Change Your Image
alexveggie
Reviews
Sideways (2004)
Whiny, self-indulgent middle-aged guys. How fun . . .
I was told by friends and reviewers that this was a sharp and witty look at two men at a middle-age crossroads. This was the most boring piece of c--p I could have imagined. The writing was self-indulgent and self-pitying, and I felt like life would make more sense as a lesbian when I left the movie. I certainly didn't want to be exposed to the "inner workings" of any more male psyches (characters' or writers'). And I didn't relate to any of the female fetishes--I mean characters--on screen (what a surprise). I guess I'm just not hip (or male) enough to "get" this movie. What I really think is that too much money in Hollywood and the Indie film industry goes to middle-aged, straight white men, and that this is what creates the dearth of mirroring for the rest of us out here (women, people of color, queer folk, etc.). But, hey, that's just me.
Aside from this, the pace of the film dragged, the many outlandish situations made it hard to suspend disbelief in the context of a "realistic" work, and the acting was lazy.
Ni na bian ji dian (2001)
Aaaaaarrrrrggggghhhhhh!
The only place this film can take you is 90 minutes closer to death. A complete waste of TIME. I can't believe anyone gleaned an iota of entertainment value from this boring, dismal, putrid movie. Plodding, plot less, devoid of drama and human interest, there is no excuse to waste the energy even to go to the store and rent it. Avoid at all costs!
I didn't care about any of the characters or what happened to them. I found every situation completely implausible--even from a surrealist standpoint. It was maddening to sit through scene after scene of incomprehensible stupidity, waiting for something to happen, only to get to the end and realize NOTHING WAS EVER GOING TO HAPPEN!
The War Zone (1999)
Kudos to Tim Roth for this graphic portrayal
In these days of incredibly gory action, horror, and exploitation films, I find it interesting that The War Zone is criticized for being too graphic. Other films and TV shows have dealt with the topic of incest, but they have whitewashed most of what actually happens in the families torn apart by sexual abuse. Too much innuendo gets in the way of what it's all really about (i.e., rape). Tim Roth has shattered any possibility of denial by making a clear and forthright film about the horror of familial sex abuse. While it's hard to take, I believe it's important that this film be seen by as many people as possible. I applaud Mr. Roth and the entire cast for the incredible and gut-wrenching job they've done in The War Zone.