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Reviews
About Schmidt (2002)
A classic
<some spoilers>
Narration is often frowned upon in movies because it too often forces a perspective on the viewer. Here it is used effectively. Warren Schmidt's life is over. We see him in his office, watching the few seconds to his retirement tick away almost like a condemned man awaiting execution. Now his only outlet for his frustrations are the letters to an African child he has chosen to sponsor.
This is a sad movie that could have easily sunk to tragedy, but thanks to Nicholson's acting it dosen't. There are moments we half expect Nicholson to slip out of character or for the movie to go off on a tangent. Fortunately, it dosen't happen.
There are moments of humor and tragedy, but its never dishonest.
About Schmidt (2002)
A classic
<some spoilers>
Narration is often frowned upon in movies because it too often forces a perspective on the viewer. Here it is used effectively. Warren Schmidt's life is over. We see him in his office, watching the few seconds to his retirement tick away almost like a condemned man awaiting execution. Now his only outlet for his frustrations are the letters to an African child he has chosen to sponsor.
This is a sad movie that could have easily sunk to tragedy, but thanks to Nicholson's acting it dosen't. There are moments we half expect Nicholson to slip out of character or for the movie to go off on a tangent. Fortunately, it dosen't happen.
There are moments of humor and tragedy, but its never dishonest.
Brazil (1985)
Shades of Chaplin
<possible spoilers>
Some have said that the plot is hard to follow. That should not deter anyone who enjoys satire. There are plenty of images to delight the repeat viewer.
Jonathan Pryce plays Sam Lowry, a bureaucrat caught in a nightmare world of paranoia, storm troopers, and technology that dosen't work. His world is one of desperate hopelessness, which he escapes through an image of a fantasy woman (Kim Grist), until circumstances allow Sam to pursue her for real.
The images are the key to enjoying Brazil. There are plenty. Billboards hide the barren landscape, absolutely nothing can be done without the proper form (properly stamped), and Public Enemy #1 is a heating engineer(Robert De Niro) who commits the unforgiveable sin of fixing things.
There were several versions made, including a 90 minute "happy ending" version, which in my opinion ruins the tone of the film. There is a strong surreal quality to the film, but viewers will have no trouble appreciating the gross parody of modern bureaucracy and paranoia.
I couldn't help noting that this film gets better with age. In an early scene, office workers watch television while the boss isn't looking, not unlike today's unauthorized Internet surfing. Brazil may actually be more prophetic than Orwell's 1984. Its a fun movie, but also in its own way disturbing.
The Final Countdown (1980)
Very Entertaining
[Minor Spoilers]Not to take anything away from the excellent cast, the real stars are the aircraft and the Nimitz actors. The flight scenes are what make this movie. While some may be disappointed that the Big Battle was aborted the premise was interesting and the characters were believable. Coincidently, there is a scene in the movie Midway that mentions two Japaneese scout planes which "didn't return".
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976)
Imaginative variation on the Holmes legend
While the Seven Percent Solution may not appeal all fans of the legendary detective, it nevertheless gives us an interesting variation of the Conan Doyle character.
In order to cure his friend of his cocaine addiction, Dr. Watson (Robert Duvall) and brother Mycroft create a ruse to get Holmes to Vienna where Holmes(Nicol Williamson) meets Dr. Sigmund Freud (Alan Arkin). Arkin's Dr. Freud shows his own skills as a detective in a plot involving a kidnapped singer (Vanessa Redgrave).
Holmes and Freud work very well togeather. Freud points out that as a doctor he uses many of the same skills that Holmes uses in fighting crime, and in one scene demonstrates the same powers of observation and reasoning, while being careful not to upstage the great detective. There is not much mystery here, but the chemistry between Holmes and Freud keeps the movie interesting.
The clever twist concerns Holmes' archenemy Prof. Moriaity. Here we see Moriarty not as the villian, but as a timid schoolteacher harassed by Holmes because of a dark event in the lives of Sherlock and Mycroft.
This is a movie that is good fun. The only problem is that Dr. Watson isn't used very well. Freud makes a much better partner to Holmes.