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stacy_g_ie
Reviews
Wonder Boys (2000)
Why is this such a little-known film?
Last night, my friends and I searched the local video shop for something worth watching. We picked Wonder Boys, even though none of us had ever heard of it before. Result? All of us laughed ourselves silly and watched it three times. This film is about Glady Tripp, a pot-smoking college professor going through a tough time in his life. Seven years ago he wrote an acclaimed book, but is having trouble following it up---it's over 2600 pages long, shows no sign of ending, and his agent Terry Crabtree is getting impatient...That's not all. His wife has left him, his mistress Sara Gaskell (or his boss' wife) has just informed him she's pregnant, his best student James Leer, a crazy literary genius who can't stop lying, is following him around, and Hannah Green, a female pupil who rents a room in his house, is clearly trying to put the moves on him by wearing very little.
But it gets worse again for Grady. James Leer kills the Gaskells' dog when it won't get its teeth out of his professor's leg, a man with a James Brown haircut is claiming he owns Tripp's car, and a jacket Marilyn Monroe once wore has disappeared from the Gaskells' safe. Soon, some young-looking police officers are swarming around Grady's house. Throw in some codeine, alcohol, a pink dressing gown and a heavily-pregnant waitress named Oola and you've got the ingredients of a very tasty film.
There are some very funny moments, including a scene where James Leer climbs through a dog flap to get into a house, then makes himself comfortable on the sofa in front of the tv, Vernon jumping and running around Grady's car, and there was one little scene that just shone out to me. When James is semi-conscious in the club and is just propped against the chair, Terry starts touching his hair and brushing it behind his ears and I thought it was hilarious! So incredibly camp!
All the acting in this is superb, and it's very much a cast effort. Michael Douglas made me smile as Glady Tripp, Robert Downey Jr is SO funny as Terry Crabtree, he deserved an Oscar for sheer dedication to the role! Frances McDormand puts in a perfect performance as Sara Gaskell, and Tobey Maguire's character James Leer kept my attention. There is something wrong with that boy! I don't think any other actor could have pulled off that giggle during the speech by Rip Torn's character! Agh!
I urge EVERYONE to see this film! I have one question though. How come I never heard of Wonder Boys before my friends and I rented it? It's a brilliant film!
Gimme Gimme Gimme (1999)
I just love this show
Gimme Gimme Gimme is a show about a gay man and a straight woman who live together in Kentish Town in London. While it doesn't sound like much on paper, it really works because it is, as Linda would say, VILE! But it's the kind of vile that works. The funny kind of vile.
Kathy Burke plays Linda LaHughes, a heavy-set tart with frizzy red hair and glasses. To put it in the words of a character in the 2nd series, she looks like 'a cross between Chris Evans and Olive from On the Buses.' She is sex-obsessed, vulgar and probably the most disgusting British character ever created, excepting maybe Fat B****** in Austin Powers 2. She gets the best lines, though most of them make you cringe. An example would be 'He can stick his hand up my skirt and make my lips move...if you know what I mean!' about a ventroloquist. She is always talking about her days in borstal and her oddball family, such as 'My auntie Vi was a cyclops...or auntie eye as we used to call her.'
James Dreyfus plays Tom Farrell, an extremely camp self-obsessed gay actor who *suprisingly* can't get work anywhere. He's had his fair share of bad luck, attracts horrible men, such as Rick who hated everyone and sold sofas on cheesy ads, the man who slept with Tom once and wouldn't leave him alone...then of course was one of my favourite episodes when Tom met his idol, Peak Practice star Simon Shepherd. But he firmly believes in people being honest in their sexuality. My favourite Gimme Gimme Gimme quote was when he said 'I like my men to be stong, assertive...not so far back in the closet they're in f*****g Narnia!'
This show is so much better than most American comedies such as Seinfeld, Friends, Frasier and so on. Why? Good acting, funny script, and absolutely no limitations. A genius created this. An absolute f*****g genius.
Brassed Off (1996)
Wow
I sat down a few weeks ago to watch this film on Channel 4. And in many ways, this film is superior to many others, both British and American, of the last 30 years or so. It is a natural, wonderfully-acted film that moved me to tears in many scenes.
The plot? It's about a group of miners in a small Yorkshire town who are also members of a brass band. However, the mine is to be closed down, and the film shows what happens to the redundant workers afterwards. There is also a romance between Andy Barrow and Gloria, a woman who works for the management of the mine, which causes conflict in the group.
Many scenes made me cry like a little child. One of these was the 'Danny Boy' scene outside the hospital window. Another was the scene where Stephen Tompkinson (one of the most under-rated actors working, in my opinion) dressed as a clown, is entertaining a group of children at the local church and loses it, completely, because he's so preoccupied with the thought of his sick father.
The Albert Hall scene at the end is very emotional and enjoyable, and one of the highlights of this beautiful film. Sadly, many of the actors in it are still unrecognised as truly brilliant. Ewan McGregor lights up the screen in a pre-trainspotting role, however, but whatever happened to his love interest in the film, Tara Fitzgerald?
Overall, a beautiful, emotional and deeply moving film that made me cry. I don't usually cry at films. When most other people cry, I laugh. Not this one. Had tears rolling down my cheeks. There were a few funny lines however, such as 'Is this man bothering you?' "Of course he is. He's my dad" which is both funny and sweet. See this film the next opportunity you get or you'll regret it later on. 8/10.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Pure beauty captured on film.
This film is one that I consider under-appreciated. It captures the essence of human nature, in every one of its 142 minutes. Fear, humanity, love, anger and courage are just a few emotions and traits shown on film in this masterpiece. In the IMDB top250 films, it comes third behind Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and The Godfather. While good films in their own league, they don't compare to the magnificence of The Shawshank Redemption.
'Shawshank' is set in America in the 1950s-70s. It tells the story of Andy Dufresne, who is sent to Shawshank Prison for a double murder, that of his wife and her lover. The film shows us the relationships he develops with fellow prisoners, especially of that with Red, real name Ellis Boyd Redding. Tim Robbins' gentle, yet powerful portrayal of Andy touches the heart of the viewer and makes him likeable. Morgan Freeman should have won the Oscar for which he was nominated for portraying Red, the man who 'can get things'. He is a charming character that makes you want to see this film at least once more, and many of his lines stick in the memory. For instance, when Andy tells Red he wants him to get Rite Hayworth for him, Red tells him he'll try his best. Andy is still unsure, until 'I don't have her down my pants right now, Andy, but I'll get her for you!' If you have never seen 'The Shawshank Redemption', go down to the nearest video shop and rent it. No, don't rent it, BUY it. It'll be the best few quid you ever spend on entertainment. Stacy_G_
Strictly Ballroom (1992)
Fun to watch...time after time
I was looking at a few of my fave films tonight. I decided to look up the comments on 'Strictly Ballroom'. I was very pleased to see that even though this was a film that involved dancing made by Baz Luhrmann, Americans love it! (Not being racist or anything, but the US didn't take too kindly to his latest) Then I realised, I've never commented on Strictly Ballroom, so I decided tonight would be the night!
The film is about Scott, a young Australian ballroom dancer. One night at a dancing competition, he tries a few new moves out. His partner is furious, and so she leaves him, after she is informed that another, better dancer, Ken Railings, has lost his partner. She's broken both her legs. (Make sure you see that part, it's hilarious.) Scott's parents, who own the local ballroom dancing school, decide to look for another partner for him, as the Pan Pacifics (massive dancing competition) are coming up, and Scott absolutely has to win! A young, quite unattractive amateur, Fran, walks in on Scott practising his moves in one of the rooms in the school and we can tell she instantly falls in love with this talented young man. He notices her after a while, and he decided he will train Fran, secretly, and she will be his dancing partner for the Pan Pacifics. There are some hilarious moments in this Australian love story brilliantly directed by the one and only Baz Luhrmann. Scott's dad had me rolling around on the floor at times, even though at the beginning, he looks like a quiet,respectful man.
SEE THIS FILM! Even if you hated all things Moulin Rouge, you will love this.
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
What can I say in one line that will summarise this masterpiece?
Q. What's Moulin Rouge all about, then?
A.It's about a young English poet named Christian (Ewan McGregor, whose performance has been highly under-rated) who travels to Paris in 1899, despite his father's disapproval. He becomes acquainted with Henri Toulouse-Laudrec (John Leguizamo), a disorientated Argentinean (Jacek Koman), and several others. Well, they fall through his roof anyway. When they discover he is a writer, they want him to write a play, then get it staged in La Mouline Rouge (Translates as "The Red Windmill")
"The Nightclub of Your Dreams!"
It is there he first sees Satine (Nicole Kidman) a beautiful, ahem, courtesan. They meet, fall in love, sing and dance...but all is not well. The Duke of Monroth (Richard Roxburgh) is determined to take Satine away from the Moulin Rouge and make her a star (and, it seems, his wife). But then Harold Zidler (Jim Broadbent) our nightclub's manager, discovers that our Satine is not very well...
This is a beautiful film. (C'est Magnifique!)Anyone who says this is just like all the other films titled 'Moulin Rouge' (the flops from the 30's and 40's,) either cannot appreciate good things, or is lying. Running at just over 2 hours, some would say it's a little long, but it flies by with the help of some speedy cameras and beautiful performances. With some help from a few familiar songs (Heroes by David Bowie, Material Girl by Madonna, and Your Song by Sir Elton John, to name a few) and obvious hard work, Baz Luhramann has created the best musical since Grease. (C'mon, admit it, we all sang Summer Nights at one point) All the stars positively sparkle and there is strong chemistry between them all. There are times when you laugh (When Zidler sings a famous Madonna reel to the Duke) times when you cry (The tragedy off-stage about ten minutes before the end, I'm not gonna spoil it for the minority who haven't seen it) and times when you can only sit on the edge of your seat to see what happens (yeah, like I'm going to tell you when that is! ). It'll be a few months before the launch of Moulin Rouge on DVD over here, but if you're in a similar situation, it's totally worth waiting for.
Someone asked me why the actors in this were so great. Y'know what I said?
`BECAUSE THEY CAN CAN-CAN!'
(Sorry for the bad joke.)
Stacy_G_IE
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
Not bad for a sequel to Halloween
Halloween H:20 is the 7th film in the Halloween series, for those who lost count. It shows what happened to Laurie 20 years after Michael Myers, our pale-faced killer, first came after her. She has built a new life for herself and her son, with the new identities of Kerri and John Tate. She is happy in her teaching career, until she finds out Michael has escaped from prison and is undoubtadly after her again. The whole film centers around Laurie trying to find Michael and get rid of him forever. Jamie Lee Curtis plays Laurie, or Kerri, brilliantly, and other big names in what is probably the last Halloween film that will be made (unless some big movie guy decides to remake it in 30 years time) include Josh Hartnett as John, Michelle Williams, Adam Arkin and LL Cool J. I am sorry to say I laughed my way through this, but not 'ha ha that's pathetic' laughter, 'ha ha stop it you're killing me' laughter. I know it's meant to be a successful horror sequel, and it deserves to be. Halloween H:20 is a really good film, and I think the reason I laughed was partly because I didn't see anything in it coming. Tense? Yes. Dramatic? Yes. Should you see it? I can't answer that for ya, but if I could, I'd say yes.
The Virgin Suicides (1999)
I cried until I ran out of tissues!
Well, no, I didn't. There are some moments in The Virgin Suicides that touch you, not really sorrowfully, but kind of reminiscent, and you smile a sad smile when any of the characters are happy. This is rare, however.
The film is set in 1975, and is basically about the Lisbon sisters: Lux, Mary, Bonnie and Therese. Beautiful, deep and the most popular girls wherever they are. A group of teenage boys are besotted by these girls and often go on dates with them. Within a year, every one of the 5 Lisbon sisters has taken her own life. The girls all seem so real, not like the usual spoilt kids you see in most movies. And you feel genuinely sorry for the parents whenever the next girl goes, and the boys too. I was sobbing at this. I think it shows what happens to a family when suicide is involved, what happens to the friends, the teachers, anyone who knew the person involved. It's a genuine classic and I want it to be seen that way.
stacy_g_ie