Chasing Greatness

Chasing Amy is one of those that totally and completely changed my life.  It changed the way I feel about how important writing is in regards to the film-making process.  It also told me that it is possible to have a very close friendship with a member of the opposite sex, and even though it will never ever be more than that, that can be a wonderful and beautiful thing.

It is the opinion of this blogger that Chasing Amy is Kevin Smith's best work.  Yet, anybody who has seen the film knows that it technically is a science fiction movie, as what happens in this movie could never ever happen in real life.  This movie is the story of how Holden McNeil (Ben Affleck) befriends Alyssa Jones (Joey Lauren Adams), and ultimately falls in love with her and the consequences that arise because of this.  

I think Ben Affleck has gotten considerably better and better over the years as an actor.  I think since he has started directing, he has become a better actor.  What makes him great in this film is that he really gets authentic dialogue to work with.  You really see a genuine performance come through in his performance that makes you feel for him.  His monologue when he is professing his love to Alyssa in his car is one of the most moving scenes I've ever witnessed in a film.

Jason Lee is another example of an actor who has gotten considerably better as an actor.  In the film, he plays Banky Edwards, Holden's best friend.  Lee is perfect at playing the best friend we all want to have: supportive, protective, and always giving advice even at the risk of ending his friendship with Holden.  Their friendship and success as artists are always foremost on his mind.

I have not seen Joey Lauren Adams in many films aside from this and The Waterboy.  Unfortunately, it seems that since Chasing Amy, she has gotten herself pigeonholed into the "girl next door" kind of roles.  That being said, I think she is great in this film.  She really feels like a genuine person and not just a character in a movie.  Their is pure, raw emotion in her presence that really makes her dialogue, along with Affleck's, feel genuine.

Over the past couple of years, I have become a huge fan of Kevin Smith.  Although I think his strengths lie more in his writing than his directing, there are a couple of scenes in Chasing Amy which are particularly well directed.  You always get something fresh and original with Kevin Smith, which is why he has such an enormous fan-base.

Personally, I could watch Chasing Amy over and over again countless times.  I think it truly deserves the recognition that it gets, despite its inconsistencies.  I cannot recommend this movie enough.

Under-rated 80's Fantasy

Although I have always been a huge fan of Richard Donner, Ladyhawke is a film that has remained off my radar.  Recently, my very good friend Hannah Sutter recommended I watch it.  Then, when I heard that Donner directed it, I was immediately sold.

At the beginning of Ladyhawke, Gaston (played by Matthew Broderick) escapes from the mideval city of Aquila.  Upon his escape, he is thrust into a thrilling adventure involving Captain Navarre (Rutger Hauer), and his hawk Isabeau.  As the story progresses, Gaston realizes that these two characters are cursed.  Navarre is a wolf by night, and Isabeau is a lady by night (Michelle Pfeiffer), therefore they can never see each other in human form unless the curse is lifted.

I really like Matthew Broderick as an actor.  He brings a certain innocence to every one of his roles.  The plot of this movie is very much told through the eyes of Gaston.  Ladyhawke can be rather dark at times, and Broderick does a fantastic job of providing levity to the film.

I had only seen Rutger Hauer in one other film before viewing Ladyhawke, and that was of course Blade Runner.  I was very excited to see him in this movie.  He has such a towering, commanding presence in the film, while at the same time getting very emotional at times.  Navarre is a great character, and Hauer plays him very well.

Michelle Pfeiffer can be hit and miss for me, although she is perfectly cast as Isabeau.  She befriends Gaston in the film, and although he is there to protect her, there is no tension between the two because her heart clearly belongs to Navarre.  Her stunning beauty in this movie would make it very easy for any man to fall for her.  I am fueled with jealousy of Rutger Hauer.

I absolutely loved this movie after watching it, and was very excited to watch it again.  There is something about 80's fantasy that strikes a very personal chord with me.  It is a shame that this movie did not get recognized more at the time of its release, because it is such a magical, wonderful film.

A Fair Endeavour

I have always been a fan of actors becoming directors.  It gives them a chance to showcase their talents on the other side of the camera.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it does not, but either way it is always interesting to see.

Frailty is an example of an actor making a decent directorial debut.  In the film, Bill Paxton's character thinks that people are demons, and that God is telling him to vanquish these demons.  Bill Paxton directs and stars in the film, along with Matthew McConaughey.  A majority of the film is told in past-tense, with Bill Paxton being the father of  McConaughey's character.  This movie is relatively open to interpretation, leaving the viewer to decide whether the people in this movie really are demons, or whether Paxton's character has just gone crazy.

I feel like this movie suffers from an identity crisis.  It is scary and cheesy, and it should not have been that way. It should have been one or the other.  Attempting to do both confuses the audience.

I have always thought that Matthew McConaughey was a very good actor.  I always tell people to go back and watch Amistad because he is brilliant in that film.  Yes, he did have a string of romantic comedies, but that was a case of an exceptional actor being in some bad movies.  It is great to see him get his career back on track.  Unfortunately, he is not utilized well in this movie.  His character serves mainly as a voice-over, which by default I utterly despise.

Bill Paxton is very cheesy in the film, which is a shame because I think he is a decent actor.  His acting suffers from the same thing the movie suffers from:  he does not know whether to overact or play it straight.  He is extremely over the top, and it falls flat.

Frailty was Bill Paxton's directorial debut, and I would say it is a decent outing.  I know it sounds like I am crapping on the film, but there are some redeemable qualities about the film.  Overall, if you are looking to rent a movie that is "just okay" as my friend Joshua Thomas would say, I would say give this movie a shot.

Black and White Greatness

I have always loved the movie Psycho, and I love it more and more every time I watch it.  Alfred Hitchcock was a master of horror, and every film fan acknowledges that.  When you think of Alfred Hitchcock, you immediately think of this film, and rightfully so.

The thing about films that were released in the era of Psycho is that sometimes the dialogue was very hokey.  With Psycho, even though the dialogue borders on being that, particularly in the beginning of the film,  it is the music that sets the tone of the film.  Because of the music, and thus the tone of the movie, we accept that these characters talk the way they do.

Anthony Perkins is beyond superb in the film as Norman Bates.  He brings a certain nervousness, but not panic, to his character that really makes you feel uncomfortable watching him.  His casting in this movie is a great example of an actor being known for one role their entire career, which can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your point of view.

Janet Leigh wows as Marion Crane.  Long before Jamie Lee Curtis became established as the "Scream Queen", I think Janet Leigh held that title very well.  There is a scene with Leigh and John Gavin at the start of the film in which both characters are half naked, which was not a common thing to see in movies of those days.  I think Hitchcock was very bold to have that scene in there.

Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most iconic directors in history.  What made him a genius is that he let the audience in on things that the characters had no clue about.  He was a master, plain and simple.

Psycho is undoubtedly one of greatest horror films of all time.  No matter how times I watch it, it always creeps me out.  Yet, I also am always waiting to see that Anthony Perkins smile at the end.