Adoration

I've returned from my honeymoon, so get ready for more movies!  I'm changing one rule though, which is now, being that Sabata was before Adios Sabata, I will from the future, watch all movies in order and also remakes and other versions at once for comparison.  But we'll get to Sabata in the far future (I really hated it).  Netflix doesn't have The Adjuster, Admirable Chricton, or Adorable Julia, which brings me to

Adoration-2009, Directed by Atom Erogyan, starring a bunch of foreign actors I don't know.

He says-  After hearing his French teacher read an article about a man who sent his pregnant wife on a plane with a bomb, a student writes an essay imagining the man and the woman as his parents (who died some years ago) and presents it as the truth.  This initiates a multilevel series of conversations, confrontations, and revelations about terrorism, personal responsibility, and family dynamics.  Provocative at first, Egoyans puzzlelike story actually becomes less interesting as the pieces fit together.  2 stars.

I say- Ugh, starting my hiatus back with an unwatchable movie.  I'm not even going to waste my time with how boring this one was.  This movie was about a bomb, so I'm giving it a BOMB in return.

Adios Sabata

Netflix does not have The Addiction, The Adding Machine, or Adios Amigo, which brings us to

 

Adios Sabata-1971 starring Yul Brynner

He says-  Gunslinger gets involved with Mexican revolutionaries, helping himself to a cache of gold along the way.  Ersatz sequel to Sabata (with Brynner instead of Van Cleef) was titled Indio Black until dubbed and retitled for U.S. release.  Genuine sequel, The Return of Sabata, showed up in 1972.  One and a half stars

I say- This is the first time Maltin has reviewed a movie and not explained what he didn't like about it.  This is also my final review for a few weeks, being that I'm getting married.  So we'll be back for more adventures then.  I found the transfer of this film to be unbearable, and I thought the movie was pointless, slow and boring.  Badly dubbed, and seemed worse than an old Godzilla movie but not in a good way.  1/2 star, only for Yul Brynner and his bald head.

The Science of Sleep

 

The Science of Sleep- 2006, starring nobody that anyone knows

He says-  Bernal's charismatic performance (in English) anchors this fanciful film about a childlike man who lives in a constant state of confusion about what's real what's happening in his dreams.  When he falls in love with his attractive next-door neighbor, his anxiety about their uncertain relationship blurs the line even more.  Gondry's script meanders, but his constantly imaginative visual touches help to compensate.  2 and a half stars

I say- Interesting visuals do not make a movie.  This movie sucked.  I loved his prior effort, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but this was unwatchable.  UGH.  BOMB

Diner

Diner- 1982, starring Steve Guttenberg, Daniel Stern, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, and Paul Reiser. 

Maltin says-  Problems of growing up are nicely synthesized by writer-director Levinson in this look at a group of friends who hang out in a Baltimore diner in the 1950s.  Obviously made with care and affection; a real sleeper.  Levinson's directorial debut and first film of Barkin and Reiser.  3 stars.

I say-  One of the most OVERRATED movies ever.  This is one of those movies where "lovers of film" pride themselves in how many times they've seen this movie.  I found it pretentious and boring.  And he cast Steve Guttenberg, and worse yet, he discovered Paul Reiser.  UGH.  Well acted, but that's about it.  1/2 star.

Addicted to Love

 

Addicted to Love- 1997, starring Matthew Broderick, Meg Ryan, and Kelly Preston

Leonard says-  Jilted lover Broderick settles in an abandoned N.Y.C. building across the street from his ex-girlfriend's apartment so he can watch her and her new lover.  Then he's joined by the lover's ex-g.f., whose agenda is even more extreme; she wants revenge.  Dark, twisted comedy has its moments, and a likable cast, but Ryan's seriously disturbed character makes it hard to "root" for her, and renders the inevitable fadeout scene less than ideal.  Feature directing debut for actor-producer Dunne; his famous father, author Dominick Dunne, plays a restaurant critic.  2 stars.

Grant says-  WHOA.  Seriously, what the fuck????  This whole movie is full of the worst possible characters, and the characters do things that would (if they were real people) send them to jail multiple times.  This is a creepy film, and yes, it is a comedy, but I was finding Broderick to belong more to the Psycho-style of acting than the Inspector Gadget style.  This is an incredibly disturbing film, and I really can't believe Leonard gave this a two, so I'm giving it a half of a star.

Addams Family Values

 

Addams Family Values- 1993, starring Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Joan Cusack, Christina Ricci, Carol Kane, Nathan Lane, David Hyde Pierce, and Peter Graves

Leonard says-  Funny follow-up to the 1991 hit has scheming Cusack invading the Addams household, plotting to marry Fester for his money, then bump him off.  Full of hilarious one-liners (delivered with gusto by Julia and Lloyd), but the real star is Ricci as the stone-faced Wednesday, who finally exacts her revenge for being sent to a summer camp run by a pair of giddy grown-ups (MacNicol and Baranski).  Runs out of steam toward the end.  Direct to video sequel: Addams Family Reunion.  3 stars.

I say-  Of course Maltin doesn't review Addams Family Reunion.  He likes to tell everyone about sequels and then avoid reviewing them.  Anyway, this is a great movie as well as the first one.  It actually is on the same level as the first, which is hard to do.  Also, Christina Ricci really is the star (before she decided to take her clothes off for every movie she does now).  Very enjoyable.  3 stars.

The Keep

The Keep- 1983, starring Ian McKellen, Scott Glenn, and Gabriel Byrne

He says-  German soldiers try to defend a Romanian mountain pass during WW2 by headquartering in an ancient fortress-ignoring villagers' warnings of a strange presence inside.  Outlandish, incoherent, and mostly awful; recommended only for connoisseurs of Strange Cinema.  1 and a half stars.

I say-  Terrible!  I had no idea what was even going on in this movie!  I love Strange Cinema (not sure why Maltin capitalizes strange cinema, but whatever) and this was stupid as hell.  I could not recommend a movie less.  BOMB