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kielbasa76
Reviews
Mr. Deeds (2002)
Not quite the worst movie ever made...
...but it felt like torture watching this thing. Now, I admit, I'm not a very big Sandler fan. Honestly, I don't know how he became the cash cow he is in Hollywood. But seeing him on talk shows and having been blown away by Punch Drunk Love, I tend to think there actually is something going on beneath the goofy, lovable frat-boy veneer. But good luck trying to find it in this movie.
I don't want to get too critical here--the real reason I had to write this is that the person before me wrote six or seven paragraphs on this movie and I was dumbfounded--this movie isn't even worth that much effort. It is so poorly made, from the acting (Turturro an exception as always)to the flat, lifeless cinematography. I really hate the way both Steven Brill and Peter Segal shoot their movies--completely unimaginative and frustratingly boring.
I'm sure they keep a fun and lively set going but come on, the images in front of me need some life too. This movie was at times painful to watch--as I do like Winona Ryder and most all the actors involved in this. But it almost seemed like stunt casting (let's get some great actors from independent movies [inexpensive] and give them nothing to do but act out poorly devised stereotypical roles that are supposed to hark back to Capra films)--none of the actors seemed comfortable, especially Winona... ugh...
You have talent Adam, don't be afraid to loosen your creative control and get a decent writer and/or director every once in a while to remind folks.
The Way of the Gun (2000)
Overlooked & underrated
Action movies over the past few years have not gotten any better than this one from the year 2000. This movie thoroughly kicks your ass, down and dirty, no flinching, etc... No cheesy villains--no dumbed down narrative--no retarded one-liners, this is an action movie that actually provokes some thought and sticks with you after the credits have rolled. Even Juliette Lewis can't ruin this one.
A problem that some might have is it's fuzzy line of distinguishing the good guys from the bad guys. A good way to go into the movie is to think of it as a modern re-telling of the Butch and Sundance story. The two main characters even share the last names of those two.
Not for the squeamish--But if you've been let down by the past few years of constant cookie-cutter over-blown action flicks check this out and enjoy.