ScreenArchive

y

 

6 - Volcanic
5 - Blistering
4 - Hot
3 - Smolder
2 - Room Temperature
1 - Fizzled
0 - Extinguished

A - Multiple Viewing Possibilities
B - Deserves Another Look
C - Once Should Suffice

 

THE YARDS
With Mark Wahlberg, Joaquin Phoenix, Charlize Theron, Faye Dunaway, Ellen Burstyn, James Caan
Directed by James Gray
The innocent man in this 'I didn't do it' yawn of a movie is Mark Wahlburg. Marky is on parole, he gets a job with his (conniving) uncle's train yard maintenance contractors. The various contractors are all vying for the same jobs so they sabotage each other's work all the time. One night things get out of hand when ol' Marky goes along (his first sabotage outing) and a stationmaster gets shot. Our hero assaults a police officer and runs away. The dead man becomes a big headache and to save their business everything is blamed on Marky Mark. And so once again, like so many times before, an innocent man has to hide from the police and the bad guys while trying to get the real killer and prove his innocence. Stay 1000 yards AWAY from this boring rehashed crap.
- Uncle Vinnie

YELLOWCARD - Beyond Ocean Avenue
Some of us may be sick of pop slanted nu-punk bands going through the same old high-school geek yawn. Sometimes they come around with a little something extra that allows you to give them a chance. In the case of Yellowcard, they started in school threw a violin into the mix. Their drummer is also pretty good. This DVD offers both a lively show at the Electric Factory and a road documentary. They've gone from a bunch of kids to a full-fledged touring band. If you're a fan you'll be thrilled. If you're merely checking it out as an interest factor, you'll have to resell it soon before the novelty wears off.
3 / B
- PB


YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
With Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman, Teri Garr, Madeline Kahn, Gene Hackman
Directed by Mel Brooks
This is one of Mel's greatest films. As usual he rips existing material, but in this case it is brilliant - also thanks to his great cast. Wilder plays a descendent of the notorious Dr. Frankenstein. Although he tries to fight it, he cannot resist the inbred urges to follow in the life creating man's footsteps. So, he travels to the castle where it all happened, to recreate events. With absolutely hilarious results Brooks reinvents the story with ample slapstick, all in black & white. Wilder and Fldman are superb. Not to be missed.
5 / A
- PB


YOUR HANDS ON MY HIPS
With Chantal Lauby, Claude Perron, Armelle Deutsch, Jean Hughues Anglade, Jean-Pierre Martins
Directed by Chantal Lauby
Not everyone wants to face middle aged single life. With past marriages and kids, falling in love again won't seem very likely, but the need and hope remains, no matter what the age. Odile is an aging but popular French actress. Her daughter is about to leave home and she tries to believe (with her friends) that single life is OK. She still knows how to flirt and exude sex appeal. When she meets a rough carnival co-owner (Kadir) much younger than her, their differences and stubbornness seems to get the better of them, but they can't deny reality. With a healthy dose of humour, this is a highly enjoyable Euro-romance which in an American version would've featured Melanie Griffith or Diane Keaton, and completely sucked. I can easily imagine an English language remake, but why bother if you can enjoy this one - unless you're a lazy subtitle reader.
4 / C
- PB

© 2006 Flamedrop Productions