Swoosie-Kurtz Movie Reviews

Holly Hunter gives a great performance in a HBO movie that was perfect for her. The story centers around a woman who wants to have her daughter's cheerleading rival axed to assure her daughter a spot on the cheerleading squad. All the actors do a great job but it is Holly Hunter that nails her role and keeps you glued to the set. The director did a great job of not making the character someone that you hated completely, instead showing a woman that doesn't realize how horrific her actions truely are. Also stars Beau Bridges.

Simply stating that this movie is good is an understatement! Holly Hunter's performance with an outstanding supporting cast was spectacular. I have seen this film too many times to count. The script isn't cheesey and no one actually is portrayed as a victim. Every character had a wonderful human touch. Great performance of a real life event.

This movie succeeds in being hugely entertaining thanks to Holly Hunter's amazing performance in the title role. She is thoroughly convincing as the trashy, pushy mom who's dedication to the success of her daughter's future as a cheerleader eventually leads to attempted murder. The realism is heightened by the use of restaged media footage, and "interviews" with Hunter (in character), who's cracked logic and twitchy mannerisms will have you in stitches. All the performances are good, and the result is a very black comedy that effectively ridicules this misguided woman's bizarre and near-deadly obsession with success and one-upmanship. Recommended, as it works on so many levels.

Holly Hunter gives a great performance in a HBO movie that was perfect for her. The story centers around a woman who wants to have her daughter's cheerleading rival axed to assure her daughter a spot on the cheerleading squad. All the actors do a great job but it is Holly Hunter that nails her role and keeps you glued to the set. The director did a great job of not making the character someone that you hated completely, instead showing a woman that doesn't realize how horrific her actions truely are. Also stars Beau Bridges.

Simply stating that this movie is good is an understatement! Holly Hunter's performance with an outstanding supporting cast was spectacular. I have seen this film too many times to count. The script isn't cheesey and no one actually is portrayed as a victim. Every character had a wonderful human touch. Great performance of a real life event.

This movie succeeds in being hugely entertaining thanks to Holly Hunter's amazing performance in the title role. She is thoroughly convincing as the trashy, pushy mom who's dedication to the success of her daughter's future as a cheerleader eventually leads to attempted murder. The realism is heightened by the use of restaged media footage, and "interviews" with Hunter (in character), who's cracked logic and twitchy mannerisms will have you in stitches. All the performances are good, and the result is a very black comedy that effectively ridicules this misguided woman's bizarre and near-deadly obsession with success and one-upmanship. Recommended, as it works on so many levels.

Really good movie. Turned it on, and could not stop watching it. John Mahoney (Frasier's TV dad) is great in it!

I was blown away by this movie, and its really top cast. The script was GREAT and the some of the lines are hoot. Look for a nice little early perfomance by Brad Pitt as the TV Cameraman. Finney is masterful.

This was an excellent movie about a boy, named Brandon who believes his father survived the plane crash when everyone tells him his father is dead. When Brandon and his mother move to the family's old summer house/mansion he discovers a doorway to another world. In this land, Storyland, he finds out that he is "the one" , or the boy who must rescue Prince Arthur and save the country. On this quest he meets many friends and learns many life lessons. To say anymore would ruin the magic of this wonderful movie!

This is a movie that I could easily watch 100 times over... The acting is simply superb. All of the characters come off so multi-faceted.. Are they good? Are they bad? Are they all victims of circumstances? It's hard to say.

I love this movie because it makes me FEEL and it makes me THINK.. Goodness, how it frustrates me, but it does capture me. It is a really compelling film.

I am someone who watches movies for the characters more than the story-- I like to see them, and empathize with them. If you understand what I mean by that, then you'd probably like this film, because it is driven completely by the characters. Who they are and what they do determines what happens, and you cannot help but get pulled in. GREAT GREAT performances by John Malkovich and Glenn Close, as the scheming and manipulative former lovers, and by Michelle Pfeiffer, as the innocent woman they set out to corrupt..

You wouldn't necessarily think that an adaptation of an albeit famous 17th century French novel would make a relevant and fascinating piece of cinema... but it does.

The first thing that strikes you is how well the film is lit and shot. The period locations and costumes are visually sumptuous and perfect. Better yet, the acting entirely matches the skill of the direction that takes its method from the theatre - emotions are conveyed by expression and not dialogue. Glenn Close gives her best performance on celluloid as the scheming Madame de Merteuil, amorally hellbent on bending everyone to her will, no matter the method or the cost, and John Malkovitch is her perfect foil as the cynical hedonistic but world-weary Valmont. Michelle Pfeiffer engages our empathy as the tortured and manipulated target of Malkovitch's desire and Close's plotting.

The film is basically a morality tale, but one that fascinates in its exposure of ego, vanity, intrigue and the war between the genders, subjects that are timeless in their relevance, despite the period setting. The storyline, which sticks faithfully to the original novel, remains compelling throughout as we watch deceits within deceits take their tragic course. Whole-heartedly recommended - take your time over it, and enjoy.

Whoa! Before watching this one, round up a lover, some satiny red wine, and a box of Godiva chocolates. It's a sumptuous extravaganca celebracing wickedness, betrayal, decadence, depravity, and sexual intrigue among 18th-century French aristocrats. Glenn Close and John Malkovich, former lovers and highly evolved cynics prey upon the emotions of innocents Michelle Pfeiffer and Uma Thurman. But then Malkovich actually starts having human feelings for one of the women, thus betraying the terms of the 'liason,' and the Marquise (G. Close) begins plotting her revenge.
Yowie, don't miss it. But you've gotta be in the right mood, and you've gotta have the right person to watch it with.

Adapted from a 1782 novel by Choderlos de Laclos that Christopher Hampton turned into a successful stage play in the 1980s, Dangerous Liaisons is a wicked, finely tuned exercise in sharp dialogue and sharper performances. Glenn Close's bored aristocrat plays at social manipulation -- embarrassments, exposure, scenes and seductions -- while giving the people around her no more thought than chessmen or puppets. John Malkovich is both ally and enemy; the two are kindred spirits, but that realization simply makes them all the more wary of each other. Close asks Malkovich to seduce Uma Thurman, soon to be married to an enemy of Close's; at first he declines, but later accepts. Malkovich also wishes to conquer Michelle Pfeiffer, known throughout France for her modesty and piety. Close doesn't think Malkovich can do it -- and their disagreement becomes a contest. Let the games begin! And dizzying games they are -- both Close and Malkovich can, in the Bard's words, smile and murder while they smile, and cry content to that which grieves their hearts. Of course, when Malkovich actually falls wildly in love with Pfeiffer, the addition of real emotion to these hollow games makes everything go uncorrectably awry. Stephen Frears' direction is superb -- the design and lighting evoke simultaneous worlds of privilege and squalor, and while the nature of day-to-day life in 18th century France becomes readily apparent, it never becomes distracting. It's the actors, though, who truly carry this film to its remarkable success. Malkovich is rich as a cold chameleon who grows a heart only to lose it, Close towers as an icy manipulator who finds out she actually has feelings, and Pfeiffer is superb as a cautious, guarded woman whose trust of a rogue brings her both her greatest love and greatest ruin.

Whoa! Before watching this one, round up a lover, some satiny red wine, and a box of Godiva chocolates. It's a sumptuous extravaganca celebracing wickedness, betrayal, decadence, depravity, and sexual intrigue among 18th-century French aristocrats. Glenn Close and John Malkovich, former lovers and highly evolved cynics prey upon the emotions of innocents Michelle Pfeiffer and Uma Thurman. But then Malkovich actually starts having human feelings for one of the women, thus betraying the terms of the 'liason,' and the Marquise (G. Close) begins plotting her revenge.
Yowie, don't miss it. But you've gotta be in the right mood, and you've gotta have the right person to watch it with.

This is truly a terrific film. Straight from the pages of the play's script and expertly played by Close, Pfieffer, Malkovich, and Reeves. So well played. these actors all divinely understood their characters and it shows. The film work is top notch. This is a clean, unfettered flick. Watch and enjoy.

Adapted from a 1782 novel by Choderlos de Laclos that Christopher Hampton turned into a successful stage play in the 1980s, Dangerous Liaisons is a wicked, finely tuned exercise in sharp dialogue and sharper performances. Glenn Close's bored aristocrat plays at social manipulation -- embarrassments, exposure, scenes and seductions -- while giving the people around her no more thought than chessmen or puppets. John Malkovich is both ally and enemy; the two are kindred spirits, but that realization simply makes them all the more wary of each other. Close asks Malkovich to seduce Uma Thurman, soon to be married to an enemy of Close's; at first he declines, but later accepts. Malkovich also wishes to conquer Michelle Pfeiffer, known throughout France for her modesty and piety. Close doesn't think Malkovich can do it -- and their disagreement becomes a contest. Let the games begin! And dizzying games they are -- both Close and Malkovich can, in the Bard's words, smile and murder while they smile, and cry content to that which grieves their hearts. Of course, when Malkovich actually falls wildly in love with Pfeiffer, the addition of real emotion to these hollow games makes everything go uncorrectably awry. Stephen Frears' direction is superb -- the design and lighting evoke simultaneous worlds of privilege and squalor, and while the nature of day-to-day life in 18th century France becomes readily apparent, it never becomes distracting. It's the actors, though, who truly carry this film to its remarkable success. Malkovich is rich as a cold chameleon who grows a heart only to lose it, Close towers as an icy manipulator who finds out she actually has feelings, and Pfeiffer is superb as a cautious, guarded woman whose trust of a rogue brings her both her greatest love and greatest ruin.

Whoa! Before watching this one, round up a lover, some satiny red wine, and a box of Godiva chocolates. It's a sumptuous extravaganca celebracing wickedness, betrayal, decadence, depravity, and sexual intrigue among 18th-century French aristocrats. Glenn Close and John Malkovich, former lovers and highly evolved cynics prey upon the emotions of innocents Michelle Pfeiffer and Uma Thurman. But then Malkovich actually starts having human feelings for one of the women, thus betraying the terms of the 'liason,' and the Marquise (G. Close) begins plotting her revenge.
Yowie, don't miss it. But you've gotta be in the right mood, and you've gotta have the right person to watch it with.

This is truly a terrific film. Straight from the pages of the play's script and expertly played by Close, Pfieffer, Malkovich, and Reeves. So well played. these actors all divinely understood their characters and it shows. The film work is top notch. This is a clean, unfettered flick. Watch and enjoy.

This isn't my favorite movie, but top five on the Jim Carry list. The idea that a man who lies all the time can't lie for one day is hillaroious! I read a review that said this isn'y a family movie. First of all, you shouldn't complain that the movie isn't for kids. DON'T LET YOUR KIDS WATCH IT IF IT'S NOT FOR THEM!! And second, the movie isn't too bad. I highly reccomend seeing this movie!!! And also, see Bruce Almighty (another Carry flick) You'll love it!

Now there's a twist.

But that's the theme of the movie. Jim Carry plays the part of Fletcher Reede, a young, promising (and very unscrupulous) lawyer who always manages to win his cases. But there is a darker side to his life. His wife has divorced him because of several affairs, and his son (who he dearly loves) has been neglected for his professional career. Clearly, Mr. Reede is a man who never settled down to the more serious business of life and responsibility.

However, Reede's day of come-upance has arrived. Forgotten about one too many times, his son makes a birthday wish that his dad would have to tell the truth for 24 hours. An outside wind blows the cake candles out and the stage is set.

Mr. Reede intends to go about his daily, lie-ridden life (his natural style) but is flabergasted to suddenly find that whatever he tries to say, the truth always comes out - and with hilarious results ("I can't believe I said that"). Jim Carrey has the gift of gab, and God, does it come out in this film. Either he is very adept at learning complex lines or he is a natural comedian to whom words flow like water.

There are sight-gags in the film, but these are really secondary to the dialog -- which is priceless.

Unlike "The Mask", this film has a more serious side in the pathos of a neglected family and a wrecked personal life. Still, the movie is light-hearted and fun to watch. Jim Carrey does it once again.

~P~

Liar, Liar is an hysterically funny movie starring Jim Carrey as a man who simply cannot tell the truth. That is, until his little boy makes a birthday wish that for an entire 24 hours his father cannot tell a lie.

Carrey plays a lawyer who defends the lowest of low characters. His life is practically run by his boss, "the woman from Hell", played by Amanda Donahoe.

On the night of his son's birthday party, he is supposed to be at his ex-wife's house celebrating the little boy's birthday. Instead, he is in the sack with Amanda. His little boy makes his wish, and just after the two grown-ups have done their thing, and Amanda asks Jim how he's doing, Jim Carrey tells her, "I've had better." I thought I'd die laughing. The truth is supposed to set you free, but it got Carrey into a whole lot of hot water. Boiling hot water!

He goes about the 24 hours not being able to tell a lie. His entire office co-workers are told off about their appearance and what they should do about it. Even after he leaves work, and is pulled over by a policeman, the policeman asks him if he knew what he'd been doing. Carrey goes into this long description of all the bad things he'd done, like "...running a red light, and speeeeeding!"

In the courtroom he knows he's supposed to lie so that a client can get full custody of her kids plus millions of dollars. But the poor man just can't lie. He requests a bathroom break, and when he's in the bathroom, he begins to beat himself up, knocking his head on the wall, pulling the toilet seat down on his head, just literally bruising himself black and blue.

A man walks into the bathroom and asks him what he's doing. He turns around and with a disgusted look on his face says, "I'm kicking my ... Do you mind?"

I didn't think Carrey could get funnier than he was in The Mask, but I dreamed this movie and laughed all night long. My husband said I kept him awake, and why couldn't I sleep without dreaming.

If you don't watch another movie this year, you should at least be sure to watch Liar, Liar, especially if you are in need of a gut-splitting laugh.

This isn't my favorite movie, but top five on the Jim Carry list. The idea that a man who lies all the time can't lie for one day is hillaroious! I read a review that said this isn'y a family movie. First of all, you shouldn't complain that the movie isn't for kids. DON'T LET YOUR KIDS WATCH IT IF IT'S NOT FOR THEM!! And second, the movie isn't too bad. I highly reccomend seeing this movie!!! And also, see Bruce Almighty (another Carry flick) You'll love it!

Now there's a twist.

But that's the theme of the movie. Jim Carry plays the part of Fletcher Reede, a young, promising (and very unscrupulous) lawyer who always manages to win his cases. But there is a darker side to his life. His wife has divorced him because of several affairs, and his son (who he dearly loves) has been neglected for his professional career. Clearly, Mr. Reede is a man who never settled down to the more serious business of life and responsibility.

However, Reede's day of come-upance has arrived. Forgotten about one too many times, his son makes a birthday wish that his dad would have to tell the truth for 24 hours. An outside wind blows the cake candles out and the stage is set.

Mr. Reede intends to go about his daily, lie-ridden life (his natural style) but is flabergasted to suddenly find that whatever he tries to say, the truth always comes out - and with hilarious results ("I can't believe I said that"). Jim Carrey has the gift of gab, and God, does it come out in this film. Either he is very adept at learning complex lines or he is a natural comedian to whom words flow like water.

There are sight-gags in the film, but these are really secondary to the dialog -- which is priceless.

Unlike "The Mask", this film has a more serious side in the pathos of a neglected family and a wrecked personal life. Still, the movie is light-hearted and fun to watch. Jim Carrey does it once again.

~P~

Liar, Liar is an hysterically funny movie starring Jim Carrey as a man who simply cannot tell the truth. That is, until his little boy makes a birthday wish that for an entire 24 hours his father cannot tell a lie.

Carrey plays a lawyer who defends the lowest of low characters. His life is practically run by his boss, "the woman from Hell", played by Amanda Donahoe.

On the night of his son's birthday party, he is supposed to be at his ex-wife's house celebrating the little boy's birthday. Instead, he is in the sack with Amanda. His little boy makes his wish, and just after the two grown-ups have done their thing, and Amanda asks Jim how he's doing, Jim Carrey tells her, "I've had better." I thought I'd die laughing. The truth is supposed to set you free, but it got Carrey into a whole lot of hot water. Boiling hot water!

He goes about the 24 hours not being able to tell a lie. His entire office co-workers are told off about their appearance and what they should do about it. Even after he leaves work, and is pulled over by a policeman, the policeman asks him if he knew what he'd been doing. Carrey goes into this long description of all the bad things he'd done, like "...running a red light, and speeeeeding!"

In the courtroom he knows he's supposed to lie so that a client can get full custody of her kids plus millions of dollars. But the poor man just can't lie. He requests a bathroom break, and when he's in the bathroom, he begins to beat himself up, knocking his head on the wall, pulling the toilet seat down on his head, just literally bruising himself black and blue.

A man walks into the bathroom and asks him what he's doing. He turns around and with a disgusted look on his face says, "I'm kicking my ... Do you mind?"

I didn't think Carrey could get funnier than he was in The Mask, but I dreamed this movie and laughed all night long. My husband said I kept him awake, and why couldn't I sleep without dreaming.

If you don't watch another movie this year, you should at least be sure to watch Liar, Liar, especially if you are in need of a gut-splitting laugh.

This isn't my favorite movie, but top five on the Jim Carry list. The idea that a man who lies all the time can't lie for one day is hillaroious! I read a review that said this isn'y a family movie. First of all, you shouldn't complain that the movie isn't for kids. DON'T LET YOUR KIDS WATCH IT IF IT'S NOT FOR THEM!! And second, the movie isn't too bad. I highly reccomend seeing this movie!!! And also, see Bruce Almighty (another Carry flick) You'll love it!

Now there's a twist.

But that's the theme of the movie. Jim Carry plays the part of Fletcher Reede, a young, promising (and very unscrupulous) lawyer who always manages to win his cases. But there is a darker side to his life. His wife has divorced him because of several affairs, and his son (who he dearly loves) has been neglected for his professional career. Clearly, Mr. Reede is a man who never settled down to the more serious business of life and responsibility.

However, Reede's day of come-upance has arrived. Forgotten about one too many times, his son makes a birthday wish that his dad would have to tell the truth for 24 hours. An outside wind blows the cake candles out and the stage is set.

Mr. Reede intends to go about his daily, lie-ridden life (his natural style) but is flabergasted to suddenly find that whatever he tries to say, the truth always comes out - and with hilarious results ("I can't believe I said that"). Jim Carrey has the gift of gab, and God, does it come out in this film. Either he is very adept at learning complex lines or he is a natural comedian to whom words flow like water.

There are sight-gags in the film, but these are really secondary to the dialog -- which is priceless.

Unlike "The Mask", this film has a more serious side in the pathos of a neglected family and a wrecked personal life. Still, the movie is light-hearted and fun to watch. Jim Carrey does it once again.

~P~

Liar, Liar is an hysterically funny movie starring Jim Carrey as a man who simply cannot tell the truth. That is, until his little boy makes a birthday wish that for an entire 24 hours his father cannot tell a lie.

Carrey plays a lawyer who defends the lowest of low characters. His life is practically run by his boss, "the woman from Hell", played by Amanda Donahoe.

On the night of his son's birthday party, he is supposed to be at his ex-wife's house celebrating the little boy's birthday. Instead, he is in the sack with Amanda. His little boy makes his wish, and just after the two grown-ups have done their thing, and Amanda asks Jim how he's doing, Jim Carrey tells her, "I've had better." I thought I'd die laughing. The truth is supposed to set you free, but it got Carrey into a whole lot of hot water. Boiling hot water!

He goes about the 24 hours not being able to tell a lie. His entire office co-workers are told off about their appearance and what they should do about it. Even after he leaves work, and is pulled over by a policeman, the policeman asks him if he knew what he'd been doing. Carrey goes into this long description of all the bad things he'd done, like "...running a red light, and speeeeeding!"

In the courtroom he knows he's supposed to lie so that a client can get full custody of her kids plus millions of dollars. But the poor man just can't lie. He requests a bathroom break, and when he's in the bathroom, he begins to beat himself up, knocking his head on the wall, pulling the toilet seat down on his head, just literally bruising himself black and blue.

A man walks into the bathroom and asks him what he's doing. He turns around and with a disgusted look on his face says, "I'm kicking my ... Do you mind?"

I didn't think Carrey could get funnier than he was in The Mask, but I dreamed this movie and laughed all night long. My husband said I kept him awake, and why couldn't I sleep without dreaming.

If you don't watch another movie this year, you should at least be sure to watch Liar, Liar, especially if you are in need of a gut-splitting laugh.