Blogcritics Author: Britt Gillette

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

Movie Review: On Golden Pond

Britt Gillette — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 18:13:29 EDT

Nominated for ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and eventual winner of three Oscars, On Golden Pond is an unconventional Hollywood blockbuster. Based on the play of the same name by Ernest Thompson, the film offers a character-driven storyline that explores themes such as aging, abandonment, and family relationships. Veteran film and TV director Mark Rydell packs the big screen with a star-studded cast for this 1981 release. Because of its well-developed characters and realistic portrayal of human interactions, it’s a film that’s almost certain to make you laugh, cry, or at least smile. In fact, if you don’t find Norman to be one of the most hilarious and eccentric characters ever created, then you must not be watching the same film.On Golden Pond follows the lives of a retired New England couple on their annual summer vacation to Golden Pond. Norman Thayer (Henry Fonda) is an aging, long-retired college professor. Sarcastic and crotchety, he manages to distance himself from just about everyone but his wife Ethel (Katharine Hepburn). In fact, his biting demeanor nearly destroys his relationship with his daughter, Chelsea (Jane Fonda). When Chelsea brings her new boyfriend Bill (Dabney Coleman) to visit, it isn’t long before Norman stirs things up once again. But Norman and Ethel get an unexpected summer guest when Bill and Chelsea take a prolonged European vacation and leave Bill’s 13-year-old son Billy in their care. It makes for an odd threesome, but as the three learn to live with each other’s quirks, they also learn from each other. But the true test for the new family comes when Chelsea and Bill return from Europe. Can she learn to accept her father’s vices? And can Norman finally be proud of his daughter for who she is?Hollywood veterans Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda turn in two of the best performances of their respective careers. Fonda is brilliant as the doddering and cranky Norman. One can’t help but laugh at his antics, although it helps that he has the best lines in the movie. Dabney Coleman, despite his brief appearance, makes an immediate impression when he engages in a classic dialogue with Henry Fonda over the evening’s sleeping arrangements. However, in the end, On Golden Pond works because of the chemistry between the three characters who encompass the majority of the story – Ethel, Norman, and Billy. They bind together to create an epic drama rife with conflict, conquest, and chaos without all the usual Hollywood blood and gore. It’s truly rare to have a film of this nature capture audiences without boring them, and On Golden Pond pulls it off.Complementing this strong cast and screenplay is a simple yet memorable instrumental soundtrack composed by Dave Grusin, veteran TV and film composer known for such works as Tootsie (1982) and The Goonies (1985). Filmed on location on and around the Squam Lakes in New Hampshire, the beauty and majesty of this untainted landscape blends perfectly with its tailor-made soundtrack to create a theme of endless peace and tranquility. Overall, it makes for an enjoyable movie experience. If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and watch On Golden Pond. Then, see if you can say “Ethel Thayer” really fast without a lisp!

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, reviews of movies and TV series currently (or soon to be) released on DVD.

Movie Review: Beauty And The Beast

Britt Gillette — Tue, 1 Aug 2006 21:20:32 EDT

Nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, Beauty And The Beast is one of Disney's greatest animated achievements. Its massive success reinvigorated the Disney animation juggernaut which had been dormant for decades, launching the release of smashing blockbusters such as Aladdin and The Lion King. Taking home two Oscars for Best Music (Original Score and Original Song), the film launched a trend in Disney animation by blending musical numbers with cartoon choreography, an aspect that would become a staple of film after film for the remainder of the decade. In short, Beauty And The Beast is a landmark production just as remarkable today as when it was first released.Following the Disney tradition of transposing well-known fairy tales from the pages of a book to the sparkle of the big screen, Beauty And The Beast follows the life of Belle (Paige O’Hara), a beautiful bookworm maiden who captivates her town’s most eligible bachelor, Gaston (Richard White). Dissatisfied with life in her small French villa, Belle grows especially tired of the conceited and self-absorbed Gaston, who is unable to fathom the idea that Belle does not welcome his affections.Meanwhile, The Beast lives in solitude in a long-ago abandoned castle, having had a spell cast upon him because of his inability to love. The spell turned the handsome prince into an ugly beast, and it turned all of his servants into dinnerware, candlesticks, and other inanimate objects. When Belle’s father, Maurice (Rex Everhart) makes a wrong turn, he inadvertently unites the lives of Belle and The Beast. After spending much time with Belle, the bitter and hardened Beast begins to soften. He and Belle fall in love, but Gaston and his fellow village marauders arrive at the castle walls and demand the return of Belle, threatening to kill The Beast.The highlight of Beauty And The Beast is the musical number “Be Our Guest,” which features an entire dining hall filled with dancing teacups, plates, and eating utensils. The sequence forged the way for similar scenes in Aladdin (“A Whole New World”) and The Lion King (“Hakuna Matata”). Directors Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise not only create a perfect transition from song to story, but they also manage to introduce innumerable humorous lines into musical sequences, especially with the early song bandied about by the rival for Belle’s hand, Gaston.One of the top films of all time (that’s from any genre, not just animation), Beauty And The Beast remains one of Disney’s most heralded creations. It tells the classic love story of the beast with a good heart and does so with vivid characters, a world-class musical score, and animated visual images that would make Walt Disney proud. Critically acclaimed and extremely successful at the box office, Beauty And The Beast is a true blockbuster in the traditional sense of the word. An awe-inspiring film that launched a new generation of animated Disney masterpieces, Beauty And The Beast is the quintessential "must see" family film.Britt's Rating: 9.5/10

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, reviews of movies and TV series currently (or soon to be) released on DVD.

Movie Review: As Good As It Gets

Britt Gillette — Tue, 1 Aug 2006 12:23:18 EDT

Nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, As Good As It Gets became one of the surprise blockbusters of 1997. Jack Nicholson dispenses insults with his one-in-a-billion sense of delivery, and if you like serious comedies, this is the film for you. Helen Hunt is masterful in her portrayal of a hard-luck single mother who befriends Nicholson's oddball character, and Greg Kinnear does well as the neighbor who faces hard times himself. Home to a well-written screenplay exhibiting superb direction from James L. Brooks, As Good As It Gets makes a place for itself in the annals of movie history.Jack Nicholson stars as cranky, bitter, semi-shut-in novelist Melvin Udall who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder. Everyday, like clockwork, Melvin eats breakfast at the same diner where he brings his own utensils and is waited on by the same waitress (the only one who will agree to serve him), Carol Connelly (Helen Hunt). Despite his eccentricities, the two form a sort of unspoken understanding of each other. Meanwhile, Melvin's neighbor, Simon Bishop (Greg Kinnear), a homosexual artist who is often the object of Melvin's bigoted comments, entertains the elite art circles of New York. Simon's dog forms a further divide between the two when Simon drops him down the trash chute to stop his barking.When Simon is attacked in his home and left beaten and unable to create his art, all of his friends abandon him and the bills are left unpaid. Melvin, having reluctantly agreed to take care of the dog in Simon's absence, develops an attachment to the dog. Meanwhile, Carol Connelly leaves the diner in order to better take care of her sick son. Distraught, Melvin offers to pay for treatments in order to have Carol back as his waitress once again. With each character struggling with personal tragedies, the three slowly develop a respect for each other and a friendship which only grows.Co-stars Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt swept the leading role Oscars for the male and female categories, and their onscreen relationship is one of the more memorable in cinema history. Forming a love/hate relationship and bonding through their various travails, Melvin Udall and Carol Connelly are one of the true odd couples of tinsel town. In fact, if a cast of lesser abilities had played the roles, the film would have been a drastic failure because such relationships would simply be unbelievable. Playing the role of Melvin's gay neighbor Simon, Greg Kinnear made a name for himself and entered into the hallowed halls of the who's who of Hollywood.With an all-star cast that includes several Academy Award winners (Cuba Gooding, Jr. won for Jerry Maguire), As Good As It Gets rests its fortunes on the backs of its quirky and sometimes neurotic band of characters. More than able to meet the task, Nicholson, Hunt, and Kinnear strike gold with this Best Picture candidate which combines drama and comedy into a unique, one-of-a-kind experience. With one-liners zinging from Nicholson in almost every scene, you'll be hard pressed not to laugh out loud. And with Kinnear and Hunt to bring a serious note to Nicholson's strange character, As Good As It Gets breaks into the ranks of a short list of all-time great films. It's one you definitely won't want to miss.Britt's Rating: 9.4/10

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, reviews of movies and TV series currently (or soon to be) released on DVD.

Movie Review: Apollo 13

Britt Gillette — Tue, 1 Aug 2006 07:03:02 EDT

Nominated for nine Academy Awards including Best Picture, Apollo 13 is one of the best movies of its decade. Despite prior knowledge of the historical outcome, it's guaranteed to keep viewers steeped in suspense. Director Ron Howard creates yet another fantastic picture, solidifying his transformation from Mayberry's favorite son on Andy Griffith to one of the most accomplished director/producers in all of Hollywood. Standout performances by Gary Sinise and Tom Hanks (on the heels of their Oscar-caliber portrayals from Forrest Gump) make Apollo 13 especially enticing to the movie connoisseur. Based on the true story of the Apollo 13 mission, the film stirs emotions of all types - hope, fear, and patriotism among them. In the end, it's one of those rare movies where the characters are able to intimately connect with the audience. In short, Apollo 13 provides a true glimpse into the lives of those who defined history.Tom Hanks plays the role of real life astronaut Jim Lovell, member of the three man crew of Apollo 13, the 1970 lunar landing mission. Accompanied by fellow crewmates Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) and Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon), Lovell rockets into space in pursuit of his dream of walking on the moon. Unable to make the flight, fellow astronaut Ken Mattingly (Gary Sinise) reluctantly remains on the ground.Meanwhile, Americans show little interest in this latest lunar mission despite the fact that barely a year has passed since Neil Armstrong's famous words. Apollo 13 is perceived as "routine" and the flight gets little press coverage until Lovell utters some famous words of his own, "Houston, we have a problem."When things go horribly wrong on Apollo 13, the mission changes from one of moon landing to astronaut survival. Lovell, Haise, and Swigert feverishly work to uncover the problem. Meanwhile, in Houston, flight director Gene Kranz (Ed Harris), bumped crew member Ken Mattingly, and the legions of NASA ground control work around the clock to maintain contact and bring the astronauts home safely. As the minutes pass, the entire world holds its breath in anticipation of the outcome.Following on the coattails of Tom Hanks' back-to-back Academy Awards for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, Apollo 13 hit the movie theaters amidst widespread anticipation. The monumental expectations of moviegoers were not without merit as the film's multiple Academy Award nominations will attest. But what makes Apollo 13 such a strong and emotion-driven epic is its connection with the historical record. The events that unfold happened for real, and at the time, no one knew what the final outcome would be. Unlike today, traveling to space was not routine (or at least not as overlooked as it is now). The men who flew the Apollo 13 mission were true heroes in every sense of the word.And although they failed to reach the moon, the astronauts of Apollo 13 are immortalized in history in ways they never would have been had their flight gone off without a hitch. Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, and their colleagues do justice to this classic story of man's triumph over adversity. Compelling, suspenseful, and filled with drama, Apollo 13 is an unforgettable film - and a definite "must see" movie for Americans.Britt's Rating: 8.5/10

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, reviews of movies and TV series currently (or soon to be) released on DVD.

Movie Review: Identity

Britt Gillette — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 23:04:07 EDT

Starring John Cusack and Ray Liotta, Identity is a film which opened to little of the commercial fanfare associated with a blockbuster movie. But this is a film that packs all of the suspense and entertainment value of The Sixth Sense into an original screenplay about a serial killer on the loose. Haunting in its presentation, yet far from a traditional horror film, Identity follows the exploits of ten strangers who become stranded at a Nevada hotel in the midst of a massive rainstorm. One by one, they are being killed off, but no one knows the true identity of the killer.A number of seemingly unrelated people gather at a small roadside motel in a Nevada desert location. Strangers to each other, the people descend from all different types of professions and lifestyles - a limousine driver and his movie star client, a policeman (Ray Liotta) transporting a convict, two parents with their young son, a prostitute (Amanda Peet), a young couple, and the motel's manager (John Hawkes). All of them are trapped on the grounds of the motel due to a record rainstorm that's made the roads impassable. Beset by darkness, each of the motel guests resigns to his fate and settles down to ride out the storm. The guests even make an attempt to socialize with one another.But when one motel guest turns up dead, suspicions are raised. When it's revealed that an escaped convict (Jake Busey) is on the loose, the guests become panicked. Ed (John Cusack) becomes de facto leader of the small group of strangers who begin to suspect each other when the convict is captured and the killings continue. Is the true killer among them? Or is someone else (or something else) on the motel grounds with them? Far away, in an undisclosed location, a psychiatrist is feverishly attempting to prove the innocence of a man accused of murder, and the answer lies right before him.Although it's a decent film, Identity falls into the teenage horror film device of having each character wander off alone - despite the fact that people who wander off alone continually turn up dead. However, I'm usually willing to overlook such things if the rest of the film is decent because a movie's objective is to entertain, and Identity does that.The darkness of the setting, coupled with intermittent thunder and the pattering of rain, create an all-encompassing sense of suspense bordering on fear. Rain muffles sound, so how can you hear if someone's sneaking up behind you? Identity is a unique and original film most movie lovers will enjoy. The plot device is employed with the utmost efficiency, keeping the audience guessing until the very end. Who is the real killer? You'll have to watch Identity to find out.Presenting a knockout performance by John Cusack, Identity is one of the surprise films of 2003. The dialogue is fresh, not stiff, and the characters are well-rounded considering many of them do not live through most of the scenes. With a surprise ending reminiscent of smash hits The Sixth Sense and The Usual Suspects, Identity (although nowhere near as good as those films) is a film you won't want to miss. With its well-written storyline and crescendo of suspense, Identity is a film well worth seeing.Britt's Rating: 7.8/10

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, reviews of movies and TV series currently (or soon to be) released on DVD.

Movie Review: Lawrence Of Arabia

Britt Gillette — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 08:48:06 EDT

Based on the writings of T.E. Lawrence, Lawrence Of Arabia is widely considered one of the greatest films of the twentieth century. All-star director David Lean works with an extremely talented cast including Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Omar Sharif, and Anthony Quinn. Nominated for ten Academy Awards and winner of seven including Best Picture, Lawrence Of Arabia is a true film for the ages no movie buff can afford to miss.British Lt. T.E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole) is a military malcontent stationed in North Africa during World War I. Unexcited in his current assignment of coloring maps, he's thrilled when he learns he's being reassigned as a British observer to King Feisal (Alec Guinness). Leader of a ragtag band of Arab rebels, King Feisal intends to overthrow the government of the Ottoman Empire (aligned against the British), oppressive rulers who dominate his land. And with the aid of T.E. Lawrence, he might well manage to pull it off.As Lawrence spends more time with his nomad friends from the Arabian peninsula, their cause of self-determination becomes his own. Working together, Lawrence and King Feisal's armies win victories against great odds, successfully sabotage enemy railroad supply lines, and successfully cross a barren desert where the odds of survival were thought to be nil. Along the way, journalist Jackson Bentley (Arthur Kennedy) catalogues Lawrence's exploits for an eager and admiring British public who read anything news related that concerns the exotic 'Lawrence of Arabia.' It's as if the British soldier were King Arthur himself. As King Feisal comes closer to giving birth to a new nation, T.E. Lawrence becomes as famous as any member of the British royal family.Employing a colorful cast of characters, breathtaking cinematography, and exotic Middle-Eastern locations, Lawrence Of Arabia is an epic of monumental proportions. Illustrating one man's fight for freedom alongside noble tribesmen fighting for self-determination against an empire that's ruled their families for hundreds of years, the film is rivaled by few of its peers. Modern in its subject matter, Lawrence Of Arabia pays an amazing resemblance to its contemporaries in its tackling of exotic locales and larger than life enterprises. Films such as Ben-Hur, Cleopatra, Spartacus, and The Ten Commandments set the tone for their era of film making, and Lawrence Of Arabia answered the call.Sporting an Oscar award-winning musical score and colorful set designs, Lawrence Of Arabia takes its viewers back in time to the era in which these events occurred. Few films have such an influential effect. With a critically acclaimed performance in his role as the title character, Peter O'Toole strengthens the film with the mastery of his craft. In short, Lawrence Of Arabia is one of the best films ever produced.Britt's Rating: 8.9/10

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, reviews of movies and TV series currently (or soon to be) released on DVD.

Movie Review: The Phantom Of The Opera

Britt Gillette — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 07:31:09 EDT

Nominated for three Academy Awards and three Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, The Phantom Of The Opera is one of the most talked about movies of 2004. Taking the smash commercial success of Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage production to the big screen is no easy task, but long-time Hollywood director Joel Schumacher is more than able to get the job done. He takes an otherwise poorly written screenplay (minus the awe of a live performance, no less) and manages to thrill the audience with the visual aspects of a film chiefly intended to rehash a successful stage musical. The costumes and set are simply magnificent, and Art Director John Fenner (Raiders Of The Lost Ark) helps Schumacher put together a fabulous production that's well worth a movie-goer's time.The Phantom Of The Opera centers around a mysterious character who dwells underneath the Paris Opera House, imbibing the music that emanates from above. Known as The Phantom (Gerard Butler), he wears a half-mask to cover the hideous facial scars that have plagued him since birth. A musical genius, the phantom is infatuated with the opera, and when he falls in love with the voice of a young chorus girl named Christine (Emmy Rossum - The Day After Tomorrow [2004], Mystic River [2003]), this love of the opera morphs into an outright obsession. The phantom provides Christine with one-on-one voice lessons, while during his spare time, he terrorizes the opera house in an effort to land his protégé the opera's leading role. When Christine finally rises to that position, however, she is reunited with childhood friend Raul (Patrick Wilson), and the two begin a torrid love affair. Vengeful and jealous, the phantom kidnaps Christine and holds her prisoner in his underground lair, and Raul is the only one who can save her.Onscreen, The Phantom Of The Opera is weak by the standards of a traditional film. The cast does its best to make the most of a screenplay peppered with rigid dialogue - a script designed to sell "the music of the night." The supposed magnetism between Christine and Raul is non-existent and not really believable. As such, the audience is forced into believing that the phantom (who, by contrast, is quite charismatic in this rendition) would end up playing second fiddle to a man who makes Al Gore seem animated. Overall, however, other aspects of the film make up for this flaw.Based on Gaston Leroux's 1925 novel of the same name, The Phantom Of The Opera loses much of its original edge given the phantom's transformation from a frightening and mangled lunatic to a watered down half-scarred/half-babe-magnet figure complete with likeable characteristics. But inevitably, that's the mark of an enduring franchise - its malleability in the realm of numerous genres and the public's willingness to embrace such changes. But arguably, the small changes in the original novel's plot were necessary to achieve Lloyd Webber's goal of a melodramatic and stirring Broadway musical boasting mass commercial appeal. In a year in which the Oscar nominations were mostly dominated by lower-budget, surprise hit films (such as Sideways, Million Dollar Baby, and Finding Neverland), The Phantom Of The Opera holds its own in many aspects (given its pre-production designation as a commercial success). But those who have not seen the stage version are unlikely to be won over to the ranks of the franchise's numerous fanatics. My advice is to definitely see the film if you've ever seen the stage performance or listened regularly to the soundtrack - otherwise, you might be disappointed. After all, no matter how good The Phantom Of The Opera translates to the big screen, there's a reason musicals are not the dominant genre in Hollywood.Britt's Rating: 8.1/10

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, reviews of movies and TV series currently (or soon to be) released on DVD.

Movie Review: The Passion Of The Christ

Britt Gillette — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 21:49:56 EDT

The most controversial film of 2004, Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ was widely derided by critics and detractors as a two-hour anti-Semitic pornography/horror flick, complete with splattering blood and arduous torture. But among the Christian community (of which I consider myself a part) and open-minded people who actually saw the film, The Passion stands alone as the most eloquent expression of God's love for mankind ever to grace the big screen.The Passion certainly is violent, but not any more violent than similarly rated films of the past ten years. But despite contentions by some evangelical Christians that everyone should see this film, I don't think young children should see it. This movie is for mature audiences only, and I think anyone under the age of sixteen should have a full understanding of the previous events underlying the main focus of the film before viewing it.The entire movie was filmed in the original Aramaic with English subtitles. This enhances, rather than detracts from, the film's enjoyment because it creates an emotional aura of mystery and sacredness to the subject. Since most people are at least vaguely familiar with the storyline, you won't find yourself distracted by reading subtitles as one might think. With just the opposite effect, you find yourself paying greater attention to the visual images displayed on the screen, and the power of the events unfolding before you is amplified several times over.The Passion of the Christ combines the four written accounts found in the New Testament Gospels to create a vivid and powerful portrayal of the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.The film opens in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus of Nazareth (James Caviezel) is engaged in prayer, asking his Father to deliver him through the events soon to come. A satanic figure lurks in the shadows, dispensing a series of temptations and doubts. "No one man can bear the sin of the world. It's impossible. It's too much," the figure says. When Jesus refuses to give in to Satan's temptations, his disciple Judas arrives to betray him to the Temple Guard.The Temple Guard leads Jesus away in chains to face the high priest. While Peter and John weave their way through the crowd of onlookers, Jesus is questioned by an assembly of leading priests and teachers of religious law. When Jesus responds to their questioning by affirming that he is indeed the Son of God, the leaders hit him, spit on him, and mock him. They then take him before Pilate, hoping to have him killed.Finding no fault with Jesus, Pilate nevertheless has Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. This sequence is one of the most brutal in the film. James Caviezel is reported to have actually been hit by accident during the filming of this scene. The brutality and utter lack of empathy on behalf of the Roman soldiers is brilliantly illustrated. In my estimation, if you can make it through this scene, then the crucifixion scene should not be a problem.Furthermore, Gibson's cinematic genius is apparent by his measured and precise use of flashbacks which draws the audience away from the violence in brief intervals so as not to cause an emotional overload. Flashbacks include Jesus teaching to a crowd about his power to "lay down my life, and take it back up again," Jesus washing the feet his disciples at the last supper, and Jesus as a playful personality interacting with Mary. One particularly powerful scene traces back to Jesus as a toddler. When he falls down and injures himself, a panicked Mary runs to his rescue. This flashback correlates with the film's portrayal of Jesus stumbling under the weight of the cross.Overall, this ranks as one of the greatest films ever made. If you believe Jesus of Nazareth was the Biblical Messiah (which this film reviewer does), then The Passion illustrates the enormity of God's sacrifice. But even if you think Jesus was just a common man, this film serves a valuable purpose in that it underscores the barbarity of a human race that, more often than not, persecutes the innocent. Mel Gibson's greatest production to date is a film every student of history, philosophy, and human nature owe it to themselves to see.Britt's Rating: 9.5/10

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, reviews of movies and TV series currently (or soon to be) released on DVD.

Movie Review: Overboard

Britt Gillette — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 21:36:30 EDT

Somewhat of a cult comedy classic, Overboard features the comedic talents of true-life couple Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell on full display. With an unusual plot, but a tried and true romantic device, Overboard remains an interesting and entertaining movie. If you like watching movies for fun, and not for symbolism or to find something that 'speaks' to you, then Overboard will fit in nicely with your plans.Joanna Stayton (Goldie Hawn) is a spoiled and arrogant elitist who basks in the pampered lifestyle her wealth affords her. Taking a sabbatical on her yacht, she hires a carpenter, Dean Proffitt (Kurt Russell), to build her a customized closet on the oversized boat. But when Dean and Joanna get into argument over the cost of the transaction, she gets angry, refuses to pay, and sets sail for the big blue. However, when Joanna falls overboard at sea, she injures her head and washes ashore with amnesia.Still steaming from their earlier encounter, Dean finds Joanna and quickly realizes what has happened. Out of a sense of revenge (or vigilante justice), he tells Joanna that she's his wife -- and the mother of his four children, Charlie (Jared Rushton), Joey (Jeffrey Wiseman), Travis (Brian Price), and Greg (Jamie Wild). In exchange for being stiffed earlier, Dean works Joanna silly in order to make up for his monetary loss. Eventually, though, Joanna discovers her true identity -- but things aren't so simple when she realizes that she's now in love with Dean.Hilarious and fun in a family-oriented way, Overboard is one of those films you either love or hate. If you're into dramas and reality-based plots, Overboard isn't for you. Like the Seinfeld pilot Jerry and George create (where a judge sentences a man to be Jerry's butler), Overboard has a similar plot about a carpenter who gets stiffed for the money he's owed, so he unilaterally 'sentences' the woman to be his wife (or butler in Seinfeld's case). In short, it's a bit loony. But in this instance it works.With standout comedic performances by Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Edward Herrmann, and various others, Overboard is a memorable and light-hearted romantic comedy you won't want to miss. Most of the humor derives from the circumstances (plus people's emotional inclination to want to see rich snobs get what's coming to them). Regardless of what aspects a viewer most prefers, Overboard has a little bit of something for everybody, and that's probably why it's built such a large following. Due to the fact that it's a really funny movie and quite a few people count it among their favorites, Overboard ranks as fine family film.Britt's Rating: 7.6/10

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, reviews of movies and TV series currently (or soon to be) released on DVD.

Movie Review: The Man With One Red Shoe

Britt Gillette — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 09:28:16 EDT

Only the third movie of Tom Hanks' illustrious career, The Man With One Red Shoe is a hilarious comedy about a case of mistaken identity. With a star-studded cast that includes not only Hanks, but also Dabney Coleman, James Belushi, and Carrie Fisher, The Man With One Red Shoe is a decent slapstick comedy that appears on cable television from time to time. Not exactly the greatest film in history, it is a fun and entertaining movie well worth the time involved.When top CIA operatives Cooper (Dabney Coleman) and Ross (Charles Durning) fight out a personal turf battle, Ross sends Cooper on a wild goose chase to find a fictional witness who can clear his name of some impending charges. Using planted information from a wire tap, Cooper stakes out the local airport in an effort to find the mysterious man.Meanwhile, Richard (Tom Hanks) is wearing mismatched shoes (one of them red, thus The Man With One Red Shoe) because his friend Morris (James Belushi) played a practical joke on him. But the joke takes an odd twist when a CIA agent spies Richard's odd shoe pairing and fingers him as the target of their stakeout. In an effort to find out what the man with one red shoe knows, Cooper puts a tail on Richard, sparking a strange sequence of events which leaves the bike-riding violin player questioning his sanity.But the snafu really turns serious when Cooper assigns top agent Maddy (Lori Singer) to the case. Maddy gets close to Richard (who easily falls in love with her). Cooper thinks he's getting closer to the information he needs when the unthinkable occurs - his top agent falls for Richard.Tom Hanks plays the lead role to the best of his ability, playing the part of a character type he has totally mastered - the clueless, out-of-the-loop guy. He played similar roles in Big and Forrest Gump, but irrespective of those roles, Hanks is generally outstanding in any role which he's assigned. The Man With One Red Shoe is no exception. Hanks comes across as a genuine and likeable character, totally oblivious to the events which transpire around him.Based solely on a case of mistaken identity, The Man With One Red Shoe is an interesting concept for a film. Despite stretching the limits of reality, the film nevertheless manages to remains within the boundaries of the sane and normal. The movie isn't over the top or utterly ridiculous like so many comedies of today. Instead, the lead characters remain serious while the circumstances of their situation provide the humor. A light-hearted and fun film, The Man With One Red Shoe earns a higher rating than it otherwise would simply because it provides an early glimpse of Tom Hanks' much-heralded career. Britt's Rating: 7.9/10

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, reviews of movies and TV series currently (or soon to be) released on DVD.