The classic toys that come to life in John Lasseter’s Toy Story (A-) are among the most endearing new creations developed for the screen. Pull-string cowboy Woody (Tom Hanks) and rival-turned-pal astronaut toy Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) preside over a pixel playroom of great characters including Mr. Potatohead, Slinky Dog and other favorites come to life. When there’s trouble in toyland, it’s time for teamwork, and the saccharine sweetness never gets too much to turn off adult audiences who are watching with kids. The Randy Newman ballads are a little treachly, but everything else is super-fresh, and Pixar Studios shows why it’s the high-tech hotshot on the scene with 110,064 frames of computer animation that translate into absolute enjoyment.
All posts by Stephen Michael Brown
Michael Mann’s “Heat” Brings Out the Big Guns
Michael Mann’s Heat (A-) is a high-gloss L.A. crime caper with suspense and thrills to spare, but the main attraction is getting to watch Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino turn in outstanding performances. They don’t share much screen time; but when they do, it’s explosive.
“Waiting to Exhale” Puts Spotlight on Black Women’s Stories
Take a deep breath. Director Forest Whitaker is about to showcase the struggles and triumphs of a year in the life of four extraordinary women in Waiting to Exhale (B). Angela Bassett is the standout in the circle of friends as a woman who puts her dreams on hold for a man who disappoints her. Loretta Devine also gets a plucky role as one of her friends searching for love. With music by Babyface and a script adapted from Terry McMillan’s bestselling novel, it’s a fresh tale of empowerment.
“Cutthroat Island” an Average Adventure
Renny Harlin’s cut-rate pirate adventure Cutthroat Island (C-) stars Geena Davis as a lackluster swashbuckler amidst fake-looking set-pieces. Co-starring Matthew Modine, this bawdy, gaudy film jumps head-first into epic stunts without warming up the viewers to its austere heroes.
“Casino” Compelling as Scorsese Changes Gangland Venue
A movie about the motives of mob men with simply a change of venue from his usual NYC neighborhoods isn’t too much of a gamble for Martin Scorsese; but few do this genre better, and the director gives Las Vegas its dressing-down in Casino (B-), by novelist Nicholas Pileggi. In style and structure, it’s often a facsimile of the much better GoodFellas, but Robert DeNiro and Sharon Stone get some great moments, and there’s a nice subtext to the game that’s being played in the floor versus the game being played behind the scenes. Still, it’s hard not to believe that Scorsese left some cards on the table and that he could have taken this story in some more creative directions.
Rob Reiner’s “The American President” is Brilliant Comic Romance
Politics make strange bedfellows in Rob Reiner’s The American President (A) which tells a charming tale of a widowed president (Michael Douglas) who falls in love with a political operative (Annette Bening). The leads are remarkable and sink their teeth into Aaron Sorkin’s snappy screenplay. This in a rare romantic comedy that gets a very high approval rating.
Kevin Smith’s “Mallrats” Crude, Sometimes Funny and Fairly Aimless
Clerks writer/director Kevin Smith makes a change of venue to cover the food court jesters inhabiting the world of Mallrats (C), a slightly more mainstream and less funny offering from the indie auteur. Upgrading to Hollywood talent such as Jason Lee and Shannen Doherty and reverting to sight gags that sometimes seem more in-your-face than flat-out inspired, the film works best when the characters get to flex their comic muscles with wry observational references and hilarious pop culture pronouncements. The dazed dialogue goes a long way to cover up the convoluted storyline in a bit of a sophomore slump from a promising player on the scene.
Gus Van Sant Creates Dark Comedy “To Die For”
Even weather girls get the blues as Nicole Kidman proves in Gus Van Sant’s dark comedy To Die For (B-). Kidman’s gleeful portrayal of a small-town seductress is a central reason to see this satire of the heights to which the ambitious will scale to achieve their visions of fame. Joaquin Phoenix and Matt Dillon are effective in supporting performances.
“Usual Suspects” a Crackling Thriller Mystery
A mixed bag of character actors including Gabriel Byrne and Kevin Spacey headline Bryan Singer’s clever mystery The Usual Suspects (B). Good writing and assured pacing keep the interest level high until the final twisty payoff.
“Seven” is a Masterful Action Thriller
David Fincher’s Seven (A-) is relentless in its sustained somber tone as two detectives – Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman – track down a serial killer inspired by the “Seven Deadly Sins.” Unlike typical buddy cop movies, there’s no room for levity or comic relief as the central duo plumbs the depths of depravity and faces their own demons in a grim, rainy, unnamed metropolis. It is handsomely crafted, extremely suspenseful and disturbing.
“Babe” (1995) is a Highly Recommended Family Film
Look who’s oinking! Chris Noonan’s Babe is a delightful fable featuring a talking pig protagonist and his human companion (James Cromwell) who enters him into a sheepdog championship. It’s a vividly colorful, sunshiny look at finding your place in the world.
“Clueless” is an Inspired Comedy
Amy Heckerling’s Clueless (B+) is a hybrid of Ferris Bueller and Jane Austin’s Emma and is one of the most perceptive and entertaining comedies about teens in the 90’s. Alicia Silverstone commands the screen as the high school matchmaker who finally finds a little love for herself. The film’s ribald vocabulary and elaborate fashions make it fun and flashy, and it’s a surprising treat from beginning to end.