(2001) Gregor Jordan – Joaquin Phoenix, Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Anna Paquin, Elizabeth McGovern, etc. Synopsis: Joaquin Phoenix is Ray Elwood, a shifty soldier stationed in Germany towards the end of the cold war. Elwood has his fingers deep in various black-market cookie jars and is doing fairly well for himself, particularly under the not-so-watchful […]
Buffalo Soldiers (***3/4)
Posted by Ben on June 19, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/buffalo-soldiers/
Rabbit-Proof Fence (***1/2)
(2002) Phillip Noyce – Everlyn Sampi, Tianna Sansbury, Laura Monaghan, David Gulpilil Synopsis: Set in Australia in 1931, ‘Rabbit-Proof Fence’ details the true story (it’s based on a book called ‘Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence’) of three aboriginal girls who were snatched up to be put in “boarding schools” to be taught how to be a […]
Posted by Ben on June 12, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/rabbit-proof-fence/
Solaris (***1/2)
(2002) Steven Soderbergh – w/ George Clooney, Natascha McElhone, Jeremy Davies, Viola Davis, Ulrich Tukur Synopsis: It’s the future. Strange things are happening on the privately-owned space station Prometheus, stationed above planetoid (and potential natural resource) Solaris. “Strange things” as in, the crew’s turned a little batty; people have been sent to fetch the crew, […]
Posted by Ben on June 5, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/solaris/
Massively Negligent Rundown
Stranger Danger. Wonder of all wonders, miracle of all miracles, children stay inside because they’re afraid of the outside world; I wonder how they got that way? Not only that, but (also unsurprisingly), most of their fears—and their parents’ fears—are based on “an unrealistic estimate assessment… of the risks of the outside world.” Writes Amelia […]
Posted by Ben on June 4, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/massively-negligent-rundown/
Confidence (***)
(2003) dir. James Foley – w/ Edward Burns, Rachel Weisz, Paul Giamatti, Brian Van Holt, Andy Garcia and Dustin Hoffman Synopsis: Confidence games, you gotta love ’em. Unless you’re the one getting conned. ‘Confidence’ features a tight-knit group of con-men (led by Ed Burns as ‘Jake’) who, in pulling the wool over the eyes of […]
Posted by Ben on May 29, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/confidence/
Palme D’Or
Congratulations to Mike and the fine crew who helped craft the yet-to-be-released documentary Fahrenheit 9/11; the movie won top honors at the Cannes Film Festival.
Posted by Ben on May 23, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/palme-dor/
Touching the Void (****)
(2004) dir Kevin Macdonald – w/ Nicholas Aaron as Simon Yates and Brendan Mackey as Joe Simpson; also with Joe Simpson and Simon Yates Synopsis: Based on the true story of two climbers (Joe Simpson [who wrote the book Touching the Void] and Simon Yates) who attempt an ascent of an unclimbed mountain in South […]
Posted by Ben on May 22, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/touching-the-void/
Rundown: Abu Ghraib, The Passion of The Christ, etc
The National Security Archive at GWU is kinda like a combination research institute plus a library of declassified national security documents (hence the title). Everything from the August 6, 2001 PDB to documents pertaining to the US and genocide in Rwanda to more light-hearted things, including a pretty remarkably comprehensive online ‘exhibit’ of the meeting […]
Posted by Ben on May 17, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/rundown-abu-ghraib-the-passion-of-the-christ-etc/
Natural Born Killers (***1/2)
(1994) dir. Oliver Stone – Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Robert Downey, Jr., Tommy Lee Jones, & Tom Sizemore Synopsis: ‘Natural Born Killers’ presents the story of Mickey (Woody) and Mallory (Juliette), lovers and killers, enamored of their frenetic and blood-spattered lives; of M&M, media pets; of M&M, mass-murderers loved and reviled by the public; and […]
Posted by Ben on May 16, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/natural-born-killers-12/
Bubba Ho-Tep
Admittedly a movie about Elvis and JFK in a rest home and battling the forces of evil isn’t going to be to everyone’s taste, but what is. With Bruce Campbell as Elvis and Ossie Davis as JFK, Bubba Ho-tep is a fun-filled ride for some people—maybe you—possibly (although possibly not) coming to a theatre near […]
Posted by Ben on May 13, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/bubba-ho-tep/