READY TO WEAR (PRET-A-PORTER) (1994)

 

Directed By: Robert Altman  Written By: Robert Altman & Barbara Shulgasser Cinematography: Jean Lepine & Pierre Mignot Editor: Suzy Elmiger & Geraldine Peroni

Cast: Julia Roberts, Tim Robbins, Marcello Mastroianni, Sophia Loren, Lili Taylor, Forest Whitaker, Richard E. Grant, Rupert Everett, Kim Basinger, Sally Kellerman, Tracy Ullman, Lauren Bacall,  Linda Hunt, Stephen Rea, Ute Lemper, Lyle Lovett, Teri Garr, Danny Arielle, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Amouk Aimee, Chiara Mastroianni, Rossy De Palma, Michel Blanc, Jean Rochefort, Francois Cluzet, Sam Robarbs, Georgianna Robertson 

A fashion show in Paris draws the usual bunch of people; designers, reporters, models, magazine editors, photographers. Lots of unconnected stories which all revolve around this show, and an all-star cast.

LEATHERFACE (2017)

Directed By: Alexandre Bustillo & Julien Maury 
Written By: Seth M. Sherwood 
Based On Characters Created By: Tobe Hooper & Kim Henkel 
Cinematography By: Antoine Sanier 
Editor: Sebastien De Sainte Croix & Josh Ethier 

Cast: Stephen Dorff, Lili Taylor, Finn Jones, Sam Strike, Vanessa Grasse, Jessica Madsen, James Bloor 

 A teenage Leatherface escapes from a mental hospital with three other inmates, kidnapping a young nurse and taking her on a road trip from hell, while being pursued by a lawman out for revenge.

TO THE BONE (2017)

Written & Directed By: Marti Noxon 
Cinematography By: Richard Wong 
Editor: Elliot Greenberg 


Cast: Lily J. Collins, Alex Sharp, Lili Taylor, Brooke Smith, Keanu Reeves, Retta, Kathryn Prescott, Leslie Bibb, Carrie Preston, Alanna Ubach, Maya Eshet 


Ellen is a 20 year old woman struggling with anorexia nervosa. In the midst of family problems and her own fears, she is accepted into a group home run by an unusual doctor. Through the people she meets and the journey she takes, Ellen follows a path of self discovery and acceptance that will lead her to a surprising place she never would have thought possible

JEFF OF THE CINEFILES & UNFINISHED BUSINESS: HALL OF FAME: FILE #0047: HIGH FIDELITY (2000)

Directed By: Stephen Frears 
Written By: John Cusack,Steve Pink, Scott Rosenberg & D.V. DeVincentis 
Based On The Book By: Nick Hornby 
Cinematography By: Seamus McGarvey 
Editor: Mick Audsley 


Cast: John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Todd Louiso, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lili Taylor, Tim Robbins, Lisa Bonet, Sara Gilbert, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Joelle Carter, Drake Bell, Chris Bauer, Alex Desert

THE CONJURING (2013)

Directed By: James Wan 
Written By: Chad Hayes & Carey Hayes 
Cinematography By: John R. Leonetti 
Editor: Kirk M. Morri 

 Cast: Vera Farminga, Patrick Wilson, Lili Taylor,Ron Livingston, Joey King

GIRL'S TOWN (1996)

Directed By: Jim McKay
Written By: Jim McKay, Denise Casano, Anna Grace, Bruklin Harris, Lili Taylor
Cinematography By: Russell Lee Fine
Editor: Alex Hall & Jim McKay

Cast: Lili Taylor, Anna Grace, Aunjanue Ellis, Asia Minor, Bruklin Harris, Guillermo Diaz

RANSOM (1996)

Directed By: Ron Howard
Written By: Richard Price & Alexander Ignon;
Story: Cyril Hume & Richard Maibaum
Cinematography By: Piotr Sobocinski
Editor: Dan Haley & Mike Hill

Cast: Mel Gibson, Gary Sinise, Delroy Lindo, Rene Russo, Dan Hedaya, Donnie Wahlberg, Lili Taylor, Liev Schrieber, Brawley Nolte, Jose Zuniga, John Ortiz

This film is the type of event film they would have made in the 1950’s Starring a huge matinee idol where they give him a paint by numbers plot but really the film is for the audience to watch the actor play to his strengths in a series of scenes and make him look like a icon. That is this film.

It’s not a mystery who kidnapped Mel Gibson’s son. It’s how long it will take him to realize it’s someone who is in his midst. This film presents you with Mel Gibson surrounded by a well known cast as you wait for the inevitable fight he is going to have with the main kidnapper and hoping it’s as goon and violent as the one he had with Gary Busey In LETHAL WEAPON

The plot is a rich man’ son is kidnapped and pretty much breaks all the rules his kidnappers set to try and get him back going against what the cops and FBI tell him to do. Showing he is a rebel and loves his son. While endangering his son’s life with every stunt just to be stubborn.

The only two interesting things about this film are the scenes where Mel Gibson confronts a old incarcerated business partner who he feels may be behind the kidnapping as revenge. The other scene is when the villain dispatches his gang including his lover to cut all ties to himself to show just how evil he is. While we are discussing it, Why this person would pick this group as kidnappers is beyond me they are like the gang who couldn’t shoot straight. It’s a miracle they even pulled the kidnapping off. So that goes beyond all reason. Why he would associate and plan to share money with these people but other then that there is nothing noteworthy other then to watch how athletic and heroic Mel Gibson is in the movie, for a man who is only supposed to be a industrialist.

This film is fine to watch on TV, When nothing else is on but no need to seek it out.

This is another Ron Howard film where he tries to have more style due to the genre. He tries his luck here with a little more dark material then he is used to but somehow still manages to make it bland. At least here the direction is a little stronger then usual for him but it is still not quite a home run.

When it comes to Ron Howard films I loved most of them as a kid growing up he somehow makes you feel a nostalgic mood when watching his films. But after this one there was a feeling something wasn’t right so I began watching them with a more critical eye. He is a talented director but he really has no style. He was born too late because his films are more idealistic when it comes to content and character. The films fit right in for the 1950’s type melodrama. He seems a perfect director for the middle aged male demographic with material that is not too harsh and more family oriented more over sentimentalized.

GRADE: C-