mooncaine-1 Reviews

Blackbeard (2006)

Angus is a right true pirate, in spite of the too-clean bodice-ripper settings

[7/10 · 17 June 2006]

Pity the writers didn't crack a book; they mighta realized pirates don't hurl bombs, nor fire broadsides, at ships they wanted to take. You can't take cargo off a prize if she's sunk or burnt to the waterline.

Another historical gaffe: when Maynard arrives at New Providence, he looks askance at a hanging gibbet with a corpse. I don't think a British naval officer would have given such a thing a moment's attention, but rather would have noticed any lack of 'em, for it was the hanging corpses and piked heads about a town's gate that served as reassurance -- here, there is law and order. So Maynard's glance, if any, would have been an approving one.

I really like Blackbeard's accent in this. He even looks right (but way, way too clean).

Bedazzled (1967)

Funny, far exceeds remake, and a great sign of its times

[9/10 · 2 April 2005]

Warning: there's a bit of a spoiler ahead. I recommend you see this movie, so I'll tell you why before I get to the spoiler bit, and it's not that much of a spoil.

If you loved Austin Powers for its kitschy 60s go-go rock and vinyl boots, you'll love this one.

This movie's fun to watch because it's such a sign of its times -- the clothes, the music, the slang -- not to mention that the stars are two top talents, among the funniest Brits you could find in their heyday. The music is especially fun. Even the incidental music is a golden gas from your momma's past, baby ... it's far out, man.

Here's the bit that's a spoiler, so don't read on til you've seen it -- and you gotta see it!

My favorite bit is when our hero gets his wish to be a beloved pop star, and Dudley Moore is there on Top of the Pops or some such show, singing "I'm on my knees / Won't you please / Come and love me", like a repressed Tom Jones, and the girls all scream like he's the heaviest cat ... and then Peter Cook follows as the next act, a weird, trancey and artsy not in the good sense) deadpan singer who sings "I don't love you .... I'm not interested ... you fill me with inertia", and all the girls leave Dudley to scream for Peter. The trippy light show and (now quite corny) psychedelic TV show scenes here are priceless.

I wish so much for this to be out on DVD. I would definitely have it. This, and the movie The President's Analyst are fabulous examples of what was groovy, and funny, about the late 60s, visually, sonically and sartorially.

Maybe... Maybe Not (1994)

Maybe funnier if you're German, or both German and gay?

[28 October 2004]

I thought it was fine. Not exactly deep stuff, but entertaining. Everything must be taken in context, if possible, and this was based on a popular comic strip by Ralf Koenig -- I'm guessing he's gay, based on other stuff I've seen of his, so whether his work perpetuates stereotypes or is the honest humor of a member of the gay community is not so easy to say. Not for me, anyway. I found Germany in the mid-1990s to be more tolerant of homosexuals than my hometown in Amerika, but a lot has changed in the intervening years. Anyway, political incorrectness aside, I think of this as a light comedy about relationships, like another Soenke Wortmann films I've seen [Stadtgespraech]. For students of the German language, it was a wonderful opportunity to catch some slang and modern, conversational German that we don't see in deep, intellectual films based on historical or literary sources.

Barry Lyndon (1975)

"It's hard to say is it a bit overlong..."

[9 October 2004]

I do not find it difficult to say so. While Kubrick was undoubtedly a talented filmmaker, his work suffers from a kind of tunnel vision--he would have done better to have, instead of the sycophantic yes-men we see in drama and in business, a bluntly honest "no-man" to set some limits for him.

Every movie of his I've seen, from Lolita through The Shining, is overlong, to put it charitably. A talented editor could have improved each of his projects. Kubrick lingers too long; he is too in love with his own ideas. His movies tend to be fine, but flawed, works, worthy of respect, but unfortunately each its own worst enemy.

Under Suspicion (2000)

Thank you for helping me accept the ending.

[22 September 2004]

***SPOILER ALERT**** DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DISCOVER WHAT HAPPENED AT THE END *************************

I just wanted to say thank you to those of you whose thoughtful posts helped me to make sense of the movie. I actually had it right, but doubted my own interpretation of Henry Hurst's motives for confessing, and for walking away from the woman he loved so desperately. Your posts reassured me and helped me make sense of my doubts.

I am a fan of Hackman, very much so, and was well rewarded by watching this movie, even though I tend to avoid killer movies and cop movies in general because they offer so few surprises. Kudos to IFC for showing this one.

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

Great quotes; lots of good moments in this film.

[9/10 · 28 January 2004]

The IMDB page for this movie ought to have some quotes from the film, as other films do, because there are some great lines here ... I especially love the scene where the gangsters are asking about the name, "Ghost Dog".... is it like a rapper's stage name? Or a native American name? Hearing the gangsters' various ideas is funny; one of them starts imitating Flav-O Flav [sp?] of Public Enemy. I'm not going to quote the movie; but if there were a way to submit quotes, I suppose I would have done so.

The Last Seduction (1994)

It sure has great actors in it, esp. J.T. Walsh.

[8/10 · 17 August 2003]

But everybody in this movie does a fine job. It's underrated, in my opinion, by most. Bill Pullman, J.T. Walsh, and Peter Berg also did great work here. It's tough for me to rate Fiorentino; her role seems the easiest to play in this movie.