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Reviews
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
Goodbye, Kevin
Jay and Silent Bob were two-trick ponies (one trick each--Bob talking once a movie and Jay trying to get his d*** sucked)--but they were funny parts of otherwise thoughtful, entertaining movies. Until this one.
This movie went beyond bad. This was a revenge f*** by Kevin Smith to all the people who actually liked his movies. Smith must have been told by one too many idiots that Jay and Silent Bob were cool and that they were "the best part of that lesbo flick" or the funniest thing in that "stupid god movie". So Smith did what any artist with millions in the bank and studio a**holes sniffing his butt would do -- he got completely stoned and decided to see how bad a movie he could get away with.
Smith has not only said goodbye to Jay and Silent Bob, but he has said goodbye to anyone who thought he was capable of making (or perhaps better to say "willing to make") a decent movie. You only have to tell me to f*** off once, Kevin. I won't be back.
Flying Blind (1992)
The Problem with Perfect Women
Tea Leoni's presentation of her character in Flying Blind has always stood out as one of the most perfect presentations of the ingenue femme fatale in all of television (and most of cinema). Wild, extravagent, guileless and innocent, this presentation is a guaranteed heart-breaker for anyone who believes The Perfect Woman actually exists. The show as a whole, while flawed, still glowed as result of this unexpectedly successful collision of writing and actress.
I must also concur with other comments that this show got the short-shrift reserved for other real comic gems like The Ben Stiller Show and (dare I say it in print) Duckman. While a different genre entirely, Flying Blind was buried late in the Sunday evening programming where it too was doomed to a quick death (probably because Married With Children was busy leaving its "mark" on television).
The Muse (1999)
Albert Brooks owes me $8.00.
Before I get into this movie, it is important for me to say that I really love Albert Brooks. Defending Your Life was truly excellent...Broadcast News was terrific...Lost in America still cracks me up ("There are people out there who rape people. That's all they do."). So before I say what I have to say, know that I like Albert Brooks.
Having said that: ALBERT BROOKS OWES ME $8.00! (I'll even spring for the two extra exclaimation points): !!
This movie was terrible. Our Muse was categorically uninspiring and was, if anything, a true to life representation of the banality people will seek out when they think they need something new in their lives. However, unlike Cosmo's (Cher's dad's)girlfriend in Moonstruck, Sharon Stone's muse was played straight (polite cough) and thoroughly unconvincingly.
Avoid this movie at all costs. If you want Brooks, dig out Broadcast News. If you want Stone, try Casino or (better yet) Total Recall. If you want a Muse (and I do not say this lightly) rent Xanadu--you will be less disappointed.
Cube (1997)
ENDING SPOILER -- BE WARNED
This movie is a futuristic adaptation of a play by Jean-Paul Sartre called "No Exit". In both the movie and the play, several people with no obvious connection are thrown together for no obvious reason. The movie performs best when it follows the Sartre plot closely but strikes some flat notes when it strays too far. For example, the early character interaction (while somewhat wooden) is very beleivable. However, the hints that "the Government" created the Cube (naturally)add little to the plot while Sartre's room is a metaphor for a possible afterlife (a thought our movie characters never seriously consider).
The tension between the characters was fairly well done although it escalated to the truly homocidal a little too quickly and too disjointedly for my taste. And, while the movie had some well-timed and truly stomach twisting turns(PLOT SPOILER WARNING)-- like the cold-blooded murder of the doctor --the final blood bath and the weepily symbolic ascension of the idiot were a little to trite to be consistent with the movie's thoughtful tone.
All in all, really worth seeing once. If you have already seen it, I strongly recommend reading No Exit and then seeing it again. You will enjoy the contrast.
Feel free to let me know what you think.
P.S. I think the "Lord of the Flies" comparisons made by many fellow reviewers miss the mark a little.