lee_eisenberg Reviews

Free Zone (2005)

a conflict seen from outside

[6/10 · 25 April 2024]

The current situation in the Gaza Strip makes a movie like Amos Gitai's "Free Zone" all the more important. The movie depicts a US tourist (Natalie Portman) accompanying an Israeli woman (Hanna Laszlo) to Jordan to collect a sum of money. Complications arise.

The movie apparently received negative reviews. I suspect that was because of the long, slow scenes. I will admit that these got tiresome at times. Even so, this is probably one of the few instances that we'll get to see a portrayal of a meeting between a Yank, an Israeli, and a Palestinian. Portman's character serves as the window into the conflict. Think of her as a camera, showing us all but processing nothing; she even admits that she doesn't feel like she belongs anywhere.

I understand that this was the second entry in a trilogy that Gitai made. I'll have to see the first and third entries. Anyway, it's not a masterpiece - it does tend to drag - but the ongoing situation in Gaza makes it all the more relevant.

Also starring is Hiam Abbass, who more recently played Marcia on "Succession".

Ring of Darkness (2004 TV Movie)

I fell into a burnin' ring of cheesiness

[5/10 · 24 April 2024]

"Ring of Darkness" is the first David DeCoteau movie that I've seen. Very much a cornball movie. The plot concerns a boy band that isn't what they seem. Although it's called a horror flick, the horror is pretty low-key, and the production values leave a lot to be desired. I will say that I did like seeing Adrienne Barbeau and Mink Stole in supporting roles.

In conclusion, this isn't the sort of movie that I would recommend making your first choice, unless you're looking for something undeniably cheesy. As for boy bands, I've never liked them. There's a scene in Woody Allen's "Radio Days" (about 1940s radio) where the young protagonist - who I assume is based on Allen himself - expresses his disdain for the era's boy crooners.* When I watched it, I thought "That's what I think of today's boy bands."

*Incidentally, the boy crooner was played by Todd Field, who later co-starred in "Eyes Wide Shut" and went on to direct "In the Bedroom" and "Tar". Like DeCoteau, Field is from my native Portland, Oregon.

Bernard and Doris (2006)

there are a lot of ways to enjoy the finer things in life, and both Susan Sarandon and Ralph Fiennes know how to show it

[9/10 · 23 April 2024]

Oh, another movie about a bored socialite? Yes, but Bob Balaban's Emmy-nominated "Bernard and Doris" is specifically about said socialite's relationship with her butler. I had never heard of Doris Duke before watching this movie, much less her relationship with her butler. The movie makes clear that Duke, heiress to a tobacco fortune, spent her life jet-setting around the world, attending events, or drinking at home. No surprise that she wanted a connection with someone.

Susan Sarandon and Ralph Fiennes put on perfect performances as Duke and her butler. The movie kept me wondering how intimate they were going to get. Mind you, the movie admits to being partly based on a true story, so I don't know which parts were accurate. What I can say is that this is the sort of movie that makes life worth living. While watching it, I kept thinking that it would be weird to be part of that whole world. Either way, this is one movie that I have to recommend, as I do practically all of Sarandon's movies.

Abigail (2024)

Kathryn Newton gets her year of horror

[9/10 · 22 April 2024]

Earlier this year, Kathryn Newton starring in Zelda Williams's "Lisa Frankenstein", as a girl who reanimates a corpse. Now she stars in another horror-comedy: "Abigail". In this one, some people get hired to kidnap a girl and hold her for ransom in a mansion...only it turns out that this girl is a vampire!

This movie has everything to love in a horror flick. Not just blood and guts, but cool characters, and the fact that there's more than meets the eye. Whatever the case, this is a fun addition to the pantheon of movies about killer kids (if you only know Macaulay Culkin from "Home Alone", then "The Good Son" will be a real shocker).

With the cast of Alisha Weir, Melissa Barrera, Kathryn Newton, Dan Stevens, Matthew Goode and Giancarlo Esposito, this movie is a link between "Matilda the Musical", the "Scream" franchise, "Big Little Lies", "Downton Abbey" (twice), and the Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul universe.

In conclusion, you'll never hear the Swan Lake theme song the same way again.

Uptown Girls (2003)

Would people born since 1970 really have those old-style names?

[5/10 · 21 April 2024]

I didn't hear about Boaz Yakin's "Uptown Girls" when it got released. I learned of it from an ad when I watched "Pieces of April" a few years ago. The ad featured Avril Lavigne's "Complicated", although the song doesn't appear in the movie.*

Anyway, I finally saw the movie. It was what I expected. The plot was similar to what I saw in the later movie "The Nanny Diaries", starring Scarlett Johansson. I understand that this was probably Brittany Murphy's most famous role. Although she starred in some serious movies throughout her career, her death at 32 prevented her from ever having the chance to achieve Meryl Streep-level renown.

One thing that struck me as weird was the characters' names. Brittany Murphy's character was named Molly, Dakota Fanning's character was named Lorraine, Marley Shelton's character was named Ingrid, and Jesse Spencer's character was named Neal (I also heard a mention of someone named Ethel). Those sound like names that people in my grandparents' generation had. I find it hard to picture anyone in generations X, Y or Z having those names.

Anyway, it's a typical harmless mediocrity. Nice escapist fun if you want a way to pass ninety minutes.

*"Weird Al" Yankovic spoofed Lavigne's song with a story of constipation, inbreeding and decapitation.

Life After Beth (2014)

rise (from the dead) and shine

[8/10 · 20 April 2024]

Jeff Baena's directorial debut has one of the weirdest plots that I've ever seen. Lovably weird, that is. Dane DeHaan plays Zach, who is grieving girlfriend Beth's (Aubrey Plaza) passing. Lo and behold, she reappears alive and well. At least that's how it seems at first. Slowly but surely, it becomes clear that Beth's not what she seems, and that everything around them is starting to change.

"Life After Beth" is the sort of movie that doesn't take itself too seriously. Falling somewhere between a romcom and a black comedy - with horror elements, mind you - it manages to be fun the whole way through. Aubrey Plaza, well, eats up her role as the dead-alive titular character. In supporting roles are Paul Reiser, Cheryl Hines, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Matthew Gray Gubler and Anna Kendrick.

Jeff Baena later directed Aubrey Plaza in the 2017 comedy "The Little Hours". They got married in 2021.

Hospital Fragment (2000)

Guy Maddin must have a thing for the surreal

[5/10 · 19 April 2024]

I first learned of Guy Maddin from his 2003 drama "The Saddest Music in the World", about a contest to determine which country makes the most depressing music. I just watched his feature-length debut "Tales from the Gimli Hospital", accompanied by the short "Hospital Fragment".

The latter movie is a series of images based on the former. If these two are any indication, Maddin is into surreal stuff. It's hard to even describe, and I doubt that most people will even take an interest in it. People who are into surreal cinema will probably enjoy it, but I should warn you that even with its short length, it really tests your attention span.

Whistling in the Dark (1933)

one cast member looks like Carol Post, another has a name similar to her portrayer

[6/10 · 18 April 2024]

I happened to come across Elliott Nugent's "Whistling in the Dark" in the classic comedy section of a local video store. Knowing nothing about it, I decided to rent it. While an okay movie, it wasn't what I would think of as comedy. Ernest Truex and Una Merkel play an eloping couple who end up in the house of a gangster plotting a murder.

While there are some humorous scenes, I would've called the movie a thriller-drama. It manages to stay intense all the way to the end. There was apparently a 1941 remake; made under the Hays Code, it no doubt it reined in one particular scene of the fiancee (you'll know it when you see it).

Anyway, this movie is okay, not great. Enjoyable enough for its brief run.

As to the thing about Carol Post (the wife on "Mister Ed"), Una Merkel looks like her portrayer Connie Hines, while the movie has a cast member named Johnny Hines.

Wheels on Meals (1984)

Jackie's wacky adventures in Spain

[9/10 · 17 April 2024]

If you've seen any of Jackie Chan's movies, then you should know what to expect. Sammo Hung's "Fai caan che" ("Wheels on Meals" in English) is no exception. The plot involves the owners of a food truck in Barcelona trying to help a woman targeted by a criminal syndicate, but that's of course secondary to the martial arts. Fists and legs fly in every direction, and there are some movements that I would've thought impossible had I not watched Jackie Chan perform them.

The point is that this is a truly enjoyable movie. I have no doubt that it's a lot of fun to participate in Jackie Chan's movies, and the people of Barcelona probably had quite a time watching him do all these stunts during the production. A great experience.

Eight Legged Freaks (2002)

the arachnids of summer 2002

[6/10 · 16 April 2024]

While Sam Raimi's "Spiderman" was the famous 2002 release dealing with arachnids, there was another one. Ellory Elkayem's blatantly silly "Eight Legged Freaks" is an homage to the 1950s movies about giant bugs, with an element of "Gremlins".

The plot involves spiders exposed to toxic waste growing to giants and wreaking havoc. Unlike most movies about arthropods, here we learn a bit about spiders, both their body structure and how they operate. Oh, and there's a scene of Scarlett Johansson that's sure to arouse all the boys.

Basically, this is a proudly ridiculous movie. Looks like the sort of movie that they had a lot of fun making. I figure that the world's arachnophobes will want to avoid it like the plague, but the rest of us will be able to enjoy it.

So is your spidey sense tingling?

Poor Things (2023)

it looks as though Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone are going to become the new Scorsese and DeNiro

[9/10 · 15 April 2024]

Having directed Emma Stone in "The Favourite", Yorgos Lanthimos now directs her in "Poor Things", for which she won an Oscar. This is not an easy movie to describe. Sort of a steampunk version of social commentary, with Stone as a dead woman brought back to life but with an infant's mental capacity.

Undeniably, this will not be for everyone. In addition to depicting material similar to what "Frankenstein" showed, there's nothing light or fluffy to be found anywhere. Almost every scene is something shocking. I guess you could say, this is one movie that's bound to ruffle a few feathers (especially considering some of those animals). I liked it, but there's no guarantee that you will. The rest of the cast includes Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef and Hanna Schygulla. I'll be eager to see Lanthimos's upcoming movie.

The Truth vs. Alex Jones (2024)

What happens if we get to the point where no one can tell the truth from a lie?

[6/10 · 14 April 2024]

The world got a horrible shock in December 2012 when a psychopath walked into a school in Connecticut and murdered several children. Most people were rightly horrified. Unfortunately, radio host Alex Jones - known for whipping up conspiracy theories - called it a false flag event, and his listeners ate it up.

Dan Reed's documentary "The Truth vs. Alex Jones" looks at Jones's rumor-mongering and how this led to harassment of the victims' parents. The harassment got to the point where the parents filed a lawsuit against Jones. Much of the documentary shows scenes inside the trial, with Jones trying to pretend that he didn't try to harm the parents.

The main thing to take away from the documentary is that Jones is the latest in a long line of blowhards making things up to further their careers (such as Joe McCarthy and Rush Limbaugh). Sadly, their fans - one might call them cultists - believe the lies and proceed to torment the victims. One can only hope that criminal prosecution will bring down these mendacious goons.

Not the greatest documentary, but I recommend it.

Haiku Tunnel (2001)

I never expected to hear Smithers's voice in the same movie as a mention of Dashiell Hammett and Lillian Hellman

[7/10 · 13 April 2024]

To the pantheon of movies about the corporate world we can now add the Kornbluth brothers' "Haiku Tunnel", starring Josh Kornbluth as a man who works well as a temp but poorly when hired for a permanent position. Much of the movie is the protagonist's discussions of his life, and his constant distractions interfering with his work.

While I wouldn't call it a great movie, it's still a fun piece of work, showing the sheer unpleasantness of the corporate world. I've never worked in that sort of setting, so I can't comment on the accuracy, but I can say that this movie could easily be a double-screening with "The Apartment" or "Office Space". Worth seeing.

1990: The Bronx Warriors (1982)

a clockwork Bronx

[7/10 · 12 April 2024]

Enzo Castellari first came to my attention when Quentin Tarantino released "Inglourious B------s", whose title and plot were based on Castellari's 1977 flick "The Inglorious B------s" (IMDb doesn't let you write the titles, as they're considered profane). Not long after seeing Tarantino's movie, I saw Castellari's movie. So now, here's another one of his movies.

A previous reviewer equated "1990: I guerreri del Bronx" ("1990: The Bronx Warriors" in English) to John Carpenter's "Escape from New York". I saw that similarity also, but I also saw a similarity to Stanley Kubrick's "Clockwork Orange", in the the sense that gangs pretty much rule the streets. Either way, this is one fun movie, with the heir to a sinister corporation fleeing into the now lawless Bronx and joining up with a motorcycle gang. There's no shortage of cool fights and wacky stunts.

The star is Mark Gregory, who starred in a number of Italian exploitation flicks in the '80s before retiring from movies (he committed suicide in 2013), with supporting roles played by Vic Morrow, Fred Williamson and Elisabetta Dessy (an Olympic swimmer). All in all, it's one cool movie. I bet that they had a lot of fun filming it.

The Funeral (1984)

dying as seen by the Land of the Rising Sun

[8/10 · 11 April 2024]

I first learned of Juzo Itami when he committed suicide in 1997. However, it's only now that I've gotten around to seeing one of his movies. His directorial debut "Osôshiki" ("The Funeral" in English) depicts a family's gathering after a father-in-law's passing. As it turns out, this gathering will reveal a lot about the family.

The movie often gets called a comedy, but it's not a comedy as we usually understand the term. The movie could definitely qualify as a black comedy, with unpleasant things taking place over the course of saying goodbye to the relative. It's not a sad movie, but definitely not slapstick. Whatever the case, it's a fine piece of work. I'll be eager to see the rest of Itami's movies. I wonder what he would've done had he lived longer.

The Voice of the Moon (1990)

the end of Fellini's career

[7/10 · 10 April 2024]

After almost half a century in cinema, Federico Fellini released his swan song in the form of "La voce della luna" ("The Voice of the Moon" in English). With this movie, Fellini continued his embrace of the bizarre, with Roberto Benigni's fake well inspector experiencing a kaleidoscopic world of beauty pageants, fascism, and pop music.

Apparently, a lot of critics maligned the movie. I guess that they didn't interpret it as being as artistic as most of Fellini's movies. Maybe so, but I found it to be an enjoyably surreal experience. To be certain, Federico Fellini's worst movie is still better than Michael Bay's best movie. I recommend it, even if it isn't up there with "La strada", "8 1/2" or "Satyricon".

To think that I watched a moon-related movie right after a total solar eclipse - with the moon blocking out the sun - passed over much of the country.

My Life (1993)

no matter how you go, you have to try and be graceful

[8/10 · 9 April 2024]

The presence of both Michael Keaton and Nicole Kidman in Bruce Joel Rubin's heart-wrenching "My Life" makes it all the more ironic that I learned about both actors from Batman movies. This is the polar opposite of those movies. This focus on a cancer-stricken man trying to create memories for his unborn son deserves far more renown. To be certain, I didn't hear about it when it got released (being only nine years old, I didn't usually pay attention to serious movies). Nonetheless, everyone who cares about familial love should watch this movie at least once, even though it occasionally tries to manipulate your emotions. It deserves more recognition than the latest movie where Tom Cruise narrowly escapes all danger.

The rest of the cast includes Bradley Whitford, Michael Constantine, Queen Latifah and Haing S. Ngor.

Late Night with the Devil (2023)

evil goes live

[8/10 · 8 April 2024]

The found footage genre gets a new spin with the Cairnes brothers' "Late Night with the Devil". It depicts the recording of a 1970s talk show where supposed communications with the beyond start getting too real. At the same time, it addresses the exploitative nature of spectacle. All while managing to balance comedy and horror, I might add.

Probably the only recognizable cast member to us Yanks is star David Dastmalchian (most recently of "Oppenheimer"), with the rest of the cast consisting of Aussies. Whatever the case, the movie looks exactly like a recording of a disco-era talk show, complete with the intertitles. That makes it all the more fun when the intense stuff begins. These are truly the sort of movies that make life worth living.

The Dead Father (1985)

Guy Maddin's cinematic origins

[7/10 · 7 April 2024]

I learned of Guy Maddin when I saw his 2003 drama "The Saddest Music in the World", about a contest to see which country makes the most depressing music. I just saw his feature debut, the surreal "Tales from the Gimli Hospital". Included on the DVD was his earlier short "The Dead Father". This equally surreal movie depicts a man convinced that he's seeing his late father all over the place. Or something like that. It's not the sort of movie that you try to follow logically.

I'd recommend this for completists. Most people will probably spend the movie trying to figure out what's going on. It's an interesting piece of work - and I like complex movies - but this isn't one that you watch for enjoyment. One of the most bizarre movies that I've ever seen.

Zus & Zo (2001)

from a trip to Portugal to "Bodies Bodies Bodies"

[6/10 · 6 April 2024]

Paula van der Oest's Academy Award-nominated "Zus & Zo" is a lighthearted comedy about events surrounding a wedding involving a gay man. The Netherlands was probably the most advanced country in terms of gay rights by the time that the movie came out, so I figure that there was no controversy about it (2001 in fact saw the establishment of marriage equality in the Netherlands). The movie itself isn't anything special. If you're expecting full-scale wacky comedy - i.e., what you get in a Will Ferrell movie - you won't find it here. This movie's all about the characters' interactions with each other and the issues surrounding the marriage. Not a great movie, but passable.

Co-star Halina Reijn, who plays Bo, later directed the 2022 thriller "Bodies Bodies Bodies".

The Longshot (1986)

this looks like a niche market

[5/10 · 5 April 2024]

I've never been into horse races, so "The Longshot" shouldn't be the sort of movie that appeals to me. I took an interest because it's directed by Paul Bartel (of "Eating Raoul" fame) and because the cast includes Harvey Korman, Tim Conway and Stella Stevens.

It's a mixed bag. There are some slapstick scenes (namely the toilet) and some sexy ones (Stella Stevens was always a babe), but it's not exactly laugh-out-loud funny. Maybe it wasn't trying to be. Either way, this is one movie that won't appeal to everyone. Definitely more sedate than I prefer.

The rest of the cast includes Anne Meara, Edie McClurg, Eddie Deezen and Jonathan Winters.

Nadine (1987)

murder, mayhem...it's part of the game

[6/10 · 4 April 2024]

Robert Benton isn't the most well-known director. Probably his most famous output is 1979's Oscar-winning "Kramer vs. Kramer". He also did 1994's Oscar-nominated "Nobody's Fool". A lesser known work of his is the 1987 comedy "Nadine", about a hairdresser (Kim Basinger) drawn into a murder plot in 1950s Texas. It's nothing special: a lot of running around and shrieking, but she and Jeff Bridges have a good time with the material. It's not the sort of movie intended as some sort of masterpiece, just nice silly fun (and Basinger's a real babe here). I'd be content if this movie got rediscovered and gained a cult following, corny though it is.

The Miracle Club (2023)

it appears that the men in old Ireland put too much burden on their wives

[7/10 · 3 April 2024]

My family happened to come across "The Miracle Club" on Netflix. A fine little movie. It's about a group of women in 1967 Ireland who make a pilgrimage to Lourdes to see where a miracle allegedly happened in the 1800s.

What I really noticed was that while these gals were away, their husbands proved incompetent. Couldn't cook, couldn't clean, etc. The inevitable result of expecting your wife to do everything around the house.

It's not a masterpiece, but still a fine look at the Ireland of old. To think that it was only in my lifetime that the majority of the Emerald Isle advanced to First World status after centuries of subjugation by the British, and then being under the boot of the Catholic Church.

Worth seeing. The cast includes Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates and Laura Linney.

Tales from the Gimli Hospital (1988)

an Icelandic-Canadian eeriness

[6/10 · 2 April 2024]

I learned of Guy Maddin from his 2003 drama "The Saddest Music in the World", about a contest to determine which country has the most depressing music. I've finally seen Maddin's feature debut, the bizarre "Tales from the Gimli Hospital". I don't know how exactly to describe the movie. Set amid a smallpox epidemic, it features a woman telling her grandchildren about events in Iceland from the days of yore. Filmed in black and white with minimal dialogue, the movie appears to be a tribute to the most surreal examples of early cinema (although other people have noted similarities to David Lynch's work).

It's not really a "good" or "bad" movie. It's basically an excuse to be as avant-garde as possible. You could probably count on one hand the number of movies that you've seen that are like this one.

Voyagers (2021)

William Golding meets global warming

[5/10 · 1 April 2024]

I understand that Neil Burger's "Voyagers", loosely based on William Golding's "Lord of the Flies", has split viewers. In my case, I thought that it fell right down the middle. While making a good point about environmentalism, the acting seemed flat. Also grating is the nepotism: the star is Lily-Rose Depp (Johnny's daughter).

In the end, there's nothing particularly bad about the movie, it just seems like movies that we've seen before. A better movie that has a similar plot is Douglas Trumbull's "Silent Running", starring Bruce Dern as a botanist growing the last surviving plants aboard a spaceship.