movie reviews, Volume 3 number 4, April 2001, © by Thela Clayton Video Dreamland April showers bring May flowers...strawberries and breakup. I love that crunchy sound you can make when you step on frozen hollow snow. If your shoes get wet or muddy, never mind. That sound is a prelude to our coming summer. Yippee! I thought I would throw in my favorite, heavenly, springtime movie snack. All you need is three ingredients: 1) a bowl of strawberries, 2) a bowl of sour cream, and 3) a bowl of brown sugar. Dip the strawberry in the sour cream, then into the brown sugar, then—Look out, taste buds, here she comes! Mmm...yummy. Just ask Mark Simpson. I turn him on to this old Trader Vic’s dessert twenty years ago. It is just simply one of the best edible concoctions there is. Now that I’ve titillated your taste sensations, here are my picks for this month’s videos. The Crew, PG13 What do wiseguys do when they retire? Why, move to Miami Beach, play cards on a sunny balcony, and sip foo-foo umbrella drinks, of course! Life is good until some young whippersnappers try to buy the building and make it into a hip, expensive co-op for those Generation X-ers. Our wiseguys cook up a scheme to save their building. Everything goes according to plan until their renewed spunkiness catches up with them. If only one of them hadn’t spilled the beans to a local hooker. Richard Dreyfuss and Burt Reynolds play two of the old farts in this comedy of errors, while Jennifer Tilly adds just a touch of zesty naughtiness to spice things up. These guys prove they still have the magical feather to tickle our ribcage. Here’s a big hurrah for light comedy. The Wonder Boys, R Ah…a little college drama for all my academician friends. I wonder—which of you felt that the screenwriter was peeking into your den? Michael Douglas, the professor/writer, is slowly being squashed beneath a ton of crapola. The university’s literary week is being kicked off with a cocktail party at the chancellor’s house. The unfinished book (five years in the making), the publisher, the rich, successful author, and a peculiar student are all the monkeys jumping up and down on our poor professor’s back. Not to mention his wife has left him, and he’s having an affair with the chancellor’s wife. You will relish Michael Douglas’s performance as the incessant, rumble-tossed professor, as he plows his way through his laden world of illusions. I agree with Roger Ebert—this movie would have showed up somewhere in the Academy Award nominations. You’ll enjoy all the characters and may find yourself mumbling, "Good grief, what’s next?" The Last of the Blonde Bombshells, PG Lighten your load and get ready for some tow-tapping. It’s boogie-woogie with Julie Dench and Ian Holm in this English tale of an all-girl wing band during World War II. Recently widowed, Julie Dench digs out the old saxophone to blow a few notes. Encouraged by her eavesdropping granddaughter, she makes an arrangement to occasionally play with the local street musician. Ian Holm recognizes her and over pints at the local pub, the band’s story unfolds. Julie Dench and Ian Holm, with amiable chemistry between them, tell us a story of World War II that few have ever heard. The film’s flashbacks cleanly and clearly tie the past with the present without overt dramatization. (The Brits do this quite well.) Don’t be surprised if the kids sit down to watch this movie with you. This upbeat film with it’s great swing soundtrack captivates everyone in listening range. The Contender, R Excellent drama. It’s the story of a president, Jeff Bridges, who nominates a woman senator, Joan Allen, to replace a dead vice president. Gary Oldman and Christian Slater’s characters are part of the senate congressional committee that oversees the nomination. This bipartisan duo set out to grub up the nastiest details they can find on our senator, and they succeed. Why then does the president continue to support his nomination? If you’re looking to sink your teeth into a fine drama, you’ll like this movie. Jeff Bridges was nominated for best supporting actor, but I liked Gary Oldman better. This man is talented and plays some of the best villains around. Here he closely reminds you of a western senator. O.H. my! Not one for the kiddies, as this movie contains shocking, controversial matter. The Eyes of Tammy Faye, PG-13 Tammy Faye Baker finally gets to tell her story. The movie contains a lot of fuzzy vintage television film, but don’t let that distract you. This is a well done, grade B documentary, narrated by Ru Paul Charles. From the fake eyelashes to the juicy gossip of Jerry Farwell’s plan to seize control of the Heritage USA empire, Tammy Faye airs all the dirty linen. Believe me—the Christian Coalition does not want you to see this movie! Tammy Faye can give Madonna and Cher a run for the money when it comes to reinventing yourself. I love this good-hearted woman. So Praise the Lord and dig in. Tammy’s serving up a dish of sinful tidbits that will make you giggle with glee. P.S.: Mardy and I saw a film that used the phrase, "Bob’s your uncle." We had a disagreement over whether this phrase is common usage. What do you say? | ||
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