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Reviews
Femme Fatale (2002)
Just a showcase for Rebecca Romijn-Stamos
Many of the comments told how Brian De Palma to try out his different technical tricks, but the film's real purpose was to show how sexy RRS could get. So her showcase started off with the jewel heist segment, where she seduces Rie Rasmussen in a scene that was so hot, it almost exploded!
The two actresses are making out while Rebecca is stealing the jewels, literally off Rie's very seductive body. But this scene is not just about sex. It also has action, adventure, comedy, violence and horror, all combined with De Palma's excellent use of camera angles and lighting. And that's just the first 20 minutes of the film.
But by now, everyone is hooked, and the rest of the film, including many mory sexy scenes between RRS and the male lead, Antonio Banderas, who, naturally, falls for her charms, is just more opportunities for Rebecca to seduce the audience, and finally get everyone in love with her.
The Story of Seabiscuit (1949)
Not just a film about a horse
First I read the book by Laura Hillenbrand, then I saw the 2003 film in a theater, and finally I saw this wonderful warm film on DVD titled The Story of Seabiscuit. Being from Ireland, I certainly didn't mind the Barry Fitzzgerald and Shirley Temple intrusion, which does take away from the historical value of the film, but also adds a love story which actually holds the film together.
In the latest version, The legendary Seabiscuit does not appear until all the leading characters are introduced. In this film, all the background information comes in the form of dialogue, which flows smoothly from the brogue of Fitzgeralds charming Irish horse trainer, Sean O'Hara. Barry has a way of drawing you into a film, and sets up Shirley Temple's character, his niece, and also holds together the love story, between her and a jockey, played by Lon McCallister.
Although some of the real names were changed, Seabiscuit's racing history remained true, and they used the actual black and white footage of the match race with War Admiral, which the 2003 film did not.
Considering that this film was made 54 years ago, It holds up very well, with the vibrant color only adding to the film's beauty. Trying to compare these two films, is like comparing apples and oranges. This one is a Hollywood film and the 2003 version is closer to a documentary. Both are well worth seeing, but not comparing.
Veronica Guerin (2003)
A one-woman crusade!
In a true story of Ireland's one-woman crusader against Dublin's drug lords, Cate Blanchett, an Australian actress, pulls off an almost-perfect accent, as the title character, Veronica Guerin. In a difficult role to interpret, Cate does all that the screenplay will allow her, to portray Veronica as a hard-driven rookie investigative reporter, who will stop at nothing to get her story.
Accents are no problem for the rest of the cast, as they are some of Ireland's top-notch actors. Gerard McSorley (In The Name of the Father), as the tough drug trafficker John Gilligan, turns in a stellar performance once again. Ciaran Hinds, as John Traynor (The Coach), is Veronica's chief informant. But can she count on all his information to be accurate? He is working for Gilligan, who is the only gangster Guerin does not supply with a nickname.
This movie gives an accurate description of what Veronica did in her short career, but fails to give her reasons for doing so. Another earlier Veronica Guerin movie, called "When The Sky Falls," starring American actress Joan Allen, also fails to answer the why she did it question. Since Veronica was such a loner, without many friends, and worked out of her home, the WHY question will probably never be answered.
Only the Lonely (1991)
This is an IRISH movie...
I know it takes place in Chicago, but because of Maureen O'Hara, Ireland's all-time best female actress, this movie has to be Irish. Although many of the people who commented on this movie, thought Miss O'Hara was a mean mother, she was really playing her part to the hilt. The interaction between her and John Candy, who plays an Irish-American cop, whose mother is from the old country, and has a hard time controlling her mouth or her actions.
"It pays to be a cop," is a favourite saying of Candy, who uses his position to great advantage. The mean part comes when Maureen tries to break up John and his new girlfriend, because, as most Irish mothers do, she thinks the woman is not good enough for him.
Why do I think this way? Because I am an Irish mother from Ireland.