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Reviews
The Other Sister (1999)
It's a vulgar and condescending movie...
The script is filled with invites to laugh at the mentally disabled. The characters in this movie are not only mentally retarded, they've been living in a box for their entire lives. "Who invited music?" asks Carla. "I think it was Madonna!" cries her boyfriend
Later they slur their speech while reading a sex manual. I guess the creators of this film thought that retarded people having sex was funny. A film that portrays a romance between two mentally retarded people should at least attempt to do the topic justice. The Other Sister lacks the depth of thought this difficult topic deserves.
Also, although the film does show Danny's struggle to find work, it barely touches on Carla's. This film ran for over two hours-couldn't she have found an additional goal(other than her relationship) during that time?
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
Well,it's a good film for gender studies...
Here's a few of the gender themes that I've found thus far: The Best Years of Our Lives
1. The New Woman vs. The Fallen Woman(Peggy and Marie) Peggy comforts Fred when he is scared, cares for the sick, helps out in the war effort, and is kind and domestic. She, like Fred, wants a nice house in the suburbs.
Marie doesn't want the house. She wants to be young, have fun, and she cheats on Fred. She also tries to make him go out to dinner and wants to spend her own money.
Of course, Fred's cheating kiss is seen as excusable,because of her wicked behavior.
2. Independent Women are lustful and sinful(Marie)
Example: Marie has a career as a singer,which allows her to display her sexual side by seducing men with her siren's song. Fred wants her to give up her nightclub career.
3. Domestic women must look respectable(Marie) Example:She doesn't "look like a wife" according to Fred's comrades. She's blond, made up, and sexy. She's what men want to f***-not to marry. Fred made a mistake by marrying a "whore."
4. Women must submit their household status to the returning male member(Millie & Al) Example:"I'm the head of the household again," Al says. Too bad Al has been away so long that has no idea what is going on in the house. Plus, he's a still living through the war in his head. Wouldn't it be more logical to have Millie make more of the decisions for awhile?
5. A woman must be a mother and a sexual being(Wilma and Homer's relationship) Example:After helping Homer remove his hooks, Wilma kisses him erotically. Homer admits that without his hands he is, "As helpless as a baby."
6. Infidelity is forgivable if your wife isn't ideal (Fred and Peggy)
Even though Fred is married to Marie,he kisses domestic Peggy. The film makes this excuseable,since Marie is such a wanton woman.
7. Women don't need intellectual connections/respect to fall in love-they just need a chance to nuture(Peggy and Fred)
Fred hits on Peggy before he even goes home to see his wife. But Peggy calms Fred after his night terror. She's a new woman ,after all, and she is willing to act like a doormat to comfort the returning GI's. The two of them share a lunch and all of a sudden they're in love. Peggy has had one decent conversation with this fellow. She refers to him as broken and hints to her parents that she could fix him now that his wife has tossed him aside. These are just the gender themes. There are so many other fun things that can be pulled out of this movie(vets will adapt to home life, let's move to the suburbs, let's stand up for soldiers rights, what if there is another depression,etc,etc,etc).
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
anti-1950ism
It's impossible to divorce this film from the era it was created in...it was loaded with anti-1950isms.
Here were a few of my favorites:
1.In one scene a young girl walking around a suburban street in the 1930's as store signs flash around her that is absolutely priceless. It just screams anti-commercialism!
2.There's also a slight backlash against the preachy, overly religious tone of the 1950's(remember kids, there was a religious revival in progress, due to Cold War conflict with the SU)where hypocritical piety (the Reverend) is contrasted with pure righteousness(Rachel Cooper).
3.And hypocritical piety(yes,I'm still talking about the Rev.) also does a (probably) accidental take on the 1950's monster movies when he makes his hands into claws and chases the children up the stairs.
Urbania (2000)
It expresses the chaos of the mundane
I have never seen a film express how strange the mundane is. By allowing the film to play out in a non-linear fashion, the audience gradually learns why the main character is troubled. They are then sucked into his world where the everyday rituals of life become disturbing and surreal. This movie reminds the audience that life is not a set course, and we can't control many of the things that happen around us.
The Opposite of Sex (1998)
a remarkable film
The Opposite of Sex can boast good acting, a great script, and no shame. Dedee Truitt ,a pregnant tart from LO who attempts to cover up any emotion she holds for people by being mean and sarcastic in her narrative, runs away to her homosexual half-brother's(Phil) house. She seduces his live in boyfriend(Matt) and claims he is the father of her baby. And thats just the beginning of her escapades. I have to give this film credit,it does not attempt to be PC or daring. It is brutal,touching,honest, and pretty damn funny. I definite must see.
Down to You (2000)
must miss film
This film seems to have fallen out of a cookie cutter for Romantic Comedies. Everything that happens in this film is cliched and predictable. The acting is bad(especially Freddie,who has two expressions and a very hollow sounding voice) but the script is worse. It creates boring and stereotypical characters.The dialogue is hokey and irksome. You can almost predict what the characters will say before they say it. A horrible,horrible film.
Balto (1995)
nothing special
It was a cute, forgettable film. The animation is not even close to par with Disney, the script delivers a few notable one liners and nothing else, and the voice talents adequate. Still it has its "touching moments" and the audience it was intended for(small children) will adore it.