Reviews
Gulliver's Travels (1996)
A quality film - must see, must have.
This film is wonderful example of the quality dramas that Channel 4 and the BBC have produced over the years. Ted Danson delivers a powerful performance of a man tormented by memories noone will accept, and a society that believes he is insane. It is a remarkable performance by a man most known for his role in Cheers, a TV comedy sitcom. The supporting cast are all very well chosen, not least Mary Steenbergen, Danson's wife, who acts the part of Gulliver's wife in the film. But above all it is the seamless and very delicate shifts between our world and Gulliver's world that make this film. The difference in perspective between giants and midgets, all acted by real actors is beautifully captured. A rare treat of cinematography and direction.
Signs (2002)
Shyamalan has the touch
Shyamalan is master of orchestrating the buildup of tension and atmosphere. The fact that in the film aliens actually appear just four brief times is a testimony to deft and skilled direction. The same is true of the 6th sense - all that tension and fear, and you only see dead people about four times in 2 hours.
Gibson and Phoenix are an excellent casting choice - they complement each other very well and are thoroughly believable as brothers. Phoenix has the haunted look down pat - just what the film needs.
There's no need to recap the storyline - other reviews have done that already. But it is necessary just to counter some of the criticisms that have come Signs' way. A lot of people out there were griping about the fact that the aliens were quite primitive - having to use ground signs to navigate, and being vulnerable to water. I think this is simplistic - why do people always assume that aliens, if they do exist, are more advanced than we are? Couldn't it be possible that humans are in fact the most advanced life form in the universe?
Shyamalan makes his film more believable by not equipping his aliens with every gadget in the book - and at the end of the day its a film about ordinary people, who are emotionally stretched, reacting and coping with extraordinary events.
Brother (2000)
Absolutely Awful
This film has to rank as probably one of the crappiest films I have ever seen - and I've seen a few. Poor script, worse cinematography and a storyline that is about as exciting as watching paint dry. The pointless changes of scene from violence to big nancy boys playing indoor basketball or football on the beach leaves you as bemused as a very bemused person who's just seen something very bemusing. Don't do this to yourself - go and do some embroidery instead. And if you are a film producer, consider employing someone with character, like Anne widdecombe ahead of Kitano.
As Good as It Gets (1997)
incredible film, nicholson and hunt shine
This was a film that really pulled my emotions around. Nicholson delivers an incredible peformance as the nasty neighbour with obsessive compulsive disorder, and Helen Hunt atacks her role with a realism that is rarely seen. A genuinely funny and moving film, the outstanding script has just the right lines for the right moment. Jack Nicholson delivers his "Carol the waitresss, Simon the fag" so perfectly dead pan and matter of factly that i fell about laughing. the only niggle i had was that melvin udall never comes out and says clearly to the others that he is sick and can't quite help being the way he is. we are left to guess how much of his personality is controllable and how much better he really could be.
Erin Brockovich (2000)
Enjoyable and Heartwarming - too many people criticise unfairly
Having read a number of reviews submitted by various users, i was a rather depressed by all the negativity expressed. I think I'll balance things a little. I found the film really moving, Albert Finneys performance was excellent, as was was Julia Roberts' and Eckhart's. If people were dissapointed by the eventual predictability of Julia's character I hasten to point out that the whole point of the film, actually a true story, is that she is very much just a down to earth, normal, no frills, single mom. Except for the fact that she was Miss Wichita years back. As such it is a really effective and moving story about the underdogs fight against corporate America, about normality, common sense and caring winning through. A lovely change from the regular fare of hyped up splashy movies. Definitely recommended for the family, and a must see for my Mum!