lizzieloo21 Reviews

The Allnighter (1987)

Terrible

[1/10 · 11 January 2007]

Oh, come on...I don't mean to be offensive, but this film was absolutely painful to watch. Susanna Hoffs, an attractive and engaging singer, is not engaging (although she is quite attractive) in this role. She seems to have lost the sparkle she could convey through her music. No wonder she doesn't talk about it in interviews.

Yes, this film was aimed for my age group at the time, but there have been other films aimed toward the younger set that are intelligent, sexy, and fun at the same...not mindless and silly as this one was. Try "One Crazy Summer," "Say Anything," or anything directed by John Hughes at the time.

Sorry, fans. I can't find one redeeming quality about this film. If I were a director, I'd find something better to cast my daughter in.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)

A crying shame

[12 May 2004]

What a shame!!! This is the worst excuse for an adaptation of a novel I have ever seen. Nothing is explained about Siddalee, Shep, Vivi, the Ya-Yas, the younger siblings, Buggy, etc. No one will understand fully the anguish that the children went through as children or the anguish that Vivi went through in her own childhood. Shortcuts were taken left and right in this film, much to the detriment of the storyline. For instance, Shep is not a living saint, Vivi did not simply beat her children because of dexamyl, Teensy's mother is barely mentioned, Vivi's stay at the boarding school was left out, and where is Aunt Jezie, grownup Lulu, Little Shep, and Baylor? I realize that it was a two hour film, but an adaptation should never have been attempted if it wasn't going to be done faithfully. Everything in this film was explained away too easily. Sidda needed much more than a sob story about her mother's loss and use of dexamyl to explain her behavior. Too easy, too simple, too cheesy. No one could possibly come away with a clear understanding and resolution of the plot.

My recommendation: SKIP IT and read the fabulous books this was supposedly based on: Little Altars Everywhere and The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya sisterhood.

In the Bedroom (2001)

A beautiful, beautiful film.

[26 April 2004]

What a beautiful film. From the scenery, to the direction, to the nearly flawless acting, this film may seem too slow for some, but achingly real to others. You can just feel the intensity of the characters' emotions even when they are not speaking. When a loved one is taken from a family in such a swift and violent manner, we cannot expect that healing and justice will be just as swift. Matt and Ruth sleepwalk through their lives for months after Frank's death until a breaking point is reached. This is life and the film moves slowly to underline the fact that life just doesn't go on when a horrible tragedy occurs. It may seem to go on, but it is not like it once was and never will be again. I don't know if I agree with "an eye for an eye" but I also have never had my son's life taken away.

Sissy Spacek, Tom Wilkinson, and Marisa Tomei were wonderful in their roles. William Mapother was OK as the one dimensional villain. The story is heartbreaking and the rawness of the emotion in this film is underlined by the fact that there is no music soundtrack other than Ruth's choir. So why all the fuss about the film? It is beautiful and painstakingly real. It is no action thriller, but it stays with you.

Never Weaken (1921)

Even my kids enjoyed it!

[21 April 2003]

I was flipping through the channels last night and noticed a Harold Lloyd marathon on AMC. His granddaughter Suzanne has rereleased many of his films and was on the channel talking about the careers of her grandfather and grandmother (Mildred Davis, "the girl" in this film). The characters are sweet and loving and Harold Lloyd comes off as the lovelorn and innocent boy whose greatest wish is to marry his sweetheart. When he thinks she is in love with another, he plans to kill himself rather than live without her. Attempted suicide has never been so funny. Especially hilarious is the painstaking care he takes in writing the suicide note. My children (ages 5, 10, and 13) were so amused by Lloyd's antics that I was amazed. They never thought that silent films could be so expressive and funny. I love the fact that this art form is appreciated and shown on television for all to see and fall in love with all over again.

Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000)

The actors may be impossibly attractive, but the issues are real.

[4 March 2003]

I was pleasantly surprised to watch this film and actually FEEL for a woman who steals from her sleeping mother, a woman who has casual affairs with "nice" guys, a flaky tarot card reading lesbian, an annoying over-attentive mom, and an impossibly gorgeous blind woman who has a better sex life than her beautiful sighted sister. These are portrayals of woman in various stages of longing. It is a very real concept since everyone longs for something...whether it be money, love, a new life. I was compelled to comment on this film because I read many negative comments of people who said it was slow. I was also offended by one person who watched HALF of the movie and gave away spoilers that were only HALF correct. Real life isn't like the Die Hard movies or Pretty Woman or some flick you watch in order to escape your own existence. I am glad that someone made a film that captures (somewhat) the essence of indecision, insecurity, and inconsistent behavior that is REAL in everyone's life. I recommend it to anyone and hope they would watch the whole thing before broadcasting an "informed" opinion.

Light of Day (1987)

Great script, so-so performances

[24 July 2002]

I thought this film had an original story and a great script. Michael J. Fox puts forth a wonderful attempt to make us believe he is Joe Rasnick, aspiring rock performer, and, as always his acting is on the level and heartfelt. Joan Jett, while trying really hard to play the wild and sometimes estranged sister Patti, just can't seem to find the emotion needed to make her role believable (her musical performance doesn't disappoint, though). Gena Rowlands, as usual, is superb in her attempt to make us buy her as Joan Jett's righteous and disapproving mother. All in all entertaining, yet not quite believable.