Reviews
Boys Don't Cry
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Kimberly Peirce |
| Written by: | Kimberly Peirce, Andy Bienen |
| Starring: | Hilary Swank, Chloe Sevigny, Peter Sarsgaard, Brendan Sexton III |
| Released: | March 2, 2000 |
| Grade: | B |
Boys Don’t Cry is the true-life story of Teena Brandon, a 20-year-old woman facing a sexual identity crisis. Disguising herself as a man, she leaves home (Lincoln, Nebraska) and sets off to find a place where no one knows her secret and where she can feel free.
On the eve of her 21st birthday, she travels to Falls City where she meets Candace (Alicia Goranson) and is introduced to her guy friends - John (Sarsgaard) and Tom (Sexton III). Known as Brandon Teena, she fits in immediately and the dream goes to plan.
That is until she meets Lana (Sevigny) and falls head over heels. Uncontrollably attracted to her, she knows Lana’s the one for her and she says to her brother, “I’m going to marry her”.
Teena’s relationship with Lana blossoms and an intense passionate relationship ensues. But does Lana know that Brandon’s a she? You’re never quite sure and that’s what keeps the movie interesting as it unfolds.
Hilary Swank has received wide acclaim for her leading role and her success is warranted. She is wonderful in the film but I was equally impressed with Chloe Sevigny in the supporting role. Swank’s always going to get the credit playing the cross-gender role but Sevigny shouldn’t go unnoticed - her portrayal of Lana was sly and understated.
Working against Boys Don’t Cry, is a tiring screenplay. Sure it’s a true story but it takes far too long to introduce the players and the first hour could only be described as dreary. As the relationship between Brandon and Lana heats up, the tension builds as you know something is imminent. Further, apart from Swank, Sevigny and Jeanetta Arnette (as Lana’s mother), the rest of the cast do little to improve it.
It’s a raw, confronting film that director Kimberley Peirce has created which is going to be appreciated by many. Boys Don’t Cry should be appreciated for two of the year’s finest performances but for me the rest was a tad disappointing.
Cut
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Kimble Rendall |
| Written by: | Dave Warner |
| Starring: | Molly Ringwald, Kylie Minogue, Simon Bossell, Stephen Curry, Jessica Napier |
| Released: | March 2, 2000 |
| Grade: | B+ |
Hot Blooded was a B-grade slasher film that never quite made the big screen. It wasn’t the quality that stopped it but rather the director being murdered on the set by a masked assailant. Five years later, the film was dragged out of the can to be completed by a new director but yes, he too was murdered while watching the first screening.
This brings us to the current time frame where a group of school students plan on completing the infamous film. Bringing back American star Vanessa (Ringwold), new director Raffy (Napier) plans on making the film a cult hit and dispels any rumours that the film is “cursed”. Things start well enough until...
You’d think I was talking about another American teen horror flick but believe it or not, Cut is an Australian production. If there’s one thing rarer than an Australian horror film it’s a good Australian horror film and this film meets the “cut”.
It’s a sharp comedy that has all the wit of Scream with an Australian flavour. Casting Ringwold was a great move and she must have been a top sport to agree to star. All the characters are wonderful (although many don’t last too long) but I’ll single out the rising Stephen Curry who has all the best lines as the “sound man”.
You never quite know where this film is going - you know most of the cast is going to be knocked off but who is the killer and who’s going to survive? I found the climax a touch disappointing but I do confess, it’s certainly hard to predict and caught me by surprise.
Also in the film’s favour is its length which is a mere 78 minutes. It’s a silly genre and people don’t want to be stuck in a drawn out plot. It’s quick, concise and doesn’t waste time in getting to the key scenes.
Certainly a bold gamble and produced on a tight budget, director Kimble Randall and writer Dave Warner have come through with the goods. Let’s just hope it doesn’t spawn a whole new range of tacky teen thriller flicks down-under. Once is enough.
Man On The Moon
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Milos Forman |
| Written by: | Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski |
| Starring: | Jim Carrey, Danny DeVito, Courtney Love, George Shapiro, Paul Giamatti |
| Released: | February 17, 2000 |
| Grade: | A |
Andy Kaufman died of lung cancer in 1984 but he lived one hell of a life. As a kid he dreamed of being the most famous comedian in the world and he gave his vision a pretty good ride. Discovered by producer George Shapiro, Andy secured a role on the 6-year run of TV’s Taxi - the same show that launched the careers of Danny DeVito, Tony Danza, Marilu Henner, Carol Kane and Christopher Lloyd.
Andy’s goal in life was to be different. I guess it’s that little bit of him in all of us that makes this movie so appealing. Kaufman took his comedy to a new level by setting up elaborate comedy situations that left audiences baffled - was he joking or not? One early story had him disguised as a loudmouthed lounge singer named Tony Clifton. Despite Kaufman being a relatively famous celebrity - audiences never knew that Clifton was actually Kaufman - it was his gift.
Looking at all this, it’s hard to see what point it serves to make a movie about the life of Andy Kaufman and frankly it’s not the kind of movie that’ll change your life. It’s just amazing to see behind the scenes and get a close look at all the tricks and jokes he managed to pull - it’s like seeing a magician reveal his tricks.
I love director Milos Forman (Amadeus, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, The People Vs. Larry Flynt) and my admiration for him has only increased upon seeing Man On The Moon. It’s the most difficult movie to pull off that I’ve seen in a long time. It would be so easy to lose the audience but Foreman keeps you intrigued. Take the opening of the movie for example which is something I’ve not seen before but couldn’t be more appropriate. Milos is the man!
I cannot continue further without commenting on the recent realisation of Jim Carrey. How far he has come since Ace Ventura launched his career on the big screen. Every role he takes on now just illustrates further the broad range that is Jim Carrey. After seeing The Truman Show I commented how Carrey was the only actor who could have played the role of Truman Burbank. After seeing Man On The Moon, that statement can only be reiterated. Not only does he play Kaufman like a dream, he also shares his birthday (January 17) - was it destiny or what? It is a burning tragedy that he was overlooked for an Oscar nomination for both roles because he did deserve it.
Milos Forman always finds illustrious casts for his movies. Casting Courtney Love is a gamble he’s taken before and it works again here. Danny DeVito is also wonderful especially since he knew and worked with real Kaufman on Taxi and the real George Shaprio even makes an appearance as the club owner who fires Kaufman in the film’s opening.
Many still believe that Kaufman’s death was staged and that he’s still alive today looking back and loving his greatest joke of all. Andy Kaufman - misunderstood, complicated, genius.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Anthony Minghella |
| Written by: | Anthony Minghella |
| Starring: | Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Philip Baker Hall |
| Released: | February 24, 2000 |
| Grade: | A |
Tom Ripley (Damon) is a complicated young man living in the slums of New York trying to put a few bucks together. Manipulation for him is second nature - he loves escaping from his own dismal world and making it something better. One day, whilst filling in as a pianist for a small function, he meets an elderly couple that noticed the Princeton jacket he was wearing. Their son, Dickie Greenleaf (Law), also went to Princeton but moved to Italy years ago and has severed all contact with his parents. Tom Ripley is about to be given the opportunity of a lifetime. Under the false assumption that Tom actually new Dickie, they offer him and all-expenses paid trip to Italy, if he can persuade Dickie to return home.
In Italy, Tom meets Dickie and finds in him, everything he wish he could be. He loves his life, his girlfriend (Paltrow), his clothes, his house, everything. They develop a close friendship and Tom couldn’t be happier.
That is until, Dickie tires of their friendship and thinks it’s time Tom Ripley moved on. Unwilling to let go, Tom will do anything to keep what he has. Anything.
Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 novel, The Talented Mr. Ripley, couldn’t be more beautifully adapted then this effort from writer-director Anthony Minghella (The English Patient).
Matt Damon’s performance in the leading role is blistering. On the outside he seems so innocent but slowly we are introduced the darkness that haunts his inside. Yet as bad as Tom seems, he’s still hard not to like and perhaps we can all relate to his situation. It’s always hard to meet someone you think is great and build a friendship/relationship. You’ll lie about anything just to make them like you more.
When Minghella originally cast this movie, none of the four leads were big stars but how so much has changed in two years. Damon and Paltrow have won Oscars, and both Law and Blanchett have picked up nominations. Minghella sure has a keen eye and the cast are up to the task here.
The movie is filled with sly twists and turns as you become more familiar with the characters and what they’re all thinking. It’s almost funny to an extent.
Filled with wonderful Jazz and picturesque scenery, The Talented Mr. Ripley is a timeless thriller that grows on you right up to the film’s final scene. As Ripley so eloquently puts it - “whatever you do, no matter how terrible or how hurtful, nobody thinks that they’re a bad person”. A thought worth pondering...
The Love Letter
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Peter Chan |
| Written by: | Maria Maggenti |
| Starring: | Kate Capshaw, Blythe Danner, Ellen DeGeneres, Tom Selleck, Tom Everett Scott, Gloria Stuart |
| Released: | February 10, 2000 |
| Grade: | C+ |
As the trailer from The Love Letter says, not a lot happens in the town of Loplolly By The Sea, that is until a mysterious love letter arrives addressed to nobody. Well to be frankly honest, the arrival of the letter didn’t make this town any more interesting. Period.
Kate Capshaw stars as Helen, the owner of the local bookstore who discovers an unaddressed, passionate love letter hidden in between two cushions of the bookstore’s couch. Thinking it’s addressed to her, she goes in search of its owner and what ensues is a series of stupid twists in which everyone reads the letter and thinks its from their own secret admirer.
None of the cast are particularly funny and the late arrival of Blythe Danner and Gloria Stuart do nothing more than dig the movie into a deeper hole.
Interestingly enough, this film was released the same week as Star Wars: The Phantom Menace in the United States which I think says volumes about what executives thought of its chances in the marketplace. They knew it stunk and so they released it at the worst possible time.
What more can you say. This is just another is a long line of romantic comedies that just have no spark, no interest, no laughs and just no idea.
The Wog Boy
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Aleksi Vellis |
| Written by: | Chris Anastassiades, Nick Giannopoulos |
| Starring: | Nick Giannopoulos, Vince Colosimo, Lucy Bell, Abi Tucker, Stephen Curry |
| Released: | February 24, 2000 |
| Grade: | C+ |
Australians are really stuck in a rut when it comes to filmmaking and The Wog Boy is a perfect example. Original scripts and talented directors are being tossed aside to give way to garbage like this. The Wog Boy is one of those films that does not feature a single piece of new material - it’s all rehashed, stereotypical nonsense.
Steve (Giannopoulos) is a dole bludger who on a return trip from the Unemployment Office, backs his car into the limo of Raelene, the government minister for employment. Demanding $3,000 for damages to the car, Raelene doesn’t want to cause a fuss and hands over the cheque but she’s out for revenge and sets him up on a dole-bludging expose on 24 Hours (a current affairs show hosted by Darryn Hinch).
I’m not going to elaborate much further on the supporting cast because they aren’t all that interesting. The best jokes are mere toilet humour filled with unnecessary foul language. I can honestly say I did not laugh once during the film’s entirety.
Australian producers are so conservative they feel they give audiences cheap laughs because they know they’re going to work. It’s rare gems like Muriel’s Wedding that take chances, pay off and develop real talent. The Wog Boy does not fit the preceding description and is basically The Craic all over again (with an Italian theme in replace of an Irish one).
The audience at my screening were chuckling away and The Wog Boy is sure to rake in a few dollars. All I can say is brace yourself because love them or hate them, more “popcorn” films like this are coming our way...