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All reviews by user Date  Helpful Rating 0 out of 0 users found this helpful  Missfire - but big shoes to fillPosted: 9/30/2006A review of All the King's Men by jpfay I liked all the tangible parts of the movie, the sets, the shot selection and I could follow the movie having read the book and seen the original movie.
My biggest complaint is the acting of Sean Penn, who is a better actor than the man I saw on the screen. Broderick Crawford, the actor that played the original Willie Stark, played the lead role with true passion, barely controllable anger at being duped and a multilayered depth of chacter that Penn did not even approach. Penn has confused passion with strutting around a sound stage with a constant hard on. He has patterened the Willie Stark character after the wrong person from Louisianna Jerry Lee Lewis is not Huey P. Long.Crawfords performance of Stark had the struggle and the seasoned backbone to fight the machine and although his exceeses eventually bring him down, the audience actually cares for the flawed hero. Penns performance was of the annoyed metrosexual country hick who was oddly above it all.
Rent the original -- if they havent colorized it! Was this review helpful? Sign In 0 out of 0 users found this helpful Waiting for comic releifPosted: 9/19/2006A review of The Black Dahlia by jpfay At first I thought this was a case of bad acting by everyone in the movie but I have seen great performances from all these actors in other movies. I have to wonder aloud if the scenes were filmed as climaxes and as subtle scenes - the normal course of moviemaking and then the editor got off of Willie Nelsons bus with the missing half pound of mushrooms and cut the film so every scene was a climax. If you look at the acting as if every scene was a climax you would see the level of performance by each actor was outstanding, however one should never have a series of climaxes in a film. The sets and shot selection were marvelous, the story was engageing and the character development was also good but editing it as climax after climax should be reserved for porn flicks. It was unwatchable! Was this review helpful? Sign In 0 out of 0 users found this helpful  A terrific new Dramatic ActorPosted: 9/18/2006A review of Gridiron Gang by jpfay This film is worthy of time and money. Critics wont like it because the lead actor, Dwayne Johnson, The Rock, is a professional wrestler and did not cut his teeth at Julliard and we all know that is a universal disqualifier amonst all knowing critics. Johnson is a fine dramatic actor who puts in a wonderfully layered performance as the coach of the convicts. I challenge any critic to say that his performance was less than flawless as well as generous with the ensemble something the Julliard crowd is lacking. The film had a fast pace that moved the story along and the music added to the drama but at heart of this movie was The Rocks solid performance. Forgive me, I couldnt resist. The football action scenes were filmed like scouting films with sound lending to the real life drama. Was this review helpful? Sign In 1 out of 1 users found this helpful  Best Movie of the YearPosted: 9/9/2006A review of Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont by jpfay One od the most poignant and comedic films youll ever see ---each frame was a delight. Joan Plowright and Rupert Friend should make more films together it was like listening to two old jazz masters riffing away. This film combined the facial comedy of a Woody Allen film, the warmth of William Wyler film, the intelligent comedy of Preston Strugis, the quirky character development of a William Forsythe film and the signature class and storytelling of the best Merchant and Ivory production.
Rent it sneak into the theatre pay for a ticket whatever GO SEE THIS FILM!! Was this review helpful? Sign In 0 out of 0 users found this helpful Good Performances - awful filmPosted: 9/9/2006A review of The Wicker Man by jpfay I supppose Back to the Beach with Annette Funicello is even more of an example of remaking a terrible film but this stinker is a close second. Cage, a fine actor is wasted on this drivel. Hollywood there are great writers and ideas out there go back to movie making and leave the recyling garbage business to the Municipalities. Was this review helpful? Sign In 0 out of 0 users found this helpful good entertainmentPosted: 9/4/2006A review of The Illusionist by jpfay We need a term for for color film noir where the shadows are black and nothing lighter than ecru is used to fill in the gaps. Sin City was filmed this way as well as other movies. The Illusioist is filmed in this manner and it is very effective for bringing out nineteenth century Vienna.
The acting was superb especially Biel, Giamatti, Norton and Sewell. Sewell put in a balanced performance in a heavy hat would often be over the top for many actors. Giamatti, aside from pulling off a Vienese accent leaves his octave leap in tone in the bag and his performance is outstanding.
Norton had many introspective shots that were believable and biel brought a warmth to her role that is sadly lacking in many of the female portrayals in film today.
I have read Milhausers Pulitzer Prize winning novel and he is very good sustaining readers interest in period pieces. These pieces seldom translate into a good film but this is a pleasent exception. The acting, costumes, props and cinematography all combine to make this a very enjoyable film.
I will say nothing more . . . Was this review helpful? Sign In 0 out of 0 users found this helpful Good Formula filmPosted: 8/30/2006A review of Invincible by jpfay I agree with all the critics that this is a formula film. It got periously close to Rocky when Vince Papale started running the Philly Streets but they turned left on time.What I liked about the film was the motivation of the lead character being originally hate for an Ex-wife. The negative motivation takes him only so far and he is a drag on the team with the emotional baggage.
The football locker room scenes were authentic especially the pre game puking by the backs and coaches (I was a lineman lol). I suppose my love of the game could have colored my judgement but is was a very uplifting film. Greg Kineer played Dick Vermeel in a subtle way I remember Vermeel being much more emotional and often wear4ing his heart on his sleeve.
The ensemble of the bar patrons was well cast and the scenes withpick up ball games in the downpouring rain brought back many memories. Was this review helpful? Sign In 4 out of 6 users found this helpful A very interesting oddball filmPosted: 8/10/2006A review of The Night Listener by jpfay This film defies genre and the engine that propels it is unrelenting suspence. Robin Williams puts in a stellar performance as a compassionate man who is not sure if he has been fooled by a character who maybe playing on his sympathy to get attention.
The atttention seeker prays on Williams who is vunerable from a recent breakup of a significant other that he nursed through AIDS This is a terrific device as the audience is !@ed in for a resolution.
Terrrific device aside, this picture could have fallen flat on its lens without the terrific interplay between Toni Collette and Robin Williams. I normallly comment on the sets but I confess I was to wrapped up in the story to notice. Was this review helpful? Sign In 0 out of 0 users found this helpful Very intelligent documentaryI ran into this film thinking it was a comedy with Jon Stewart, a television comedian with a good reputation(I dont watch TV). It is a documentary on people who love crossword puzzles. I do one every day but these folks are obsessive. There is an odd passion to this film that is utterly delightful. THe crossword contestants are ultra competitive and still have a common comradity about the love of words and the mastering of puzzles. There was valor in this film when the finalist petitioned the judges to add points to a frontrunner-something that you dont see everyday.
You might think to yourself that a documentary on crossword puzzles is a snore but youd be wrong. The film makers took to a place Ive never visited before and introduced me to characters from all walks of life, a pro pitcher, Jon Stewart, a musician, a young maverick, an engineer, and many other colorful folk who share a love for words.
This is an odd year in movies when so many good documentaries are screened. Was this review helpful? Sign In 6 out of 6 users found this helpful Once again he delivers . . .I was still getting over the visual imagery from Match Point when I went into this film. Woody Allen had the entire theatre in stiches with his wry comments. Critics will like Match Point better but there is no comparing a consise well thought out comedy with a straight drama. Most movie critics pan comedies because they dont have a sence of humor- heck you couldnt warm up to any of them if you were cremated next to them.
Scoop will live on as an enduring comedy even more so than Sleeper, Love and Death and Play it again Sam.The dialouge is think with spun cliches, dead-on ad libs and adorable overstatements. Scoop might even be considered in the ranks of the long ago forgotten English crime comedies like The Lavender Hill Mob.
Each shot was meticulously framed as in Match Point and the sets were again outstanding. Scarlet Johansen and Hugh jackman put in marvelous roles but Woody Allen stold the show. His dead pan expressions ala Buster Keaton seemed to heighten his comedic lines. This is a film maker at the top of his game and still has many years in front of him. Was this review helpful? Sign In 3 out of 4 users found this helpful  Just as stupid as the TV showPosted: 8/1/2006A review of Miami Vice by jpfay I was dissapointed. I like the two leading actors and have seen good work from them in the past. This is the drivel that was on TV decades ago-the only difference-is the suits are updated and the pastels in every camera shot are filmed at night giving them an edgy noir effect. The film like the television series was awhite suit pastelerama that tried its best to hide the witless dialouge, dull plot lines, and too cool protaganists. These drug importing movies are getting even more predictable than the old western oaters.
You have the bumbling keystone cops (FBI) who despite their law enforcement assets in Washington DC come up in second place to the all knowing local Miami Police department. There is good gunplay-every gun manufacturer was represented. The lead falls for the crooks moll and the oher partners significant other is taken hostage by the bad guys. There is the doublecross at the end that is always sniffed out by the crack detectiver in the white suit and matching vest.
Ferrel and Foxx put in good performances but acting in this picture might be akin to be playing for the 1961 Mets. Was this review helpful? Sign In 2 out of 5 users found this helpful Terrific Summer Escapist ComedyPosted: 7/21/2006A review of My Super Ex-Girlfriend by jpfay This film combines great comedic dialouge, fresh comic situatuions and enough affection to convince your date you took her to a Chick film. It combines a group of normal people reacting to one of the freshest quirky characters in some time, G Girl. Uma Thurmans performance will not get her the critical acclaim it deserve. I find that most national critics do not get humor. It is a delightfully over the top performance(intentionally over the top, national critics) of a superhero with issues. Eddy Izzard plays a very critical role and his unselfish subtle performance as the evil mastermind was a terrific device to highlight Thurmans madcap madness.
Luke Wilson acting is superb as the confused mortal forwardslash boyfriend and Rainn Wilson puts a fresh face on the love hungry geek. My only disappointment is the lack of lines given to Wanda Sykes whose comedic presence is always unforgettable. The film is summertime fun. Don Payne and Ivan Reitman should team up again. Was this review helpful? Sign In 0 out of 0 users found this helpful Smoke em if you got emPosted: 7/14/2006A review of Thank You for Smoking by jpfay Its been a long time since Ive liked all the characters in the movies even the heavies.
THe Supporting Actors were outstanding. Willian H Macy plays a Senator from Vermont with just the right mix of frustrated do-gooder homespun reformer and ambitious political climber. J. K. Simmons plays an intense corporate backstabber and crazed loon and all though the performance you can see he thoughougly enjoyed it. Robert Duvall plays a tobacco barron with a heart of gold(yeah, its mechanical). Rob Lowe plays a high powered movie product placement promoter with the right amount of eastern mysticism and BS.The lobbyists that made up the MOD Squad were hysterical and I loved the forum of the seedy bar that had an Algonquin round table feel to it. Katie Holms was terrific as the under cover reporter. Adam Brody plays a minor character who escorts the central characters to Rob Lowes office and his performance albeit ephemeral is hard to forget. If thats not enogh, Sam Elliot plays a former Marlboro Man dying of lung cancer and his contribution is few scenes but he also paints a very complex character.
THe Central Characters father and son acted in tandem and delivered flawless performances. Aaron Eckhardt plays a hated tobbacco lobbyist who is tring to raise his son and pay the mortgage. His acting is subtle and personable. This is a remarkable performance of a character that could have played it just for laughs and been successful. Cameron Bright, playing his son, is an child actor to keep an eye on.
THe writing and direction of this movie was ouitstanding. If you have a sence of humor this is a must see movie. If you dont have a sence of humor this is also a must see movie because it works as a comedy and a heartwarming drama. And who knows? You might leave the movie theatre with a new found sence of humor. Was this review helpful? Sign In 5 out of 5 users found this helpful A Very Unusual DocumentaryPosted: 7/13/2006A review of An Inconvenient Truth by jpfay AL Gore makes a very convincing laymans made simple case for the crises to come from global warming. Intersperced with his pitch is an insight into his life and he relates his struggles of a hospitalised son and a sister who dies of lung cancer. I heard some of those right wing radio hosts(Dont paint me liberal all political parties have failed me) that they could not see the reason for the inclusion of his sisters death but it made great sence and set up the old magazine ad that he held up that proclaimed that all leading doctors agreed that ciggarrettes were healthy.
The fact that he went after mostly Republicans is the fact that they, as a group, have dismissed Global warming as theory rather than the ugly reality that it is. Republicans seem to be threatened by any legislation that either makes industry alter its ways or raise the minimum milege standards. It is clear that Ford and GM have to make more efficient cars and the oil industry must eventually vacate to infinate resources of power, and judging from where these supplies are obtained, the sooner the better.
The reason I didnt give this film 5 stars was his sons plight that didnt seem to serve the Global warming.
As a documentary, it was very informative and an issue that we all will have to face in the near future. I just wish the right wing radio talk show hosts would answer the films arguments point by point in honest debate rather than blanketly call those who disagree with them Butt monkies or Kool aid drinkers. Im rather tired of sopmoric debate. If a pun is the lowest form of humor than name-calling is the bargain basement of rhetoric. Was this review helpful? Sign In 19 out of 19 users found this helpful Not a follower of fashionPosted: 6/30/2006A review of The Devil Wears Prada by jpfay This was a surprise -- a very sharp, funny semi-dark comedy that is well acted stayed away from the obvious cliches. Streep was good - if a picture is worth a thousand words - on of her gestures is a doctoral dissertation. Just terrific acting and character developing on her part. Stanley Tucci plays a great mentor to the new assistant. Ann Hathawy played the frump-new fashioneer to a new high standard and Emily Blunt delivered a very subtle albetit frantic acting job. Well done!! Was this review helpful? Sign In |
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