backfired tragically says more about America than the producer’s intent. Still, Bamboozled is a courageous film that raises important and relevant issues. Anytime Spike Lee has something big to say, it has to be worth hearing.
Hannibal (2001): Do I really have to say that it isn’t as good as Silence of the Lambs? I hope not, because if I thought it was as good I would be the first to discredit myself as a film critic. Seen on its own, however, Hannibal is a highly entertaining film with a beautiful soundtrack and cinematography. Anthony Hopkins’ performance as everyone’s favorite cannibal is no less amazing than it was in the original and his love for art and history (hinted in the first film) is in full bloom here since the good doctor is hiding out in Florence. I love Ridley Scott’s contrasting of gothic Florence and America’s Beltway. A great cast (Julianne Moore, Giancarlo Giannini, and Ray Liotta) helps to touch on the film’s themes of corruption, character, and integrity. A movie that can actually improve upon the source novel, by the way, deserves props.
The Black Dahlia (2006): Based on the real-life murder of starlet to be Elizabeth Short, The Black Dahlia is an atmospheric thriller that was unjustly panned by the critics and ignored by the public. Brian De Palma paints the Los Angeles of 1940s as a decadent city, revealing the dirty and corrupt underbelly of Hollywood’s glamour years. This movie also features Josh Hartnett’s strongest performance and offers some great character studies of a city’s hidden dirt and creepiness.