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lallen08
Reviews
Albert Fish: In Sin He Found Salvation (2007)
Meh
The story is so horrifying and gruesome, even by today's standards, that the director's attempts at dramatization add nothing and are more of a distraction. Multiple shots of roasting meat in the shape of ass? Really? And too much time is spent with two dubious "experts," one of whom proudly describes how he acquired Fish's confession letter in an act of larceny (anyone send a copy of this film to the cops in Westchester County?) and who creepily asserts that Fish MUST have loved Grace Buddd in order to do what he did to her. Huh? Anyone want to go dig around in THIS guy's backyard? And all of the religious motivation nonsense is completely at odds with what we know about sexual homicide. It's all about a toxic mix of extreme self absorption and the desire to control others with a nice positive feedback of orgasm. That's it folks. No religious motive here. The religious stuff may have helped him rationalize what he did and certainly sweetened the filth aspect for this guy, but that's probably it. Read Schecter's Deranged instead for a good Fish account.
Soupçons (2004)
Biased and fascinating on many levels
I knew nothing about the Peterson case before watching this film obsessively over a weekend. Even with Lestrade's clearly biased presentation, I came to the same conclusion the jury did - testament to the strength of the autopsy evidence. Res ipsa loquitur - she simply could not have died from a fall down the stairs given the lacerations and the blood. And nothing to suggest that an intruder caused her death. Sure, I winced when Freda Black went on and on about the porn, as if its existence on Peterson's computer in and of itself indicates anything. But all in all it was an interesting lesson into how the skilled storyteller can skew anything towards his chosen bias. And the score was absolutely exquisite.
Lost in Austen (2008)
Nice idea, poorly executed
If you are a true Pride and Prejudice lover as Amanda Price claims to be but is obviously not, you will cringe throughout this film. Every lover of the book has the fantasy of entering that world. It could have been great fun to watch if it had been done properly. First, no P&P lover would be as idiotic as Amanda - cursing, drinking, behaving like a common tart. I couldn't believe for one second that the Bennetts would accept her into their home with that behavior. I've only read the book 5 or 6 times but I like to think that even I would know how to behave if I stumbled upon Merryton and its environs. I'd talk funny, but I could manage the rest. Not Amanda. The whole story is full of just the clichéd sort of humor I'd have thought would be absent given the raves here on IMDb - spunky 21st century girl in straitlaced 18th century keeps screwballing things up! Doggone it that's funny! And she's a mouthy, drunken chippy. Darcy wouldn't look at her twice - anyone who knows the book, knows that.
Grizzly Man (2005)
Timothy Treadwell =Ted Kaczinski
Bottom line - flaming narcissist with massive insecurities and social deficits retreats from the humans who disappoint him. He self-destructs rather than targeting and annihilating the rest of us, which is admirable. His narcissism, as is always the case, prevents him from seeking and accepting the help he needs to live amongst the humans. So he turns to the bears. No mysticicm. Nothing special. No liberal vs. conservative bs. No environmental vs. rapist of the land bs. Only pathetic human bs. In my mind, raises questions about how our culture encourages the emotional hobbling of boys, but not much else. I give five points for cinematography.
Broken Flowers (2005)
Bland
Two dimensional, stereotypical characters. I couldn't enjoy the Lolita character that others seemed to enjoy so much - all I'm thinking is Mom needs a good sexual abuse assessment for her (the literary Lolita needed one too - sorry to spoil the fun, boys). And how do all of these women even remember who he is? By my calculation, none of them spent more than like a couple of months with him 20 years ago, unless he was seeing them all at the same time. And none of his women seem to have gone on to happy fulfilling lives. The only seemingly happy people in the film are the immigrant family where Dad has three jobs, five children under the age of about seven, and the preposterously contented, pretty, coffee-making, indulgent, earth mother, wonderful cook of a wife who must be losing sleep at night over why they're struggling so hard to live in such an obviously affluent neighborhood. Ugh. A tad hard to swallow and not too many people to like. Still, I love Bill Murray and give it six stars, but wait for DVD.
Friday Night Lights (2004)
Just another football movie
Enjoyed it. But this movie missed a great opportunity to comment in a meaningful way (beyond Booby's tearful All-I-can-do-is-play-football lament) on our often troubling, national obsession with football. I'm watching this movie thinking that this is the movie to send to friends overseas who want to know what the US is all about. We're all about glory, pride, winning, and toughness. And not necessarily in a good way. Could have been a great movie, in the end just a good movie. Berg obviously thought about going the exploration route but opted for a pretty straightforward Rocky-like sports thing. Pity. Worth a watch though. Game scenes are great, good acting, and seeing Lucas Black and Billy Bob together again is a trip.
The Terminal (2004)
I want my money back!!
Incredibly boring. I can't even remember the last time I wanted to walk out on a movie but I was squirming to leave through the whole thing. It just dragged and I didn't care about the characters, the story, anything. And the movie was so boring that I didn't even care what was in the peanut can. I knew it was going to be something stupid but poignant by sappy Spielbergian standards. And look, I was right.
Spielberg can keep my money, but I'd like those 128 minutes of my life back. This movie is Spielberg's worst, even worse than Always. Skip it unless you're an unthinking sap. If you're a thinking non-sap who wants to be moved, see Schindler's List instead (possibly my favorite movie of all time).