Saturday, October 14, 2006

Barry Levinson's "wide variety" of films


Barry Levinson's film Man of the Year staring Robin Williams came out wide this weekend.

This has led me to think about Barry Levinson's hit and misses for me. The Academy Award winner (1 win, 6 noms) certainly has produced a large "variety" of work.

All Out Favorite: Rain Man
It's an unforgetable iconic film that will stand the test of time...it's funny, witty, different, and smart.

Touches me in a Personal Way: Avalon
This story about a Jewish family in the early 1900s creates images that help me picture what it must have been like for my great-grandparents, a Jewish family who came over to the US in the early 1900s.

Why'd I do that to myself: Sphere
There was an era where I'd read all of Michael Crichton's books and an era where I'd watch all the film adaptations (Disclousure, Jurassic Park, Lost World, Congo). Hum? I don't know why I did that to myself?

Why'd you do that to the world: Toys
Ugh...every time I see the VHS or DVD box anywhere, it makes me a little sick.

Creepy in Retrospect: Wag the Dog
It's wierd of things happen and politics and you think to yourself, "it's like that movie that came out in 1997")

A Good Funny Film: Bandits
It's really very entertaining for what it is. Cate Blanchett, Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton all crack me up.

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3 comments:

F.J. Delgado said...

I agree with your sentiments regarding Sphere, and all the Chrichton adaptations, for that matter.

Levinson does indeed have an eclectic body of work.

Glenn Dunks said...

Oh god, the oddest thing happened in Blockbuster the other day: THEY WERE PLAYING 'TOYS'! Usually they're playing a new release or something, but no - they decided to play Toys.

Also, Bandits really was much better than I thought it'd be. I also really like Wag the Dog. Haven't seen Rain Man (I KNOW!) and Sphere, well... it has Queen Latifah dying by jellyfish, so that's pretty funny. But, yes, it is dirge.

J.J. said...

The only way to get through Rain Man is to focus on Cruise, who gives the real Oscar-worthy performance. Hoffman is just doing a parlor trick. You can't latch on to a character who is incapable of change or growth.