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Reviews
The Peacekeeper (1997)
Spoilers alert.... I have to talk about the confusing plot
Can somebody who liked the movie please explain: - Okay so the military drops at least 2 smart bombs when they open one of the silo holes.... but at the end of the movie Dolph and Montel crawl out to greet the press and no visible damage??? - The bad guy is seconds from having his goal of blowing up Washington but for some unknown reason he uncuffs himself from the code suitcase and falls to his death.... thus allowing Dolph time to run to the lab and stop the bomb from exploding... gave me a headache trying to make sense of that - Dolph and one of the bad guys are fighting under one of the missiles when it launches and sprays them with superheated fiery compressed flaming exhaust ..... but Dolph picks himself up and fights on - the bad guy demands the poor President (that guy from Jaws)shoot himself on national TV in the graveyard.... but the gun on the headstone is full of blanks... so why not have a secret service guy bump off the President if it would save the country??? - I guess a nuclear bomb exploding in South Dakota was no big deal... just a warning... nothing real important - the rooftop car chase was interesting - at least have Dolph take his shirt off and show us his body
The Americans (1961)
Great Civil War show from my childhood in 60's
I was just ten when I watched this civil war series. I remember it as the first show to make me think about the world of adults and the serious topics like war and how families could be torn apart. Growing up in the South I also had a sympathetic view of the rebels, but I also really liked Ben Canfield (Darryl Hickman). The episode I remember the most is when he and Col. Fry are captured and sent to Libby prison and how the prisoners were mistreated.
The great uniforms and interesting characters left a big impression on me and like others here I often dreamed about the characters and often some of my memories of this show are actually memories of the dreams I had about it.
This would be a great find on DVD but doesn't seem to have the commercial interest to ever come out. Maybe some day the TV on demand of the future will include this classic from the past.
Le clan (2004)
Cruelty to man's best friend - skip this mess of a movie
Worst cruelty to a dog in cinema history.... One only hopes it was staged. The overall depressing movie not worth the few scenes of male nudity. No women to be found in this french coming of age for 3 very disturbed brothers. If this is the way it is for french youth no wonder they are rioting. The plot is so hidden I couldn't give you a spoiler if I tried to. It is the worst french movie I have ever watched. I saw the advocate say this movie was "sexy", but I saw it as very depressing and I didn't relate or have sympathy for any of the characters except the dog. Gael Morel purposely features the puppy in various playful scenes early in the movie so he can heighten the shock for the movie viewer.... there never is any understanding of why this needed to be in the movie.
Carnivàle (2003)
Brother Justin to HBO execs... Does your collar feel any tighter yet?
Carnivale is too great a series to be canceled after just 2 remarkable seasons. The show has mystery, magic, religion, and the best ensemble of characters around. I hope HBO will reconsider and complete the storyline.
My favorite character is Sophie (Clea Duvall).. her talks with her comatose mother are some of the best monologues in acting... very believable and creepy at the same time. Also her scenes with Ben (Nick Stahl) are the heart and soul of this journey.
There is also one of the best villains in HBO history... Brother Justin (Clancy Brown) is the religious fanatic with all the dark secrets and persuasive methods of his mysterious life mission. The buildup to his confrontation with the equally powerful Ben Hawkins redefines Good vs. Evil.
Also notable are the performances from Amy Madigan (Iris the sister of Brother Justin), Tim DeKay as Clayton, Adrienne Barbeau, and the fearless leader of the Carnivale troop - Samson (Michael J Anderson). The whole cast is great... each adding a fresh thread to this mysterious and colorful tapestry.
The Comeback (2005)
And the Emmy goes to Lisa Kudrow in The Comeback!!
Wow... this series was such a comedy masterpiece and often very poignant. I say "was" because HBO has canceled the show. Lisa Kudrow deserves the Emmy for her performance as Valerie Cherish - who is a once famous actress now having a minor role in a current TV hit show but having a Reality Series being produced on her "Comeback" with the crew following her every off-stage and private moments. Think of it as if Sally Struthers had a crew following her current life on and off the set of Gilmore Girls. It takes an episode or two to understand the show within a show concept and who exactly Jane is. I loved Mickey her gay hair stylist and number #1 fan. My favorite episode was the Palm Springs trip in the famous Navigator.
I have always loved Lisa. Friends was her mega hit comedy classic and she will always be remembered as the slightly off-centered but humanly zany Phoebe. I also liked the movie The Opposite of Sex where she played Lucia who was hopelessly in love with Bill(Martin Donovan) the gay brother of Dede(Christina Ricci). It shows the range Lisa has from comedy to drama... and that range of emotions is also true in the character of Valerie Cherish. She is self-centered and has a big ego pleading for Jane to redo or cut out unflattering taped moments but she is also very kind and willing to give away her husband's ticket to the People's Choice awards. Great work from a very talented actress.
Maybe HBO will give The Comeback and Lisa another chance to catch on. But I am waiting for the DVD and look forward to much more of Lisa Kudrow.
The Work and the Glory (2004)
Bland love story but still interesting historical intro to Mormon Religion
Okay first I am non religious and Gay also. But I do support anybody having beliefs that help them in life. I do have an interest in the historical aspects of religion and probably Joseph Smith is the most important American historical religious leader having founded a major and ever growing denomination.
Having read the recent Newsweek cover article on the Mormon religion I was rather excited to find this DVD in the bargain bin. The restoration story being in 19th century America you could relate to it in a more interesting and historical fashion than the Biblical times. But the movie seemed to want to soft peddle the Joseph Smith story and focus on a rather boring love triangle between the Steed brothers and the girl.
There are plenty of evil doubters in town, all actually wearing black hats and the Book of Mormon gets thrown in the garbage. People who believe Joseph are shunned and caste out by the towns people...mmm kinda reminded me of how gay people are shunned by LDS. I didn't mind the movie's point of view that Joseph's visions were real but we got no understanding his journey from man to prophet.
The movie was visually interesting and the music worked well. There is one commentary on the DVD but not much else... the LDS missed a chance to add some extras about their religion.
Space: Above and Beyond (1995)
In Vitros deserve to be on TV again
An excellent sci-fi show with Fox the only channel giving major roles to In Vitros. I know that Earth is in a war with the Chigs and there is terrorism and everybody thinks the Tanks are traitors but just watch this show and see how courageous Cooper and McQueen are. But after just one year the Chigs took over Fox and canceled SAAB. All that is left on TV are Reality shows for the humans, LOST for the Chigs, and Celebrity Poker for the Silicates. No longer are Tanks shown on any TV shows, except for that rumor that Marissa on the OC is In Vitro who has had her neck navel NIp/Tucked. Only Best Buy has the courage to offer the DVD to TANKS who use the back entrance after 5:00pm... so go purchase the DVD of SAAB and dream of the freedom lost with the 58th.
Trick (1999)
Best Performance by Tori since 90210
Tori Spelling as Katherine is captivating in her supporting role in this terrific Gay romantic comedy. I have always loved her since her breakout role as Donna in the hit TV series Beverly Hills 90210.
To me her relationship as the close female friend to Gabriel (Christian Campbell) has more development and drama in it than the Gay romance between Gabriel and Mark (John Paul Pitoc). The late night café scene is both dramatic, comic, and touching... every character is memorable in that scene (Where are those cheese-fries!!) This was such a great cast... everybody from Steve Hays as Perry, Brad Beyer as the sex starved straight room-mate, and the unforgettable Clinton Leupp as Miss Coco Peru dishing her dirt to Gabriel trapped at the urinal in the Gay nightclub.
That unforgettable piano music when Gabriel and Mark kiss and the sheer satisfying ending .... This is one of my favorite movies... Enter You!!
Alexander (2004)
The Soundtrack by Vangelis is awesome... the movie has flaws
What I loved about the movie: - the soundtrack is sure to be an Olympic ice skaters staple... it achieves the grandeur of Alexander, close you eyes and use your imagination when you get bored of wading thru the movie on screen - the battle scenes are spectacular but close your eyes if you are an animal lover - Jared Leto made his character come to life in his facial expressions toward Alexander and should have played a much larger role to make the Gay love story more of a focus for the movie - Angelina Jolie was superb as the mysterious and fearless mother of Alexander (but I found all those snakes distracting)
What I hated about the movie: -Colin Farrell was awful and you never identify with Alexander... even I was wanting to poison him toward the end. -Anthony Hopkins was talking so much I thought I had mistakenly put my DVD on a commentary track - Too much animal violence for me - I wanted some gay scenes between Colin and Jared but the movie seemed reluctant to show them together either romantically or physically. - The movie was too long although if it had a story I wouldn't have minded
Caltiki il mostro immortale (1959)
Me and my brothers and sisters ran out of this movie in fear in 1960
Yes, this is the movie we ran out of ... my younger sister crying and the rest of us equally scared out of our pants. For years on end we have remembered this movie but never been able to find it. Finally I got a copy on DVD and enjoyed watching the rest of the movie... a great 50s Blob movie and one that brings back memories of that day when me and my brothers and sisters went to the Saturday matinée and were scared out of our wits... having to leave soon after the greedy scientist loses his hand to the Blob after he goes back for the bag of gold jewels. This review has to be longer so without giving away the ending I will just say that the only disappointing part of the movie is that the Blob is kinda slow... and needs radioactivity to grow and move. I would have like for him to cause more death and destruction before the end of the movie. There are some cool graphic death scenes and plenty of comic relief from the dated but entertaining acting and even a tribal belly dance. Plenty of greedy evil crazed scientists too.
The Believer (2001)
JEWISH SURVIVORS TO UNBELIEVABLE SKINHEADS - BRING IT ON!!
The skinhead gang run by Danny (Ryan Gosling)are stupid morons feared by no one - especially the elderly jewish holocaust survivors who are my favorite characters in the movie.
The movie trys to be violent and shocking, but that part of the movie doesn't work at all because the skinhead characters are just silly even though Danny trys so hard to make it work he barfs.
The movie works more as a workshop for Jewish viewers, especially those who are interested in the struggle to understand their religion, its tenants, the history and persecution of jews, and what it means to be a Jew. There are also interesting tidbits about Judaism for us Gentiles.
But if you are looking for homoerotic tattoos and skinhead muscle, rent or buy ROMPER STOMPER. In The Believer - Ryan is young and hot looking, but he only takes his shirt off occasionally to make love to his weird girlfriend. The rest of his out of shape gang fortuneately never take their shirts off .
Sordid Lives (2000)
Very Funny - Gay view of the Southern Family Funeral
Saw this movie with my partner and our best friend, all of us Southern White Trash gays now living in SF. We roared with laughter thru the whole movie... what a great find this overlooked gem of a comedy. Delta Burke and Olivia Newton John are the known stars, but the 2 characters who steal the show are Beth Grant as the sister with the rubber band aversion therapy to stop smoking and Leslie Jordan as the gay drag queen brother with the love of country music divas undergoing psycho-therapy to cure his homosexuality at the local insane asylum. What follows is the Mother of all open casket funerals attended by a family dealing with sex, lies, secrets, and fried chicken. Leslie Jordan aka Tammy Winette therapy session especially funny for those who love drag comedy in movies.