politis Reviews

Edge City (1998)

Illustrates the banality of evil as well as anything I've seen

[8/10 · 8 October 1999]

When you read about a senseless brutal crime committed by seemingly normal individuals, it's hard to understand how it could happen. This film makes a plausible case, showing how peer pressure and crowd mentality can make kids evil who are ok as individuals. This is based loosely on a local case in my home town, Philadelphia. The acting is excellent and the director really has a feel for adolescent lifestyle.

Bishonen (1998)

Tragic; sentimental but believable in cultural context

[10/10 · 26 July 1999]

> Tragic story of young Chinese man forced to choose between love and family > honor. Based on a true police file. . The destiny seems inevitable > given the time and place.

In the Flesh (1998)

Good mystery; clever plot twists

[8/10 · 26 July 1999]

> I like a mystery where a clue turns out to mean something different than it > seems at first. It happens twice here. This film delivers a good > intellectual puzzle.

Spin the Bottle (1998)

Best reunion-type film I have seen

[10/10 · 21 July 1999]

Extremely well-written comedy with serious message behind it. Five childhood friends get together for a reunion as young adults. The script in a very original and clever manner lets the characters build upon memories from childhood to learn things about their present selves. I'm surprised this isn't more widely known.

Bocage, the Triumph of Love (1997)

Visuals perfect; poetry lost in translation

[8/10 · 19 July 1999]

Extraordinarily poetic visuals make this film almost perfect. The only drawback is that the translation conveys the content of his poetry but the English fails to show why he is a great poet. Certain sex words are especially unpoetic. Artfully composed scenes and stirring music compensate.

Getting to Know You (1999)

Very realistic characters that draw you in.

[9/10 · 7 May 1999]

An unlikely concept to link together three short stories with the theme that all are waiting at the same bus depot sounds rather a cliche but the remarkable writing pulls everything together flawlessly. Almost all the acting is very strong. I think there are some future stars here. I think most Americans will be able to identify with what happens to these characters, even if their own lives are actually a little more calm. The best and the worst of the human spirit are both realistically intertwined.