smoothjazzandmo re

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Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing

Surprizingly Well Kept For It's ...
By smoothjazzandmore in smoothjazzandmore Blog
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"I remember watching this film with my mom on a weekday afternoon as a kid and wondering why she was crying at the end. It seemed boring as a kid watching it. But as my taste for movies advanced, so did the understading of this film. I took a chance on this film again and was pretty touched by it. It's a carefully patterned film with one of my favorite actors. William Holden is a true romantic leading man. He would get another shot on a similar project, "The World of Susie Wong." The casting of Jennifer Jones was satisfactory as she plays her part very well, although it loses it's luster as she is not asian. But it's the backdrop of Hong Kong and the beautifully photographed landscape that impressed me the most, epecially the unforgetable musical score that surrounds the couple. Though the film does seem tame compared to the chick-flix nowadays. But I'll take this film over any of the others currently being made. As for the familiar tune, you'll have it in your head all ... " [More]

The Day After

The Scariest Movie of All Time!
By smoothjazzandmore in smoothjazzandmore Blog
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"You wanna see a scary movie? I'm not talking about a slasher chasing blonde haired, blue eyed aryan teenagers! I'm not talking about someone in a gorilla suit ripping up models of cities. I'm talking about a film based on an event that could possibly happen in our lifetime! In 1984, this film premiered on ABC-TV. The film's impact and magnetude was huge. The film recieved the highest ratings of any TV movie ever broadcast on free television. Director Nicholas Meyer's vision of a world gone mad was very effective and eerily haunting. For many years after viewing it, I couldn't watch this film as it was very disturbing. The images of people being incinerated into dust scared me into a cold sweat for many months after. I finally found the courage to watch a re-broadcast on the Sci-Fi channel (Ironic, since it could considered "Science Fact" that a nuclear holocaust could happen.). Though some of the settings are dated (there are no more Sovi ... " [More]

The Honeymoon Killers

No More Lonely Nights!
By smoothjazzandmore in smoothjazzandmore Blog
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"I first viewed this film in 1980 on an arts network that was then called "Action Plus" (now called Bravo). I thought the film was slow paced and dull at the time. After recently watching the film on IFC, my opinion has changed. This story based on the real life escapades of the most notorious murders in New York State really grows on you. I'm still enthralled by the performance of Shirley Stoler. Not only was her performance of Martha Beck powerful, in the end, it made you feel no empathy for her character. I wish she could have been more successful as an actress (For another great performance by Stoler, check out Lina Wertmueller's "Seven Beauties".). Tony LoBianco is outstanding as the cunning other half, Ray Fernandez. Though dark and disturbing, the film doesn't glamorizes the two criminals. I also thought the use of music added to the drama was also very effective. Though not a horror movie, this film will leave you haunted for days. ... " [More]

Training Day

100% Denzel! Nothing Else!
By smoothjazzandmore in smoothjazzandmore Blog
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"If there was a performance that is equal to some of the most ruthless characters in screen history, then Denzel Washington's Oscar winning performance as L.A. Detective Alonzo Harris is right up there. He is evil as he is charming. Washington is clearly enamored by his character and any resemblance to other "goody-two-shoes" performances has been destroyed. Ethan Hawke also give an Oscar nominated performance as the rookie trying to work the fine line of ethical behavior. The current climate of the LAPD surely isn't going to help with this film as it's another siering indictment against the police establishment. " [More]

8 Mile

White Men Can't Jump...But They ...
By smoothjazzandmore in smoothjazzandmore Blog
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"Marshall Mathers, a.k.a. Eminem, gives a rather humbling performance as Jimmy "Bunny Rabbit" Smith, Jr.; a wanna-be rapper with problems bigger than what we can imagine. He's down on his luck and has to move back home to his mom's house. Couple that with the fact that he has a fear of rejection. In more ways than one, his problems are our problems we face in everyday life. This makes the movie smart and easy to manufacture. It's not the best film, but it does entertain as well as tell an effective story about challenges and courage. " [More]

Black Orpheus

The Movie That Brought Bossa No ...
By smoothjazzandmore in smoothjazzandmore Blog
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"The film is based on the Greek fable of Orpheous and Euridice, who are pursued by death. I finally saw this movie from the beginning after years of watching pits and pieces of it. The scenes of Rio de Janiero, Brazil and the music of Bossa Nova legend, Antonio Carlos Jobim give this movie a distinct aura of beauty and mystique. It's funny and heartbreaking. The film will make you want to go to carnival next February. It is a breathtaking movie experience! " [More]

Four Brothers

An Urban "Who-Done-It?" Tale!
By smoothjazzandmore in smoothjazzandmore Blog
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"When four brothers go home to Detroit to bury their deceased foster mother, they find out her death was no accident. They then search for the truth and bring the perpetrators to justice. Director John Singleton brings together some high class talent to make this film work. Mark Wahlberg, Garrett Hedlund, Tyrese Gibson and Andre Benjamin playing the brothers gives the movie substance. They work together nicely as a unit. Oscar nominee Terrance Howard gives a strong preformance in a supporting role as the police detective searching for clues. The action sequences are stellar. However, it does fall flat at times with the dialogue and plot. Overall, its a good action film that I would recommend. " [More]

Rebound

Cute Family Film!
By smoothjazzandmore in smoothjazzandmore Blog
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"When hot shot college basketball coach Roy McCormick has a meltdown on the court, he's bannished to coach a group of underachievers at his former junior high school. This was a surprizing funny film that isn't full of foul language or tasteless humor. Martin Lawrence shows he can give laughs without being vulgar. Good entertainment for the whole family! " [More]

World Trade Center

Oliver Stone Keeps It Real!
By smoothjazzandmore in smoothjazzandmore Blog
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"When Oliver Stone makes movies of historical value, he tends to exagerate the facts (i.e. JFK, Salvador, Midnight Express). In this film, he completely stays out of delivering negative propaganda on who was responsible and focuses on the ordeal and rescue of Port Authority policemen John McLoughlin (Nicolas Cage) and Will Jimeno (Michael Peña). The result is a movie that all viewers would be proud of. The film was made with courage and sympathy to the victims. Some viewers may be put off by the intensity of the subject matter, due to the film being too soon to watch. This film is very much needed in this day and age in hopes that the events of September 11th, 2001 are never forgotten. " [More]

Jackie Brown

The Movie's Real Star Is The Mu ...
By smoothjazzandmore in smoothjazzandmore Blog
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"Quentin Tarantino pays homage to the blackploitation era of the 70's in this film based on Elmore Leonard's novel, "Rum Punch". Unlike the book, the film's lead character is black, not white. That change actually enhances the movie, making it more authentic. Pam Grier gives a Oscar worthy performance as the flight attendant hooked into a dangerous plot. Robert Forester gives one of his best performances of his career as bail bondsman, Max Cherry. Couple that with an all-star cast featuring Robert DeNiro, Michael Keaton, Bridget Fonda and Samuel L. Jackson. But what makes this film shine is the music. Fans of late 70's soul music will be asking for the soundtrack. Though a notch below Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill, Tarantino's "Jackie Brown" still delivers the goods! Very Good Film! " [More]

Fahrenheit 9/11

"Fool Me Once, Shame On Yo ...
By smoothjazzandmore in smoothjazzandmore Blog
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"I used to be a Conservative Republican. I voted for George Bush in 2000. I used to think Michael Moore was a big fat, disgustiung ogre who had a chip on his shoulder against President Bush. Watching him up there on the stage at the Oscars giving his acceptance speech in 2003 enraged me at the time. But one year after the Iraq war, things started coming unraveled that would change my faith in the GOP and give this movie an honest look. More and more, I started hearing about bad intelligence. One was the fact that Iraq had "NO" weapons of mass destruction, as alleged by the Bush Administration. Intelligence made up by the CIA had us believing Hussein was manufacturing Uranium in the African country of Niger. That intelligence was rebuked by PBS's Frontline story, "The Dark Side" and lead to the outing of CIA agent, Valerie Plame by Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, L. "Scooter" Libby. Another was the fact that the Patriot Act was ... " [More]

An Inconvenient Truth

A Convincing Arguement Delivered!
By smoothjazzandmore in smoothjazzandmore Blog
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"Al Gore, the former Vice-President of the United States, delivers what could be the most important speeches of his life on a topic he's been researching for the last 35 years. Through dramatic before and after photos and compelling flow charts, Vice-President Gore shows the devastating affects the Industrial revolution has done to the Earth. He also shows how people in power are doing to try to debuke scientific data. It seems like those who choose not to believe are those who elect to cause chaos (i.e. G.O.P. Presidents Reagan, Bush I & II, Christian Leaders.). Like it or not, Global Warming does exists! Everything we do effects the planet's future. Regardless of what your political or religious beliefs, you owe it to yourself not just to watch, but to listen objectively. What you do afterwards is your own doing! " [More]