courtney-eveleigh Reviews

Dogville (2003)

worst movie i've ever seen!

[10 May 2004]

oh my!! i had no idea what this one was about - just knew that Nicole was in it and was listed as an 'independent'. This goes to show that not all independents are good and just because it's indie does NOT mean it's 'deep and meaningful'.

uggh! this was just stupid! how much did they spend on the set? $100 bucks maybe? some chalk, a couple of thrift store props and I don't see the drab, depressing wardrobe winning any costume awards.

I normally love Nicole and think she picks good roles - but she was (i agree with another reviewer) robotic. None of the other actors stood out either - they were all pretty robotic and without individuality.

I tried to like this film at first, I really did. Once the senseless rape and torture started - i was just p****d. I wish I would've left the theater, but I just couldn't imagine a film getting any worse. it did.

Monster (2003)

blown away

[26 January 2004]

Charlize was absolutely awesome in this film. She stripped down to the raw character and vanity took a backseat.

For those who don't know this is Charlize playing the role - you physically would not recognize her. Her body language, speech, mannerisms, expressions ~ complete transformation! She was not attractive in the film, but after watching for awhile there was something vulnerable and 'soft' about the way she played Aileen.

I've seen this kind-of role w/other starlets -- Hillary Swank in 'Boys Don't Cry' and Uma Thurman in the HBO movie 'Hysterical Blindness'. The courage it takes to play this kind of role in Hollywood, where you're judged so much by the way you look . . . it's amazing.

For such a young actress, Charlize is definitely wise beyond her years. In her interviews and films, she holds herself with such grace and elegance. She truly embraced this character and deserves all the recognition I'm sure she'll receive for this role.

Charlize is one of those actresses who will successful for her entire career. She's that kind of talent.

The Princess and the Warrior (2000)

the worst!

[2 June 2003]

This movie was the worst film I've seen in a long, long time. I rented it to watch w/my uncle (who is german) b/c I thought it would be nice for him to watch something in Deutsch (after being in the states for a month and watching all English films).

First of all, the storyline was totally unbelievable. Franka Potente plays a nurse in a mental institution where she goes in at night and pleasures the patients. Nice! Talk about giving a bad name to that profession . . .

She then gets run over by a semi truck one day while in town w/one of the her patient's - a blind man. In an extremely long scene, she is underneath the semi for an EXTENDED amount of time (wow! didn't realize the medics took so long in Germany). A thug comes by (on the run from some clerks at a store he just tried to rob)and decides to crawl under the truck to hide. Oh! He discovers there's a girl who's just been run over and can't breathe. . . Since he's obviously been trained in surgical procedures and she just happens to have a drink in her hand w/a straw, he proceeds to cut her throat and insert the straw -to save her life!! Very realistic, indeed.

The remainder of the film follows Franka searching for this guy and upon finding him - having him basically tell her to GO AWAY & LEAVE HIM ALONE. Oh no. That would be too easy and make to much sense. She goes on to humiliate and embarrass herself again and again.

The german was very poorly spoken and my uncle, who does not speak English, had to ask me what they were saying (i was reading subtitles) b/c there was lots of mumbling going on.

Run Lola Run was good - this film was not. period.

Best in Show (2000)

wins the blue ribbon for comedy!

[18 March 2003]

oh my! where so I start?

I saw Waiting for Guffman & Best in Show over the same weekend . . . rented both films on recommendation by a friend. BIS was the funnier of the two - just b/c there is sooooo much comedy to be found in the world of dog shows and the sometimes over-the-top handlers & owners.

I had to rewind several scenes b/c I started laughing so hard I couldn't hear some of the dialogue. This is truly a work of art by both the writers and the actors! The interaction between all the couples (Catherine O'Hara & Eugene Levy, Parker Posey & Michael Hitchcock, John Michael Higgens & Michael McKean) is just so right on. The subtle irritations that one experiences in a relationship are MAGNIFIED by these people. This allows the viewer see how silly and funny life and love can be.

It's really a hysterical view of life and in this case - dog shows.

Frida (2002)

wunderbar!

[27 January 2003]

Visually stunning - if this film does not win for cinematography at the Academy Awards, I will be shocked.

This film, based on the biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera, is a masterpiece. I read the book several years ago & have been a Frida fan ever since.

I heard an interview w/Hayden on NPR not too long ago talking about her book & the movie adaptation. She did years & years of research on Frida and is probably as close to an 'expert' on her life as we could come across in the year 2003. She praised Julie Taymor for this film and was quite happy with her adaptation.

Reading the reviews on this page, i find it hard to believe that there are critics of this movie. Everything from the music (beautiful!) to the cinematography to the acting . . . greatness!! Selma really put her heart & soul into this role and she has now made her way onto my list of 'favorite actresses'.

It would be hard to put anyone's life onto the big screen & get every single detail right on - esp. someone who lived 50+ years ago. I think Julie Taymor has done an amazing job of representing the life of Frida.