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Notting Hill [1999]

starring: Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant, Richard McCabe, Rhys Ifans, James Dreyfus
directed by: Roger Michell

November 15, 1999
I have a confession to make: I didn't really enjoy Pretty Woman that much, and Four Weddings and a Funeral (not to mention Mickey Blue Eyes, Two Weeks Notice and About a Boy) didn't really do it for me.

However, in Notting Hill, as far as I am concerned, everything comes together for Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, delivering a landmark in the gentle countryside of romantic comedy.

This is not the only time that Julia Roberts plays a version of herself -- she knowingly sends herself up in Ocean's Twelve. And this is not the only time Hugh Grant has played this particular character -- heck, it's the good-natured but over-witty English fopp he always plays. But the pairing of these two well-honed characters is exactly ... Read More:

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Monsters Inc. [2002]

starring: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Mary Gibbs, Jennifer Tilly
directed by: Peter Docter, David Silverman, Lee Unkrich

September 07, 2002
Be aware, this is the 4:3, not the Widescreen version!

Easy to buy it by mistake as 99.9% of DVDs are widescreen!

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O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2 Disc Special Edition) [2000]

starring: George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, John Goodman, Holly Hunter
directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

November 05, 2001
I've seen this movie several times now and I'm still fascinated by it - I'm no particular fan of George Clooney or the Coen brothers or Bluegrass music (or even of Homer), but this movie is so cleverly constructed and well acted, with multiple threads that hang and re-cross throughout the story, that each time I watch I see a connection I missed in previous viewings. Reading the other reviews I guess I must be the only ageing Blues fan out here - but Robert Johnson must be up there (sorry, down there) somewhere, smiling if he's seen it.

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The Big Lebowski [1998]

starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, David Huddleston
directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

October 17, 2005
Jeff Bridges (The fabulous baker boys) stars as the Dude Lebowski, who is mistaken for another Lebowski, which ultimately leaves his rug ruined.

Taking this up with the Big Lebowski, the Dude is sent on a mission to recover his kidnapped wife.

The Big Lebowski is one of the Coen brother's finest creations by being different, funny and entertaining all the way through with smart direction and acting.

You will have never seen anything like this before as Jeff Bridges gives an unbelievable performance as The Dude, an unemployed bum who likes white Russians and bowling who seeks a very bizarre retribution in his ruined rug.

The ideology of the rug and the whole obsessive nature behind it is very ... Read More:

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Splash [1984]

starring: Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, Eugene Levy, John Candy, Dody Goodman
directed by: Ron Howard

June 15, 2006
In the first of Ron Howard's and Tom Hanks' collaborations, Hanks stars as Allen Bauer, an unlucky in love man who travels to Cape Cod, where he meets a beautiful woman, who has a secret, she is a mermaid.

In perhaps a forgotten gem of the 80's, Howard delivers a heart warming tale about one man and his unlucky in love life, and how the extraordinary can bring out the hearts desires in a truly good funny and ultimately tale.

Hardly his best role, Hanks still delivers in a cliché hero role as Allen, someone all men can relate to. A man who needs to get over his own personal fear in his pursuit for happiness.

Daryl Hannah (Kill Bill) is excellent in the role of Madison the mermaid. The way Hannah portrays her makes ... Read More:

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Coyote Ugly - Extended Cut [2000]

starring: Piper Perabo, Maria Bello, Izabella Miko, Bridget Moynahan, Tyra Banks
directed by: David McNally

August 01, 2005
This was quite simply the worst film I have ever had the misfortune of sitting through. The story was the same as Crossroads (Britney Spears' similarly rubbish film from a few years previous), the acting was hamfisted and the whole thing just made me angry.

Not even the scenes where lots of attractive women dance around in tight, barely-there clothing saved this film. My girlfriend has now been banned from choosing another film to rent for the rest of her life.

I would recommend it for people who hate their eyes and ears.

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Speed Racer [2008]

starring: Emile Hirsch, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, Christina Ricci, John Goodman
directed by: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski

November 10, 2008
Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is obsessed with racing. Even as a boy (Nicholas Elia in these flashbacks), he couldn't concentrate on school but spent the day dreaming about cars. Of course, he comes by it naturally. Pops (John Goodman) designs race cars and older brother Rex (Scott Porter) is an up and coming champion. Things hit a bump when Rex and Pops fight and Rex leaves home only to die amidst allegations of wrong doing.

But racing is in the Racer family blood (no surprise with that name), and Speed seemed destined to take the crown. After making a splash at a local race, he catches the eye of Royalton (Roger Allam) who is a big sponsor of other racers. He promises Speed the moon, but when Speed turns him down, he turns nasty, threatening ... Read More:

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The Emperor's New Groove [2001]

starring: David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, Patrick Warburton, Wendie Malick
directed by: Mark Dindal

November 05, 2001
... and one that far too many people haven't heard of. I believe that this was conventionally animated, when CGI was taking an increasing share of the market. Perhaps because it didn't have the high-definition quality of the Pixar films (think Nemo) Disney never seemed to do much to promote it.

However, what it lacked in that area is more than made up for in outstandingly funny script and characterisation - the old-school values of animation. "I've turned into a cow. Can I be excused?" Yeah, the tale is a little hackneyed - an odd couple who need to learn to get along to overcome their enemy - but it is just sooooo funny.

I have never been fussed about the "modern classics" like "Beauty and the Beast" or even "The Little Mermaid". But this one is brilliant.

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O Brother, Where Art Thou? [2000]

starring: George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, John Goodman, Holly Hunter
directed by: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

April 09, 2001
I've seen this movie several times now and I'm still fascinated by it - I'm no particular fan of George Clooney or the Coen brothers or Bluegrass music (or even of Homer), but this movie is so cleverly constructed and well acted, with multiple threads that hang and re-cross throughout the story, that each time I watch I see a connection I missed in previous viewings. Reading the other reviews I guess I must be the only ageing Blues fan out here - but Robert Johnson must be up there (sorry, down there) somewhere, smiling if he's seen it.

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Fallen [1998]

starring: Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, Embeth Davidtz, James Gandolfini
directed by: Gregory Hoblit

October 26, 1998
Denzil Washington stars in this high class chiller in which he plays a cop trying to deal with an opponent who could literally be anybody at any time. A good cast including John Goodman and Donald Sutherland provide excellent support. Combine this with a surprisingly clever script and decent direction and you'll find a film that thrills and surprises in equal measures. No more so than the ending which has a lovely twist which I certainly didn't see coming.

Fortunately for us there is no basis in reality for this story. If there was you'd look at people a little bit differently in future. Its also worth mentioning that I shall never hear a certain Rolling Stones song in the same way again after watching this film.

This is a much better film than its fairly obscure ... Read More: