Movies 2000
Cast Away. (12/27/00). "Wilson" was overdone but overall it was believable and entertaining enough to recommend.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Wu hu zang long). (12/26/00). Aside from the visuals, the best part is that the fights are between women. Highly recommended.
What Women Want. (12/21/00). Great movie! Lush visuals. Would see again in a theatre.
(12/17/00). If this seems like a lot of movies, compare to Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.'s list of 482 movies seen (and reviewed) between June, 1931, and 1936. That's an average of almost 100 movies a year. Schlesinger, A Life in the 20th Century, p. 140.
Proof of Life. (12/13/00). Flat but I liked it. The tone between Russell Crowe and Meg Ryan was right. Good scenery, some suspense, good sound.
Men of Honor. (12/12/00). Good if you like military movies. I do.
Pay It Forward. (12/4/00). The preposterous plot of this movie overshadows strong performances by Helen Hunt, Kevin Spacey, and Haley Joel Osment. Not recommended.
The 6th Day. (11/28/00). Better than average plot for an Ahnold movie. Missing Jamie Lee Curtis. Matrix wannabe. Recommended if you like action pictures but Arnold can do much better than this.
Best in Show. (11/27/00). Starts slowly, picks up steam. Even for bargain night, this is marginal.
Unbreakable. (11/24/00). What is on screen is well executed. It is also ponderous, dull, and badly lighted (on purpose). Despite the quality of work evident, not recommended.
Bounce. (11/21/00). Better written than expected. Paltrow is very good; this is probably as deep as Ben Affleck can get, which is deeper than expected. It works.
Remember the Titans.(11/16/00). It had its moments. Recommended.
Charlie's Angels. (11/16/00). Now I know why the word "vapid" is in the dictionary. I lasted 10 minutes.
Bedazzled. (11/13/00). Flat but pleasant. Found myself counting down the number of the seven wishes left as movie went on. Hard to understate the contribution of Elizabeth Hurley.
The Legend of Bagger Vance. (11/9/00). While pleasant to watch in the theatre, two hours later nothing is left but sawdust. This movie attempted so little that one wonders why it was made. Not recommended.
Meet the Parents. (10/30/00). Much more subtle a comedy than expected. The airport sketches (ticket counter and gate) are classic. Recommended.
Almost Famous. (10/5/00). About as well done as a small autobiographical film about a 15 year old rock and roll journalist could be. Recommended.
The Perfect Storm. (10/4/00). The long wait to see this film in a state of the art theatre was worth it. Excellent sound. Surprisingly gripping even with knowledge of the ending.
Space Cowboys. (9/4/00). Pleasant enough, amusing in parts. Worth every cent of a reduced admission night.
The Cell. (8/30/00). Sordid, grisly plot + some spectacular special effects = bad movie.
Gone in Sixty Seconds. (6/19/00). Great car movie. Good sound. Better like car movies!
Croupier. (6/11/00). Classic gambling movie. Did the blackjack players have to lose every hand?
Mission: Impossible II. (6/7/00). Hmmm. Why the box office?
Gladiator. (5/11/00). An enjoyable Russell Crowe vehicle with too much violence and not enough sex (though given the plot, be glad there is no more sex).
28 Days. (5/3/00). Pretty good for a rehab movie. Enjoyed the small touches, the M.A.S.H. like PA announcements, the inane soap opera.
Me Myself I. (5/1/00). Better than "Sliding Doors"? Without Gwyneth? Different, more memorable, more grounded, not necessarily more enjoyable. I shall seek out Rachel Griffiths movies hereafter.
Rules of Engagement. (4/26/00). Solid movie. What you would expect from previews. Guy Pearce, as prosecutor, has unnecessary accent. Ed Exley suited him better. Used to be there were love interests in military movies.
Keeping the Faith. (4/16/00). actor.Norton<actor.Stiller<actor.Elfman; director.Norton<screenwriter.Blumberg; NYC++; content != Hollywood. //see in theatre. Enjoy.
Where the Money Is. (4/15/00). It ain't in Wall Street anymore! Nor will it be in the box office of this small film. Doubtful this film could have been better acted. Very pleasant but not worth a sitter, parking, $8 a ticket. Better on DVD at home.
High Fidelity. (4/2/00). Great! Ferris Bueller 15 years older and wiser and now a music lover! Memorable music store clerks but Jack Black steals every scene.
Reindeer Games. (3/29/00). This movie was beyond the range of Ben Affleck, a sad commentary on both the movie and the actor. Charlize Theron was very good.
Erin Brockovich. (3/28/00). Good stuff. Very realistic from an ex-trial lawyer's point of view.
Boiler Room. (3/17/00). Smart, small film. Lively visuals.
What Planet Are You From? (3/13/00). There is no earthly reason to see this movie. Garry Shandling miscast.
Boys Don't Cry. (3/10/00). Liked the fast motion lights. Overall, another very well made, extremely well acted film of the "downer" category--not as much as "Magnolia" but still solidly a downer.
The Insider. (3/9/00). Good film. Liked the look and feel more than the film itself. And Russell Crowe.
Cider House Rules. (3/8/00). Very pleasant film made from an odd story. In general, I like Miramax films.
Whole Nine Yards. (3/6/00). At last a happy movie. Funny. Beautiful co-stars. Keep an eye on Natasha Henstridge and Amanda Peet. Who?Click and see. The shortage of entertaining movies means I will probably see this again.
Wonder Boys. (3/5/00). Can longer hair, odd glasses and stubble make Michael Douglas a believable English professor? Yes. Pleasant and funny. Good sound track.
Hard Eight (DVD only). (2/28/00). P.T. Anderson's first movie. With Phillip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel L. Jackson. Boogie Nights >=Hard Eight>Magnolia.
Sweet and Lowdown. (2/15/00). Never thought I'd see another Woody Allen film. Perhaps Sean Penn will be in another some day. Otherwise I'm out.
The Hurricane. (2/14/00) A soft movie which does not accomplish what it sets out to do (stir and uplift). Not unpleasant but too Hollywood. DW != RHC.
Girl, Interrupted. (2/13/00) Good enough. Always a Winona Ryder fan, now an Angelina Jolie fan. Need to see some happy movies.
All About My Mother (Todo Sobre Mi Madre). (1/31/00). Had I known the plot, would not have gone, which would have been a shame as this is a very good movie. Now a Cecelia Roth fan. As well made as Magnolia (though more simple) with "bizarre" substituted for "downer."
Any Given Sunday. (1/27/00) Too long and too loud but swept me in. Pacino wore well; Cameron Diaz too. Less of an authentic sports film than "For Love of the Game" even with no love story.
Man on the Moon. (1/19/00) Terrific.
Magnolia. (1/9/00) A bleak mix of Avalon, Pulp Fiction and Boogie Nights. During movie, audience member complained aloud about "piece of shit movie." Understood his point. Did not walk out b/c too much talent evident. Loved the song, liked the frogs, but as entertainment, it sucked.
The Talented Mr. Ripley. (1/4/00) Okay. Less than the sum of its parts. No sequel please.
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