Drama > S Drama

Adam Sandler in serious role shocker!

Advantages: Great acting
Disadvantages: Using 9/11 when maybe not needed

WHAT IS IT ABOUT: Adam Sandler plays the reclusive Charlie Fineman, a man who lost his family in he 9/11 terrorist attacks. When old friend Alan Johnson (Don Cheadle) bumps into him unexpectedly, the two being a relationship that makes both face their problems. WAS IT ANY GOOD: Fans of Adam Sandler will know him for his typecast dopey yet lovable comedy roles, and yet this film is not just serious, it deals with a very current source of pain to ...
...America. Straight away you there have two obstacles that will prevent some from enjoying this film: 1) Adam Sandler in a serious role is hard (if at all possible) to get to grips with. However, in Sandler's defense, his previous film 'Click' saw the combination of fun with serious, so he was clearly making a transition towards it (and it worked very well in that film) it just depends whether you can buy it or not. For me, I struggled at first, but ...

bruffyboy 05.01.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Reign Over Me (DVD)

A Mother. A Daughter. A Shattering Choice.

Advantages: An exquisite, moving family drama with three superb performances
Disadvantages: The subject matter is so realistic it may be tough to take for some watchers

****************************************************************** TITLE : One True Thing RATING: ***** CAST: Meryl Streep, Renee Zellweger, William Hurt, Tom Everett Scott, Lauren Graham, Nicky Katt, James Eckhouse, Patrick Breen, Gerrit Graham, David Byron, Stephen Peabody. DIRECTOR: Carl Franklin SCREENWRITER: Karen Croner BASED ON A NOVEL BY: Anna Quindlen STUDIO: Universal Pictures RUNNING TIME: 127 min. RATED: R (US) & 15 (UK); for ...
...lymphoma; I was the only one with her in the hospital when she passed, and it traumatized me, if you could imagine. She was a wonderful lady who enjoyed life as much as she could after my father's death in 2003, and I will always miss her. She loved reading my film reviews every chance she got, and was anxious to see myself actually getting into the film business myself. Ironically, the original screenplay I've been working on is about the relationship ...

eve6kicksass 13.04.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of One True Thing (DVD)

What an American Beauty!

Advantages: FANTASTIC!
Disadvantages: NONE!

American Beauty is a masterpiece in cinematic artistry! The basic premise tells of Lester Burnham -Kevin Spacey, whose having a mid-life crisis. Everything on the outside is a perfect picture of domestic bliss! His wife, Carolyn- Annette Bening, is a hardworking albeit materialistic Real Estate Agent. As Lester narrates the film, he describes his marriage as non existent and how it's all for show. As he slips deeper and deeper into depression he ...
...his daughter then forms a strange friendship with the boy next door, Ricky. As Lester continues drooling over Angela, Carolyn 'entertains herself with a work colleague' and their lives seem to fall even further apart. There are several sub-plots in the film, so it almost becomes an ensemble piece, but all the stories' intertwine wonderfully. The film was directed by British born, Sam Mendes. This was his first cinematic direction, and what a debut ...

paulyvous 14.12.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of American Beauty (DVD)

Change the World - Pay it Forward

Advantages: Somewhat original story, original concept, great performances, touching, makes you think
Disadvantages: A bit over sentimental for some (you'll need to be armed with tissues!)

...first heard of the movie Pay It Forward through an interview with my favourite music group, the Backstreet Boys. My favourite member Brian has mentioned a few times in interviews that this was at least one of his favourite movies and otherwise, I hadn't heard of it. It came out in 2000 but I don't remember hearing anything about it on TV at the time (maybe I was busy then, I don't know) and so I guess it sort of slipped under my radar. Anyway, I ...
...main acting cast) - Pay it Forward is mainly about one young boy by the name of Trevor McKinney (played by Haley Joel Osment, probably best known for his role next to Bruce Willis in the late 90s supernatural thriller The Sixth Sense), who struggles to cope with his family situation, as his father is a drunk and abusive man who has left home (he's played briefly by Jon Bon Jovi) and his mother (played by Helen Hunt) also has a drinking problem and ...

IzzyS 30.12.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Pay It Forward (DVD)

Go Catch this DVD

Advantages: Story and cast
Disadvantages: bit slow in middle

The First movie i watched in a DVD and its my personal favorite.I saw this movie two years back but i could remember each and every dialogue that came in this movie .Especially the small story which was said my hero's father .Franc William Abagnale is the lead character of the movie which was enacted by Leonardo Di Caprio ,a fabulous job i must say . Screenplay is well planned and directed by Steven Speilberg .I jus wanted to mention that this kinda ...
...Tom Hanks .The cast itself speaks lot about the movie .The story is also so strong which pulls your entire attention towards the screen. The title of the movie matches the story exactly.The climax of the movie is a suspense and you will definitely like it .Its a must watch movie . If you find the DVD grab it for sure . ...

papputaufik 21.08.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Catch Me If You Can (DVD)