Helen McCrory

Interview with the Vampire
$2.99
I love this movie and it was in terrific shape. I am a good fan of Anne rices books.

Anna Karenina (2000)
$29.95
I had never read Tolstoy's novel on which this is based, nor knew much about the story prior to picking this up from the library one rainy afternoon. Much to my astonishment, I loved it. It is more than just a lavish costume drama (although the exquisite costumes and painstaking attention to detail will make any woman swoon with delight), it is also a passionate glimpse into love and lust, revenge and forgiveness, innocence and carnality.

The first time through I was swept up in the primary story of the lovers. Anna's passionless marriage to Alexei leads her to fall hard and fast for the romantic, sweet-talking Count Vronsky. But on a second viewing (no less than two days later, I just could not stay away from it!) my attention was diverted by Levin's romance with Kitty. It is a film that is almost too much to take in all at once, because it is so deep and complex in its emotions. One thing I appreciated was that none of the characters are one-dimensional. Anna is deeply emotional and following her heart causes her to self-destruct. Alexei Karenin by contrast is restrained to the point of seeming cold, but it is evident from a perfectly nuanced performance that he ISN'T cold, and he DOES care, he just hides most of his emotions beneath the surface.

Admittedly, I do not much care for the casting of the main lovers, but the rest of the extended cast are brilliant, particularly Stephen Dillane as Alexei. In the span of a handful of scenes, I came around to liking him much more than the "passionate lover," Vronsky. One of the finest moments comes at Anna's sickbed, when husband and lover are both in attendance. The beautiful writing and tremendous performances -- calm detachment from Alexei, and passionate grief from Vronsky -- make it mesmerizing.

I also appreciate that in spite of "sexing up" the adulterous aspect, the film refrains from being too explicit. What seems to be important here is motivations and emotions rather than purely physical connections, which makes it unlike many other stories in the genre. Minus a minor flub over the Russian Church performing a marriage ceremony in Latin, it is in all respects "almost perfect."

How do I know? Because when my library copy became due, I went online and purchased a copy, because I cannot live without it. It's that good.

Dad Savage [VHS]
$9.95
I didn't see the beginning of this film on cable, but loved what I saw of it. I must have seen more than half. It's worth viewing if you are a fan of any of the actors in it. Yes, it is wordy but i think it fits the characters and the story. Usually when i watch a film i can figure out the 3-4 possibilities of how the character will respond or what direction the film will go. This flick was very unpredictable. I think that in itself makes it worth watching. Have fun.

Interview with the Vampire
$7.49
I love this movie and it was in terrific shape. I am a good fan of Anne rices books.