Category Archives: 1999

1999, British Mystery Series, Crime, Detective, Gritty, Nudity, TV Series

Second Sight (1999)

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From NetFlix:

In this absorbing BBC crime drama, Clive Owen stars as Det. Chief Inspector Ross Tanner, a no-nonsense cop who disdains anything but cold, hard evidence — until a rare eye disease forces him to reassess his sleuthing methods. As he tracks down a ruthless killer, Tanner makes a deal with his ambitious partner, Catherine Tully (Claire Skinner), to advance her career in exchange for helping him hide his deteriorating vision

Acorn TV streams two seasons of this tense and well-done TV series. Season two has to be the last because Det. Chief Inspector Ross Tanner can no longer function because of his failing eyesight.

Clive Owen is his usual aggressively driven self. His acting is riveting as he expresses his helpless anger at going blind (including the fact that he may soon not be able to see his young son who lives with the divorced mother).

Claire Skinner has been in a huge number of TV series. In fact, if you are looking for some TV series to watch, just look her up in IMDB.  She appears only in season one. She abruptly quits in season two and Tanner must rely on his best friend in the police force.

 

1999, Conspiracy, Crime, Drama, Lawyers, Made For TV, Redemption, Religious Theme

The Confession (1999)

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From NetFlix:

Two 2004 Oscar nominees, Ben Kingsley and Alec Baldwin, are featured in this made-for-TV legal drama. A New York lawyer (Baldwin) with his eyes on the D.A.’s office has a crisis of conscience when he must defend a man (Kingsley) who killed three hospital workers who ignored his dying son. Problem is, the defendant actually wants to be convicted. Based on the novel Fertig by Sol Yurick.

Most often Ben Kingsley plays a sinister role. What a surprise, then, to see him as a devout Jew saying his prayers, observing the Sabbath. In much of the film Kingsley talks about his relationship with God. In this respect you might see the film as a bit preachy. There is even more of this sentiment throughout the film, for example, at trial and in private conversations.

Amy Irving (Emily Sloan in 9 episodes of “Alias”) does a wonderful job as the unhappy wife of Ben Kingsley. I just could not accept the affair between her character and that of Alex Baldwin. Let me know if you think otherwise.

Richard Jenkins (the dead father in “Six Feet Under”) get to play a crook as does Jay O. Sanders (“Revolutionary Road”).

Good over evil after a bit of soul searching.

1999, Complicated, Detective, Drama, Made For TV, Not Feel Good, Suspense

Split Second (1999)

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From NetFlix:

A split-second decision made in a fit of rage eventually drives attorney and family man Michael Anderson (Clive Owen) to desperate measures in this gripping psychological drama. The stressed-out corporate lawyer hits his melting point one fateful day, and things only get worse for Anderson when he runs away from the horrible consequences of his rage-induced actions. Helen McCrory, John Bowe and James Cosmo co-star.

In this made-for-TV film, Clive Owen is leading a very stressful life of a corporate lawyer. At one point while driving home he hits a kills a bicyclist and then runs. The rest of the somewhat complicated story involves his inner torment, external reactions, and eventual decision.

Helen McCrory does a good job as his wife. You may recognize her as Marcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter films. All in all the plot easily could occur. I hope I never hit-and-run but I was rooting for Clive Owen to find some solution.

Not relaxing.

1999, Drama, Feel Good For All, Persian

Children of Heaven (1999)

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From NetFlix:

Play Preview A delightful Iranian movie about a boy who accidentally loses his sister’s shoes and must share his own sneakers with her in a sort of relay while each attends school at different times during the day. Finally, the boy enters a much-publicized foot race, hoping to place third. The prize: a new pair of sneakers. Directed by respected filmmaker Majid Majidi, Children of Heaven is just that — heavenly.

Do not confuse this film with Children of Men which is a good Clive Owen film, but dark and somewhat depressing.

You can believe the NetFlix rave about “Childen of Heaven”! This film with Persian soundtrack and English subtitles is a gem. It is also one of those rare films suitable for all ages. Definitely a feel-good that should not be missed.

1999, Feel Good Not For Children

Liberty Heights (1999)

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From NetFlix:

‘No Jews, dogs or coloreds,’ reads the sign outside a public
swimming pool in 1954 Baltimore. High school freshman Ben Kurtzman
(Ben Foster) and friends find themselves confronted with
anti-Semitism, racism and coming of age in a fast-changing world.
Writer-director and Baltimore memorialist Barry Levinson takes
viewers on a sentimental journey, complete with loving period
details and wry humor.

For those of you fortunate enough to not have grown up in Baltimore, Liberty Heights was
at that time a Jewish section of Baltimore. This movie takes place in 1954 when I was
a freshman at Mount Saint Joseph high school in Baltimore. The movie portrays a Baltimore
life of which I was completely unaware. I had many Jewish friends because I attended
also the Peabody Music School in Baltimore. I had NO black friends. I never really
experienced anti-Semitism. But among my family and friends there was much anti-black
prejudice. Fortunately, my mother’s influence was strong enough to combat the prejudice.

I can only hope the movie is an accurate portrayal. Was it realistic to have a white Jew
befriend a middle-class black girl in his forcibly desegregated high school behind her
disapproving father’s back and go with her to a black live theater to see a rock and
roll star while the audience was mixed black and white, all dressed well in shirts, ties, etc ?

That boy’s father supposedly ran the famous Gayety burlesque theatre. Even I had
heard of the Gayety. Baltimore has since cleaned up its act much in the way that
Boston has.

True or not, I loved the movie. It is warm and human enough to call it a “feel-good”. But
the sexual language and some few incidents might put the movie out of bounds for
children.

To me it was worth the trip back in time.

1999, Not Feel Good

My Son The Fanatic (1999)

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From NetFlix:

Parvez (Om Puri), a Pakistani immigrant working as a cab
driver in England, feels increasingly estranged from his home
life as his marriage begins to crumble and his college-age
son (Akbar Kurtha) turns to Islamic fundamentalism. A burgeoning
relationship with a prostitute (Rachel Griffiths) and involvement
with a German businessman (Stellan Skarsgard) further complicate
matters. A humorous yet thoughtful film from screenwriter Hanif
Kureishi.

I am working my way through the films of screenwriter Hanif Kureishi. I already reported on “The Mother”. Despite the Net Flix comment, “My Son The Fanatic” is NOT humorous. The father Parvez has not been a success in England. In fact I was almost turned off at the start of the movie by his ineptitude. But stick with it. I hope and assume that this film tells it like it is for many immigrants. Parvez is a very conflicted man. He is essentially someone with good family and moral values. But by the time the movie opens he is unfortunately a taxi-driving pimp. Why his son turns toward Islamic fundamentalism is well portrayed in this film. This is NOT a happy film. This is NOT for children. This is NOT a Hollywood film.

Expect to squirm and think a bit.

1999, Could Be Sad, DO NOT MISS, Feel Good For All, Spanish

Butterfly (1999)

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From NetFlix:

At the onset of the Spanish Civil War, a sheltered boy (Manuel Lozano) in rural northern Spain forms an indelible bond with his kindly leftist teacher (Fernando Fernán Gómez), who imparts his love for nature to the young student. Director Jose Luis Cuerda gentle and nostalgic drama, based on the short stories of Manuel Rivas, was nominated for 13 Goya Awards (the Spanish Oscar), winning for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Beautiful, sad story of friendship between young boy and devoted teacher at time of Spanish civil war. Inspired by a book called “La Lengua de las Mariposas” (Butterfly’s Tongue). Shows the destructive split in Spanish society during the Spanish Civil War. The ending could be hard to take. But I call this a “feel good” because the interplay between the boy and the teacher is beautiful. Really a masterpiece.

1999, DO NOT MISS, Feel Good For All

The Winslow Boy (1999)

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From NetFlix:

When Arthur Winslow’s (Nigel Hawthorne) 14-year-old son (Guy Edwards) is expelled from the Royal Naval College for stealing, he launches a long and costly effort to clear the boy’s name. But in the process, the determined father may destroy his family. With clever dialogue, director David Mamet’s drama — based on a play by Terence Rattigan — makes strong statements about the relative virtue of right and wrong when appearances mean everything.

NetFlix fails to mention other actors such as Jeremy Northam and Rebecca Pidgeon (who had 2 children with the playwright David Mamet).

This movie is not only engaging, but visually it is wonderful to watch.
This is a feel-good for everyone.

1999, Suspense

Double Jeopardy (1999)

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From NetFlix:

Libby Parsons (Ashley Judd) awakens to find herself adrift at sea, with her husband missing and her hands covered with his blood. She’s arrested for murder and loses everything, including her son. While in prison, Libby finds out that she’s been framed. Now, the law of “double jeopardy” — and the desire to kill her “late” husband for good — is all Libby has left, even if it means outwitting her sympathetic parole officer (Tommy Lee Jones).

Ashley Judd is wrongly framed for the murder of her husband. There are twists here that I just don’t want to give away. At any rate, eventually her parole officer Tommy Lee Jones helps her. It’s a B movie, but the story keeps you going.

Watch it while you re-wire your toaster.