MISFITS Video Picks for March 5, 2000
This Chinese film directed by Chen Kaige is every bit as good as any
movie made in the US. It follows the lives of two performers in the Chinese
opera from their youth and through the revolution. It is a wonderful
depiction of the history of China in the 20th century seen through the eyes
of these two actors. I found the segments showing the opera to be a bit
grating as I quickly learned I had no ear for it at all. But the
characterizations and cinematography more than make up for any minor
frustrations with an art form I am not fond of. The film is long - over 3
hours - and requires undivided attention unless you speak Chinese as the
film is not dubbed. I think it is important to see the subtitled version
because you can hear the emotion in the actors voices. Just another reason
you should check the foreign section of the video store every now and
again.
A great action movie with beautiful scenery
starring Meryl Streep, Kevin Bacon, David Straithairn and Joseph Mazzello
(that kid from Jurassic Park) (plus John C. Reilly!)
Meryl Streep stars as the action heroine in this little-seen gem of a
film. Everytime I watch it, I remind myself that someday I want to go white
water rafting - without the gun-toting bad guys Meryl had to deal with, of
course. Meryl's character Gail makes such a great heroine because she is
believable and natural. Everything she does, she does not out of "heroics"
but out of a desperate need to save her family. She doesn't fist-fight,
karate-chop or even really out-smart her enemies - she wins because she is
stronger and has something more important to fight for.
Kevin Bacon, a highly underrated actor, is at his creepy best as the
villain in this film. What makes his villain so creepy is his
charm. Using that Footloose smile while waving a gun
around makes for the
wiggins. Once again, what makes it work so well is that he's not EVIL, he's
just a man with a purpose - a purpose that happens to be illegal. It also
works because you get the sense that this villain actually likes these
people he's holding at gun point. That probably won't stop him from
shooting
them though.
Rounding out the major (adult) characters is David Straithairn (Tom), who
I've been fond of ever since he played Whistler in the movie
Sneakers. As
a man intimidated by his wife's strength and distanced from his family, he
proves himself in the midst of turmoil.
Not a truly original plot, but what it does, it does well.
And I guarantee you'll want to go white water rafting after watching
it.
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