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Blackmail, Murder & Mayhem

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Jennifer 8

Jennifer 8

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great 'Detective' Film- Somewhat Visionary
Review: 'Jennifer 8' has a great cast and takes place in Humboldt County, California- so has some impressive scenery. The plot comes together like a finely slow cooked turkey (or potato), where at first you just get little whiffs of the magnum opus the dish is to become. The film is somewhat visionary in how it sculpts itself around magic north woods moments- the lone blind girl playing her viola before the window under the natural light; the lovers listening to 'silent night' on a quiet, north coast twilight eve; the initial drive through the redwoods; the final shots in the meadow- all these things help to capture that mystical attraction of the Humboldt region, all the while telling a very dramatic story of murder, courage, and love. A very different film that I would recommended.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Andy Garcia delivers a good performance in a mediocre film.
Review: After reading the reviews, I was disappointed in the disconnected and formulaic "serial killer" plot, strained dialog, and overwrought supporting characters in this film. The visual direction is effective and moody, but it's not enough to cover the film's narrative flaws. Garcia's performance is tense and involved, but the supporting cast's hysterical reactions and paranioa around this "big city cop" (whose beloved police chief is also from the big city) are bizarre. We are told very little about the other seven victims -- were any of them ever found? Thurman's character is intelligent but clingy and weak -- a dated stereotype -- in a town where the blind live in institutions. We are given little reason for Garcia's attachment to her other than a resemblance to his ex-wife -- a conflicted rationale that's never mentioned again or explored. The most interesting part of the film, in which Garcia explains the killer's life history and motives, is buried under concurrent competing dialog between supporting characters. The final scene, where Thurman and Garcia walk across a grassy hill and whe tells him that she "remembers the color red" has no emotional impact in any significant or relevant way to the rest of the film. Overall, a disappointing film.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Andy Garcia delivers a good performance in a mediocre film.
Review: After reading the reviews, I was disappointed in the disconnected and formulaic "serial killer" plot, strained dialog, and overwrought supporting characters in this film. The visual direction is effective and moody, but it's not enough to cover the film's narrative flaws. Garcia's performance is tense and involved, but the supporting cast's hysterical reactions and paranioa around this "big city cop" (whose beloved police chief is also from the big city) are bizarre. We are told very little about the other seven victims -- were any of them ever found? Thurman's character is intelligent but clingy and weak -- a dated stereotype -- in a town where the blind live in institutions. We are given little reason for Garcia's attachment to her other than a resemblance to his ex-wife -- a conflicted rationale that's never mentioned again or explored. The most interesting part of the film, in which Garcia explains the killer's life history and motives, is buried under concurrent competing dialog between supporting characters. The final scene, where Thurman and Garcia walk across a grassy hill and whe tells him that she "remembers the color red" has no emotional impact in any significant or relevant way to the rest of the film. Overall, a disappointing film.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Don't Listen To Those Other People - This Movie Is Great
Review: All you need do is look who stars in this movie and know that they give some of their best performances EVER!

Buy IT!

I Have it on VHS Laser Disk DVD and I'll buy it on whatever comes after DVD!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not bad, but not wonderful either.
Review: Except for that disappointing ending that came too soon, I thought that this film was pretty good. It was quite suspensful and had great music (from Christopher Young, writer of the music from Urban Legend), which I know how to play. Uma played Helena so well that if I walked onto the set while they were filming the movie and didn't know who she was, I would have thought that she was really blind.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: This was the worst movie I have ever seen
Review: I'd rather gnaw off my left leg than have to see this movie once again. I love suspense movies and rented this with high hopes, but I was sorely disappointed. Not only was it slow and unexciting, but it was long. Me and my roommate began watching this, and about an hour into the movie we were wishing it would finally just end. When the end came, it was unimpressive and didn't catch us since we had let our minds wander during this flop. There's many, many better movies out there.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Serial killer stalks blind women.
Review: One determined cop sets out to crack the case and instead falls in love with a vulnerable, defenseless, blind woman. As the evidence mounts suspicion falls on the cop as the murderous fiend ! His life begins to fall apart and only he can stop the real mad-man even if it means taking the law into his own hands !

I had a hard time with this one. Mostly because so many of the characters in the film were maladjusted losers. The cops, the killer, the victims. They all blended together for me. It was an average story that the actors couldn't quite improve upon.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Serial killer stalks blind women.
Review: One determined cop sets out to crack the case and instead falls in love with a vulnerable, defenseless, blind woman. As the evidence mounts suspicion falls on the cop as the murderous fiend ! His life begins to fall apart and only he can stop the real mad-man even if it means taking the law into his own hands !

I had a hard time with this one. Mostly because so many of the characters in the film were maladjusted losers. The cops, the killer, the victims. They all blended together for me. It was an average story that the actors couldn't quite improve upon.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: SIMPLY AN ENTERTAINING PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER.
Review: This film speaks for itself. Superb acting and well directed. A tense tightly scripted psychological thriller. Ex-LA cop Andy Garcia now living in a small town tries to solve a pair of local murders. His only hope is a blind woman who seems to be the key to the serial killer's activities. What is more she may be 'Jennifer Eight' the murderer's codeword for the next victim. This 2 hour film keeps you on the edge of your seat. Fantastic movie, entertaining not to dull although the ending could have been longer. The film finishes very quickly otherwise well worth watching.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Fabulous Cop Drama!!!!
Review: This is one of the greatest suspense movies I've seen in a long time. The twists and turns keep you on the edge up until the perfect unsuspected ending. Kathy Baker gives an AMAZING performance (as she always does!) Oh, and of course, ladies, even if you don't really like this kind of movie, who would give up the chance to stare at Andy Garcia for two hours?!? Everything about this movie is 100% entertaining!! Add it to your collection!!


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