being said, this is easily one of the greatest films of the last year, or several years, for that matter. It is the product of unfortunate timing, jammed in-between summer blockbusters and the fall Oscar-worthy films and being overshadowed by the lesser film, the Prestige. The film is aesthetically pleasing, filmed in a warm, sepia-like tone. Use of conventions like the iris-effect also make this film unique and pleasing. The acting is simply unparalleled. Giamatti's performance is wonderful, but Edward Norton does an equally impressive job. Finally, the story reels you in. This film may well be a novel, for that is the level it approaches. In a Hollywood where you usually have entertaining films, and "good" films, this one bridges the gap with ease and style.
The Cider House Rules (1999)
A Novel of a Film
This film has all the ingredients to turn out as simply magnificent. Michael Caine works his usual brilliance, Charlize Theron is gorgeous and believable, and Toby Maguire grows up both on the film and off. The Rachel Portman score is both haunting and comforting throughout the film and is the perfect "back drop" to fall in New England.
The story is about much more that the question of morality. I believe it is about life and experiences and seeing what you never saw before, yet always leaving your heart at home. It's about bonds we break, bonds we keep, and the pains of growing up. Not only is this a "picturesque" fall film, but one of those rare films that will keep you up thinking about the characters, their beliefs, and your own.
This is one of the few gems coming out of film in the last few years and I highly recommend it.
Harvey (1950)
An Imaginary Rabit is a Success
When I first saw this film I was skeptical--Jimmy Stewart with an imaginary rabbit? But it was Jimmy Stewart, after all, so I watched. It took a little while to get into it, but before I knew it I was "seeing rabbits." Elwood P. Dowd is just about the nicest character anywhere, and thinks the world of his drinking buddy and friend, Harvey. Not everyone else sees eye to eye with Harvey, who just so happens to be invisible. Though Elwood enjoys the company of Harvey, Elwood's sister, played skillfully by Josephine Hull, and his niece, are not as enchanted by Harvey, who is making their household the neighborhood mockery. The sister decides that Elwood is best off at the sanatorium, but with his eloquence and some other comic happenstances, Elwood is considered the one "sane" one.
In Country (1989)
More Vietnam depictions of this sort are needed
I did not grow up in the Vietnam era, and instead, my education on the subject has been limited to the last week of history class when the teacher would throw in a couple of words about Vietnam, usually being content to proclaim that the war was an ugly loss that we should all just forget.
I think that is a serious threat these days--people forget, and others like in my generation just don't have a clue, as to what went through these soldiers. This film does a fine job of relaying that. We feel the pain of Emmett who has had to suppress his feelings about Vietnam. We see how the wounds of war are not only skin deep and battlefield-limited: they are the scars that are carried within.
Equally refreshing is the point-of-view of the unsung hero, the survivors. In this case the we see the war's impact on Sam, whose father died before she was born. 18 years after his death, in present day (1989), the audience is allowed to see the remaining impressions that a war leaves, and the difficulty of finding closure in a war that everyone wanted to forget.
This is a film that ought to be seen because it depicts war from so many new points of view and in a way that is relatable to those of us who will never be able to comprehend the actual battlefield. See it, you won't regret it.