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WillieB26
Reviews
Defending Your Life (1991)
NINE DAYS!!!!! You Need More Sake!
This film is BRILLIANT! I've always loved Albert Brooks, and this movie is in my top five of all time. It's a feel good movie that has real insight!
The music is fantastic, as it tends to convey emotion very well. The first time I saw it, I immediately went out and tracked down the soundtrack, which was no easy task. It was so worth it!
Rip Torn as the eternally positive defender, even when things are going badly. 'You did really great today! You should feel proud!' I love Meryl Streep in this movie. She has real vulnerability, and I can't help but to like her. Buck Henry is really quite funny as Diamond's stand-in.
I was emotionally invested in this film from the beginning, and couldn't stop once I pushed play. Current Hollywood films have a tendency to tack on the feel good ending, just to part on good terms with the audience. This movies has that feel good ending, and it belongs there. I can really get behind it!
Bob's statements: 'Just take the opportunities when they come. Good luck kid, I've got a lot of faith in you', were foreshadowing of Daniel's potential. 'Big brains' though probably not omniscient, may have had some heightened insight. They (the judges and lawyers) were watching because Daniel's potential, rather than them expecting Daniel to overcome. Really touching scene.
The DVD is pretty slim on extras. It would be nice to have a commentary track to hear Albert Brooks tell his part. It is really nice to have an anamorphic presentation though. This is a very clever movie, with a good bit of heart, and some really funny lines and situations.
'I'll tell you what I'm going to bring a you nine pies, one for each day..' LOL
December (1991)
Ideas..... but terrible execution!
Negative numbers are not available to convey how bad this movie is! Wooden acting coupled with a story line that has been rehashed dozens of times. Everyone in this movie should attend Overactors Anonymous. You would think an original story could evolve from the general concept. Young men at a prep school are tying to come to grips with the Pearl Harbor bombing. It does raise interesting questions, but the manner in which they are conveyed make it more of a joke. The typical characters were present including the zealous jock and nerd (glasses included). I could not have been more uninterested in the wooden dialog and cliché characters. Upon the completion of the movie, I had to throw the DVD in the trash. Stay far away from this dud! You won't get the 90 minutes of your life back!