Change Your Image
kevintinsley
Reviews
The Boxer (1997)
Well Crafted Movie Showing a Story Ignored in the U.S.
Daniel Day-Lewis proves here that he is one of the best actors in film today by immersing himself so far into a role as to be almost unrecognizable, as in Gangs of N.Y. Here he plays Danny Flynn, a boxer and former IRA radical just released from prison who tries to return home to rekindle a love lost because of his prison term. Emily Watson does a fine turn here as the old flame, Maggie, now forbidden to Danny by her marriage to his best friend, still in prison for the same reasons as Danny. Some of the plot is murky, with the reasons for the IRA's antagonism towards Danny never properly explained. However, Brian Cox as the IRA chief, also Maggie's father, and Ken Stott, who plays Danny's old boxing coach, Ike, who is now a drunk living in a homeless shelter give well rounded performances. Some knowledge of the Troubles in Ireland goes a long way in helping to understand some of this movie, but I don't think it was geared to a U.S. audience, hence its low profile on the list of Day-Lewis's fine performances. Still, he and Watson's chemistry, along with the old school type of filming by director Jim Sheridan make this one of the movies I missed the first time around that I will recommend to friends as must see viewing.
The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
60's Cool At Its Finest
This is one of the best of the "mod" 60's movies ever made. Faye Dunaway looks edible, and how could anyone be cooler than Steve McQueen, in the role that defines "cool" for a generation. This is one of the best endings of any movie I have ever seen, with Faye looking heartbroken, and Steve looking, how else, cool. The acting and split screens showing what each is doing help to drive the plot along to its unlikely ending. McQueen and Dunaway make for some terrific viewing, as they are both at their most physically attractive in this movie. With Dunaway fresh off Bonnie and Clyde and McQueen not far removed from The Sand Pebbles, this movie matches two 60's icons at their best.
Rachel, Rachel (1968)
Not just a chick flick
I was surprised to find this movie on HBO Signature channel early this morning, and just as surprised to love it, and to never before have heard of it. With this being Paul Newman's directorial debut, and starring Joanne Woodward, you would think it would be better known than it is. This is a wonderfully moving illustration of small town life before the onset of the modern world, with all of the good and bad that went along with it. It reminded me of growing up in a small town with all of the petty gossip as well as all of the wonderful friendships. Rachel is repressed in many ways by her past relationship with her late father as well as dealing with her not-so-invalid mother, who she serves as a sort of girl Friday. When she finally gets a chance to come out of her shell, she passes it up once before finally reaching out to find all she has missed in her life. Joanne Woodward gives one of the finest performances of her career, with her understated beauty contrasting so much with the intense repression of her character. All in all, this is one movie that deserves far more acclaim than it has received as a study of that small town life we all have left behind, and all that we have learned since.