Kaaterskill Falls

NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED

A Video Review of "Kaaterskill Falls"

Copyright 2003 Glenn Walker

A young couple on their way to vacation in the Catskills are too nice for their own good and picks up a hitchhiker who in turn turns interferes with their relationship. It may sound like the beginning of an urban myth but that's the plot of this independent wonder.

The shaky camerawork will seem like a vertigo-like flashback to The Blair Witch Project and the lack of noticeable background music makes the conversations drag but it's not bad. Despite the constantly moving camera the angles and shots are quite good.

The line of genius is defined here by whether or not the quick cuts and edits are mistakes or on purpose. The darkness scene and the dream sequence are especially well done. When the camera is still there is an air of professionalism perhaps might be better inhaled.

The couple in question played by Mitchell Riggs and Hilary Howard is in trouble. We all know a couple like this. They act like they are so in love but are seldom alone. It seems like they need a third or fourth person in the equation or else they'll go for each other's throats. They're afraid to be alone.

The third, the hitchhiker, Lyle by name, is played with stone-like immunity by Anthony Leslie. We see hints of danger for quite some time before they come to fruition but when they do he's quite good at being bad.

While it stinks of independent film it has pockets of oddball conversation about outsider art, being alone in the woods, cellphone towers and spontaneity that are kind of refreshing compared to other works in this vein.

See it at your own risk, but enjoy it if you do.

Sisters

APING THE MASTER

A Video Review of Sisters

Copyright 2003 Glenn Walker

Director Brian DePalma has many times been accused of ripping off the master Alfred Hitchcock's style and techniques with his films such as Carrie, Body Double and especially Sisters. 'Ripping off' and, to the extreme, theft are strong terms. After viewing Sisters again for the first time in a few years I would have to say the one we're looking for is 'homage.' DePalma is paying tribute to the master.



The film having been made during his lifetime I'm sure had Hitchcock known of the script for Sisters he'd have probably killed for it. It's right up his alley, every element is strikingly Hitchcockian. Voyeurism, murder by knife and of course the plucky independent girl reporter who wants more.

The pre-Lois Lane Margot Kidder plays a dual role of separated Siamese twins Dominique and Danielle. She is wonderfully dopey and believable even with her French accent. Jennifer Salt (whatever became of her?) is the plucky girl reporter who believes she saw Kidder slash up a lover from her apartment window across the way. Charles Durning is terrific in an early role as a helpful private investigator.

Although it begins quite bizarrely like Peter Veerhoven doing a 1970s ABC movie of the week but quickly turns into a Hitchcock flick. The "Peeping Toms" TV show in the opening looks precariously like a 21st century reality show. Perhaps DePalma was years ahead of his time voyeur-wise. His use of flashback and split screen images as well as his tricky camera shots make DePalma a genius all his own independent of the man whose mastery this film pays homage.

Sisters is a truly amazing accomplishment and should be able to stand alone as Brian Depalma's achievement rather than Hitchcock's tribute. It's a thriller and a shocker that should not be missed.

15 Minutes

IF ONLY IT WERE JUST FIFTEEN MINUTES…

A Video Review of 15 Minutes

Copyright 2003 Glenn Walker

Probably Andy Warhol's most well known contribution to pop culture is his quote, "In the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes." It's also the thrust of the movie 15 Minutes written and directed by New Jersey native John Herzfeld who also did 2 Days in the Valley and a whole slew of movies for TV.

Two Russian criminals on a murder spree in New York decide to film their exploits for tabloid TV to get 'their fifteen minutes' thus living out the American dream. Played by Karel Roden and Oleg Taktaarov they are almost like a murderous east European Abbott and Costello.

On the side of the angels this time are the critically invincible Robert DeNiro as a media savy cop and Edward Burns (The Brothers McMullen, Saving Private Ryan) as an arson investigator. They do their best to contrast each other and sometimes it works.



Rounding out the cast Kelsey Grammer actually has me believing him as a tabloid TV reporter and I hate "Fraiser." He's good herewith a surprising foul mouth. Perhaps if he dropped a few F bombs on "Fraiser" it might be worth watching. It is always great to see Avery Brooks as he should be seen - out of Starfleet uniform. Look for David Alan Grier as the mugger in the park. It's one of his funniest bits in years. And don't miss Rosanne's cameo as Jerry Springer.

15 Minutes is extraordinarily ultraviolent, definitely deserving of an R rating. It is an excellent "Columbo" type mystery in places. The relationship between the criminals is a bit disturbing to say the least. DeNiro and Burns do some of the best detective work this side of "Profiler" but none of this can save this film.

It's just too long. The movie never seems to end. If only it were just fifteen minutes long it might be worth it.

Kiss of the Dragon

ALMOST JAMES BOND

A Video Review of Kiss of the Dragon

Copyright 2003 Glenn Walker

With its smooth hero, vicious villain, exotic location and cool action scenes Kiss of the Dragon could have easily been a James Bond movie, an old school James Bond movie from the pen of Ian Fleming.

Kiss of the Dragon is based on a short story by star Jet Li, directed by first timer Chris Nahon with screenplay by producer Luc Besson, who also directed other great action flicks like La Femme Nikita and The Fifth Element.

A Chinese police officer is betrayed by corrupt French police while trying to capture a Chinese drug lord in France and then finds himself on the run. It's a simple plot but chockfull of very old school James Bond elements and sensibilities just without the snappy banter.



It of course could have had the snappy banter though. Of all the Asian stars that have come to our shores recently like Jackie Chan and Chow Yun Fat only Jet Li actually seems to have a grasp of the English language enough to be as good an actor here as there. The highlights of the flick are his as well with his amazing martial arts skills that like those of the legendary Bruce Lee had too be slowed down for the camera. The 'lights out' scene in the orphanage is brilliantly done.

Bridget Fonda is no Bond girl but she turns in an admirable performance as a prostitute forced into the life by the manipulations of the corrupt French police inspector played by Tcheky Karyo to the hilt as a typical but inept Bond-style villain.

While in the current political environment I don't mind seeing Jet Li kicking the asses of evil French police but it would have been cooler to see old Jet taking on foes that were worthy of his delicate attention.

Very old school James Bond, don't miss it.

Dolores Claiborne

NOT THE BOOK BUT NOT BAD EITHER

A Video Review of Dolores Claiborne

Copyright 2003 Glenn Walker

Stephen King is a gifted writer. No, that's not quite right, it's an amazing understatement. King is the world's best selling author. He's also one of my favorites. If you've read him you know how he writes. Most of the stuff happens in people's heads. This is very hard to translate to film. This is why I shudder every time Hollywood brings one of his works to the big screen. They very rarely get it right.

The book of "Dolores Claiborne" was the rather disjointed if not entertaining life story of an abused wife who had had enough and finally fought back. The book covers decades. That's a hard thing to do in a film. So Hollywood changed the thrust of the story to a murder mystery with a mother and daughter's relationship at its center. The story is all still there just from a different perspective and additional information. It's really not as bad as previous King adaptations.



Kathy Bates, who has appeared in quite a few King works most notably Misery for which she won an Oscar, plays the title character and Jennifer Jason-Leigh is her daughter. Christopher Plummer does an interesting turn as the detective after Dolores, his affected Maine accent sadly diluting his acting ability.

Dolores Claiborne isn't a horror movie despite who wrote it. There is some pretty intense domestic violence and a couple of bizarre dissolves but no monsters that go bump in the night. It's not the book but it's not bad either. See it.