11/17/98 Video Releases Fire Passion in the Desert TwentyFourSeven A Bright Shining Lie Can't Hardly Wait Dirty Work Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas More Tales of the City Operation Condor 2: Armour of the Gods (which is actually 1986's 'Armour of God') Any of these worth renting at the video store?

Haven't seen any of those, Terry. BUT...yesterday I rented and watched "The Opposite of Sex", starring Christina Ricci, and Lisa Kudrow. I highly recommend this funny, warm, insightful, and memorable film!

I hear that Dangerous Beauty is "absolutely gorgeous, sexual, sex-positive, engrossing . . . and a true story too." Anyone heard of this film, it's not even listed in XL this week.

I want to see both of those!! Where is Jim??

I'd really like to hear Jim comment on Dangerous Beauty. Where is that boy when we need him?

I saw Dangerous Beauty in a theatre. It is indeed sumptuous, provocated, beautifully acted, and based on a true story. I read somewhere, however that the filmmakers took many liberties with history for the sake of drama. Can't fault them for that, really. Rufus Sewell fans should be in 7th heaven.

I thought that movie was about Charlotte. And it actually took place way in the past, you say? And it's not quite accurate history-wise? Well, the title sure is on the mark. I hate to see movies twice, but this time I may need to.

*grin* What a sweetie. We missed you, Jim! And thanks for the lovely thought. Not the same as talking about me over breakfast with Kevin, but almost as exciting.

11/24 Video Releases Bang Little Boy Blue Other Side of Sunday Phoenix Dr. Dolittle

12/1 Video Releases Go Now Sliding Doors Almost Heroes The Mask of Zorro Land Before Time VI Last Seduction 2 (Really! Straight to video, starring Joan Severance)

La Promesse Lawn Dogs Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (the Monty Python 'Wind in the Willows,' renamed for video) The Parent Trap Six Days, Seven Nights Sour Grapes Yep, La Promesse! Anyone seen it?

Those were the 12/8 releases, forgot to mention that.

The only one of that last batch I saw was--yep, you guessed it--"Parent Trap."

I couldn't guess it....I tried for 53 solid seconds. But that's the one I always get caught on. And I'm not even a parent. (pretty apparent, though, isn't it)

Jim--you gonna be in PA over Christmas??

I'm gonna get on the PA and speak occasionally to the whole state at once about mistletoeing with the right one while they ride flying reindeers under that particular plant with the thick leaves and berries. Last year I talked to them about "Jack Frost", a whole year before the movie came out.

Well someone has to talk about the dangers of flying low.

"Diary of a Seducer" (not rated) starring Chiara Mastroianni and Melvil Poupaud; directed by Daniele Dubroux http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1572521953/thespring This French film of obsessive love--which takes its title from a book by Soren Kierkegaard--delves into a complicated tangle of philosophy, psychoanalysis, and romance. Available January 26.

"Schizopolis" (not rated) starring Steven Soderbergh, Betsy Brantley, and David Jensen; directed by Steven Soderbergh http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1572521481/thespring (widescreen) From the director of "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" comes this surreal and experimental film that defies brief description. You might call it an avant-garde look at religion, romance, and the nature of language. Available January 26. "Fanny and Alexander" (R) starring Pernilla Allwin and Bertil Guve; directed by Ingmar Bergman http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0792840240/thespring Admirers of Bergman's film have been awaiting this rerelease for a long time. "Fanny and Alexander," an autobiographical story set in Sweden at the beginning of the 20th century, is probably the most accessible and magical of Bergman's oeuvre. Available March 2.

1/5/99 Video Releases Disturbing Behavior How Stella Got Her Groove Back Out of Sight Big week this week. 1/12/99 Video Releases Dance With Me 54 Henry Fool Hi-Life Pi The Truman Show Wilde

I want to see "Henry Fool."

was it charlotte that gave it such a glowing review? (I know, iknow, what in the hell am I doing in this topic?)

(my thoughts exactly!!!)

No, it wasn't me. It was somebody else. I'm on the list of those anxious to see it! :)

It was Jim, I think.

1/19/99 Video Releases Buffalo '66 Fireworks Love and Death on Long Island Mafia! The Only Thrill Return to Paradise Slums of Beverly Hills Smoke Signals

I want to see "Love & Death on L.I." This week I saw "Clockwatchers", which is a would-be film noir about the tedium of office work as seen through the eyes of a temp, and "Wings of the Dove," which started out great and then kind of petered out.

1/26/99 Video Releases Cube Kurt and Courtney Marie Baie des Anges Rush Hour Whatever

Marie Baie des Anges? Foreign film, I assume. Anyone seen this one? (Jim?)

Hadn't heard of it either. But I prefer to think that James Berardinelli has. Maybe, though, he writes his reviews first and then goes to see the movie to see if it checks out to be what he thought it would be: Marie Baie des Anges A Film Review by James Berardinelli France, 1997 U.S. Release Date: beginning 6/19/98 (limited) Running Length: 1:30 MPAA Classification: R (Violence, sexuality, profanity) Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Cast: Vahina Giocante, Frederic Malgras Director: Manuel Pradal Producer: Philippe Rousselet Screenplay: Manuel Pradal Cinematography: Christophe Pollock Music: Carlo Crivelli U.S. Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics In French with subtitles Some films use a strong narrative to explore themes. Others utilize detailed character development for the same purpose. More rare are movies like Marie Baie des Anges, which attempts to use images and atmosphere to convey emotions and advance the plot. This is the kind of motion picture that will frustrate anyone who looks for a solid storyline, but may fascinate viewers who aren't bothered by this reliance upon the compelling power of well-photographed visuals. In other words, only art house audiences need bother. Marie Baie des Anges is slow moving but hypnotic, and always pretty to look at even when the story strays into the realm of the improbable and the incomprehensible. The film stars the alluring and sensual Vahina Giocante as Marie, a 15 year-old girl who spends her summer wandering the beaches in the South of France. Using her undeniable charms to enflame the libidos of several American soldiers (all portrayed as unflattering caricatures), she enjoys their attention as they take her to nightclubs and ply her with champagne. When she is around them, she feels like a queen. But Marie is a tease, and the GIs soon tire of her. In parallel with Marie's story, the film introduces us to 17 year-old Orso (Frederic Malgras), an outsider who is also spending his summer on the French Riviera. Like Marie, Orso does not feel bound by the conventions of society, but his rebellion manifests itself in violence and lawlessness. Orso is easily one of the most dangerous and uninhibited boys roaming the beaches. Ultimately, he and Marie meet, and, although their initial encounter is unfriendly, they soon find themselves attracted to each other, and embark on a journey to an island paradise. However, reality intrudes. Manuel Pradal, making his directorial debut, treats the film as if it is a canvas, juxtaposing images of incredible sensuality, amazing beauty, and graphic violence. In this movie, a picture is indeed worth a thousand words. The film shows how somewhere as beautiful as the Riviera (and the "Baie des Anges" in particular) can conceal great pain and misfortune. Every shot is carefully selected to emphasize the director's vision of how this Eden is a place of contradictions. By carefully choosing the times of day when the lighting is just right, Pradal and cinematographer Christophe Pollock have sought to recreate the Riviera captured in the paintings of Matisse. For Marie Baie des Anges, Pradal has assembled a cast of newcomers and screen neophytes, many of whom came from poor backgrounds. The two leads, Vahina Giocante and Frederic Malgras, have charisma, although Malgras occasionally shows his lack of acting experience. Before landing this role, he lived in a caravan of Russian gypsies north of Paris. Giocante, a dancer for the Marseilles Opera, was only 13 when Pradal chose her to play Marie, and she is a true natural. Already, she has been called "the new Bardot" by virtually everyone. In the wake of her stunning debut here, there is little doubt that she will be heard from again. Pradal's attention to visual detail has its pros and cons. On the positive side, it effectively captures the chaos of youth, when girls and boys struggle with intimacy, clumsily learn about the power of sexuality, and feel the sting of rejection. It's not so much love that eventually binds Marie and Orso together, as their unspoken recognition of how much they have in common. Too often, however, Pradal becomes so enraptured with his visual poetry that he lets the thin narrative fragment to the point where it makes no sense. For those willing to endure the frustration engendered by such lapses, Marie Baie des Anges offers a few unconventional pleasures. � 1998 James Berardinelli

Did you post this before you read this or did you just make up this imaginary reviewer as your new psued, leplep? Which is it?

Because of our posting schedule, his post will take place three weeks after we see it.

James Berardinelli is, in my unremarkable opinion, the finest reviewer on the Web, or most any place else. I *always* check his reviews for information on new films, and only very rarely have my on viewpoints differed radically from his. I have only seen him give a perfect score to one film, and that was Schindler's List. James Berardinelli

I will bookmark that one for sure. And how does he stack up the perennial Siskel and Ebert?

Well, for one thing, he keeps nobody around to argue with him. :) Ebert has visited James' site, and commented favorably on it. I find him equally articulate, discerning, knowlegeable. I think you will agree after you visit his site and check out some films that you have already seen. S&E do not post their reviews in readable form, merely audio. I do not have a sound card, so this is useless to me. Even so, I watch S&E each week, and will continue to do so for the film clips, but for thorough, thoughtful reviews, I prefer James. I have been his fan even BEFORE he had a website.

That's too bad Siskel and Ebert don't publish their reviews in text, only audio. I checked out http://www.siskel-ebert.com and couldn't find any written reviews like you said. And I didn't have a sound card in this machine so I had to give up on that site.

Wow, great site, Charlotte--we agreed on 4 out of 5 films I clicked on. That's a pretty good ration! I was getting tired of those smug reviews at http://www.mrshowbiz.com.

Spread the word, Autumn! James is the greatest! Incidentally, which one did you disagree on?

"Trees Lounge." But we were dead-on with the others! It's at the top of my entertainment bookmarks now.

2/9/99 Video Releases Antz Clay Pigeons John Carpenter's Vampires Legionnaire (Van Damme!) Next Stop Wonderland Office Killer Rounders

Rented "Sliding Doors" and "Grosse Pointe Blank" this weekend--both were terrific, especialy GPB. My kind of humor! I haven't laughed so hard in ages.

What kind of humor is that?

(dark?) (i liked grosse pointe blank a lot too)

Wry, dark, clever, a real dry wit--I mean, any film about a hit man going to his High School reunion just has to be a scream! It's on my top ten list now.

2/16/99 Video Releases Beyond Silence Fetishes First Love, Last Rites The Governess A Merry War Snake Eyes This Is the Sea Welcome to the Woop Woop Without Limits

Never heard of any of 'em. Rented "Wag the Dog" for the weeekend.

OK. It's that time again. 2/23/99 Video Releases Digging to China Last Emperor: The Director's Cut Permanent Midnight Ronin Shadrach Urban Legend

Slim pickin's 3/2/99 Video Releases Ever After Slam

3/9/99 Video Releases Dead Man on Campus Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammemeyer Story Slam What Dreams May Come

Hello everybody! I'm collecting home movies on Super8, Normal8 or 16mm FILMS! That's right, not on magnet tape but on genuine reel-to-reel-film. Is there anybody interested in the same thing? Please check http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/read/collecting/24 .

what's out in stores now: Toy Story 2 The Green Mile

9/26/00 Video Releases Black and White * Final Destination The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas * Joe Gould's Secret The Last September Screwed * Waking the Dead Where the Heart Is Center Stage East-West The Skulls Snow Day * U-571 10/10/00 Video Releases Committed * Love and Basketball * Pitch Black Rules of Engagement * Shanghai Noon * Time Code 10/17/00 Video Releases * Keeping the Faith Picking Up the Pieces * Toy Story 2 10/24/00 Video Releases Center Stage * The Patriot * Up at the Villa More Video's I'd like to check out: American Psycho Anna and the King with Jody Foster Bicentennial Man Bob Roberts - I hear this has a tremendous cast. It's got Tim Robbins in Chasing Amy - Ben Affleck Cider House Rules Dangerous Beauty Fight Club From Dusk till Dawn Gun Shy with Sandra Bullock Hanging Up Heat - I hear it's a real character actorfest. Deniro's in it. Hurricane Liberty Heights Lost Highway, David Lynch on the Indie Film Channel Love and Basketball Magnolia Mansfield Park Next Best Thing Ninth Gate Pitch Black - a sf film Prophecy - Christopher Walken horror film. Red Violin Saragossa Manuscript Straight Story Sweet and Lowdown Talented Mr. Ripley The Green Mile Time Code Titus Topsy Turvy, a Mike Leigh movie True Crime Twin Falls, Idaho What Planet are you From?

Of the above, I have only seen three of them. Chasing Amy - HATED it. Very vulgar. Mansfield Park - I really liked it, but Jane Austen would roll over in her grave if she could see what they've done to spice up her novel. Talented Mr. Ripley - Disliked it; Matt Damon's character came off as unwitting and clueless, not malevolent like I believe the author intended. Best rental I've had lately is "Waiting for Guffman", another "documentary" by Christopher Guest (Remember "This is Spinal Tap"?)

Here is a movie to rent, Apartment Zero. We plan to start the AZ discussion on Thursday Nov. 9th at our CF film discussion topic. I hope you will all join us.

Happy Texas should have been on that list, I just saw it and really enjoyed it. About a couple of guys, Jeremy Northam was one, who escaped from prison, faked being gay child beauty pageant managers. It was a fun diversion. I'm going to see Fight Club, when tivo records it in a couple of days. Otherwise I haven't made a dent in the list.

Autumn, have you seen the earlier film adaptation of "The Talented Mr. Ripley"? It's a French film from the early 1960's called "Purple Noon". It's available in both sub-titled and English-dubbed versions. It's the movie which launched Alain Delon as an international star.

No Cheryl, did you enjoy it? I will look for it in the foreign film section and compare the two.

Yes, I did enjoy the film. I saw the sub-titled version in the theater when it was it was re-released about a year and a half ago. Delon is wonderful as Tom Ripley. The director Martin Scorcese admired the film so much he was responsible for the reissuing of a clean, new print.