MISFITS Video Picks for November 11, 2000
Based on the short novel
by Ursula Le Guin, this made for television movie
has just been released on video and DVD. In my mind the story is an
allegory for the question of science engaging in research without fully
understanding the consequences of their actions. In the case of this story,
it is a psychiatrist who is experimenting with his patient - a patient who
has extraordinary abilities. The imagery in this movie is really stunning,
especially for a low budget public television production. I saw this movie
twice in the 80's and it has stuck with me since then. Given the amount of
dreck in the theatres these days, you may want to pick up this movie just to
remind yourself that science fiction can be smart, compelling and visually
interesting all at once.
My pick for a video to go out and get is Dead Again (1991). Kenneth Branagh
and Emma Thompson star in this Branagh picture. This is a movie that you
don't watch while cooking or picking up the house or any thing else that
would distract you from the movie. There are many twists and turns (and
often you don't know they are there - and of course there are red herrings
as well). I have seen this over 10 times and each time I see it I see more
things in it. This video pick is remarkably difficult to write, you don't
want to give anything away, all you want to do is look the person in the eye
and say "Watch this tonight, we'll discuss this tomorrow" - so that is what
I'll leave you with.
|
|
Search This Site
|
The Lathe of Heaven
