Drama > Keener, Catherine Drama > by Award

8mm DVD Review

Advantages: Characters, Tension.
Disadvantages: Not for everyone.

...(Chris Bauer) 8mm exhibits bad taste and may be shocking to most people, but to me it felt like a movie with serious intent, especially seen as though it tracks the descent of Tom Welles (Nicolas Cage), as the ordinary guy, into the nasty, immoral world of underground pornography. The character, understandably, is tormented, mentally, as he simply cannot accept why all the evil surrounding him exists. Notoriously panned by critics upon its release, ...
...Carter), Welles is handed an 8mm recording of the young girl being murdered- dubbed a "snuff film"- and has to uncover whether the film is real or not. Joel Schumacher brings the typical suspense and twisted horror that made Se7en so popular in its time, though, in a sickening kind of judgement, I must admit that I enjoyed 8mm a lot more. The atmosphere is one of the main features that I judge this film as being a success. The dark, surprisingly ...

andycarrington 01.04.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of 8MM (DVD)

Into The Wild - Hats off to Emile Hirsch

Advantages: Production, scenery, music, ending, acting
Disadvantages: None

Normally a film like this wouldn't appeal to me, i had never heard of this before and knew nothing about what it was. But one day, whilst trying to do some work and wanting to have the TV on in the background, i stumbled upon the start of this film and decided to keep it on. I have to say, i did not get one bit of work finished. Directed in 2007 by Sean Penn, this movie is based on the book written by Jon Krakauer, portraying the true life events ...
...one of that he has everything going for him, he has just gained a degree at university, his parents are very financially secure and want their son to live the American dream. However, Christopher believes that everyone is entitled to their own freedom and so embarks on a harsh and unique journey to discover himself. He gives away his life savings and runs away from home, leaving his family, to travel to alaska and live in the wild. Whilst here, he ...

gbrown546 10.12.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Into The Wild (DVD)

Shut up Cartman!

Advantages: Well acted
Disadvantages: Is ther a film here?

...best movies. Look, Capote is fine, but it’s nothing special, bar Hoffman’s performance as the “world’s most famous writer” a British audience would no little about—and still doesn’t after the movie, and there lies the crux. The problem is we learn little about Capotes back story, other than he has always revered and had a few hangers on to talk him up, even paying train conductors to praise his book to impress those sycophants, a scene from the movie. ...
...you want to learn about Capote the extras are where it’s at. He does seem to be an interesting chap. The second layered track features the technical guys, which is never the most interesting listen. ~Featurettes~ -Answered prayers One of three informative ‘making ofs’ could easily have been packed into one big making of. ~ Making Capote #1 ~ Little bit of duplication from the above but still interesting. ~ Making Capote #2 ~ Fast forward this as ...

thedevilinme 15.11.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Capote (DVD)

Lovely and Amazing is Adorable and Sweet

Advantages: fantastic acting, moving, true-to-life
Disadvantages: a bit slow

Nicole Holofcener's Lovely and Amazing may be the ultimate 'chick flick.' There is barely any action to speak of; all of the male characters are jerks; and it deals with issues of self-esteem and body image. Surprisingly, this is one of my male housemates' favourite films of the past couple of years because it is so heart-warming and sweet. Jane Marks (Brenda Blethyn) has three daughters, all of whom struggle with self-esteem and identity issues ...
...Elizabeth at least on some level. Lovely and Amazing addresses many important issues facing women today, but some people may find it to be too slow-moving. With its memorable characters yet familiar emotions, it is simultaneously mundane and extraordinary. Certification: Canada:14A / UK:15 / USA:R ...

OKkaraoke 20.11.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Lovely And Amazing (DVD)

I'm glad they are not my friends or neighbours

Advantages: Good cast; interesting repeated scenes
Disadvantages: Doesn't seem to go anywhere; a lot of yuppie angst?

"Your friends and neighbors" is director Neil LaBute's second film, following on from "In the company of men". In essence it's about relationships between men and women. But it's not a romantic comedy kind of take on relationships, not at all - this movie is more about how bleak relationships can be - and that probably applies to friends as well as lovers. OK, it;s a bleak look at relationships, but with some added humour, so that it's not completely ...
...well, actually they are the only characters in the movie... others appear in the background, but no-one apart from the 6 main characters has any dialogue whatsoever. These 6 characters are: 3 men and 3 women - a married couple, a couple living together, and two single people, a man and a woman. The married couple Mary and Barry, played by Amy Brenneman and "In the company of men" star, Aaron Eckhart, look from the outside to be a happy couple - ah, ...

radamson 25.10.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Your Friends And Neighbours (DVD)