'The Perfect Storm'

Rated PG13      130 minutes      Warner Brothers

Directed by Wolfgang Peterson

Starring:

George Clooney

Mark Wahlberg

Diane Lane

John C. Reilly

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio

Warnings: some language

[NOV. 15, 2000]  Based on the true story of the convergence of two storms in October 1991, "The Perfect Storm" is the story of down-on-their-luck fishermen who leave behind home and family one more time to brave the late October seas off the Grand Banks and bring home a major catch.

This gripping drama was shot on location in Gloucester, Mass., where locals who had lost family in that storm were employed in the movie as extras, and in a huge water tank that tossed the actors about with wild abandon.

Directed by Wolfgang Peterson ("Enemy Mine," "Shattered" and "Das Boot"), it is an adventurous and startling movie about love, loss and determination. Peterson delivers with wrenching computer-generated scenes of huge waves crashing about and a realistic portrayal of the homes, the families and the incredible hard work and danger of bringing home the swordfish catch. His direction of these characters made for an adventurous film with some depth, much character and a good production.

 

George Clooney, who plays captain Billy Tyne, was not his usual charismatic self in this film. He seems to have trouble delivering his lines, but this may be part of the act, as he depicts a perennial screw-up who risks too much and usually comes back with too little. Mark Wahlberg seems to be the hero of the film and puts in a good showing as supporting actor. Wahlberg and Clooney play well off each other but fail in the end to reach critical mass. Also of good mention is the performance of John C. Reilly and William Fichtner, who play their roles so well that you easily connect with the life of the fisherman and the small-town fishing culture of Gloucester, Mass.

 

[to top of second column in this review]

This movie does an excellent job showing all the gritty, difficult and rewarding moments of fishing for swordfish. Based on Sebastian Junger’s best-selling novel with the same title, the fishing sequences stand out. The two main attractions in this movie are, in fact, the fishing and the storm. After hearing the tales fishermen tell firsthand, this movie appropriately demonstrates and tells the story of the incredible dangers of a hurricane at sea and the danger of allowing greed to "steer your boat."

 

I enjoyed this film, although I found myself gripping my cushion a little too tightly, clenching my jaw and experiencing anxiety firsthand. I thought at one point that I actually tasted brine as wave after frothy wave crashed over the boat and sprayed in their faces. After a while, I thought the computer-generated waves were a bit fakey looking, but this surreal effect was actually quite fitting and not overdone. I found the characters to be a little underpolished but thought this to be much more authentic and appropriate. All in all, I recommend this movie and give it 3 stars.

[midge]

midge@lincolndailynews.com

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'M:I-2'

Rated PG13      123 Minutes      Paramount Pictures

Starring:

Tom Cruise

Ving Rhames

Anthony Hopkins

Thandie Newton

Dougray Scott

Warnings:

Some violence

[NOV. 11, 2000]  "Mission Impossible 2", the sequel, is a much different movie from the original and from the long-running TV series. "M:I-2" moves along at the speed of light, is definitely an action movie and has some big-name stars. But……

"M:I-2" is just a typical spy story of the new millennium: A megalomaniac creates a deadly virus to release on an unsuspecting world. He alone has the antidote, which he will use to gain tremendous wealth. A co-worker with a conscience realizes what the boss is up to and decides to defect with the virus and the antidote and spoil the get-rich scheme. But bad guys infiltrate the defection, steal the antidote and, for the rest of the movie, attempt to also steal the virus so that power and wealth will be theirs.

 

Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is assigned to the mission, if he chooses it (do you think the IMF guys have ever said, "Nah, get somebody else?). The impossible part is to steal the virus from the drug company that created it, steal the antidote from the bad guys and save the whole known world. No big deal if you are Tom Cruise and there is a pretty girl in the mix.

I liked several things about this movie. Tom Cruise does what I think is the best acting of his career in "M:I-2." No stumbling through lines, no childish look and no self-glorification. He does the lowbrow Tom Cruise stare several times, and he has great intensity. In addition to Tom's scenery, the other scenery in "M:I-2" is beautiful, and the camera work is seductive. And this movie moves along at a terrific pace.

 

 

[to top of second column in this review]

 

Unfortunately, my list of things I didn't like is longer. Although it is a simple, straightforward story line, the presentation, the dialog and the direction are confusing. You weren't sure at times who were the good guys and the bad guys. The characters in this movie were one-dimensional, with too little attention given to character development.

Anthony Hopkins was in this movie, but his two little cameo appearances caused confusion rather than bringing joy. Ving Rhames is a fascinating actor, but he may as well have been played by a potato in "M:I-2." And the Bad, bad guy Dougray Scott was a big letdown (could somebody please outlaw the use of cigar trimmers as bad-guy weapons, please?). Throughout this movie I failed to emotionally connect with even one of the characters, and at the end of this two-hour ride, I didn't even care!

The really bad news of this movie was that the special effects were hokey and unbelievable. There is a superhuman element to this film: the actors themselves were much more than human (like getting punched and kicked 50 times wouldn't at least knock out an ordinary human being, let alone put them in the hospital?), and they could at times perform what seemed to be superhuman feats without any explanation (none of them were presented as gods or aliens).

 

Finally, my last bad comment I have to make about this film is that it is boring (I would tell you what is boring, but that would be   giving the movie away)! If it were not for the ultra-fast pace and the scenery, "Mission Impossible 2" would be impossible watching times two.

Watch "M:I-2" for the scenery, the camera work, and catch Cruise's best acting performance. And watch it because there have been few quality movies released lately. I give this movie 2˝ stars out of 5 stars.

[midge]

midge@lincolndailynews.com

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