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lisagirl117
Reviews
Death to Smoochy (2002)
What A Surprise This Was, "Smoochy" Is A Riot!
I had noticed this on my cable several times before and passed, thinking it was likely lame. Not so! I laughed from beginning to end. The writing is top notch with some very witty, dark, wry humor.
Edward Norton is so believable as Smoochy, Robin Williams is perfect as the embittered deposed kid's show host. Catherine Keener plays her standard role even better than usual.
Jon Stewart has a smaller role and is, as would be expected, darkly funny.
It starts a little slow, but I knew where it was headed soon after, with a deadbeat, quite funny dry response from Kenner to Norton when he assumes the worst about her character because of her coming to meet him in the place where he was then performing.
I'm going to track it down on DVD, I think I want to own this one. If you get a chance, give it a look, you'll be glad you did.
National Treasure (2004)
Quite Enjoyable
I had been really looking forward to seeing this movie and found it just about as good as I thought it would be. This was not Shakespeare but a nice Disney type adventure wrapped around a lot of fascinating history.
Nichlas Cage gives an understated, witty performance, Diane Kruger, who is quite beautiful, does a nice job in her role, and Justin Bartha was quite amusing as the prototypical male sidekick. He's not too hard on the eyes either.
As a gal who is quite interested in history, this was not only a fun film, but leads you to wonder. All you have to do is look at a dollar bill to be sucked in a little.
Best of all, the ending seemed to indicate the strong possibility of a sequel.
Serendipity (2001)
A Great Movie!
I loved this movie. It shows us how fate and circumstance can play a large role in our lives. John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale were great in the lead roles, with great support from a fine cast. Eugene Levy as the Bloomingdale's salesman and Molly Shannon as Sara's friend were outstanding, as was Jeremy Piven as Jonathan's best buddy. I thought the music used in the movie was perfect also.
Serendipity is funny and touching, and is a movie that makes you think; what if I'd done this instead of that, or been there instead of here.
Picture Perfect (1995)
This Movie Has A Certain Charm
This isn't the greatest movie ever made, and the ending of the movie was pretty predictable, but I have to say I really enjoyed it. I thought the chemistry between Richard Karn and Mary Page Keller was excellent. It was one of those movies that made me feel good afterwards.
A Stranger to Love (1996)
A Decent TV Movie With An Unsettling Ending
This is a well used plot but the movie was engrossing throughout. The end of the movie was strangely disturbing to me, maybe inevitably, because no matter what the Beau Bridges character decides at the end he was going to be hurting an entire family. I actually found myself hoping he would choose differently than he did at the end. It wouldn't have been the politically right decision but I was more sympathetic toward the other female character.
For All Time (2000)
One Very Fine TV Film
I stayed up into the early hours of the morning to watch this last night and it was well worth it. Fine performances abound: Mark Harmon does a nice job and always looks good but I thought, not surprisingly, that Mary McDonnell stole the show. She was simply marvelous in the female lead, effectively portraying a quiet woman with enormous inner strength.
Beyond the acting I think this was the kind of film that hit a nerve with most people. The possibility of getting a second chance, as well as the idea of vacating the frenetic pace of our era for a simpler time is one many of us have have entertained.
I was hoping this movie would be available on VHS but it apparently is not. The next time I see it coming up I will be taping it.
The Siege at Ruby Ridge (1996)
A Boatload of Craziness
The government obviously did not handle this right but none of it would have happened if the Weavers weren't a couple of whacked out fundamentalist right wing zealot nut jobs. I felt anger toward the parents for warping their kids minds and getting one of them killed. That alone made this tough to sit through. The acting was excellent, and I have to admit I didn't even recognize Laura Dern, it must have been the dark hair. Randy Quaid again demonstrated his amazing range by playing this role in the same year he reprised Cousin Eddie in the latest Vacation incarnation.
Stranger in My House (1999)
Good, But Not Terribly Original
The movie was enjoyable to watch and Lindsay Crouse and Zoe McClellan did fine jobs with their roles. As the movie wore on though it seemed so much like "Pacific Heights" with McClellan as the female equivalent to Michael Keaton's character in "Heights".
House of Secrets (1993)
Would have been really good but......
I liked the plot, it was a good movie to watch on a Sunday morning, but Melissa Gilbert's character drove me nuts. All her weakness and sniveling enabled her husband and his honey to carry out their plot. Even though she got her revenge in the end, watching her do everything wrong throughout most of the film was hard for me to watch.
The Spanish Prisoner (1997)
It Keeps You Guessing
The movie does start a little slow, but picks up steam as the plot twists mount up. The dialogue is a little strange, but I thought it added to the mystique of the film. I had previously seen "House of Games" so I was used to the quirky dialogue of Mamet. I highly recommend this film.