Tag Archives: Drama

The Ice Storm - * * *

Posted on September 27, 1997 by Madeleine Williams

In his next film since Sense and Sensibility, director Ang Lee tackles another literary project, though this one is radically different. The Ice Storm is based on the novel by Rick Moody, a snapshot of Thanksgiving weekend, 1973. Ice Storm … Continue reading →

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A Thousand Acres - *

Posted on September 19, 1997 by Madeleine Williams

Based on Jane Smiley’s novel, A Thousand Acres pulls out every melodramatic trick in the book, but never establishes a foundation on which to build. The result is about as flimsy and not nearly as interesting as a house of … Continue reading →

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Ulee’s Gold - * * 1/2*

Posted on June 13, 1997 by Madeleine Williams

Peter Fonda’s good performance is the star of this otherwise slow moving drama about a man’s struggle to draw his family together amid adversity. Fonda portrays Ulee Jackson (short for Ulysses), a widowed beekeeper who is raising his two granddaughters … Continue reading →

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Ponette - * * 1/2*

Posted on May 23, 1997 by Madeleine Williams

Child actors are problematic. They usually come in two flavors: those who don’t really know what they’re doing, and therefore act natural. They’re convincing, but not always appropriate. The other flavor of child actor is the overactor: hyperaware that they’re … Continue reading →

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Night Falls on Manhattan - * * * 1/2*

Posted on May 16, 1997 by Madeleine Williams

Night Falls on Manhattan is a thoughtful ethics drama that paints a gritty, realistic picture of corruption, law and politics. Andy Garcia stars as Sean Casey, an idealistic new assistant district attorney in New York. He gets his big break … Continue reading →

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Inventing the Abbotts - * *

Posted on April 4, 1997 by Madeleine Williams

Bland and flat, Inventing the Abbotts portrays small town life in the 1950s, but works better as a gallery for its young stars. The film focuses on two families in small town Haley, Illinois. The Abbotts are among the town’s … Continue reading →

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Donnie Brasco - * * * 1/2*

Posted on February 28, 1997 by Madeleine Williams

Just when you thought there weren’t any fresh or new stories that could be told about mafia life, along comes a gem like Donnie Brasco, made all the more fascinating because it is based on fact. Donnie Brasco is the … Continue reading →

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Hamlet - * * * *

Posted on December 25, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

Kenneth Branagh delivers an excellent uncut adaptation of William Shakespeare’s most famous play. Branagh directs and stars as Hamlet, the Danish prince. Julie Christie plays Queen Gertrude, and Derek Jacobi is Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle, now king. The casting follows the … Continue reading →

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Evita - * * * 1/2*

Posted on December 25, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

Director Alan Parker’s version of Evita tells the musical story of Argentinian First Lady Eva Peron. Antonio Banderas narrates the story as the acerbic Che, an everyman who wryly comments on the political goings on. Madonna stars as Eva, who … Continue reading →

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The Evening Star - * *

Posted on December 25, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

This extra sappy sequel to Terms of Endearment just doesn’t fly. The film follows the further life of Aurora Greenway (Shirley MacLaine), who, after the death of her daughter (in the prior film), is left to raise her three grandchildren … Continue reading →

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