<<BACK | NEXT >>

Moscow on the Hudson (1984) --> Although many believe that Robin Williams's greatest role came as Russian defector Vladimir Ivanoff, they would be wrong. Even though Williams does a great job, especially in speaking English with a Russian accent (or even just speaking Russian itself), his greatest role was as tormented vagabond Parry in The Fisher King (1991).

This Paul Mazursky directed movie takes a look into the lives of new immigrants facing struggles trying to become American in New York City. Told through the eyes of a Russian sax player (Williams) it highlights the highs and lows of a life adjusting from the oppression of Communism to the chaos of freedom. Although the movie is not especially great it does have its moments. Two in particular spring to mind. The first comes when Williams points out to his friend that he has no monopoly on pain. Williams states that when he was in Russia he loved his misery because it was his and his alone. The second came at the swearing in ceremony for new American citizens. The camera pans over the group assembled and show the faces of Italians, East Indians and more all becoming what is the true America, a land of thousand cultures.


Full Spectrum Staff

Sonic Outlaws (1995) --> Winner of the Best Independent Film award at the L.A. Film Critics' Society for 1996, Sonic Outlaws is a documentary chronicling the problems independent artists get into when using 'found media'. Beginning with Island Records suit against Negativeland, a Berkeley, California band, for copyright infringement and expanding to include things such as culture jamming, the film questions what are the limits an owner has over intellectual property. Negativeland parodied U2, the Irish band, and were brought to court for it. 2 Live Crew parodied Roy Orbison and were sued for it. The film offers up other examples to inform the watcher but what strikes the viewer most is the style of the film rather than the substance. The back cover of the DVD describes director Craig Baldwin's work as "cut-and-paste" which is perfectly apt. An interesting film, but for those who are looking for an in-depth look at the history of copyright infringement cases or legal decisions on what one can do, and not do, with intellectual property, you will be left unsatisfied.


Full Spectrum Staff

Jeux interdits [Forbidden Games] (1952) --> Rene Clement's greatest film, it won the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar and cemented this French Director's reputation as one of the best filmmakers post-WWII. It tells the story of a child who sees her parents gunned down by a German fighter plane while escaping Paris during WWII. She is befriended by a boy whose family owns a nearby farm and she is accepted into the family only to suffer a second loss when the police take her away to an orphanage. The movie centers on the relationship between the boy and girl which makes the final separation all the more heartbreaking.


Full Spectrum Staff

The Letter (1940) --> Directed by William Wyler and based on the play by W. Somerset Maugham, this murder mystery showcases Bette Davis at her most diabolical. When Kim Carnes sang about Bette Davis' eyes, you can see why, with some of the glares Davis gives in this stellar performance. Set in Bangledesh, the movie opens with a shocking (and still easily remembered) scene where Davis puts 6 bullets into a man on her front porch. Wyler is one of the greatest filmmakers in history and this movie is one of the many reasons why. Although he lost to John Ford for the Best Director Oscar, he would go on to win the prize in 1942, 1946, and 1959.


Full Spectrum Staff

• First
• 20
• 19
• 18
• 17
• 16
• 15
• 14
• 13
• 12
• 11
• Last

Complete List of Short Movie Reviews