|
|
|
Defensible Movies
Or alternatively, movies that were either marketed wrong or I had
low expectations and found them to be well worth a multiple viewing.
Most of these movies took a second viewing before I began to really
appreciate them.
- Boogie Nights
 The
first time I saw this movie, I thought, "this is a long movie."
I am almost embarrassed to show my true American Movie Attention
Deficit Disorder, but that is how I felt. Now when I watch it,
I think it is too short because I like the characters so much,
appreciate the rich character development and dialogue. Also,
I think that it takes a tiny bit of acclimation to Paul Thomas
Anderson's slice of life style of storytelling. It is a movie
that I can now turn off when it is on because I own the DVD (though
I still watch it anytime it is on).
Reason to see: Great dialogue, good characters, payoff
at the end.
- The Big Hit
 I
don't even recall this movie hitting my radar screen when it was
in the theaters, but my buddy Will recommended it to me. I guess
what helped was his explanation of how ludicrous some of the scenes
are because they are so over the top action packed and get pretty
silly at times. This is, of course, done on purpose any once you
recognize the tongue-in-cheek aspect of the film, the whole movie
takes on a comedic value that you won't expect. In the movie these
hit-men kidnap a movie producer's daughter. A classic scene when
a guy with a stutter tries to make the ransom call (after being
warned not to). He has a two of the latest caller tracer buster
devices, but the victim's dad has three of them to counteract
his two. Its a hard movie to explain, but really fun.
Reason to see: Over the top cartoon exaggerated action,
combined with tongue-in-cheek style comedy.
- The Fifth Element
 Not
your typical sci-fi flick. Luke Besson changed the view of the
future back from the Blade Runner view of gloom and doom back
to a pop-cultured more hip view. Not to say that there aren't
elements of overpopulation, heat wave, land-fill garbage problems
and such, its just that people act pretty much the way they act
today. They deal with and ignore this in favor of going about
their business. Its very pop oriented and spicy at the same time.
There are some significant flaws in this movie in direction and
overall suspension of belief, but they do not detract from the
movie's charm.
Reason to see: Gary Oldman, Chris Tucker (though some find
him annoying), atmosphere, tight sweeping story.
- Quick Change
 This
is a movie that has a misleading title, which is not the fault
of the title. The title is absolutely accurate. They do suffer
a quick change from a fast paced bank robbery to the slowest and
most painful getaway ever. This movie is brilliant, but I remember
the first time that I watched it, the change in pace almost floored
me. After a second viewing at home, I realized that not only is
the dialogue in this movie inspired, but the movie is one that
I can't change the channel if it is on. You, of course need to
be a Bill Murray fan to fully appreciate this one (I was surprised
to find that there are some people who just dislike his acting
intensely).
- Strange Days
 The
beauty of DVDs now is that they include the original trailers.
This is one of the movies that I knew was going to be good, but
I just couldn't get any sense of the movies purpose from the original
trailer. After reviewing the trailers again on the DVD, I came
to the same conclusion. And then back in 1999, just as the fake
Millenium was approaching, I saw a trailer for a really cool movie
on the sci-fi Channel and as it went along, I realized that sci-fi
must have come to the same conclusion and remade the trailer.
They did such an amazing job that I got excited to watch the movie
with commercials and all. If you haven't seen this movie, it is
well worth it and Ralph Feinnes is amazing in this movie.
- Drop Dead Gorgeous
 As
with Strange Days, the DVD game me a change to view the trailers,
and this movie was unjustly marketed. None of the funny scene
came through, and the story looked like most of the MTV, cheerleader
bankrobber, white girl finds rhythm trailers out today. This movie
was so funny, quirky, sarcastic and intelligent at the same time.
It is set as a documentary about one town holding the first stages
of a National Beauty Pageant, and it really maintains this feel
throughout. Not only that but the performance turned in by Kirsty
Alley hasn't been this good since Star Trek II. The characters
were well thought out and represented so many quirks about middle
America. This movie is also very weird, so be prepared for some
pretty wacky stuff. Of my two favorite scenes, I think Denise
Richards takes the top award for her "talent skit" in the pageant.
I almost had to get oxygen.
|
|
