90s Movie Review - Primal Fear

Director: Gregory Hoblit
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Crime/ Mystery
Runtime: 129 minutes
Year: 1996
Starring: Richard Gere, Edward Norton, Laura Linney, John Mahoney, Alfre Woodard, Frances McDormand, Maura Tierney, Andre Braugher, Terry O’Quinn, Steven Bauer

Description: An alter boy (Edward Norton) is accused of murdering a priest, and the truth is buried several layers deep.

Review: In Chicago, when an archbishop is murdered in cold blood, alter Boy Aaron Stampler is seen fleeing from the scene covered in blood. It’s as clear is day, but lawyer Martin Vail is eager to take on the defense. He likes cases that will generate a lot of media attention. His charming ex Janet is the prosecutor on the case. But it’s a tough job: the stuttering defendant is a wimpy kid, but was covered in blood.

“Primal Fear” is an exciting thriller, not just set in the courtroom. It’s one of Richard Gere’s best roles and Edward Norton’s first. And especially Norton impresses and he gives away an unforgettable performance. Norton deservedly received an Oscar nomination for his supporting role and knowing that Cuba Gooding Jr. won for “Jerry Maguire” that year, I believe Norton should have won it. He has not won an Academy Award to date, Norton is one of the finest actors out there, and already proved that in his first film.

The film has tension and is investing from start to finish. It has some surprising plot twist, midway and at the end, that blew my mind when I first saw it. But it still impacts after a rewatch. A very good thriller.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Almost Famous

Director: Cameron Crowe
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 122 minutes
Year: 2000
Starring: Patrick Fugit, Billy Crudup, Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand, Jason Lee, Zooey Deschanel, Anna Paquin, Fairuza Balk, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bijou Philips, Jimmy Fallon

Description: A high school boy (Patrick Fugit) in the early 1970s is given the chance to write a story for Rollin Stone magazine about an up-and-coming rock band as he accompanies them on their concert tour.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 49: A MOVIE ABOUT A MUSICIAN
 
Review: It’s 1973. Fifteen-year-old William Miller lives in San Diego and dreams of becoming the best rock journalist ever. His great love of music was born from a collection of records his sister left him four years earlier when she left home. William writes articles for local magazines and also sends them to a rock and roll magazine. The editor of this magazine, Lester Bangs, is in San Diego and William seeks him out. He manages to get an assignment from Lester to write about Black Sabbath who are performing in San Diego. When William is trying to get in, he meets a few groupies, including the mysterious Penny Lane. Moments later, Stillwater’s band members arrive. Partly because of his contact with Penny, William gets in touch with this band, who actually, because he is a journalist, consider him the enemy.

Some time later, William is approached by Rolling Stone Magazine, to write an extensive tour report of Stillwater. And so William, leaving behind a very distressed mother, travels with the band along with Penny.

“Almost Famous” a good film about music. The film describes director Cameron Crowe’s own life as a rock journalist and he says that this film is a love letter to music. Even though the film isn’t very realistic, it does have many layers. The search for success and happiness, the loss of youthful innocence, it’s about love and passion.  

“Almost Famous” is considered to be one of the best film of 2000. I personally wouldn’t go that far, but it’s strong enough to be memorable.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

90s Movie Review - Fargo

Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Genre: Drama/Comedy/ Crime
Runtime: 90 minutes
Year: 1996
Starring: France McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare, John Carroll Lynch

Description: The lives of guards on Death Row are affected by one of their charges: a black man accused of child murder and rape, yet who has a mysterious gift.

Review: “Fargo” is one of many wonderful films by the Coen brothers, Joel and Ethan. This was actually their big break in Hollywood.
An abduction is the base of “Fargo”. Off course this abduction doesn’t go according to plan. Jerry Lundegaard wants two men to kidnap his wife, so he can get money from his father in law. But both Jerry and abductors Carl and Gaear have problems and the plan goes horribly wrong. Small town cop Marge Gunderson, who is very pregnant, investigates the case. This role is brilliantly played by Frances McDormand, who made Marge into a character you just can’t dislike. And one of my favorite female movie characters.
The Coen brothers know how to create original characters like no other and manage to surprise us with their plot twists. In “Fargo” that’s a plus, as well as the great casting. Besides Frances McDormand there is also William H. Macy as Jerry. This is a role written for Macy, no other actor could have done it. And then the criminal duo, played by Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare. These idiots are brilliant! Every actor in this movie just belonged there.
The setting is also great. Camera man Roger Deakins captured the icey cold North Dakota very well.
“Fargo” is without a doubt my favorite movie by the Coen brothers and one of my all-time favorite films. A definite must see.

Rating: 5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Burn After Reading

Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 96 minutes
Year: 2008
Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, John Malkovich, Richard Jenkins, J.K. Simmons

Description: A disk containing mysterious information from a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous and daft gym employees (Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand) who attempt to sell it.

Review: “Burn After Reading” is a comedy from the Coen Brothers that is unpredictable, has a sharp sense of language and characters that will stay with you.
Linda Litzke is an employee of a fitness club who is desperately seeking funding for the plastic surgery she deems indispensable. Her co-worker Chad Feldheimer is all sunshine: a dorky guy who thinks he’s smart, a sports fanatic with a penchant for the word shit. Then there is the fired, alcoholic CIA agent Osbourne Cox, his ice-cold wife, and the sex-obsessed Harry Pfarrer, who sleeps with just about every female character.  
Basically, the plot is simple: Osbourne Cox loses a copy of his memoir. Linda and Chad mistake it for top secret information and try to get something for it, any way they can. But of course, all sorts of things go wrong, the entanglements become increasingly complicated and surreal, and no one, not even the CIA, has a clue what’s actually happening.
“Burn After Reading” is populated with stupid, selfish people, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any affection for them. And while doesn’t have a clear moral message, it is a film where moral issues come up. A film that seems a bit superficial, but has much more to say about it than you might think. You could even call it a satire.  
But more important than deeper layers and meanings, of course, with a comedy is always: it it funny? The answer is yes, but those expecting one thigh-slapping joke after another will be disappointed. This is partly because the film is filmed fairly straightforwardly. And it’s more the characters and their actions that are funny. A movie by the Coen Brothers that is very overlooked.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Review - The French Dispatch

Director: Wes Anderson
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 108 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Léa Seydoux, Timothée Chalamet, Christoph Waltz, Saoirse Ronan, Jeffrey Writgh, Anjelica Huston, Adrien Brody, Edward Norton, Willem Dafoe, Tilda Swinton, Elisabeth moss, Benicio Del Toro, Rupert Friend, Frances McDormand, Liev Schreiber, Henry Winkler, Jason Schwartzman, Mathieu Amalric, Bob Balaban

Description: A love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional twentieth century French city that brings to life a collection of stories published in “The French Dispatch Magazine”.

Review: Wes Anderson’s exuberant cinematic world I immediately recognizable to any film lover. With symmetrical compositions, use of color palettes, and ensemble of top actors and extremely detailed sets, Anderson brings somewhat melancholy stories to life in a comical way. This is no different in “The French Dispatch”, with the difference that with even more detail is has become an extremely enjoyable maze of stories and sets. With his latest film, Wes Anderson manages to make at least three full-length feature films in less than two hours. “The French Dispatch” contains an unprecedented wealth of references, styles, locations, details and fun.
With his new film, Anderson simultaneously pays tribute to The New Yorker magazine and his hometown of Paris. In the fictional town of Ennui-sur-Blasé, the editorial staff of The French Dispatch magazine is followed. The film takes the structure of one of the magazine’s issues and the delves into several stories. This magazine contains and obituary, a travel story, and three longer main articles. These articles tell of a student uprising, a painter in prison, and a culinary reviewer who goes to a police station to taste chef Nescaffier’s food.
In “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, Wes Anderson already worked successfully with frame narratives. Once again, the various narrative perspectives flow freely through each other. Yet the whole remains an extremely coherent story. Scenes follow one another at a fast pace, without ever running out of steam. All of these different storylines are also full of humor and extremely interesting stylistic choices.
Everything seems possible again in Anderson’s world. For example, there is a chase scene that takes place entirely in an animation style. In “The Grand Budapest Hotel” there was already a chase made in stop-motion. This break in style does not detract from the film at all. This animation is yet another fantastically thought-out ingredient in this mishmash of influences and styles.  
Wes Anderson not only creates a labyrinth with a multitude of styles and storylines. The sets are also more of a maze than ever. When culinary reporter Roebucj Wright arrives at the police station, it consist of an incredible number of rooms. The camera follows Roebuck through all these rooms with their own identity. In half a minute countless details pass by.
“The French Dispatch” is a declaration of love to cinema from which the passion for the medium shines. It contains everything that makes film such a fantastic art form: complex storylines, a unique visual style and a constant play with light, color, movement and sound. “The French Dispatch” is yet another highlight in Wes Anderson’s already impressive oeuvre and an outstanding form of cinema.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Friends with Money

Director: Nicole Holofcener
Genre: Drama/ Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 84 minutes
Year: 2006
Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Catherine Keener, Frances McDormand, Joan Cusack, Simon McBurney, Jason Isaacs, Timm Sharp, Greg Germann, Scott Caan, Bob Stephenson, Marin Hinkle, Romy Rosemont, Ty Burell

Description: After she quits her lucrative job, Olivia (Jennifer Aniston) finds herself unsure about her future and het relationship with her successful and wealthy friends.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2021 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 8: A MOVIE SHORTER THEN 90 MINUTES

Review: The four friends Olivia, Jane, Christine and Franny live on the west coast of America. As they approach a certain age, things begin to happen that upset the balance of their lives. Unlike single Olive, married Jane, Christine and Franny lead affluent lives in expensive homes. Olivia has quit her job as a teacher and now works as a housekeeper. She seeks help, both financial and emotional, from her friends and meanwhile always remains in search of a purpose in her life.
Christine and her husband a both screenwriters and in the middle of a major renovation of their house. They are building a storey on top of their house, so that they can better enjoy their view. This to the dismay of their neighbors. Jane is a successful fashion designer, but nowadays not her fashionable herself. Not washing her hair, being grumpy and mad at everyone and everything. And Franny doesn’t have to work a day in her life because she has so much money, and feels like motherhood is all she needs. Meanwhile, the girls all think that Jane’s husband is gay and Franny sets Olivia up with her personal trainer, who turns out to be a dick.
I always enjoy a film like this, with multiple storylines. And although it has a cast full of A-listers, the story itself is a bit dull. Yes, it’s everyday problems in everyday lives, but I’m missing the conflict. You know already where everything is leading, so the element of surprise is completely gone.
I do like all the actors in this film, and that alone is still reason enough to watch “Friends with Money”.

Rating: 3/ 5

80s Movie Review - Mississippi Burning

Director: Alan Parker
Genre: Thriller/ Crime/ Drama
Runtime: 128 minutes
Year: 1988
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Gene Hackman, Frances McDormand, Brad Dourif, Michael Rooker, R. Lee Emry, Stephen Tobolowsky, Kevin Dunn

Description: Two F.B.I. Agents (Willem Dafoe, Gene Hackman) with wildly different styles arrive in Mississippi to investigate the disappearance of some civil rights activists.

Review: Mississippi, 1964. Three civil rights activists are horribly murdered. Reason enough for investigation. Two FBI agents, the young Ward and the more experienced Anderson, soon find that they are not welcome in the town. The more evidence that comes to light, the more houses are set on fire as a warning.
The film begins one evening in the state of Mississippi. Two Jewish men and one African America man are in a car together, when they are pulled over by a group of men, members of the Ku Klux Clan. Since there is a cop car nearby, they decide to stop. But they have no intention of helping them. The three men are killed.
The FBI is called in to track down the three missing men. Ward and Anderson are from the North and are not used to the ways in Mississippi. The find out that there is a definite racial difference there. African Americans are looked down upon, are seated in a separate area in restaurants and get worse facilities compared to white people.
Ward and Anderson increasingly feel they are not welcome. The people there feel that they should leave and the rest of the country is just jealous that there is still such a racial disparity here. The people of Mississippi are very proud of their way of dealing with African American citizens.
It still amazes me how people could treat other people like this. And how topical many of the issues in “Mississippi Burning” still are. It’s a very strong movie, great performances by the cast and a story that really captivates you.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Reviews - Isle of Dogs

Director: Wes Anderson
Genre: Animation/ Adventure
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Bob Balaban, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Greta Gerwig, Frances McDormand, Scarlett Johansson, Harvey Keitel, F. Murray Abraham, Tilda Swinton, Yoko Ono, Ken Watanabe, Fisher Stevens, Liev Shreiber, Courtney B. Vance, Angelica Huston

Description: Set in Japan, Isle of Dogs follows a boy's odyssey in search of his lost dog.

Review: Wes Anderson is a unique filmmaker. One we can’t compare to any other filmmaker in Hollywood. He shines with his humor, mix of arthouse and commercial cinema. That last is because of all the great actors and actresses he always manages to get. Anderson already proofed with “Fantastic Mr. Fox”, that stop-motion is right up his alley. And “Isle of Dogs” is another one of his masterpieces.
All Japanese vocals are translated by a translator, computer or exchange student. This is what we see at the start of “Isle of Dogs”. The barking of the dogs is indeed English. And it’s true. A lot of Japanese. And not all is translated, but that’s not necessary. The most important tale is told by the animals.
Dogs had to fight for their position in Japan for ages. But in the fictional metropole Megasaki, the four legged friends are no longer welcome. A dog virus broke out and mayor Kobayasho orders to send all the dogs to a trash island. The dogs try to make it their own place. But their peace is disturbed when Atari, the mayor’s nephew, crashes onto the island while looking for his dog Spots.
It’s clear Wes Anderson is not a big fan of 3D. All the dogs are almost always seen in a frontal position, from the side or from above. I love his style, it has charm and it’s never too much. You are amazed by everything without losing your focus of the story.
“Isle of Dogs” is a modern fable about (literally) and underdog that tries to better the situation with unity, wit and humor. Wes Anderson has done it again!

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Reviews - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Director: Martin McDonagh
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 115 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Caleb Landry Jones, John Hawkes, Peter Dinklage, Lucas Hedges, Abbie Cornish

Description: A mother (Frances McDormand) personally challenges the local authorities to solve her daughter's murder when they fail to catch the culprit.

Review: “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” is a strong film, with an original screenplay and lots of unpredictability. Frances McDormand plays, as a broken and fighting mother, the role of her life.
I’m glad we finally got another monumental film, that is not mainly leaning on pretty pictures to decorate the story and a soundtrack to keep the pace. If this film doesn’t win any awards for best screenplay, leading lady and supporting actor, I don’t know what the hell is wrong with Hollywood.
When it looks like you’re dealing with a simple story, but it turns out to be a realistic drama with dark humor. Director and writer Martin McDonagh, who already brought us two very brilliant films “In Bruges” and “Seven Psychopaths”, shows us how this is done.
We follow mother Mildred Hayes, who lost her daughter who was raped and murdered. Because she believes the local authorities are failing her, she rents three billboards. On those billboards she puts the following messages: ‘Raped while dying’, ‘And still no arrests?’, ‘How come Chief Willoughby?’.
This provocative message becomes the talk of the town. Chief Willoughby, played by Woody Harrelson, is personally attacked. But he also has his own problems, because he is facing terminal cancer. Beside him there is Jason Dixon, portrayed by Sam Rockwell, the racist, alcoholic ‘bad cop’ with a dominant mother.
Frances McDormand plays the best role to date. And she has her fair share of memorable performances. But my favorite was Sam Rockwell. What a performance!
“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” will definitely end up on my favorites list at the end of 2018. Fantastic film!

Rating: 5 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 71: Short Cuts

Director: Robert Altman
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 187 minutes
Year: 1993
Starring: Andie MacDowell, Bruce Davison, Jack Lemon, Julianne Moore, Matthew Modine, Fred Ward, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Chris Penn, Tim Robbins, Lili Taylor, Robert Downey Jr., Madeleine Stowe, Lily Tomlin, Frances McDormand, Tom Waits, Lyle Lovett, Lori Singer, Anne Archer

Description: The day-to-day lives of a number of suburban Los Angeles residents.

Review: I always like films with multiple storylines. So I was excited to finally see ‘Short Cuts”, where we follow a bunch of Los Angeles suburban residents.
Suburban life in “Short Cuts” is anything but ordinary and perfect: adultery, suicide, loveless marriages, alcoholism. Long live the nineties.
The storylines are all basically about relationships stuck in their day to day life. The storylines wouldn’t be interesting on their own, together they work a bit better. But still not so much to keep me interested for the entire runtime. Because that for me is the biggest problem. The film is 187 minutes long, way too long for a film like this.
I get why people might like this film, but I’m not a big fan of the film. I found it pretty mediocre, not compelling, it just didn’t interest me. Later movies with themes like this, like “American Beauty” and “Magnolia” are much better.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 145: Hail, Caesar!

Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Genre: Comedy/ Drama/ Musical
Runtime: 106 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Ralph Fiennes, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Channing Tatum, Frances McDormand, Jonah Hill, Alison Pill, David Krumholtz, Wayne Knight, Patrick Fischler, Clancy Brown

Description: A Hollywood fixer (Josh Brolin) in the 1950s works to keep the studio's stars in line.

Review: Hollywood in the 1950s. That’s wat the Coen Brothers are focusing on in “Hail, Caesar!” It critizises, parodies and is also nostalgic about it. It was a time where actors starred in movies where they didn’t necessarily want to star in.
The film is funny and looks stylish. But the context doesn’t really support it. The central story is about fixer Eddie Mannix. He has to keep all his stars in control. Like a stubborn swim film actress who got pregnant. Or a western actor who can not act, who has to be part of a serious British drama film. But Mannix’ biggest problem is the kidnapping of big star Baird Whitlock. The popular actor is taken during the filming of Hail, Caesar!
“Hail, Caesar!” isn’t the sharp comedy it was supposed to be. The cast is probably the best part of the fim. Besides Josh Brolin as Mannix, there is no big part. All the others are supporting roles, which make the cartoonish characters work.
Not one of the Coen Brothers’ best work, I expecte a lot more.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 57: The Good Dinosaur

Director: Peter Sohn
Genre: Animation/ Adventure/ Comedy/ Fantasy
Runtime: 100 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Raymond Ochoa, Jeffrey Wright, Steve Zahn, A.J. Buckley, Anna Paquin, Sam Elliott, Jack Bright, Frances McDormand, Maleah Nipay-Padilla, Ryan Teeple, Jack McGraw, Marcus Scribner, Peter Sohn, Mandy Freund, Steven Clay Hunter, David Boat, Carrie Paff, Calum Grant, John Ratzenberger

Description: In a world where dinosaurs and humans live side-by-side, an Apatosaurus named Arlo (Raymond Ochoa) makes an unlikely human friend.

Review: After “Inside Out”, “The Good Dinosaur” was the second Disney Pixar film that came out in 2015. In this animation shows us the “what-if” scenario, what would have happened if the dinosaurs lived together with humans.
We meet Apatosaurus Arlo, the third child of a farminf dinosaur family. Arlo is a small, scared dinosaur. His big brother is fearless and tough and his sister is self assured and confident. Everything Arlo isn’t. When Arlo’s father wants to teach him a wise life lesson, he dad dies. When later Arlo gets lost and is far away from his family, he has to survive by himself and overcome his fears. He finds an unlikely friend in a young human boy, who he names Spot.
Director Peter Sohn and his team decided to make the dinosaurs in this animation not as realistic. It works. The surroundings on the ither hand look stunning and very life like. The story isn’t as original as we are used to from Pixar, but it’s an enjoyable film takes gives us a lot of entertainment when we travel from point A to B. The film is touching ad funny.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 64: Promised Land

Director: Gus van Sant

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 106 minutes

Year: 2012

Starring: Matt Damon, Frances McDormand, John Krasinski, Rosemarie DeWitt, Scoot McNairy, Titus Welliver, Hal Holbrook

Description: A salesman (Matt Damon) for a natural gas company experiences life-changing events after arriving in a small town, where his corporation wants to tap into the available resources.

Review: The story follows Steve Butler and Sue Thomason who travel to a small town in Pennsylvania, on behalf of oil company Global. There is gas under that ground and with the use of fracking they want to get it out. Steve and Sue are trying to convince the locals that they can earn a lot of money when Global can drill there. But when environmentalist Dustin shows up, it changes everything.

“Promised Land” is mostly about the dilemma environment or money? With that given, it’s hard to find the main characters, Steve and Sue, likeable. It’s easier to get on Dustin’s side. It’s not clear which side the director wants you to be on.

The movie is an entertaining light drama, but it isn’t original. I did like Matt Damon, Frances McDormand and John Krasinski in their roles. It’s especially fun to see a different side from Krasinski.

It was an okay movie, until we got to the end. That ruined it for me. It was anything but satisfying. With that, it makes “Promised Land” and easily forgettable film, but not at all bad. Sad, because it had more potential.

Rating: 2,5 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 17: Moonrise Kingdom

Director: Wes Anderson
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 93 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, Jason Schwartzman, Harvey Keitel, Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward

Description: Set on an island off the coast of New England in the 1960s, as a young boy and girl fall in love they are moved to run away together. Various factions of the town mobilize to search for them and the town is turned upside down.

Review: Problematic families, impossible loves, existential voids; those are known themes for director Wes Anderson. The obstinate Anderson makes movies you either love or hate. “Moonrise Kingdom” is a distinctive film, especially the wonderful world he has created and he takes the viewers on a magical journey.
The leading roles are for the very young Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward, who decide to run away together after exchanging mail. Their roles are very mature and the performances are very solid. But that’s the key ingredients: kids who act like adults and adult who simply don’t want to grow up. The film has quirky characters, a bit of dry humor but also a touch of emotion. “Moonrise Kingdom” is the ‘sweetest’ film Anderson has made so far. That all has to do with the young lovers, but there’s more. Like Bruce Willis’ character, who has something touching because he’s not a too smart sheriff with good intensions. And Edward Norton, who’s constantly a bit nervous.
For me Wes Anderson movies are always a joy to watch. Just the detailed décor and the witty, sweet and quirky characters and humor alone makes it a great movie experience. It’s certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, but fans have enough to look forward to.

Rating: 4,5/ 5