Reviews
Save The Last Dance
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Thomas Carter |
| Written by: | Duane Adler, Cheryl Edwards |
| Starring: | Julia Stiles, Sean Patrick Thomas, Kerry Washington, Fredro Starr, Terry Kinney |
| Released: | April 5, 2001 |
| Grade: | A- |
Whilst I constantly criticise actors, it's hard to deny the fact that they are all very talented. People don't make it as far as Tom Hanks or Julia Roberts without ability. What makes or breaks an actor are the roles they choose. As good as an actor is, there are always some roles that suit their style which brings the best out of them. The trick of course is finding the right part.
Naturally, it's not easy. When an actor signs on the dotted line they often don't know who else will star or even who will direct. All they have in front of them is a screenplay which is bound to go through thousands of rewrites. Actors use their instinct in picking roles but most always they'll need advise from agents and those more experienced in the biz.
Several weeks ago, I spoke about Sandra Bullock being a perfect example of a great actress who can't find the right film. She makes truckloads of money and always gives 100% but critics agree that most of her flicks are woeful. What if Sandra Bullock had all of Julia Roberts' roles and vice-versa? Who would be the bigger star in Hollywood today? I'd bet on Sandra.
Why I've begun my review like this is to comment on the intelligence shown by Julia Stiles, the star of Save The Last Dance, in choosing her own roles. Despite opening with a few small parts, Julia burst onto the scene with 10 Things I Hate About You - one of the few teen flicks that doesn't take itself too seriously and doesn't propose to answer life's problems. In the two years since its release, Julia has featured in the critically acclaimed Hamlet and David Mamet's State And Main (both which are yet to be released in Australia). Later this year, we will see her starring beside Matt Damon in The Bourne Identity.
Stiles makes the movie. It's the story of Sara, a 16-year-old whose mother was killed in a car accident whilst rushing to see her audition for a place in a prestigious ballet school. Forced to move to Chicago to live with her estranged father, her life has been turned upside-down. She now attends a local school where most of the students are black and fitting in is a big problem. She falls for classmate Derek (Thomas) and despite his mutual affection, their love is strained by constantly having to defend their inter-racial relationship to everyone. The two compliment each other as Derek helps Sara rediscover her ballet and Sara helps Derek put his shady past behind him and look to a future at college.
Most of director Thomas Carter’s experience has come from television but his skills are an asset. No time is wasted in the introduction and I loved the way he showed Sara’s past with quick flashbacks as she took the train to Chicago. I was also impressed at how he captured the action of the nightclubs and Sara’s big dancing finale. Screenwriters Duane Adler and Cheryl Edwards effectively capture the difficulty of being “white” in a “black” world. So many current films show the opposite perspective and don’t do a very good job for that matter.
Aside from Stiles, the best performance comes Terry Kinney, a small-time actor who you may recognise from films such as The Firm and Sleepers. Like most of the cast, his character shows human qualities and doesn’t degenerate into a stereotype.
I’ve been a sucker for “dancing” films following my affection for Centre Stage, Bootmen and Billy Elliot. When you mix great choreography with great lighting and cinematography, it’s just as good as being part of a live theatre audience. This story though is about more than just great dancing - it has a soul. The best way of summing up what Save The Last Dance has to say (and I love that title) is to simply read the catchline from the poster and remember - The only person you have to be is yourself.
Dude, Where's My Car?
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Danny Leiner |
| Written by: | Philip Stark |
| Starring: | Ashton Kutcher, Seann William Scott, Jennifer Garner, Marla Sokoloff, Kristy Swanson |
| Released: | March 29, 2001 |
| Grade: | C- |
Look no further as we have already have the best film of 2001 in Dude, Where’s My Car? I was touched by its drama and surprised by the intelligent level of its comedy. How the Academy could overlook the film at this year's Oscars astounds me. First Jim Carrey was snubbed, then Billy Elliot, and now this. Serious changes need to be made to the Academy's judging criteria if they wish to be taken seriously (especially in light of the recent Gladiator triumph).
Tell me if you've been through a similar situation. Jesse (Kutcher) and Chester (Scott) wake up one morning and cannot remember a single moment from the night before - they must have gotten so "wasted". Their girlfriends call winging about how their house has been trashed and they'd better be over there soon with their anniversary gifts or else. Sounds simple enough but when they open the front door, Jesse's car is strangely missing and the question is asked - dude, where's my car?
The next hour sees them fit the pieces together and I won't spoil the many surprises for fear of ruining this cinematic masterpiece. The complex political and ethical issues it deals with will put it on the curriculum of English departments across the country. It will be spoken about, studied and analysed for decades to come.
Television director Danny Leiner has broadened his horizons and is now illustrating his immense talent on a bigger screen. One can expect 20th Century Fox and the world's other leading film studios to be flooding him with millions of dollars to produce their finest scripts. And just where has writer Philip Stark come from? His brilliant screenplay must have required years of research to capture the depth he does of its characters.
Speaking of the cast, That 70's Show's Ashton Kutcher and American Pie's Seann William Scott will blow you away with their performances. Look out Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise, there's some new competition on the block. I've heard there's an intense bidding war between Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese to secure their services for upcoming projects.
Dude, Where’s My Car? shows that with each day, we are getting closer to achieving perfection of the craft. I'm sure I'll be suffering from post-film depression for days as I yearn to see it again and appreciate all that I missed from the first viewing. Disregard Almost Famous. Forget Traffic. Ignore Cast Away. This is as good as it gets.
Now that's sarcasm!
The Contender
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Rod Lurie |
| Written by: | Rod Lurie |
| Starring: | Gary Oldman, Joan Allen, Jeff Bridges, Christian Slater, Sam Elliott, William Petersen, Philip Baker Hall |
| Released: | March 22, 2001 |
| Grade: | A |
The Vice-President of the United States died three weeks ago and President Jackson Evans (Bridges) is being pressured by his party and the public to appoint a successor. With record approval ratings after a great PR display, the hot favourite is Governor Jack Hathaway. Whilst fishing with a writer for the Washington Post, a car plunged off a bridge and Governor Hathaway attempted a daring underwater rescue. Whilst not successful, it created a whirlwind of media attention and showed the public that he takes chances when he has to.
Despite this, President Evans is going against trend and plans to appoint Senator Laine Hanson (Allen) as his swansong late in his final term. He wants to prove that a woman can serve at the highest level of the American government. Under American law, it's not a simple matter when nominating and appointing a new vice-president. The Constitution requires that he or she be confirmed by a special committee which is representative of both Republicans and Democrats.
Shelly Runyon (Oldman) is head of the committee and has no plans of confirming Hanson. He believes the best "man" for the job is Hathaway and is not going to appoint a woman just because she is a woman. The only way to stop her will be to bring her down and with his advisors, Runyon digs and uncovers a juicy past. Photos supported by eyewitnesses show Hanson performing sexual favours at a sorority party in college. Her clean image is about to be destroyed.
I love a good political thriller and The Contender is up there with the best. Despite the fact we like to hate and criticise politicians, we still hold them in high regard. When you stick a microphone in front of them and hear them speak, it's newsworthy and we pay attention. This is a strong point made in The Contender. Given the level of power they hold, people crave for such lofty positions and will do anything to get there. Is it the best person who gets the job or is it just the most ambitious?
The film also raises important issues regarding women in politics. How long will it be until a woman leads the United States of America? Sure women hold more seats in the Senate than ever before but they always have and perhaps always will, take a back seat when it comes to the top positions.
Aside from the topical interest I had in the film, it makes great viewing from an entertainment perspective. Writer-director Rod Lurie has done a superlative job and the cinematography and set decoration give the film a fast-paced realism. Joan Allen is one of my favourite actresses and shows her talent with the difficult role (which has earned her an Oscar nomination) and Jeff Bridges (also nominated) is strong as the President. Most striking was Gary Oldman, surprisingly overlooked at this year's Academy Awards. It's about time Oldman took on more demanding roles having seen him in recent action junk (Lost In Space, Air Force One and The Fifth Element).
Whilst it may not be everyone's forte, The Contender proves that intelligent movies appeal to an intelligent audience. They’re rare in today's cinematic environment and the reason is simple - they just don't make enough money (this film only made $18m in America). I guess we just have to savour them while they're showing.
Finding Forrester
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Gus Van Sant |
| Written by: | Mike Rich |
| Starring: | Sean Connery, F. Murray Abraham, Anna Paquin, Busta Rhymes, Rob Brown |
| Released: | March 29, 2001 |
| Grade: | B- |
Good Will Hunting was about an undiscovered mathematical genius who was helped by a man with his own demons and together, they got each other’s lives back on track. Finding Forrester is about an undiscovered yet brilliant writer who is helped by a man with his own demons and together, they get each other’s lives back on track. That's not the only similarity. Both are directed by Gus Van Sant who is usually known for tacking bolder projects such as My Own Private Idaho, Drugstore Cowboy and To Die For. Once you see this film's final 10 minutes, you'll know there's one more interesting connection.
Finding Forrester revolves around 16-year-old Jamal Wallace (Brown), an extremely talented writer who keeps this ability hidden from most. He loves hanging out with his friends in Manhattan and playing basketball but after Jamal gets outstanding results in an aptitude test, both his principal and mother understand just how gifted he is. Jamal is offered a place at a prestigious school and doesn't take much convincing once he sees the campus and what it has to offer him.
Near where Jamal plays basketball is an old apartment block with a story. On the top floor is a man who constantly looks out from behind his closed window. No one has ever seen him in person. Rumours have been whispered over time but the mysterious man remains an enigma in the neighbourhood.
On a dare, Jamal ascends the building and sneaks into the apartment but when discovered, flees and inadvertently leaves his backpack behind. The next day, the backpack is thrown down from above and inside are Jamal's writing books, comprehensively edited by a very knowledgeable writer. Intrigued, Jamal wants to know more about this man and whether or not he can help him further his own writing. I won't spoil any more details because the character is revealed ever so slowly in the film but obviously, the role is played by Sean Connery.
This story was told much better physically and emotionally in Good Will Hunting. Newcomer Rob Brown is super in the leading role and Sean Connery is good also. The same cannot be said for other cast members including Anna Paquin, whose purpose is never explained, and F. Murray Abraham, who is completely over-the-top as Jamal's English lecturer.
Finding Forrester's feel-good finale is both predictable and boring. The film is interesting for a while but when you take a limited story and try to drag it out over two hours, you'll lose your audience. After just half an hour, I knew exactly how the film would end and became frustrated in waiting for the foregone conclusion. The film overstayed its welcome. Gus Van Sant's direction is standard but I did enjoy his limited use of film score.
There are some cinemagoers who enjoy any film where an underdog triumphs over adversity but I'm tougher as a critic. I love feel-good movies provided they make me feel good all through the movie and not just in the end and I'll cite Billy Elliot as a perfect example. Sure I loved Jamal sticking it up those who knocked him down but it wasn't worth $13 and a Friday night.
Dracula 2000
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Patrick Lussier |
| Written by: | Joel Soisson, Patrick Lussier |
| Starring: | Jonny Lee Miller, Justine Waddell, Gerard Butler, Colleen Fitzpatrick, Christopher Plummer |
| Released: | March 15, 2001 |
| Grade: | B |
In the latest take of Bram Stoker's novel (and there have been a few), Matthew Van Helsing (Plummer) is in charge of a large antique museum in London. Within its walls is a massive vault that is well guarded by security and no one but Van Helsing knows what lies behind it. His secretary believes it contains hidden treasure and orchestrates a robbery. Behind the door lies a series of tunnels which eventually lead to a chamber and a tightly locked coffin. Thinking it is filled with gold and jewels, they take the coffin and board a flight to the United States. In the air, they solve the riddle which opens the lock to the coffin but inside lies the last thing they expected - Dracula.
Now loose in New Orleans, Dracula (played by Gerard Butler) feeds on the blood of his victims whilst in search of an elusive young lady by the name of Mary Heller (Waddell). She has had premonitions of Dracula's return but cannot understand why she has these visions. The answer will be revealed when Dracula finally presents himself at her door step.
In the meantime, Van Helsing has travelled to New Orleans with assistant Simon Sheppard (Miller) to track down and recapture Dracula. They will also need to kill anyone who has been transformed into a vampire with his deadly bite to ensure his presence will not continue.
There are a few nice surprises in Dracula 2000 so I won't give away any more secrets but within 20 minutes I knew it was just that little bit different. There are no big stars and any preconceptions as to who would live and who would die went out the window. Usually the big stars always survive till the end but it's hard to predict just what fate is in store for this cast. Christopher Plummer (The Insider) is the standout performer but I also enjoyed many of the subtle, sarcastic comments from English actor Jonny Lee Miller (Trainspotting).
Wes Craven is an executive producer (no surprise there) and Dracula 2000 comes from the same Miramax subsidiary, Dimension Films, which have brought us The Crow, eXistenZ, From Dusk Till Dawn, Scary Movie and the Scream trilogy. I can't say I've enjoyed all their films but they have a strong presence in the horror market and seem to have found enough screenwriters to keep the genre alive. Their films are always a cut above the copycat horror flicks we've seen from other film studios and if you're looking for examples, just remember that Columbia Tristar was responsible for the pathetic I Know What You Did Last Summer and Urban Legend series. A lot of bad memories...
The Wedding Planner
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Adam Shankman |
| Written by: | Pamela Falk and Michael Ellis |
| Starring: | Jennifer Lopez, Matthew McConaughey, Bridgette Wilson, Justin Chambers, Judy Greer, Kevin Pollak, Kathy Najimy |
| Released: | March 29, 2001 |
| Grade: | B |
It was obvious with ten minutes - women are going to love this movie. We open with wedding planner "extraordinaire" Mary Fiore (Lopez) putting the final touches on another masterpiece. Not a single detail has been unconsidered and every contingency has been allowed for. She's one of the most respected planners in the business and brings in more money for the business than any other employee.
Mary wants to be made partner and puts an ultimatum to her boss Geri (Najimy). There's an important wedding coming up involving Fran Donolly (Wilson) and her very wealthy parents are on the market for a wedding planner. If Mary can get the job for the firm, Geri has reluctantly agreed to give her half of the business.
As talented as she is, you'd think Mary would be happily married herself but not so. She lives alone, hasn't had a relationship in months and has her family and friends constantly trying to set her up. Then, destiny steps in. In an “only in the movies” moment, Mary finds herself on a road with a giant rubbish bin hurtling towards her. In the last gasp, she is saved by a young gentleman but then passes out from shock.
When Mary awakes, she's in a hospital and the young man who saved her is looking down at her. It turns out he's Dr Steve Edison (McConaughey) and destiny has seen them mutually attracted to each other. They end up spending a romantic evening in a park dancing and watching classic movies. Could this be the one?
It wouldn't be a script without drama and the dilemma soon presents itself. It turns out that Fran is Steve's fiancé which creates the ultimate complication. The man of her dreams is marrying her most important client. Does she want to risk her career or is true love more important?
Some moments in The Wedding Planner left me cringing and most were provided by Jennifer Lopez. She is a great actress and I feel she's better than roles like this so I hope to see her with juicier parts in the future. The rest of the cast all have their quirks but the screenplay gives few a chance to shine - it is tacky.
In hindsight, it's the radiance of Lopez that puts the film a notch above similar romantic comedies. Like Julia Roberts, her presence on screen is notable and gives any movie a boost. The lavish weddings on show will leave women swooning - maybe more so than the romance between Lopez and McConaughey. See it if you must but expect few surprises.