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marsha56
Reviews
On the Ropes (1999)
Great movie, you REALLY care about these people
I thought the most compelling story was Tyrene's. I wish that more of the movie had focused on her.
Went to the movie in a totally down mood, really feeling sorry for myself. Man, you don't know how rough and unfair life can be until you've heard Tyrene's story. Lord, help me not to complain about my petty problems when there's so much real struggle and hardship in the world.
American Movie (1999)
Funny but not in a good way
This film does have a lot of laughs, but after the first 20 minutes, you realize that all of the laughs are coming at the expense of truly pathetic people.
I keep wondering how the people in the film really feel about the audiences kept in stitches by their inept, short-sighted, selfish, manipulative lives.
The only way this movie succeeds is as a strong anti-drug/anti-alcohol propaganda piece. Most of the misery in these people's lives seems to be caused by their heavy substance abuse. Mark, Mike and Uncle Bill have wasted lives because they've spent most of their lives wasted.
This is the most un-glamorous look at drug and alcohol abuse I've seen in a long time.
Bringing Out the Dead (1999)
Nicolas Cage tops off a great cast
Once again, Nicolas Cage just blows me away. His best since Leaving Las Vegas. Almost all of the rest of the cast is great too. Ving Rhames, Tom Sizemore, the scolding intake nurse, the 'oasis' drug dealer. The sound track is fantastic.
The only thing that didn't work for me was Patricia Arquette's performance. I think she should have played the ghost Rose, and the young actress playing Rose should have played Cage's love interest.
The scenes with just Cage or Cage and his partners or Cage and his patients are great. But Cage and Arquette left me cold.
Still I would highly recommend this film for everything else in it.
Three Kings (1999)
Loved George Clooney but would rather see him in a better movie
I think I would have liked this better if I'd been dragged into it expecting another brainless action flick. It is just a little more thoughtful than that. But the reviews I'd been reading led me to expect a really intelligent take on Desert Storm. It didn't come even close to fulfilling my expectations.
Poor Nora Dunn. Just what evil has she ever done that would justify casting her as this insufferably whiny, self-centered reporter. In reviews I see her compared to Christiane Annampour (spelling?). PLEEEEEASE!!! I can't believe Christiane would have lasted a week, if she's 1/10th this obnoxious.
George Clooney has such a self-assured, comfortable-in-his-own-skin screen presence that makes me think of Gable. I'd just like to see him in a really good role in a really good movie for a change.