4 out 5. Michael Hoffman's THE LAST STATION
overflows with excellent acting and a real solid story. It makes one
wonder how this slipped by so easily without much notice. Maybe the
subject of Tolstoy is over everyone's
heads and seems daunting. But truth be told it's about the beginning and
ending of love and relationships. I wouldn't call it a chick flick, but
the subject matter contrasts nicely between serious drama and some
rather amusing scenes. I'd call out Helen Mirren as having done an
exceptional job but really everyone played with the perfect pitch of
sincerity that I'd hate for her performance to shadow anyone else. If
you like well-photographed, well-acted films that look like
impressionist paintings at times, you should definitely check this one
out.
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4 out of 5. MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO is a very creative endeavor from Gus
Van Sant. From what I've read about the film I'm kind of glad the
investors made him pull back on the Shakespearean dialogue. It was
mildly effective in some ways but pulled
us away from the emotional state we experienced with the "real"
dialogue. High marks for the look and feel of this film though. It was
nearly perfect. You can see what a lot of people were talking about in
regards to River Phoenix. He embodies his character wholly and always
looks like he's having conversations in his head about his next move or
motivation. Great if not a safe way to deal with the subject matter. If
you liked the Basketball Diaries and Stanley Kubrick films...you'll
probably like this.
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4 out of 5. Marc Forster captured the ethereal
in his FINDING NEVERLAND. This is probably the closest thing to Johnny
Depp playing a fairly straight-forward character. Full of life and
whimsy, this piece captures the
imagination and pulls you in for a fun ride. I like how this really
didn't get a lot of play; a real sleeper hit if there ever was one. Kate
Winslet is particularly good as is always Julie Christie. If you want
good-hearted film then this might be for you.
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4 out of 5. In Robinson Devor's THE WOMAN CHASER, Patrick Warburton tears up the
screen in such an absurd role that you can't help but get sucked in. It
has a similar degradation of humanity that Gummo displayed yet it's
title character keeps it
tongue-in-cheek. Stylized directing and great script make this a joy
ride through a 50s era David Lynchian dark comedy. It's not your
mainstream kind of comedy...it's actually funny, sincere and clever
without grabbing for the jokes or insulting your intelligence.
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3 out of 5. Michelangelo Antonioni's first
color feature, RED DESERT is jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Often it reminded
me of HERO in terms of shot choices and cinematography. It even felt a
bit sci-fi like the ANDROMEDA STRAIN at
times. A woman who suffers from PTSD is suppressed by an industrial
environment that is a metaphor for her suffering. The sound design is
intrinsic in this piece as well. Not for casual viewers as the
abstraction of storyline does not feed the soul. It's an excellent study
for those who love film, unbelievable color usage, and composition.
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