xemxija Reviews

Once (I) (2007)

Wonderful Soundtrack.....Oh, and a great movie....

[9/10 · 4 December 2008]

I stumbled upon this movie on Movies On Demand.....

How did I miss seeing this movie when it came out? As I am writing this, I am listening to the Soundtrack CD that I just received from Amazon.com.....what a BARGAIN during our depressed economic times. (I am NOT an Amazon.com sales person!!!).

I am told that I am a very "picky" movie critic....I guess that I get that from attending NYC's "Movies101" sessions.....what a great course to attend. (I am also NOT an NYU Movies101 sales person!!!) I was so captured by the music throughout the movie, that I did not ever consider this movie a "musical". The story, emotions, and acting completely balance the music that accompanies.

I don't know what is better...the plot with the music, or the music with the plot.

Even though this movie is a couple of years old, it will give you so much entertainment/joy today, and all days.

Sheila Postlethwait Colebrook, CT

Leatherheads (2008)

I tried SO hard to like it, but could not....

[5/10 · 3 April 2008]

I saw an advance screening of Leatherheads at NYU Movies101 last night.

I was so excited when it was announced that this movie was being shown.

I settled in my seat ready to enjoy another great movie that George Clooney directs and acts in.

All during the film, I thought to myself "Is it just me, or is this movie going nowhere?". I was trying SO hard to like it.

Well, it wasn't just me. I was surprised to see about ¾ of the full house of people I saw it with feel the same way, even the hosting professor.

As discussed after the screening, it had Top-Notch Scenic Design, Sound Track (by Randy Newman), Editing, Acting (Renee Zellweger was fabulous), Directing, Costumes, and Cinematography. It did not have a good story, and that is what made it fail. The script was written in the 1980's by two sports writers. Clooney has been carrying it around with him for over 2 decades. I suspect that the script was pretty much left the script alone from its origin.

The concept of the story is great, but the writing was horrible. Maybe George Clooney thought that the concept and grandeur would "carry" the film? It was disappointing to see George Clooney in a movie that did not compliment him in anyway. He does do comedy well, as he did in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?". How can you act well with terrible material? George's Directing was great.

Flawless (2007)

Flawless has restored my faith in the making of Thrillers in a classical style...

[8/10 · 27 March 2008]

I saw this movie last night at the NYU Continuing Education session of Movies101. I highly recommend this class! This movie was wonderful. It is so refreshing to see an emotionally powerful movie that is not "dumbed down" by sex and violence. How great is it for the viewer to use his/her imagination, for a change? Michael Radford was so interesting to listen to in his interview after the movie. His directorial "interpretation" of the screenplay was brilliant.

I am a "novice" movie critic. I don't know if Michael Radford reads any of these viewer reviews, but I have to tell him that I noticed one major flaw in the film's editing......

Demi Moore's cigarette was at different lengths during a dialog in her office with Michael Caine. Her cigarette was initially long, then short, then long again, then short, etc. during a conversation that only lasted a couple of minutes.

The visual "cuts" to Demi were obviously filmed out of sequence, and then not edited to display a continuous "smoking" of her cigarette during their conversation. I know that she was supposed to be smoking just one cigarette during this dialog.

Maybe I am too nit-picky!!!!