Tag Archives: Drama

Portrait of a Lady - * *

Posted on December 24, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

The Portrait of a Lady is a distant and chilly adaptation of the Henry James novel that never gets off the ground. Nicole Kidman stars a Isabel Archer, an American in Europe who, at the film’s outset, she dismisses a … Continue reading →

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Ghosts of Mississippi - * *

Posted on December 20, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

Rob Reiner’s latest film takes the tragedy of the murder of Medgar Evers and turns it into a watered down Grishamesque southern lawyer story. In very quick opening scenes, we learn that the racist Byron De La Beckwith (James Woods) … Continue reading →

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Marvin’s Room - * * *

Posted on December 18, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

Well acted, but not often believable, dysfunctional family drama. Meryl Streep stars as Lee, a domineering single mother/cosmetologist in Cleveland, who is raising two children. The eldest (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a semi-insane rebel, put in a mental institution after attempting … Continue reading →

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Slingblade - * * * 1/2*

Posted on November 27, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

Interesting characters and solid acting help to redeem a somewhat predictable story in Sling Blade. Billy Bob Thornton directs and stars as Karl Childers, a mentally retarded man who has spent the last twenty-five years in a mental institution after … Continue reading →

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The Crucible - * * * 1/2*

Posted on November 27, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

Stirring adaptation of Arthur Miller’s portrayal of the Salem witch hunts. In a moment of weakness, John Proctor (Daniel Day-Lewis) has an affair with his servant Abigail Williams (Winona Ryder). His wife, Elizabeth (Joan Allen), sends Abigail away, but she … Continue reading →

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Breaking the Waves - * * *

Posted on November 13, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

Breaking the Waves is a surprisingly spiritual film whose effect gradually sneaks up on you throughout its length. Emily Watson stars as Bess, an innocent and naive girl raised in a stern northern Scottish village. At the film’s outset, she … Continue reading →

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Shine - * * * 1/2*

Posted on November 9, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

Shine is a small, but astonishing tale of the fall and rise of a prodigal pianist. The first half of the film is told in flashbacks as the mentally unstable middle-aged David Helfgott (Geoffrey Rush) recalls his childhood. Here, David … Continue reading →

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To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday - * 1/2*

Posted on October 18, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

This rather bland film about recovering from grief covers no new ground. David Lewis (Peter Gallagher) lost his wife, Gillian (Michelle Pfieffer), two years earlier in a freak boating accident. Now, on the anniversary of her death, and also her … Continue reading →

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Trees Lounge - * * 1/2*

Posted on October 11, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

In his directoral debut, Steve Buscemi creates a bleak portrait of a young alcoholic in a small town in this bitter comedy. Steve Buscemi stars as Tommy, the young alcoholic on a downward spiral. He’s lost his girlfriend to his … Continue reading →

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The Chamber - * *

Posted on October 11, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

A mostly well acted John Grisham tale can’t hide the fact that it doesn’t really have anything to say. Adam Hall (Chris O’Donnell) is that everpresent staple of Grisham works, the eager young lawyer who tackles a big job. In … Continue reading →

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