dennisr2000 Reviews

Certified Copy (2010)

Why all the fuss?

[4/10 · 3 March 2011]

Part way through this film, the two main characters, who apparently just met, start acting as if they've been married for fifteen years. This was confusing and distracting--I spent the rest of the time trying to find clues for a resolution to this and consequently missed any meaning in the dialog between the two characters. Perhaps if I watched the film again knowing that no such resolution is coming I would listen to the dialog better, but in fact there is nothing there (concerning the relationship between men and women) that hasn't been said before and better.

Juliette Binoche won the Best Actress award for this role, but she deserves an award for most roles she has had (what about 'Bleu'?), so why this one? In the scene where the main characters are discussing the statue in the piazza, one of them says that it's not the technique of the artist that counts but the meaning of the work. If that is true, then this film comes up wanting regardless of any technical merits.

Dorothy Mills (2008)

Probably the best of its kind

[10/10 · 21 May 2009]

I really want to give this 8 stars out of 10 but I gave it 10/10 in hopes that it will bump up the rating.

I love these kinds of movies, and this is probably the best one of its kind. I don't know what explains the mediocre rating on IMDb. If you are a fan of ghost stories, then run to the video store to rent this. You will see a film that will keep you guessing throughout. Just when you think you've got it figured, it will turn in a completely different direction, all the while maintaining a consistent story. I kept expecting that the story would make predictably disappointing turns, that would make me groan; but it didn't. And the ending... that really makes it.

All this and Carice van Houten too... Plus the young actress who played Dorothy was amazing. I would recommend watching this just to see her performance.

Prey (I) (2007)

Close

[6/10 · 13 November 2007]

*** SPOILERS AHEAD ****

This is a good movie that could have been a great movie. For anyone who's seen it, I want you to imagine a different ending. What if Amy died in the end. What if she didn't escape the explosion she created? What if she sacrificed her life to save those kids? What an act of selflessness that would have been. That single act would have elevated this above average adventure story into a story you would remember for the rest of your life. This movie would have been 8 stars on IMDb instead of 4.6. I myself wept bitter tears when I thought that was the ending. And I felt, yes, disappointment when I realized she survived.

Pretty Persuasion (2005)

As clear an exposition of sociopathy as you're ever likely to see

[8/10 · 27 December 2005]

Pretty Persuasion is a psychological drama disguised as teen flick. Any psychiatrist or anyone who has a sociopath as a friend or family member will understand this.

I found that the development of Kimberly's character during the course of the movie exactly matched my experienced of manipulative people. At first there's the illusion of caring (witness the fact that she befriended the new Arab girl), but the real depravity inevitably shows itself, and we're shocked.

The little surprise twist at the end of the movie, was just icing on the cake. By that time, the point had been made. I find it interesting that Kimberly was weeping--perhaps we're wishing that she is secretly sorry, but she's not!

Land of Plenty (2004)

An American allegory

[8/10 · 27 March 2005]

This is for me the most coherent of the Wim Wenders films I've seen and it's to-date the best attempt to depict post-9/11 America on film. The not-so-subtle symbolism, the superb acting (especially by Michelle Williams), and moving story line, which concerns an attempt to give a homeless Pakistani man a decent burial after he is gunned down in a drive-by shooting, come together to paint a portrait of an America left stunned and somewhat confused.

I was moved by the one scene in which John Diehl's character Paul is informed by his friend that "It's not who we thought," and we see on his face, the hope fading away of ever finding any relief for his vague need for some kind of justice--and this is mirrored by the fading desert sun in the background.

I agree with the other reviewer that these completely American characters may make sense mostly to non-Americans--but that's only a result of the films unflinching objectivity. Watch and learn.

The Butterfly Effect (2004)

Highly recommended.

[8/10 · 6 April 2004]

* some spoilers *

The underlying philosophical issue of this film is: It is with the lightness of the flutter of a butterfly's wings that we make day-to-day decisions, but those decisions can ultimately lead to radically different outcomes in our lives. One of the characters, when her parents divorce, decides to stay with her sexually-abusive father instead of her kind mother and that makes the difference between her becoming a crack whore instead of a sorority girl. This issue is dealt with more formally in Milan Kundera's great novel 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being.'

The film goes further to ask the question 'What if?' What if we could go back and change the bad decision -- would that make for a better world? Unfortunately, no, because the choice to avert one disaster may in fact be the genesis of another.

These are questions that you can find yourself debating long after the plot of this wonderful movie fades from your mind. Not only do I recommend seeing this movie, but see it again to catch some of the subtleties you missed the first time.

Devil's Pond (2003)

Not bad

[7/10 · 30 November 2003]

Not bad for the genre, if only because the filmmakers stayed away from the usual cliches. I was thoroughly entertained for ninety minutes without having to stop and think too hard, either about bad plot or bad script and that's all I wanted.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

i loved this movie

[9 February 2003]

I loved this movie because it's full of simple enjoyment of life and it highlights the importance of family. I can say that if this really happened to Nia then she is a lucky woman. Plus the joke about apples and oranges was touching.

Murder by Numbers (2002)

Good story and acting

[9/10 · 25 September 2002]

For this type of movie, the story and acting were exceptionally good. The characters were developed instead of being the usual one-dimensional Hollywood characters. And Sandra Bullock -- what can I say? -- beautiful and talented.