KEA Productions: DVD Movie Reviews
from the archives of NuReel.com, The Berkeley Daily Planet, and Alameda Sun- written by Kamala Appel
ratings: Plus (highest)-Neutral (okay)-Negatives (pass & omitted from archive)
G: Gladiator
H: High Fidelity, Himalaya
GLADIATOR (plus/neutral)
Oscar winner best picture, bestactor (Russell Crowe), nominee supporting actor (Joaquin Phoenix wasriveting). Post modern visuals. Surprisingly not gruesome. A big screenmust see. Entertaining and epic, but don't believe the hype.
HIGH FIDELITY (NEUTRAL)
An emotional drifter laments love lost as he listens to his favorite music. John Cusack co-writes and stars along witha big cast including Catherine Zeta-Jones and Lily Taylorwho probably would have been more compelling leading ladiesthan one selected. Very strong character development andacting. A bit talky and slow-paced, but meaningfulstory makes this film worth viewing.
Himalaya (neutral)
2000 seems to be the year of films with visuals that blind audiences to the lack of a
compelling story or sympathetic characters. "Himalaya" hosts shot after
breathtaking shot; some are so remarkable that it is difficult to believe that the crew
was able to film without falling off a cliff or freezing in thesnow (see our
production stills in the Highlights area). Capturing the landscape is a special honor
since most of the Dolpo region of Nepal is difficult to access and forbidden to those
who have not obtained permission from the Nepalese government. Unfortunately,
the story and characters are not as inspired as the cinematography.
"Himalaya" follows a caravan of salt traders as they make a trek from their northern
region to the southern region of Tibet to trade for grains. They battle the weather,
the terrain, and each other, as the clan fights to maintain tradition.
Eric Valli, the film's director, has spent most of his professional life as a
photographer and author for some of the nation's top magazines like National
Geographic, The New York Times Magazine, Smithsonian, andLife. Although
"Himalaya" is the first Nepalese production to receive an Oscar nomination (Best
Foreign Language Film 2000), Valli received an Oscar nomination for "Shadow Hunters" in
1992. Valli took a documentarian approach to making "Himalaya". He explains
that he "had to be as transparent as possible and let the force and richness of their
own lives come forward. [I] He was telling their story and history." (press
notes Kino International) Valli does succeed in letting the characters speak for
themselves; however he fails to give them anything interesting to say.
Most of the actors are not professional actors and the fact that they lived lives
similar to those they portrayed, gives the film a neorealistic quality seen in the
Italian films of the 1940s. Karma Tenzing Nyima Lama who plays Norbou, the
chief's monk son, is a painter in real life and passed through Dolpo when he fled
India. Gurgon Kyap who plays Karma, the chief's adversary and possible predecessor,
is an actual "yakpa" (cowboy) from the eastern region of Tibet; and, like Nyima
Lama, he too fled India. Lhapka Tsamchoe ("Seven Years in Tibet") grew up in the South
of India with her parents who were merchants and owned yaks, similar to the
characters she portrayed in the film.
Unfortunately, I did not find any of the characters very sympathetic or interesting. At
times, I found some of the actors styles of screaming to be melodramatic and annoying,
especially the chief, Tinle and his grandson, Passang. However, the amazing
cinematography by Directors of Photography Eric Guichard and Jean-Paul Meurisse and the
eerie, dramatic music composed by Bruno Coulais almost makes up for the film's
tortuously slow pace.
If you are interested in Nepalese and Tibetan landscapes and cultures, then you will
find this film educational. However, do not goto the film expecting a compelling
narrative. This film could have been a slide show and it would preserve the same
merits, in my opinion. "Himalaya" will have a platform release in the U.S. starting
March 30th.
The House of Mirth (neutral)
"The House of Mirth" hosts a long list of familiar faces, cast inslightly unfamiliar roles. The cast includesGillian Anderson as Lily Bart, the heroine who finds herselfforced to decide between emotional and economic survival.Eric Stolz plays one of her many suitors, Lawrence Seldon, whois the one breath of fresh air in an otherwise stiflingcloud of social elitists. Some of the other cast membersinclude: Dan Aykroyd, as the conniving Gus Trenor; TerryKinney (THIRTYSOMETHING) as George Dorset, the emasculatedhusband of Laura Linney ("The Truman Show"); AnthonyLaPaglia (MURDER ONE and "Sweet and Lowdown") as the tycoonSim Rosedale; and Elizabeth McGovern ("OrdinaryPeople" and "Ragtime") as one of the few loyal friends Lily has,Carry Fisher.
Suffocated by her family and so-called friends, Lily attempts toescape. Yet despite all of her best efforts, fortune neverseems to smile upon her. Instead, she becomes a magnet for onemisfortune after another. Unfortunately for the audience, theseries of misadventures and encounters with one corrupt characterafter another, becomes somewhat boring. I realize thatwriter/director Terence Davies ("The Long Day Closes" and "TheNeon Bible") wanted to stay as true to the novel as possible when headapted the screenplay; however, the film drags. Daviesclaims that "The story is contemporary, a savage satire. It'sabout what you look like, how much money you have, and venality-what could be truer of modern day society?" (Sony PictureClassics Production Notes). Even though I agree that materialismand superficiality are in the forefront of American culture,I do not think that audiences will make the connectionbetween turn of the century elite and the nouveau riche thatthe media glamorizes today. The characters in "The Houseof Mirth" do not work and in fact, they look down upon thosewho are employed; whereas today work is everything andthose who are unemployed are viewed as lazy and despicable.Lily feels that she must marry to survive; today most womenwould be foolish is they thought marriage was the answerfor economic freedom (which is not to say that there arenot those who hold such beliefs, but for the most part,modern gold diggers are mocked and despised).
Although I think Gillian Anderson is a fine actress, I didnot find her believable as naive but strong, young woman. Ithink she was miscast. Davies was unfamiliarwith Anderson's work on THE X-FILES when he cast heras Lily Bart. He made a great mistake when he ignored baggagethat comes with an actor or actress's success. I find it difficult to believe that a woman in her mid to late thirtieswould be so naive and allowed to be unmarried by such an elitistfamily, during a time when unmarried women over twenty-five wereconsidered spinsters. I also do not think that she and Stolz havethe kind of on-screen chemistry that the characters were supposeto have in the book.
In addition to the talent in front of the camera,Davies attracteda lot of talent behind the camera.Producers includeOlivia Stewart, a long time collaboratorwith Davies, BobLast ("Entrapment", "Little Voice",and "Orlando"),and Pippa Cross ("My Left Foot", and "Jackand Sarah"). RemiAdefarasin is the Director of Photographyand has receivedan Oscar nomination and won the BAFTAfor "Elizabeth"and also worked on "The English Patient"and "Truly MadlyDeeply". Costume Designer, Monica Howe, whohas worked withDavies before on "The Neon Bible" and "TheLong Day Closes",created some elegant gowns that weretruly tasteful.
Despite all the talent, and even though there are some redeemingfactors like the acting, production design, and costumes; the filmis much longer than it needs to be. I think Davies made a mistakeby trying to be so true to the novel, that he did not take intoconsideration that very few films will maintain an audience'sattention for two hours or more, with scenes that do not providenew information or character development. He could haveshortened some of the scenes and preserved the integrity ofWharton's novel.
"The House of Mirth" will appeal to those who enjoy the visualsettings and clothing featured in period pieces. Fans of thenovel by Edith Wharton may also enjoy the film. However, Ido not think fans of the various stars should attend simplyfor the cast, for although they all give fine performances,they do not play parts that made them popular. "The House ofMirth" will have a platform release starting December 2000.This film would be equally enjoyable on video and maybe more so,due to the duration.
MEMENTO (PLUS)
A distraught widower is determined to track down his wife's murderer despite his mental handicap. Strong performance by GuyPierce and the supporting cast. Fascinating presentation of timeand unfolding of events that enable to audience to empathize withthe protagonist's memory deficiency (Pierce). Narrativeexperimentation that works. back to Reviews Directory
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