soloview Reviews

Rosemary & Thyme (2003–2006)

Just plain fun

[8/10 · 13 February 2007]

The women in this series appear as if they're having fun and they take us along for the ride.

The relationship between Felicity Kendal & Pam Ferris is like salt and pepper. One is spicy, sharp and speaks her mind. Sometimes this places her in a 'dangerous' situation but she's willing to take the risk.

The other is more diplomatic and a tad cautious. This makes a good blend which will reach most of us (women, that is).

You know at the outset there's little chance of real danger but it's a pleasure to have a cup of tea while enjoying their adventures.

Sugar and spice make a good combo. The Brits really show us up -- almost all the time. Watched them from the outset. Delighted they keep coming back.

Dracula (2006 TV Movie)

Tasteless, crass and crude.

[2/10 · 11 February 2007]

PBS actually expects to earn donations from this tasteless tripe? Shame on them.

A few descriptive words and phrases come to mind, the first of which is UGLY. Totally lacking in any sense of the refinement one used to expect from public television. Will also add coarse and vile.

This is a really bad production. No redeeming social value here. Vulgar and uncouth.

If memory serves, Dracula was at once a character both sexually riveting and repulsive, with a hypnotic allure able to make him an irresistible figure. This one Dracula who would make your skin crawl, much as a slug would. Give me a barf bag, please.

Why is syphilis introduced? Nothing better to do? Ran out of ideas? Intending to shock those born in 1928? And what's happened to David Suchet? Guess he's just needs the dough.

Save your time, rent the Frank Langella version and enjoy.

Lost in Translation (2003)

Gosh, it must be me.

[4/10 · 25 July 2004]

Really, really tried to like this movie due to the many raves & excellent reviews.

Tried for over an hour.

Then realized I'd rather watch trucks being unloaded @ the rear of Stop 'n Shop. It was booooring as hell. Absolutely no interest in any of the characters. Since they didn't care, Why would I? No spark between the 2 leads -- don't even really know why they liked each other. Cutesy attempts were forced, lackluster tripe. Didn't have to attempt to feel sorry for anyone as they felt more than sorry enough for themselves.

It seems I'm in the minority. But I've been there many times before: voted for Hubert H, for example.

Bottom line: an empty bottle with no message.

Don't Say a Word (2001)

Old fashioned non-thinking fun

[8/10 · 12 October 2002]

OK, so you have to ignore a few glaringly unbelievable circumstances. So what? The movie is fun anyway.

Roughly every 10 years, I notice I've changed considerably. However, you know who hasn't? The villains in this movie. Somehow, magically, though arrested over 10+ years ago, they all manage to be released at the same time. They also, inexplicably, have been able to rig not only Michael Douglas' apartment but the hospital where he must treat a new patient (although in the beginning we're led to understand he basically sees only private patients & rarely goes to the hospital anymore). We're talking high-tech bugging here: private & cell phones, cameras & 2-way communication in both hospital & home -- the whole 9 yards. But I digress. That part is not explained but who cares? It's a movie, dammit!

I allowed myself to get caught up in it, despite incongruities & found it enjoyable; it even evoked quite a bit of tension along with the smirks.

Douglas is good (but then I generally enjoy him). Brittany Murphy is fine in a role that easily could have gone over the edge. Sean Bean's a fine villain you wouldn't want to turn your back on. The cast, generally speaking is fine, although I was sort of sad to find the admirable Oliver Platt in a second-rate role -- he's far too good an actor to be here. But I guess he needed the $.

Not great but not bad either.

Heist (2001)

Who cares?

[5/10 · 22 September 2002]

Some people are compelled to read a book through to the end, boring or not & are often the same way with movies. Not me.

Watched this for 45 minutes (about 30 minutes longer than required) before we canned it. Hackman was barely passable. Why does he try to act 30 years younger than his age, trying to remain glibly hip long beyond his maturity? I kept thinking: he's well over 60-65 -- would he really give a **** or be this way in real life? Negative.

Everyone in this movie was cynical, bitter, constantly scheming & scamming. To tell the truth, they were all losers who I wouldn't want in my circle.

A totally unnecessary movie, waste of time & talent. (My terminology is decidedly outdated, but then so am I.)

Deceiver (1997)

I was trapped in this film!

[8/10 · 22 September 2002]

My husband got this movie in a bargain bin for $2.99. Was ready to eject it but got hooked immediately. Barely blinked as we watched it. Totally compelling.

Have rarely seen Tim Roth. but Wow!, will watch for his name from now on. He was Absolutely Terrific. He played a suspect with an exceptional IQ so easily & convincingly that it must inherently be one of his qualities. Is he lying? Is he simply uncannily perceptive? Is he playing a role? Is it all a big joke to him?

The answers are not thrown at you or simplistic. The script makes you work at them (which I appreciate).

As the story continues something sinister but slightly out of reach takes over -- a knowing without knowing, a suspicion, a hint, an underlying gnawing -- is it real? Or something we're reading into it the plot?

I bought these characters totally. They were as real as they were mesmerizing.

The ending was taut & compelling, as was the whole movie. Who kept this under wraps?

It's a real find & if you do find to, grab it up: it's well worth it.

Office Space (1999)

Fun because you know these people.

[7/10 · 21 September 2002]

A good way to spend an evening & meet the people you know at work.

I've worked with these people more years than I'd like to admit. Gary Cole as Bill Lumbergh in particular is the epitome of egotistical, unfeeling bosses who carelessly throw their weight around, effecting other people's lives with no consideration or empathy. He's probably your boss, too.

Ron Livingston as Peter lacks somewhat in believability -- can sympathize with his feelings but in real life that just doesn't happen (or not in my experience). Although the character is lacking, Livingston is the sort of guy you tend to like.

He & his about-to-be chopped coworkers plan a nifty computer glitch that would fill their pockets gradually by adding fractions of every company transaction to a mutual bank account. This, due to a mathematical error, adds hundreds of thousands of dollars to their joint account throwing them into a panic.

Samir, played by Ajay Naidu, is very good as a fearful ally. He speaks his misgivings which could reflect the thoughts of many of us.

Jennifer Aniston is warm, appealing & inherently brighter than it would appear.

This is a good way to spend an evening, get a chuckle, daydream of possibilities -- & hope they get away with it. (Know I did.)

Belfast, Maine (1999)

Good but not a 10

[8/10 · 10 September 2002]

Wish I could have voted 7.5. Wanted to check the demographics on Belfast after watching this film. Have to agree with so many others the focus was predominantly down-scale. Would like to have seen the 'other half', so to speak. From this film, it would seem the town is down-trodden, mostly illiterate & suffering from 2-digit IQs. Compassion & intelligence were shown, but not frequently. I'm sure Belfast is much like any other town, with a fair mixture of all levels.

I like to 'observe' people & gather much from interactions, what is said between or among them.

It's a decent movie but left me wanting...to know more, to get a more even feel.

Gosford Park (2001)

Empty beauty

[6/10 · 11 August 2002]

Visually, lovely. 'Upstairs, Downstairs'-like staff superior. Story line, unfulfilling. Mystery? Duh, got it in no time (and was not even trying).

Robert Altman always falls short for me. Great texture, little essence. If I had cared for even one character, perhaps it would have made a difference. The only one even slightly interesting to me was the 'Mystery' ex-detective from "Second Sight" -- would like to have focused more deeply on him. As an Anglophile, knew nearly everyone. But even their individual & collective skills could not bring this story to life for me. And talk about s-l-o-w!!! The first 45 minutes were excruciating. Thanks for the pretty marshmallow, but would rather have plain but more filling.

The Contender (2000)

My reaction surprised me

[8/10 · 24 October 2001]

After watching a movie, if I find myself thinking about it the next day or if it has brought some inner truth about myself I've been unaware of, I consider it successful.

'Contender' made me face the fact that I still -- despite my liberal views -- hold prejudices that I'd find intolerable in others.

Acting - excellent. Characters drawn very well.

The first hour I honestly kept thinking "I've got to sit through another 60 minutes!" & was really eagerly anticipating moving on. However, it occurred to me that if Joan Allen had been male it would not have phased me at all: the fact that she was a woman made her actions immensely more demeaning. That was a wake-up call for me. I was more prejudiced than I'd realized. And ashamed of it.

Perhaps the movie could have been directed somewhat better; am not sure, not expert in that arena.

It slowly brought a truth about myself home to me -- and any time a movie can do that, it was worthwhile.