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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 25 January 2001

T.C. Williams High already has a successful coach - the soon-to-be Hall of Fame inductee Bill Yoast (Patton).  To help smooth the transition, higher powers have hired a new African-American coach in Herman Boone (Washington).  Given the intense racial climate, the citizens of Alexandria are divided over Boone's appointment and Yoast has decided he can't work under him and looks elsewhere for employment.  However, Yoast is informed by the school board that Boone's appointment is merely a "token gesture" and as soon as the team starts losing, he will be sacked and Yoast reinstated.

It's always going to be a losing battle for Boone but he has fight and puts up a damn good one.  From the two week introductory camp, he slowly wins the support of the team, the community and most importantly, Coach Yoast.  Together they produced a team that would do more than just win football games, they would unite the people.

Sporting movies are becoming a regular event with many focusing on American football.  In the past two years we've seen Any Given Sunday, The Replacements and a favourite of mine, Varsity Blues.  Can I add that the film setting my personal and very high benchmark is 1993's Rudy.

The reason such movies are so popular is that people love seeing the underdog get up - anyone remember Rocky?  The problem with Remember The Titans is that every scene is formulaic.  Just when things start to look up, another obstacle is thrown in their path but of course everything is wrapped up with a nice neat bow in the end.

Don't let me mislead you, I did enjoy the film and I was rooting for the team every time it had a great win but that doesn't necessarily make it a good movie.  I cheer every time I'm at the AFL but that doesn't make every game a good game.  In the back of mind, I know I've seen these characters and storylines so many times before.

The opening credits show Jerry Bruckheimer is a producer.  Why is this important?  Well, Bruckheimer's other credits include Coyote Ugly, Gone In 60 Seconds, Armageddon, Con Air, The Rock, Crimson Tide, Bad Boys, Top Gun and Beverly Hills Cop.  It's a list I'd be proud of but they're all just fun, predictable, popcorn movies made in the same style.  With Remember The Titans made in a similar vein, you can understand the tired sense of deja vu I felt.

Aside from the script and an overbearing score from Trevor Rabin, there are positives to speak of.  Denzel Washington is always passionate about his work and delivers another fine performance (following his Oscar nominated turn in The Hurricane).  Will Patton relishes his supporting role and often steals the spotlight from Washington because his character is more interesting.

I have to single out one great moment that left me startled.  Several years ago, Roger Ebert wrote an article in his Chicago Sun Times column commenting how a cinemagoer can foresee every screen kiss just before it actually happens.  It was a valid point and a question worth thinking about for yourself.  There was one kiss in Remember The Titans that amazingly caught both myself and the audience off guard (given their loud reaction).  It was the only surprise I found in the film but given recent Bruckheimer productions, it was one more than I expected and even Roger Ebert would be proud.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 18 January 2001

Adam Gibson (Schwarzenegger) is a helicopter pilot with a wife and daughter.  He is hired by Drucker and a few of his men to take them skiing atop a mountain range.  However, it's Adam's birthday and he palms the job off to colleague Hank Morgan (Rapaport) to get some time off.  Waiting on top the mountain is an armed anti-cloning protester who shoots and kills the entire party.

The party are cloned and returned back into the world but unknowingly, they think Hank is Adam and so the clone created is that of Adam.  Now we have two Adam Gibsons and given the 40-year mandatory sentence for human cloning, there's a lot of people who would like to see one of the two eliminated.

Like a favourite film of mine, Gattaca, The Sixth Day makes a point about playing god and where to draw the line.  It's a touchy subject matter and many people haven't sat down and thought about where they really stand.  If your son was critically ill and you had the technology to save him through cloning, would you do it?

This action-thriller shows the talent of Canadian director Roger Spottiswoode and writers Cormac and Marianne Wibberley.  I concede I was surprised on many occasions by both the storyline and intelligent surprises that followed.  Even Arnie gets the opportunity to pull out some great lines typified when he tells someone to get a clone so he can "go fuck himself".  Even I had to laugh at that.

Of course the film is filled with tacky "close call" action scenes which detract but this look at the future has been logically created thanks to great special effects.  The three-member film editing team has done a super job maintaining the suspense and the style is very audacious.

Arnie does have a limited range but has found just the right movie in The Sixth Day.  We haven't seen him much of late with End Of Days being his only other film in the past three years.  Interestingly, both films have heavy religious undertones.  I wonder if Arnie is trying to leave his mark on the world...

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 25 January 2001

In 1922, German director F. W. Murnau wanted to be one of the first to bring Bram Stoker's famous novel to a big screen but of course this is back in primitive days when movies didn't even have sound.  However, Bram Stoker's widow refused to grant the rights to Murnau.  Not to be deterred, he changed a few names and made the film anyway.  Shadow Of The Vampire is an interpretation of the events that led to the creation of Nosferatu.

In Berlin, Murnau assembled his cast and crew before travelling to Czechoslovakia for shooting.  Strangely missing from the introductions was Max Schreck, an unknown actor who was to play the lead role of Count Orlock (i.e. Dracula).  Murnau informed his crew that Schreck was already in Czechoslovakia preparing for his role.  To become more believable, he would be always be in character and would always wear his makeup.  Very strange indeed.

When production begins, things get even stranger.  The cinematographer is killed in unusual circumstances forcing Murnau to return to Germany to find another.  In his absence, another crew member is killed and questions are being asked.  Just what is going on?

Nosferatu is regarded by many as the greatest vampire film ever made despite its grainy quality and lack of sound.  Perhaps it was because people still believed in vampires back?  The Internet Movie Database has it listed in its top 250 films of all time as voted by the public - that says something.  Max Schreck's portrayal of Count Orlock is also considered the best of any screen vampire.  So good in fact, that it provided Shadow Of The Vampire screenwriter, Steven Katz, with the inspiration for this film.  Perhaps Max Schreck really was a vampire?

Shadow Of The Vampire is a hypnotic comedy/thriller that is difficult to describe.  It's bound to become a film seen by few but appreciated by all who had the chance - a cult film.  Willem Dafoe's performance as Schreck is the best by any supporting actor this year.  He is unrecognisable beneath his make-up and looks eerily similar to the real Max Schreck thanks to the help of artists Ann Buchanan and Katja Reinert.

It's one of the year’s finest and most inventive scripts and is given justice by director E. Elias Merhige.   Cinematic boundaries are being broken...

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 11 January 2001

Using digital television, they are going to take themselves into the human world.  Once there, they will take over television networks and create television shows so bad, audiences will become mindless zombies.  The Fearless Leader will then have total control over their helpless minds making him a shoe-in to become the new U.S. president.

FBI agent Karen Sympathy (Perabo) has been assigned to case of stopping the Fearless Leader and knows there are only two “people” who can stop him.  Using technology of her own, she brings Rocky and Bullwinkle to life and they begin a road trip across America to get to New York in time to stop these villains.  It won't be an easy journey with Boris and Natasha following them all the way.

The animation is great and it's an interesting concept but there isn't a lot to laugh about in The Adventures Of Rocky And Bullwinkle.  The screenplay is from upcoming talent Kenneth Longergan (You Can Count Of Me, Analyze This) but you get the feeling it tries to be a little too smart for its own good.

The film has been a big underachiever in the U.S. which exemplifies its lack of a target audience.  Clearly the best aspect of the film is Piper Perabo who is really dazzling on screen and has followed this film with the recently released Coyote Ugly.  She'll be one to watch in the future.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 18 January 2001

FedEx employee Chuck Noland’s (Hanks) life revolves around getting things done on time.  He's the guy that takes care of your package when "it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight".  It's a tough job travelling around the world especially when having to leave his long-term girlfriend Kelly (Hunt) behind.  Kelly understands the demands placed on Chuck by his job and the two cherish every moment they spend together.  Still, there just doesn't seem to be enough time.

Called out to Malaysia on Christmas night, Kelly drops Chuck to the airport under strict instructions that he's back to her by New Years Eve.  Exchanging presents in the car, Chuck gives Kelly a small box with the instruction not to open until the new year.  Chuck sets off to catch his flight jokingly saying "I'll be right back".

Deep into the flight, the plane encounters severe turbulence, losing radio contact.  Attempting to avoid the storm, the pilot changes course with little success and crashes into the Pacific.  By sheer chance, Chuck survives the impact and with the help of an inflatable raft is washed ashore on a small uninhabited island in the middle of nowhere.  There's no chance of a search party with the plane veering roughly 400km off its intended path.  The impossible has now become distinctly possible...

Tom Hanks has won two Oscars (Philadelphia, Forrest Gump) but he may be remembered most for this career-best performance in Cast Away.  From the moment he sets foot on the island, there's nothing more to watch than a silent Tom Hanks relying solely on actions and expressions.  The film was shot in two stages 12 months apart to allow Hanks to transform from a "beefy" FedEx employee to a "lean" wildman.  The time off allowed director Robert Zemeckis to make What Lies Beneath in between.

Speaking of Zemeckis, his direction is bold and original.  It's a tough ask to make a two and a half hour movie set in just one location with just one actor.  With little film score, you'll go much of the movie with only the soft sounds of the wind, rain and crashing waves.  I am curious to know how much was paid by FedEx and Wilson for the not-so-subtle advertising.

One can't overlook the effortless performance from Wilson the Volleyball.  A few tears will be shed over his fate and he can expect a flood of great scripts in the near future.  I feel the Academy will ignore his subtle performance but the Broadcast Film Critics have already rewarded him with best performance by an inanimate object.

Cast Away should be appreciated on many levels.  Hanks goes from being a man with no time to a man with nothing else but time.  What does he learn from it all?  Zemeckis leaves the question open to wide interpretation.  The ending is slightly drawn out but it will leave you something to think about.

Above anything else, this is a story of love.  Every moment he spends alone on the island, he longs for a way to get back to Kelly.  The audience may not relate to a man trying to survive on desolate island but they'll emotionally understand what's driving him.  That's what life is all about.  It's not what you make of it - but who you make it with.