Conference bookie::movies

    I saw a clip last night and it also stars Juliette Lewis as 
    a singer who Fiennes appeared to be taken with.  He was 
    watching her sing.
    
    Don't know any more...

    
    	This was previewed when the new "Batman" movie came out, and I
    	believe it's got something to do with virtual reality and/or
    	brainwashing.
    

    So, someone apparently brainwashed Juliette into thinking she 
    could sing?    

    No, they brainwashed the rest of us into thinking she can act.
    
    Mo
    

    It's called "Strange Days".  Stars Ralph Fiennes and Angela Bassett.
    
    He's a guy who can get it for you whole--er, wrong movie.  He's a guy
    who sells virtual experiences (you know, the "jacking in" thing). She's
    a bodyguard who, I think, is hired to protect him after Something Goes
    Awry.
    
    
    I believe the movie is due in November.
    
    
    
    cheers,
    
    
    kim
    

    
    at theaters Oct 15th,if I recall correctly from last nights ad
    on tv.

    I believe this is directed by Kathryn Bigelow ("Near Dark", "Point
    Break", "Blue Steel", and was at one time working on a film version of
    the William Gibson story "New Rose Hotel").
    
    I hear part of it involves experiencing replays of murders through VR.
    
    - Dave

    
    ooops. now i hear the release date is Oct 13. Makes sense, a Friday.
    Near Dark, seen it a couple of times. One of my favorite, horror-
    vampire movies. 
    
    Dave
    

    I think the story line is...he sells Experiences from other peoples
    lives (ie..murder, sex, etc) through VR  BUT there was a murder
    and he's got it "on tape?"  and "they" are after him, Angela B. is
    his bodyguard...looks good....can't wait to see this one....
    "They" say, Ralph's performance is "riveting"...I saw a trailer
    and it seemed   intense.

For those on the web, see http://www.strangedays.com/

I've seen a pirate copy of the James Cameron screenplay, and it's 
a very dark, very bizarre story.  Fiennes plays a dealer in tapes that 
you can wire into your head (Cameron says its not virtual
reality, but it sounds like the concept to me) so as to have
the experience on the tape.

Also stars Angela Bassett.  

> you can wire into your head (Cameron says its not virtual
> reality, but it sounds like the concept to me) so as to have
> the experience on the tape.
    
    Sounds like Brainstorm" meets "Total Recall"...
    
      John (avoiding the name �Louis Wu� as there's no "Ringworld" movie)

    .10
    thanks for the www address....i'll look at it ... it will be out
    next friday and I am anticipating enjoying this one...I read 
    Kath Bigelow had to  fight   for Ralph F. to get the part..."they"
    (the money men)  did Not want him for the lead....I think Ralph
    will be awesome...his performance looks intense like he was as the
    Nazi in Schindlers List.....He was riveting..couldnt take my eyes
    off him.

    I read that the VR which is being hawked is of a horrific nature in
    that it presents a view of a murder , or a rape or other crime from
    entirely the eye of the murderer or rapist so that the viewer feels
    that he is part of the scene and actually is looking through the
    eyes of the criminal at the scene that unfolds on screen. The reviewer,
    I forget which one, said that this was a new dimension to film making
    and should prove to be a sensational, if not horrific experience for
    the person watching, depending on the viewer's sensitivity.
    
    Who knows anyway what it will be like until the movie is released...
    

    NPR� Movie critic Tom Shales panned it this morning (10/13).
    Says HE doesn't like the cyberspace movie genre to begin with,
    and that this one has no plot, just Ralph (pronounced "rafe")
    pushing VR films in a violent ("just like today") L.A. in 1999.
    
    And that Fiennes, pronounced "fines", is terribly mis-cast.
    
      John
    
    ------------------------------------------------
    �U.S. National Public Radio, not exactly the BBC

>       <<< Note 937.14 by EVMS::HALLYB "Fish have no concept of fire" >>>
>                            -< One beholder's eyes >-
>
>    NPR� Movie critic Tom Shales panned it this morning (10/13).

I believe Shales is actually a Critic (the C is purposely capitalized, 
see below) with the LA Times.  He just appears as the staff critic on NPR.

The capital C is because I can't remember Shales ever saying ANYTHING
good about a movie, and when he does Criticize, he belabors every point
with myriad examples and exquisite detail.  He's got his seven minutes
to fill, and a simple "poorly filmed, badly scripted, unmotivated 
performances" won't fill seven minutes.
"Don't just knock it down, keep kicking it."

- tom]

This is a disturbing film for several reasons, but that doesn't keep it from being
a very good movie.  Smart, sharp vision on the part of the director, excellent performances
from Angela Bassett and Ralph Fiennes, a strong message about society and violence delivered
in a new voice.

However I found it hard to watch and listen to.  "Raging Bull" and "Taxi Driver" are
two of the greatest films of our time, but I have never been able to watch them all the way
through for similar reasons.  It isn't just the violence (which is extraordinarily powerful
and very important in this film as it is in those), but the head games that are going along 
with it.  It's not an upbeat picture of the year 2000, but it's uncomfortably believable.

The story (weak as it is) is not really the point of this film.  The picture of the society we are 
becoming is.  Not for the squeamish, the sensitive, the depressed, or prudish.  But I'd still 
give it ***.5/*****.

dcl

    This is a disturbing film for several reasons, but that doesn't keep it
    from being a very good movie.  Smart, sharp vision on the part of the
    director, excellent performances from Angela Bassett and Ralph Fiennes,
    a strong message about society and violence delivered in a new voice.

    However I found it hard to watch and listen to.  "Raging Bull" and
    "Taxi Driver" are two of the greatest films of our time, but I have
    never been able to watch them all the way through for similar reasons. 
    It isn't just the violence (which is extraordinarily powerful and very
    important in this film as it is in those), but the head games that are
    going along  with it.  It's not an upbeat picture of the year 2000, but
    it's uncomfortably believable.

    The story (weak as it is) is not really the point of this film.  The
    picture of the society we are  becoming is.  Not for the squeamish, the
    sensitive, the depressed, or prudish.  But I'd still  give it
    ***.5/*****.

    dcl

    
    
    
    Ralph Fiennes was Not miscast as they said....I strongly liked
    him in this performance...he was a sleeze but one with some feelings
    Angela Bassett seemed to be overacting at certain points in the film
    but I enjoyed her too.......Juliette Lewis was miscast as the
    rocksinger this girl can't act to save her soul...Gawd is she awful
    in ALL her films....
    
    .17 
    I also found this almost impossible to watch because the camera
    moves constantly (I stoped watching NYPD Blue for that reason)
    its hard to relax with your eyes going all over the place plus
    the music score in sections almost    deafened me.....BUT ...
    I liked this movie!  ha    The violence wasn't real graphic
    so I couldn't feel the full impact  so it didn't faze me that much
    I LOVED the whole concept of the film and the "clips" of real
    experiences was an innovative idea.....Somehow  Kathryn Bigelow
    could have done better with this but didn't  but Ralph was worth
    watching in this character        B-
    

I can't imagine something more graphically violent that assuming the POV of a 
rapist in the act.  But that's just me, I guess.

    The most entertaining thing in this movie is the music that accompanies the
    final credits. Sitting through to the final credits, however, is agonizing.
    Jerking the camera around and playing loud, repulsive music did little to
    keep me from being bored. Long before it ended, I just didn't really
    care what happened to these people and I had already guessed who the
    murderer was.

    As a near-Los Angelino, I found the movie to be offensively exploitive
    of the city's real problems and an utterly absurd vision of the city's
    future at that. The ending especially was ridiculously staged, wholly
    unbelievable and entirely too prolonged. 

    Thumbs down, emphatically.

    John
    

Rented this movie last night.

Definitely one of the more violent
movies I've seen in a while and a 
pretty dull storyline. I liked 
Angela Bassett the best of anyone
in this movie. Juliette Lewis is 
a terrible actress (she'll be forever
typecast as the waif/victim caught up in
a world of violence, drugs, sex, etc.)
and Ralph Fiennes
just seemed to smirk and saunter through
his role. I don't think his part required
much acting.

I couldn't figure out if this was an
indictment of the technology age where
video/virtual reality has become the new
narcotic, or an apocalyptic view of the 
end of the milennium (a common theme for James
Cameron), or a tribute to 
Rodney King and Snoop Doggy Dogg, or a let's
slam the LA Police. I'm surprised
there haven't been copycat incidents involving
Taser guns.

Disappointing to say the least.

De

    
    	At least I know I'm not the only 1 who isn't too impressed
    	with Juliette Lewis.
    

    Finally caught this.  It was overly long and really could have
    benefitted from some editing and the ending tended to drag on (a James
    Cameron thing, I think.  Lots of "false" endings.)  And the script
    seemed a bit thin in places, plotwise.  Entertaining, but not great.
    
    But Ralph Fiennes was entirely believable (and funny, sometimes) as
    Lenny the sleeze with the heart of gold and Angela Bassett did a nice
    job, too, even though her role could have used more meat.  Boy, when I
    grow up, I want an upper body like hers.
    
    Juliette Lewis was, well, Juliette Lewis, 'cept in purple-red hair.
    
    Gotta like that Ralph, tho...
    
    
    **.25 out of ****
    
    
    kim

    
    
    I caught this one on video and thought it was quite a good film.
    I thought they could have cast Juliette Lewis' part alot better.
    I mean this guy ( Ralph Fiennes ) was supposed to be head over heels
    in love with her and to me there was absolutely nothing
    attractive about her character and I think it was down to the acting.
    
    other than that, I really enjoyed the film!
    
    Chris
    :)

    I most be getting old and cranky!  I liked the story line but could it
    have been MORE VIOLENT!  Give me a break, from the beginning to the
    bitter end it was non-stop for no reason whats-so-ever.  What did New
    Years eve have anything to do with anything??
    
    Maybe * out of *****
    
    Save yourself the agony and play outside.

    
    
    the new year's eve thing added to the feeling. Ya know, the start
    of a new millenia...hope/dispair etc...
                                          
    It also added to the danger factor due to the possibility of
    rioting with the number of people on the streets.
    
    Chris
    :)

    Reneted it a week ago or so.  Thought it was a little long, but overall
    not entirly terrible.  I liked the Idea of having the movie set on what
    will most likely be the biggest party night ever.  Added a bit of
    twist to the story.
    
    I do have to say that IMO Juliette Lewis should find another line of
    work.  They most definatly could have found someone better.
    
    Peter
    

    I heard it was real violent. Can't wait to see it.
    -ss

    there were some violent scenes, but nothing that I would consider
    extra-oridinary.  Anglea Bassette does, however, kick some serious A$$. 
    
    P