Lotta's Video Spotlights are unreviewed but they've been seen and are highly
recommended. Rent them today! For the Potty list, please scroll down.

Meet Joe Black: This is a mesmerizingly beautiful film with exquisitely sparkling performances, especially by
Anthony Hopkins (who easily should have won the Oscar for his multi-faceted performance), Brad Pitt and Claire Forlani.
They have a wonderful supporting cast as well. Here, Pitt plays the Grim Reaper, so named Joe Black, come to take the life of communications tycoon William Parrish (Anthony Hopkins). In the
process, "Joe Black" falls in love with Parrish's daughter Susan (Forlani) and learns many of life's lessons
including love and honor. For once, the filmmakers took the time needed to allow the actors a chance
to express their emotions to the fullest. And that's a rarity, indeed. On the downside, if you're
unwilling to take the time, yourself, to watch the movie for these wonderful acting moments, then, just
like some critics you'll find the film ponderous. I loved it!
Shakespeare in Love: A young Will Shakespeare has trouble penning his latest masterpiece and is
sorely in need of a muse. That person comes in the shape of Gwyneth Paltrow whose beauty and
innocence lead him to write the sublime romantic tragedy of "Romeo and Juliet". This is a
brilliantly written and performed romantic comedy starring Joseph Fiennes as Shakespeare. Dame
Judy Dench plays the forthright Queen with extraordinary style and Geoffrey Rush is absolutely brilliant as the hapless producer trying
to get Shakespeare to hurry up and write before his creditors come after him for good!

Ever After: This is a wonderful and imaginative reworking of the Cinderella fairy tale.
Drew Barrymore is quite lovely as the put-upon stepsister and her prince is just charming. Drew
as Danielle, the pathetic one, has not been this engaging since her childhood stint in E.T. and
Dougray Scott, as the handsome Prince Henry, is quite wonderful himself.
Waking Ned Devine: Lottery mania sets in on a British Isle for a hilarious ensemble piece that will
keep you laughing a very long time. With Ian Bannen and David Kelly, two old fogies, who are terrific.
Little Voice: British story about a very shy young woman who gains her voice and self respect
as she sings for her dead father's memory. Magical with Jane Horracks, Brenda Blethyn, Michael Caine in
brilliant performances.
Gods And Monsters: Story of James Whale, the man who directed the original "Frankenstein" and his
gay lifestyle. Ian McKellan and Brendan Fraser are top-notch.
Saving Private Ryan: Steven Spielberg's WWII drama is worth seeing for a realistic portrayal of the
horrors of war. Tom Hanks, Matt Damon and a great supporting cast.
Bulworth: Warren Beatty's political satire gem is a scream.
Lotta's Video Potty List is comprised of unreviewed but previously seen (or in some cases,
partially seen) films that are such dreck, that Lotta had to put them under the garbage pail because she had
more important things to do, like tease her hair. Don't rent them!

Beloved: This is Oprah Winfrey's convoluted period-piece debacle with Danny Glover. I walked out on it after
about an hour and half, knowing I'd have another hour and a half of torture ahead of me. I would have walked out
sooner but I was watching it at the Director's Guild Theater with a whole bunch of other professional people and
frankly I was embarrassed. Of course, as I reached the exit door, I noticed three other people following me out!
Lesser Prophets: John Turturro stars as a wacked-out loser who gets involved with bookies in this
film that has nothing going for it.
Knock Off: This Jean Claude Van Damme film is like a poor quality foreign film with a lot of
bad actors. What happened, Jean-Claude?
Psycho-the remake: It wasn't bad enough that some jerk needed to remark an Alfred Hitchcock film
but he also had to put Anne Heche in it - the worst screen actor I've seen in many years. She was okay in
Volcano but here she shows just how many acting classes she's taken - ZIP!
|