BeatBoxBetty's Movie Reviews

LAKE PLACID
Take every Jaws, Anaconda and Alien flick you’ve ever seen, add some hilarious dialogue and you get Lake Placid. A big bad alligator is far from home and eating way over his limit until Bridget Fonda, Bill Pullman and Oliver Platt jump in with corny but entertaining banter. Not the best movie to see before taking the kids down to the lake. Rating: 3.0 Martinis.

LAST NIGHT
What would you do if there were only six hours left until the end of the world? Spend the end with your family? Friends? Would you have sex like a professional athlete or would you just want to be alone? Poignant Q&A's that Canadian writer/director and stunning star Don McKellar asks in this touching film. With Sandra Oh, Sarah Polley, Tracy Wright and David Cronenberg - McKellar's unique P.O.V. may very well change your life. Well, what's left of it! Rating: 4.5 Martinis

LIFE
Eddie Murphy has finally found his funny again. It took the talented Martin Lawrence and director Ted Demme to bring it back. Let’s hope he keeps it this time. (No more "Holy Man" movies!) Framed for murder and sentenced to life in a Mississippi plantation-prison, circa 1932, these reluctant friends for life, Ray (Murphy) and Claude (Lawrence) struggle with their predicament the best way they know how - at being funny without trying. A clever bunk-time fantasy story and a time passage sequence are tastefully accomplished and expressed. Don’t judge this flick by first impressions. Give it peek. Rating: 3.5 Martinis

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL
Although some critics have snubbed Roberto Benigni’s film for being set during the Holocaust, this Betty must defend it. This is a story for those of you still left with a heart. There’s gotta be a few of you out there. It’s about a simple man who lives his life to its optimistic potential. So concerned is he for his son, he ends up creating a game to save his son from the terror of genocide. Benigni is brilliant as Guido as is he as Director and Writer. I only wish more films were made like this touching masterpiece. Rating of 4.5 Martinis

LIMBO
With John Sayles' flawless writing and directing skills in full force, this compelling and thought-out drama really works. David Strathairn plays a former man-of-the-sea with tender bliss opposite Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and newcomer Vanessa Martinez really shines in a story that will have you glued to the screen. A definite must-see. Rating: 4.5 Martinis

LITTLE NICKY
Okay. Who sucked the brain matter right out of Adam Sandler's pointy little head? Hmm? This over indulgent slop impersonating as a movie is so bad, it might be the worse movie of the year. Was no one watching the dailies?!!

The dribble begins as Satan's spawn, Little Nicky, (i.e.: AdamSandler in an oiled down mop and puffy parka) rushes to the big city in search of his evil brothers, all the while daddy devil (Harvey Keitel) is falling apart (literally) in the underworld. Nicky soon meets up with non-personality Valerie (ie: non-personality Patricia Arquette) and the dribble becomes drabble and you just want to kick somebody for having two hours ripped from your life.

Hey, I WAS an Adam Sandler fan. Happy Gillmore, The Wedding Singer, even The Waterboy had me in stitches. But then he pissed out Big Daddy and now this crime scene. If you must see it, do it at night - so nobody sees you actually buying the ticket.
Rating: 1.0 Martini

LITTLE VOICE
Jane Horrocks (Ab Fab‘s Bubbles) simply shines in this re-creation of her stage role as the painfully shy girl who can only express herself by singing daddy’s favorite records. Nailing the voices of Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe and Billie Holliday, Horrocks proves to be a top notch thrill to the senses. Brenda Blethyn also delights as her miserable mum who has the hots for Michael Caine. Problem is, Cain’s character is only interested in the loot Little Voice can bring him. A definite must-see! Rating: 4.0 Martinis.

LOST IN SPACE
Well the reviews are in the critics are slamming it. I got a kick out of all the high tech gizmos. I also dug the high-octane soundtrack. But before you go running to the theater just remember these 5 words. The last ten minutes suck! Just as you’re willing to go with the whole unplausable premise, they throw in freaky Jared Harris as a futuristic and uglified Will Robinson. Even Gary Oldman allows himself to sprout a few legs. It’s too much and too over the top to even explain to you fine people of earth! Rating: 2 1/2 Martinis

LOVE AND BASKETBALL
Okay. Why does Betty love this movie? Because like a great athlete, it refuses to take the easy way out. Every move and decision and consequence of those actions is carefully thought out - and although the bi-product is un-Disney-eque - it goes with it anyway. First time feature director/writer Gina Prince Bythewood shoots and scores with a delicate touch as she unveils the struggle of a girl (played extremely well by Sanaa Lathan – who never touched a basketball before this movie) who wants (and should) play pro basketball.

But first she’s gotta deal with her childhood pal/sweetheart (Omar Epps) who has his own demons to face as he gains (and loses) success in college and in the big leagues. The true beauty of Love is that it tells girls it’s okay to go after what they want in life. And that their decisions are just that …“theirs” to make. It’s a positive and uplifting film that will do a slam dunk into your heart. Rating: 4.25 Martinis

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