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)
J: John Q, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
JOHN Q (NEUTRAL)
When I see a film with a huge cast of A-listers with a first quarterrelease date, I always get a little suspicious: Why would so many starswho can pick and choose their material, select a film that the studioswould see as a risk (as indicated by the release date)? The answer: tosupport a cause, a film with a message. The film criticizes the currenthealth care system in the United States.
Denzel Washington plays JOHN Q, a decent, hard-working, blue collar manwho will do anything to save his son's life. As if having a sick sonwere not enough, John Q's financial situation leads him to takedesperate and drastic measures. John Q decides to fight the system byholding a few people hostage at the emergency room at the hospitalwhere his son lay dying. He hopes to use the hostages as leverage inbargaining for a transplant for his son, but he ends up with more thanhe bargained for, including crazed patients (David Thornton, EddieGriffin, Laura Harring, and Martha Chaves), a frustrated doctor (JamesWoods), a hard-nosed hospital administrator (Anne Heche), and adetermined Chicago Police force (represented by Ray Liotta and RobertDuvall).
Although I commend the cast and crew (Director Nick Cassavetes, WriterJames Kearns, and Producers: Mark Burg, Oren Koules, Michael De Luca,Richard Saperstein, and Avram Butch Kaplan) for taking a position andvoicing an opinion about health care and the disparity of wealth in theUS, I cannot compliment the filmmakers based on artistic merit orproduction value. The film has moments of suspense, but for the mostpart, JOHN Q goes overboard and becomes sappy. The decisions to useparallel editing do not successfully establish concurrent events, butinstead extend time and create excessive melodrama. The cast, otherthan Kimberly Elise, who plays John Q's wife, all give believableperformances.
JOHN Q certainly deserves a place in history because it captures asentiment specific to our country at the present time, but as a film interms of entertainment and technical achievement, it falls short andwill probably fade from memory. Unfortunately, what the film tries todo and what it actually achieves are two very different things. JOHN Qopens wide starting February 15th.
JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK (NEUTRAL)
JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK is yet another road trip/ buddyadventure film done in the goofy spirit of DUMB & DUMBER and BILL& TED'S MOST EXCELLENT ADVENTURE. JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK isboth a spoof of and tribute to the pop culture of the 1970s and 1980s,the time when Lucas' STAR WARS trilogy, including THE EMPIRE STRIKESBACK, hit theaters (and when most of the cast and crew were children).Jay (played by Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (played by writer/director,Kevin Smith) go on a trek to Hollywood to prevent the comic bookrepresentation of them from hitting the big screen. Along the way toHollywood to shoot the stars, they encounter a number of distractionsincluding: a give-em-what-they-want hitchhiker; Scooby and the gang;Charlie's Sirens the animal rights activists; a bumbling, fanaticalanimal ranger; a cuddly fugitive from Planet of the Apes, and a lot ofHollywood hot shots.
The parodies that Smith and the rest of the filmmakers create willappeal to the nostalgia of many Gen Xers (the same age group of most ofthe cast and crew). The film also host a long list of cameo appearancesby some of Hollywood's hottest past and present including: Mark Hammil,Carrie Fisher, George Carlin, Jason Lee, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, SeannWilliam Scott, Jason Biggs, James Van Der Beek, Chris Rock, JuddNelson, Will Ferrell, Tracy Morgan, Gus Van Sant, Wes Craven, JulesAsner, Jon Stewart, Morris Day, and Shannen Doherty, among others.Again, their appearances will make audiences laugh and cheer,especially Gen Xers since they will remember the stars in a similarcontext as the filmmakers. Even though a lot of Gen Xers and Gen Y willprobably appreciate the angry and humor, I do not think JAY AND SILENTBOB STRIKE BACK will appeal to many Baby Boomers because the "fart anddick" jokes along with the foul language will probably be a turn off topeople over forty.
I suspect that JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK will have a largefollowing by Gen Xers who enjoy in-your-face humor for the rebellion itrepresents. Furthermore, the trip back to the 1970s and 1980s throughappearances of pop icons will also put a smile on those who are underforty. Yet, I doubt that the film will appeal to a large audience. Thismovie would be equally enjoyable on video and will probably do quitewell during its after-market release (DVD and video). JAY AND SILENTBOB STRIKE BACK hits theaters August 2001.
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