Reviews
Coastlines (2002)
simplistically engaging
while characters were stereotypical, i allowed a distance cuz i' ve spent quite a lot of time time in the locations. Moments of recognition weren't validated by level of script, although enjoyable for noir-ish elements, but too-oversimplified and limited. Folks in small towns know everything about each other (Appalachicola/ Carabelle, FL) but this script didn't provide the full sense of community or shared knowledge.
There was a broadened sense of family but only in a limited way. Characters were broad and not too realistic. Saw the director's premiere of "Gal Young'un." Without a world-class writer (Rawlings) a possibly-limited was further limiteda. Yet, a simple (overly?) engaging tale with some lovely cinematography. Miami Vice crossed with The Yearling?.\
The Claim (2000)
visually grand, good casting, strong directorial presence
Based on Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge, the troubled main character deals with the results of an early life decision that led to his acquiring great wealth at the expense of real love and commitment. The story is transported to Gold Rush days in the Rockies and filmed in Alberta, Canada and Colorado entirely during winter. It is hard to imagine what the cast and crew must have endured, although the characters seem perfectly comfortable, or at least fully adapted to, their wintry conditons. I don't think any of the cold breath fog is digital.
A breath-taking image brought Fitzcarraldo's boat being dragged over rain forest mountains to mind. However, the sight of Dillon's house gliding through snowy fir forests was still very memorable. The snow-covered trees part as a two-tiered wedding cake of a house slides through them. Grand scale, visually captivating mountain vistas, strong character development, underplayed acting and excellent period re-creation of a Gold Rush boom town.
The Claim (2000)
visually grand, good casting, strong directorial presence
Based on Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge, the troubled main character deals with the results of an early life decision that led to his acquiring great wealth at the expense of real love and commitment. The story is transported to Gold Rush days in the Rockies and filmed in Alberta, Canada and Colorado entirely during winter. It is hard to imagine what the cast and crew must have endured, although the characters seem perfectly comfortable, or at least fully adapted to, their wintry conditons. I don't think any of the cold breath fog is digital.
A breath-taking image brought Fitzcarraldo's boat being dragged over rain forest mountains to mind. However, the sight of Dillon's house gliding through snowy fir forests was still very memorable. The snow-covered trees part as a two-tiered wedding cake of a house slides through them. Grand scale, visually captivating mountain vistas, strong character development, underplayed acting and excellent period re-creation of a Gold Rush boom town.