pstawicki Reviews

Funny Games (2007)

Useless

[2/10 · 18 April 2008]

Funny Games US is a motion picture study of two young psychopaths and the pain, suffering, and ends they inflict. In the end it gives just one line that justifies what actually took place and that line was unable to make me not feel like I had wasted 2 hours of my life.

The characters are cardboard. The length of the film is excessive. In the end you care about no one involved and you are left feeling the conclusion (though there really is none) is totally unsatisfactory.

The violence contained in the film is never shown though the effects of the violence and its remnants are displayed prominently.

My belief is that the director was trying to show how passé we now find violence and even goes an extra step to show bare sexuality (there is no nudity in the movie) against the back drop of the violence to allow the audience to judge their own "arousal factors" and how close they are to violence.

But no matter what the directors intention, the product was without merit. I would recommend not watching the film. Not even when suffering from extreme sleeplessness in hopes that this might lull you into a restful slumber - trust me it won't.

Tim Roth is wasted with very little dialog. Naomi Watts is wasted though she is able to show a great deal of emotion and is used for her looks as an arousal tool. And the best showing was the actor who played their son who showed a great deal of stage like visual emotion. Bravo.

I was being nice when I gave this two stars - Watch at your own peril and remember you'll never be able to reclaim the two hours of your life.

Vantage Point (2008)

Non Stop Action - Excellent!

[8/10 · 22 March 2008]

I have read nothing what so ever about this movie. I just finished watching it minutes ago and all I can say is the last 20 minutes had me literally screaming at the screen, pounding my fist, and cheering! Was it realistic. Heck No! But if you can suspend disbelief for the sake of a great story with excellent action and a very good plot line, this is the movie for you! Forest Whitaker is himself, a very good guy next door on the spot (Abe Zapruder all the way). While I could have seen him used a bit better, he was a hero in his own right and played the part to a "T".

Quaid may be showing his age but he played his part without a flaw and I loved his "Cape Walk".

A very good use of multiple plots, multiple views - very effective and built the suspense to the boiling point! Well worth the time spent!

Balls of Fury (2007)

Very Amusing Movie With Lots of Tiny Balls

[7/10 · 14 March 2008]

Ping Pong - Let's face it - Its not NASCAR. It's not even Tennis. Instead what we have here is a spoof. And if you go in knowing your watching a spoof - you will at the very least chuckle through out this well made and very amusing film.

Right now the current spate of spoofs is basically non sensible with stupid characters mostly based on current actors or direct rip offs of other films (Scary Movie 1-1000 & Date Movie) This movie isn't that movie. Yes its a plot we have seen before many times but rather than talking down to the audience, the writers truly appeared to have an objective of amusing the audience.

Chirstopher Walken is awesome as Feng playing a campy version of himself. The comments are delivered as only Walken can do and it really works.

Dan Fogler is killer as the ping pong champ without a future. His delivery is awesome but he actually has some heart and your rooting for the dope.

My personal is James Hong. The man is 70 plus years old and still makes me laugh - even with the same kind of humor he's been delivering since the 80's.

The big plus is Maggie Q and Aisha Tyler - Two stunning women looking good and not just eating the scenery. Aishas delivery is too damned funny. I wish we could see more of her.

Its not going to win any awards but you wont kick yourself for wasting two hours after watching it!! Good job guys!

Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

Under appreciated movie classic!

[1 March 2003]

This movie set the mood for all other John Carpenter classics. Smart-ass over the top characters with big brass balls, excellent cinematography, creepy but easily recognizable music, and no shortage of memorable lines ("Got a smoke?") This movie was made on a shoe string budget with a majority of unknown actors and actresses (Laurie Zimmer being the ultimate "What happened to her" actress of the 70's) Despite that, the story is solid, the focus is simple, the cinematography is killer, the action is great and the ladies are all babes. (The female style seems to be the tight sweater of the 50's look) I need to thank my mother who forced me 20 years ago to stay up and watch this film. She has always known what great movies where.

Bed of Roses (1996)

Excellent Movie for the Hopeful Romantic!

[6 August 2001]

How can I even start. This movie is a true love story about bringing together two people so different from one another that under anything but the most unusual circumstances they would never even cross paths. And isn't that what we all want? A magic moment with someone that comes out of left field? Christian Slater is excellent as a shy but well meaning character who has nothing but the best intentions. His pain is easy to feel and his thoughts about the world are childlike, innocent, and so on target (We should all go to story hour sometime!) Mary Stuart Masterson is the picture of todays executive - hustling and bustling while never even giving thought to what she really wants deep inside. The two together are just the picture of how love should be. (The morning after scene is something I will always wish for in life and will never achieve)I honestly thought while watching this - if you could just run the credits after the morning after this would have been the perfect movie but into life a little rain must fall and so we have the second half. But even this I love because don't we all have those insecurities, that cowardice hiding deep inside?? Trust me - its worth a watch - everyone I know loves it and I have to fight to get the tape back when I loan it out!!