Resurfaced Short Reviews, Part XII

These are Resurfaced short or quickie reviews written in 2002 or earlier. For more information, please visit this link: Resurfaced Reviews.

Boogie Nights

Rating

Director

Paul Thomas Anderson

Screenplay

Paul Thomas Anderson

Length

2h 35m

Starring

Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, Don Cheadle, John C. Reilly, William H. Macy, Heather Graham, Nicole Ari Parker, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Luis Guzman, Philip Baker Hall, Thomas Jane, Robert Ridgely, Robert Downey Sr., Nina Hartley, Melora Walters, Alfred Molina, Ricky Jay, Joanna Gleason, Laurel Holloman, Michael Penn

MPAA Rating

Basic Plot

A young man working a sleezy bar to earn some extra money comes upon the opportunity of his lifetime. Assuming a stage name of Dirk Diggler, this young man rises to fame as a porn star. This film about his life and the lives of those people in the industry around him.

Review

A very powerful film about the porn industry. Brilliant acting and writing comes together with the skillful hand of Paul Thomas Anderson behind the camera to weave a well-told story about something many of us often see portrayed poorly. Instead of focusing solely on the negative aspects, Anderson focuses on the familial nature of the industry as well as its triumphs and its failings. Burt Reynolds gives an impressive performance as a porn director, his performance leaves everyone in the dust, except for Julianne Moore who bravely carries her own and affords one of the brightest performances of the year. Combined with her work in Myth of Fingerprints, Julianne Moore could easily find an Oscar Nomination in her near future for this film. While the rest of the cast is superb and Wahlberg gives another surprising performance, Moore and Reynolds are the ones to watch. Easily one of the best films of the year, Boogie Nights keeps the nudity low and the quality high.

Awards Prospects

This film has Oscar written all over it. If the Academy can get past its content and look at its quality, this film could do some major cleaning up. Expect guaranteed nominations for Burt Reynolds and most likely for Julianne Moore. Mark Wahlberg has hopes, but I think that’s all they are. As for the visualness, expect a few tech nominations and maybe a song thrown in.

Review Written

Unknown

Casablanca

Rating

Director

Michael Curtiz

Screenplay

Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Howard Koch (Play: Everybody Comes to Rick’s by Murray Burnett, Joan Alison)

Length

1h 42m

Starring

Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, S.Z. Sakall, Madeline LeBeau, Dooley Wilson, Joy Page, John Qualen, Leonid Kinskey

MPAA Rating

Approved

Review

Rick Blaine, who owns a nightclub in Casablanca, discovers his old flame Ilsa, is in town with her husband, Victor Lazlo. Lazlo is a Resistance leader, and with Germans on his tail, Ilsa knows Rick can help them get out of the country – but will he?

A beautiful film starring Bogart and Bergman. The performances are fine and the Cinematography is excellent. One of the most misquoted films in history, Bogart NEVER says “Play it again, Sam.” Despite that, this film is still considered one of the greats and is loved by more people today than most other films of its error. Casablanca will live on for many years in the minds of those intrigued by romance and a little bit of espionage.

Review Written

October 24, 2006

Beaches

Rating

Director

Garry Marshall

Screenplay

Mary Agnes Donoghue (Novel: Iris Rainer Dart)

Length

2h 03m

Starring

Bette Midler, Barbara Hershey, John Heard, Spalding Gray, Lainie Kazan, James Read, Grace Johnston, Mayim Bialik, Marcie Leeds, Carol Williard

MPAA Rating

PG-13

Basic Plot

Two girls meet “Under the Boardwalk” where they begin what turns out to be a lifetime friendship. One, a young performer, CC Bloom and the other a rich socialite, Hillary Whitney. They grow up apart, but as adults they come together again and go through many trials and tribulations before a tragic end.

Review

Sometimes the sacchrine just oozes from the screen and gets you all wet, but overall, it’s kept within a good range and becomes quite enjoyable. Bette Midler gives many great song performances throughout the film and Barbara Hershey gives a great performance alongside the caustic wit of Midler. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, but you’ll come out happy.

Review Written

Unknown

Home Alone

Rating

Director

Chris Columbus

Screenplay

John Hughes

Length

1h 43m

Starring

Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, Roberts Blossom, Catherine O’Hara, Angela Goethals, Devin Ratray, Gerry Bamman

MPAA Rating

Basic Plot

Accidentally left at home for Christmas, Kevin McCallister battles two burglars in his own home.

Review

While entertaining, Home Alone is purely mindless. You can walk in, sit down and defy all critical concepts and just watch the film for the humor. Don’t expect a snazzy plot or brilliant acting, just a gag-infested film about a kid trapped at home, alone and battling bungling burglars.

Review Written

Unknown

Dick Tracy

Rating

Director

Warren Beatty

Screenplay

Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr. (Comics: Chester Gould)

Length

1h 45m

Starring

Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, Madonna, Glenne Headly, Charlie Korsmo, James Keane, Seymour Cassel, Michael J. Pollard, Charles Durning, Dick Van Dyke, Frank Campanella, Kathy Bates, Dustin Hoffman, William Forsythe, Ed O’Ross, James Tolkan, Mandy Patinkin, R.G. Armstrong, Henry Silva, Paul Sorvino, Chuck Hicks, , Neil Summers, Stig Eldred, Lawrence Steven Meyers, James Caan, Catherine O’Hara, Robert Beecher

MPAA Rating

Basic Plot

All Tess Trueheart wants is to settle down to a quiet life with her boyfriend, detective Dick Tracy. But there’s something pretty rotten going on in town, with someone pretty rotten behind it, and Tracy has his hands full with the likes of villain Big Boy Caprice and with the almost irresistable Breathless Mahoney.

Review

With sumptuous locales and breathtaking designs, Dick Tracy is one of the most lavish films ever produced. It’s brilliant colors feel as if they were ripped straight from the Cartoon section of your local newspaper, except these are in the lines. Warren Beatty feels stiff, and Madonna sometimes lost, but the rest of the cavalcade of stars play their parts with finesse and energy.