Change Your Image
wellesly01
Reviews
Mulholland Dr. (2001)
Just relax and enjoy. Dont be so uptight.
For anyone out there who thought that this was just art trash I suggest viewing it one last time and maybe this time trying to keep an open mind. While we may be more content to view films with character driven linear plots we forget sometimes that films are image. And thats what David Lynch does best, tells stories through image and situation. I mean dont get me wrong I hated twin peaks. It was pretentious crap. But David Lynch has in my eyes developed immensely. Getting rid of the dancing midgets and even going as far as to apply philosophical concepts such as Pandora's Box and the control of God to this new work. I would also like to commend Miss Naomi Watts on a superb performance in the leading role(even if there isn't one) in this film. I hope she continues her work and doesn't become an A list celebrity. So in short when you view a Lynch film you should pay close attention and attempt to fit the jigsaw peices together. It's not easy to understand I know, but you should at least try to expand yourself that much. Good luck. Make more films like this Mr. Lynch please.
Road to Perdition (2002)
Nevermind "The Family"
I saw this film opening night and I must say that Sam Mendes is just plain incredible.From the power of American Beauty to the gritty death scenes and performances in his new film "Road to Perdition". I look forward to his next work with much anticipation. Dont get me wrong Im not the kind of guy that sees movies and allows myself to get lost in them. I came into this film with farely low expectations. Crime films have gotten boring for me. They're either that "keep it in the family" crap or some fast paced heist flick with constant annoying Tarantino dialogue. I have to say though this film blew the rest of that crap away. Tom Hanks is at his usual greatness though more so in this film than most of his others. Paul Newman also surprised me even in his small part he still blew the audience away. The real story in this film however was the young Tyler Hoechin as Michael Jr. Usually child stars are tossed around by their older co stars but this kid practically schlepped the film it on his back. The other great thing about this film was the cinematography. Conrad L. Hall has done, in this film, something with the light and shadow that Perdition's constituants could never do. It made every scene great especially the one where it tracks Michael Sulliven from up above down the hallway into hell. It was so good I think I might have actually groaned. The films death scenes were also something of a marvel. Not since Schindler's List have I been so moved by the sight of someone dying. The one scene with Jude Law in the end nearly put me in tears. You'll have to see it. In five years or so this will be an American classic. It left me in a state of Euphoria for hours and is the only film to actually make me want to hug my father and tell him that I love him. Take a trip outside the family. Go experience "The Road to Perdition".
Fargo (1996)
Pretty Sweet!
The Coen Brothers have always been my favorite directors. They are about the only worthy protocessors to the almighty Stanley Kubrick.When I first saw Fargo I must admit I was not paying much attention to it.I was talking on the phone with a friend and because of it I entirely missed the magic. A couple months later I saw it and it completely blew my expectations away. The rural setting of Minnesota and its people provide the perfect juxtaposition for this mixed up murder thriller.The endless snowy landscpes and frigid cold create a great mood for a sullen and intoxicating climax. My favorite part of this film was definetly the subtle craftsmanship. The violin music. The editing. Frances McDormand's performance. Peter Stormare' performance. I especially loved the axe scene. It made Stormare almost into a larger than life character. He was Paul Bunyan. And in the end it was a little old pregnant police woman that took him down. This film is about as perfect as you can get. The only action thriller that even comes close to it is Memento. Years from now this will be seen as one of America's greatest Post Modern Films. ***** You're darn tootin.
Rushmore (1998)
The best comedy of the 90's
I bought this movie in a six dollar bargain bin at my grocery store. Critical raves adorned the cover so I decided to give it a try. What I got in return was the best dark comedy since The Graduate. Rushmore is a dark and powerful story about the folley of youth. It is coated in the smooth comic shell of such films as Harold and Maud or dare I say Pulp Fiction. The acting by Jason Schwartzman is a superb character display. By putting up his awkward front the viewer is allowed to view deeper into his passions, obsessions and motivations. Olivia Williams plays the perfect muse of the affections of Schwartzman and Murray. Murray however somehow manages to shine above the rest in his odd and beautiful comic performances. The other great thing about this film aside from the performances is the music. This is what gave this otherwise serious story it's comic punch. Without it, Schwartzman would have been portrayed more as some obsessive compulsive serial killer than a confused teenager. Classic tunes from the Who and Cat Stevens made this movie work for me. You may not laugh even once during this film but it is sure to give you a big wide smile. This truly is divine comedy. I hope more directors can follow in Wes Anderson's footsteps. All is fare when love is War. Give it a chance.
Waking Life (2001)
Will change the Way you perceive reality.
Many people think that this movie is basically a forum to display new types of computer animation and the advent of the digital revolution. Im not saying that I dislike the animation. What I am saying is that the animation was really secondary to the new and exciting views and perceptions the film gave to you. What I felt the animation bought to the table was not only a visual stimulation to those who fail to appreciate philosophy but also an expansion. An expansion for your capacities. A new way to be opened up and to enjoy different veiws and lines of thought. This movie is amazing. Before you condemn it for being "too Mtv" watch it. And if you didn't understand what I and many others saw in it, watch it again.This movie is an affirmer of life. It rejuvinates the spirit. I would reccomend it to anyone with a pulse. Thank you Richard Linklater.
Get on the Bus (1996)
Get on the Bus needs to critique itself
This movie is a modest effort by Spike Lee. He is capable of much more than this movie.Get on the Bus while apparenly anti racist, does nothing but berate whites and degrade the black status quo. The plot of this movie is about a group of black men who travel on a bus to Louis Farrakhan's million man march. The bus has every type of person you could imagine:gay, Muslim, gangbanger and the Uncle Tom(He is thrown off the bus though). There was one only white person on the bus. He was accused of being a racist the minute he got on the bus to drive. Despite him being a jew and the fact that he explained is situation he ended up being a racist and leaving the bus.I hate to say it but films like this need to realize their own hipocracy and rienforcation of steryotypes. This should not be seen as a triumph but a sad disappointment. You may think I am a racist for writing this but I mean well. Better luck next time Spike.