Week In Review, Upcoming Movies, and DVD Reviews.

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Well, it's been a few weeks since I have checked in with some reviews and digressions concerning the film biz. So here goes nothing:

Box Office

1. Cast Away - $183,618,085 million, enough said

2. Save the Last Dance - Starring: Julia Stiles and Sean Patrick Thomas, and I really don't know much about this one other than the fact that my teenage daughter saw it and loved it. The story is about a 17-year-old high-school student who wants to be a professional ballerina, but when her mother is killed in a car accident she is forced to move back in with her father in Chicago.

3. Traffic - I loved this film. It was one of the best scripts I read last year. In case you do not already know, it was written by Stephen Gaghan. TRAFFIC is a varying work of stories that evokes the high-stakes world of drug trafficing, as seen through a series of inter-related stories, some personal, and some political.

4. Snatch - Written and directed by Guy Ritchie, and starring Brad Pitt, Dennis Farina, Jason Statham, Jason Flemyng, Benicio Del Toro. It's essentially a diamond caper film, with nothing new to offer. The critics seem to have hated this one, Entertainment Weekly gave it low marks saying, "Pitt's participation makes Snatch feel like a more charming comedy than it really is."

5. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - Good to see Ang Lee's film doing well, even if it is overrated.

6. Finding Forrester - Written by Mike Rich, directed by Gus Van Sant. FINDING FORRESTER focuses on the relationship between an African-American basketball star Jamal Wallace (Robert Brown), and a talented novelist (Sean Connery).

7. What Women Want - Mel Gibson and $163,134,185, enough said

8. Miss Congeniality - Sandra Bullock, well...

9. The Pledge - Directed by Sean Penn, and with official writing credits given to: Written by Jerzy Kromolowski, Mary Olson-Kromolowski and Sean Penn. A policeman in a small mid-western town promises the mother of a murdered child that he will capture the killer, and he soon finds himself devoting all his energy to fulfilling this pledge. I found this movie be okay, but nothing special.

10. Thirteen Days - This is a major disappointment, a great film that no one seems to care about. The critics loved it, I like it, and the script by David Self was fantastic. Deals with the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Upcoming Movies

The big one is Shadow of the Vampire, which I had the chance to see in Telluride last year. Simply a great film and a solid script. Willem Dafoe will get the Oscar nod, at least I hope.

(Reviewed at Telluride, September 3rd, 2000.)
SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE

John Malkovich plays F.W. Murnau in this Elia Mehrige film. Murnau's 1921 classic NOSFERTA, cinema's first true vampire film, is even today still highly regarded by film noir lovers. The screenplay is by Steve Katz.

As I was standing in line I learned that Willem Defoe is in the film. As I didn't know anything about the film, so this was good news for me. I overheard a conversation and then a few moments later looked up and there he was, entering the theater. I must admit, Dafoe is one of my favorite actors. I'll never forget Elias, as I am sure any PLATOON fan could not.

I loved this film, it's incredibly set, directed and acted. But, Dafoe steals the show. His portrayal of Schreck is fantastic. He is in what appears to be a complete body suit. (Later at an outdoor lecture Dafoe spoke about the film and his character. He wore a mask, lots of makeup, and pieces under the clothing to give his character the look it had. He mention how he enjoyed playing the part, and how he could "forget himself" while wearing the mask, Dafoe considers each of his important roles as wearing a different mask which allows him "to be free" in his acting.)

The film has some carnage, and some good laughs. I highly recommend it.

Check out my Telluride Report Day One, Day Two, Day Three.

DVD Reviews

Me, Myself & Irene - Jim Carrey portrays Charlie, a state trooper in Rhode Island who is unable to take medication for his Multiple Personality Disorder. This unleashes Hank, an alter ego that is threateningly aggressive and sexual. Rating: Average

DVD Features: Anamorphic - 1.85:1
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - 1. Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly - Directors; Deleted Scenes/ Outtakes - with Directors' Commentary; Production Vignettes; Featurette; Music Video - The Foo Fighters - "Breakout"; Trailers - Original Theatrical Trailers; TV Spots; Interactive Features: Scene Access; Interactive Menus

I found the DVD to offer the usual fair of extras and the audio commentary is always interesting with most DVDs if you can stand it, which is why I prefer the Featurettes more. And this DVD contains nothing of interest there. Rating: Average