mithridatism

“Can you keep a rod up while watching Billy Crystal? Don’t feel badly, not many people can.” “Loser” is actually a pleasant surprise. The film is not as bad as it could have potentially been. The plot is fairly strong, despite a typical and unrealistic ending. There are several comical moments, but I would not brand the film as a comedy overall. I still don’t like Jason Biggs’ last name, but he does fairly well. Any merits the movie gains, however, are almost discredited by the ending caption, when the audience finds out what happens to the characters later in life through cliched white text. This is where I wrote that caption previously but I was told that I was giving away the ending, sorry to ruin the immense suspense that the not knowing the ending of this movie caused in all the viewers.

remor rating: 720/1000

Seeing a boat eaten by a giant wave almost makes up for not seeing “Gladiator” in the theaters…”The Perfect Storm” is an excellent film. George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg provide an excellent leading duo and they are backed up well by the likes of the excellent John C. Reilly and the more excellent Diane Lane. The story builds like the storm: a slowly building bomb. But achtung! do not see this film if you cannot handle sad endings, sorry to ruin it for you.

remor rating: 862/10000

Have you noticed Stanley Kubrick showing up a lot in the reviews that I’ve done? I believe Kubrick to be the ultimate director of cinematics. His fourth feature length film, “Paths of Glory”, is an excellent film. Kirk Douglas gives a spectacular performance (it’s eerie how much he looks like Michael). “Paths of Glory” delves into some of the less publicized slants on war. The German enemy is never seen, all of the trouble comes from the French generals. Kubrick met his second wife on the set of “Paths of Glory;” she is a German woman hired to entertain the French troops. The scene is one of the most stirring, where the woman who was originally jeered for her Germanness, unites the crowd in song. Definitely a must see.

remor rating: 957/1000

Were any of you pissed when “Titanic” won the best picture Oscar in 1998? What would I have picked? Of the nominated, the surefire pick was “L.A. Confidential.” The film is packed with first-rate actors (Kevin Spacey, Russel Crowe, Kim Basinger) and the plot is one of the best of the decade. “Confidential” is the tale of corrupt L.A. police officers and the final honorable few who try to restore justice to the force. The film is very stylish, not to mention very humorous at times. If you want to see something better than “Titanic,” watch “L.A. Confidential.”

remor rating: 902/1000

I have never appreciate Fugazi more than I do after seeing the movie “Instrument,” a film collaboration by Jem Cohen and Fugazi. It is a history of the band that is spliced with live action. One really gains a lot of respect for the band by learning about how they operate and what they believe in. There are comical moments, like Guy Piccioto punching a box in a grocery store and when they accuse unruly moshers of being nothing but “ice cream eating m_f_ers.” If you are not a Fugazi fan, you probably will be after watching “Instrument” unless you are an ice cream eating so-and-so. Even if you don’t like the music, the film could stand on its own as a very well done documentary. Instrument Site

remor rating: 952/1000