Ishmael Williams' Top Ten Films of 1999
| 10)
| "The Haunting"
Okay, so i'm a sucker for Catherine Zeta-Jones, in either "The Mask
of Zorro" or this film. She's a wonder to behold. The rest of the movie
was - well - a ghost flick. A horror ghost flick, but a ghost flick
none-the-less. Several people are brought together in a spooky mansion
ostensibly to participate in a study on sleep disorders. Of course, they
all have sleep disorders, which is why they're in the study. Really, the
head researcher wants to do the study on fear, so he's chosen this house,
these people.....you get the rest. Blatant manipulation of emotions? Of
course, but it's more fun when you're being scared. I liked this one, from
a pure fun point of view. The acting is not great, and yes the story is
predictable. But let's face it, "Scream" taught us what we well know,
what horror movies are all about. The real star of this film, though, is
the house. Huge and ornate, massive and imposing, the house is a joy to
behold - and not someplace I'd want to live. See this one for the house and
the special effects.
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| 9)
| "Wild Wild West"
Let me state it for the record. I liked it. Really. Will Smith, I
thought, played Jim West with a panache different from Robert Conrad, but a
panache of good humor none-the-less. It is good to remember that this movie
takes place early in the partnership of Jim West and Artemus Gordon, so
there's some awkwardness and some not gelling well one with the other. Is
this because Smith and Kline don't have a chemistry on screen? Probably.
They do seem to sort of not be in the same scene together. But one wonders
if that's lack of chemistry, or a really good portrayal of two men, each of
whom feel that the other is treading into their own personal ground and
space. These guys initially don't want to work together, then do so out of
some macho contest. Do they ever get it together as true partners?
Seemingly no, but it's still early in the career. Kenneth Branaugh's turn
as Loveless is wonderful to me. He plays the bad guy with that kind of
skill that makes me go "oooh - i LOVE hating this bad guy". And his first
conversation with Jim West is worth the price of admission. Make no
mistake, this is nothing like the TV show, but few screen adaptations are.
It is not great acting. It's story is farfetched, but so too was the TV
show. I thought it just plain fun and it is solidly in my top ten.
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| 8)
| "Trekkies"
I usually don't like documentaries. Really. But I enjoyed this
film, and would consider it almost the penultimate example of the phenom
surrounding the phenom. Star Trek as a show was difficult to categorize.
SF certainly, but there were no BEM's; no robots; and no attempts to explain
the basic, every day technology. You were just expected to accept that
these people lived with this technology in this culture and go from there.
Trekkie asks you to do the same thing - accept that the accountant who files
your taxes; the post office clerk who processes your mail; perhaps even your
child's teacher is a fan of one of the most influential TV shows ever to
grace the small tube. The film shows trekkies in all their geeky, fanatic
glory, but paints that picture in a loving way, and strives to say "hey!
we're as human and normal as you." I would recommend this film as the
antidote to any Creation con.
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| 7)
| "Stir of Echoes"
Okay, let's look for a moment at Kevin Bacon. Here's a guy who
makes the most interesting choices in roles. He could been somebody. He
coulda been a contender. Instead, he's quirky. He doesn't do roles that
will make him a superstar. He does roles, obviously, that interest HIM. As
a result, I always enjoy watching him in films, and this one is no
exception. Bacon is hypnotized early in the film, and as a result, a door
is opened in his mind allowing him glimpses of a tragedy that has occurred.
Is he going mad, or does he really see a slice of reality that no one else
has perceived? I found this to be a chilling movie, and thoroughly
engrossing. The end was a little too banal compared to the rest of the
film, but it was a good ride to get there.
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| 6)
| "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me"
So when was the last time you laughed out loud at a movie? "Austin
Powers, Man of Mystery"? Prepare to laugh more. It's rare that the sequel
is better than the original, and AP2 just about gets there. There's more
character and more depth, especially with Dr. Evil. In fact, Austin himself
is almost supercilious as we examine more the good (?) doctor's motivations
and persona. Myers does a great job handling the two roles, and really
showing how much more alike the characters are than different. I could do
without Fat Bastard, a thoroughly disgusting and unnecessary character. The
treat of the movie is Mini-Me, the tiny clone of dr. evil. But still, for
me, it's Scott, who just doesn't get it, that makes the movie enjoyable.
Fluff though it is, it does a good job spoofing the further exploits of
James Bond, and poking fun at his perfection and coolness. Go see it, even
if it's just for the soundtrack.
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| 5)
| "The Mummy"
Oh boy, it was the year of spoofs, intentional or not. I have
to take the mummy as spoof, because I cannot take it seriously. And this is
to say I loved this movie. Brendan Frasier is marvelous as the Indiana
Jones-wanna-be-like lead character. He has the world weariness of the
soldier of fortune down perfect, and yet approaches the role with his tongue
firmly planted in his cheek. He seems to already know what Swarzenegger and
Stallone took a few years to learn: no one's going to really believe you
can do these things, so do them with a huge dose of humor. I loved Rachel
Weisz as the love interest\female of the piece, and thought her bumbling
upper crust persona the perfect foil to Frasiers in-command lower crust
personality. As the girl in the piece, she brought some substance to
overcome her good looks. In fact, I could not really find a weak
performance in this entire movie. The effects were really well done, and I
found myself swept up in the story completely. I consider this a must own,
and have already figured out what movies to pair this with for a good double
or triple feature.
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| 4)
| "Star Wars: Episode 1 -- The Phantom Menace"
The lights dimmed. The 20th century logo comes up with the music
almost in mono. Then the them words and music forth, and once again I was
transported to a long time ago in a galaxy far far away. First, what was
wrong with this movie? The Metaclorenes bit as an explanation for the
force. Why couldn't it have been left as a mysterious, all encompassing
energy field that surrounds and penetrates all living things in the
universe? Instead, it was relegated to parasites inside all of our cells.
next up, pod racing. While exciting in and of itself, if it was a vehicle
(no pun) that was supposed to show off anakin's ability with the force, the
point was lost. I could have done without this. What was right? The sense
I got that Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon had huge amounts of history behind them.
this was no buddy relationship in the making - this was a buddy relationship
already made and in progress. Two men united under a common umbrella with
the utmost of respect for and trust in one another. Darth Maul was an
obvious hit, short-lived though he was. I still find the final light-sabre
battle engrossing and teeth chattering. And I'll admit I like Jar-Jar
Binks. I found him neither demeaning nor annoying - just a nice breath of
comic relief in what could have been a very heavy tale indeed. Was this
installment better than what had gone before? Probably not, but then
perspective is key. We watch episode 1 with the foreknowledge of how the 2
major characters to make it into the second set, Obi-Wan and Anakin, end up.
it's a prequel, with lot to cover before we get back to familiar territory.
I went to see A Star Wars film, not a better one than had gone before. I
submit that it's difficult to do what will ultimately be exposition, but for
me Phantom Menace made it.
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| 3)
| "Galaxy Quest"
We now enter the realm of the cream of the crop. This film is a
delight from almost the word go. Tim Allen does a beautiful job not
Shatnering-Shatner, and yet ends up as much Shatner as Shatner himself. he
brilliance here is that he does not sink to the level of parodying Shatner,
or in doing a Shatner-as-Kirk impression in any way. Instead, he finds ways
to convey that he his spoofing bill, without the obvious mannerisms to call
it to your attention. In short, it's subtlety that's key here. Alan
Rickman as the disillusioned, don't-want-to-be-associated-with-this-role
actor
is marvelously morose and sarcastic. His "battles" with allen spark
memories of some real life battles about which we've heard. Sigourney
Weaver actually went blonde for this role I am told, and she is the
penultimate example of every bubble-headed blond that's ever had a basically
meaningless role on such a show we've ever seen. And I say this with
apologies to grace Lee Whitney and Denise Crosby. The movie, however,
doesn't stop there. It goes on to depict aliens and Trekkies with loving
humor and good will. There is no demeaning geekdom portrayed here. The
whole tapestry is done with obvious affection and respect for the genre,
people and culture they are spoofing. It is a great SF film, and the best
Trek film since "Voyage Home".
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| 2)
| "The Sixth Sense"
I go to movies to escape. Let me be clear about that. I go to
movies to be entertained. I know the movie was successful for me when I get
totally caught up in the story, and can forget to watch how the magic is
done. This one did that for me. The compelling premise goes beyond the
young boy who can see dead people, and pokes, heck grasps at concept that
tweak my sensitivities. I found parts of the movie disturbing, in a good
way, and chilling in all the right ways. I read where Willis is a master at
playing with children, and it is evident all over this movie. His scenes
with his young costar are fabulous. Haley Joel Osment, the costar, is so
perfect for the role it is scary. It's a story simply told, but told well
through the point of view of the young child and Willis. I so very much
want to see this one again, just to be sure the story hangs together as well
as I think it does. After you see it, you'll want a second viewing too.
and the NUMBER ONE Ishmael pick of 1999:
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| 1)
| "The Matrix"
What can i say that hasn't already been said? Since I was a young
man, I was attracted to the concept of fluid "reality"; that what we see
around us is illusion and we can change it at our will. "The Matrix" speaks
to that theme for me, and does so in a truly new and unique way. Forget the
special effects, fabulous though they are. Focus on the story and the
people. They are a wonderful ensemble working together, and each is perfect
in his or her role. My experience with "The Matrix" was open eyed, open
mouthed wonder. Each scene had a new joy to behold, a new moment to savor,
and a new memory to process. I could not have asked or begged for a better
film. And the best part? We finally found a movie in which it doesn't
matter that the expression on Keanu Reeves' face doesn't match what comes
out his mouth.
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Ishmael Williams
is one of the MISFITS/CONvergence Board of Directors.
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