lena771 Reviews

Unconditional Love (2002)

Delightful

[10/10 · 26 April 2004]

I found this movie to be extremely delightful.I am biased I suppose.I happen to adore Kathy Bates.I found her singing an added pleasure.She has a very nice voice.

Ms Bates plays Grace Beasley.The film takes you from her doledrums married life in Chicago to England,the home of her recently murdered singing idol Victor Fox.There she meets his three surviving uppity sisters.She also discovers that Victor leaves behind a male lover,Dirk Simpson.

The story leads you on to some surprisingly comedic and heartwarming situations as Grace and Dirk develop a true fondness for each other,after an initial rather rude rejection,on his part.They return to Chicago where they team up with Grace's pint-sized,hilarious daughter-in-law,Maudie,to find the serial killer who murdered Victor.

Everyone in the picture did a fine job.Particularly enjoyed Julie Andrews,Lynn Redgrave and Barry Manilow.This movie was fun.It makes you cry.The music is absolutely charming.

Other posters here who found problems with any parts of this movie,just don't have a clue.

Phone Booth (2002)

I AGREE WITH ROBYN'S RECENT POST

[18 July 2003]

I have seen other's negative comments on this film,but Robyn said it all.I have know idea what the rest of you viewers have to harp about concerning this movie,and I think most bad views aren't really called for.I've found this to be true in a lot of critical posts on movies here.Some really go to the extreme,to being completely rude.

I happened to have been on the edge of my seat throughout the entire movie.It came together for me.Was very entertaining,and I do applaud all actors involved.Of special mention,Colin Farrell,and of course Forrest Whittaker,always turns in a good performance.

I too saw "Liberty Stands Still" starring Wesley Snipes,it was good too,but "Phone Booth" had a little more going for it,in my humble opinion.So whatever this atmosphere of over criticism happens to be,I think those views don't really reflect what this picture is all about.

I agree with a recent post by Robyn.I truly enjoyed this film.I will add it to my library.

Ali (2001)

A FINE FILM

[20 August 2002]

I just purchased my copy of this film and watched it for the first time last night.This is a finely made film.I am a fan of just about everybody associated in the making of it.Will Smith,who I might add, actually deserved the recognition he received from the Academy as a nominee this year for best actor for his outstanding delivery of Muhammad Ali.Jon Voight,as usual,gives another unforgettable performance.

I also found Mario Van Pebbles as Malcom X and Mykelti Williamson as Don King,both quite convincing.I almost didn't recognize Jada Pinkett Smith for a while,but she was quite good,having never seen her in such a mature role as this one.

Others have spoken about how NOT this movie is about boxing,yet a look at the man Muhammad Ali,himself.His beliefs,his romantic interests,love for his religion,his comical interviews for the broadcast media.We are even shown his reflections on humanity and human injustices where he' s given an early lesson as a young boy riding in the 'colored' section in the rear of a bus.

We see in this picture a Muhammad Ali who wants and needs to be a voice,a leader for the people,for black people.He proves this in his refusal of being inducted into military service,his choice not to fight in a war in Vietnam against a people he feels are of no threat to him,but rather a race of people who are suffering just like the oppressed in America.I am a Vietnam vet and I surely can understand his reasoning here,even though I went on to fight in that war.

I enjoyed watching this movie and plan on watching it many more times.One thing that rather disturbed me about the film was the sound.I don't know if there are others here who have watched it at home and heard it through a surround sound system,but I found it difficult hearing dialogue at times.I kept adjusting my speakers but couldn't seem to find the right speaker level combo.At times the soundtrack was louder than the actors speaking.I wonder if anyonelse had this problem?

All in all this again is a fine film.

Training Day (2001)

This Has Got To Be Denzel's Year

[10/10 · 20 March 2002]

Denzel Washington has given us a different look at his acting capabilities.The majority of his films give us a decent man,who stands for right,and goes the distance in proving this.This time Denzel shows he can make us believe he is as rotten,cruel,and selfish as they come.

And I believe in his character as Alonzo Harris,as crooked a policeman most anyone would ever care to know.He portrays this wicked officer to the hilt.A cop who cares very little about the well being of his kid and the mother of his child,or needless to say his sworn oath to preserve and protect as a civil servant of the police force.

Before this movie,if anyone would have told me I would someday be watching one of his films where I would feel his death was justified,I would have thought they were crazy.This can only speak for the outstanding performance he has delivered in this motion picture.So much of what we see of him this time only proves he is indeed a great actor.

A great actor,who has been slighted a time or two at the Oscars.Others might not agree with me,but I feel he was overlooked for his fine performance in "The Crimson Tide".Denzel should have at least been a nominee that year,in my opinion.If he doesn't receive best actor for this one this time,I feel like Julia Roberts,but I'll take it a bit further.The academy should discontinue giving out yearly awards,especially when excellent actors like Denzel are far too often loosing out to others who gave lesser performances.

I believe if he looses this time,not just myself but a great deal of movie fans will be taken back to the 80's when Steven Spielberg's "The Color Purple" walked away empty handed,after capturing 11 nominations that year,and received not even one.Truly unjust.

The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy (2000)

Was About To Stop VCR Recording,Going Into First Ten Minutes,And Then.......

[21 December 2001]

Yes indeed I clicked record on my vcr,without ever having seen this movie.Mainly because of it just being a gay film and the scarcity of pictures dedicated to the subject,even in these days.

Recently I have come across some very well made films of this genre,such as "Get Real","Like It Is",so my hopes when viewing this one were that it would be equally as good as them.I must admit that going into the first minutes of "Broken Hearts",with all the mundane 'sissy talk' between the characters,talk I've been around much too often,in my gay life,that really makes a person want to throw up.I was about to pull the plug on my vcr.

But then the atmosphere begin to change,the characters started hitting home,revealing their deepest thoughts,desires,hang-ups.That kept me watching.And I can tell you I am so glad I did make it past those first minutes,because this movie delighted me to the upmost.

It's sincerety is basically what got me.I in my younger life was part of a group of gays very much like the one's in this film.The charatcter who reminded me most of myself was Kevin,a 'newbie',played by Andrew Keegan,a fine actor.In fact the entire cast was good.Great job done by the casting department imo.

The story is packed with every day life situations and not just 'gay things' as some would expect.I truly did relate.I both laughed and cried watching this film.The picture was chocked full of 'moments' that will make anyone stop,reflect,and think.

All in all this film is up there with the best on my list

Mission to Mars (2000)

I Love This Movie

[1 July 2001]

I enjoyed watching this movie the first time I saw it on pay-per-view and have watched it almost every month since.I am a tru sci-fi fan,in the sense I do appreciate good movies of this genre.I don't particularly care for the horror type sci-fi films at all.

I don't know who this Mercury fella is that found the movie to be bad,but I can just bet you his tastes in movies are so finicky one would do best to ignore anything he has to say about a film he has seen.Can you imagine him honking about the music score in this film?I felt the score was quite adequate and in my opinion quite beautiful.This Mercury guy also has no ear for music,I am convinced.

Also Mr De Palma's direction of this film gave it a twist and flavor that is both dramatic and entertaining.I'm sure had another director been used,that director could not have acheived anything near this.

I really do love this movie.

The Trip to Bountiful (1985)

A Great Loss

[11 May 2001]

All I can say is Ms Page is my favorite.We all miss her.I have watched this movie dozens of times and am struck by what an outstanding performance she gives us in this picture.

Yes I do indeed cry everytime I watch this film and think it will always touch me whenever I see it.I have my copy of it but it is becoming rather used so I intend on purchasing another.

I don't think the world will ever see the likes of another Geraldine Page,at least not in my life time.What a great loss.

Bait (2000)

ONE TIRED MOVIE

[8 April 2001]

I didn't see this film in a theatre.I didn't rent it from a video store.I paid $3.99 to watch it on pay tv.I should have waited until it was shown on the movie channels.What a waste of money.

I do love Jamie Foxx.I just can't believe he accepted this role.The film is racial.I hated it.It is a tired movie.The director is even tireder.Anyone who sits through almost 2 hours of nonsense like this,without falling asleep needs a life.

ONE TIRED MOVIE.

Porgy and Bess (1959)

Porgy And Bess (1959)

[23 August 2000]

I was a young boy in Houston when this motion picture was first released.It was one of,or perhaps maybe the first,to be filmed entirely in stereophonic sound.

I have no idea why there have been issues about this film.Whatever objections some groups may have or may still have to the showing of this film are just flat groundless.This film is beautiful.I do hope some kind people would think of the public and give this film back to us,be it on broadcast television or video.

I am sure that if this movie were to be released on videotape or DVD the public would just eat it up.Especially those of us with surround-sound systems.I can just imagine what a pleasure it would be to see and hear this movie at home on a big-screen and in surround sound.