Tag: James Rebhorn

video review : Carlito’s Way

video review : Carlito's Way

This is the tale of a lifelong gangster trying to go straight. Released early from a 30-year prison sentence on a technicality, former drug lord Carlito Brigante returns to the free world a new man. The plan, his dream, is to take part in a legit car rental business with a friend, but of course life doesn’t always go according to plan.

Some of the characterization goes overboard; David Kleinfeld, Brigante’s best friend and lawyer, is particularly caricatural; but the plot is generally riveting. Even the sappy romantic subplot is handled with care. The one major flaw, in fact, is that the movie commits the crime of telling you how the story will end before it begins.

my rating : 4 of 5

1993
 

Lucky Luciano :

The way it shows the ending first is not uncommon in gangster movies, but in this case it doesn’t seem to do anything but leave a feeling of doom and tradgedy throughout the film. Which is fine, but it probably would have been more effective if that tradgedy came unexpected. Also, the overbearing love story sometimes gets in the way. Despite these shortcomings, it’s still a movie worth recommending for the performances and storytelling. If you want a film about a reformed man who can’t escape his past, this is it.

4/5

video review : Cat’s Eye

video review : Cat's Eye

This is a trilogy of Stephen King stories. The first, Quitters Inc, about a clinic that goes to extreme measures to get people to stop smoking, is a drag. The Ledge and General; General is the name of the Cat that strings these little movies together; are better.

my rating : 3 of 5

1985

video review : Independence Day

video review : Independence Day

An invasion may be unlikely, but if space aliens do exist, and they probably do, it’s a scenario Earthlings may indeed have to face one day. That day happening to be the fourth of July and the American military being as effective fighting them off as they are in this movie is patriotic hogwash, more unlikely than the invasion itself, but this War Of The Worlds is at least fun to watch.

I’d prefer a more serious tone; characters drop one-liners when they should be fearing for their lives; but the jokes are funny. The plot? Entertaining. An alien mothership flies “90-billion” light years not just to kill every living being on Earth but to consume its natural resources before going on to the next planet. That’s where a Marine pilot and a cable repair man come into play.

my rating : 4 of 5

1996