Category Archives: Movie Reviews

A Simple Plan - * * * *

Posted on December 11, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

Crime doesn’t pay. Particularly in a world where the rule of Murphy’s Law is absolute. That’s the lesson learned by the characters in the well-acted, brilliantly written and intensely gripping drama, A Simple Plan. Hank Mitchell (Bill Paxton) has a … Continue reading →

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Shakespeare in Love - * * * 1/2*

Posted on December 11, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

Shakespeare in Love is a delightful romantic comedy with a literary twist. A fictionalized account of a few months of Shakespeare’s life, the film manages to humanize the greatest English writer of all time, and delivers a splendid time while … Continue reading →

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Rushmore - * * *

Posted on December 11, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

No, this is not a film about the famous South Dakota presidential monument. Rather, Rushmore is a unique comedy about two somewhat obnoxious, but endearing, characters and their quest for happiness. Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) is one of the most … Continue reading →

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Star Trek: Insurrection - * 1/2*

Posted on December 11, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

The odd-numbered Star Trek film curse strikes again. For those of you unfamiliar with Star Trek lore, it has been maintained that the only good Star Trek films are those with even numbers. Perhaps in response to this, Paramount stopped … Continue reading →

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Jack Frost - *

Posted on December 11, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

It’s hard to imagine the idea even looked good on paper. Mixing a live action Frosty-the-snowman adventure with a tragic father and son bonding story, Jack Frost is even more unappealing on screen. Michael Keaton plays a blues musician by … Continue reading →

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Psycho - * *

Posted on December 4, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

I’ll admit it up front. I’ve never considered the original Psycho to be one of Hitchcock’s best films. Although a good film, it should be celebrated more for its groundbreaking elements than for its quality. That leads us to what … Continue reading →

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Very Bad Things - * 1/2*

Posted on November 25, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

Peter Berg directs this messy (in more ways than one) black comedy. But while it certainly is dark and morbid…someone forgot the laughs in this dreary film. Very Bad Things tells the tale of a bachelor party that goes horribly … Continue reading →

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Ringmaster - [No Tickets]

Posted on November 25, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

At the turn of the millenium, the name Jerry Springer has become synonomous with “trash tv” and everything that has gone wrong with our culture. It’s only fitting, then, that Jerry gets his own movie. But Ringmaster, a half-hearted attempt … Continue reading →

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Home Fries - * * 1/2*

Posted on November 25, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

Home Fries is an unusual romantic comedy where you never quite know what to expect. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, the film veers off in a different direction. The end result may leave you disoriented, but its … Continue reading →

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Babe: Pig in the City - * *

Posted on November 25, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

I have to admit, I wasn’t Babe‘s biggest fan. The premise was cute, and the speaking-animal effects were well done, but I still maintain that the original film was well over-praised. Which brings us to Babe: Pig in the City, … Continue reading →

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