101 DALMATIANS (Released to Theatrical USA 1996)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì

101 Dalmatians is a little short in time length, but makes up for that in its Wow! factor. This movie is a great, live-action remake of the animated movie of the same name. The terrific acting of Glenn Close as Cruella De Vil makes this movie work beyond expectations. She creates an unforgettable character. Her henchmen, acted by Mark Williams and Hugh Laurie, are perfectly rendered. Watch for some of the best costuming of any film from 2009. Kudos to the Rosemary Burrows and Anthony Powell costuming department.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Cruella De Vil (Glenn Close) desires the spotted fur from Dalmatian puppies to make clothing.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Stephen Herek for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Edward S. Feldman and Bill Ryan for making the film possible. Cast include: Jeff Daniels, Joely Richardson, Joan Plowright, Hugh Laurie, Mark Williams, John Shrapnel, and Alonzo Tim McInnerny.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The script by John Hughes is well-written and makes a good, solid foundation for Director Stephen Herek to perform the magic that makes this film one that can be watched over and over by the child and adult. It’s a good home library addition.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

BLACKLIGHT (Released to Theaters USA 2022)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Blacklight—relies on an old story—loses creativity due to its cliched script. Nothing new here. The camera work is not superlative. The movie could almost be skipped. Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb  Storyline  An FBI man uncovers political intrigue in the FBI.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Mark Williams for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Mark Williams, Paul Currie, Myles Nestel, Aleve Loh, and Coco Xiaolu Ma for making the film possible. Cast includes Liam Neeson, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Taylor John Smith, and Aidan Quinn,  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. This is a Liam Neeson political intrigue film that has to build its story before reaching the actual story which occurs in the last 30 to 40 minutes of the film. The suitable quality is uniform throughout the film and includes that climax at the end.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers