GRAY AREAS MAGAZINE MOVIE REVIEWS – JULY 1997
DONNIE BRASCO (Columbia Tristar Home Video, 126 minutes) Al Pacino and Johnny Depp star in this true story about an undercover FBI agent who is sent in to infiltrate the New York Mafia. This movie does an excellent j ob of showing the complexities of living a double life and working undercover and the problems that arise with such work. It also gives an interesting view of how the Mafia is organized and operates. It truly amazes me how some undercover agents can live this kind of life by day and write up reports about the people they are investigating by night. After watching this movie it is apparent that they may indeed have trouble doing this. (Christopher Schanot)
METRO (Touchstone Home Video, 117 minutes) Eddie Murphy stars in this action thriller reminiscent of his work in Beverly Hills Cop. This is one of his best movies to date and is a slight departure from his more comedic roles. In this movie he pl ays a high level hostage negotiator who has to solve problems with his brain instead of his gun. This is an excellent movie if you are an Eddie Murphy fan, and a great chance to become one if you aren’t. (Christopher Schanot)
MICHAEL (Warner Home Video) John Travolta, Andie MacDowell and William Hurt star in this light hearted comedy about reported at a tabloid newspaper who set off to meet and interview a supposed angel. The plot focuses on showing the reporters who are al l too eager to exploit this angel for a story that some things are more important than byline and that some things can’t be written about. Travolta is utterly endearing as the angel and there’s a dog who’ll charm you as well. Not a very deep plot on the s urface but the film offers several messages by its end. A good film for all ages and a must for journalists and angel lovers. (Netta Gilboa)
MY FELLOW AMERICANS (Warner Home Video) Jack Lemmon, James Garner and Dan Aykroyd star in this comedy about two feuding ex-Presidents who are forced to cooperate after the current President tries to sabotage their reputations to save his own. Great scr ipt, great casting and a very believable storyline make this a must to see even if politics generally bore you. (Netta Gilboa)
THE NEVERENDING STORY III (Miramax Family Films, 95 minutes)This sequel to the popular children’s film focuses on a teenager bullied by a gang at the new school he attends. He runs away from them and into a fantasy world but the gang follows him and pu lls the fantasy characters into the real world. Great creatu res from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. Cute. (Netta Gilboa)
RANSOM (Touchstone Home Video, 121 minutes) Mel Gibson stars in this superb thriller about a wealthy executive whose son is kidnapped. Directed by Ron Howard, this will keep you at the edge of your seat as Gibson first agrees to pay the ransom and ulti mately refuses to. Just when you think you’ve got the plot figured out for sure it changes on you again and the ending does not disappoint. Highly recommended. (Netta Gilboa)
THE RELIC (Paramount Home Video, 110 minutes) This adaptation of the popular book changes the location of the horror story from New York’s American Museum of Natural History to Chicago’s Natural History Museum. The museum’s staff has been made less of a focus and a superb job was done with the special effects of the creature. Still very scary, even if you’ve read the book. The ending was also changed which provides more of a challenge and paves the way for a sequel. Well done. (Netta Gilboa)
STRICTLY SUPERNATURAL: ASTROLOGY (WinStar Home Entertainment, 50 minutes) Part of a series that also includes a tape on Tarot cards and one seances, this video traces the origins of astrology as well as its history. Details are provided about numerous political leaders, why most newspaper horoscopes are inadequate and meaningless and how computers have changed the time required to calculate charts. Ideal for those curious about the subject who know nothing and well done but a bit dry for experts. (Nett a Gilboa)
VEGAS VACATION (Warner Home Video) By far the best of the Griswold family vacation movies, this one sends the family to Las Vegas where not surprisingly Chevy Chase manages to go broke in a hurry. Other regulars are back too including Beverly D’Angelo and Randy Quaid and Wayne Newton stars as well. Having been to Vegas I found the casino scenes pretty realistic. Worth seeing if you liked any of the other movies in the series or are a Wayne Newton fan. (Netta Gilboa)