Tag Archives: Drama

The Deep End of the Ocean - * * 1/2*

Posted on March 12, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

The Deep End of the Ocean is the type of tragic drama that is most often seen as a TV movie-of-the-week. Based on Jacquelyn Mitchard’s novel, it paints a stark, depressing picture, and adds a glimmer of hope intermingled with … Continue reading →

Posted in 1999, Movie Reviews | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Deep End of the Ocean

Gloria - * *

Posted on January 22, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Gloria is a remake of the 1980 John Cassavettes drama about a streetwise woman who ends up protecting a child from the mob. A good lead performance keeps this otherwise sluggish film from becoming a disaster, but it’s a mild … Continue reading →

Posted in 1999, Movie Reviews | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Gloria

At First Sight - * * 1/2*

Posted on January 9, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Oliver Sacks’ story To See and Not See, a true account regarding restoring sight to the blind must have seemed like the perfect idea for a movie. Not only does an actor get to stretch his chops as a blind … Continue reading →

Posted in 1999, Movie Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on At First Sight

A Civil Action - * * *

Posted on December 25, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

Not your typical legal drama, A Civil Action eschews grandiose cinematic gestures in favor of a slightly more grounded (and definitely more cynical) interpretation of the legal process. It provides an always interesting, and sometimes fascinating, glimpse inside the workings … Continue reading →

Posted in 1998, Movie Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on A Civil Action

Stepmom - * * 1/2*

Posted on December 25, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

With a bland and unrevealing title like Stepmom, you might half expect a horror film about the mad matriarch of a dysfunctional family. That’s not the case here. Rather, Stepmom is another a long tradition of three-hankie weepies, and a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1998, Movie Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Stepmom

Meet Joe Black - * * *

Posted on November 13, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

Meet Joe Black is your classic boy-meets-girl, boy-likes-girl, boy-gets-killed-in-horrible-accident, supernatural-entity-takes-over-boy’s-body, supernatural-entity-falls-in-love-with-girl story. Based on the 1934 film Death Takes a Holiday, Meet Joe Black is a well acted romantic drama which explores the meanings of life and love. William Parrish … Continue reading →

Posted in 1998, Movie Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Meet Joe Black

American History X - * * * 1/2*

Posted on October 28, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

American History X is a powerful examination of the destructive allure of racism and hatred. Boistered by some impressive performances, paints a vivid picture of how mindless hatred can tear society, and an individual family, apart. Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton) … Continue reading →

Posted in 1998, Movie Reviews | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on American History X

Happiness - * *

Posted on October 16, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

Don’t be fooled by the title. There is happiness in Todd Solondz’ latest film, but it’s not exactly what you would expect. The film explores several unhappy (and, in some cases, extremely dysfunctional) people in their quest to find “happiness”, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1998, Movie Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Happiness

One True Thing - * * 1/2*

Posted on September 18, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

Director Carl Franklin tackles this small-scale tearjerker, based on Anna Quindlen’s novel One True Thing. Although good, and appropriately sad, it never reaches its full potential. Ellen Gulden (Renee Zellweger) never had a good relationship with her mother, Kate (Meryl … Continue reading →

Posted in 1998, Movie Reviews | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on One True Thing

Permanent Midnight - * 1/2*

Posted on September 16, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

David Veloz directs his adaptation of Jerry Stahl’s autobiographical portrait of a Hollywood writer succumbing to the downward spiral of drug addiction. Despite some adequate performances, the film merely treads water with nowhere to go, and nothing to say. Ben … Continue reading →

Posted in 1998, Movie Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Permanent Midnight