Tag: 1998

#140RVW

Good not great little film featuring the show-stopping Jane Horrocks. Great British comedy, but I suspect this made a better play than film.

What’s more:

Playwright Jim Cartwright apparently wrote his play “The Rise and Fall of Little Voice” specifically for the immensely talented singer Jane Horrocks, a fact that is completely believable once you hear her. (Future Oscar-winner Sam Mendes directed the play, which was then adapted for the screen by writer-director Mark Herman.)

Little Voice (so nicknamed due to her extreme shyness) shuts herself away in her overbearing mother’s house, obsessively listening to her deceased father’s record collection and perfectly mimicking the singers. Her mother (Brenda Blethyn) is a loud, brash tart, always looking for a successful man. When she brings home never-been promoter Ray Say (Michael Caine), he instantly recognizes LV’s talent and he plots to finally hit the big time behind this unexpected miracle. If he can only get her out of her room…

Little Voice is a neat little movie, although its origins as a play are incredibly apparent. It may be a tale best told on stage, as all the best thrills come from hearing Horrocks sing. It doesn’t really seem fully baked, frankly. Ewan McGregor has a nice little role as a shy pigeon-fancier who is sweet on LV, but there really isn’t any particular need for the love story – it isn’t relevant and doesn’t advance the plot. There’s a ton of great acting going on, but no one character really gets a worthwhile story to tell. Horrocks is simply masterful as LV, and has some lovely scenes with Caine, but the story is in a terrible rush to get to her performances and feels underdeveloped. I’m nitpicking a bit, but only because I enjoyed the movie so much, I just hoped it could be a bit more. It’s still highly recommended.

Poster:

Trailer:

http://youtu.be/p__rDxNTPmA

Bechdel Test:

Pass

The Representation Test Score: B (7 pts)

(http://therepresentationproject.org/grading-hollywood-the-representation-test/)

 

Main Cast	Brenda Blethyn Mari Hoff, Jane Horrocks LV, Michael Caine Ray Say, Ewan McGregor Billy
Rating	R
Release Date	Fri 04 Dec 1998 UTC
Director	Mark Herman
Genres	Comedy, Drama, Music, Musical, Romance
Plot	The pathetically shy LV lives the life of a recluse listening to her late father’s old records in her room and in the process driving her abusive…
Poster
Runtime	97
Tagline	Finding your own voice can be magic.
Writers	Jim Cartwright (play), Mark Herman (screenplay)
Year	1998

#140RVW

Certainly not the best Irish movie, but a lot of fun. Actually, those rolling greens & beautiful vistas? Isle of Man, England. Oh, well…

What’s more:

I remember seeing this in the theater. If memory serves, indie movies weren’t exactly box office successes at that time, but there was an awful lot of buzz about this fun little comedy.

I really don’t have a ton to say about it, actually. It’s funny and sweet and presents a completely fresh set of faces and characters. It introduces most of us to great actors like David Kelly and James Nesbitt, and it’s generally a real feel-good film. Nothing wrong with that…

Poster:

Trailer:

http://youtu.be/PnIDRm7OLdo

Bechdel Test:

Pass

The Representation Test Score: C (6 pts)

(http://therepresentationproject.org/grading-hollywood-the-representation-test/)

Main Cast	Ian Bannen Jackie O’Shea, David Kelly Michael O’Sullivan, Fionnula Flanagan Annie O’Shea, Susan Lynch Maggie O’Toole
Rating	PG
Release Date	Fri 20 Nov 1998 UTC
Director	Kirk Jones
Genres	Comedy
Plot	When a lottery winner dies of shock, his fellow townsfolk attempt to claim the money.
Poster
Runtime	91
Tagline	Finally, a comedy that will make you feel like a million bucks.
Writers	Kirk Jones (written by)
Year	1998

#140RVW

Slow, deliberate pace works; until it doesn’t. Redefines overlong. Pitt great when they let some menace show. Could’ve been something more.

What’s more:

Before you start getting fresh, remember – this is Martin Brest; he directed Beverly Hills Cop, Midnight Run & Scent of a Woman. Then he did this; then he did Gigli. Hmm. I forget my point…

Oh, right. The thing is that there’s a really good movie in here. Two movies, actually (and that’s not a crack about the insufferable run-time). Originally an Italian play, it was first made as the film “Death Takes A Holiday” in 1934. I tried it once and it didn’t grab me – I’ll give it another shot at some point.

You see, I simply love the concept; Death takes an interest in people. You can’t get more high-concept than that. You can run with it for days. There is almost limited potential for humor and perspective. My favorite author is Terry Pratchett, and Death is one of the most fascinating recurring characters in his Discworld series.

In this telling, Death shows up for an extended stay in the world in the body of Brad Pitt. And Pitt does a good job of it; he’s got a nice quirky humor that he isn’t frequently called on to display. And he has a few moments where he displays some of the genuine threat underlying that mortal coil. But there’s not enough of it. This Death is weary and looking for meaning and connection. But he’s toothless, and that just feels off. Yes, go for the laughs, go for the romance, but burying an ultimate power in a borrowed body, no matter how hunky, is not going to hide that supreme force and I think there was a missed opportunity to show Death as more prideful and menacing.

The real killer, though, is the length of this movie. Three hour movies should be the exclusive province of war pictures and the occasional biopic, and even then you better earn it. What’s amazing is when you think back on where exactly those 3 hours went, it’s hard to recall. I can name maybe a dozen distinct scenes in maybe 10 locations. Mostly there are just very slow, very long dialogue-heavy scenes of two varieties – plain speak and “no one talks like this”.

Now I understand where they went wrong with this movie. In the most innocent way possible; they just started with a simple plan (“let’s really let this story breathe, let the scenes find their pace”) and never looked back. And I can see the appeal; the scenes do breathe; there is a nice feel to things as they are introducing the principals. It’s not a race, it’s like a nice walk – let’s enjoy this. You’re feeling good. And then you look up and realize that it’s getting dark and you’re not only nowhere near home – you’ve barely started.

And it really is too bad. Because there are some great moments and acting, the music is beautiful, it looks good. It’s just too damn long. And slow, did I say slow? It’s slow.

Poster:

Trailer:

Bechdel Test:

Pass

Main Cast	Brad Pitt Joe Black/Young Man in Coffee Shop, Anthony Hopkins William Parrish, Claire Forlani Susan Parrish, Jake Weber Drew
Rating	PG-13
Release Date	Fri 13 Nov 1998 UTC
Director	Martin Brest
Genres	Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance
Plot	A media mogul acts as a guide to Death, who takes the form of a young man to learn about life on Earth and in the process, fall in love with his guide’s daughter.
Poster
Runtime	178
Tagline	He’s Expecting You.
Writers	Ron Osborn (screenplay) &, Jeff Reno (screenplay) …
Year	1998

#140RVW

One of those you hate to love. Even if you hate Tucker (and who doesn’t, really) he is terribly funny in this. Jackie Chan is so charming…

What’s more:

I reviewed this one from memory for one reason; I had planned to watch X3 with my daughter but we ran out of time. So since I was already prepared for a Brett Ratner movie, I decided to do this one.

I probably won’t be reviewing the sequels. I remember seeing 2 in the theater and thinking it was pretty good for a sequel. I didn’t see the 3rd one.

If you liked 1980’s Eddie Murphy movies, you really can’t criticize this picture. I don’t find Tucker as funny, but I’m sure Richard Pryor fans didn’t find Murphy as funny either.

And any excuse to watch Jackie Chan is a pretty good one. The man is a magician and it’s a blast to gape at his crazy stunts. What he does is so beyond fight stunts; his moves are actual story elements.

Poster:

Trailer:

Bechdel Test:

FAIL