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Reviews
Ifigeneia (1977)
Stunning realism
Although the recent re-telling of part of Homer's epic "Troy" with Brad Pitt was entertaining once, "Iphigenia" with the incandescent Irene Pappas is breathtaking. Unfolding in a natural setting with Greek actors speaking their own language lends such authenticity. A chance encounter with this film on one of DirecTV's many movie channels kept me interested in spite of my concentration problems. There is no glitter or "bling" in this movie, just a fabulously rich story impeccably told by actors so real one feels they are eavesdropping on a real family in turmoil. I think even Homer, if he really existed, would be proud of this telling.
JLH
Judging Amy (1999)
Another reason to hate CBS...the cancellation of "Judging Amy"
Tyne Daly is a pleasure to watch even if she is only sipping tea; she somehow makes that an extraordinary event. I came late to this program as I do not like to spend much time devoted to television. If I had remembered CBS' penchant for canceling popular programs in favor of an elusive demographic I would have checked in sooner. These characters were all written as flawed but fully developed people struggling with day to day problems in life. Every nuance is pitch perfect from Karle Warren to the formidable Ms. Daly. The main characters are allowed to make wrong choices rather than project a perfect yet unrealistic image of human nature.
I voted 9 out of 10 because while I liked the character of Kyle, I thought the hospital sequences weaker than the rest of the program.
Why is this show not on DVD yet?
Lone Star (1996)
Sayles defines atmosphere of small town secrets
Although a long time fan of John Sayles, I had never seen this movie until I watched it this weekend. My brother warned me the ending was a surprise that I would not see coming, and he was dead on.
Sayles gift is the actors he uses to tell his stories. He chooses just the right people to make his dead on dialogue ring even truer. I first saw Joe Morton in "The Brother from Another Planet", which remains one of my favorite movies ever, and was thrilled to see him in Lone Star.
The suspense involving the skeleton, which was really the tip of the iceberg, kept pace with the genuinely drawn characterizations of the lives of these people struggling to live side by side in a world of cultural demarcation.
Thought provoking without being ponderous.