jmverville Reviews

Pimp (2010)

Inflammatory Content, Vaguely Interesting Story

[5/10 · 29 May 2010]

The film Pimp is characterized by comical violence and sexuality that pushes the viewers good taste -- I advise people to only watch this if they do not mind such extreme content.

The style of filming is interesting and unorthodox, and some of the cinematic work was pleasing. The storyline jumps around a lot and demands the viewer to pay close attention to different plot changes.

I found it to be entertaining in its own way, although sometimes apparently crude for the mere sake of being crude. However, if you approach the film with this knowledge and view it just as some light entertainment it is not that bad of a film.

Employee of the Month (2006)

Nothing Remarkable

[3/10 · 24 March 2007]

The comedy really does nothing original and follows a very predictable script. There were few things that happened which you could not predict -- if you have seen more than a handful of movies chances are you have seen this film before. It is the same plot line as any other comedy.

About halfway through the film I got sick of the plot line all together and was merely waiting for it to end.

Dane Cook is reasonably funny though personally he was not even the funniest in this film. Some of the comedy is worth a chuckle but overall it is a film that I would recommend people pass over without regretting.

Alphaville (1965)

An Honest Masterpiece

[8/10 · 24 March 2007]

When watching a Godard film one has to be in a certain mood -- it is best done sitting cross legged while wearing a striped shirt with a bottle of Cognac and an infinite supply of overpriced cigarettes. This one is stereotypically rough and hard to swallow all at once: a sort of symphony of ideas mating with a certain ruggedness brought to the screen by Godard.

It is shot beautifully yet not in a dishonest fashion -- the close-ups of Natasha and Ivan's faces are excellent and honest to their features; the film could never be popular portraying the pockmarked and wrinkled features of Eddie Constantine. Godard gives you what you want (that is, if you want the truth).

Full of excellent quips and quotations -- a spoof of a genre yet at the same time a flattering to it in its' own right.

Godard is a genius and you should watch this film, to put it simply.

Behind the Sun (2001)

Quality Dialogue, Well Shot

[6/10 · 23 March 2007]

'Behind The Sun' finds itself rather lost in its' own imagery -- albeit very lovely imagery. It is undeniable that the film is beautifully shot but I think that the story, at times, is left a little blank. It left me wanting a lot filled in... I was burning with questions that essentially were left unanswered.

Sometimes that is an artistic way of presenting a film but in this case it was just annoying. I think the director was trying to communicate much of the story without words but was not doing that excellent of a job of it.

However, the acting is outstanding and the dialogue is impressive. They're the backbone of the film.

The setting felt limited and at times stuffy... But by and large, the beautiful cinematography and the quality dialogue made up for the lack of the rest. Worth a watch.

A Woman Called Sada Abe (1975)

Worth A WAtch, But Not Much More

[6/10 · 15 March 2007]

I remember watching half of this and turning it off for whatever reason. It can be kind of stale due to the fact that a lot of this is soft core pornography -- it would be more appropriate to talk about how this actually qualifies as art as opposed to something that would be shown on Cinemax at 2 AM.

The film is very stereotypically Japanese in the sense that it involves a lot of dramatic, well planned shots that are minimalistic, often focusing on the human face or on abstract objects of importance. It was filmed tenderly and with an amount of love, but I feel the direction of cinematography and the direction of the film itself were a little contrived and a little too fast.

Unfortunately, the majority of the film takes place in one set and that slowly wore on my nerves. Having little change of scenery the film becomes quite stuffy at parts.

The film goes on to try to portray the depths of human emotion and sadness, while at the same time maintaining the insanity of its' subject... I found her hard to relate to and the writer or director should have taken a fundamentally different angle being that it just was not working with the mix they were using. It was hard to arouse any sympathy being that the scenes trying redeem her moral character were hardly long enough.

I found myself wanting to know more about Sada Abe and less about the incidences the film surrounded. In that sense, the film really isn't about a woman called Sada Abe -- it should be called 'a crazy thing Sada Abe once did.' However, the film is not all bad... It is certainly shocking in some scenes, and it is certainly worthy of a view if you have an interest in Japanese film. However, it is not worthy of more.

Suspect Zero (2004)

Something Was Lacking

[5/10 · 2 July 2005]

As I followed this film from beginning to end, I enjoyed the revelations of the various twists and I felt that the film even seemed to have a natural and proper progression to it, but at the same time, I felt that there was something very large missing. I think that the director ended up inserting the punchlines with too much subtlety, and the acting was too routine, while the action was too constant to be shocking or surprising... Whatever it may be, the film was lacking something large. The combination of all of the above seems to kill the feeling and plot of the film.

I couldn't help but feel utterly indifferent in some parts of the film which are supposed to be exciting and thrilling, and this caused the film to let me down. I am not sure who is to blame, but in the end, this interesting plot with a lot of potential turned into 'just another movie.'

High Tension (2003)

Far Better Than Usual

[7/10 · 11 June 2005]

I particularly enjoyed this film because it seemingly broke a lot of the stereotypes that one sees in films, and in some instances really took things to the edge, displaying scenes that were particularly gory and extreme.

The development of the story was done very well, and injected with good amounts of terror and horror. The director held no punches with this film, focusing on delivering you the most explicit film that he could.

Overall, a very good film that stands out a bit more than others of its' genre. Definitely good for a change and a film that I would recommend anyone watch if they have the free time.

Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

Kung Fu With Mass Appeal

[8/10 · 28 May 2005]

Upon hearing about this film I became skeptical of the idea of a comedy based around Kung Fu, and I worried that a good job would not be done and that it would be quite a struggle to enjoy with the drama mixed in. I was proved wrong -- I found that the film was magniciently sequenced from beginning to end, with very interesting and innovative fight scenes, as well as with the proper comic relief.

The acting was very professional and genuine, with the characters being portrayed well. It was easy to become sucked into the story with the terrific acting of everyone involved.

The story was top, with each new twist and turn making me more interested in the plot of the film as a whole. When the film ended, I was left fulfilled with the story and quite excited about the whole ordeal, hoping that more work along these lines would be done in the future. A tremendous triumph for cinema.

The Longest Yard (2005)

Quite Mediocre

[4/10 · 28 May 2005]

Though this film was riddled with occasionally funny portions, I found that overall much of the humor was offensive and predictable. A lot of the material was not original and seemed as if it was rehashed, had been done before many a time.

Furthermore, it seemed s if within the humor of the film they occasionally lost track of the main plot of the film. Plus, the plot was so dry and drawn out that one almost wished that they had totally thrown it out the window and ran without it. There were also rather surreal moments of corniness that jolted me, being suddenly taken into the realm of the melodramatic after laughing at some juvenile humor.

Overall, the film was not well put together and not that funny for a comedy. Not a great accomplishment. I do not really recommend anyone to see this film.

Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids (2004)

Documentary Without An Edge

[5/10 · 12 March 2005]

When I heard the premise for the film I was immediately convinced to go out and watch it as soon as I could, but after viewing it I could not say that I was very impressed by the film as a whole.

Although the premise is very unique and the film is done with interesting cinematography, I really felt as if somehow Briski and Kauffmen somehow were able to make a documentary about a Calcutta Red Light district and take away the edge. I expected to see more grimy, real, and disgusting images that were meant to shock the viewer and just what these children were exposed to, but instead the overwhelming majority of the film does not involve any of this.

In many ways, it seemed to be more about overcoming the problems of the children than the actual problems of the children. It flirted too much with the shock-value it has as being about the Red Light district, but did not fully confront it. I was quite disappointed.

However, it was fairly well-done and the film was still interesting as a whole. But if you are expected to be shocked or provoked, do not watch this film -- in this aspect, the film is disappointing.

Imaginary Heroes (2004)

Not As Good As They Say

[6/10 · 12 March 2005]

I was a little bit disappointed when watching this film. Although many people enjoyed the story and the premise of the film, I did not feel as if the film was as clear and direct as it should be. The film gets tangled up in subplot after subplot and loses track of many occurrences. Things that happen in the film seem to sometimes be without rhyme or reason.

A good job is done of portraying the profound sadness of the family, and the desperation that they have as a whole, and a very good job of acting is done by everyone. But other than this, I felt that the film dragged on as each scene began having predictable consequences and all of them ended up going down the same road.

I can see why the film is lauded, and I could see why anyone who enjoys independent film would greatly like this film, but even amongst independent-style film it does not rank too highly for me. Overall, a decent film but due to the lack of direction and the predictable, overall unprovocative nature of the story, I am not too fond of it overall.

The 13th Warrior (1999)

Interesting Play On An Old Legend

[7/10 · 12 March 2005]

I really enjoyed this film being that it took an old legend and made an interesting, newer version of it that keeps you interested from beginning to end. As far as action films go, it is a terrific film that really speaks to the senses with beautiful fight sequences and imagery. If you enjoy a good battle scene this is definitely a good film for you, being that there is no shortage of them.

The film also depicts a good sense of brotherhood amongst everyone, and sort of how people of great differences can come together in the face of opposition to accomplish things. Although the content of the story is not very profound and that I did not fight the acting particularly provocative or good, I still felt as if it was a very good action film and was definitely worth watching. If you are in the mood for medieval battle scenes, you cannot go wrong with this movie.

Taste of Cherry (1997)

Searching for the Reason to Live

[8/10 · 27 February 2005]

Kiarostami strikes again with another provocative film, very much in the same vein as his others: drawn out films that involve a very introspective soul-searching of all of the character's involved, and in so doing, finding some more meaning to the idea of what life is all about.

From the beginning to the end, Kiarostami gives us a complex script of characters that we come into contact with, and as we learn about each one, we learn more about the idea of life. What makes the film very interesting for a Western viewer is that I find closer to Kiarostami's Iran after each of his films that I watch, and become more informed to it. We learn intimate details about the lives of several Iranians.

Throughout the film I found that, although like many of his films it was quite slow-paced, it contained the extraordinarily rich dialog that is expected of a Kiarostami film. His films advance through their rich dialog while using the dusty Iranian landscape as their backdrop. I found a lot of the cinematography to be terrific, viewing the city from a distance and looking into the dusty foot-hills on the outskirts of Tehran. It is more than poetic to see a man at the end of his rope searching through the dust and faces of Tehran's poor laborers for answers about life and death. In many ways, the film is a large metaphor for the human state of affairs.

The film culminates very well, and we all eventually find our own taste of cherry in the film. I always feel as if Kiarostami's films are a very philosophical experience, and are quite personal. In this sense, Kiarostami's films are amongst the best that I have seen.

However, they are undoubtedly slower paced than other films, and they require the viewer to detach himself from any western stereotypes that he has about film. This would not be a good film for somebody expecting action or a typical Western film, but rather, this would be a film that I would recommend only to those who are in the mood for an insightful, philosophical film that shows an alternative view of life. Overall, it was an emotionally powerful film that will stick out in my memory as all Kiarostami films do.

Hitch (I) (2005)

Momentarily Delightful

[6/10 · 27 February 2005]

This film was very much so characterized by moments -- moments in which it was quite funny, and other moments where it was very touching in its' message concerning love and relationships. However, other than these isolated moments and scenes, it was not worth watching.

I felt as if Will Smith and Kevin James did terrific acting jobs, and played very well off of each other. They were a great comic duo and never did I feel that the comedy was either forced or unnatural, and in this regard, the film was impressive. However, other than many of these scenes, the film left me with much to be desired.

Though Will Smith carries the film very well, the dialog was trying on my nerves -- sometimes to the point of being distracting from the movie. A lot of the dialog was so corny I could not believe that somebody could say these things aloud and keep a straight face! Furthermore, the story is a bit unbelievable and over-the-top.

However, the main spirit of the film and the moments that Will Smith and Kevin James share were very well done, and overall, it was decent enough of a film to watch. I would recommend this as a good film for anyone who wants to share a romantic evening with a light mood, or to anybody who enjoys fast-paced comedy. However, this is by no means one of the better films I have seen, and I wouldn't recommend anybody to go out of their way to see it.

Woman Is the Future of Man (2004)

Artistic Exploration of Sexuality

[7/10 · 26 February 2005]

Sang-soo Hong has done it again: he has made another controversial film that deals with the in-depth investigation of human sexuality, this time focusing solely on it from the perspective of two old friends meeting up again, one a successful college professor and the other a struggling film-maker.

From beginning to end, Hong lures you into the film by showing provocative sexual scenes and events, and really laying before us just how chaotic and disturbing sex can be, as well as how fulfilling it is. In between comical exchanges between the main characters, there lies a great deal of tragedy. Like many Korean films, it bended genres.

The acting was always as realistic as Hong aimed for in previous films like Power of Kangwon Province, and the story just as equally real -- focusing on very real dialog and very real occurrences. One can feel a close relationship to every character in the movie from start to finish. The mood is very real, and the soundtrack that accompanies it was very appropriate.

A uniquely artistic film that encourages the viewer to connect the dots, and a very real 'slice-of-life' film, I would recommend this to anybody who enjoys artistic film in general, or who has an interest in tackling some major issues about sexuality. It was another well-done piece by Hong, and I look forward to seeing more work by him in the future.

Hotel Rwanda (2004)

Good Film With a Strong Story

[7/10 · 18 January 2005]

Hotel Rwanda is quite a strong story due to the uniqueness of location and topic, as well as the emotionality that is penned into it. I found though, that although the story is very strong and so is Don Cheadle, the rest of the film is not all that it is cracked up to be. Many people like to focus on the good parts of this film (of which there are many), but one must not be so quick to overrate it.

Don Cheadle's performance is very convincing and engaging, and as in most of Don Cheadle's roles, he is able to acquire an accent and a whole different method of acting for each role that he takes. He is truly a diverse actor that deserves much credit (and awards) for this performance. However, Nick Nolte plays an aging military man and throughout the film you cannot help but note that the Colonel is weakly portrayed and Nolte acts quite poorly. I have never seen the portrayal of such a military man being so unintentionally weak and sheepish, yet at the same time the attempt to make him seem soldierly. Either Nick Nolte's acting is bad, or Terry George doesn't know what he wants out of the Colonel.

Which leads me to elaborate that the film was poorly directed. George, for whatever reason, focuses away from the action of the film (the riots and war in Kingali) to the hectic scene at the Hotel, when it is quite obvious that any viewer after hearing all these reports about warfare on the streets would like to see more than is shown. One could say George is tantalizing us with action, but I am afraid that the action seemingly doesn't exist as it should in this film. The film had endless potential to show the depravity of genocide and war in an active and engaging way, but in the end George focuses on a passive portrayal -- with which I would have had no problems by itself, but it becomes quite unsavory.

Furthermore, George also throws inappropriate scenes at inappropriate times, and sometimes the vocal narratives on the radio which are meant to be threatening and scary seem to be comical due to the selection of words. Scenes that bring you in one direction (towards something riveting and compelling) often leave you unfulfilled. George also does not drive home the messages as hard as he could have, and by the end of the film, one can scarcely remember many of the messages that George wanted to drive home, being that one is quite exhausted with the puzzle of plot that George assembles.

Overall, it was a good film, but certainly not without flaw. It could have been a much better film had there been a different style of directing (or, in short, a different director).

Dark City (1998)

Poor Example of a Poor Style of Film

[4/10 · 14 December 2004]

As far as 'interesting,' 'intriguing,' and 'mysterious' go this film seemed to miss them all. It attempted to be mysterious by making up bizarre occurrences along the way, culminating in, essentially, nothing.

It was more of a glorification of one, single, solitary human character who, for some unknown reason, was chosen by fate (seemingly) to bring down an evil system that you progressively learn more and more about throughout the course of a film. For a style of film, it is not a very good style; and for execution of this style, it is not a very good film. It is often overly dark and cold without any purpose. It is often an exercise in futility by Proyas to get the viewer to feel something.

People consider it philosophical, deep, thrilling, etc. but I find it to be none of the above. Occasionally, a film that is pretty to look at, it is just one of the poorer examples of its genre: a parade of dark-looking figures in a gloomy world with the hope of humanity hinged on a man endowed with special abilities. Naturally, I do not have to tell you how the film ends for you to accurately predict it. And naturally, I do not have to hint at how overdone of a genre it is, and how disappointing it is when push comes to shove.

You will find that this film is long-winded and tries to be psychological & philosophical but would only convince me that Mr. Proyas is not a very good director. Do not bother watching this film.

8MM (1999)

Between 'Terrific' & 'Trash'

[7/10 · 14 December 2004]

This film is often made out to be 'very provocative, intriguing, shocking, etc.' or a horrible performance by Nicholas Cage that should not be two hours long. The truth is, naturally, somewhere in between.

I feel that the film was, indeed, rather shocking at times; it drew me in very much at parts, and I felt very much like I wanted to see the end of it. At times, naturally, Nicholas Cage takes away from the film with his over-the-top nature, and the overall acting is not spectacular. Nor is the plot -- although the basis is very intriguing and lured me in, I found that there were certain portions of the plot that would have been better left out. However, other parts of the movie were truly provocative and interesting. The film provokes a lot of mixed feelings, drifting in between 'terrific' and 'trash.'

I was captivated by the film, and I certainly enjoyed it, but there was a lot of other junk thrown into it that took away from many parts of the movie. Overall, if you are interested in a shocking topic such as snuff, it is worth a watch without a doubt. However, do not expect a gem. If you are weak at heart, do not watch it, and if you enjoy that which makes the weak at heart squeamish, it is decent enough.

If you like the basis and idea behind this film, definitely see the 1979 film 'Hardcore.'

Mang quan gui shou (1979)

Funnier Than Most, But Better Than Few

[5/10 · 14 December 2004]

One's impression while watching this film is fairly mixed: there were many parts that made it funnier than the typical Kung Fu film (intentionally so) which kept me interested in the film. Furthermore, the acting is not as bad as typical of its' genre, and I found some of the characters especially expressive and entertaining.

However, the fault of the film is that it falls victim to many of the errors of its' genre: the quality being grainy and questionable, the simplicity of the plot and having shocking simplicity in the archetypes of good & evil, and furthermore, being overall rather corny.

But if you can stand for a typical Kung Fu B movie, this is not so bad; I found it entertaining and its' martial arts were not very shabby, either. And furthermore, the film did not fall victim to any ridiculous subplot or love-story, nor was it ruined by an overwhelming personality clogging up the story, which can easily kill other films. For what they have, a decent film. If you see it for what it is, it is not hard to watch and enjoy it. Decent for anybody who has an attachment to the genre.

Fist of Fury (1972)

Politically Conscious Kung Fu

[9/10 · 14 December 2004]

What makes this Kung Fu classic stand out a bit more is the entire basis for the film: a group of Japanese in Shanghai (probably during the Japanese occupation of this part of China) are abusing the Chinese locals, and insulting them greatly. Constantly referring to the Chinese (as a whole) as the 'sick men of Asia,' and even thinking them lower than dogs (as is shown in some of the scenes).

The entire basis of this Kung Fu film becomes a real reaction to the pain of discrimination and the hatred of a sense of racism that the Japanese dished out to the Chinese, and is based actually off of a real story that followed similar tones. What makes this film very special is the commitment that Bruce Lee has to defeating the Japanese whose goal is to crush the will of the Chinese -- a very accurate reflection of the sentiment that existed.

Overall, this is a very good film that was well done; it has a lot of the defects that films similar to its' genre have (having the grainy feel of Kung Fu films of its' time) but other than the typical, it really sets a standard for Kung Fu and film in general. One can see it, in many ways, as being a good basis for subsequent action and Kung Fu films. A lot of the things in this film were very original and very interesting -- overall, a must see film for anybody who enjoys Action, Kung Fu, or 'political resistance' so to speak. A film for the downtrodden striking back.

Across the Bridge (1957)

Masterfully Done

[6/10 · 10 December 2004]

I was impressed with the originality of the film and story, and the effectiveness of the portrayal. Rod Steiger does a tremendous job of performing in this film, from start to finish, showing us a dramatic performance in a very interesting story. Ken Annakin is very adept at controlling your emotions, with ease making you feel estranged from the main character when he feels, and at other times making you feel extremely intimate.

The symbolism used is also impressive with the use of the dog representing what he traditionally does (loyalty, fidelity). With the extensive use of symbolism and vivid, personal capturing of the downfall of a business tycoon, we have our emotions beautifully twisted and find ourselves with one of the better endings that one can have to a film.

Although at times throughout the film I sometimes felt lost and that it dragged on, overall it was still a good film that I would recommend to anyone. A very worthwhile film from Ken Annakin.

The Postman (1997)

Definition of a Waste of Time

[4/10 · 10 December 2004]

This film really defines 'waste of time' and 'what were they thinking?' I cannot stress just enough how shocked I was that people could assemble three hours of footage similar to this, put their names on it, and call it a film. I was shocked throughout the entirety of the film, finding that such an incredibly corny dystopia, predictable, sad (in the sense of being pathetic) film could be assembled.

Other than Tom Petty appearing as himself (which was entertaining by its' own virtue alone) the film could be used as an indictment against Hollywood, and a call to arms for anybody who feels that they have been robbed of 3 hours of their life and subjected to mind-numbing dialogue.

From the opening scene to the final scene, you will find nothing here.

Onibaba (1964)

Investigation Into Jealousy

[8/10 · 9 December 2004]

Onibaba is a very well done film, purposefully using black and white cinema to its' advantage in this stunning portrayal of murder, jealousy, and uncontrollable human instinct in a dark period of Japan's history.

A film that aims at portraying the baser side of human nature and investigating human psychology, it is chalk-full of symbolic scenes and sequences. From start to finish it draws you in with the odd imagery and scenery of Japan's rural areas, and even though in this film though there are very few characters and elements that are to it, both visually and literally, through its' minimalism it effectively tells its' story.

This film is both very artistic & symbolic as well as literal and upfront, juxtaposing very graphic, real images of the face of humanity that demand the viewer to infer much throughout the whole of the film. When going into this film, I would say that it is very important for the viewer to think of the film as being very symbolic for the instincts and base nature of mankind, and perhaps even a 'state of nature' portrayal of humanity. If you watch this film with that in mind, it will help with the inferences that one must make to get the most out of this film.

As it stands by itself, aside from the deeper meaning, it is an intriguing story that is a veritable 'slice of life' film in the darker sense, viewing the way that people had to live during a period of war and hard times in feudal Japan. It deals with the hardships that these people face, and their method of survival, in addition to a very human story of jealousy and portrayal with a very interesting culminating point that I did not expect at all. The climax of the film is very much worth the build-up, though at times it seemed to be rather slow.

Overall, a very important piece of film when it comes to the symbolism and techniques employed. Through its' minimalism and black-and-white cinematography we are really treated to a great film that is, of its' own right, an influential and great movie. The cinematography is exceptionally good, especially the use of the reeds and the light at night.

I would recommend this film to anybody with a serious interest in film, as well as anybody who likes a good film that investigates the darker side of human nature.

Maryam (2002)

Falling Short of the Bar

[6/10 · 9 December 2004]

This was a film characterized by being there, by being interesting, and by holding your attention -- but giving you false expectations of anything more. Overall, the film was a decent watch, but it left something lacking and something a bit unfulfilling in you.

This film's story has great potential, and from the beginning you could see it building up (in spite of often mediocre acting & filming reminiscent of bad 'made-for-TV movies') but in the end the story does not get anywhere near as provocative or startling as it could be. There are, of course, worthwhile moments as in any film that tackles similar issues, but it was not done in a way that makes one think or be moved by whats' going on; it does it very matter-of-factly and often seemingly without the proper emotions running high. It seems very anticlimactic at moments, and very cold. It is like the firework that makes the big bang but the streams of color are just not there.

Throughout the entirety of the film I am awaiting for an explosion of shock & intrigue, a moment of cinema excellence to rear its' head and enrapture me and devour my senses, but in the end you do not get this: you get a mere solid story that slowly progresses, has very small climactic points, and leaves you slightly disappointed.

It is a decent slice of life film, and it is true in its' portrayals and good effort is put into it by Ramin Serry. I must say that I was pleased with much of the film, and that it was in fact a decent watch, but it certainly was not anything that truly grabs or moves you. And so as a result I can only say that it is a film that is an easy, light watch, and that if you should see it, not to expect anything big or amazing as one might expect. Rather, it is what it is, and what it is is nothing amazing.

Maria Full of Grace (2004)

Stirring & Provocative

[8/10 · 8 December 2004]

Maria Full of Grace is one of the better films of 2004: well acted, well written, and very unique in its' story. From the beginning to the end Joshua Marston chooses to present the story in a way that has us relating and sympathizing with Maria in her plight to find her place in the sun.

A very real topic with very real portrayal and acting, this is definitely one of the better films to come out. It presents its story at a quick pace and leaves you wanting more.

Overall, I enjoyed the film and recommend it to anyone in general, being a great triumph in film-making. I hope to see more films from Joshua Marston in the future.