Momma's Past Picks 'n Pans 
 | 
Directed by John Woo Written by Robert Towne Mission: Impossible 2 is an enjoyable rollercoaster ride reminiscent of the earlier Bond films. Cruise, buffed to the max, has hit his stride this time out as an action hero and his romantic coupling with the glammed up Newton sparkled with believable chemistry. Sadly, Robert Towne's script was anemic at best with few dramatic surprises. The best line... "This isn't Mission: Difficult, Mr. Hunt. This is Mission: Impossible." was delivered early on during an all too brief appearance by Anthony Hopkins. However, John Woo's action sequences and visual inventiveness saved the day & are the primary reasons to see this movie as they deliver the excitement and eye candy adventure promised in the promos. Although this film pales in comparison to the stunning visionary trip of The Matrix, Mission: Impossible 2 is an entertaining summer diversion. So grab some popcorn & enjoy the ride.
|
| | |
 | Directed by Ridley Scott Written by John Logan, David H. Franzoni & William Nicholson Starring: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, Richard Harris, Spencer Treat Clark, Tommy Flanagan, Tomas Arana, David Schofield, John Shrapnel, Ralf Moeller, David Hemmings Ridley Scott wowed me with "Blade Runner", "Alien", & "Thelma & Louise". Now he gives us the epic Gladiator! Oh yummy! Beside being a confessed submariner junkie, I'm a gladiator genre addict & it's been way way too long since Kirk Douglas as Sparticus hung up his sandals. In this visually stunning film, we get Maximus (Crowe exploding upon the screen), named to succeed Marcus Aurelius (Harris strong - but in my opinion miscast as our Caesar), but exiled by the jealous heir to the throne, Commodus (Phoenix who shows exquisite depth with his performance). Maximus is purchased and trained by freed gladiator Proximo (the delightful Oliver Reed in sadly this his last role), and gradually wins his way back to Rome, where his prowess in the Colosseum leads to an inevitable confrontation with Commodus. The spectacular confrontation between the Roman legions & Germanic barbarians in the opening sequence will leave you breathless. The sets and costumes have been designed with a keen eye for detail & craftsmanship. The views are spectacular. The digital effects are both seamless and breathtaking. Ridley's vision succeeds in bringing back the glory that was Rome. I only wished the screenwriters had given us a better tale and boy would I have written a different ending! Russell Crowe is magnificent in the role of Maximus and his charisma alone helps us through this surprisingly weak plot and storyline. Although I was disappointed, Gladiator still gets a thumbs up. Now this addict needs to go rent "The Robe", "Demetrius & The Gladiators", "Hercules", "Barabus" and "Sparticus". Now where's my toga & chariot keys? |
| | |
 |
Directed by Gregory Hoblit Written by Toby Emmerich Frequency's a supernatural suspenseful thriller about a homicide detective who, via a patch of weird weather, communicates with his dead father via short wave radio. Yeah sounds way too crazy & over the top... too cornball to be believed. But I'm telling ya, toss out all logic & disbelief, boys 'n girls, because this tale of fathers & sons, fate & family is delightfully entertaining. The emotionally believable interaction between the father (Quaid) and the son (Caviezel) mixed with the suspenseful script will have you ultimately engaged in this time warp fantasy. I was moved by the fine cast & the clever story. At the end, like after a schmaltzy Hallmark card commercial, I had a large lump in my throat & a goofy grin plastered all over my face. Who hasn't ever wondered "what if?" This film is a perfect perscription to turn back time, ward off reality, & escape into a 'lil heartfelt sentimentality.
|
| | |
 | 
Directed and Written by Jonathan Mostow U-571 is a World War II drama about an American submarine crew's mission to swipe a decoding device from a stranded German submarine. Well first off, I gotta admit I'm a submariner junkie and it had been way too long since I had a good underwater fix. So there I sat, fifth row center in a theatre with Dolby sound ready to immerse myself into some wet fun. Now I did enjoy my requisite sonar pings and a couple of beloved Dive... Dive... Dive... moments, but alas no true suspense or engaging nail biting drama this time out. I simply wasn't engaged with these characters, nor was I ever in doubt that their mission would fail. U-571's story runs shallow not deep awash in a sea of endless cliches. Not one surprising moment, yet I did enjoy the film as basic visual escapism. If you really want underwater thrills & action, man your life rafts 'n row to your nearest video store & rent Das Boot!
|
| | |
 |
Directed by Betty Thomas Written by Susannah Grant Recovery from addiction has been the focus of many previous films, some good, some not so good. Being a psych pro myself who has worked in these types of settings, lemme tell ya, 28 Days was right on the mark! It's a winning combination of a fine cast with Sandra Bullock in the lead, writer Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich) spinning the tale, & Betty Thomas flawlessly directing which results in 28 Days being an honest, funny, dramatic yet entertaining peek into one gal's trip down the rabbit hole into the wonderland of rehab. Scene by scene, the film is involving. The entire cast (Buscemi is delightfully all cleaned up & Alan Tudyk as Gerhardt will have you wettin' your underwear) maintains a level of emotional excellence that rings true without the usual hollywood stereotypical addiction shtick so often seen. Bullock has once again found her stride this time out. It's a good solid film. You will enjoy it or I will sing Cumbaya & twelve step for you the happy dance!
|
| | |
 |
Directed by Marek Kanievska Written by E.Max Frye I'd pay good money to see Mr. Newman reading from the phone book. If you're a fan of The Great Blue Eyes, see this film simply to experience that screen magic known as Paul Newman... expect no more than that. If Newman weren't playing the aging master criminal Henry, there would be no reason to recommend seeing Where The Money Is. Frankly my dears, I was almost put into a coma by Kanievska's lackadaisical laid-back pace and this whole caper's script and plot line did not engage me to say the least. No surprises except for one sink-or-swim moment & no chemistry to speak of. Newman is a pleasure to behold, but his co-stars (Fiorentino & Mulroney) never really interact with him, and their marriage is seriously underwritten, so the ending leaves one with a duh instead of a wow. For your Paul-fix rent Twilight because this film's lack of energy left me feeling like I've fallen and can't get up. |
| | |
 | 
Directed by Stephen Frears Written by John Cusack, D.V. DeVincentis & Steve Pink. Based on the novel by Nick Hornby High Fidelity is male angst at it's finest. Telling it like it is for dazed 'n confused gals trying to figure out why their guy appears to be from Mars. This funny, revealing male confessional is all about the boys, fear of commitment, falling in love, breaking up, & denial. It acurately depicts why so many males frustrate the wanabe-loved female masses.
|
| | |
 |
Directed and Written by Bonnie Hunt In Return To Me, Bob (Duchovny) loses his wife the same night Grace (Driver) receives a new heart. Was it fate that her heart is from Bob's wife? Formulaic yes... but I'm usually a sucker for romantic warm fuzzy formulas. Although Minnie Driver was her usual fabulous self and David Duchovny showed a surprising wide range of emotion, I was not as engaged in this tale as I had expected to be when seeing the previews. The best scenes by far were with the four older bar patrons lead by Robert Loggia & Carroll O'Conner as Grace's doting Irish grandfather. I have been a long, long time fan of the talented Bonnie Hunt, both as a writer & an actress. Her great touches were enjoyably everywhere both on & behind the screen, giving me great conflict in deciding between a four or three bag rating. I would of liked this film much better if the story had started where it ended as I felt the real 'heart' of the conflict between our screen lovers was too quickly resolved 'n never truely addressed in the rush to end the film with a happy walk off into the sunset. Most viewers will probably enjoy this tale more than I, but you know how we psych pros are... always wantin' more of the why's & how's
|
| | |
 |
Directed by Steven Soderbergh Written by Susannah Grant Erin Brockovich (based on a true story here in California) was an enjoyable solid four bagger! Julia Roberts, in her best performance to date, plays Erin a former Midwest beauty queen who's an unemployed, down-in-her-luck, devoted single mom. In desperation, she plows her way into menial employment at the office of her beleagured 'n bewildered attorney played with great panache by the delightful Albert Finney. (Roberts and Finney together exude palpable screen chemistry and are a absolute pleasure to watch) Our Erin soon discovers a cover-up involving a contaminated local water supply buried within the dusty files of a pro bono real estate case and energizes her reluctant boss to take on a David vs Goliath Case of a Lifetime (the jury's award of 333 million is public record). Though uneducated & politically incorrect with her flamboyant style & loose-lipped acerbic wit, she's also blessed with sharp instincts, a good heart & a touch for relating to people who have been hurt. Our disinfranchised heroine ultimately finds her niche & wins the big one both for herself and the "little" people. Teaching us once again never to simply judge a broad by her cover. A woman can accomplish good works, be taken seriously and affect changes for the better while simultaneously strutting around in cfm pumps & sporting cleavage larger than Manhattan. The real Erin did it! Julia nailed it on screen and this bawdy blonde salutes you both!
|
| | |
 | Directed by Jay Russell Written by Willie Morris
My Dog Skip, based upon Willie Morris' childhood memoir, should of been a definate four bagger as I'm a pushover for a good warm fuzzy. (Heck, I can still evoke tears over the memory of ET's pending death and don't even get me started about the Disney scene where Dumbo's mom reaches through the bars to cradle him in her trunk while singing a soothing lullaby to calm her distressed soon-to-be-orphan... ) This story of a shy lonely only child growing up in 1940s Mississippi with the help of his beloved dog, Skip, had a lot of positive things going for it... fine performances with emotional depth by Kevin Bacon as the stern father, Diane Lane as the fun-
William Ross' blasting-in-your-ears, over-the-top, gushy score, soared with self-importance before and during each and every change of scene. Drowning out & overpowering anything happening upon the silver screen. Instead of blending seamlessly into the background of this quiet story of a boy and his dog, the music was like a wall of noise. A barrier between myself and the screen, a distraction which ultimately prevented me from becoming totally engaged in this sweet tale.
|
| | |
| Momma's Movie List |
Current Reviews |
Back to Main Index! | 
