James-Remar Movie Reviews


DIRECTOR IS SEX CRIMINAL ... HE TOUCHES YOUNG BOYS
One of the best human dramas of recent years!The film introduces us to Del Farraday (Dean Stockwell) and his son D.J. (Robert Keith), who run into one another in a San Francisco hotel. In hopes that he might quiet any objections his son may have about seeing his father with another woman, the two venture to the family lakeside cabin for a weekend of bonding. That is, until they arrive and realize that Campbell (Jason Behr), the youngest son, is also there, and immediately we get the feeling that there is bad blood between father and son.
As it turns out, it goes back years ago, when Del caught Campbell giving his heart to another boy by the name of Billy, and lost himself in rage. The two have had no contact for months at a time, so it comes as no surprise that when Del reveals his affair with another woman, an argument ensues. But any and all arguments are cast aside when two strangers arrive, who turn out to be escaped felons, one of whom has a connection to Campbell's lost Billy, and with whom Campbell has an agenda.
To reveal any more will ruin the plot's many twists and turns, though not so much the thriller ones as the emotional ones. This is one well-crafted film from Victor Salva, the director of "Powder." His work on that project and his work here prove his worth as a filmmaker in that he can do so much with a large budget film, and take material such as this and turn it into solid entertainment with a minimal budget.
Salva's most winning aspect of this film is his attention to the emotions of his characters, particularly Campbell, whose homosexuality fuels most of what's going on in the plot. Campbell is given the typical emotions of someone who feels empty and lonesome, but under the powerful performance of Jason Behr, these emotions are so impacting and believable that they add so much to the overall effect of the film. Salva is also careful not to turn the film into a coming-out story, but more of a story about coming to terms.
The father/son examination this film partakes is simply stunning. This human drama unfolds very effectively as Campbell and his father, played in a winning performance from Dean Stockwell, must come to terms with one another, what has happened in the past, and what is going on as they find themselves in danger. There is always some measure of loyalty that each holds for the other, and the film portrays that loyalty in such a light that nothing could ever shake it.
Another good aspect is the way in which Salva allows the psychological drama to play on those emotions. One of the escaped felons, Frank (James Remar), plays on Campbell's childhood memories of his father's disdain for him, using it as a tool to win him over and keep him loyal. Remar pushes the envelope with his witty and chilling performance, and to watch the interaction between he and Behr in the most intense moments will keep you on the edge of your seat.
While it is most definitely an unknown film, "Rites of Passage" will be remembered by those who see it. It not only winds the chord of suspense until the knot in your stomach is unbearable, but it gives us characters whose emotions we can identify with and understand. These emotions come out through some very strong performances, and some very provocative directing. I got so much more from this film than I expected, and hold it up as one of the best human dramas of recent years.
Excellent!

DIRECTOR IS SEX CRIMINAL ... HE TOUCHES YOUNG BOYS
One of the best human dramas of recent years!The film introduces us to Del Farraday (Dean Stockwell) and his son D.J. (Robert Keith), who run into one another in a San Francisco hotel. In hopes that he might quiet any objections his son may have about seeing his father with another woman, the two venture to the family lakeside cabin for a weekend of bonding. That is, until they arrive and realize that Campbell (Jason Behr), the youngest son, is also there, and immediately we get the feeling that there is bad blood between father and son.
As it turns out, it goes back years ago, when Del caught Campbell giving his heart to another boy by the name of Billy, and lost himself in rage. The two have had no contact for months at a time, so it comes as no surprise that when Del reveals his affair with another woman, an argument ensues. But any and all arguments are cast aside when two strangers arrive, who turn out to be escaped felons, one of whom has a connection to Campbell's lost Billy, and with whom Campbell has an agenda.
To reveal any more will ruin the plot's many twists and turns, though not so much the thriller ones as the emotional ones. This is one well-crafted film from Victor Salva, the director of "Powder." His work on that project and his work here prove his worth as a filmmaker in that he can do so much with a large budget film, and take material such as this and turn it into solid entertainment with a minimal budget.
Salva's most winning aspect of this film is his attention to the emotions of his characters, particularly Campbell, whose homosexuality fuels most of what's going on in the plot. Campbell is given the typical emotions of someone who feels empty and lonesome, but under the powerful performance of Jason Behr, these emotions are so impacting and believable that they add so much to the overall effect of the film. Salva is also careful not to turn the film into a coming-out story, but more of a story about coming to terms.
The father/son examination this film partakes is simply stunning. This human drama unfolds very effectively as Campbell and his father, played in a winning performance from Dean Stockwell, must come to terms with one another, what has happened in the past, and what is going on as they find themselves in danger. There is always some measure of loyalty that each holds for the other, and the film portrays that loyalty in such a light that nothing could ever shake it.
Another good aspect is the way in which Salva allows the psychological drama to play on those emotions. One of the escaped felons, Frank (James Remar), plays on Campbell's childhood memories of his father's disdain for him, using it as a tool to win him over and keep him loyal. Remar pushes the envelope with his witty and chilling performance, and to watch the interaction between he and Behr in the most intense moments will keep you on the edge of your seat.
While it is most definitely an unknown film, "Rites of Passage" will be remembered by those who see it. It not only winds the chord of suspense until the knot in your stomach is unbearable, but it gives us characters whose emotions we can identify with and understand. These emotions come out through some very strong performances, and some very provocative directing. I got so much more from this film than I expected, and hold it up as one of the best human dramas of recent years.
Excellent!

Stiller and Barrymore are better than this.PG-13: Mild language, some crude humor, and violence.
HILARIOUS!Highly recommended!
I thought it was hysterical!!

Bad Reviews? I Don't Know Why...I didn't laugh out loud with tears running down my face, but did spend the entire run time giggling at the antics of all the characters. The cast consists of several Serious Actors (Kate Nelligan, Armand Assante) who play their parts as though they were in a drama. To me, those are excellent comedic acting skills. It's when actors play for laughs that they are not funny.
You might not be tickled by this one if you aren't familiar with the 'film noir' and detective film genre. If you are a fan of those, you will laugh as you recognize all the devices in those films over-used to good effect in this one.
I had a good time watching it...give it a try!
Trust your "Instinct"
Carl Reiner's finest workAssante as Ned Revine is hysterical with his incredible dead pan (I only wish Reiner had put out takes on the DVD). Reiner puts in non-stop jokes from start to finish. (I like the ceiling fan in the car, for example). Some of you may have to go back and forth to catch them all. To me this film is right up there with Mel Brooks, "Airplane", "Police Squad", and "Pink Panther" series for great modern (late 20th Century) comedy. Reiner who was a writer, director, actor and producer of television comedy for years (Your Show of Shows, Dick Van Dyke, etc), had highly developed comedic skills prior to his stint as movie director. Consequently, he brings a great sense of comic timing to this and all of his pictures. This is my personal favorite of his work.


Not perfect, but an enjoyable comicbook movieCatherine Zeta Jones and Kristy Swanson are very sexy as their supporting characters, and in fact give the best performances of the whole movie. Treat Williams comes off as the campiest character of all in his portrayal of Xander Drax. His one-liners could have been done without. They were, however, not going for a very serious movie so you get what you get. Billy Zane was enjoyable to watch as the title hero, and his alter ego Kit Walker but the script needed a little work.
The plot of the movie revolved around the 21st in a long line of "Phantoms" and his quest to stop an archvillian from attaining three priceless skulls. If Drax were to get his hands on all three skulls, he would become very powerful. So, Kit (aka: The Phantom) sets out with his horse and wolf to capture Drax and reclaim the skulls.
With a mix of 1930s scenery and 1990s special effects, this movie was a definite family film, but may not be what you would expect if you read the old comics.
The Phantom is an enjoyable movie, and true to the comics.
(IN)DIANA AND THE PHANTOM

Not perfect, but an enjoyable comicbook movieCatherine Zeta Jones and Kristy Swanson are very sexy as their supporting characters, and in fact give the best performances of the whole movie. Treat Williams comes off as the campiest character of all in his portrayal of Xander Drax. His one-liners could have been done without. They were, however, not going for a very serious movie so you get what you get. Billy Zane was enjoyable to watch as the title hero, and his alter ego Kit Walker but the script needed a little work.
The plot of the movie revolved around the 21st in a long line of "Phantoms" and his quest to stop an archvillian from attaining three priceless skulls. If Drax were to get his hands on all three skulls, he would become very powerful. So, Kit (aka: The Phantom) sets out with his horse and wolf to capture Drax and reclaim the skulls.
With a mix of 1930s scenery and 1990s special effects, this movie was a definite family film, but may not be what you would expect if you read the old comics.
The Phantom is an enjoyable movie, and true to the comics.
(IN)DIANA AND THE PHANTOM
Director Robert Zemeckis loads the first half of What Lies Beneath with humorous cheap thrills (the suddenly ringing phone, etc.) that poke fun at Claire's dilemma while simultaneously making you tense beyond belief. Between each goofy thrill, though, is one true one that will make you jump out of your seat, including a bathtub that keeps filling itself. And all the while, Zemeckis subtly telegraphs the fissures in the Spencers' marriage, slowly revealing that all is not well between these two. Yes, it's a blatant Hitchcock homage to movies such as Rear Window and Suspicion, but it's sleekly made, entertaining and engrossing. Ford does his stoic thing well (and looks great doing it), and Diana Scarwid provides a refreshingly lighthearted turn as Claire's best pal, but it's pretty much Pfeiffer's movie all the way, and she carries the film on her not-so-fragile shoulders. And the third act is a suspense tour de force, complete with a breathtaking sequence featuring Pfeiffer and that menacing bathtub. In a time of obvious horror films, What Lies Beneath is an intelligent, fun thrill ride that will leave you breathless. --Mark Englehart

A nice change of pace for PfeifferStill, it's nice to see a movie where Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer manage to move away from type-casting and prove that they can both act. Also impressive is the fact that director Zemeckis filmed this whilst on a hiatus from his other film 'Castaway'. Unfortunately though, it drags a lot at the start. After things hot up a little you'll be at the edge of your seat but for a long while it's a little dull. Of course, this was passed off as being adult and a great tension-builder and no-one dared say anything. It was just kep quiet about whilst everyone raved about the ending.
If you're not accustomed to the genre then this is probably a really good start to ghost movies. But there are far better ones out there and this is little more than ordinary. In fact, it is only really a fantastic turn by Pfeiffer that makes it anything special. Watch out throughout the movie for key points that are heavily earmarked as future plot elements - what's with the mysterious (and conveniently misty) lake? the old photos? and the seemingly insignificant fact that you can't get mobile phone reception on the deserted bridge?
Highly entertaining in parts, very dull in others.
Actually Deserves 3.5 Stars ... Up To A Certain Point.To tell the truth, I was enjoying all the scares for the largest part of this film. Still, the 'finale' came across as the usual Hollywood stuff, and it all ended too nicely, too convenient (my opinion). And it moved along at a somewhat slow pace (no big gripe), and there are scenes that could have used some polishing. I even thought there was the odd ??? (huh effect) here and there, where only the soundtrack goes 'scary' while on the screen nothing creepy occurs.
But casting all these complaints aside, there's still plenty of reasons why to invest your time in this. Ford and Pfeiffer are quite good as, respectively, husband and wife (Pfeiffer was the better of the two, IMO). Supporting cast is fine too. The real kicker is the bathtub, though. And also the mysterious neighbors. And the seance ... and the etc. etc.
Conclusion: I haven't wasted time. Good but not a classic.
A Triumph! One Of The Most Terrorfying Films Ever Made!In the film, Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford play Claire and Norman Spencer, a typical American couple who are grieving over their daughter who has just left for college. Claire soon discovers that her house is being haunted by the ghost of a young woman. She suspects it is the ghost of the woman who lives next door, and that her husband had murderer her. But she is soon proven wrong, and when she discovers the terrorfying truth, things take a turn for the worst.
Robert Zemeckis is brilliant. When I discovered that he was the same director that did Forest Gump, I was shocked. The sets, the acting, and the story were just great. Everything about this movie was great. Take the house,for instense. In the daylight, it looks like the perfect dreamhouse, but give the right lighting and shoot it from the right angle and you can make it look monsterous, scary even. This was an odd role for Harrison Ford. I always thought of Harrison Ford as the more heroic type, not the bad guy. But he's god at it nonetheless.
All in all, What Lies Beneath is a fantastic film. The balance of the twists and surprises are what make it so great. What Lies Beneath is just one of those classic films that proves that you don't need to over do it with big special effects, blood, and gore to make a good horror film.

Director Robert Zemeckis loads the first half of What Lies Beneath with humorous cheap thrills (the suddenly ringing phone, etc.) that poke fun at Claire's dilemma while simultaneously making you tense beyond belief. Between each goofy thrill, though, is one true one that will make you jump out of your seat, including a bathtub that keeps filling itself. And all the while, Zemeckis subtly telegraphs the fissures in the Spencers' marriage, slowly revealing that all is not well between these two. Yes, it's a blatant Hitchcock homage to movies such as Rear Window and Suspicion, but it's sleekly made, entertaining and engrossing. Ford does his stoic thing well (and looks great doing it), and Diana Scarwid provides a refreshingly lighthearted turn as Claire's best pal, but it's pretty much Pfeiffer's movie all the way, and she carries the film on her not-so-fragile shoulders. And the third act is a suspense tour de force, complete with a breathtaking sequence featuring Pfeiffer and that menacing bathtub. In a time of obvious horror films, What Lies Beneath is an intelligent, fun thrill ride that will leave you breathless. --Mark Englehart

A nice change of pace for PfeifferStill, it's nice to see a movie where Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer manage to move away from type-casting and prove that they can both act. Also impressive is the fact that director Zemeckis filmed this whilst on a hiatus from his other film 'Castaway'. Unfortunately though, it drags a lot at the start. After things hot up a little you'll be at the edge of your seat but for a long while it's a little dull. Of course, this was passed off as being adult and a great tension-builder and no-one dared say anything. It was just kep quiet about whilst everyone raved about the ending.
If you're not accustomed to the genre then this is probably a really good start to ghost movies. But there are far better ones out there and this is little more than ordinary. In fact, it is only really a fantastic turn by Pfeiffer that makes it anything special. Watch out throughout the movie for key points that are heavily earmarked as future plot elements - what's with the mysterious (and conveniently misty) lake? the old photos? and the seemingly insignificant fact that you can't get mobile phone reception on the deserted bridge?
Highly entertaining in parts, very dull in others.
Actually Deserves 3.5 Stars ... Up To A Certain Point.To tell the truth, I was enjoying all the scares for the largest part of this film. Still, the 'finale' came across as the usual Hollywood stuff, and it all ended too nicely, too convenient (my opinion). And it moved along at a somewhat slow pace (no big gripe), and there are scenes that could have used some polishing. I even thought there was the odd ??? (huh effect) here and there, where only the soundtrack goes 'scary' while on the screen nothing creepy occurs.
But casting all these complaints aside, there's still plenty of reasons why to invest your time in this. Ford and Pfeiffer are quite good as, respectively, husband and wife (Pfeiffer was the better of the two, IMO). Supporting cast is fine too. The real kicker is the bathtub, though. And also the mysterious neighbors. And the seance ... and the etc. etc.
Conclusion: I haven't wasted time. Good but not a classic.
A Triumph! One Of The Most Terrorfying Films Ever Made!In the film, Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford play Claire and Norman Spencer, a typical American couple who are grieving over their daughter who has just left for college. Claire soon discovers that her house is being haunted by the ghost of a young woman. She suspects it is the ghost of the woman who lives next door, and that her husband had murderer her. But she is soon proven wrong, and when she discovers the terrorfying truth, things take a turn for the worst.
Robert Zemeckis is brilliant. When I discovered that he was the same director that did Forest Gump, I was shocked. The sets, the acting, and the story were just great. Everything about this movie was great. Take the house,for instense. In the daylight, it looks like the perfect dreamhouse, but give the right lighting and shoot it from the right angle and you can make it look monsterous, scary even. This was an odd role for Harrison Ford. I always thought of Harrison Ford as the more heroic type, not the bad guy. But he's god at it nonetheless.
All in all, What Lies Beneath is a fantastic film. The balance of the twists and surprises are what make it so great. What Lies Beneath is just one of those classic films that proves that you don't need to over do it with big special effects, blood, and gore to make a good horror film.


This isn't Right
White Fang - A realistic film about the Canadian wildernessIt is about the friendship between a wolf and a human being. It shows that wolves are not as bad as people think.
Ethan Hawke is an excellent actor. The scenery shows how hard it was to survive in the wilderness of Canada. This film also gives you a little impression about the goldrush and the cruelty and carelessness of some gold diggers.
I like this film because it isn't just a story that Jack London has made up in his mind. It is a story that could really have happened some time ago. It shows the problems that people had to manage during the goldrush.
White Fang- One of the best animal-film ever?The scenery of the wilderness and of the snowy Alaska is incredible. The dog-fight between White Fang and a bulldog is dramatic. If you like animal-storys, White Fang is the best film for you.
The actors are convincing and the score is good. The film is so good because it's based on a partly true story. We think that the film includes fun, action and adventure. We liked the scene in which the wolf saves Jacks life by chasing away a grizzly bear best.
It's a must to watch this film!


This isn't Right
White Fang - A realistic film about the Canadian wildernessIt is about the friendship between a wolf and a human being. It shows that wolves are not as bad as people think.
Ethan Hawke is an excellent actor. The scenery shows how hard it was to survive in the wilderness of Canada. This film also gives you a little impression about the goldrush and the cruelty and carelessness of some gold diggers.
I like this film because it isn't just a story that Jack London has made up in his mind. It is a story that could really have happened some time ago. It shows the problems that people had to manage during the goldrush.
White Fang- One of the best animal-film ever?The scenery of the wilderness and of the snowy Alaska is incredible. The dog-fight between White Fang and a bulldog is dramatic. If you like animal-storys, White Fang is the best film for you.
The actors are convincing and the score is good. The film is so good because it's based on a partly true story. We think that the film includes fun, action and adventure. We liked the scene in which the wolf saves Jacks life by chasing away a grizzly bear best.
It's a must to watch this film!