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ToplessHarry001
Reviews
Into the Blue (2005)
Audition film for the Man from Atlantis? ...
I'll give it 6 just for the underwater photography - Even though this movie idea has been made tens of times (if not hundreds) by now, note the dozens of James Bond rip-offs... the CG's and believability of the camera work gets ever better ... and the skin diving sequences of male character Jared in particular are impressive - He could be the new man from Atlantis - Hey there's an idea for yet another Hollywood remake ;)) Jessica Alba is a little clumsy under the sea though on top she proves herself to be as visually stunning as ever - playing the sexy moral princess so well... Wow! It would have been nice to have given Jared's brother a bit more character development though - i.e. reasons why he is a complete knob... and the jet-ski sequence was totally overdone and unnecessary - in fact I almost switched off at that point...
Most of the movie is spent waiting for the 'real' bad guy to step in, though when he finally does the wait is worth it.
Finally, I don't think Jessica's character should have hugged people so much - I think hugging is going' out o' fashion... not like she just got out of school or anything - makes her look a bit too simple and naive... doesn't figure with her character's maturity and street-smart attitude... Oh yeah, and no explanation is ever given for her seeming soft spot toward the 'treasure finder' in the beginning of the film? - or maybe she was meant to love everybody ;) Anyway, aside from that... The film was very enjoyable - opened my eyes about diving in open water... though methinks real divers might have got the bends by end of it - all those rapid ascents ;) All in all, easy on the eyes though not too challenging for the brain...
Unnatural Pursuits (1992)
Alan Bates is a Marvel... Funeral baked meats anyone?
I discovered this on TV in my early twenties (or was it late teens) and it instantly became a cult hit in my infinitesimal social circle of two... Some kids walk around quoting the Life of Brian... Whereas we drunkenly traipsed the streets of our discontent chanting this inspired tele-movie line for line... There was also, not surprisingly a healthy smattering of "Withnail and I" in our diatribe amongst other things...
This hilarious small budget film was like cocaine for two young would-be writers... It's full of angst, horribly attractive (though costly) vices and wonderfully charming and funny characters, not to mention those delightful little show tunes - "every waddle of the duck.. is for the first time", the fine rendition of "Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia" etc... and that... joke!?!... "J.Edgar Hoover Memorial Hospital" - absolutely priceless (obviously I ain't of American descent - and certainly not from Dallas ;) Unfortunately, we maybe realised too late that imitating the derogatory actions of Hamish Partt to the proverbial T is not the way to become a successful writer... I don't, however regret the experience and bottle of scotch (or cheaper equivalent) in belly or no, this film stands as a wonderful testament to some of the finer character actors of TV and film in the late 20th century... I highly recommend it to other aspiring writers and lovers of the theater alike...
Three cheers Mr Pratt!!!
Breakfast of Champions (1999)
What can I say... FairyLand!!!!
Great movie... No surprise I guess that I'm a big fan of Vonnegut... A writer with the guts to write in an unashamedly cartoon-like, un-politically correct and honest manner, which I personally dig. The take on Harry LeSabre's cross dressing tendencies (the scene with Wayne Hoobler in Harry's office is priceless), Dwayne Hoover's erratic mood swings and the need for Bunny Hoover and his mum to actually be noticed by the main man of the Exit 11 Motor Village were all acted out with tasty character acting skill and delivered with true gusto and appreciation for the material and it's source. Also, the portrayal of the 'cult' of Kilgore Trout (check out the awesome landscape cinematography behind Kilgore's Sci-Fi ramblings), it's followers and all the other reoccurring characters in Vonneguts's Novels, not to mention those hauntingly surreal mirror sequences in the most unlikely of places were simply beautiful...
I first saw this movie in the Phillipines with a packed house. I don't know whether whether I was laughing harder at the movie or more at the disgust of the people watching it... I think they saw the R Rating and Bruce Willis's name and figured they were in for some good old Bruce Willis knock em' dead action with a bit of Hollywood sex mixed in for good measure... However by the time Dwayne Hoover was engaged somewhat romantically with his Secretary in the Holiday Inn honeymoon suite the entire theater was empty save for myself and one man who hadn't yet finished his bucket of fried chicken...
I guess some people just don't appreciate the combination of middle-aged water bed sex and unruly comb-overs?? This movie wasn't made for everybody, but so what... I think it had to be made this way... It's a testament to a somewhat bizarre, original and funny writer... Personally I really can't fault it... The acting, direction and soundtrack are wonderful... I'd never been so moved by such a corny old song as 'Stranger in Paradise' before I'd seen this film. As they they, it's all in the delivery... As a music producer and part-time sound-tracker I look up to these sort of works with awe...
It's about time we stop worshiping actors to the nth degree and start celebrating storytellers once more...
Well done Alan Rudolph and Co. Well done world... Makes me happy to be a part of it... And remember, it's all life until you die ;))