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

Misery (1990)

Rating

Director

Rob Reiner

Screenplay

William Goldman (Novel: Stephen King)

Length

1h 47m

Starring

James Caan, Kathy Bates, Richard Farnsworth, Frances Sternhagen, Lauren Bacall, Jerry Potter

MPAA Rating

R

Basic Plot

Paul Sheldon, famous Romance novelist has finally decided to move onto more serious fiction with a foray into foul language-filled fiction. On his way back from his winter retreat, per his tradition, he is involved in a serious car accident on a slick mountain road and trapped in his car at the bottom of a hill. To his rescue is his “number 1 fan” Annie Wilkes. A former nurse who adores Misery chastain, Sheldon’s Romance novel fixture, is astounded when she reads his new novel where her beloved Misery is killed during childbirth. Enraged, she goes to great pains to make sure that Misery never dies, but is revived.

Review

Once in a great while a performance comes along that makes you give thanks for weeks that film was invented. Kathy Bates gives a tantalizing performance as the crazed nurse Annie Wilkes. Her powerful persona on screen is enough to carry the film from beginning to end with no need for plot in between. Not to say the film doesn’t have plot, it has plenty to go around, with twists and turns at every corner and a dramatic ending that will leaving you aghast. James Caan provides a suitable foil and Lauren Bacall plays an admirable book publisher. The sherrif and his wife are more in the lines of extras, but play their parts well. Rob Reiner is skillful behind the lens and gives us one of the greatest Stephen King-based films ever produced.

Review Written

Unknown

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)

Rating

Director

Jay Roach

Screenplay

Mike Myers

Length

1h 34m

Starring

Mike Myers, Elizabeth Hurley, Michael York, Mimi Rogers, Robert Wagner, Seth Green, Fabiana Udenio, Mindy Sterling, Paul Dillon, Charles Napier, Will Ferrell

MPAA Rating

PG-13

Basic Plot

In a James Bond parody/homage, Austin Powers features a Cold War-era International Man of Mystery who tries to keep a criminal mastermind, Dr. Evil, from controlling the world after he returns from a Cryogenic sleep. Powers volunteers to be frozen until Dr. Evil makes his return. Thirty years later, in 1997, after the end of the cold war and the return of Dr. Evil, prompts the British Ministry of Defense to thaw out Austin Powers and send him to vanquish the hideous Dr. Evil.

Review

The parts I enjoyed most out of the film were the ones featuring plays-on-Bond. There are several instances and they are done rather well. There’s also a set of scenes, two full sets to be exact that use perspective and obstacles to hide naked bodies and they are done so well that it makes you long for more. The problems are with Dr. Evil and Austin Powers themselves, both played by Mike Meyers. After awhile their schticks become tired and rather annoying. Some of the acting in Austin Powers is low-key, but others are down-right disturbing, while the rest are rather poor. The Production design was well done and the sight gags were pleasureable. The use of Dr. Evil’s son, created using some of Dr. Evil’s frozen sperm, was a better foil for Dr. Evil himself than Austin Powers, his ascerbic remarks made the relationship more fun. A fun movie that will make you laugh, and entertain as well as honor James Bond and Parody him at the same time. Thanks for including Odd Job…I mean Random Task.

Review Written

Unknown

My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)

Rating

Director

P.J. Hogan

Screenplay

Ron Bass

Length

1h 45m

Starring

Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz, Rupert Everett, Philip Bosco, M. Emmet Walsh, Rachel Griffiths, Carrie Preston, Susan Sullivan, Chris Masterson

MPAA Rating

PG-13

Basic Plot

Agreeing that if they don’t marry by the time they are 26 years old, Jules and Michael follow their own paths. Jules becomes quite successful and spends much of her time with a gay friend. In one month she would come 26 and Michael has left a message for her to call him. He says it’s important. She thinks possibly he’s going to ask her, but she soon finds out that he’s met another woman and THEY are getting married. She’s floored and finally realises that she’s completely in love with him. Thus begins a quest to win him back while getting the other woman out of the way.

Review

The acting in this film was quite superb, however, some of the comic moments lay flat and a few characters have a problem achieving believability as well as a few absurd comedic moments which only detract from the film. By far one of my favorite parts of the film is the opening credits montage with a hush-toned number sung by a bride and her bridesmaids. It was quite interesting, hushed and amazingly well done as credits go. However, this is not by any stretch the best comedy of the year, but Julia Roberts helps the film out a great deal and Rupert Everett plays divinly.

Awards Prospects

Julia Roberts is considered a contender for an Oscar nomination as Best Actress. Rupert Everett is the heavy favorite to win the Best Supporting Actor trophy.

Review Written

Unknown

Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion (1997)

Rating

Director

David Mirkin

Screenplay

Robin Schiff (Play: Robin Schiff)

Length

1h 32m

Starring

Mira Sorvino, Lisa Kudrow, Janeane Garofalo, Alan Cumming, Julia Campbell, Mia Cottet, Kristen Bauer, Elaine Hendrix, Vincent Ventresca, Camryn Manheim, Justin Theroux, Jacob Vargas

MPAA Rating

R

Basic Plot

Two longtime friends who suffered humiliation in High School live together in a Los Angeles Apartment. One, Romy White, is a clerk at a Jaguar dealership and the other, Michele Weinberger, is unemployed. One day, while Romy is working the line, she comes across a fellow alumni, Heather Mooney and learns that there’s a 10-Year High School Reunion coming up, despite having not received an invitation. Romy and Michele decide to return to their high school alma mater and try to prove to their classmates that they haven’t wasted their life, even if they think they haven’t.

Review

Mira Sorvino, as Romy is rather slow and her performance isn’t quite the calibre of Kudrow as Michele, but Lisa Kudrow’s had plenty of experience playing dumb in both Mad About You and Friends. Add a subpar Janeane Garofalo to the mix and the acting leaves a little to be desired. There are also some rather cheesy scenes and not the good kind. However, on the whole, Romy and Michele is a fun romp through ’80s pop culture, an intriguing dream sequence and a beautiful and hilarious ending. The music underscore hails straight from the ’80s and makes you want to go back to your own High School Reunion. Just don’t claim you invented Post-It Notes.

Awards Prospects

No prospects for awards or nominations.

Review Written

Unknown

Deconstructing Harry (1997)

Rating

Director

Woody Allen

Screenplay

Woody Allen

Length

1h 36m

Starring

Woody Allen, Richard Benjamin, Kirstie Alley, Billy Crystal, Judy Davis, Bob Balaban, Julie Kavner, Elisabeth Shue, Tobey Maguire, Jennifer Garner, Paul Giamatti, Stanley Tucci, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Mariel Hemingway, Robin Williams, Hazelle Goodman, Eric Bogosian, Demi Moore, Caroline Aaron, Eric Lloyd, Amy Irving, Viola Harris, Vitoria Hale, Shifra Lerer

MPAA Rating

R

Basic Plot

Harry is a writer who’s used his past to create his popular fiction stories. We see several of these stories which range from an out-of-focus actor to a rescue trip to hell.

Review

Woody Allen proves he’s correct, but little much more. While his directing is somewhat annoying, his actors are far from it. Each of the ensemble is capable of carrying themselves without much more than the blink of an eyelash.

Allen’s vision of hell is interesting and creative. Another intriguing point is when Robin Williams, as an out-of-focus actor is brilliantly edited to be blurry against the crisp shots from Allen’s camera.

Billy Crystal has never been one of my favorite actors, but is suitable in this film where he doesn’t play a bizarre or irate person. Kirstie Alley is her usual vibrant self. Woody Allen is traditionally neurotic. Demi Moore is a little under her normal charisma. Judy Davis is phenomenal. Elisabeth Shue can’t hold a candle to her work in Leaving Las Vegas. The best performance, however, comes from the magnificent Hazelle Goodman as Harry’s hooker and company on his voyage to receive an award. Hazelle Goodman is the only member of the cast other than Judy Davis who deserves an Oscar nomination for her performance, but with its late release and the flooded condition of the Supporting Actress category, neither looks like a contender.

Awards Prospects

Harry has limited chances for acting nods, but has a more than sizable chance for a nomination for Original Screenplay for Woody Allen.

Review Written

Unknown