Scott's Reviews

I don't really understand what all the hype was about this film. Not as good as Mystic River, and in places the dialogue is unintelligible. Morgan Freeman reprises a role he could play in his sleep, and Clint is Clint.

I liked the features of the DVD, and visually it is stunning, but I don't think I understood what he was on about. Worth a look if you are not too hung up about narrative.

Shocking. What was Madsen thinking!!!

This is powerful and bleak. Ray Winstone is simply chilling. I am sure many would find this oppressive, and could easily criticise it, but I felt that the gritty realism and the stark "normality" of Winstone's character was necessary. A tough topic in any medium.

Great performances throughout. Another great Aussie film that did not get much of a run at the cinemas. Interesting role for Murdoch in this true story, how things change!

Great performance by Neeson in what is an overly long dramatisation.

Has its moments.

I watched this several times, sorry to hang on to it for so long. A stunning re-enactment of an unbelievable tale. Simply great film making. I am still in awe of the effort of the main players. Beautifully filmed, great tale, superb performances form the actors and those actually involved. Man it was cold on that mountain!!!! A must see. Extreme sport was never so extreme, and they didn't even call themselves extreme sportspeople...

Not that funny, but has a few giggles at stereotypes etc.. I think they were trying to have some kind of message in there, but at the end of the day it is a stoner road trip, that Hollywood can churn out at the drop of a few mill.

Not bad. Contains a smidge of "Momento" but not as well directed, formulated or acted. The action scenes are up to Woo's usual standard, but this is not enough to make it a great action thriller.

A few funny moments but Billy Bob's Santa is just too unlikeable. I had no sympathy for him at all, and wanted him to end horribly.

Fellini at his best. A disturbingly beautiful film, autobiographical and captures the Rome of a none too distant past. The scenes in the outdoor restaurant is so alive that you feel a part of the scene.

I must qualify my rating by adding that if you are a Giliam fan you will enjoy this. If you are not it is easy to find fault.

A lot better than I thought it would be. A pretty good send up of the typical Hollywood "sports" movie, or am I being too generous. Some very funny moments.

As a devout Coen brothers fan I was sadly disappointed in this outing. Hanks was just not the man for the job.

Not one of Hanks better efforts.

Absolute rubbish.

A very confronting film, and I am not sure if it really makes its point.

Excellent performance by Friels, and gives a new look to Melbourne..

I thought the first one was better. She is obviously insane, and it is just sad watching her craziness.

As good as sequels get, in fact maybe a little better than the first.

I found the whole setting of the school to be very clinical which probably says something about an American culture that can enable what happened at Columbine High, which this is based on. A well crafted film, typical of van zant.

Not a patch on Underground. Lots of interesting caricatures rather than characters. Strange little tale but colrful and fast paced.

Sean Penn, ugly yet beautiful. A very complex intertwining as well as constant time shifts in the plot. You have to stay with this. Sensational performances from all. Forget all the crap about what the title means, just watch it to see a well crafted film. Challenging.

A bizarre film that explores relationships. A few plot holes, but at the same time good to see an Australian "thriller". Great performances, and quite a confronting film if you can forgive a few of the plot holes.

Very clever Chaplinesque statement on the 'modernisation' of urban life. Nearly as good as Playtime. Any fan of Tati will love this, others may find it a bit long.

Donnie Darko does it better.

An absurd 'love story' with some pretty violent undertones. I am not sure that this is as innocent as everyone else seems to think. I am not an Adam Sandler fan at all, but at least this was watchable, but not really enjoyable as such. Disturbing does come to mind.

The best thing I have seen Jim Carrey do, except when he is a child, when he really hams it up. Beautifully written, and very complex at times. It is possible to see the "Being John Malkovich" and "Adaptation" similarities.

Brilliant acting, in that traditional acting manner, as if set on a stage, often typical of Mamet's work. Nigel Hawthorne is wonderful. It is a pity he hasn't appeared in more feature films.

Very slow start, and some really gung ho stuff that is just too over the top.

If you like Tarantino's films then this is a must see too. Written by Tarantino, and with a great cast, Brad Pitt's small role is a stunner.

The sort of poignant comedies that the British do so well. Helen Mirren & Julie Walters were exceptional, but a great ensemble cast piece.

Possibly Tati's best film, a beautiful, surreal comedy. The final scenes at the roundabout are not to be missed. The colour, sound and cinematography are second to none.

Light and bright. Aniston is really quite good, Stiller plays a very familiar Stiller role.

As with many collaborative collections this is hit or miss. On the whole though very well done. Probably the best thing I have seen from Sean Penn is his contribution starring Ernest Borgnine. Thye words powerful, poignant and parochial spring to mind when reflectin upon this collection.

Maybe I missed the point, but I found this to be a predicatble war movie, with none of the brilliance or philosophy of the novel. Far too genre driven.

If you enjoyed Spinal Tap, and Best in Show I think you will love this. Great ensemble performances, very clever dialogue, witty and at times irreverant to the serious world of folk music.

A sensational western, with a great performance by Gene Hackman, and good support from Clint Eastwood and Richard Harris.

For Zappa fans only. I don't feel that this was the best incarnation of the Mothers, but any concert footage of Zappa is rare so worth a look.

A great insight into the US movie world of the 1970's. A great companion piece to the book "Easy Riders Raging Bulls" by Peter Riskind. If you are interested in movies from this period you will enjoy this.

This is a great premise ruined by some of the worst dialogue ever delivered by what are normally quite talented actors. Cusack and Liotta spout fatuos drivel at times which really leaves you searching for the remote. I stuck it out, and even though my better half picked it early, I needed it all to make the connection. A thriller, but not easy to stay with.

A pleasantly suprising film, with good performances from an ensemble cast. Well written, well acted and an interesting take on the movie world by those within it.

Another great performance by Depp. This has a great twist, and is not your bland Hollywood thriller, if that term can be used for most of the lame efforts of late. This is good. Turturro is a bizarre force in this, menacing and controlled.

A blockbuster, and Clooney is cool as Batman. Robin & Batgirl are just so so. Uma Thurman is stunning, but Arnie just plays Arnie, bad dialogue and all. Clooney and the sets save this from going to silly.

Not the best Leone western, though cinematically the links are being made for his masterpiece "once upon a time in America." Steiger overacts throughout this, but is a lovable character in the early parts of the film. I prefer "once upon a time in the west", and the clint trilogy, but this is still worth a look. It is a long film, so be prepared.

I am not sure if this is an attempt at "high art" cinema or not. It seemed too contrived, in that this was a film about a theatre production which was about, what was actually happening in the lives of the actors in the theatre. I think it was too clever for me. Some good performances, but possibly operating on too many levels to be easily accessible.

Johhny Depp is sensational, as is Rush. The computer graphics are also a stand out, but not over the top. A really entertaining film.

A great fable. Dianne Weist is sensational as the avon lady. Johnny Depp turns in an excellent performance too. Another Tim Burton classic.

I didn't think I would like this but it was actually OK. Catherin O'hara and Jack Black were the standout performances, and Lithgow was pretty good too. It is a pretty lame storyline at times, but good performances all round, and not too "teen movie".

Every second is important, and every decision is vital. A great thriller with a touch of "lock, stock", but with more running. Man is there a lot of running. Excellent musical score, and a touch of anime just for fun.

I think this film exemplifies why some people should not write, direct and then star in their own movie. The story itself is ok, though at times it is confused about what it wants to be, a thriller or a teen movie. The supporting cast are at times wasted, and the lead man is just not up to the rest of the cast. Walken is bizarre as always, Steiger overacts, Scroeder is wasted, as is Palimentiri.

Still great. Nicholson as the Joker is easily the best villian in this series of Batman movies. Keaton does an excellent job too, but the stand out is Burton's sense of style in depicting the neo gothic Gotham city.

As a film about obsession this is an absolute gem, with strong performances from the entire cast. Based on a true story, which is more concerned with the obsessive nature of the gambler than the actual theft of the money from his bank. Slow moving in places, but captures the need to gamble for those so afflicted. The trailer does not truly reflect the narrative, so don't be fooled.

If you are a fan of the original Looney Tunes ala Chuck Jones et al, then you will enjoy this movie. I was expecting it to be a "poor relation" of the originals but was pleasantly suprised. Brendan Fraser is great, and the jokes are self deprecating enough to be funny. This is much better than I expected, and does "dip its lid" to some of the best moments of the great Looney Tunes cartoons.

Very typical of ken Loach films in that this too is stark, rough, and unrelenting at times. Great performance by the lad, and yes I had to have the sub titles, as the Scottish accents are very broad.

A quirky comedy with great performances. It has a real Coen brothers feel to it.

It is some time since I have watched this film, and find it stunning that the storyline, other than the incredibly unrealistic relationship between Redford & Dunaway, was so prophetic. Who would have thought that the US would invade a country due to its natural reserves?

If you are a Cure fan you will love this. If you are just interested in the Cure then this may not be the place to start. This is a mammoth effort. The middle section featuring the Disintergration album will be the most familiar and accessible material. The playing is very strong, and if you have a good sound system with a sub woofer then you are in for a treat. Hope the neighbours are Cure fans too!!! The additional material, which includes interviews with the band is insightful, and not full of the usual "band rhetoric".

Not up to the usual silly standard set by Abrahams. Too silly for words, with few real laughs.

A very slow, and at times tedious film about loss and denial. Great performance by Rampling, but I felt the support cast was simply not up to her performance.

This is a bizarre film, visually stunning with Herzog returning to Sth. America to capture the lush countryside. Kinski is in his element as the obsessed Fitzcarraldo hell bent on bringing opera to the forest, as well as making a few bucks as a rubber baron. The DVD has a great bonus of Herzog talking about the filming, amongst many other dangerous asides of making the film. You must be prepared to sit through all of this, as it is an epic. I recommend the bonus feature as well, especially if you are a film freak.

As action pics go, this is one of the better ones. The Rock does not take himself too seriously, which is a refreshing change from most of these action blockbusters. The stunts "tip their hats" to The Matrix, and Crouching Tiger etal...

Slightly dated, but still a good gangster yarn. Bob Hoskins is good, Helen Mirren always watchable. Watch out for a boyish Pierce Brosnan.

Has a touch of the Ken Loach about it, but without the social comment. Carlyle ( as the useless father/partner, small time crim) is pretty good, Ifans (the dorky love interest, and manager of a mechanic shop) good, but the stand out was the sister-in-law, who I am sure was in a BBC comedy, shown on ABC late at night. She is really very good in this. The spray she gives Carlyle (her foster brother) simply couldn't have been that well scripted. The musical homage to Morricone is nice too.

If you enjoy the Zucker Bros Flying High & naked Gun movies then this is for you. Same corny stuff, but Val Kilmer is superb. It does for the WWII movie genre what Flying High did for the Airport genre. Great cameo by Omaer Sharif, and the commentary by the Zuckers et al on this DVD is excellent.