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Reviews
Balseros (2002)
Truth is Sadder than Fiction
This documentary is a gripping look at seven Cuban's daring escapes from their home country, and depressing US destinations. The movie beautifully portrays Cuba in a negative but wistful light, a light that seems all the better when the battered Cubans begin their bland new lives as Americans. Family drama overshadows the greater drama of the desperate exits from Cuba, but in the end nothing has changed. The little these people had in Cuba is eventually pined over when they are left with nothing in the US. An amazing but depressing film, Balseros shows us that the grass is always greener on the other side; except in America, where there is no grass left.
Shattered Glass (2003)
Nothing Shattered about "Glass"
Upon having the pleasure of getting to see "Shattered Glass" at a local film festival, I hoped to be entertained. Given the steady stream of glitz and crap lining theaters, it was simply a bad idea to have high standards. But "Shattered Glass" was a brilliant film, taking a gripping story and keeping it that way. There was no extra "oomph" to ensure viewer satisfaction, just the raw portrayal of a writer desperate to be popular. The small roles occupied by Steve Zahn and Rosario Dawson are amazing: they're given small parts and they play those parts to capacity, but don't strive for more. Christianson is amazing as Glass: smooth, charasmatic and coniving behind closed doors. His shmotzing of the editor (an excellent Hank Azaria)with phony e-mails, phone numbers, business cards and websites is amazing to watch. A man caught in his own game but incapable of admitting it. Truly an Oscar contender.