Fugitive93 Reviews

Chasing Amy (1997)

Great romantic comedy for the 90s and beyond

[9/10 · 17 March 2001]

Chasing Amy represents fine work by a great writer and director. Kevin Smith weaves a web of dialogue that rolls off the tongues of the actors like poetry. Ben Affleck is thoroughly engaging as Holden, who falls for Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams) without knowing about her "alternative lifestyle." Jason Lee and Dwight Ewell steal scenes as Holden's comic-book partner Banky and a fake-militant Black gay comic book writer, respectively. There are so many angles to this movie that it is hard to explain. The only thing missing is closure. The ending is rather odd, and not altogether satisfying. I read somewhere that Kevin Smith will be tying up the loose ends in the upcoming "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" in August. Well, if it's as good as this movie, it will be well worth the time. 9/10

Dragnet (1987)

Wonderful homage to a great old TV show

[17 March 2001]

Most people remember Dragnet with Jack Webb as the buttoned-up police sergeant Joe Friday. Dan Akyroyd plays the nephew of that character here. He is so much like Webb that he even appears to be channeling him spiritually. Tom Hanks has a great time with the new character of Pep Streebeck, the antithesis of Friday. The rest of the cast is fun, never quite taking the whole business seriously. Dabney Coleman, Christopher Plummer and even Harry Morgan reprising his Bill Gannon role (now the captain of detectives). The marginally fleshed out plot involves P.A.G.A.N.s attacking Coleman's smut magazines and advocating for "good sex and bad drugs" as the key to a great society.

The jokes in this movie fly fast and furious and are aimed at all kinds, not just the lowest common denominator. Lots of fun, randomness abounds. The best way to enjoy this movie is to relax and not take it too seriously, because it is half spoof-half cop action comedy. This is a fun ride. 9/10

Plymouth (1991 TV Movie)

Great memories

[9/10 · 16 March 2001]

I saw this movie when it premiered because it looked like a change of pace from the usual TV-Movie. It turns out I was right. It is nothing amazing, but it is an inventive, diverting step u from the usual made for TV sci-fi garbage. Dale Midkiff is a winning hero, Joseph Gordon Levitt alludes to the range he would eventually show on 3rd Rock and in 10 Things I Hate About You. The whole package is nicely cheesy and boasts decent special effects. I wish this would get released to video or DVD so I could see it again. I overtaped my copy back in '98. Fun Movie 9/10

Newsies (1992)

What are you people smoking?

[1/10 · 15 March 2001]

I didn't believe a friend of mine that Newsies had developed a cult following of epic proportions. I didn't believe, that is, until I saw the mountain of recommendations from users here. Well let me say you are all deluding yourselves. I finally broke down and let him make me watch this. It is garbage. Not one believable emotion or likable character. The musical numbers fall flat after an almost-promising opening with Carrying the Banner. The wise-acre kids' act gets tiresome and the actors are all "lookit me i'm cute" in a bland, character-less sort of way. Christian Bale is servicable at best. Robert Duvall, Ann-Margaret, and Bill Pullman are all wasted. Pullman and Margaret act as if they know this movie is garbage and are hoping that their scenes will be recut and added to another period peice. Sorry Bill and Ann, they only make colossal bombs like this once or twice a decade so that footage will just have to be included into this overblown, completely stupid, musical. 2/10

Saving Silverman (2001)

Great Cast Wasted in Wretched "Movie"

[1/10 · 3 March 2001]

Saving Silverman boasts a great comic pedigree: Jason Biggs, a likable but not too nerdy guy; Jack Black a comic genius and one half of Tenacious D; Steve Zahn, memorable from supporting turns in That Thing You Do and Out of Sight; Amanda Peet who gained notice with a brilliant turn in The Whole Nine Yards; and Neil Diamond, always something of a joke but still a really good singer/songwriter. With all this, how could they lose?

This movie has a few laughs. When Peet hands Biggs the lotion and the dirty magazine, that is a cheap thrill. Hearing the trio's Neil Diamond tribute group is worth a chuckle. Amanda Peet is undeniably cute. Anyone who saw her on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn when this came out or who saw The Whole Nine Yards knows she is great and has impeccable comic timing. But she is thrown away here, like everyone else. Enjoying this movie depends on how much you like seeing people get beat up constantly. If you liked Home Alone, this movie is for you and only you. Neil Diamond is the only one to rise above this horrid material and appear to be having fun. His recurring tunes and his presence at the end are the only things that give this movie as high a rating as it gets. And that high rating is: One Star * out of Four ****

AVOID THIS MOVIE~you'll be glad you did

3000 Miles to Graceland (2001)

Nice Change of Pace for Costner

[8/10 · 23 February 2001]

The plot of this movie, judging from the commercials, was a casino heist. But it is actually much more since the action leaves the Vegas area after about 30-45 minutes. The rest is a cat-and-mouse game full of double crosses, close calls and a lot of shooting and explosions. Kevin Costner is especially good in his role as a sadistic bad guy. Kurt Russell brings a certain detached warmth to his less horrible baddie. Courteney Cox is also good in an off-beat character part for her. The cast is uniformly good, the action is actually exciting at times and the dark humor beneath the surface of his makes it really work. 8/10

Rules of Engagement (2000)

Very good movie

[8/10 · 3 April 2000]

Samuel L. Jackson is a Marine Officer on trial for his handling of a Yemen uprising. Tommy Lee Jones is a near-retirement Marine lawyer who owes Jackson a BIG favor. That is the setup for this finely tuned, above average military picture. The government is not made out to be grandly evil as it was in General's Daughter (1999) and that is a definite plus. The courtroom scenes crackle with tension. The performances are all top notch especially key supporting players like Guy Pearce (LA Confidential) delivering a knockout turn as the prosecuting officer who is also not made out to be irredeemably evil. He intends to do his job as he sees fit and not try to unjustly destroy the things that get in his way. While not in the same league as A Few Good Men (1992), Rules of Engagement is extremely satisfying entertainment and it sort of makes you wonder how a very well made, nicely done production like this ended up opening in April!! It will be unjustly forgotten come 2001 Oscar time but there are quality perofrmances in this quality film. Rating: * * *1/2 out of * * * *

The Whole Nine Yards (2000)

The Best Comedy About Contract Killers (so far) This Year

[8/10 · 26 February 2000]

Whole Nine Yards is the story of a nebbishy dentist (Matthew Perry) whose new next door neighbor is a hitman-turned-informant (Bruce Willis). This was a very funny movie once it got going. The first half hour was somewhat slow and I think that Kevin Pollak's entire character was very half baked and dumb. The ensemble is excellent especially Michael Clarke Duncan having a great time as another mob hitman. Jonathan Lynn's comedies have never really struck me as hilarious, I was not a big fan of either Greedy or My Cousin Vinny, but he has made a winner here. Although I am a huge fan of Matthew Perry's Friends role, I found him a tad grating at times here, but still very funny. Bruce Willis underplays nicely but the star of the show is Amanda Peet. The lively, funny newcomer throws herself into a scene-stealing role, hell a MOVIE-STEALING role. She is bright funny, likable and talented. This is a very funny movie and it outpaces the underworld comedies of last year Mickey Blue Eyes and Analyze This. It is a must for Bruce Willis or Matthew Perry devotees as well.