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Angel Eyes

Angel Eyes

List Price: $14.97
Your Price: $11.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Intriguing character study. Excellent acting and directing.
Review: "Angel Eyes" is an excellent character study that is not likely to have much mass appeal. It requires a very patient viewer due to its deliberate pacing and subtle presentation. The great majority of viewers want to be actively entertained when they go to the movies and this is not that sort of film. Viewing this film is more like trying to navigate a ship through a fog. You have to stay alert and try to figure things out as you go.

The story by Gerald De Pego is well written, presenting two very flawed characters that spend the entire story struggling to overcome a considerable amount of emotional baggage. I give director Luis Mandoki extremely high marks for his presentation. Mandoki takes his time and unfolds the story gradually with great nuance. He takes great care to make sure to avoid being obvious. Despite the fact that it is readily apparent that Catch (James Caviezel) is the same man that Sharon (Jennifer Lopez) helped in the car wreck in the opening scene (no spoiler here, they almost spoon feed this to you on the movie jacket) everything else needs to be discovered.

Mandoki artfully introduces characters in a consistently nebulous way. When we meet a new character we are not exactly sure during the beginning of the scene to whom we are being introduced and why he or she is important. It is as if we are overhearing a conversation between two people and we are trying to figure out how they know one another. The viewer is forced to think (a risky concept with today's fast-food-cinema mentality). Mandoki constantly supplies us with vague information, making us ask ourselves, "Okay, how does this fit in." It makes the film much more intriguing.

My only criticism of Mandoki is that he tries to do too much with Sharon's family relationships. He makes it a full blown subplot that bogs down an already convoluted tale, taking us away from the real story which is about Catch and Sharon. The entire party scene after the renewal of vows is completely superfluous. The scenes of Sharon and her partner having soul searching conversations should also have been cut. Another annoying detail is that Sharon and Catch are constantly driving around wearing no seat belts, which seems to me to be terribly incongruous given that one is a cop and the other a serious auto accident victim.

The acting is terrific. This is the best performance I have seen to date by Jennifer Lopez. This part tests her talent with its breadth and she delivers a full ranging performance. Sharon is an extremely complex character filled with self doubt, anger and misplaced aggression. Lopez plays her flawlessly with a delicate combination of toughness and emotional vulnerability, which is a difficult balance to achieve. Her love scenes are tender and sincere, and her banter with fellow cops is smart and feisty.

I was impressed by James Caviezel's performance in "Frequency", but I enjoyed this role even better. Catch is an enigmatic character drifting through a period of anomie. There is a duality to him, defeated and despondent, yet with a hint of seemingly inconsistent strength that emerges occasionally from his listlessness. Caviezel's performance appears uneven as we watch it, yet it is perfectly presented and fits the character completely once we learn the whole story about him. It is a marvelous interpretation of a complicated and puzzling individual.

This film is a wonderful character study that is likely to be grossly unappreciated for its intricacy and strong direction. The character development is masterfully done and the acting is superlative. I rated it an 8/10. It is an intelligent and sensitive story for the refined viewer.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: What a surprise
Review: Some people may have gone to this movie expecting to see an action triller with Jennifer Lopez kicking butt as a Chicago police officer (there is some of that), and then they were disappointed to find out that there are some scenes where Jennifer's character actually cries and (God forbid!) has feelings. These people may have walked away disappointed. I saw 'Angel Eyes' for pretty much the same reason but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I met some characters who had depth to them, and were dealing with real conflicts.

I have to admit I didn't think a lot about Jennifer's talents as an actress before 'Angel Eyes', but now I am convinced that the girl has some real screen talent.

The writer apparently comes from a TV background and TV movies tend to be more personal than Hollywood movies, and that shows through to this movie's benefit.

This movie was released in Europe when I was living in Paris, and I didn't see it there, though I wish I had, since it would have made me happy to see a well-made American film along side Parisians who have been known to be critical of Hollywood. This is an example of one of those rare gems that Hollywood emits from time to time to keep us interested.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: JLOve story
Review: Here is a surprisingly good movie that has a poignancy I didn't expect. It revolves around the fallout of a horrible traffic accident and the long-term effects it has on two lives. One is the police officer (Jennifer Lopez) at the scene and the other is one of the many victims (James Caviezel). The accident causes their lives to be bound in a way that neither of them could have imagined.

JLO plays a tough cop who is afraid of getting emotionally attached to people whom she encounters in her austere profession. Caviezel is a nice-guy extraordinnaire who is always looking to give people a hand. In their own way, both characters are out to help people, albeit via different approaches.

The film does an excellent job of engaging an important but often ignored facet of today's society: domestic battery. It happens with egregious frequency these days, yet it continues to be a subject that is "swept under the rug." This DVD is bold in its presentation of what is a very touchy theme.

Although JLO is usually best known for her appearance, in this film she demonstrates some credible acting talent. That was a bit surprising for me as I've only seen a few JLO movies to date. But, surprising in a positive way!

If you like love stories / chick flicks, this one is highly recommended. If you want a love story with a few twists, this one is even better. Most of all if you want a movie that deals with current & relevant themes that effect today's society, this one is a can't miss.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: movie sucks!!
Review: one of the stupidest and most boring movies i ever seen. too much drama in it thats for sure and the acting was terrible. enough said

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: STUNNED
Review: This is a very good movie. It has made me a fan of Lopez. There is a real depth to her acting. Caviezel was also great in his role. While some may say his acting was stiff, I don't agree.

This movie is not an action of supernatural movie. It's about decesions and events in the lives of the characters and how they cope with them. What is unique about this movie is that it never gets preachy or smary and like real life some issue are not resolved.

A short scene near the beginning of the movie examplifies the realism of this movie. The scene involves Lopez on a date. Anyone would be hardpressed to believe that Lopez would have a hard time getting a date. The movie handles this in a credible way.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Surprisingly good
Review: With the exception of her title role as SELENA in the '90's, Jennifer Lopez has done many films with little substance, but this picture brought her to the forefront of decent movie actors who can hold her own with the new generation of Hollywood starletts, i.e., Julia Roberts, Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz. All have played dramatic roles as well as comedic parts, but in my opinion none have done the transition better than Lopez. In Angel Eyes, her portrayal of Sharon, an emotionally drained policewoman haunted by a fatal car accident where she tried to save the victims, is one of sensitivity and raw emotion. She makes us believe the torment inside her and when she falls for Catch, a moody and handsome stranger whose secret past she can't quite figure out, we are rooting for them to make their way through the rocky road of their romance.

Catch is portrayed by Jim Caviezel, the wonderful actor whose role as Christ in this year's THE PASSION of the Christ, is so stirring that he should walk away with the Academy Award. He also portrays a warm-hearted homeless man in Pay if Forward with Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt and brings the same sincere feeling to his role in ANGEL EYES as he does to the others. His eyes are quite expressive and the viewer is drawn into his characters immediately.

Angel Eyes is not a typical "chick flick" so guys will enjoy the drama here.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Could have been better WITHOUT Ms.Lo!!!!!!
Review: I had been avoiding this movie for a long time (and was right in doing so). I recently watched it only b/c of Jim Caviezel (the only good thing in the film). First, I found the language insulting throughtout the movie, especially within the first five minutes of the film. That turned me off right away. Secondly, she (who shall not be named) acted REALLY BAD. Her character was unlikable (which is why I believe she was perfect for the role). I was sadden that Jim Caviezel had decided to do this film after Frequency (A movie worth your time watching). The storyline was also good but was wasted all on HER. Overall in the end the movie could have been better with a real actress.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: lies
Review: By the title "Angel Eyes" I thought this movie was gonna be about an angel, like the woman or man died and is in the film, but no its just a stupid title. This movie gives you nothing, its just two stubborn people meeting and liking eachother. The movie is stupid. I am mad I paid money to see it.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Pretty Good....
Review: This film was very well plotted and it had some good action scenes in it. The overall story was very touching, and I definately felt for the characters of the film, especially Catch. I think that the chemistry in this film between the two major actors was superb. Contrary to popular belief by some reviewers on here...I think that Jennifer Lopez is a real good actress. I feel that she has the talent to play a wide variety of characters, and she should be recognized for this fact more often.
The only problem that I had with this film was in the beginning it was a bit confusing as to who was who, and what role they played in the film, but the film has done a good job in pulling things together. At the end of the film you will no longer be confused, but indeed pleased with the heart wrenching ending.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Another Lo-performance
Review: Jennifer Lopez should definately hang up her acting shoes. J-lo is over-rated and I'm sure overpaid. This movie was a flop with the exception of James Caveziel who should be more particular who he teams up with in the future. J-lo, leave it alone doll.


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