Change Your Image
timotea
Reviews
El hijo de la novia (2001)
A breather from the "expected"
"El Hijo de la Novia" is a wonderful film that steers away from the conventional middle age crisis Hollywood plotline. The characters are beautifully developed: in most movies, the each character has either a comedic or a dramatic 'purpose'. In "El Hijo de la Novia", however, each character manages to bring out as many smiles as tears. Few actors manage to capture the pain and frustration and unexpected wit behind Alzheimer as Norma Aleandro. The script is never trite, the score is moving, the experience altogether unforgettable.
(Who IS Dick Watson?)
***** Worth dishing out eight dollars again and again
Nada en la nevera (1998)
Romantic comedy of the her side/his side type
"Nada en la Nevera" is not by all means a typical romantic comedy where the girl gets the guy and they live happily ever after; it is more a if girl gets the guy, will she live happily ever after?
The characters are very well developed, particularly Juan, the lesbian best friend. Jose Maria/Numero Uno is the typical forlorn sheepish artist, like John Cusack in High Fidelity (when it's his turn to tell the story. Maria Esteve, as Carlota, is worthy of the Ally McBeal comparisons of the other reviewer. She's flighty, constantly thinking out loud, though a lot edgier.
I give it 7 stars for unconventionality.
Serendipity (2001)
Light and charming
"Serendipity" is a light and charming romantic comedy in the style of "Sleepless in Seattle" and "The Family Man", in the sense that they both recur to the issues of fate and the perennial "what if" to tell the story. The backbone of the cast, as adorable as Mr. Cusack and Ms. Beckinsale are, was Jeremy Pivan, in the role of Dustin. He, along with Jason Lee (can't wait to see him in "Vanilla Sky"), are the two best comedic "sidekick" actors of the last few years. His timing and delivery saved the film at times when it might have lost the audience.
Legally Blonde (2001)
Excellent Ensemble!
Watching "Legally Blonde" is one of the best ways to kill an hour and a half these days. Two factors contribute to its ability to entertain without straining the audience: its great ensemble, and straightforward screenplay.
One of the best things about Legally Blonde is its casting choices. Reese Witherspoon, without a doubt, makes Elle Woods a likeable character. It is hard to imagine feeling the same empathy towards another actress playing that part. She manages to prove that the pursuit for higher education and self-realization and the guilty pleasures of reading and applying information found on Cosmopolitan can in fact co-exist. Matthew Davis, a relative newcomer, perfectly represents stereotypical East Coast pretentiousness as the politician wannabe; one of his best scenes, however, is his reaction to Elle's rejection from the study group. Selma Blair's cool attitude makes her a great antagonist to perky Elle. She portrays very well being threatened by Elle's sunniness (watch out for the sparkly argyle beret). Luke Wilson is great as Elle's mentor; the chemistry between those two was strong enough to let the screenwriters get away with not writing out "love scenes" between the two characters. Callahan, the professor, is another well-developed character; the plot twists concerning him are very well written. Other characters such as Paulette the manicurist, Professor Stromwell, Brooke Taylor-Windham, and the sorority sisters help round out Elle's transition from fashion management major to Harvard Law student.
The writing is excellent. The screenplay was penned by the team behind "Ten Things I Hate About You", one of the few watchable teen comedies released in the last few years.
The '60s (1999)
Entertaining... if you are doing something else.
For some strange reason, I end up finding this movie on VH1 when I have a long ironing session. It is entertaining enough to keep it on. Since I've watched it a couple of times, I thought it would be interesting to detail some of the less thought of continuity aspects of the series.
I agree with most user comments regarding the lack of character development/screen time of the African American characters, especially Emmet. We find him rioting in South Central L.A. at the end of the first part, and ten minutes into the second part, he's a Jimi Hendrix look-alike in San Francisco. Ten minutes later, he's a Panther. We know the Herlihy's live happily ever after, but don't get any kind of closure from his character at the end. And what happened to the mother?
Another puzzling detail is how Michael and Brian smoke pot using a rather large device inside the house, where their father (with his straightforward, military antics) could have easily found them. Sure, the girl gets kicked out for getting pregnant, but the guys can smoke on the kitchen counter.
On non-continuity issues, Josh Hamilton looks way older than what the character calls for; he must have been already in his thirties when the movie was being shot. Jordana Brewster is actually in college now, making her 16 or 17 at the time the film was made. Ick. I didn't really feel any chemistry between them, and the dialogue had a high degree of cheesiness to it ("What did you forget?"... "My heart"... Oh please!)
I think that NBC tried to cover as many bases as possible in four hours. It is debatable whether they should have dealt with fewer plotlines and events and try to make a better move, or whether it turned out okay to treat many circumstances with limited depth.