response 267 of 348:

Sep 2 11:43 UTC 1999

I wasn't crazy about 54 (B-).  The expensive-looking 
set wasn't very convincing.  Also, Neve Campbell's 
character seemed hackneyed -- the weary, "I bet you 
think this is glamorous," actress who finds coffee and 
conversation at a simple diner more rewarding than drugs 
and dancing at fabulous "Studio," as everyone called it
(wouldn't've made a very good title, though).  Mike
Myers' sustained impression of Steve Rubell was . . .
impressive.  The director had a lot of fun with Neve 
Campbell's face, as directors always do.

Speaking of faces, my daughter brought home a movie
called CANDYMAN (C), which seems be about Virginia 
Madsen's face more than anything else.  The camera is
*always* focused in on it -- smiling, weeping, angry, 
swooning, left profile, right profile, full-face.  It's 
a nice face, but jeez.  Madsen bears up under the camera's
scrutiny quite well and does a convincing job with her 
role.  The title character's monotone recitations of the 
silly lines he's given, which perfectly matches the 
tediously droning score (by Philip Glass, of all people), 
makes you almost glad he was stung to death by bees in his 
former life.  There were a few jump-out-at-you moments that 
were more startling than scary.  You can see the surprise 
ending coming, but it's still pretty cool.  My kids both 
gave Candyman a "B," so I'm sure it has its admirers.