| Time Stands Still, Eclipse or No |
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| written by Saroz |
February 4, 2004 - 2:01 PM PST |
Judy Berlin is made up material that, quite frankly, would work much better on the stage. It has the dialogue-heavy, introspective qualities of some of the best theatre. However, as a film, it's more than slightly taxing; events move at a snail's pace, and although the total eclipse is a nice backdrop, both physically and metaphorically (those who enter the eclipse reexamine their lives, and come out changed people), it's doesn't ever really feel necessary. The very best moments are with the late Madeline Kahn; this is her final film, and she beautifully plays a ditzy, pitiful housewife steeped in her own delusions of grandeur. However, it's not enough to save the film. It's not awful, it's just intensely boring.
On the off chance you happen to be a fan of the film, I will say in its defense that it has a very nice DVD presentation, which is a bit of an oddity from Image Entertainment: it boasts a good transfer, a reasonable commentary (dominated by the director), cut scenes, and the director's 1992 short film "Through an Open Window." |
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