Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells of a computer hacker (Reeves) who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth. The computers are powered by human beings…
When was it made?
12/20/2005
Who stars in it?
Keanu Reeves Laurence Fishburne
And the cast includes:
Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Gloria Foster
There was before Breathless, and there was after Breathless. With its lack of polish, surplus of attitude, crackling personalities of rising stars Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg, and anything-goes crime narrative, Jean-Luc Godard’s debut fashioned a simultaneous homage to and critique of the American film genres that influenced and rocked him as a film writer for Cahiers du cinema. Jazzy, free-form, and sexy, Breathless (A bout de souffle) helped launch the French new wave and ensured cinema would never be the same.
Personally, I thought Jean Domarchi was incredible, but wasn’t too impressed with Van Doude.
With a thriller as low-key as First Snow, dynamic acting is a must. Fortunately, Guy Pearce (Memento) owns the screen as slick salesman Jimmy Starks. In his first film, Oscar-nominated writer Mark Fergus (Children of Men) forgoes visual effects in favor of an increasingly complex narrative. As in many Stephen King novels, the story centers on the collision between a man of reason and a man of faith–in the supernatural, that is. The foreshadowing begins when Starks visits fortune teller Vacaro (J.K. Simmons, Spider-Man). Starks assumes he’s a fellow hustler. Then his every prediction comes true. On a return trip, Vacaro tells him he’ll be dead by first snow, but can’t say how or when. Should Starks put his affairs in order, enjoy his time with girlfriend Deirdre (Piper Perabo), or just do nothing? Then again, snow seems unlikely for Albuquerque. Over the next few days, several possible culprits come to light, like Andy (Rick Gonzalez), an assistant Starks fired, and Vince (Shea Wigham), a partner he sold down the river. Convinced one of them is going to seek revenge, Starks becomes so paranoid he opens the door to disaster. Fergus excels in keeping the tension at a low boil, but he undersells the climax. Still, it’s a nice change from all the mysteries that build in intensity before collapsing in a heap of improbabilities. First Snow is rooted in the real world from the first frame to the last. –Kathleen C. Fennessy
It came out of nowhere to win the best documentary Oscar in 1980, and by now Best Boy should be acknowledged as one of the finest documentaries in film history. Filmmaker Ira Wohl took as his subject his own cousin, 52-year-old Philly, a retarded man who had lived his entire life with his parents. Seeing the physical decline of the parents, Wohl suggested they prepare Philly for living away from home for the first time in his life. This process becomes a beautiful and soul-stirring (and even hilarious) experience, as the people in Philly’s life become indelible characters. Many fiction films try to manufacture a kind of movie “magic” out of fantasy, but Best Boy finds it in tiny steps forward, the delicacy of family, and the joy of singing (you may never hear “If I Were a Rich Man” the same way again). Through it all, the irrepressible Philly emerges as a rich man in his own terms.
Twenty years after making Best Boy, Ira Wohl looked in again on his cousin Philly, now over 70 but still as sunny and fond of dessert as ever. Living in a home with other developmentally disabled people, Philly appears even more capable and content in the world. Wohl gets the idea to prepare Philly for his bar mitzvah–a little late in life, but nonetheless an important experience. Best Man doesn’t have the deep emotional pull provided by Philly’s parents from the first movie, although his loyal sister becomes an important figure in this one. But it’s a very nice update on a memorable corner of the world. –Robert Horton
There are three unforgettable characters in John Sayles’s contemporary adventure-drama set in Alaska. They are never seen but live only in a frontier diary found by teenager Noelle De Angelo (Vanessa Martinez). The life of the diary’s narrator is much like everything in this movie: hanging in limbo. The first half of the film focuses on why men and woman turn to Alaska, a land still ripe with opportunity. A small town is at a crossroads, with its pulp mill and canning factory closed and new investors seeing different directions in which to take the area (one even boasts the state is the ultimate theme park). A local (Sayles regular David Strathairn) is just escaping his past, taking up commercial fishing again. He attracts a traveling nightclub singer (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio in her best role in years) who struggles daily with her daughter Noelle. Like any good theme park, Limbo presents the threesome with an unexpected adventure. In the wilderness, the three relative strangers learn more about themselves than was ever possible in town. Sayles’s usual craftsmanship creates a singular blend of drama and suspense with an ending designed to ruffle feathers. Not as accessible as his breakthrough hit Lone Star, Limbo is nevertheless a hearty film from one of America’s best storytellers. –Doug Thomas
Personally, I thought Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio was incredible, but wasn’t too impressed with David Strathairn.
Ok, let’s look at The Simpsons - The Complete Sixth Season.
First, the movie is about ”THE SIMPSONS” THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON DVD COLLECTION arrives on August 16, 2005 from Fox Home Entertainment. Showcasing all 25 episodes from the acclaimed sixth season, including Part One of the season cliffhanger ”Who Shot Mr. Burns?”.
I really enjoyed the performace of Julie Kavner and Julie Kavner. The rest of the cast was solid as well. The cast includes Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Yeardley Smith, Nancy Cartwright.
First, the movie is about THE LONGEST YARD tells the story of pro quarterback Paul Crewe (Sandler) and former college champion and coach Nate Scarboro (Reynolds) who are doing time in the same prison. Asked to put together a team of inmates to take on the guards, Crewe enlists the help of Scarboro to coach the inmates to victory in a football game fixed to turn out quite another way..
I really enjoyed the performace of Chris Rock and Chris Rock. The rest of the cast was solid as well. The cast includes Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Burt Reynolds, Nelly (III), Walter Williamson.
First, the movie is about Laaadies and Gentlemen, boys and girls … it’s time to get up and move with JOJO’S CIRCUS: ANIMAL A GO-GO. Join JoJo, a funny, curious clown and her best friend, Goliath, in stories full of music, dance, imaginative movement, engaging games, and activities that encourage your child to get up and start moving. Child participiation is part of the fun in four lively stories. There are bouncy moves ahead when JoJo discovers that she’s not quite ready to fill some pretty big shoes. But she’s always ready to figure things out, including learning a silly slinky snake dance to help pick a flower for her dad. From using teamwork to helping Goliath learn, your child will discover valuable lessons about kindness, teamwork, and belonging..
I really enjoyed the performace of Taylor Masamitsu and Taylor Masamitsu. The rest of the cast was solid as well. The cast includes David Sparrow, Taylor Masamitsu, Noah Weisberg, Kathy Brier.
In this second set of adventures, Speed and his friends race against a madman’s robot-controlled car in “Race for Revenge.” Trixie gets jealous when Speed pays too much attention to the pretty title character in “The Girl Daredevil.” In “The Desperate Desert Race,” the gang is taken prisoner by rebel army leader Ali ben Schemer, a character who may offend Arab-American viewers.
When Mach Go Go Go debuted in syndication in the U.S. as Speed Racer in 1967, the series had been extensively re-edited to excise much of the violence. These edits cause some continuity problems: in “Girl Daredevil,” new tires appear on the Mach-5 between two scenes, and a villain steals the car, although it was out of gas minutes earlier. As the exploits of Speed, Trixie, Sparks, Spritle, and Chim Chim remain a touchstone for fans who grew up watching them, members of Gen-Y are unlikely to be troubled by these awkward moments. (Unrated, suitable for ages 6 and older: cartoon violence, tobacco use, minor ethnic stereotypes) –Charles Solomon
