[e-mail] Reviews

Flannel Pajamas (2006)

Surprisingly BAD

[5/10 · 2 August 2007]

I rented this based on good reviews from the likes of Ebert and I agree with another reviewer here...this movie fails to deliver and Ebert, I want my money back.

Justin Kirk is always delicious and rich and gives passionate performances...here I was like UGH, shut up. Same with Julianne Nicholson. I disliked every single character in this movie. This is not the wonderful actors' faults. No, this is a Jeff Lipsky problem. This is apparently a semi-autobiographical story and it perhaps director is too close to subject matter and doesn't see the major flaws in the story he has written here. HUGE holes...I imagine Jeff writing some of these scenes from memory (as I have done in my writing) and failed to step away...look at it with new naked eyes and say...hmmm, lots of holes here because drama and movies are not real life...real life needs filling out to be put on screen.

I am really shocked how un-fleshed-out these characters all are...how unlikable they all are and how this movie got Justin K to appear to be not a great actor.

I recommend this movie for writers and actors so that they may witness writing and performance that is not great, not horrible but terribly flawed...see if you can figure out how this movie could have been better...S**t, it could have been brilliant.

30 Rock (2006–2013)

Watch this show: it ROCKS

[10/10 · 20 January 2007]

-Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey are brilliant -the writing is so funny and appealing to both a male and female sense of humor -I love Liz Lemon. This is a female character I don't think I've really seen before or not for a very long time. She is smart and nerdy and neurotic and successful...and she can hang with the guys and is kind of a dweeb...so relatable for nerdy girls like me! This and Ugly Betty (for different reasons) are the best new shows and they will run for a long long time.

The writing is so good and caters to smarty-pants type of people who like their comedy wry and subtle...

I applaud you Tina Fey: you are genius and the best TV heroine right now.

Bobby (I) (2006)

Love Boat meets 'I wanna be Robert Altman but will never achieve this'

[1/10 · 26 November 2006]

Sorry, this movie means incredibly well. Yes, the end is effective, moving even. But what comes before is truly horrid. Look it's Sharon Stone! Look there's that guy from Six Feet Under! Anthony Hopkins! Helen Hunt! Oh wow, Ashton Kutcher as a druggie hippie that is more false and less entertaining than his sitcom work! The writing is false, schmaltzy, cringeworthy. I don't recommend this movie but I guess there are a bunch of folks who are please with it.

Oh ya and the entire film, THE ENTIRE FILM, is scored with this "hey this is such an important, emotional moment so pay attention!" music...it's insipid, draining.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006–2007)

Almost perfect cast

[7/10 · 21 August 2006]

Amanda Peet is not right for this part. She looks overwhelmed and is without weight. Sorkin's women are strong, even when they're neurotic. There is something to them that has to read 'been there, done that'. That is sadly missing and her acting in this is most difficult to enjoy. Hopefully she will improve with time. The show is otherwise very well cast and I am excited to see Matthew Perry in a role that has some gravitas and wounded humanity. It must feel great as an actor to get out from under the shadow of such a long-lived sitcom role. Steven Weber is managing his arsehole role really well too. And once again Brad Whitford knocks it out of the park with his subtlety and grace.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

So so so so so so GOOD.

[10/10 · 30 July 2006]

Finally a movie that truly lives up to it's trailer. Saw a preview for LMS about a month ago and have been thinking about it ever since. And then I finally got to see it.

I highly recommend seeing this movie. Fantastic ensemble acting. Beautifully crafted moments. I am in love with Alan Arkin and Steve Carell. Big fabulous crushes. It is so nice to see two actors who began at the Second City and in the comedy world do such nuanced, truthful performance. Carell can absolutely do something like Eternal Sunshine -- now we know. Comedians make the best actors! They have the ability to be TRUE...thats one of the most important things in comedy...and if you're great at that often you can do the flip side: move the crap out of an audience. And Carell and Arkin are both genius in this film.

OK, but I should also stress that the entire cast is bloody brilliant. This little girl is astonishing. Not showy and all actor-y. Just BEING. Beautiful.

See this movie and help make it a smash success. It deserves your attention!

Ten Benny (1995)

Movie stinky, Brody amazing

[2/10 · 11 April 2003]

This movie was 100 percent unoriginal. The only reason I rented it was because I am endeavoring to see all of Adrien Brody's films. He truly is an amazing talent.

I am still buzzing from excitement that he won the Oscar for Pianist!

See this movie ONLY if you love Adrien Brody and want to see a young star in the making. He is very young and yet you can see he is a Deniro or James Dean. Also check out another little seen Brody flick: Bread and Roses. It's actually a really good little movie and all the girls will fall for him in this one!

Friday Night (2002)

Like great, slow, sex

[10/10 · 23 November 2002]

I saw this movie at The Toronto Film Festival and afterwards I told Claire Denis that her movies were like great sex and this one is no different. Yes it is slow but it is languid and sensual. The lack of dialogue allows us to really see these characters and be with them in their environments. I loved this picture but realize it is not for everyone. Stupid people, for instance, or those who enjoy fast-paced action movies will not like this movie. This movie is so wonderful but it is an art film and it is a journey. Sit down with a glass of wine, no a bottle and seep into this film. 10/10