clarkesta Reviews

Jerry Maguire (1996)

Jerry McQuire insults the intelligence!

[1/10 · 5 January 2010]

It can take me years sometimes to see movies.

On a whim, I decided to rent "Jerry McQuire" to find out why colleagues have been chanting "show me the money" all these years. I guess part of the reason is Cuba Gooding Jr's performance - he really is fantastic. But his character is symptomatic of why I wish I hadn't bothered.

I'm taking into consideration that Jerry McQuire is an aging movie - and pre-11th September, 2001 - but was/is America really this shallow? I don't understand why any of the characters in this movie should be considered heroes.

Overpaid sports "stars" ranting and demanding to be multi-millionaires because they feel they deserve it?

A good-looking high-flyer who is irresistible to women?

The best thing this movie does is expose an insidious industry for what it is, while managing to fool the majority of viewers into thinking there has been some kind of redemption and victory.

If Tom Cruises' character had simply gone and sold hot dogs outside the Monday Night Football stadium after being fired he would have been making more of a personal journey and arguably more of a contribution to society.

I enjoyed the scene where Cruise searches for a decent song on the radio in order to appreciate his upbeat mood. But as usual, it's Cruise playing.. well, Tom. He only ever plays one character - himself. If it was near the end of "Rain man" he would have had a true reason to be happy with himself. But the premise of the celebration is very, very dubious indeed.

I kept waiting for the big revelation to arrive; when was McQuire going to reinvent himself or reinvent the industry to acknowledge and minimize the greed? I sat through an incredibly boring wedding and an even more boring break-up to arrive at the conclusion: an arrogant sports star is a hero for getting up after tripping over (in full protective gear!) and is now able to negotiate the contract which will keep his even more arrogant family happy.

When you consider that the average African-American family would have been more than happy with the offer that was on the table during the bleak dark days before this movie reaches its "climax", I fail to see how "Jerry McQuire" connected with anyone.

This movie insults the intelligence.

The World's Fastest Indian (2005)

A beautifully simple tale with great vibes and no villains.

[10/10 · 3 January 2006]

All I knew about this movie going in was that it was the life story of an Ivan Mauger-type motorcyclist whom I'd never heard of; that he was a Southlander; and that Anthony Hopkins was playing the chap - complete with a rolled rrrr's Southland accent. I came away with a feeling similar to when I first saw "Tucker the man & his dream" and "Cool runnings" - A genuine feeling of euphoria that someone whom I ordinarily would have little particular interest in, has accomplished a dream. Roger Donaldson has created a rare cinematic masterpiece with "The world's fastest Indian" - he has crafted a feel-good movie which achieves a "Field of dreams" emotional level with a climax which is deliberately low-key and in keeping with the subject matter. Despite the fact that Burt Munro's efforts set an as-yet unbeaten world record, he was a humble bloke who just went back to his shed at the end of the day to tinker. I loved this movie because it tells a straight-forward tale of someone so fixed on his dream that anyone he comes into contact with simply can't help but do what they can to help him. There are no villains in this movie - except bad luck and circumstance. And the way Munro overcomes adversity is incredibly charming, and an inspiration to anyone. Sir Anthony Hopkins is incredible, as usual. There aren't many actors who could pull off the Antipodean twang and the Southland R-rolling to boot! But Hopkins carries it off almost impeccably. The shimmering cinematography on the Bonneville salt flats is another highlight of this masterpiece, and I think I'm going to have to see it again before it winds up its run at my local cinema to fully appreciate it! (The first time I was too caught up in the agony of Burt's struggle!) This truly is a great flick. Probably not an Oscar winner, but for me, "World's fastest Indian" belongs alongside the aforementioned "Tucker," etc. There's probably not much point in releasing it in the United States - it's not their kind of feel-good movie. But I sure hope Donaldson takes it to Cannes...the Europeans should like it as much as "Whale rider."