Angelina Jolie- Great Actress or Media Superstar?

     Another regular feature of this blog will be an assessment of the careers of certain actors and actresses and a determination of their value and worth in the movie business. I'll try my best to make this a fair and complete analysis of the work they've done onscreen and put aside personal feelings and tabloid nonsense. I'm gonna start with John Voight's daughter, the former wild child turned Oscar-winning sex symbol, humanitarian A-list darling and mother of the world Ms. Angelina Jolie. Oh wait, this is gonna be harder than I thought.


        After making her film debut in 1995's "Hackers", Jolie was a rising star during the latter part of the decade, earning positive reviews in small releases and made-for-TV movies. Her big break came in the 1999 mental patient drama "Girl Interrupted". Intended as a comeback for fading pixie star Winona Ryder, it instead launched Jolie who stole the film and picked up the Best Supporting Actress Oscar at age 23. She followed that up with 2000's "Gone in 60 Seconds", a decent Nicholas Cage action flick that did well at the box office. With the Hollywood hype machine now firmly behind her, she was then cast as an Indiana Jones style-adventurer in 2001's "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider". This was Jolie's first attempt to become the female action star of the 21st century, something she continues to try to this day(more on that later). Aimed primarily at preteen boys, the nicest thing I can say about this film and it's 2003 sequel is that they don't completely suck. In between "Tomb Raider" outings, she starred in the romantic comedy "Life or Something Like It". She looked great as the platinum blonde reporter who learns she may only have a week to live. The film was lightweight but harmless.

       2004 brought a trio of flops. She played an FBI profiler in the cliched thriller "Taking Lives". She wore an eyepatch in the forgotten fantasy "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow". She played Colin Farrell's mother in Oliver Stone's now infamous "Alexander"(she is only one year older than Farrell). It's fair to say that her career may have faded at this point if it wasn't for her next movie. You know I'm talking about 2005's "Mr and Mrs Smith". Jolie and Pitt played husband and wife spies in this summer box office hit. This Pitt guy never really made it big but they had chemistry and I heard they became a real life couple. I don't really pay attention to that stuff, though.



      The 2006 drama "The Good Shepherd" was well received but Jolie wasn't given much to do as the wife of Matt Damon's CIA founder. She got rave reviews for 2007's "A Mighty Heart" and appeared half naked(in CGI) for Robert Zemeckis in "Beowulf" that same year. She went back to the well to play another gun-toting bad-ass female(what else?) in the 2008 action thriller "Wanted", an overly stylized, bullshit "Matrix" rip-off. For me, she gave her best performance in Clint Eastwood's period drama "The Changeling". As a 1920s mother desperately searching for her missing son, she earned a Best Actress nomination. She probably should have won but Kate Winslet was overdue. In 2010, she starred in two disappointments. "Salt" casts her as a secret agent who makes Sarah Connor look like Mary Poppins. The action is routine and way over the top and Jolie has simply played this card too many times before. Let's hope she drops this superwoman shit already and that the strongly-hinted-at sequel never materializes. She then teamed up with Johnny Depp in the dull romantic mystery thriller "The Tourist". She struts around like a supermodel on the catwalk, with plenty of vain close-ups and glamour shots. But who needs a plot, character development or suspense when you've got Hollywood's two reigning sex symbols, right? She definitely has talent and usually shines in dramas but she rarely does any real acting anymore and seems obsessed with her image. I don't even know if she cares about making good movies and probably only works to fund her globetrotting adventures with Pitt and the brood. She's only in her mid-30s and will presumably break the infamous age barrier for women in the industry and continue to headline films for another decade or so. I may have to revisit this subject then. The jury is still out on Ms. Jolie.

My top 10 films of the '90s(part II)

6.  "Pulp Fiction" (1994)

Tarantino's landmark crime drama is still a joy to behold. Hugely inventive and influential, this mesmerizing tale broke all the rules of conventional cinema, kick-started the indie film movement, marked the true arrival of a brash young talent, and took Hollywood by storm. QT became a rock star after the release of this film and inspired countless cheap imitators who tried(and failed) to replicate his signature style. In Tarantino land, anything can and will happen. Fading superstars John Travolta and Bruce Willis were completely reinvigorated in career-saving comeback roles while previous bit players Samuel L Jackson and Uma Thurman became household names. It lost at the Oscars. It doesn't matter. This film may come to define the '90s more than any other.

7.  "Braveheart"(1995)

It'd be a real shame if the personal trials and tribulations of Mel Gibson tarnished his sizeable legacy and contributions to the medium of film. His passion and talent is undeniable especially in his 1995 crowning achievement that single-handedly brought back the historical epic, a dead genre for the previous 30 years. You can bitch about historical accuracy if you want, but it hardly matters when the results are this stunning and powerful. This film is the reason everyone in the world knows the name William Wallace. It perfectly captures medieval warfare and The Battle of Sterling is one of the most rousing sequences ever committed to celluloid. James Horner's beautiful score may be the best I've ever heard. The finale is gut-wrenching. Watch it again and give Mad Mel a break.

8.  "Toy Story"(1995)

This animated classic will continue to delight kids and adults alike for decades to come. The first ever computer animated film was a game changer that instantly rendered all hand drawn animation obsolete, but groundbreaking technology means little without an engaging story and great characters. The voice work of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen is excellent and I found myself caring more about Woody and Buzz Lightyear than 90% of the characters I've seen in live action. Director John Lasseter and the folks at Pixar truly started a revolution that included two equally successful sequels and this is easily one of the most significant films of the last 20 years.

9.  "Titanic"(1997)

James Cameron's spectacular was the highest grossing film of all time(until the King of the World topped himself with "Avatar") and stands as one of the finest examples of big budget epic filmmaking. Five years of painstaking research led to 100% historical accuracy except, of course, for the fictional love story between Jack and Rose. But the emotional core was absolutely essential as Cameron had to make sure you loved these characters before that iceberg hit ensuring that you'd be devastated at the conclusion. To say Leonardo Dicaprio was catapulted to superstardom would be an understatement. Kate Winslet has been one of our most acclaimed actresses ever since. The last hour contains some of the most tense, thrilling action in movie history. Cameron made history like few filmmakers ever have.

10.  "Saving Private Ryan"(1998)

Five years after "Schindler's List", Spielberg got serious again and the result was one of the greatest war movies ever made. It's common knowledge by now that the first 30 minutes alone is the most realistic and harrowing depiction of combat ever captured on film. The virtuoso camerawork and sound effects makes the viewer feel like they're in the midst of the chaos of battle and the legendary director deserved all the praise he received for this(which included the Academy Award for Best Director). Tom Hanks leads a solid cast in a searing and unforgettable tribute to true heroism. The biggest Oscar blunder of all time is "Ryan" losing Best Picture to "Shakespeare in Love". A must see.

Honorable Mentions
 "Dances with Wolves"(1990)
 "Misery"(1990)
 "Thelma and Louise"(1991)
 "Terminator 2-Judgment Day"(1991)
 "JFK"(1991), "Batman Returns"(1992)
 "Unforgiven"(1992)
 "Reservoir Dogs"(1992)
 "Groundhog Day"(1993)
 "Jurassic Park"(1993)
 "The Fugitive"(1993)
 "Speed"(1994)
 "The Shawshank Redemption"(1994)
 "Apollo 13"(1995)
 "Seven"(1995)
 "Heat"(1995)
 "Good Will Hunting"(1997)
 "The Sixth Sense"(1999)
 "American Beauty"(1999)
 "Toy Story 2"(1999).

My top 10 films of the '90s(part I)

Welcome to my blog. I am a huge movie buff and just want to share my opinions. The only thing a movie buff loves to do as much as watching movies is making lists. So here's the first of what's sure to be many lists you'll find on this blog. My top 10 films of the '90s in the order they were released.

1.  "Goodfellas"(1990)
Martin Scorsese's mob masterpiece is riveting from start to finish. I believe a great movie grabs you in the first 15 minutes and doesn't let go. "Goodfellas" grabs you in the first 15 seconds. There's never been a better exploration into the world of organized crime and it's inhabitants. Not even in those Coppola flicks. Ray Liotta is likable and repellant as mid level hood Henry Hill, Robert DeNiro brings all his quiet menace to his role as Hill's mentor, and Joe Pesci is frightening and funny as a psychopathic trigger man. But this is a director's film all the way- the music, the voice-over narration, the freeze frames. There are so many tiny details that enhance this true story and Scorsese didn't feel the need to embellish it in any way. He illustrates the fact that this lifestyle is both attractive and disturbing. This is a master filmmaker at the top of his game.

2.  "Silence of the Lambs"(1991)
Twenty years after it's release, this gripping thriller has lost none of it's power and intensity. Hannibal Lecter is widely regarded as one of the greatest villains of all time. The sequels and prequels demystified the character which may cause some to forget just how good Anthony Hopkins was the first time around. His chilling voice and creepy stare is only in the movie for a total of 20 minutes but it was enough to make him an icon. Jodie Foster's intelligence and quiet strength never fails to shine through and she's totally believable as FBI trainee Clarice Starling. Meanwhile, director Jonathan Demme piles one unnerving scene after another. One of the few films in history to sweep the Oscars, it's the best of it's kind.

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3.  "True Romance"(1993)
The dark horse of this list bombed at the box office but achieved cult classic status in a post-"Pulp Fiction" world on late night cable and home video among musicians and film buffs who rightfully regard it's electric mix of graphic violence and sharp dialogue as pure movie lover's nirvana. The superb cast has a field day with the first and best script Quentin Tarantino has ever written about a comic book store clerk(Christian Slater), his happy hooker bride(Patricia Arquette), and a suitcase full of cocaine. The Dennis Hopper-Christopher Walken showdown is now legendary and so is Brad Pitt's stoner character Floyd. Gary Oldman stops by as a vile pimp, James Gandolfini lands his breakout role as a sadistic mob thug, and Val Kilmer plays the ghost of Elvis. Tony Scott's slick, fast paced direction and QT's gutter poetry is the best of both worlds.

4.  "Schindler's List"(1993)
Steven Spielberg stunned audiences worldwide with this grim, compelling, vivid account of the Holocaust that was a world apart from the upbeat blockbusters that defined the first half of his career. This is his most personal film. It may also be his best. The decision to film in black and white makes it feel like a documentary. It all feels so startlingly real. He gets fine performances from Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, and Ralph Fiennes. As moving a cinematic experience as you'll ever have, all those Oscars were a foregone conclusion. This is mandatory viewing.

                                                                                                                                                   

5. "Forrest Gump"(1994)
Tom Hanks was unquestionably THE actor of the '90s. You'd be hard pressed to find any actor at any time that had a better run than Hanks did during the Clinton era. From 1992-2002, he didn't make one false move. The best example of his almost supernatural likability is this enormous crowd pleaser. He's absolutely brilliant in a role that I can't see anyone else pulling off with nearly the same results. It's not about history, special effects, or the mentally challenged. It's a metaphor for life and how luck plays a greater role in shaping our destiny than anyone wants to admit. This film was a genuine phenomenom that dominated the summer '94 box office, gave us several immortal catchphrases, and picked up the Oscars for Best Picture, Actor, and Director(Robert Zemeckis). And the only reason anybody has a problem with that is because it beat the next movie on this list.

Next week- My Top 10 films of the '90s part II