Posted by Black Squirrel on 2005-01-25 19:22:41 +0000
Mmmm, Laura Linney...
Posted by dawnbixtler on 2005-01-25 21:26:15 +0000
Mmm, OK in "Searching for Bobby Fischer." Better in "You can count on Me." Didn't see "Kinsey."
Posted by dawnbixtler on 2005-02-11 06:01:35 +0000
Saw Hotel Rwanda.
I know I said Jamie Fox had the Oscar wrapped up, but he really doesn't have a chance against Cheadle. So overwhelmingly good, I caught myself thinking how great it was that this Rwandan guy was up for an Academy Award.... Then you remember he's Basher from Ocean's 11, or that he's Buck Swope from Boogie Nights, or that he's Rocket from Colors. Wow... just wow.
I really need to brush up on my Rwanda history as it took me the first third of the movie to figure out what was going on. All brilliant though. Only downer though is the old bio-picture problem: it's a true story, and you can't really embelish for the hollywood climax, not that this needs it. So glad I saw it.
(A-)
Posted by tgl on 2005-02-11 06:31:13 +0000
Sorry but: "you can't really embelish for the hollywood climax" The 800,000 deaths wasn't enough?
Is it only at Coolidge or is it over here at Kendall? (So stupid to ask questions on the board, the answer is just a click away: yes it's at the Kendall) Flip comments aside, the individual triumph of Paul Rusesabagina to save the lives of over 1,000 during that mess is pretty inspiring.
Don Cheadle was on The Treatment a week or so ago. Great interview. His most important acting tool: listening.
Posted by dawnbixtler on 2005-02-11 08:14:09 +0000
Well, the 800 thousand deaths was more than enough, but it wasn't really the/a climax. Hate to admit it, but I usually enjoy a movie more when it follows the standard three act format: 1st Act (20-30 minutes long) is a set up or question, 2nd Act is development and end of 2nd Act the problem is realized, 3rd act the protagonist starts towards her goal, and the final 3 minutes is the climactic action. From The Bicycle Theif, to Citizen Kane, to Witness, to The Incredibles -- it just works. Obviously, I like films that don't "play by the rules," and infact seek them out. Yet the greats rarely do, and the bio-pics usually can't.
I found myself recalling Schindler's List about halfway through Hotel Rwanda, as there is a very similar scene. Cheadle is less materialistic, but more human and realistic. Man I hate that last "rock" scene in Schindler's List...
Posted by frame609 on 2005-02-11 08:18:03 +0000
I was going to make a Schindler's List joke here, but have decided (wisely) against it.