The story in the film and the script is a hefty mess and bears some incredibly wide plot holes that ruin the efficacy of the film. For example, It’s never fully or clearly explained as to why Traci does the things she does to get her mother’s attention. There’s some insinuation that she resents her, or maybe she’s psychotic, but there’s no verification. Even in the end which is somewhat blurry, we’re never truly sure as to her motives with killing all the people during the movie. Her actions during the film perceive her character to be more spoiled than psychotic and threatening, so in the end it remains hazy. Also, the climax of the film seems so rushed and tacked on it begins to feel awkward on the closing credits.
Tag Archives: Romance
Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
I sat on my couch at the end of the film, amazed at what I’d just seen… Adam Sandler can act. I thought to myself: Adam Sandler can act?! After watching him in comedic duds like “Water Boy”, “Billy Madison”, and one of his most recent “Mr. Deeds”, I was astonished to discover this man may actually have the ability to become one of the best actors in the biz, if only he’d stick to bittersweet dramedies like this. Only two of his films are watchable: “Happy Gilmore”, and “Big Daddy”, two movies which show Sandler’s knack for comedy and quality, two films that show the child that Sandler is so famous for invoking. “Punch Drunk Love” has prompted me to wonder if I was wrong all along about him. Sure, most of his movies are terrible, but “Punch Drunk Love” begs to differ and makes people think that maybe he’s just as much as star as everyone says he is.
In the Bedroom (2001)
Matt Fowler (Tom Wilkinson) is a doctor in Maine whose son Frank (Nick Stahl) is home for the summer. While home, he falls for a single mother Natalie (Marisa Tomei). While the two have a lurid affair, the parents don’t approve, especially mom Ruth (Sissy Spacek). But soon a tragedy ensues that will test each of their own spirit and breaking points. The movie has a very calm and unperturbed environment to its story telling devices and never gives the feel of a thriller because it stays grounded down into reality. There’s a feeling of unrest during the film, a feeling almost like a bubble that could be burst in any moment during the story.
My First Mister (2001)
I realized while watching this film that I enjoyed it a lot more when it was called “Ghost World”; Leelee Sobieski is a talented actor, as is Albert Brooks, but when the story is summed up as a whole it’s just a batch of clichés from many other better films meshed into one entire mess. Sobieski as talented an actress as she is fails to strike a chord with her character and actually comes off as a terrible actress, which is not true when analyzing many of her past films. She attempts to pull off the Goth, annoyed teen angst persona with much desperation, which is evident while watching her try with the material she’s given, but it’s hard to enjoy her when her character is so unlikable and detestable. I would have preferred to sympathize with her character’s personality but its hard to when we see her living situation.
The Hot Chick (2002)
What makes Rob Schneider’s movies so bad, (among many other million defects) is that Schneider is basically unlikable and incredibly obnoxious, and when he pretends to be a girl stuck in a man’s body, it’s just plain creepy. Not only that, but he’s such a horrible actor in both comedic form and dramatic form; much of that can be seen when he pretends to be the female Jessica played by Rachel McAdams and pretty much makes no effort in copying her exact mannerisms or body characteristics. In “Face/Off”, Travolta and Cage studied each other’s facial expressions, mannerisms, and even their modes of speech which made the film mostly tolerable, but in this Schneider simply acts homosexual more than a woman.
Life or Something Like It (2002)
This movie isn’t as deep as it wanted to be, if it even wanted to be deep at all; it’s actually just pseudo-spiritual nonsense when you get right down to it. Angelina Jolie picks one of the rotten scripts out of the entire flock with a story that is nothing but fluff and unbearable melodrama. What should have been a meditation on a woman seeking self-analysis becomes nothing more than a comedy that tries every time to tells odd jokes but fails miserably.
Waking Up in Reno (2001)
For a film with such a great cast like Natasha Richardson, Patrick Swayze, Charlize Theron, and Billy Bob Thornton, it’s hard to believe this is such a bad film. The great cast manages to make due with the horrible script and directing including Theron and Richardson who are great as best friends who discover one another and their personalities. What’s worse is this is not just a bad film but a bad comedy and what makes it a bad comedy is that the script and antics performed by the actors force no laughs from the audience and basically will leave the audience with a stone cold face.