SAVING GRACE

Theater where viewed: GCC GALLERIA

Rating: 

Brenda Blethyn fans will appreciate this amazing actress' work here, though the role isn't as powerful as the one she nailed in "Secrets and Lies," which garnered her a recent Oscar nomination (you MUST rent that movie if you haven't seen it and you consider yourself a film connoisseur -- she practically blubbers her way through the entire film, in a riveting performance).  Instead, she drapes her considerable talents over this comedic lark of a film, with has elements of light drama.  She portrays an aging, mild-mannered British woman, fresh from her hubby's funeral, who slowly begins to realize that his financial irresponsibility has left her in danger of losing her home.  Recognizing her talent for gardening, she and a friend cultivate (that pun was in honor of Ralf) a plan to raise marijuana plants for profit, in a desperate attempt to stay afloat.  Their lives (and minds), needless to say, will forever be altered in this award winning comedy.  Also starring little-known Craig Ferguson (who headlined the recent "The Big Tease").  A pleasant diversion.

Reviewed by: Arturo
 
 

CATFISH IN BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Theater where viewed: Cinemark Legacy

Rating: 

An antidote to the usual Hollywood fodder (though I must admit I rather enjoy some of their slop -- alright, a lot of it!), this unique film sounds like a heavy melodrama, but a liberal dose of goofy comedy keeps things pleasant enough.  In this comedy/drama, Vietnamese siblings, who through wartime circumstances were eventually adopted years prior by a black American couple (acting greats Paul Winfield and Mary Alice), are thrown into a sea of conflicting emotions when they finally locate their birth mother.  Now adults, they summon her to live with them in America, which forces all involved to re-examine their true feelings and revisit some painful memories.  But the occasional absurdist humor, playing upon the clash of cultures and family position (as well as popular film conventions), keeps things light.  This independent film, an award winner at various film festivals, features an appealing cast of largely unknowns.  Directed/produced/written by talented Chi Muoi Lo, who also has the lead role as the adopted brother.  An original, charming effort.

Reviewed by: Arturo
 
 

THE PATRIOT

Theater where viewed: AMC THE GRAND

Rating: 

Review: One of the year's better films, still hanging around at theaters.  A war veteran and infamous hero (Mel Gibson) is dismayed as the American Revolution unfolds around him, encroaching upon his now peaceful life with his family.  So he is especially upset when he learns that his eldest son wants to enlist and fight for the Colonists, knowing the steep price that war often demands.  And then the British turn extra vicious, which serves to further enrage Mel (Haven't the Redcoats seen any Hollywood movies?! -- DON'T ANGER MEL!!). Features a great cast of solid actor's actors, like Tom Wilkinson ("The Full Monty"), Chris Cooper (should have been nominated for "American Beauty"), Heath Ledger and Joely Richardson.  Though Mel has been down this action drama road before (the classic "Braveheart"), it matters not in this stirring tale.  A fine film. Hurry before it's gone.

Reviewer: Arturo II

THE REPLACEMENTS

Theater where viewed: AMC THE GRAND

Rating: 

Review: C'mon, H-wood!  We deserve much better than this bland, bleached out, beached whale of a movie.  This film represents most of what's wrong with Hollywood product. Trite, formulaic, predictable, sloppy.  Despite Keanu Reeves' presence (I'm not one of his detractors, though he makes occasionally questionable career choices), this comedy/drama about a team hurriedly assembled to replace striking NFL players, presents little entertainment value.  Only diehard Keanu, Gene Hackman, etc., fans need join this losing team.

Reviewer: Nasty Arturo

 
HIGHLANDER: ENDGAME

Theater where viewed: AMC THE GRAND

Rating: 

Review: If ever a series of sequels needed an endgame, with no chance of ever being replayed, I nominate this one.  Despite the classic, inventive, technically brilliant first film of the series (simply titled "Highlander"), each successor has stooped to embarrassing lows. II was merely tolerable, III was one of the decade's worst releases, and now this one, number four, has crested to perhaps a tolerable level.  Maybe not.  Christopher Lambert returns to exact further butchering of English diction in this story of (wait, did it have one?) Highlanders, ancient Immortals who do good deeds for Mankind by lopping off some heads.

Reviewer: Arturo, the Appalled