Reversal of Fortune |
Strange Days |
Boyz in the Hood |
John Singleton’s Boyz in the Hood is the rough story of three kids and their family, friends and enemies over time living in the mean streets of Los Angeles. A penetrating, sobering and tragic look at life in the hood. Often compared to Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, though my preference is for Boyz between the two films. Fine performances, especially Laurence Fishburne as the political philosopher father.
Three Kings |
Trainspotting |
Lone Star |
Slacker |
Richard Linklater’s
low-budget early film Slacker is an interesting experiment. Our minds are used
to following a central character around, but in this film the central character
interacts with another character and the next character leaves the central
character and they become the main character! It took me a little while to
get my mind around these multiple artsy Austin, Texas people at first, but had
to admit I really began to like this film more and more as it progressed. Could
be dismissed as gimmicky, but it works for me.
The Last Seduction…
What movie does this film-noirish story of a sexually dominating and
manipulative woman with more than a few sociopathic tendencies remind me of?
Basic Instinct?…A little…Fatal Attraction?…Yes, a bit….Body Heat? Yes, that’s the
one. It held my interest, but wouldn't quite make my book.
The King of New York |
Since Christopher Walken has become associated with a lot of silly (but mostly funny) things in recent years, it's interesting to see him in a straight crime boss role that makes you forget about cowbell skits and Country Bears movies at least for the time being. He is the best reason to watch The King of New York, a gangster movie that may not be at the top of the crime movie classic list, but is still a good watch for fans of the genre. And it did make the 1001 list, so there you have it.
Safe |
After watching the early Todd Haynes indie movie Safe, about a woman played by Julianne Moore who seems to be allergic to just about everything modern, I had the following conversation about it with my wife.
Wife: So what was the point of that?
Me: What do you mean?
Wife: I mean were her phobias mental or physical?
Me: I think it's supposed to be both, but it is intentionally unclear.
Wife: What about that community she goes to? Is the guy running it a sincere guru or a charlatan?
Me: You could interpret it either way, but I think it's intentionally unclear.
Wife: Okay. What about her family? Are we supposed to sympathize with her husband or is he part of her problem?
Me: Good question. I think it's supposed to be...
Wife: Intentionally unclear, I know! I'll just look at the extras.
(After watching the extras)
Wife: Looks like a lot of what was going on was supposed to be intentionally unclear.
Me: I think you're right.
THE END
I still have a lot of NON-English language films left to see from the 90's. I will take a look at some of those next month.