movielover-9
06-17-2002, 06:31 PM
Out of Sight[1998]
When a sexy Federal Marshall named Karen Sisco[Jennifer Lopez] is briefly kidnapped by a charismatic bank robber Jack Foley[George Clooney], they both realize that out of sight doesn't neccesarily mean out of mind...
Perfect dose of everything. Script, directing, acting, storytelling and cinematography. The Oscar-nominated script, written by Scott Frank, gives us a wonderful dose of comedy, crime, action and romance. The two best scenes in this movie: the trunk scene and the bar scene. Both classic and romantic scenes.
The supporting cast[Ving Rhames, Dennis Farina, Steve Zhan, Don Cheadle] all do great but its the two main attractions,Clooney and Lopez, that makes this movie great. They both sizzle together and turn their characters into charismatic and believable people.
Kudos to the fine directing by Mr. Soderbergh. He captures the storytelling and makes it even more brilliant. His effective uses of freeze frames, pans, close-ups and "cut-to"'s makes him an unique and original director on his own.
Final Score: A-
Erin Brockovich[2000]
Based on a true story,Erin Brockovich[Julia Roberts] is a twice-divorced unemployed California mother of three. She desperately tries to find a job, but her provocative wardrobe, foul language and basic unexperienced history make it very difficult. One day after losing a whiplash case she thought she'd win, Erin storms into her former laywer's, Ed Masry[Albert Finney], demanding a job and eventually gets it. She then stumbles onto a shocking cover-up. The groundwater of Hinkley, CA is infected with hexavalent chromium, causing all kinds of diseases from different types of cancers to reproductive failures to rashes. So Erin, with Ed, begins an emotional fight against the corporate PG&E company.
Julia Roberts is awesome in her Oscar-winning role. From an outer look, we see Erin as a seemingly white trash foul mom but she's deeper than that. Erin is actually a loving and caring mother who has just had enough. Way to go Julia! Albert Finney also turns in a great supporting role as Ed Masry, often Erin's foil. Aaron Eckhart as Erin's biker boyfriend and Marg Helgenberger as a chromium victim were also gems.
Scriptwriter Susannah Grant gives the story a remarkable touch. She crafts all of the characters how they should have been. And a interesting twist George[Aaron Eckhart] stands by his woman instead of vice versa. The complicated case is also broken down and easy to understand.
Steven Soderbergh's directing is also great. As always he uses his little special technical visions and craftful storytelling and cinematical tricks to absorb you into the story and as always it works!
Final Score: Nearly flawless A+
Traffic[2000]
In Soderergh's second 2000 film, his drug epic Traffic is truthful and powerful. The story follows 4 tales of how drugs can destroy lives: 1. One story follows a Mexican police officer Javier[Benicio del toro in his Oscar-winning role] who is trying to steer away from the brutal and corrupt natures of others 2. An 8-month pregnant housewife Helena Ayala[Catherine Zeta-Jones] who discovers her wealthy husband is actually a ruthless drug kingpin 3. Two officers[Don Cheadle and Luiz Guzman] trying to bust a drug dealer at work 4. Robert Wakefield[Michael Douglas], who has been called to be the U.S.'s Official Drug Czar, who doesn't realize his daughter, Caroline[Erika Christensen] is addicted to heroin.
The acting is one of the strong elements that makes this film. Michael Douglas is effective in his lead role. I'm in wonder why he wasn't nominated for Best Actor. He gives a solid performance as a father who is so busy trying to de-drug America he can't see his own daughter is a druggie, a great dramatic irony. Catherine Zeta-Jones also gives a great, surprisingly, performance that proves she's more than beauty. Benicio del Toro was probably the best as a semi-corrupt police officer. He gave one of the mose compelling performances in the movie. I was fond of Erika Christensen, who played the drug-addicted daughte, who gae a great breakout role.
The Oscar-winning adapted screenplay by Stephen Gaghan was also good. The way he avoids being too cutesy and over-sensitive about the subject and makes it powerful, uncomfortable and gritty.
Steven Soderbergh does here what he did in Erin Brockovich: a gritty and truthful film that pulls punches. I liked the way he used different colors and camera techniques for each place that set the mood: yellow, gritty Mexico, blue, gloomy Ohio, normal California.
He also deserved his Oscar win as well.
Rating: Nearly flawless A+
Ocean's 11[2001]
Danny Ocean[George Clooney]and Dusty ryan[Brad Pitt]and their other 9 criminal associates go to Las Vegas, but with no intentions of money or strippers. They plan to rob the 3 biggest casinos in Vegas, including the Bellagio. But there's a string attached. Danny hopes to get his ex-wife Tess[Julia Roberts] back from Andy Garcia's character[forgot the name]
What a great cast! So many A-list people in one movie. Clooney. Pitt. Garcia. Roberts. And Soderbergh. George Clooney still proves he has that charm to give us an effective leading man. Brad Pitt is good as the secondary leading man and Clooney's sidekick. Andy Garcia was a good villain and Julia Roberts does good with her little screen time.
Steven Soderbergh does great to give us a good crime caper. He intricately combines all of these actors different traits[ Clooney's charm, Pitt's professionalism attitude, Garcia's intensity and Roberts's charm and the entire cast's talent] to create a great blend of atmosphere. Okay so it wasn't nominated for any Oscars[which was a surprise] but its still a great entertaining crime caper blockbuster that will keep you satisfied at the end.
Final Grade: A-
Bottom Line: Soderbergh is a creative and original director that brings something special to every film he directs.
Give your own opinion about some of Soderbergh's films.
When a sexy Federal Marshall named Karen Sisco[Jennifer Lopez] is briefly kidnapped by a charismatic bank robber Jack Foley[George Clooney], they both realize that out of sight doesn't neccesarily mean out of mind...
Perfect dose of everything. Script, directing, acting, storytelling and cinematography. The Oscar-nominated script, written by Scott Frank, gives us a wonderful dose of comedy, crime, action and romance. The two best scenes in this movie: the trunk scene and the bar scene. Both classic and romantic scenes.
The supporting cast[Ving Rhames, Dennis Farina, Steve Zhan, Don Cheadle] all do great but its the two main attractions,Clooney and Lopez, that makes this movie great. They both sizzle together and turn their characters into charismatic and believable people.
Kudos to the fine directing by Mr. Soderbergh. He captures the storytelling and makes it even more brilliant. His effective uses of freeze frames, pans, close-ups and "cut-to"'s makes him an unique and original director on his own.
Final Score: A-
Erin Brockovich[2000]
Based on a true story,Erin Brockovich[Julia Roberts] is a twice-divorced unemployed California mother of three. She desperately tries to find a job, but her provocative wardrobe, foul language and basic unexperienced history make it very difficult. One day after losing a whiplash case she thought she'd win, Erin storms into her former laywer's, Ed Masry[Albert Finney], demanding a job and eventually gets it. She then stumbles onto a shocking cover-up. The groundwater of Hinkley, CA is infected with hexavalent chromium, causing all kinds of diseases from different types of cancers to reproductive failures to rashes. So Erin, with Ed, begins an emotional fight against the corporate PG&E company.
Julia Roberts is awesome in her Oscar-winning role. From an outer look, we see Erin as a seemingly white trash foul mom but she's deeper than that. Erin is actually a loving and caring mother who has just had enough. Way to go Julia! Albert Finney also turns in a great supporting role as Ed Masry, often Erin's foil. Aaron Eckhart as Erin's biker boyfriend and Marg Helgenberger as a chromium victim were also gems.
Scriptwriter Susannah Grant gives the story a remarkable touch. She crafts all of the characters how they should have been. And a interesting twist George[Aaron Eckhart] stands by his woman instead of vice versa. The complicated case is also broken down and easy to understand.
Steven Soderbergh's directing is also great. As always he uses his little special technical visions and craftful storytelling and cinematical tricks to absorb you into the story and as always it works!
Final Score: Nearly flawless A+
Traffic[2000]
In Soderergh's second 2000 film, his drug epic Traffic is truthful and powerful. The story follows 4 tales of how drugs can destroy lives: 1. One story follows a Mexican police officer Javier[Benicio del toro in his Oscar-winning role] who is trying to steer away from the brutal and corrupt natures of others 2. An 8-month pregnant housewife Helena Ayala[Catherine Zeta-Jones] who discovers her wealthy husband is actually a ruthless drug kingpin 3. Two officers[Don Cheadle and Luiz Guzman] trying to bust a drug dealer at work 4. Robert Wakefield[Michael Douglas], who has been called to be the U.S.'s Official Drug Czar, who doesn't realize his daughter, Caroline[Erika Christensen] is addicted to heroin.
The acting is one of the strong elements that makes this film. Michael Douglas is effective in his lead role. I'm in wonder why he wasn't nominated for Best Actor. He gives a solid performance as a father who is so busy trying to de-drug America he can't see his own daughter is a druggie, a great dramatic irony. Catherine Zeta-Jones also gives a great, surprisingly, performance that proves she's more than beauty. Benicio del Toro was probably the best as a semi-corrupt police officer. He gave one of the mose compelling performances in the movie. I was fond of Erika Christensen, who played the drug-addicted daughte, who gae a great breakout role.
The Oscar-winning adapted screenplay by Stephen Gaghan was also good. The way he avoids being too cutesy and over-sensitive about the subject and makes it powerful, uncomfortable and gritty.
Steven Soderbergh does here what he did in Erin Brockovich: a gritty and truthful film that pulls punches. I liked the way he used different colors and camera techniques for each place that set the mood: yellow, gritty Mexico, blue, gloomy Ohio, normal California.
He also deserved his Oscar win as well.
Rating: Nearly flawless A+
Ocean's 11[2001]
Danny Ocean[George Clooney]and Dusty ryan[Brad Pitt]and their other 9 criminal associates go to Las Vegas, but with no intentions of money or strippers. They plan to rob the 3 biggest casinos in Vegas, including the Bellagio. But there's a string attached. Danny hopes to get his ex-wife Tess[Julia Roberts] back from Andy Garcia's character[forgot the name]
What a great cast! So many A-list people in one movie. Clooney. Pitt. Garcia. Roberts. And Soderbergh. George Clooney still proves he has that charm to give us an effective leading man. Brad Pitt is good as the secondary leading man and Clooney's sidekick. Andy Garcia was a good villain and Julia Roberts does good with her little screen time.
Steven Soderbergh does great to give us a good crime caper. He intricately combines all of these actors different traits[ Clooney's charm, Pitt's professionalism attitude, Garcia's intensity and Roberts's charm and the entire cast's talent] to create a great blend of atmosphere. Okay so it wasn't nominated for any Oscars[which was a surprise] but its still a great entertaining crime caper blockbuster that will keep you satisfied at the end.
Final Grade: A-
Bottom Line: Soderbergh is a creative and original director that brings something special to every film he directs.
Give your own opinion about some of Soderbergh's films.