Thursday, August 17, 2006

Stonebrook 3/10

Stonebrook (PG-13) 1998
Reviewer’s Tilt (7)
Suspense-89min
Special DVD Features worth a look-None

I wish I could remember who recommended this movie to me so I could convene an intervention of friends to make sure they never recommend another movie to anyone . . . ever. Stonebrook starts out well enough, with farmhand Erik (Brad Rowe) getting a scholarship to the Ivy League Stonebrook through a family friend. Although Erik’s roommate is an enigmatic rich kid named Cornelius (Seth Green), the two become friends.

When Erik’s scholarship falls through due to a technicality, Cornelius sees this as an opportunity to help his friend and execute some of the self-concocted con games he never had the guts to execute. The con games work well until the two cross paths with local small-time crime boss Alexander Tali (Stanley Kamel) and the law. Stonebrook attempts to tell a story of fortune, downfall and redemption in a “Usual Suspects” type format. Unfortunately, neither the story, nor the acting comes close to that seminal work.

While plot twists are the mark of the genre, these characters go from being upstanding honest citizens one minute, to adroit con men the next, then back to being the model of morality. While I realize people change, in this movie the bad guy is the only one of the characters that does not go through two lifetimes of catharses in a matter of months. I am thankful, however, that Director Byron Thompson mercifully combined the wild characters swings, the trite dialogue, the bad acting and the ridiculous plot twists into only 89 minutes, and did not insist on providing any “extras” on the DVD. At least he has some empathy for his audience.

Format: Color, Widescreen anamorphic, Closed captioned.
Sound: (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
Extras: None

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

The Beach 6/10

The Beach (R) 2000
Reviewer’s Tilt (3)
Suspense-119min
Special DVD Features worth a look-Director commentary

Trainspotting director Danny Boyle latest pays homage to many great films, combining different directorial styles to present a single story. The underlying tale lies somewhere between Animal Farm and Blue Lagoon, but gets from point “A” to point “B” using direction elements from Trainspotting, Apocalypse Now, Lord of the Flies and many other films. The story revolves around Richard, (Leonardo DiCaprio), an American seeking all the indulgences the world’s unseemly back streets have to offer.

Whether it is drugs, women, booze or parties Richard is looking for the next fix. Pondering his next exotic experience in a seedy Thailand hotel, Richard encounters Daffy (Robert Carlysle), a psychologically disturbed drug addict, regaling Richard with tales of a utopia he experienced on a secluded island. Richard then meets a French couple (Virginie Ledoyen and Guillaume Canet), and the three decide to seek out Daffy’s island utopia. The story follows the three through fear, pain, love, heartbreak, pity and growth as they wash off society and seek their true selves. Carlysle is riveting as Daffy, and Tilda Swinton's scene stealing performances as the island leader are very satisfying.

Unfortunately, neither DiCaprio nor the script develops enough empathy for Richard to make the viewer care about his journey or his catharsis. The movie has a lot to offer in terms of style and cinematography, but a weak performance by DiCaprio and overindulgent direction, are distracting and prevent the viewer from fully participating in the experience. Boyle presents this uneven, trite piece of escapism in a cinematographically beautiful package, but fails to deliver any real depth or substance.

Format: Color, Widescreen anamorphic, Closed captioned.
Sound: (Dolby Digital 5.1), (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
Extras: Director commentary, alternate ending, deleted scenes, All Saints music video, storyboard, trailer.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Girlfight 2/10

Girlfight (R) 2000
Reviewer’s Tilt (6)
Drama-110min
Special DVD Features worth a look-None

Girlfight won Director Karyn Kusama the best director award at Sundance and shared the Grand Jury Prize with Kenneth Lonergan’s "You Can Count on Me". Why it received these awards, I do not know. Girlfight is the hackneyed story of angst-ridden teen Diana (Michelle Rodriguez), seeking outlet in an unconventional manner, in this case, boxing. The tale vacillates between inner-city clichés and unbelievable plot turns.

Try as it might, Girlfight simply could not convince me that this young woman, as strong and skilled as she was, could so soundly physically thrash the men in her life. I understand boxing is an art, and that skill triumphs over strength, but this movie does not lay the groundwork to make Diana’s beatings plausible. The film is rife with tired characters, including the former boxer (Jaime Tirelli), living vicariously through his prodigy, the abusive inner-city father (Paul Calderon)., the sensitive, bookish brother (Ray Santiago) that does not want to fight, and the boxer (Santiago Douglas), with the heart of gold. Tirelli, the veteran and Rodriguez, the newcomer are both stunning, but cannot overcome the films many weaknesses.

Format: Color, Widescreen anamorphic, Closed captioned.
Sound: (Dolby Digital 5.1), (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
Extras: Director commentary, making-of featurette, trailer.

Friday, August 04, 2006

Mansfield Park 7/10

Mansfield Park (PG-13) 1999
Reviewer’s Tilt (7)
Period Drama-112min
Special DVD Features worth a look-Director commentary

Director Patricia Rozema combines Jane Austen’s personal notes and letters with Austen’s novel Mansfield Park, in an attempt to open a window into the classic author’s soul. Frances O'Connor, plays Fanny, Austen’s alter ego, raised in poverty, but given a taste of the good life when she moves to the great Mansfield Park, a country estate owned by her relatives. Her aunt and uncle love her, but relegate her to third class citizenship (second class citizenship being reserved for “privileged” women). Fanny falls in love with her cousin Edmund (Jonny Lee Miller), but sees little chance of ever entering proper society. Soon, a charming and wealthy rake (Alessandro Nivola) and his beautiful sister (Embeth Davidtz) enter the picture, pursuing Fanny and Edmund and offering them a chance to escape their poverty and lack of social status.

Undercurrents of slavery, debauchery, lust, incest and betrayal flow just beneath the surface of this great estate. Like her mother and aunt before her, Fanny must make the Hobson’s choice between poverty and ennui. Harold Pinter is fabulous as the family patriarch, and the supporting cast all give fine performances. My only reservation about this film is Rozema’s attenuation of Fanny’s venom and the buffoonery of those around her. In her attempt to make the heroine both more likable and plausible, Rozema undercuts Austen’s artifice. This unfortunate direction tempers both Austen’s wit and her vilification of nineteenth century society. The movie is good, but Austen’s original vision is genius. Not that genius vision is inviolate. Rozema’s changes however, ultimately weaken, rather than strengthen, the underlying story. I heartily recommend this film, but anticipate a future version of Mansfield Park, incorporating this great acting with Austen’s unabridged artistry.

Format: Color, Widescreen anamorphic, Closed captioned.
Sound: (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Extras: Director commentary, making-of featurette, trailer.