sex, lies, and videotape (1989) - "A sexually repressed woman's husband is having an affair with her sister. The arrival of a visitor with a rather unusual fetish changes everything."I watched it because: I've seen it several times before (including at the theater when it first came out). I get something different out of it each time, depending on what else is happening in my life.
story: 4/5
visuals: 5/5
acting: 5/5--standouts: Graham is James Spader's sexiest, creepiest, most wonderful role, and Peter Gallagher is terrific as the morally ambivalent John
intangibles: 5/5--there is so much about this movie to love: the plant gifts, the wardrobe choices, the camera angles!
overall: 4.75/5
I watched it because: I've seen it before and loved it.
story: 5/5
visuals: 5/5
acting: 4/5--standouts: Takeshi Kaneshiro (Jin) and Ziyi Zhang (Xiao Mei)
intangibles: 5/5--gorgeous film, engrossing story, wonderful action. The cinematography alone makes this worth watching--the climactic fight scene, toward the end, where the seasons change...that is mindblowingly beautiful and tragic all at once.
overall: 4.75/5
Overboard (1987) - "A cruel but beautiful heiress mocks and cheats a hired carpenter. When she gets amnesia after an accident, he decides to introduce her to regular life by convincing her they're husband and wife."I watched it because: Amazon had it for a good price.
story: 2.5/5
visuals: 3/5
acting: 3/5--standout: Roddy McDowall's Andrew the butler was the only character who made sense in the entire movie
intangibles: 2.5/5--dumb, but entertaining enough. I think this was probably a lot better during the time period when these stars were capable of carrying a film on their own, which they are really, really not anymore.
overall: 2.75/5
The Brothers McMullen (1995) - "Three Irish Catholic brothers from Long Island struggle to deal with love, marriage, and infidelity."I watched it because: Edward Burns reminds me of the best boss I've ever had--and this film won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
story: 4/5
visuals: 4/5
acting: 5/5--standout: Burns; he wrote, directed, produced and acted, and it's a lovely film
intangibles: 3.5/5--Maxine Bahns grates on me. In this tight little cast of skilled and emotional actors, she's the one 'wrong' note. Maybe it's supposed to be a love story, but I can feel why Burns' character just can't commit to her.
overall: 4.125/5
Unknown (2011) - "A man awakens from a coma, only to discover that someone has taken on his identity and that no one, (not even his wife), believes him. With the help of a young woman, he sets out to prove who he is."I watched it because: I'm working through Sebastian Koch's filmography, and haven't seen much of Liam Neeson's work so I'm intrigued by that.
story: 5/5
visuals: 3/5
acting: 4/5--standout: Diane Kruger (Gina)
intangibles: 3/5--very strange, very dark, and very twisty. I still can't figure out whether I liked it?
overall: 3.75/5
I watched it because: I like Dean Martin's voice and Rock Hudson's acting.
story: 2/5
visuals: 4/5
acting: 2.5/5--standout: Susan Clark (Kate Jarvis)
intangibles: 3/5--Martin was a singer, and he was out of his league here (and also fat). Hudson was an actor, but not a Western actor. This movie pretty much bit it. The setting was amazingly lovely, and some of the action was compelling. And the love story was kind of realistic, too. But still...ugh.
overall: 2.875/5
A Night at the Roxbury (1998) - "Two dim-witted brothers dream of owning their own dance club or at least getting into the coolest and most exclusive club in town, The Roxbury."
I watched it because: it's a cultural phenomenon.
story: 2/5
visuals: 2/5
acting: 2/5--standouts: Richard Grieco (whom, I've ironically never seen on screen before) (as himself) and Dan Hedaya (Kamehl Butabi)
intangibles: 2/5--I'm certain that my IQ is now...more not smarter-ness..., having seen this film. How can anyone stand this stuff?
overall: 2/5
I watched it because: I adore Jet Li - in any guise.
story: 4/5
visuals: 4/5
acting: 4/5--standout: Ching Wan Lau (Inspector 'Rock' Shek Wai-Ho)
intangibles: 4.5/5--This is a sweet and entertaining film. Jet Li is terrific as a librarian/superhero (his black mask--hence the name--is no disguise for those big brown eyes and shy smile) with the balletic ass-kicking style. Ching's Inspector Rock is a great foil to his dual characters, as the no-nonsense guy who's supposed to be keeping everything under control.
overall: 4.125/5
Lethal Weapon (1987) - "Two newly paired cops who are complete opposites must put aside their differences in order to catch a gang of drug smugglers."I watched it because: I saw it when it first came out but not since then.
story: 5/5
visuals: 4/5
acting: 4.5/5--standout: Jackie Swanson (Amanda Hunsaker) & Mel Gibson (Martin Riggs)
intangibles: 5/5--a stellar action film from the era; I'd forgotten how good it really is. Gibson and Danny Glover make a great partnership, true and compelling while also funny and sweet. It's easy to root for these characters, and to be drawn into the action. Always a win.
overall: 4.625/5
I watched it because: the person who knows me better than anyone else on the planet told me that, given some things on my mind lately, I absolutely had to see it again; he was right.
story: 3.5/5
visuals: 4/5
acting: 4.5/5--standouts: George Clooney (Seth Gecko) & Harvey Keitel (Jacob Fuller), with a nod to the extraordinary snake dance by Salma Hayek (Santanico Pandemonium)
intangibles: 4.5/5--apart from the execrable, paper-thin Quentin Tarantino (stay on the other side of the camera, please, sir), this film has a wonderful cast and a sturdy, if bizarre, storyline that keeps it moving. It's a favorite.
overall: 4.125/5
[the title quotation is by Marlon Brando]
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