Past Short Takes: 1997
Short Takes
1996 Short
Takes
Top 10 Movies of 1998
The Avengers: *** While the plot was iffy and not very satisfying, this was certainly an enjoyable and witty film. The design as a whole was done very well, and I loved Ralph Fiennes, Uma Thurman, and Sean Connery.
Blues Brothers 2000: ** They've tried to recreate the same formula as the first film, but with little success. Sparse laughs are all you'll find. The true highlight of the film which makes it worth seeing without a doubt are the musical numbers. Never has a finer group of jazz, blues, and souls musicians been assembled for one film. Showstoppers include "Looking For a Fox", "364-5789", "Respect", and a grand finale to end all grand finales. A mediocre film with an unbeatable soundtrack.
The Borrowers: *** 1/2 A cute yet entertaining children's comedy about a family of little people who live inside houses and buildings in London. A good cast and a witty and amusing script make this a real highlight. The true reason to see this is John Goodman. I see shades of Oliver Hardy in his performance as the evil-eyed lawyer who schemes to build a tourist hotel on top of the borrowers' house. He is truly hilarious, and this is a real joy to watch.
Bulworth: **** An enormously hilarious and biting political comedy. Beatty is phenomenal and the script is so true it's scary. Wonderfully directed and performed. The funniest part is where Beatty begins to speak entirely in rhyme.
Deep Impact: **** I was astounded at the amazing display of dramatic effect used in what proved to be an excellent acting film. I was glad it wasn't too much of a spectacle, but the effects were nice. It really gives us a good look at how the end of the world might look.
Deep Rising: * 1/2 A very bad sci-fi/horror film. Treat Williams is so overdone and hammy it's a strain to watch. It is a good idea for a script, and and is actually suspenseful and scary at times, but it borrows from so many other films, it's like watching a montage of crap.
Disturbing Behavior: ** 1/2 A film that keeps you riveted. The problem is, though, that after you get out of the theater and start thinking, you realize what a poor plot there was. It was really not believable and not cohesive, but the action and interest is at such a high emotional level so that during the movie, you're really excited.
Dr. Dolittle: *** A fun, childish, and enjoyable little comedy. Not extraordinary, but full of enough laughs to keep it interesting.
Enemy of the State: *** 1/2 I must admit that there were a few kinks in the story and several things that weren't quite believeable, but other than that I was thoroughly impressed by this movie. Will Smith passes the test again, and the direction is done very well.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: * 1/2 Johnny Depp was great as Raoul Duke (Hunter S. Thompson's character), but the rest of the film was so disjointed, disgusting, and dull that it wasn't interesting. Benicio del Toro did a good job portraying a fat, despicable, slob, but the slob wasn't likeable. I didn't care. The plot didn't move at all. In between hallucinations, flashbacks, and off-color jokes, there is some prophecy and wit mixed in as Duke narrates. The film doesn't work, but it is very funny.
54: * 1/2 A very poor film with no plot progression whatsoever. It tries to tell a story, when in reality it's just aimlessly following a few uninteresting characters. There is little real drama here. It does do a better job than the loathsome, ugly, disgusting Boogie Nights, though at depicting a world of sex and drugs without making the viewer vomit. There were some funny parts, and I suppose it was entertaining. At the end, it talked about Steve Rubell's dream, and the end of it in a beautiful sequence that surprised me. It was the only moment of beauty and clarity in the whole film.
Godzilla: *** Despite some evident story problems, it was a very good action film. They didn't handle Godzilla as well as they could have. They were eager to get him into New York, but once they did, they didn't know what to do with him. They had to bring in an entirely different enemy altogether to try and keep the film alive. It was too reminiscent of Tyrannousaruses and Raptors to seem like a unique film. Still, from an action standpoint, it was very weldone, and it had its funny moments.
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer: *** This was certainly almost as good as the original. It doesn't bog you down with plot, but it chooses to just give you enough to satisfy you and leave the rest to superb suspense and action. Although I did predict the ending and many more frustrating points, this sequel is without doubt a joy to see.
Lethal Weapon 4: *** 1/2 I am constantly amazed at how these sequels just keep getting better. It's a cliche and it's hokey, but I just love Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. I think Joe Pesci is hilarious. The whole routine between Chris Rock and Danny Glover was great. The scene in the dentist's office was classic comedy. The action sequences were well directed and well executed. I could have used a better balance, but I was well satisfied.
Life is Beautiful: **** The first thing I have to say is that this was certainly unique. There are probably more messages and symbolism in this film than I could ever sift through. My basic impression was that despite all adversity and in the face of all horrors, life is still beautiful. Roberto Benigni began as a comedian reminiscent of Chaplin, Stan Laurel, and Lou Costello. He ended as an actor reconciling his tragic character with comedic overtones. He did a magnificent job, and the entire film was magnificent. My only complaint is that I could not quite reconcile the happiness with the atrocities.
Little Voice: **** I was amazed at how touching this film was. Three cheers for all of the actors and writers. I was thoroughly entertained and especially wowed by Jane Horrocks as Little Voice herself. Of course, Michael Caine was wonderful, and Brenda Blethyn was great as well.
Lost in Space: *** An interesting attempt to make good of a largely forgotten TV show. There are good jokes, and good suspense moments, but the plot doesn't hold up. It is poorly written and uses amateurish formulas. The film ultimately succeeds, despite the combination of time travel and family values, which while well executed, doesn't fit together in the big picture.
The Mask Of Zorro: *** 1/2 Just what I expected from a film based on a TV show that I loved to watch as a kid. Anthony Hopkins is the master of versatile acting. The more I see Antonio Banderas, the more I like him. He was the perfect fit for this role, and executed it to a "T". It was very comedic, but not too much so. The action sequences were amazing, and kudos to the stunt doubles! This is a thrill to watch!
Mercury Rising: ** 1/2 A fun suspense thriller, but not quite intelligent enough to fit in with the super-intelligent story. Bruce Willis is back, as usual. The plot proceeds well and is adequate, but it doesn't stand up to its potential. I saw where Alec Baldwin compared the life of one little boy versus the lives of thousands of agents and wondered why they didn't make more of that. It seemed a very valid point and wasn't really dealt with. Apart from some minor objections, the film was above average and worth seeing.
Phantoms: *** I was amazed at how well done this film was. After it got panned by the critics, I expected a crummy Sci-Fi/Horror film not worth its weight in popcorn. I was surprised at first that Peter O'Toole was in it, and second that the youth actors weren't the cliched teenagers seen in most horror films. Hats off to Dean Koontz and co. on a superb screenplay that thrills!
Pleasantville: *** 1/2 This film is a joy to watch. It is so new and is bustling with such energy that it compels your attention. Hats off to each actor, all of whom function together seamlessly. It's a thrill to see Don Knotts again, as well as the late J.T. Walsh. My problem comes with the screenplay. It seems so smooth at first, but becomes too cumbersome in mid-film. There were several areas where it seemed slow, and it looked as if the screenwriters were just moving along with the flow, not caring about justifying it. This is a basic hair-split, though, because I loved the film. It is truly invigorating and a mirror of our own society. ("No Coloreds" sounds familiar, doesn't it?)
Primary Colors: *** 1/2 A brilliant film that really deals with everything we try not to think about when it comes to politics. Every scandal and corrupt politicians that we make light of and make fun of, when it really is a serious stain on our pride. John Travolta makes a career performance as Jack Stanton, not Bill Clinton(laughter). Emma Thompson is great as his wife. Kathy Bates may be looking at another Oscar with her powerful performance as a mentaly ill friend of the Stantons. Billy Bob Thornton is great, and everyone acts as an ensemble to make this one of the best films I've seen this year.
Prince of Egypt: *** 1/2 A fantastically produced film. Apart from a few minor faults, The Prince of Egypt is one of the best animated films of the 90's. I don't like Val Kilmer as Moses. That's in the Bible somewhere.
Psycho: ** 1/2 This was certainly an entertaining film, but I have only one question: Why was it made? There were no major deviations from the original (except some hanky-panky), and the camera work was virtually identical. It incorporated a few modern techniques, but was just a non-unique film. I really hate to admit this, but I never really thought the original was all that fantastic to begin with.
Rush Hour: *** A hilarious romp of a movie. I never felt Jackie Chan was interesting enough on his own, but when he isn't the only interest, he is fine. I loved the interaction between him and Chris Tucker. Tucker has such a personality that he'll make it in movies for a while, but we'll see how long he lasts. My main gripe is that the plot was simple. A consul's daughter is kidnapped. Nothing really changes, it's just a series of events. There are a few things revealed (usually all at once), but the plot really doesn't move. But the laughter is such that you really don't mind.
Shakespeare in Love: *** 1/2 Now I am as big a fan of ol' Bill Shakespeare as the next guy. It wasn't a lack of love for Shakespeare that dimmed this film for me. It was the fact that the film had a lack of love for Shakespeare. Instead of creating what could have been a timeless classic in praise of Shakespeare,love, and life, the film slowly becomes a simple love story. It was a good love story, but it wasn't the best film of the year. It was probably better acted than any other film this year, but the screenplay irked me and did not please me completely. Other than that, this film was a phenomenon.
A Simple Plan: **** It's wonderful when you find that rare movie that explores simple, timeless aspects of life. A Simple Plan is a thrilling story that keeps you involved all the way through. It is acted and directed with superb finesse, and it is written extremely well. This is a film that makes you think about money, trust, brotherhood, and life. Any plan that starts simply and is planned well will ultimately fail.
Small Soldiers: * A flimsy, completely uninteresting attempt at cuteness by bringing back old war cliches on a smaller level. Some funny moments, but overall uninteresting and trite.
Snake Eyes: ** A very average suspense film. It wasn't as horrible as it was cracked up to be, but it was very dull and not really worth seeing. They revealed everything too early in the film to keep you interested. There was no real sense of mystery or suspense. It was still kind of interesting, though, just to see Gary Sinise.
The Spanish Prisoner: *** 1/2 David Mamet has done it again. Not only is this an amazing screenplay, but it is directed flawlessly. I had a few problems as far as understanding, but overall it's one of the best of the year. Great job by Campbell Scott and Steve Martin.
Sphere: ** 1/2 The book by Michael Crichton is amazing, and the screenplay comes through with only a few questions, however important they may be. Good performances across the board provide for an entertaining sci-fi film.
Star Trek: Insurrection: *** Another entertaining Star Trek film. It doesn't hold anything overly exciting or terribly entertaining and fails to capitalize on its theme, despite the best acting efforts of Patrick Stewart.
There's Something About Mary: *** 1/2 I never thought I could laugh so much at a black, bathroom comedy as I did at There's Something About Mary. I'd certainly have to call it the funniest movie I saw this year. I laughed until I cried! Anyone who hasn't seen this cannot miss it. However, it's not for the squeamish.
The Truman Show: *** 1/2 Wonderfully fun film. It went through
several low points during the film, but overall, Jim Carrey was great and
Peter Weir succeeded. However, again I must remind the critics that there
is a differnece between a good film and a great one. No one was inclined
to disagree that Jim Carrey could make the transition into a serious role.
Only I disagreed. I admit that he made a good showing and was impressive,
but slow down, you idiots, he's no Olivier. He could have done much better.
I don't mean anything personally against Jim Carrey. On the contrary, I
think he did a fine job. However, I must remind the pretentious, overzealous
mass media critics to keep their damn pants on.
This movie was very good, but not great. It could have gone
much further as far as self-examination as a society and taken the spotlight
off of Jim Carrey for a minute. If the film had made us look at ourselves
instead of at the screen, then it would have been great. As it was, it
was just very good.
US Marshals: *** The sequel doesn't hold up to its predecessor, but it still manages some fun. Tommy Lee Jones is great, but was not meant to be the star. Wesley Snipes does a poor job of holding up his end of the star billing. The screenplay leaves a few things unanswered, but is enjoyable for its action and suspense quality.
Wild Things: *** Purrrrrrrr. As a teenage boy, I'm inclined to rave this film. But good sense prevails. The plot is absolutely unique and worth mention, despite its faults. After a solid dozen plot twists, the audience loses track of where we started and everything becomes unreal and absurd. It keeps your interest, but it's evidently amateur. By the way, why did Bill Murray do this movie?
Wrongfully Accused: ** 1/2 An entertaining film with some nice jokes. It has a hilarious start and looked to be great. It went downhill between jokes, though, and it slowed considerably. It was worth seeing, though, for some of the parodies and satire that is trademark Leslie Nielsen.
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