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mrpenbrook
Reviews
Deadwood (2004)
Raises the bar for TV westerns
It's hard to see how any television western could top Deadwood. The story is completely and instantly engrossing, the acting is top-notch, but it's the writing that really steals the show, cursing and all. The dialogue expertly conveys the quiet danger that the show portrays as an everyday part of life in a town outside the law. It's a pleasure to see each character cautiously feeling out their respective situations, trying to see all the angles so they don't get blindsided, trying not to offend the wrong people while standing up for what's theirs. Deadwood is a perfect example of what HBO can do with a show that's insulated from advertising and broadcast restrictions - it's a heartbreaking work of mastery.
Miami Hustle (1996)
Horrible film, interesting minor cultural artifact
Yes, it barely qualifies as a film, with the worst imaginable acting, directing and writing. But for some reason I find films like this to be intriguing when viewed as cultural artifacts. It just seems to me they're made so cheaply that they can't help but capture the moment better than a big, expensive, heavily styled Hollywood production. I'm old enough to not think of 1996 as that long ago, so I was amazed at how dated everything in this film looks. For instance, all the women wear these ill-fitting jeans with tapered legs and high waists and their long blouses tucked in, which is just the opposite of what you see now (thank God!) Living through the '90s I was just happy nothing looked like the '80s; watching this movie made me glad nothing looks like the '90s.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Breathtaking
As beautiful and tragic as Tolkien's works. Certainly no substitute for the novel, but a stunning companion piece. Tolkien's ideas about the price of freedom, the temptation of despair and the mixed blessing of progress are well honored by Peter Jackson and his abundantly talented cast and crew.
Earth vs. the Spider (2001)
With a capital "B"
Yes, it's, ahem, inexpensive-looking. But it's a B movie in the classic sense, and a very good one at that. The basic premise is, what if "Spiderman" turned into "The Fly?" It's a nice twist, and it's handled with a surprising amount of skill. A fun little movie that, while not particularly original, actually has characters, a story, and some creepy make-up.