Movie review

  • 2005-04-27
THE PACIFIER
THE SEA INSIDE
DOWNFALL

THE PACIFIER

Director: Adam Shankman

This is not Kindergarten Cop 2, as "The Pacifier" has been dubbed, it's something much worse. This American comedy takes place in a world where grown-ups don't talk to kids, but ask: "So, what's wrong?" when the children's father just died. In this sad comedy a caring mother leaves her five children (including an infant) for two weeks in the hands of a Navy SEAL they don't know, shortly after, oh yes, their father has passed away. Now that's hilarious. Or is it? In Hollywood, they say you always have to do two movies for the business 's then you can do one for yourself. Perhaps Diesel did "The Pacifier" for the business, or just to get another movie made. It would be a sad, sad thing if this movie were the one he did for himself.
1/2 (Julie Vinten)

It's easy to imagine this film's producers gloating at all the big bucks waiting to be made. Imagine millions of eager fans anxious to watch Mr. Cool tough-guy Vin Diesel playing a nanny. Wow, you mean like a babysitter with a pack of unruly kids? Whoa, isn't that a completely original idea? Come on now, isn't it time to give everybody a break? This worn-out plot is so thin, that poor Diesel has nothing left to stand on except his unexpected charm. Surprisingly, that seems to be the only thing that actually does work in this unfunny, cliche-infested nonsense. You can't help feeling sorry for that likable lug, Diesel, though. But hey, he's just human and doing his job. Only five-year-olds and hardcore Diesel fans will be laughing.
(Laimons Juris G)

THE SEA INSIDE

Director: Alejandro Amenabar

This Oscar-winning Spanish drama is especially moving and truly gives food for thought. "The Sea Inside" is based on the life of Spaniard Ramon Sampedro, a quadriplegic, and his long fight for his right to die. As much as the feature's about Ramon, it's about the people whose lives he's touched. Should the man have his plea fulfilled? The movie is rather careful not to take sides, but describes, with intelligence and heart, how his decision influences the life of others. The film deals with the issues of life and death with unbelievable care and clarity. Javier Bardem is astounding as Ramon, and the rest of the cast is also splendid. Though you might shed a tear, "The Sea Inside" is really quite life-affirming.
(Julie Vinten)

Ramon Sampedro (Javier Bardem) has been paralyzed for almost 30 years after a miscalculated dive while swimming. Bed-ridden, he doesn't want to go outside, while his older brother's family lovingly takes care of him. He claims it is his right to die and bring his life to a dignified end. The quadriplegic has found himself a lawyer, Julia (Belen Rueda), specializing in human rights cases. Naturally, they tragically fall in love. Wunderkind director Alejandro Amenabar offers some poignant philosophical insight into the right-to-die issue, but this biopic fails to be absolutely convincing. Somehow, drinking a glass of water mixed with potassium cyanide is not exactly dignified. Nevertheless, "The Sea Inside" manages to serve up euthanasia with a bit more substance than Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby."
(Laimons Juris G)

DOWNFALL

Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel

"Downfall" tells the very important story of Adolf Hitler's final days and the fall of Berlin. This German feature eminently shows the madness of Hitler and the people that surrounded him. Most of the movie takes place in Hitler's bunker. This creates a cold and claustrophobic atmosphere, and puts strong focus on the characters, since the naked concrete walls provide no place for them to hide. No historic introduction is offered, and it isn't needed. However, a character-based feature does need character build-up and development, but "Downfall" offers little of this. The film deals with so many characters that we never truly get to know any of them, nor what motivates them to act as they do. Despite "Downfall's" narrative problems, the feature does leave quite an impression.
3/4 (Julie Vinten)

"Downfall" is a stunningly stark portrait of a 20th century demon in his final days as German fuehrer. It's curious to note that the film's Baltic premiere coincides with the 60-year anniversary of Hitler's end. Bruno Ganz is chillingly real as the infamous mass murderer, creating a most human aura around this despicable creature. However, this reviewer distinctly felt he was being brainwashed with that old standby suicide story. More current theories place the newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Schickelgruber (Hitler's real name), in a plane heading for Moscow on their aba-daba honeymoon. Despite the maudlin soap-opera sentimentality of this well-crafted film, Ganz's extraordinary performance is positively hypnotizing. Now it's time for a closer look into Schickelgruber's partner in crimes against humanity, Iosif Djugashvili (a.k.a. Uncle Joe Stalin).
1/2 (Laimons Juris G)
 

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