Gus-Van-Sant Movie Reviews

Before director Gus Van Sant decided to get all mushy on us with the likes of Finding Forrester, he made this suprisingly little-seen gem. The first time I saw it was not long after having seen Trainspotting, and I immediately understood where Trainspotting had found a great amount of its inspiration - like that film, Drugstore Cowboy is essentially a comedy. Black as they come, but a comedy none the less.

The story of a group of four junkies who raid drugstores in their search for drugs, this film takes a gritty, unflinching look at drugabuse and the hell people go through while using and after they quit. Shifting tones between deeply dramatic and darkly comical, Van Sant never judges his characters, but just allows them to speak for themselves - literally, as Matt Dillon's character narrates the movie. Dillon has never been better than here, and is supported by an excellent Kelly Lynch (where did she go in the meantime, anyway?) and a very young Heather Graham.

There are moments in this film you'll remember forever: when Dillon and Lynch get stuck in a motel hosting a sheriff's convention with a dead body on their hands, you don't know whether to laugh, cry or shiver at the thought. And who ever suspected that a song like "The Israelites" could be made to sound so haunting? In the framework of this movie, it does. Above all, this movie comes across as very honest and heartfelt, emotional without being corny, effective without being preachy.

DVD-edition features a fine transfer of the film - its occasional graininess is likely due to either the low budget it was shot on in the first place, or an artistic choice. I've never seen it any better than here, and the rough edges of it do seem to add to its content and mood. Commentary by Van Sant and Dillon starts out entertaining, but towards the end they seem to be searching for new things to say. Very good "making of"-featurette.

I was fortunate to see this film in its limited original release. Over the years much of it stayed with me, and it has stood up to repeated viewings. Hard to say what had the most impact: To see Matt Dillon turn in one of the best acting performances of that year? To witness one of the first performances of an interesting, talented unknown named Heather Graham? Or maybe the inspired performance of William Burroughs in a key role near the end? All the performances in this movie ring true. Truly one of the major overlooked films of the last 20 years.

loved this movie with a fire. Im a huge fan of Matt Dillon's work and he gives probably the best performance of his career and he hasnt topped it yet. he plays a druggy and he has a girlfriend played wonderfully by Kelly Lynch and he has two friends, James LeGros and Heather Graham and he also has a cop on his ass played nicely by James Remar. later a stealing of drugs goes bad and Graham kills herself so Dillon wants to rehabilitate and start over with his life and he checks in and he finds out one of his former teachers is going there. Max Perlich also stars as a dimwitted drug dealer. powerful anf funny. the bet scene is where that guy comes out of his house and shoots the cop on the ladder

Before director Gus Van Sant decided to get all mushy on us with the likes of Finding Forrester, he made this suprisingly little-seen gem. The first time I saw it was not long after having seen Trainspotting, and I immediately understood where Trainspotting had found a great amount of its inspiration - like that film, Drugstore Cowboy is essentially a comedy. Black as they come, but a comedy none the less.

The story of a group of four junkies who raid drugstores in their search for drugs, this film takes a gritty, unflinching look at drugabuse and the hell people go through while using and after they quit. Shifting tones between deeply dramatic and darkly comical, Van Sant never judges his characters, but just allows them to speak for themselves - literally, as Matt Dillon's character narrates the movie. Dillon has never been better than here, and is supported by an excellent Kelly Lynch (where did she go in the meantime, anyway?) and a very young Heather Graham.

There are moments in this film you'll remember forever: when Dillon and Lynch get stuck in a motel hosting a sheriff's convention with a dead body on their hands, you don't know whether to laugh, cry or shiver at the thought. And who ever suspected that a song like "The Israelites" could be made to sound so haunting? In the framework of this movie, it does. Above all, this movie comes across as very honest and heartfelt, emotional without being corny, effective without being preachy.

DVD-edition features a fine transfer of the film - its occasional graininess is likely due to either the low budget it was shot on in the first place, or an artistic choice. I've never seen it any better than here, and the rough edges of it do seem to add to its content and mood. Commentary by Van Sant and Dillon starts out entertaining, but towards the end they seem to be searching for new things to say. Very good "making of"-featurette.

I was fortunate to see this film in its limited original release. Over the years much of it stayed with me, and it has stood up to repeated viewings. Hard to say what had the most impact: To see Matt Dillon turn in one of the best acting performances of that year? To witness one of the first performances of an interesting, talented unknown named Heather Graham? Or maybe the inspired performance of William Burroughs in a key role near the end? All the performances in this movie ring true. Truly one of the major overlooked films of the last 20 years.

loved this movie with a fire. Im a huge fan of Matt Dillon's work and he gives probably the best performance of his career and he hasnt topped it yet. he plays a druggy and he has a girlfriend played wonderfully by Kelly Lynch and he has two friends, James LeGros and Heather Graham and he also has a cop on his ass played nicely by James Remar. later a stealing of drugs goes bad and Graham kills herself so Dillon wants to rehabilitate and start over with his life and he checks in and he finds out one of his former teachers is going there. Max Perlich also stars as a dimwitted drug dealer. powerful anf funny. the bet scene is where that guy comes out of his house and shoots the cop on the ladder

Nicole Kidman gives a chilling performance in Gus Van Sant's comedy-thriller TO DIE FOR, a very good movie.

Suzanne Stone (Nicole Kidman) is a small-town girl with a big-city dream, to become a famous television personality. Her dream seems remote when she marries a mild-mannered Italian (Matt Dillon), and then tries to make her dream a reality.

Securing a job at a local television station, Suzanne decides to produce a documentary about teenagers, and begins a torrid, illicit affair with James (Joaquin Phoenix). She begs him to kill her husband....

A lethal concoction of humour, sexuality, lust and unbridled ambition, TO DIE FOR is a fantastic, hypnotic film that is an exellent study in human obsession.

Wow...what a movie! And the fact that it's based on a true story makes it even more fun to watch. Kidman fans will go crazy over this film because it is one of her most ravishing performances to date! She is EXCELLENT in the role of the blonde seductress, Suzanne Maretto. Suzanne is an aspiring television newscaster and she is willing to do ANYTHING to become famous! When she starts to feel smothered and "held back" by her husband (played by Matt Dillon) she decides to manipulate 3 teenagers (played by Joaquin Phoenix, Casey Affleck-the younger brother of Ben Affleck, and Allison Folland) into killing him. A dark but witty film that will satisfy hardcore Kidman fans. A supporting cast of Illeana Douglas (who plays Matt Dillon's sister) and Dan Hedaya (who plays his father) works well also. This movie was actually remade for TV in 1991, called "Murder in New Hampshire" starring a young Helen Hunt, although it wasn't as good as this one!

Nicole Kidman is wonderfully wicked and calculating as Suzanne Stone. Her sugary sweet voice and ice princess demeanor are utterly flawless, just creepy enough to make for a great performance.
The supporting cast is excellent - every single actor brings something fresh and witty to the screen, making the story that much more enjoyable.
Buy it. I can't sit here and say anymore than that.

Nicole Kidman gives a chilling performance in Gus Van Sant's comedy-thriller TO DIE FOR, a very good movie.

Suzanne Stone (Nicole Kidman) is a small-town girl with a big-city dream, to become a famous television personality. Her dream seems remote when she marries a mild-mannered Italian (Matt Dillon), and then tries to make her dream a reality.

Securing a job at a local television station, Suzanne decides to produce a documentary about teenagers, and begins a torrid, illicit affair with James (Joaquin Phoenix). She begs him to kill her husband....

A lethal concoction of humour, sexuality, lust and unbridled ambition, TO DIE FOR is a fantastic, hypnotic film that is an exellent study in human obsession.

Wow...what a movie! And the fact that it's based on a true story makes it even more fun to watch. Kidman fans will go crazy over this film because it is one of her most ravishing performances to date! She is EXCELLENT in the role of the blonde seductress, Suzanne Maretto. Suzanne is an aspiring television newscaster and she is willing to do ANYTHING to become famous! When she starts to feel smothered and "held back" by her husband (played by Matt Dillon) she decides to manipulate 3 teenagers (played by Joaquin Phoenix, Casey Affleck-the younger brother of Ben Affleck, and Allison Folland) into killing him. A dark but witty film that will satisfy hardcore Kidman fans. A supporting cast of Illeana Douglas (who plays Matt Dillon's sister) and Dan Hedaya (who plays his father) works well also. This movie was actually remade for TV in 1991, called "Murder in New Hampshire" starring a young Helen Hunt, although it wasn't as good as this one!

Nicole Kidman is wonderfully wicked and calculating as Suzanne Stone. Her sugary sweet voice and ice princess demeanor are utterly flawless, just creepy enough to make for a great performance.
The supporting cast is excellent - every single actor brings something fresh and witty to the screen, making the story that much more enjoyable.
Buy it. I can't sit here and say anymore than that.

I happened upon this movie on cable the other night and was truely blown away by it. I've been an admirer of both River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves, and this is definitely there best work. The movie was less to me about male hustlers and more about the beautiful friendship between Mike (Phoenix) and Scott (Keanu's character). My two favorite scenes in the movie are 1). The campfire scene where River's character soulfully and painfully shares his love for his friend...braving rejection.

It was incredibly believable and River's emotions were overflowing with reality. It appeared to me that both River and Keanu had developed a strong bond in this movie. It showed in this very beautiful scene. 2) The trailer scene where River's character meets with his older "brother". It was so heartbreaking! It was pretty obvious to me where Mike (River) developed his narcolepsy...incredible scene. I give Gus Van Zant a standing ovation for this movie...well done!

This is a grim tale about 2 male hustlers. It's gritty and disturbing...and brilliant. Two of my favorite actors, River Phoenix(RIP) and Keanu Reeves star in it. Now I am sure many will find it laughable to pair those 2 together, but I enjoyed seeing them interact. Reeves acting skills may not be comparable to Phoenix's by any stretch of the imagination, but I find his charisma carries him. And what can you say about River? He was amazing in everything he did. He had a sweet, angelic quality that he could not hide behind a character, it always came through. His character in "Idaho", Mike, suffers from a disease called Narcolepsy, in which he unpredictably falls asleep whenever and wherever he happens to be. These scenes turned out to be prophetic and are now difficult to watch, seeing him lying asleep in the middle of the highway, or other various places in the film. I particularly found the scene when Mike proclaims his love for Keanu's character(Sorry, I can't recall his name) very touching. There is nothing pretty or glamorous about this film...it's not typical...it is not for the average movie buff. So don't be attracted by the stars in it if you can't handle anything without a happy ending, this one's not for you. But if you are willing to experience the seamy side of life, give it a chance. It's worth it. It's probably River's finest work. He didn't get to do much, but I hope he will always be rememebered, and fondly. (River...I miss you.)

Most people seem shocked when I tell them that "My Own Private Idaho" is one of my favorite movies ever, though I don't see why. One of Gus Van Sant's lower budget films, this melancholic adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henry IV" to the American West (chiefly Portland, Oregon and all around the western states) follows the adventures of a road-tripping prodigal son of wealthy and powerful politician (played to perfection by a reflective Keanu Reeves)and his best friend, a narcoleptic prostitute (a visionary performance by the late River Phoenix).

"My Own Private Idaho" is a marvel: dreamlike, eerie, haunting, constantly engaging, often surreal. There are a handful of films I have seen that completely transport me out of the feeling I'm seeing a film: this is one of them. The film's first haunting image of River Phoenix, alone, on a desolate stretch of Western highway, taken by his sickness, has to be seen to be believed; the eerie "Riding the Prairie" is a perfect complement to this movie about two strangers in a very strange land, journeying among the hustlers, hookers, con-men, schemers and bon vivants in the modern American West.

The plot is loose and rangy, and like its subjects, Van Sant uses it as needed to move the story along: Phoenix's character wants a reconciliation with his estranged mother, and certainly peace with himself. Keanu, sensing debauchery and fun, tags along, and the movie rambles about with them, taking note of their adventures and their pursuers (particularly delightful and outre is their awkward and funny tryst with an older woman, spoiled by Phoenix's narcolepsy, and a splendidly funny turn by Udo Kier as Hans, an unbearably kinky German john who simply will not be left behind).

For all its strangeness, there is a rich, empathetic core at the heart of this movie. Interviews with the film's young, hip, pierced and tattooed street prostitutes are funny, free-form, almost documentary in style, and often surprisingly moving, but the film is not hackneyed or saccharine; Van Sant has too much respect for his characters to ever stray into preachiness or movie-of-the-week ("this week: battling child prositution!" tone is not to be found here) territory.

The cinematography of "My Own Private Idaho" is lush and alluring, and the story and travels of its young and naive (albeit experienced) protagonists are fresh and intriguing enough for Van Sant to have neglected the tie-in with Shakespeare. That said, the allusion to Keanu as a treacherous Prince Hal, ready to sell out his friends to take up his destiny, doesn't harm the movie, and even accentuates its tragic tone---not to mention that indie-director William Richert is amusing as a latter-day Falstaff.

"My Own Private Idaho" is certainly not for everyone, and to many will seem contrived and inaccessible. But for the discriminating viewer who welcomes the opportunity to have River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves serve as tour guides into a strange and unsettling landscape, it will very likely prove unforgettable.

Genius is a fleeting thing. As Gus Van Sant's "Good Will Hunting" shows, one can dedicate his entire life to mastering an academic discipline . . . only to be one-upped by the janitor. Matt Damon made his cinematic break-through portraying Will Hunting, the MIT janitor who is a master of mathematics but a basket case in the more personal aspects of life. He is the janitor at MIT who catches the eye of Professor Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgard) who sees the unlimited potential in Hunting even if Hunting himself can't see it. Yet, the trauma of Hunting's life has taken its toll on the boy and Lambeau hopes counseling by his old college roommate, Sean McGuire (Robin Williams) can help undo the psychological damage. Supported by Skylar (Minnie Driver), a Harvard student, and his best friend Chuckie (Ben Affleck), Hunting begins to make strides and come to grips with his past.

"Good Will Hunting" basically came out of nowhere in 1997 and captured the imagination of the viewing public. It was a reminder that solid films could still be made without $100 million budgets. It was also the film that made both Damon and Affleck household names, won Robin Williams his first Oscar, and gave director Gus Van Sant (of "Drugstore Cowboy" and "To Die For" fame) his first major commercial success. It was a straightforward character study fueled by strong individual performances and clever dialogue which emulated films of an earlier era that reveled in its simplicity and not its bombast. "Good Will Hunting" will never be mistaken for a Hollywood epic but it still endears as a little cinematic gem from the 1990's.

Gus van Sant does a very nice job keeping this movie moving along briskly, something that might not be especially easy given the subject matter. Matt Damon plays Will Hunting, a natural genius with close to perfect recall, who has various relationship issues, and an unpleasant family history. Robin Williams plays Hunting's somewhat unwilling therapist with issues of his own, which Hunting expertly locates and triggers.

The chemistry between Williams and Damon *works* - the various power plays and tests seem very real, and felt deeply by both actors. The friendship between Ben Afleck and Damon is easy and familiar, which isn't surprising given that they grew up together. Damon and Minnie Driver don't have quite the right electricity between them, but Driver does an excellent job of portraying the slightly eccentric Skylar.

Van Sant's direction is outstanding, and resembles his work in "My Own Private Idaho" in bits, but has a maturity not as well-developed ten years ago.

Overall, a very good movie with powerful performances given unflinchingly.

Matt Damon and Ben Afleck shot to stardom after writing and also starring in this moving tale of two working-class friends in south Boston. Damon plays a math genius working as a janitor. The best role, however, in every sense of the word, is Robin Williams' star turn as the psychologist (he won an Oscar for it) who tries to get through Damon's tough-guy shell. The mystery is HOW two nobodies as young as Afleck and Damon were when they wrote this could possibly be wise and insightful enough to write a character of such depth and complexity. I guess it's called genius.
If you somehow have managed to miss this one, rent it now. Like, RIGHT NOW.

Review
for Finding Forester

4 stars

Finding Forester, A movie about a young boy living in the Bronx who is a prodigy when it comes to writing. Jamal Wallace(Rob Brown) is this young 16-year-old prodigy when it comes to writing. Not only is he a outstanding writer but an incredible athlete towards basketball. He shines right through his test scores and works his way into a private and very highly recognized school in New York. Once there he is faced with a challenge by he is English teacher who thinks that he is not who everyone thinks he is. Jamal then meets a man called William Forrester (Sean Connery) a famous writer for only one printed book who became a hermit in the Bronx. Jamal seeks help from William Forrester through out his first year at school
I believe all stories based upon true encounters are interesting to me, but this one takes the cake for best movie based upon real facts. I thought Sean connnery was very good in this movie. Both him and first time movie making actor Rob brown put outstanding performances in this movie. This movie shows a great deal of prejudice in the American society today. Not only does it show prejudice but shows an athletic story and considering the point of the story of being just a writer and only writing, I didn't lose interest one bit. I was glued to the screen from the moment it started.

An above average film about a gifted young man from the Bronx who draws inspiration from a reclusive author.

There are several elements which could have been overdone in this film: prejudice, class differences, breaking out from poverty, isolation. But the film is really about the friendship which develops between Jamal and Forrester, and how it changes both of their lives. Had the film tried to develop everything else, it would have lost this principal focus, and much of its impact.

Sean Connery does a masterful job, as always, and Rob Brown as Jamal is a natural. Anna Paquin is charming, as is the chemistry between her character and Jamal.

A bit less sentimental than "Good Will Hunting," if you liked that film, you will like this one. If you don't like films that don't have a lot of action, avoid this film. I have always said that character development makes or breaks a film, and this film develops its characters superbly.

The music, though different than you might expect from a typical Hollywood production, is excellent and fits the movie well. Smoky jazz/blues, moody in some places, playful in others. I especially liked the jazz guitar rendition of "Somewhere, Over the Rainbow."

A final note: If you have a DVD player, you might want to try the DVD edition. The camera work is VERY tight, and my wife and I both felt that a lot of the scenes were being cut off by the "pan and scan." We found this distracting, so we feel that this movie is probably best viewed "widescreen."

To me, a classic is something that you can watch and watch again no matter when without the story, the setting, the dialog, and the theme becoming tired and aged. This one fits my criteria completely.

The ending, although conventional and without surprises, is still extremely uplifting and leaves you with a good feeling afterwards.

The haunting mood of the sound track - hope among the hopeless - fits the movie hand in glove.

You have to be an extremely cynical person not to like this movie.

Review
for Finding Forester

4 stars

Finding Forester, A movie about a young boy living in the Bronx who is a prodigy when it comes to writing. Jamal Wallace(Rob Brown) is this young 16-year-old prodigy when it comes to writing. Not only is he a outstanding writer but an incredible athlete towards basketball. He shines right through his test scores and works his way into a private and very highly recognized school in New York. Once there he is faced with a challenge by he is English teacher who thinks that he is not who everyone thinks he is. Jamal then meets a man called William Forrester (Sean Connery) a famous writer for only one printed book who became a hermit in the Bronx. Jamal seeks help from William Forrester through out his first year at school
I believe all stories based upon true encounters are interesting to me, but this one takes the cake for best movie based upon real facts. I thought Sean connnery was very good in this movie. Both him and first time movie making actor Rob brown put outstanding performances in this movie. This movie shows a great deal of prejudice in the American society today. Not only does it show prejudice but shows an athletic story and considering the point of the story of being just a writer and only writing, I didn't lose interest one bit. I was glued to the screen from the moment it started.

An above average film about a gifted young man from the Bronx who draws inspiration from a reclusive author.

There are several elements which could have been overdone in this film: prejudice, class differences, breaking out from poverty, isolation. But the film is really about the friendship which develops between Jamal and Forrester, and how it changes both of their lives. Had the film tried to develop everything else, it would have lost this principal focus, and much of its impact.

Sean Connery does a masterful job, as always, and Rob Brown as Jamal is a natural. Anna Paquin is charming, as is the chemistry between her character and Jamal.

A bit less sentimental than "Good Will Hunting," if you liked that film, you will like this one. If you don't like films that don't have a lot of action, avoid this film. I have always said that character development makes or breaks a film, and this film develops its characters superbly.

The music, though different than you might expect from a typical Hollywood production, is excellent and fits the movie well. Smoky jazz/blues, moody in some places, playful in others. I especially liked the jazz guitar rendition of "Somewhere, Over the Rainbow."

A final note: If you have a DVD player, you might want to try the DVD edition. The camera work is VERY tight, and my wife and I both felt that a lot of the scenes were being cut off by the "pan and scan." We found this distracting, so we feel that this movie is probably best viewed "widescreen."

To me, a classic is something that you can watch and watch again no matter when without the story, the setting, the dialog, and the theme becoming tired and aged. This one fits my criteria completely.

The ending, although conventional and without surprises, is still extremely uplifting and leaves you with a good feeling afterwards.

The haunting mood of the sound track - hope among the hopeless - fits the movie hand in glove.

You have to be an extremely cynical person not to like this movie.

I remember seeing this at the cinema when it first came out. I think this is a movie where you need to have seen Clerks, Mallrats and Chasing Amy (in that order) as the jokes build up throughout each moive. I still remember being the only the person laughing at certain parts while the people around me stared at the screen blankly.

Having said that, I don't think that Jay and Silent Bob should have been made into the main characters. Or even have a movie named after them. It just made the movie seem really long and even I was having trouble sitting still through some parts of it. I think most people can only tolerate Jay and Silent Bob in small amounts, which is how they were presented in past.

Eliza Dushku in a leather cat suit........................ enough said!!!!!!!!!!!

First off, this movie is about half as funny as it could be if youve never seen another kevin smith movie.

Jay and Silent bob have always been beloved side characters in the first four kevin smith movies, and now they get a whole movie to themselves. filled with great jokes and a strew of celebrity guests, this is a wonderful movie. Kevin smith is a genious, and i cant wait for Jersey Girl

jay and silent bob are greater than ever in this grand finale to the kevin smith films they are in. the 5th and final has jay and silent bob on the road to have hollywood stop making a movie based on their comic books. great cast goes down the line includes Eliza Dushku(tvs Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Ali Larter(Final Destination 1&2), Marc Blucas(Tvs Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Jon Stewart(The Faculty), Mark Hamill(star wars), Carrie Fisher(star wars), Morris Day(Purple Rain), Diedreich Bader(Office Space), James Van Der Beek(The Rules Of Attraction), Jason Biggs(Loser), Shannen Doherty(Mallrats), Ben Affleck(Dogma), Matt Damon(Dogma), GusVan Sant(Psycho1998), Wes Craven(the Scream Trilogy), Tracey Morgan(SNL), Dwight Ewell(Chasing Amy), Joey Lauren Adams(Mallrats, Chasing Amy), Renee Humphrey(Mallrats), Jason Lee(Dreamcatcher, Mallrats, Dogma), Will Ferrell(Old School, Elf), Shannon Elizabeth(TomCats), Chris Rock(Head Of State), Jamie Kennedy(Three Kings, Bait), Judd Nelson(The Breakfast Club) and other stars contribute to this great comicgem

Since Kevin Smith started his little ficticious world (now known fondly to those who know it as the View Askewniverse) with the guerrilla-style low-budget black and white movie Clerks in 1994 (an excellent buy, by the way) he has developed a core audience that has stuck with him through the good, the bad, and the ugly. Now, with his latest movie, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Smith pays an homage to these fans.

The movie in itself is nothing but a big in-joke that you probably won't understand if you haven't seen his previous releases (except probably for Dogma, which is rarely referenced to), but a hilarious in-joke it is. Jay and Silent Bob's swan song, giving the View Askewniverse the closure it deserves, with msot of the main characters from the Jersey Trilogy showing up.

The DVD is amazing. Great video transfer, amazing enourmous sound, really amusing deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes and music videos. Hilarious commentary with Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier and the ol' trailers to all of Kev's Miramax movies. The perfect DVD in my humble opinion.

Buy it. It's worth it.

Eliza Dushku in a leather cat suit........................ enough said!!!!!!!!!!!