90s Movie Review - Gattaca

Director: Andrew Niccol
Genre: Drama/ Science Fiction/ Thriller
Runtime: 106 minutes
Year: 1997
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Jude Law, Tony Shalhoub, Gore Vidal, Elias Koteas, Blair Underwood

Description: A genetically inferior man (Ethan Hawke) assumes the identity of a superior one (Jude Law) in order to pursue his lifelong dream of space travel.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 21: A MOVIE SET IN A DYSTOPIAN WORLD
 
Review: In the near future, it will be possible to have children through genetic engineering. This way the parents can choose what color hair their child will have and also things like eye color and other physical characteristics. Also in terms of intelligence and genetic weakness, the children can be modified and thus there will be almost only perfect children. Vincent Freeman, however, is not; he was just brought into the world in a normal way. He experiences problems with this, as all perfect people get the best jobs. Vincent also has a dream to go into space, but due to a heart defect he will never qualify for this. Then he meets Jerome Morrow. He is genetically adapted, but is in a wheelchair due to an accident. In order to survive, he sells his genetic material to people who can use it. Vincent uses Jerome’s DNA to make his dream come true. The plan succeeds, but when a murder is committed, Vincent finds himself in trouble when he must go to great length to keep his genetic imperfection hidden.

Andrew Niccol has written and directed “Gattaca”. The film is a combination of science fiction, drama and thriller. Science fiction, because the story takes place in a dystopian future and thus not because of space battles. It’s about a future society, where people can have the perfect child through genetic engineering. All traits can be carefully chosen and, in addition, all genetically determined diseases are gone. However, the main character Vincent is a normal person who does not have all the advantages that a genetically perfect one does.

The story is well written and has excitement and entertainment in it. The characters come across as believable, including their actions, and they are well explored. The theme about genetic engineering is still relevant today, and therefore the movie has not lost its power so many years after its release.
It seems like a quite simple movie, but Andrew Niccol has added several layers to the story. Without moralizing to much, he shows the consequences of a perfect society and what effect this can have on some people.
Ethan Hawke has always been an actor I like to watch. He manages to convey his character’s struggles well. He is human and vulnerable, which in in contrast to the perfect people that populate the world around him. Jude Law’s character Jerome is genetically perfect who despite this fact, still did not find happiness. His performance is also convincing. Uma Thurman, although strong as well, plays Vincent’s love interest, but her character isn’t as developed as the aforementioned Vincent and Jerome.

The atmosphere of the film is sterile and cold, a perfect setting to create the right mood for this film. This all makes “Gattaca” a very interesting film with a captivating story. The combinations of genres works well and the world building and set design are really good. Highly recommended when you enjoy movies about dystopian and future societies.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

90s Movie Review - Pulp Fiction

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Genre: Crime/ Drama
Runtime: 154 minutes
Year: 1994
Starring: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth, Bruce Willis, Amanda Plummer, Rosanna Arquette, Ving Rhames, Eric Stoltz

Description: The lives of two mob hitman (Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta), a boxer (Bruce Willis), a gangster (Ving Rhames) and his wife (Uma Thurman), and a pair of diner bandits (Amanda Plummer, Tim Roth) intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.

Review: It is difficult to summarize Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” I a few words. The story consist of several synchronous narratives that intersect and influence each other in bizarre ways. Looking at each of the storylines, it is safe to say that each of them is not exceptional. But the genius of this film lies not so much in the storylines, the strength lies in the dialogues that the characters have among themselves giving these characters a wonderful depth. Because of this, “Pulp Fiction” is an exceptional film that continues to captivate time and time again. Most say it’s Tarantino’s best film to date.
I think it is safe to sage that “Pulp Fiction” is in fact one of the best films of the 1990s. It was director Tarantino’s second film, after the phenomenal directorial debut “Reservoir Dogs” (which is my Tarantino favorite). With that he proves he wasn’t a one-hit wonder. The film is packed with pop-culture references, great acting and dialogues. It’s a movie like a lot of good music, the more times you undergo is, the better it gets.
Now, the dialogues are one of Tarantino’s characteristics. They are often about daily things, things that have nothing to do with the scene. But they always amaze you.
“Pulp Fiction” got an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, which was well-deserved. It is one of the best film ever made, not just by Tarantino, in general.

Rating: 5 / 5

80s Movie Review - Dangerous Liaisons

Director: Stephen Frears
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 119 minutes
Year: 1988
Starring: John Malkovich, Glenn Close, Michelle Pfeiffer, Swoosie Kurtz, Uma Thurman, Keanu Reeves, Peter Capaldi

Description: A scheming widow (Glenn Close) and her manipulative ex-lover (John Malkovich) make a bet regarding the corruption of a recently married woman (Michelle Pfeiffer)

Review: France, just before the revolution. To take revenge on an old flame, Marquise de Merteuil asks Vicomte de Valmont if he wants to seduce the innocent new fiancée of her ex-lover. If Valmont provides written proof of her conquest, he receives a reward. Valmont agrees, but has actually set his sights on the chaste Madame de Tourvel.
“Dangerous Liaisons” is a film based on the play by Christopher Hamtons, “Les liaisons dangereuses”, which was based on the novel by Choderlos de Laclos from 1782.
The film is stylish, seductive, clever and incredible entertaining. And the cast is fantastic. We see a very young Uma Thurman and Keanu Reeves. But Michelle Pfeiffer shines in her role as Madame de Tourvel. John Malkovich plays the manipulative Valmont, in an excellent way. But it’s Glenn Close, in one of her most vicious roles to date, that steals the show. Every scene she is in, belongs to her.
A film filled with intrigue, deceit and manipulation, all set in in 18th century France. With a really strong cast this film makes for an entertaining movie night.

Rating: 4/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Movie Moms

Sunday is Mother’s Day and I thought it would be fun to share the best movie moms with you. Here are my favorite mothers in movies (not necessarily good moms, but very iconic).

5. Jules & Nic (Julianne Moore and Annette Bening in “The Kids Are All Right”)
Two moms, lesbian moms, who have two kids together. Super cool. One relaxed and a younger soul, the other serious and strict.

4. Mom (Kathleen Turner in “Serial Mom”)
Probably the worst mom to have, because whenever you do something to her kids or family, she will kill you. Literally!

3. Rosemary Penderghast (Patricia Clarkson in “Easy A”)
For me, Rosemary Pendergast is iconic, because of her parenting style. She is modern, hip, sometimes a bit awkward yet a chill mom to have.

2. The Bride/ Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman in “Kill Bill Vol.2”)
Thinking her daughter has died, after she was in a coma for four years, motherhood eventually comes natural to her when Bride first meets her daughter Bebe.

1. Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton in “Terminator 2: Judgment Day”)
Sarah Connor is traumatized by something nobody believes really happened. She is estranged from her son John, who brings her right back into that nightmare she once fled. But this time the Terminator is here to help Sarah. And Sarah does everything to save her son.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Betty Mahmoody (Sally Field in “Not Without My Daughter”), Helen Parr/ Elastigirl (Holly Hunter in “The Incredibles”), Eva Khatchadourian (Tilda Swinton in “We Need to Talk About Kevin”), Sophie (Meryl Streep in “Sophie’s Choice”)

Top 5 Thursday: Badass Female Movie Characters

I always love a strong female character, especially when they are really badass. Here I will be counting down the most badass female movie characters.

5. Black Widow (“Iron Man 2”, “The Avengers”, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”, “Avengers: Age of Ultron”)

Black Widow, aka Natasha Romanoff, is a woman who stands strong in a man’s world. And she is very badass, who can easily keep up with her male co-workers.

 

 

4. Katniss Everdeen (“The Hunger Games”, “Catching Fire: The Hunger Games”, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1”)

Katniss is forced into a world of violence, but no one thought she would fight back. Katniss is a force to be reckoned with and someone who would do everything for the people she loves.

 

 

3. Sarah Connor (“The Terminator”, “Terminator 2: Judgment Day”)

From a student wanting to make it through college, to a strong woman fighting for survival. That’s the story of Sarah Connor’s life. She has seen it all, the good and the bad. One thing is sure, you don’t want to be on Sarah Connor’s bad side.

 

 

2. Ellen Ripley (“Alien”, “Aliens”, “Alien 3”)

Ripley is one of the best heroes in movie history and she helped transform the identity of an entire genre of film. Ripley expresses no fear in times of chaos.

 

 

1. The Bride (“Kill Bill: Vol. 1”, “Kill Bill: Vol. 2”)

Revenge is always personal. This is also the case with Beatrice Kiddo, aka The Bride. When everyone is killed at her wedding and she ends up in a four year coma, all she wants is revenge when she wakes up. The Bride is a woman you really don’t want to mess with.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Rita Vratanski (“Edge of Tomorrow”), Hit Girl (“Kick-Ass”)

In the Picture: The Characters from "Kill Bill: Vol. 1+2"

Out of the two movies, the second one is actually in my top 10 of all-time favorites. The first one didn't make it, but is still very good. There are a lot of interesting characters in those movies, so I decided to take a look at them a little bit better,

Beatrix Kiddo aka Black Mamba aka The Bride
Played by: Uma Thurman
The Bride abandons her life as a hired assassin after finding out she's pregnant. She knows Bill is the father, but she doesn't want him to be a part of her baby's life. After the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad tried to kill her and murdered all the people at her wedding, she's determined to get revenge. She doesn't rest untill her final goal is reached, to kill all the squad members, especially Bill.

Bill aka Snake Charmer
Played by: David Carradine
He's the founder an leader of the squad. Bill is a man most people bow for and listen to, he has a natural sort of power over them. He is a cold killer, but he doesn't want to just murder people. Bill has class and he wants his opponents to die with class.

O-Ren Ishii aka Cottonmouth
Played by: Lucy Liu
O-Ren saw her parents brutally murdered when she was a little girl. That experience made her to the woman she is now. She's an excellent sniper and sword fighting is her expertise. O-Ren is very proud of her heritage and doesn't like it when people mess with it.

Vernita Green aka Copperhead
Played by: Vivica A. Fox
Vernita is specialized in hand-to-hand fighting and excellent with a knife. After taking part at the 'Two Pines Wedding Chapel Massacre' she is living a normal live under the alias of Jeanie Bell and has a daughter. Although she hates the Bride, and vice versa, the two have mutual respect for each others qualities.

Elle Driver aka California Mountain Snake
Played by: Daryl Hannah
Elle is also an excellent swordswoman. She's Bill's mistress and the only person she listens to. Elle and The Bride have always despized each other, even before the events at the Two Pines Wedding Chapel. Elle isn't always fair in her fights. The only thing that matters to her is winning it and making Bill a happy man.

Bud aka Sidewinder
Played by: Michael Madsen
He's Bill's degenerated brother and the only man other man in the squad. He lives in a mobile home, is an alcoholic and works as a bouncer in a strip club nobody visits. He is the only one to have single handedly defeated the bride and eventually he burried her alive. She got out of her grave and wasn't dead, but Bud didn't end up alive. It was Elle who killed Bud.

Favorite Character: The Bride