MYSTERY
I have placed "sizzler
ratings" next to movies to give you an idea of
how good they are
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EYES
WIDE SHUT (1999) |
Starring: Tom Cruise,
Nicole Kidman
The plot: After a Christmas
party, the Harford's sink into 48 hours of sexual jealousy
when it is revealed the wife thought of having an affair the
previous year. Consumed by the imagery this fantasy generates,
the husband, Bill goes off to seek revenge. However, the route
he follows is a strange and twisted one.
Comment: OK, I haven't
heard anyone say this, but I thought this movie was (probably
unintentionally) a major tribute to Alfred Hitchcock. One
could only assume that if Hitchcock was around and about to
release, "Vertigo" today, it would receive the same black
and white reviews from the critics... The plot is slow to
unfold (Hitchcock) leaving you hanging in suspense (Hitchcock)
with lots of scenes containing vivid contrasting colours (Hitchcock)
and long periods of no dialogue (Hitchcock). Yet, this is
supposed to be Stanley Kubrik's final masterpiece - expecially
since he died shortly after completion of the movie. Ah well...
That aside, I doubt Hitchcock would have stooped to throw
in so many totally gratuitous scenes with female nudity (and
a profound lack of full frontal male nudity - equality will
have arrived when there is frontal male nudity!). For those
of you not in America, you are also blessed to see the undigitised
version with a nice orgy scene (to which the comment was heard,
"See, there is male nudity - it's just that It was in use
at the time"). This scene at least has a role in the film
unlike the trailer in which we see with Tom and Nicole making
love in front of the mirror... This movie is worth seeing
if nothing else to see what the hype is about - but rent "Vertigo"
before you do, so you can better appreciate what Kubrick was
trying to achieve (?!)
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THE
BONE COLLECTOR (1999) |
Starring: Denzel Washington,
Angelina Jolie, Ed O'Neill, Queen Latifah
The plot: Four years after
Forensics Investigator, Lincoln Rhyme, was made a quadraplegic
in a freak accident, he is being seconded from his bed to
find a serial killer. The killer leaves seemingly random clues
which the police fail to recognise until rookie cop, Amelia
comes along and faithfully seals the crime scene according
to a manual written by Rhyme. Rhyme is attracted to her keen
sense of forensic detail and recruits her against her will
to be his 'body' as he tries to track down the killer.
Comment: The plot summary
may sound like a vague rehash of many stereotypical forensic
detective movies, and it may even come across that way, with
some bland moments in the film. However, Washington pulls
a strong performance and Ed O'Neill as his cop friend, Paulie
puts in a strong perfomance which doesn't even once resemble
his role as the infamous Ed Bundy from the tv series, Married
With Children. Personally, I got tired of Joile constantly
pursing those large lips of hers and got a bit distracted
there wishing she would just close them... However, that and
the bland plot aside, this is a pleasant little thriller worthy
more of a nice evening at home than the big screen.
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THE
SIXTH SENSE (1999) |
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Starring: Bruce Willis,
Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
The plot: A child psychologist
is shattered when a former patient, Vincent Grey,returns as
an adult back and says he didn't cure him. Dr Malcolm Crowe's
life changes at that instant. A year later, he gets a chance
to try again, this time with another child who has a big secret
that may be similar to Grey's. Although Malcolm is worried
about his disintegrating marriage, he takes a chance to help
young Cole Sear.
Comment: I bow down in
awe at the writer and director, M. Night Shyamalan, of this
movie! What a clever, clever, clever script! Although this
movie was promoted as a kind of horror movie, it is actually
far superior and much more of a smoothly written suspense
film. Throughout the film, you will feel the hairs on your
arms rise as certain events unfold but nothing, absolutely
nothing prepares you for the unbelievable twist at the end.
Bruce Willis gives a subtle and quiet performance as the tortured
Dr Crow, Toni Collette plays a small but tender role as Cole's
mother, but kudo's go to Hayley Joel Osment for playing Cole
Sear with such depth and maturityr. However, this movie would
have been magnificent with any decent actors because it is
the script which makes this movie so spine-chilling and smooth.
Total honors go to M. Night Shyamalan for the script - if
this doesn't win an Oscar, then the Academy may just as well
disband for all I care!
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THE
TALENTED MR RIPLEY (1999) |
Starring:Matt Damon, Gwyneth
Paltrowe, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett
The plot: Its the 1950's
and by fluke of wearing a Harvard jacket and having the ability
to mimic anyone in any situation, Tom Ripley finds himself off
to Italy to retrieve an errant son for a New York Millionaire.
However, when Ripley arrives in Italy, he is captivated by the
lifestyle Dickie Greenleaf is living with his girfriend, Marge.
When Tom is suddenly cut off from the Greenleaf expense account,
he finds himself going to desperate ends to ensure he keeps
the lifestyle.
Comment: Pretty scenery.
An arguably excellent performance from Damon. A somewhat predictable
and slow to develop plot. The STUPIDEST ending ever... That
sums up this movie in a nutshell. It is hard to make a bad movie
when you are drifting over the beautiful parts of Italy so there
is lots of places that make you wish to be on vacation. Damon
is rather good as a chameleon who becomes what people want him
to be so that he can stay with them. Unfortunately, either due
to the hype before or just the expectations, you kind of find
yourself expecting some nasty things to happen which generates
a bit of tension as you wonder how long they can drag out a
scene until the inevitable climax. And then there was the ending.
They should have just stopped the film 5 minutes before the
end. If you haven't seen it, just walk out of the cinema or
stop the video when Ripley is on the ferry to Greece. There
were two sensible ways for the plot to go, and they found a
third STUPID way to go that just RUINED the whole entire film
for me...
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UNBEAKABLE
(2000) |
Starring: Bruce Willis,
Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Wright Penn
The plot: David Dunn is
the only survivor of a train crash in which every other person
is killed. Furthermore, he walks away without a scratch on him.
Although a bit disturbed by it all, he doean't think much of
it until a mysterious note on his car leads him into the gallery
of cartoon collector, Elijiah Price. Elijiah is convinced that
David is destined for better things than he currently thinks
he is.
Comment: This is deeply
dark movie with strong emotional development. Comapred to the
whiz bang fast-paced action films that Hollywood is churning
out at present, this one is quite slow in comparison. However,
this next movie by the acclaimed Sixth Sense
director, M. Night Shyamalan is just as powerful - if intensely
slow in places. So slow it occasionally felt like 'Meet
Joe Black" with the camera swinging between Bruce Willis
looking like a zombie trying to figure out if his brain is firing
or not, and Robin Wright wondering how to respond to her husbands
confusion. Get past that though, and this is a good film with
a powerful plot that unfolds like a rose blooming in slow motion.
Again, there is a trademark twist at the end, although, unlike
The Sixth Sense, this one doesn't require
you to go back and see the movie again to see if Shyamalan slipped
up anywhere.... But I can tell you its true to the story - and
generally, that comment makes no sense unless you see the film!
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WHAT
LIES BENEATH (2000) |
Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer,
Harrison Ford
The plot: Claire Spencer
is the fragile wife of successful medical researcher, Norman
Spencer. Once her daughter is dropped off at University, she
becomes bored and becomes fascinated by the new neighbours
next door. When the wife seemingly vanishes, she becomes convinced
the husband has killed her - especially as she is plagued
by supernatural events in her own home. The visions become
more real and as Claire becomes more frightened, her husband
withdraws from her. But, despite what Claire thinks, things
are actually a lot more mysterious than she suspects...
Comment: On the surface,
this movie is a complete tribute to the psychological suspense
Hitchcock used to build up in his films. I couldn't work out
if Pfeiffer had become a drippy actress or whether she was
brilliantly acting as a fragile wife - and as the film unfolded,
it became clear that this film is one where Pfeiffer's acting
ability absolutely shines through and she is utterly credible
as a fragile person who delves deep into herself for hidden
strength. I suspect Pfeiffer's powerful, powerful performance
in this film will go largely unrewarded - but let it be said,
I was impressed! I dreaded seeing Harrison Ford play a dramatic
role - he always seems more believable in roles where he is
not required to emote and just get gradually more bashed up.
However, he comes across fine as the successful husband of
Claire and I was able to breath a sigh of relief. However,
after fine performances from the strong cast and an excellent
plot, the film is let down by a profound lack of editing leading
to several anachronisms and a lot of thumb twiddling as tension
is built up... and then not sustained as it plateau's out,
hammering on and on about some point. As a tribute to Hitchcock
and Pfeiffer - I love this film - I just wish it had been
trimmed a little in length.
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[
TOP ]
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An absolute sizzler of a movie - A must
see! |
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A scorcher of a good movie; still capable
of riveting you to your seat |
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Low flame burner; a pleasant piece of mindless
brain candy |
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A fizzler of a movie which will have you
counting zzzzzz's... |
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