Nora-Dunn Movie Reviews

Mary McDonnell will never be better-she is brilliant, than in her portrayal of May-Alice Culhane (for which she was Oscar-nominated), the once-on-top Soap Opera star to whom tragedy has taken the use of her legs, and forced a re-evaluation of her life.

Alfre Woodard, as the hired home-care worker/nurse Chantelle provides the perfect complement as both these women find more of themselves through each other, then they might ever have found otherwise. Again, Ms. Woodard has rarely disappointed.

The early montage of health-care applicants is clever and funny. And John Sayles always is able to find brilliance in his supporting cast: notably Vondie Curtis-Hall, Leo Burmester, and David Strathairn, as well as a small role early in the career of Angela Bassett.

Sayles' script was also nominated for an Academy Award.

While ultimately this film tries to make you think about tolerating the opinion of the next person, it conducts its' lesson by creating conservative stereotypes as manifested by left-wingers. So if the roles had been reversed, liberals would be screaming about this film years later. But since the Hollywood community is controlled by left-wingers, you don't hear a peep out of anyone in that industry about the horrible personalities created by this film.

The sad thing is that the characters created in this film are really how Hollywood sees conservatives. Left-wingers actually create these people and truly believe that this is the way conservatives think and act. Of course, conservatives don't think and act as depicted in this film but left-wingers don't understand this point. This is the main reason why liberalism is a dying idealogy in the U.S. It's an idealogy that just doesn't get it. It creates enemies that don't exist and in fighting these imaginary enemies, their real opponents walk away the victor.

This might have been a good film if the "conservatives" in the film were real. That their opinions were those of real conservatives. But the problem would have been that the liberal characters would have been seen in a far worse light than just murderers; they would have been seen as irrational lunatics that can't see reason. And that's not what the director was trying to show. The idea was to show liberals as being well-intentioned yet mistaken in their methods.

If they had done the film correctly, conservatives would be invited to supper, they would have explained real-world thinking to the liberals, and the liberals would have killed the conservatives simply because they could not grasp what mainstream America already embraces as its' philosophy. But, again, this would have taken the film in too far of a supportive perspective of conservatives and that's certainly not acceptable to the producers of this poorly conceived tripe.

Although there are some acting and scripting flaws, this movie is great. It makes you laugh, then it makes you gasp in horror...and best of all: it makes you think.

This film left me thinking, "Do I really care that much about other peoples' opinions?" I walked away from this flick with a new philosophy and way of looking at people who think differently than I: In America, we all have the right to be wrong.

No matter what your political affiliation, you'll probably enjoy this film. Don't be too sensitive or you'll be offended. Just watch, think and then think some more.

This rags to riches story focuses on secretary McGill, who has her eyes set on moving on up in the world of big business. When she is hired by Katherine Parker (Weaver), Associate Partner for Mergers & Acquisitions at Petty Marsh (good name) she thinks the glass ceiling has opened up. But it turns out her friendly female boss has been stealing her ideas. When Katharine is away, Tess gives herself a make over and starts playing with the big boys, in particular Jack Trainer (Ford), a Partner with Dewey Stone. Of course they end up mixing love and business, but it turns out to be a small world because it seems Jack and Katharine have been dating. The fantastic Joan Cusak plays Cyn, Tess's best bud, while Alec Baldwin is Mick Dugan, who is definitely not the man of Tess's dreams. Keep your eyes open for Kevin Spacey as the lecherous Bob Speck, Olympia Dukakis as the Personnel Director, and David Duchovny as Cyn's Engagement Party Guest.

Tear Jerker Scenes: (1) "No, Miss McGill. That's your office. in there."

Most Romantic Line: Actually the most romantic part is when Jack packs Tess's lunch for her first day of work, but the big lines are: (1) "I have a head for business and a bod for sin. Is there anything wrong with that?" and (2) "You can bend the rules plenty once you get to the top, but not while you're trying to get there. And if you're someone like me, you can't get there without bending the rules." Well, the title is "WORKING Girl," people.

If you like "Working," then check out these other films on AFI's list: #74 "Woman of the Year" and #12 "My Fair Lady." Why? Because "Woman of the Year" is also about the travails of love in the work place and "My Fair Lady" is about transformation. Tess McGill gets bonus points for doing the Galatea bit without the help of Pygmalion.

Its basically a modern day take on "Kelly's Heroes." The latter is one of my personally favorite war-film...so I am offended that people would compare this movie to that! "Kelly's Heroes" knew what it wanted to be and didn't try to break that: it was a comedy/caper film set in World War II about a tired squad moving out to find German gold and then go lead the good life. "Three Kings" tries to be a lot of things: political statement, anti-war film, dramatic character study...but the style is far too corny and overdramatic for it to really have any affect on me. In fact, I found myself bored, offended, or downright disgusted by this film at many times.

I will stick with my "Kelly's Heroes," thank you very much, when I want to be entertained or "touched" in any way.

Starring George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, and Spike Jonze, this 1999 film tells the story of four GIs who, at the end of the first Gulf War in 1991, cross the Kuwaiti border into Iraq in search of a stash of gold stolen from Kuwait City by the retreating Iraqi Army. On their way to Karbala, where the gold is stored in a hidden bunker, the motley group of Americans stumbles upon the Shi'ite revolt against Saddam...and what began as a treasure hunt becomes a rather sobering experience as the GIs watch Saddam's forces crush the short lived revolt.

Russell's film mixes dark humor, witty dialog, and social commentary with some extreme photographic tricks, making Three Kings one of the weirdest -- yet effective -- films to come out of Hollywood in recent years. The performances from the leads and such supporting actors as Nora Dunn (who plays a veteran cable news reporter), Jamie Kennedy and Mykelti Williamson are top-notch, and Russell keeps things going at a rapid pace.

Alex Diaz-Granados

A tale of greed and compassion set among the dust and desolation of Iraq during the Gulf War, "Three Kings" succeeds on many levels because it is unafraid to ask difficult questions about morality and humane actions in the midst of carnage.

Though revolving around war, the film is not without its dark humor. In fact, there are several laugh-out-loud moments in the midst of ominous dread (an exploding cow, a strategically placed map, Nora Dunn's hilarious journalist). Beautifully downplaying the ironic wit and enhancing the suspense, the cast is always believable and a pleasure to watch.

"Three Kings" is bold and unapologetic, and probably not for everyone. But it is a truly unique war story and an excellent source of food for thought.

Its basically a modern day take on "Kelly's Heroes." The latter is one of my personally favorite war-film...so I am offended that people would compare this movie to that! "Kelly's Heroes" knew what it wanted to be and didn't try to break that: it was a comedy/caper film set in World War II about a tired squad moving out to find German gold and then go lead the good life. "Three Kings" tries to be a lot of things: political statement, anti-war film, dramatic character study...but the style is far too corny and overdramatic for it to really have any affect on me. In fact, I found myself bored, offended, or downright disgusted by this film at many times.

I will stick with my "Kelly's Heroes," thank you very much, when I want to be entertained or "touched" in any way.

Starring George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, and Spike Jonze, this 1999 film tells the story of four GIs who, at the end of the first Gulf War in 1991, cross the Kuwaiti border into Iraq in search of a stash of gold stolen from Kuwait City by the retreating Iraqi Army. On their way to Karbala, where the gold is stored in a hidden bunker, the motley group of Americans stumbles upon the Shi'ite revolt against Saddam...and what began as a treasure hunt becomes a rather sobering experience as the GIs watch Saddam's forces crush the short lived revolt.

Russell's film mixes dark humor, witty dialog, and social commentary with some extreme photographic tricks, making Three Kings one of the weirdest -- yet effective -- films to come out of Hollywood in recent years. The performances from the leads and such supporting actors as Nora Dunn (who plays a veteran cable news reporter), Jamie Kennedy and Mykelti Williamson are top-notch, and Russell keeps things going at a rapid pace.

Alex Diaz-Granados

A tale of greed and compassion set among the dust and desolation of Iraq during the Gulf War, "Three Kings" succeeds on many levels because it is unafraid to ask difficult questions about morality and humane actions in the midst of carnage.

Though revolving around war, the film is not without its dark humor. In fact, there are several laugh-out-loud moments in the midst of ominous dread (an exploding cow, a strategically placed map, Nora Dunn's hilarious journalist). Beautifully downplaying the ironic wit and enhancing the suspense, the cast is always believable and a pleasure to watch.

"Three Kings" is bold and unapologetic, and probably not for everyone. But it is a truly unique war story and an excellent source of food for thought.

Its basically a modern day take on "Kelly's Heroes." The latter is one of my personally favorite war-film...so I am offended that people would compare this movie to that! "Kelly's Heroes" knew what it wanted to be and didn't try to break that: it was a comedy/caper film set in World War II about a tired squad moving out to find German gold and then go lead the good life. "Three Kings" tries to be a lot of things: political statement, anti-war film, dramatic character study...but the style is far too corny and overdramatic for it to really have any affect on me. In fact, I found myself bored, offended, or downright disgusted by this film at many times.

I will stick with my "Kelly's Heroes," thank you very much, when I want to be entertained or "touched" in any way.

Starring George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, and Spike Jonze, this 1999 film tells the story of four GIs who, at the end of the first Gulf War in 1991, cross the Kuwaiti border into Iraq in search of a stash of gold stolen from Kuwait City by the retreating Iraqi Army. On their way to Karbala, where the gold is stored in a hidden bunker, the motley group of Americans stumbles upon the Shi'ite revolt against Saddam...and what began as a treasure hunt becomes a rather sobering experience as the GIs watch Saddam's forces crush the short lived revolt.

Russell's film mixes dark humor, witty dialog, and social commentary with some extreme photographic tricks, making Three Kings one of the weirdest -- yet effective -- films to come out of Hollywood in recent years. The performances from the leads and such supporting actors as Nora Dunn (who plays a veteran cable news reporter), Jamie Kennedy and Mykelti Williamson are top-notch, and Russell keeps things going at a rapid pace.

Alex Diaz-Granados

A tale of greed and compassion set among the dust and desolation of Iraq during the Gulf War, "Three Kings" succeeds on many levels because it is unafraid to ask difficult questions about morality and humane actions in the midst of carnage.

Though revolving around war, the film is not without its dark humor. In fact, there are several laugh-out-loud moments in the midst of ominous dread (an exploding cow, a strategically placed map, Nora Dunn's hilarious journalist). Beautifully downplaying the ironic wit and enhancing the suspense, the cast is always believable and a pleasure to watch.

"Three Kings" is bold and unapologetic, and probably not for everyone. But it is a truly unique war story and an excellent source of food for thought.