Change Your Image
Tom-Livanos
Reviews
Fish: The Sins of the Father (2000)
A gem
I am writing on Monday 23 September 2024. I watched this episode twice when it came out in the early 2000s on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's television channel. I hope this gives an indication of how high this episode's quality is i.e. That I have remained impressed by it two decades later.
I looked up who wrote it. Stephen Trendre. Not a name I have come across before. Tragically died at the age of 34 in 1997. What a loss.
I do not want to say too much. A quote from the main character played by Paul McGann, "I hate bullies." Resonates with me to this day. Yet how does one deal with a bully in a position of authority without becoming a bully oneself. What may I say, this was brilliant.
Afternoon Delight (2013)
Out of left field yet here is the one thing I got from this movie
This movie is character based. I agree with other reviewers that it is difficult to ascertain what the movie was attempting to convey, or portray. That has been covered so I shall not focus on it in this here review. Instead, I shall focus on something that has little-to-nothing to do with the actual characters or even the plot of the movie. As such it is 'out of left field', as the expression goes.
Slightly beneath the surface of the preceding (i.e. Characters, plot) is the house in which the main character Rachel lives in, with her husband and child son. The movie.. perhaps inadvertently.. shows how important it is to own one's own home. I think it is highly likely that this was inadvertent. As such and given that a main theme of the movie is one person's (supposed?) homelessness, which is a serious issue in today's world, it kinda sends the wrong message. If one thinks about it, home ownership is exclusionary. That is the essence of.. well.. any ownership. This, in turn, is a root cause of homelessness i.e. Not only in California, not only in the United States of America, but right around the world.
I did not see anything healthy, let alone helpful, come out of this movie. It therefore follows my advice is to skip it.
The Practice (1997)
The easiest of encapsulations: self-indulgent writing
I have been revisiting old television series over the last couple of years. Shows from 'The Odd Couple' to 'Doogie Howser M. D.' to 'I Love Lucy', 'Petticoat Junction', 'Malcolm in the Middle', 'Nightcourt', 'Coach'... my database shows over 50 of them. 'The Practice' has to have the most self-indulgent writer, David E. Kelley, of the lot. Yes, I understand he went to law school. There are some legal principles which are explored in 'The Practice'... I struggle to remember right now any legal principle which is explored in a positive light.
As it happens, I share a dark view of the legal system. For me, it begins with the fact that it is an adversarial system i.e. Both in the United States of America and where I live, Australia. What this essentially amounts to: from the moment of birth, individuals are pitted against one another. It is an awful framework in which to live one's life. I did not, however, write a fictional television series about it all.
David Kelley could have gone "elbow-deep" in law reform, acted as a local resident and citizen within the United States of America and attempt to... well... facilitate coexistence. Surely that is the proper function of a legal system. What did he do instead? Dramatise with fictional story-lines... later mixing in real world people and events. I mean who is this guy? Not an episode went by when the drama was not accentuated with music. Not one. I am only giving this a star-rating because it is a required field. One is as low as I can go but feel free to make it zero stars...
I realise that season eight was impacted by - perhaps even the result of - budget cuts from the broadcast network. I doubt I would have watched it through to the end if I did not have the opportunity to express my thoughts here on the 'Internet Movie Database (IMDb)'. I am thankful for the opportunity to do so. Phew! So thankful I can put this series behind me.
Home Again (2017)
A very narrow exploration of returning to one's parents' home
I am the same age as Reese Witherspoon (give or take about 10 days). I spent 6-7 years away from home to pursue a career change. That did not work out so I returned home to my parents' place (both parents still alive).
The title to this movie, 'Home Again' and the tagline "Starting Over is not for Beginners" are such a narrow part of the film as to make them irrelevant - even misleading. This film is about a single mother and her young daughters being okay with a decision to divorce the father/husband and the difficulties associated with making a movie (which is not what Reese Witherspoon's character is trying to do).
There are many reasons why a person - female or male (alphabetical) - would return to the home of her/his parent/s. A film which focuses on that experience would focus on readjusting to life with one's parent/s if still alive, perhaps caring for them, revisiting one's childhood and adolescence, reflections on how to be financially independent, perhaps exploring old friendships and new, what is happening with one's siblings (if any).....
..... Films about female empowerment have a legitimate place in cinema and other forms of art - it is a terrible mistake to disguise such a movie as something else. I am a fan of Reese Witherspoon (before 'Legally Blonde' e.g. with 'Pleasantville') but... sheesh... this was an awful disappointment.
High Fidelity (2000)
It tries way too hard
I must have seen this movie half-a-dozen times or so over the last 20 years that it has been out. Yes, John Cusack is perfect for the lead role. I was attracted to the throwbacks to the 1980s. By the end though, I keep feeling that it is tough going for next to no payback. The plot is wavy and the characters stop developing after the first third of the movie. Not that they develop in that first third but at least you have something to be paying attention to in character introduction. An exploration of romantic relationships? Ha! I do not think so. Nick Hornby (author) and Stephen Frears (director) use a universal theme in finding love but... well... that is all they do.
Give it a miss.
Stacked: iPod (2005)
Picking someone's age is not easy
Keri Lynn Pratt, the actress who plays Carrie in this episode, was 27 when this episode was first broadcast.
The Upside of Anger (2005)
You are better off giving this one a miss
Okay, so one gets to the final scene and the upside of anger is that one has grown and has the promise of calm and acceptance. Here is the thing though: yes, growth can occur through bitter experience however it can also occur through quiet reflection - although that will be intense in its own way. In other words, anger is not required. As I see it, this film provides an excuse for people to feel angry. I note from the DVD extras that writer/director Mike Binder's parents divorced when he was young and his mother stayed angry for a long time. Illness is brought into the movie; what is not shown is that it is illness which can bring death. Scripted was Kevin Costner's character. What, however, happens when such a person is not there? Anger then sends the person into a downward spiral and, if severe enough, it is only a mighty lucky break which can halt the descent.
To nutshell it: you are better off giving this one a miss.
Vanity Fair (2004)
Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans
In the 21st Century, it is assumed. The hard-working, the talented, perhaps even the lucky are able to "move up" in society. It was not always the case e.g. in Medieval times, one was essentially born into one's position...
...Meet Rebecca Sharpe (played by Reese Witherspoon) in the early-1800s. She is someone with one mighty ambition to move up in the world. This is her story. Now that you can choose the direction your life takes, what choices do you make? And what consequences do those choices have? Keep in mind that, by and large, it continues to be a man's world. The "rules of life", however, bind us all.
I found the film had quite a bit of minutiae which I find difficult with period pieces. I was, however, able to keep track of the basic narrative and the turning points in each character's life. Makes it difficult to put a star rating on it so I won't. What I will do is say that it gave me something of an insight into those times so, in short, I found it satisfying.
To kanarini podilato (1999)
The value of teachers
A Greek movie which does have a version with English subtitles.
Inspired by a true story, this is the journey of an year-8 school student considered to be slightly retarded when it comes to grasping whatever is being taught. One of the themes which it explores magnificently is how the belief of the people around him (ie.that he is an underdeveloped child/student), makes it a reality.
The story explores the various aspects of the life of the child which endears the viewer to his plight. The movie also focuses on a new teacher to the school and the value which a fresh perspective can have on any given situation. I had a hole in my throat for all the scenes involving this teacher. A man who himself has obviously come through a childhood which was centered on gaining self-confidence. He hasn't come out of the woods yet and a second core theme therefore is how helping another can build one's own self-belief.
A very solid movie with a very poignant ending - literally the final three seconds of footage and the message which comes up before the closing credits.
Highly recommended. Enjoy.