Erratic Behavior's Reviews

[Erratic Behavior]

Gandhi

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Year: 1982
Length: 188 Minutes
Starring: Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen, John Mills, Edward Fox
Director: Richard Attenborough
Writer: John Briley


This film is a great biography of Mohanadas Gandhi's life, starting with his being kicked off a train in South Africa for being "colored", ending with his assassination in 1948 by extreme Hindu nationalists.

It goes through numerous events, such as Gandhi being beaten by South African cops, Indians being massacred, India getting independence from Britain, and Hindu-Muslim riots in India. Gandhi always preached for non-violent revolt, a practice that ultimately led to his assassination.

Ben Kingsley's performance has got to go down as one of the all-time great performances in the history of cinema. He won an Oscar for this, and deservedly so. I came to see Gandhi rather than an actor playing him.

Despite its length, the film does not drag or get boring. As in all films, there are slower parts, but it doesn't reach the point where the length really affects the enjoyment of the movie. The first half of the film is stronger than the second half, but that's not to say that the second half is weak. It's just not quite as good.

Anyone who enjoys seeing biographical films on historical figures I recommend this strongly to. If not, then it's worth seeing simply to see an incredible acting performance by Ben Kingsley.

****1/2 out of *****

[Erratic Behavior]

Saw

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Starring: Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover, Ken Leung, Michael Emerson
Director: James Wan
Writers: James Wan, Leigh Whannell

I'm sure you've heard about this movie. Two men, for reasons unknown to them, are thrown together, chained up, into a dark room.

What follows is an interesting and suspenseful, yet implausible and at times poorly acted horror flick. We see crimes that this sicko has done in the past. This leads to some of the strongest parts in the film. We also see how the two men came to be put into this room.

The film has plenty of suspense and is never boring. Those are the strong points. What holds the film back is some of the poor acting, particularly at key points in the movie. In the theatre in which I saw this movie, people were laughing at serious parts of the movie. It wasn't because of what was going on or what was said. It was Cary Elwes's overacting. So much to the point where a writer from Entertainment Weekly said "Cary Elwes's performance should be used in a seminar on the perils of overacting". Another thing which holds the movie back is an unneeded subplot with Danny "I'm Too Old for This ****" Glover. Finally, some of the twists are a mixed bag. Good for its surprise, bad for its lack of believability.

All in all, this makes for a pretty entertaining picture. But to those who actually said it was as good as The Silence of the Lambs, all I can say is :rolleyes: and :D :D :D .

***1/2 out of *****

[Erratic Behavior]

Commando

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Year: 1985
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alyssa Milano, Vernon Wells, Dan Hedaya, Rae Dawn Chong
Director: Mark Lester
Writers: Joseph Loeb III, Matthew Weisman, Steven Sousa
Length: 91 Minutes

The good ole' governator with one of his shoot-em up flicks from the mid 80s.

Ah-nold plays John Matrix, a former military commander who lives out in the secluded wilderness with his daughter Jenny, played by a pre-pubesecent, and therefore, pre-hot, Alyssa Milano.

Matrix's former comrades are killed, and before long, Jenny is kidnapped as Matrix is commanded to kill a president of a country in Latin America. While on the airplane to reach this nation and kill the president, he manages to escape and must rescue his daughter before it's too late.

This film has absoultely ZERO believability. Unless you believe one man can take on a mall full of about 40 security guards (and believe that some mall has that many guards), jump hundreds of feet into the water and not even get hurt one bit, crash into a pole at about 60 MPH and barely move, etc.. And this is before the climatic showdown at the island, when at one point Matrix uses plants a shield from bullets.

But the ridiculousness of the movie adds to the fun. Matrix makes Rambo look like a sissy. The film is helped by its sense of humor, as Arnold has some of his best one-liners ever in this.

Commando is pure popcorn entertainment with high replay value. Just don't expect much logic.

***1/2 out of *****

[Erratic Behavior]

True Romance

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Year: 1993
Starring: Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Christopher Walken, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman, Dennis Hopper, Michael Rappaport, Samuel L. Jackson, Brad Pitt
Director: Tony Scott
Writer: Quentin Tarantino

Q.T. funded Reservoir Dogs when he sold this script, a action-love story about a prostitute and an Elvis fanatic.

Patricia Arquette plays Alabama, a prostitute who falls in love with Clarence (Christian Slater) after a night on the job. The two get married, and all is well until Clarence pays a visit to Drexel (Gary Oldman), Alabama's pimp. That run-in leads to Clarence and Alabama being chased around the country by the Mob and avoiding the police.

Tarantino being the writer, you can expect some out-there stuff. You get talk of gay sex with Elvis, the origin of Sicilians, racist dialogue, the guilt of murder, and stuff you'd expect of the twisted former video store clerk.

The colorful supporting characters are a strong point, and there are plenty of them. Gary Oldman as the pimp, Christopher Walken as a mobster, Brad Pitt as a sofa stoner, Val Kilmer as Elvis. Dennis Hopper is probably actually the most normal person in the movie. The stylish violent is another strong point.

The movie loses some steam toward the end, and the climax isn't as good as I'd hoped, but it still makes for a good and entertaining film.

**** out of *****

[Sedai]

Cool reviews.

Thanks for taking the time to post them. :D

[nebbit]

Thanks for the reviews I really enjoyed them. :yup:

[Erratic Behavior]

No problem, thanks for the props....

City of God


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Year: 2002
Starring: Alexandre Rodrigues, Leonardo Firmino, Phellipe Haagensen
Director: Fernando Meirelles, Katia Lund
Writers: Braulio Mantovani, Paulo Lins


If I were to describe this movie in one word, it's say "masterpiece".

This movie, which is in Portuguese with English Subtitles, is about life in the projects in a Rio De Janiero slum called "The City of God". It earned high reviews from critics, and for good reason.

The film starts showing a bunch of people chasing a chicken throughout the streets. Then it cuts into the story of how it got to this point. Numerous stories are told, all of them told well in interesting fashion.

The cinematography and camera work are pretty amazing. The actors were mostly unknowns from around the are, not professional actors. The performances are strong.

If you are easily disturbed, I don't recommend this film. There are some brutal images and scenes. Plenty of violence involving very young kids, one that especially sticks out is when two little kids are punished for stealing in the slum. I also do no recommend it for lazy people who don't like to read subtitles. But if you're into good crime drama, movies that are beautifully shot, then you will probably enjoy this.

This is one of my personal favorite films of all-time, and I felt this was overlooked during Oscar time.

***** out of *****

[nebbit]

Thanks for the review of a great movie, if you have some time you should read LordSlaytan's review of this movie, it is very interesting :D

[Erratic Behavior]

Malcolm X

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Year: 1992
Starring: Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Spike Lee, Delroy Lindo, Albert Hall, Albert Freeman
Director: Spike Lee
Writers: Spike Lee, Arnold Pearl (based on the book by Alex Haley, told by Malcolm X)
Length: 200 Minutes

Regardless of what the Academy might say, this is THE definitive Denzel Washington performance. It is also probably the best Spike Lee joint.

Like most biographical films, there will be parts left out and changed a bit. But for the most part, it stays pretty accurate to the autobiography told to Alex Haley by Malcolm X. It details the story of Malcolm's life, detailing the history of his mixed racial background, covering his days as a criminal, his prison years, his life as part of the Nation of Islam, and ending with his assassination in 1965 in Harlem.

Spike Lee is known for provocative and controversial films, but this one is relatively conservative. There are some great moments, particularly when Sam Cooke's civil rights song "A Change is Gonna Come" plays as Malcolm knows his doom will come.

Since the film is extremely long, there are obviously some parts that aren't as strong as others and drag a bit. But Denzel's performance is so powerful and charismatic that he carries it through these rare moments. He gives a performance for the ages.

****1/2 out of *****

[Erratic Behavior]

Following

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Year: 1998
Starring: Jeremy Theobald, Alex Haw, Lucy Russell
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writer: Christopher Nolan
Length: 70 Minutes


Before Christopher Nolan came out with Memento, he did this low budget B&W piece about a guy who just follows people for the curiousity of it. Eventually he meets a guy who's a burglar and draws him into his world.

Similarly to Memento, this is not told in linear fashion. The scenes jump in time frame, which can make parts can be a bit confusing, but if you pay attention to the movie it shouldn't be too hard to understand.

Not for all tastes, especially the low-budget B&W feel it has, but it's very well made, with some great plot twists. Despite its lack of length, this is a very good thriller with strong performances.

**** out of *****

[Erratic Behavior]

The King of Comedy

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Year: 1983
Starring: Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, Sandra Bernhard, Diahne Abbott, Ed Herlihy
Director: Martin Scorsese
Writer: Paul Zimmerman
Length: 105 Minutes


One of the lesser heralded Martin Scorsese/Robert De Niro collaborations is this dark comedy. De Niro plays Rupert Pupkin, a struggling comedian and loser who strives to be in show business like the popular Jerry Langford, played by Jerry Lewis. So he develops a plan to get on Langford's show.

There's plenty of twisted humor and randomness in this film. Some of it being scenarios where we are shown what Pupkin wishes he was. More of the humor comes from Masha (Sandra Bernhard), an obsessed fan. Her encounters with Langford provide some of the funniest moments.

This is one of De Niro's best performances, as it is a change of pace from the roles we are used to him seeing. He shows his ability to be a humorous character in addition to the others we've seen him in. Many viewers did not like this film (critics loved it) because of the weirdness, and also black comedy is a type of humor that some viewers do not like or get. I am generally not into black comedy, but this is one of the exceptions.


**** out of *****

[nebbit]

Thanks again for the reviews, Malcolm X and The King of Comedy are 2 of my favourites, I have added Following to my must see list. :D

[Erratic Behavior]

Training Day

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Year: 2001
Starring: Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Scott Glenn, Tom Berenger, Dr. Dre, Cliff Curtis
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Writer: David Ayer
Length: 122 Minutes

Denzel Washington won his first Academy Award in the a leading category (he won Best Supporting Actor for Glory) for playing a crooked cop in this film. While he wasn't more deserving of the award than Russell Crowe for his brilliant performance in A Beautiful Mind, Denzel's charismatic performance carries this exciting, entertaining, but flawed film.

Ethan Hawke plays Jake Hoyt, an L.A. officer hoping to climb up the ranks to detective. In order to do this, he spends a day with Alonzo Harris (Washington). Throughout the day, Jake learns and sees many things about the police force through Alonzo that he wishes he did not.

One of the most powerful aspects about this movie is the location. It was filmed in some of the most dangerous areas in Los Angeles, neighborhood where movies had never been filmed before. The location of the movie gives the viewer a better feel.

Most of the movie is strong and well-acted, though Dr. Dre gives a laughably bad performance. What goes wrong with this movie is the last quarter of it. At a certain point in the film toward the end, something happens that is simply too hard to believe, and what follows also lacks believability. The film simply goes downhill at the end.

Despite the weaknesses and dissapointing final segment, Training Day is still ultimately a better-than-average film, it's just that it could've been and should've been more.

***1/2 out of *****

[Erratic Behavior]

Amores Perros (Love's a Bitch)

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Year: 2000
Starring: Emelio Echevarria, Gael Garcia Bernal, Goya Toledo, Alvaro Guerrero, Vanessa Bauche
Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Writer: Guillermo Arriaga
Length: 153 Minutes
Language: Spanish with English subtitles

A car accident in Mexico interlinks several characters with different plotlines ranging from dog fights, infidelity, sibling rivalry, betrayal, and superficiality.

With the different plot lines going on, it bares some similarities to Pulp Fiction. There was some controversy over this movie because of the dog fighting: apparently people in England protested because of the brutality involving dogs.

Some stories are more compelling than others, a particularly good one is the first one told. One of the plot lines, involving a supermodel, is not quite as interesting and compelling as the others, but still effective enough. I had been looking a lot to rent foreign films, but in the section at Blockbuster there seems to be an abundance of gay films, not exactly a genre I prefer. This remains the best foreign film that I have seen in some time. The best since City of God.

**** out of *****

[nebbit]

Training Day

Despite the weaknesses and dissapointing final segment, Training Day is still ultimately a better-than-average film, it's just that it could've been and should've been more.

***1/2 out of *****

:yup:

[Erratic Behavior]

Breakin'

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Year: 1984
Starring: Lucinda Dickey, Michael Chambers, Adolfo Quinones, Ben Lokey, Chris Macdonald
Director: Joel Silberg
Writers: Charles Parker, Allen Debevioise, Gerald Sciafe
Length: 90 Minutes


One of the early to mid 80s hip-hop flicks (along with Krush Groove and Beat Street) comes this movie about breakdancing in Southern California.

The story is typical. A rich, caucasian girl who takes ballet wants to make it in dancing. She develops a friendship with two black guys who are breakdancing. Her dance teacher is a snob and thinks the breakdancers are below him.

The acting is terrible, and the writing isn't good either. Some scenes are unintentionally funny. Jean Claude Van Damme is an extra early on, dancing in Venice Beach in the background.

Despite its poor acting, this should entertain hardcore hip-hop fans, or those who simply enjoy watching great breakdancing. Michael Chambers (Turbo) is said to have given private dance lessons to Michael Jackson. Judging by the way he dances in this movie, that's not a big surprise if it happened. There are some great dance numbers and battles. The movie also is the film debut of Ice-T, who raps during the breaking battles.

If you want to see a well made movie with a good story line and good acting, don't bother with this. But devoted hip-hoppers ought to give this one a look.

**1/2 out of *****

[Erratic Behavior]

Chasing Amy

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Year: 1997
Starring: Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Lee, Dwight Ewell
Director: Kevin Smith
Writer: Kevin Smith
Length: 111 Minutes


The third (and most critically acclaimed) of the New Jersey series (following Clerks and Mallrats) by Kevin Smith comes this somewhat twisted version of a love story.

Ben Affleck, the subject of many Trey Parker and Matt Stone jokes for his poor acting, gives a very effective performance as Holden McNeil, who along with Banky Edwards (Jason Lee), create comic books. He meets another comic book creator in Alyssa Jones (Joey Adams) and falls for her. There's only one problem, she's a lesbian.

This movie refuses to take the easy way out and go for cheap laughs with this story line. Instead it goes deeper and shows the personal troubles of relationships, such as insecurities, the past, and the jealousy that best friends often have when their friend has someone else in their lives.

While somewhat of a romantic comedy, which often translated to "chick flick", remember that this is a Kevin Smith film. So naturally it contains enough racy dialogue to keep the interest of his devoted fans. In fact, it's probably far too profane to be considered a chick flick.

Affleck and Adams show good screen chemistry and give solid performances enough to the point where you feel for the characters, and Lee is hilarious as the perverted guy who loves sex jokes. Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith appear briefly as Jay and Silent Bob, with Jay giving the type of foul humor you'd expect from him, and in this scene we discover the title of the film. There is also a great scene early on from Dwight Ewell in the character of Hooper X, a militant black who hates whites, but in actuality the comic book writer is the gay friend who introduces Alyssa to Holden.

**** out of *****

[nebbit]

Thanks ratic :D

[Erratic Behavior]

The Killing Fields

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Year: 1984
Cast: Sam Waterson, John Malkovich, Haing Ngor
Length: 142 Minutes
Director: Roland Joffe
Writer: Bruce Robinson

Based on a true story, this 1984 British movie is about the civil war involving the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.

Sam Waterson plays an American journalist named Sydney Schanberg in Cambodia, with Dith Pran (Haing Ngor) being his translater, and Al Rockoff (John Malkovich) a photographer.

Early in the film, Schanberg gives Pran a decision to make: to stay with him or to leave the area, where the Khmer Rouge forces are ready to take over. Pran's decision puts him in grave danger, and what follows is a moving story about war and friendship.

Don't expect an "entertaining" film, because this movie is extremely depressing. What adds to the many depressing images is the fact that this went on and still goes on.

The movie drags at times in the middle, but overall it's a very well made, well-acted picture with an emotional wallop and saves some of the best moments for its late stages.

The actor Ngor (who escaped the Khmer Rouge in real life) died in recent years, in a robbery in Los Angeles's Chinatown. :mad: :( :(

**** out of *****

[nebbit]

The Killing Fields

The actor Ngor (who escaped the Khmer Rouge in real life) died in recent years, in a robbery in Los Angeles's Chinatown. :mad: :( :(
[/COLOR]

That is really sad, :bawling:

[Erratic Behavior]

Saving Private Ryan


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Year: 1998
Starring: Tom Hanks, Barry Pepper, Matt Damon, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore, Giovanni Ribisi
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Robert Rodat
Length: 170 Minutes


A remarkable World War II film from Steven Spielberg. All three brothers of a U.S. soldier named James Ryan have died in combat, so a team is sent on a mission to bring Ryan home safely. The plotline was perhaps inspired by the story of the Sullivans.

The highlights of this film are the battle scenes. The opening battle scene of D-Day at Normandy, while tough to watch, is also mesmerzing and visually stunning. Not only perhaps the most intense, exciting, and realistic war scene ever filmed, it ranks up there with the greatest action scenes of all-time, period. There is another war scene at the end of the film that is nearly as brilliant.

Some have complained that the story line isn't quite that strong. While it is far from weak, it is true that it could've been maybe developed a little bit stronger, and the scenes between the battle scenes could've been a little bit better. I found the storyline to be compelling and moving, but not quite at the level to make this my choice as the best war film I have ever seen (refer to my next review). But regardless, the performances all around are strong, and Saving Private Ryan is a cinematic masterpiece.

***** out of *****

[Erratic Behavior]

Schindler's List

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Year: 1993
Starring: Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, Embeth Davidtz
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Thomas Keneally, Steven Zaillian
Length: 197 Minutes


Throughout the 11 years since this came out and until the other day, I never saw this movie because I knew what type of movie it was. Still, I just had to see it because despite how sad I knew it would be, I knew it would also be a great movie. It's considered by many to be Steven Spielberg's best film. Considering the catalog that Spielberg has, that's a hell of a compliment.

The B&W movie is about Oscar Schindler, a German businessman played brilliantly by Liam Neeson, who profits by using cheap labor from the Jews in the ghettos that they've been imprisoned in by the Nazis. While he intitally has mostly financial incentives, his conscience gets to him as he sees the horror that the Jews experience. Also causing his heart to grow is his Jewish accountant, Itzhak Stern. As Stern, Ben Kingsley gives possibly his best performance since his performance for the ages as Gandhi in 1982. The third main character is the ruthless Amon Goeth (Ralph Fiennes). All three main stars give great performances. I've always felt that Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes resemble each other. Luckily, the two play such drastically different characters that I never confused the two.

Eventually Schindler saves the lives of many Jews who work for him. Schindler's list comprised of more than 1,000 Jews.

The film is very difficult at times to watch, but masterfully filmed. The B&W gives it a gritty feel, and the horrific events (such as the Liquidation of the Ghetto) are filmed in a way to give the viewer a sense of being there. The storyline is also very well-developed. It is in fact the superior development of the characters and plot that catapults this film to number one on my war film list over Saving Private Ryan.

Schindler's List is depressing and upsetting, yet some of its most emotional moments do not come from its sad moments. Some of the most powerful moments come the "good" things that happen, such as Schindler bringing in the parents of a Jewish woman who has begged him to use his power to bring her parents from another ghetto to his factory. There aren't any cheap moments thrown in for extra emotional effect, just realism. Even the sadistic Goeth shows at times that somewhere he does have a heart and a human side, but refuses to let it out and promptly acts violently. This movie is simply a powerful masterpiece.

***** out of *****

[Erratic Behavior]

Tape

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Year: 2001
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Robert Sean Leonard, Uma Thurman
Director: Richard Linkater
Writer: Stephen Belber
Length: 86 Minutes

Interesting film, based on a play by Stephen Belber (the screenwriter). All of the film takes place in a hotel room. Vince (Ethan Hawke) is in town to see a film made by his high school buddy Jon (Robert Sean Leonard). Vince hasn't moved anywhere in his life since high school, still selling and smoking weed. Jon has moved on to making films, but there remains some issues from high school that Vince is still bothered by, dealing with his girlfriend back then, Amy (Uma Thurman).

Some may be bored by the lack of things happening in the movie. But strong performances by the three characters, sharp dialogue, and plenty of interesting camera angles help compensate for this.

The dialogue leads to a conflict between Vince and Jon, and ultimately the incident of the past which is the main source of the conflict will be discussed between the two men and Amy.

***1/2 out of *****

[nebbit]

Thanks again Erratic, some powerful movies there :)