Movies I have seen in June 2001!
Bandits
***1/2This movie descended into a strange stream-of-consciousness fantasy at times. Its not a great movie, but I liked it. A lot. I liked the look, the sound and the feel it presented. A group of female felons in prison form a rock and roll band. On the night of their first gig they escape, and while on the run become media sensations.
This movie at times had an MTV feel, and at times looked like something out of a modern day Fellini. I wanted to rate it higher, but it had lots of flaws. But this was a movie that made me want to look past the flaws. I just enjoyed it. This was a movie that I didn't want to analyze. I don't want to pick it apart. It was foreign and strange. It looked a little different than any movie I have seen and I liked that. I developed a rapport with characters that I never thought I would. Surely, this is the aim of good cinema. In German with English subtitles. SEE IT!
see review by Allison Tweedie-Perry
Black Light
*A psychic who helps police find leads on a serial killer case is blinded. The police need her help, but her husband is jaded and wants them to leave her alone. Yet she keeps getting visions-the killer won't stop.
BORING!
Don't bother. You've seen this all before. Even if you have only been watching movies for a week or two, take my word for it-you have seen it.
The Minus Man
***A polite, smooth talking man takes a room with an unhappily married couple. He gets a job at the local post office. A woman there takes a liking to him. The only problem is that he is a serial killer. Poisons his victims. I liked this movie quite a bit. While it didn't go into the killer's mind at all, we do get quite an interesting look at his outside. Perhaps the scariest part of this movie was its portrayal of how normal such people can appear. I don't recommend this movie for those looking for the typical Hollywood blood and gore. There is none of that. But if you like a quiet, subtle suspense, definately see it!
see review by Roger Ebert
Brassed Off
**1/2A mining town in England and the mine is being shut down. Bitter antagonism grips the town. It seems the only thing that brings relief is the towns brass band. Then a pretty woman returns to the town and is a great flugelhorn player. A romance begins. The only problem is that she works for mining mamagement.
This movie was ok. It slid into cliche and sentamentalism. Still it was fairly interesting. I liked its look. It caught English life fairly well. See it!
see review by Nicholas Royle
Net Worth
*Based on the true story of the National Hockey League forming a players association and unionizing. Not all that interesting to me since I am not a hockey fan. Typical union movie. For some reason I didn't find the players particularly realistic (as if I have ever known any real hockey players!). Well, all I can say is don't bother with this one.
Frequency
***A man whose father died as a fire fighter thirty years before makes contact with him on an old ham radio. The two team up to catch a serial killer. Now, this might sound pretty contrived and stereotyped, but this was actually quite a good movie. The plot moved in interesting ways. There were unexpected twists and turns. It did evolve into a typical Hollywood 'shoot-it-out' and it did have a crap out ending. But it survived all of that. See it!
Trans
***1/2I got into this movie big time. A young teen ager escapes from a prison and tries to make do on the streets of a Florida city. The movie covers a 24 hour period. This movie was extremely realistic. It caught the main character's sense of isolation in a really intense way. The tension in the movie was VERY believable. Not an overly exciting movie perhaps, but a very real one. Highly recommended!
see review by David Fear
The Wedding Gift
*1/2A woman crippled by an unknown disease is taken care of by her husband. As her illness progresses, he meets a blind woman and the crippled wife determines that he should be with her after she dies. Based on a true story. This movie pretty much followed a cliche'd storyline. It offered very little that was new or interesting. Tear jerker. Don't bother.
Can't You Hear the Wind Howl
***The Story of blues legend Robert Johnson. Narrated by Danny Glover, this film contained re-creations of events in Johnson's life and lots of clips of his music. Add to that interviews with modern day musicians and you have here a fine piece of work. Johnson's life was fascinating. Born into a poor sharecropper family, he learned the guitar and today is considered by many to be one of the finest players ever. See this movie, though the music may not be to the taste of younger viewers.
Don't Look Back
***Documentary look at behind the scenes during Bob Dylan's England tour in 1965. I imagine you would have to be a pretty good Dylan fan to enjoy this. I did. Lots of backstage film, concert clips, business dealings, etc. An appearance by Donovan. 60's nostalgia time here! See it if you like Bob Dylan!