Review of Full Frontal (2002) by Claes L — 12 Jun 2004

I haven't felt very inspired to write any new, interesting entries the past couple of days, so I may as well do another entry in which I recommend some films I feel are underrated and/or overlooked so you don't think i've completely given up on my journal. all of these films come highly recommended by yours truly.

[indent] [left][size=5][i][font=Georgia]Bloody Sunday[/font][/i][/size].

[/left].

[/indent] one of the best films of 2002, an otherwise lackluster year, [b]Bloody Sunday[/b] is quite possibly the most emotional experience i've ever had in a movie theater. I rarely ever cry watching films, and usually it's not more than just getting a bit misty-eyes but I cried many tears when I saw this film. I cried during the end credits (which play to the tune of U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday"), I cried walking to my car and I even cried in my car on the way home. if you don't know what it's about, it's basically about the day notoriously named Bloody Sunday: January 30th, 1972 when a protest march for peace in Derry, Northern Ireland turned into a bloodbath. shot in a gritty documentary style with mostly amateurs and unknowns it's a shocking, brilliant look at the events of that day. ****½ stars out of five.

[indent] [left][font=Georgia][size=5][i]Full Frontal[/i][/size][/font].

[/left].

[/indent] I admit it, I am a huge fan of Steven Soderbergh and sure, [b]Full Frontal[/b] isn't one of his best films but at the same time, this film got a terrible reception and it really isn't as bad as just about everyone made it out to be. an experimental, low-budget film starring quite a few names and shot in digital [b]Full Frontal[/b] isn't really about much of anything. all it does is follow a group of people around in a [b]Short Cuts[/b] type of way you could say, and I just found it to be interesting and often funny in how these people's lives interweave. the performances may not be award-worthy but I think they all did well with their respective parts and it's far more interesting and better a film than most say it is. it's an experimental little film well worth seeing, especially for fans of Soderbergh. **** stars out of five.

[indent] [left][font=Georgia][size=5][i]Kissing Jessica Stein[/i][/size][/font].

[/left].

[/indent] if you ask me, this is one of the best (and funniest) romantic comedies in the past couple of years or so. it was released the same year as another low-budget romantic comedy by the name of [b]My Big Fat Greek Wedding[/b] and this one is by far the superior film. the most wonderful aspect of the film, other than it's sharp screenplay, is the lead performance by (recent Tony nominee) Jennifer Westfeldt. her performance here is like she's channeling Woody Allen and she's just wickedly funny and neurotic as the Jessica Stein of the title. fed up with men, she winds up experimenting with another woman even though she doesn't even think of herself as bisexual. it may not be the most original premise ever, but it's executed wonderfully with plenty of hilarity. ****½ stars out of five.

[size=1]PS[/size]. it's purely coincidental that they were all from 2002.