body_elec

22 May 2012

adults

Actually this came as a reaction to carmenjonze-1. I really wonder howsomeone can be disappointed by this film. Granted, it's in the BigChill vain, but it features a fabulous cast in top-notch form, realattitudes, compact characters, and quite a few memorable scenes, evenif it doesn't do justice to JL Curtis. Yes, it's more verbal thanvisual, but that's not necessarily a bad point, considering it leads tocomments like "wounded animal convention" or Eliot's rationale for notgoing' out. All in all, I find it quite entertaining; a gem of a storyabout everyday people in everyday situations. And yes, again,it's notBergman. But if you're sick of films that blackmail your interest in aonce-in-a-million character in a once-in-a-trillion-situation, then youcould definitely give this one a try.

madbandit20002000

22 May 2012

Being An Adult New York City Style

I never really had any true friends when I was growing up (I was weird,okay), but I know that the best friends are the ones who stay around."Queens Logic", an under-looked , sleeper indie film (unless you lookreally hard in the discount DVD bins) starring a name cast, proves thatin the largest borough of New York City.Wedding jitters plague Ray (Ken Olin of "thirtysomething" and aproducer of "Alias"), since he's a talented painter born and residingin Queens, and is about to marry longtime sweetheart Patty (Chloe Webb)a hairdresser with a philosophical outlook. His other pals fromchildhood, fish marketer cousin Al (the talented Joe Mantegna of"Criminal Minds"), Al's right-hand man Eliot (John Malkovich of"Changeling"), visiting musician Dennis (Kevin Bacon) and working actorVin (Tony Spiridakis, who co-wrote the film with Joey Savino) help himout by throwing a decent bachelor's party (men and women invited), butthey each have their problems.Despite his jester charm, Al's Peter Pan persona irritates hisfrustrated wife Carla (the sexy Linda Fiorentino); Eliot's a homosexualwho has no desire to play "the love game"; Dennis's still struggling onmaking it big in Los Angeles and Vin gets one-night stands but noromance. Adulthood: IT SUCKS! But not this film.Director Steve Rash ("The Buddy Holly Story", "Can't Buy Me Love" andthe two DTV sequels to "Bring It On") is competent, but the actors helpout more, pumping the tale with humanity, especially Mantegna's breezy,arrested development demeanor, Malkovich's non-stereotypical attitudeand Webb's down to earth perspective. Also entertaining is Jamie LeeCurtis as a high society dame, who gives Al a lesson about maturity ina colorful way, and rocker Tom Waits as a gravel-voiced but likablelowlife associate of the gang. Look for a pre- "Will & Grace" MeganMullany as a drunken conquest of Vin's. The film's soundtrack islittered with rock and disco tunes from the 1970s, the decade the guysgrew up.Likable, poignant, sly, funny and a love letter to its' backdrop(Queens's Hellgate Bridge is prominent here), "Queens Logic" remindsus, despite how we grow up or wherever we are in our lives, theneighborhood we grew up is part of us and vice versa, and the bestfriends we have reminds us of that.

jeremy3

19 May 2012

Great cast, poor script

It is a shame that I could not give this movie a much higher rating.The acting was great. Kevin Bacon played Dennis, a struggling actor inL.A. who returned home for his friend Ray's (Ken Olin)wedding. Bacondoes a terrific job playing someone who is superficially cheerful,hiding his insecurities and loneliness. The other actors and actresseswere also very good. Joe Mantegna plays Al, an extroverted person, whoisn't afraid to be himself. John Malkhovich also does his usual goodjob, playing Eliot, a man trapped in the machoistic World of Queens,yet struggling with his homosexuality. Perhaps the best scene is whenEliot tells a "pesky" homosexual to "bug off", because he just doesn'tlike him. This movie could have been a lot more, but it tried to do toomuch, didn't explain to the viewer what was going on, and becamepredictable by the ending. First of all, we never understand whyexactly Al's wife, played by Linda Fiorentino, leaves him so suddenlyand violently. All we know is that she is mad at him. We similarlyunderstand that Ray is having second thoughts about getting married. Weunderstand that Eliot is kind of an angry character. We never reallyfind out why. Eliot befriends a homosexual pianist. We never reallyfind out much about the pianist, except that he is rather mildmannered. There are also things that just don't help the plot much.Jamie Lee Curtis plays a character who is never really developed well,and in the end we have no idea why she behaved the way she did (and howthis changed Al's life). Another scene that doesn't work is theswimming pool scene. Al's wife steals Al and all four or five of hisbuddies clothing, yet somehow he has spare clothing for all of them inhis car. This movie could have been a good movie. Instead, it wasconfusing and not very well written.

19 May 2012

Good story, plus JLC is in the film

This review is from: Queens Logic (DVD) If Jamie Lee Curtis is in a movie, I want to watch it. I don't care if it's a documentary on how grass grows.This movie had some other actors I like. Just looking at the cast (even if JLC hadn't been part of it) would be sufficient for me to want to see the movie. Joe Mantegna, for example, is a talented (and under-rated) actor who has also made many a recorded book come alive with his narrations.Not that it's a reason to buy the movie, but as this was filmed in Queens in 1990/91, it contains several shots of the World Trade Center.A major thread in this story is the process by which some middle-aged men finally emerge from adolescence. The story manages to be funny and engaging, while not relying on cheap schtick or silly gags. Nor does it rely on CGI, wire work, and other stuff that seems to have replaced story telling in the film-making industry. Of course, this movie is nearly 20 years old so it was made while attention spans were still measured in minutes rather than seconds.The story relies, instead, on the complex interplay of the characters. Tests of loyalty abound. The story is full of "moments," and the characters seem very real. Well-directed, well-acted, and well-written, it reaches a level of sophistication that is above the norm yet not at all overwhelming.I'd characterize this as a "feel good" movie, but not in the way of a Disney movie. You feel good because the characters are flawed because they're human, and yet in the end they prevail because they are human. The movie isn't preachy, and it isn't sending a moral message. It's just showing that courage, loyalty, and love exist right alongside fear, distrust, and betrayal, and can prevail over them. Especially with help from friends and strangers.On that last note, JLC plays a stranger. Her character isn't among the inner circle and, in fact, she interacts only with Mantegna's character. She reels him in and shocks him into sensibility. In the typical hero quest novel, JLC would be similar to the mentor who imbues the hero with new courage and new dedication to renew the fight. It's not quite like that in this film, but it's along those lines. It's carried off quite well and is necessary to move the plot forward.Sadly, JLC's time in this film is too short. But to raving JLC fans, that's true of every film where JLC appears. You don't have to be a JLC fan to enjoy this film. It would be great even without her.This is a film couples can watch together, and probably should watch together. So, snuggle up and press the play button.

17 May 2012

Underappreciated gem.

This review is from: Queens Logic [VHS] (VHS Tape) If you know a group of 30 (and even 40) somethings who just can't seem to let go of their adolescence, this film will resonate with you. The buddy relationships depicted amongst the pack of guys are right on target, and the awkwardness between the guys' reliance on the pack and their building adult romantic relationship (heterosexual or gay)beyond the pack is well detailed. Linda Fiorentino and Chloe Webb are a credible and recognizeable pair of friends who suport each other, sometimes in anger, somtimes in bemusement, while the somewhat arrested guys in their lives stumble into growing up. Others may disagree, but I am willing to bet that many single urbanites will shout "bingo" when they overhear some of the film's conversations between guy and girl, guy and guy, and girl and girl. Add some quirky, fun NYC caricatures, an evening of last hurrah stunts, and first rate performances from everyone (particularly Mantegna, Jamie Lee Curtis, Fiorentino, and Malkevich)and you have a solid, enjoyable ensemble piece.

16 May 2012

high potential to achieve college cult status

Sure, "Queens Logic" might at first come across asnothing more than "The Big Chill" Italian-American-style,with a marriage instead of a funeral drawing folks back together. But if ever a movie begs a second (and third) watching it's this one. Not only is it sharply directed by Steve Rash but the acting is quite nearly pristine throughout, an astounding accomplishment considering the number of prime characters, bit-parts and cameo appearances which permeate the storyline from beginning to end. But it's the screenwriting angle that elevates this movie to the category of significant cinematography. The street-level dialogue is classically accurate -- and perfectly delivered.While it shines as an uncensored piece of Big Apple Americana, it also has that feel of college cult favorite, as much for its quirkiness as the now high-profile faces which appear throughout, like an always-way-cool Tom Waits, a left-field-guruish Jamie Lee Curtis, a can't-score-for-nothin' Kevin Bacon and a trascendentally-gay John Malkovich. Worth buying instead of simply renting.

16 May 2012

One of my favorite romantic comedies

This review is from: Queens Logic (DVD) I'm not from New York, but there's just something about this movie. The small parts alone almost make it worth a watch... Megan Mullaly (now on "Will & Grace") as a drunken bar conquest, Richard Kind (of "Mad About You" and currently on "Spin City") as a partygoer, Todd Field (Nick Nightingale in "Eyes Wide Shut" and the most unexplained/useless character in "The Haunting") as Cecil.I loved Mantegna's ability to get by on attitude ("I can work with that" - "box seats, the Mets, tonight"), Jamie Lee Curtis' cameo, Linda Fiorentino's ability to make "backed up anger" sound like "back tabanga", John Malkovich with a shotgun... and Tom Waits' character of Monte is one of the most loveable onscreen scuzzballs you'll find. It's not a movie you love for the continuity of plot or the great acting throughout. No one in the movie really has to stretch that far. It's a movie you love for its moments (like the howling scene)... and a kickin' soundtrack.

Bill-276

16 May 2012

Holy screenplay!

Queens Logic is an excellently written film about a bunch of late thirtysomethings who are still trying to figure out how to get their acttogether. I worry that this film is only going to be accepted locally (i.e.New York, Long Island target audience) when it really has a multitude ofuniversal levels to it. The acting was brilliant--absolutely brilliant,fromKevin Bacon to Linda Fiorentino, Joe Mantegna and John Malkevich. Theactorsreally understood these complex characters (Malkevich is SO good onceagainit's scary). And the writing and direction could not have been better forthese roles. Congratulations for writing a script with so many thoughtful,intelligent and original characters which reflect so well on the time andall of our struggles to figure out what it is that makes us happy--and todoit so humorously as well. This is one of those rare very smart and veryfunny films.Like I said though, people who are not necessarily from the New York areamay not buy or believe these characters, but I guarantee you there are somany people like them. Guarantee it. They're great people with sameproblemsas everyone else. They just choose to deal with them on their own termsandin the best format they know how: with Queens logic.

12 May 2012

Where was I when........?

This review is from: Queens Logic (DVD) Queens Logic is another of those movies where you ask yourself.... How did I miss this movie before? Queens Logic? Never heard of it!The movie is special for its little moments and its great characters. The bartender we all wish we knew (Marinaro), the sleazeball with a heart of gold (Tom Waits), Joey Clams, Joe Mantegna paying his employees "in cash or check?", shotgun handy. The performances are great, particularly Mantegna, and the film succeeds in transporting you to a section of New York only otherwise known as the home of the Mets.The film succeeds in showing how these friends truly care for one another and has almost as many precious moments as another cult classic (although less steeped in mythology) "The Wanderers". These are the moments you want to look back on. These are the friends who will always love you. This is a movie which feels good to watch.

11 May 2012

Good film.

This review is from: Queens Logic [VHS] (VHS Tape) When childhood friends Al (Joe Mantegna), Dennis (Kevin Bacon) and Eliot (john Malkovich) get together for Ray`s (Ken Olin) wedding, they end up on a rollercoaster ride through reality. During a crazy weekend they face adulthood and each other with nemfound maturity and discover what Queens Logic is all about. This romantic comedy takes a warm and hilarious look at friendship, loyalty and love.

10 May 2012

Cringe-Inducing

This movie is lame, lame, lame. I saw it when it came out because my friends and I were living in Astoria at the time and were aware of its having been filmed (in part) there. It was the end of the glorious time in Astoria before it'd been "discovered", and we were saving tons of money in rent! Anyway, we'd sort of hoped the movie would be ok, but after the reviews (or pre-hype, don't remember exactly now) we knew it would be just awful. And it was. It was Tony's personal love song to his old neighborhood, but with every cliche and stereotype there is. Joe Mantegna was about 20 years too old for the part. Really, don't bother, unless you're a fan of one of the actors. I mean a BIG fan.

ranwulf

10 May 2012

One of my top 5 favorites

God - I love this movie! I must've seen it 20 times by now, and I stillcan't pass it up when it appears on some random cable station at 1 inthe morning! This film was an epiphany to me - great cast, greatcharacters, great story, great locations - all without becoming astereotyped "Nu Yawk" movie. And Tom Waits as Monte? Perfect! WheneverI see this, it makes me miss the City. I was really lucky to have livedthere in the early 90's - only a little later than the film's setting.Anyone who doesn't think these Bridge & Tunnel characters are realshould spend some time in the boroughs. I highly recommend this film toanyone who wants a slice of New York City life away from the glitz ofManhattan.

07 May 2012

Where was I when........?

Queens Logic is another of those movies where you ask yourself.... How did I miss this movie before? Queens Logic? Never heard of it!The movie is special for its little moments and its great characters. The bartender we all wish we knew (Marinaro), the sleazeball with a heart of gold (Tom Waits), Joey Clams, Joe Mantegna paying his employees "in cash or check?", shotgun handy. The performances are great, particularly Mantegna, and the film succeeds in transporting you to a section of New York only otherwise known as the home of the Mets.The film succeeds in showing how these friends truly care for one another and has almost as many precious moments as another cult classic (although less steeped in mythology) "The Wanderers". These are the moments you want to look back on. These are the friends who will always love you. This is a movie which feels good to watch.

06 May 2012

queens logic

This review is from: Queens Logic (DVD) being from born n raised it brought back a lot of memories under hellgate bridge with roseann longo yo where are u.

06 May 2012

Great movie, but too underestimated!!

When I saw this movie for the first time I was a Malkovich's fan and I had already seen all his films, from the "Glass Menagerie" to "Of mice and men", from "Places in the heart" to "Mary Reilly" and "Being John Malkovich", but this one was quite unknown and it was always given bad reviews. I have never understood why: first of all the cast is excellent(apart from Malkovich,whose lonely character is unforgettable, I think Kevin Bacon and Joe Mantegna give two of their best performances and Linda Fiorentino doesn't play another dark lady, showing how versatile she can be, even if Chloe Webb, Ken Olin, J.Lee Curtis are outstanding, too, as usual). Moreover the script by Spiridakis is very original and it avoids every possible stereotype: it includes a group of friends from Queens(NYC)who reunite themselves for Ray(Ken Olin)'s wedding to Patty(Chloe Webb), but Ray is very doubtful and he dreams to become a painter in Italy; however his pals have their own problems, too: his loud and impulsive cousin Al(Joe Mantegna) is in trouble with his proud and neglected wife Carla(L.Fiorentino); his roommate Eliot(Malkovich) is an apathetical homosexual, who dislikes gay lifestyles, and his old buddy Dennis(Kevin Bacon), who was in love with Patty, pretends to have got successful in Hollywood, but then reveals to be just a failure. Of course the plot is based on self-revelations, the actors are more important than the director, but the film is very fluent and unusual; it doesn't look like "The Big Chill" or "Diner" that much: both of them are good movies, but I prefer "Queens logic" because it's more anticonventional and non-conformist, since it involves odd characters like Jeremy(Terry Kinney, a co-founder of the Steppenwolf Company with Gary Sinise and Malkovich), a snob homosexual who pursues Eliot; or such as Monte, played by Tom Waits, a funny alcoholic idler, or Inez(Jodie Markell), an eccentric healer, or madame Rosa, a fortune-teller whom Patty and Carla tell their problems, or Grace(Jamie Lee Curtis), a psychotic who teaches Joe Mantegna to "throw it all away", namely to leave adolescence and grow up. If you add the magic atmosphere of the nights in New York, a wonderful photography of the city, a nostalgic and dynamic soundtrack(David Bowie, Van Morrison, Souther, Johnny Nash, Marvin Gaye), the scene which includes the young Joe Mantegna climbing up the bridge which links Queens to Manhattan and the other characters who gaze at him, you can easily understand how marvelous this movie is! It is my favourite movie and I got very disappointed when I discovered that it hadn't had any kind of success. In my country(Italy)it's also out of print, so I bought a dvd from USA, well-worthy to be bought; note that the Italian title is quite poetical and maybe more helpful, it's "Sognando Manhattan"("Dreaming Manhattan"). Anyway buy this movie! If you like the actors it's a must!!

Fred

05 May 2012

Now THIS Is New York

Released in 1991, this movie captures a quality New York possessed in thelate eighties. The characters seem genuinely capable of making thewisecracks the script has them make. They're middle-class urbanites who arecapable of desperate violence. Yet, they are not particularly violent. Theyare haunted by the hardscrabble lives of their parents. The story involves agroup of people in their early-to-mid-thirties. They've known each othersince childhood. The plot is this: Will the scheduled marriage between twomembers of this group actually take place?While he is not the lead actor here, John Malkovich plays a character whoembodies the dilemma each one of the characters faces. Each one wishes hewere somewhere else and yet each one would give his right arm for anybodyelse in this circle of friends. Unlike his friends, he is gay, but what hehas in common with them is the sense that the upper-class will have nothingto do with him. He is dating an upwardly-mobile man and his confrontationwith him is still refreshing thirteen years after this movie wasfilmed.Many movies and TV series have dealt with this milieu, but very few havepulled it off. It is not entirely believable--there's an over-the-topstory-line with Jamie Lee Curtis as a smooth-talker who enchants the edgyJoe Mantegna--but it's assertive. QUEENS LOGIC is well worth viewing.

05 May 2012

Will appeal most to native New Yorkers

This comedy-drama has some genuinely funny moments, however I believe the drama would appeal most to natives of New York City. Although this attempts to be an ensemble piece such as The Big Chill, I found some of the characters difficult to believe: Kevin Bacon's character (not his performance, which was fine) shouldn't have been able to pick up the woman in the bar, yet he did. Maybe if I were from New York I'd believe it more. If someone wants to watch this for a particular actor, Joe Mantegna seemed to me to be the most central character, although it isn't evident from the description or cast list. In the same spirit, female fans of John Malkovich looking to see him in yet another sex role should be forewarned that his character is gay. I haven't ruined the film for you by saying so, however, since it comes as no surprise in the movie.

04 May 2012

Queens Logic Im Moving Out

As a lifetime resident of the neighborhood depicted in the movie(which is Astoria, where NOBODY says they're from "Queens"), I excitedly anticipated renting and viewing this movie. Unfortunately, the high points consisted mainly of spotting neighborhood sites and scenes, unless you also include laughing at the incredibly lame situations and dialogue. The high point of lameness (among many) is the speech by Chloe Webb, in which she explains how she's just a girl from Queens and "will always be from Queens". The accent selected for this speech is unidentifiable, and may contain some part Bowery Boys and some part Nanny, but has never been heard inside the city limits of Astoria (or Queens for that matter). Her boyfriend, Ken Olin, is going through the struggle (as all artists must) in which he must decide if this ordinary girl from Queens with the odd accent can be his "muse", or will he need to find a muse in Manhattan. Luckily, the N train is near, so the decision can be made conveniently. Elsewhere in the convoluted plot, Joe Mantegna inexpicably climbs the Hellgate Bridge with a toothpick in his mouth,and prefers to hang out in bars rather than with his extreme babe wife, Linda Fiorentino. The main saving graces for the movie are John Malkovich playing a lovable, friendly but somehow menacingly Malkovich gay guy, Fiorentino just for showing up, and the general attitude that Astorians are cool while Manhattanites are idiotic. (This is clearly true, but why base a movie on it?) Note that Malkovich and Kevin Bacon (also appearing) never ever discuss being in this movie. PS: Watch out for the howling scene-I give you four slices of Astoria pizza for free if you can watch it without cringing and running out of your living room. Oh yes, Jamie Lee Curtis plays a ditzy crazy lady- never seen that before!

04 May 2012

Lovely Linda Fiorentino and Cast!

After watching Dogma for the umpteenth time on Comedy Central, I becamea Linda Fiorentino fan along with others out there who wondered whathappened to this promising actress since 2002. I have seen other films.This one shows that she can play a desperate housewife who can be bothstrong and vulnerable to her husband played by Joe Mantegna. Jamie LeeCurtis is underused in this role. Fiorentino and Chloe Webb'scharacters form a believable friendship on screen that I wonder whyLinda hasn't worked in five years is a mystery to me. Anyway, it's anall star cast featuring besides Webb, Mantegna, and Fiorentino but alsoKevin Bacon, Ken Olin, John Malkovich, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Thestoryline needs some work. I loved the scene where Carla steals theguys' clothes while they are skinny dipping in a pool. The movie isabout a reunion of friends who get together for a wedding that may ormay not happen anyway. I plead that Linda gets work soon again becauseshe is really one of the best actresses out there playing strong womenrather than weak and superficial.

Chiara Ronconi

03 May 2012

Marvelous,undying and indestructible like Hellgate Bridge!

I think it's a wonderful movie and it's been unjustlyunderestimated:it's oneiric,sentimental,poetic and the dramatic plot isdealt with a sense of humour.There are various issues like malebonding,homosexuality,friendship and I think every role is proper forthe actor who plays it:my favourite actor JOHN MALKOVICH(GREAT)is ahomosexual with some existential problems and he falls in love withMarty(Michael Zelniker)and they get engaged at the end of thefilm;Dennis(Kevin Bacon)has in vain tried to get successful inHollywood as a musician,Al(Joe Mantegna)grows up thanks of Jamie LeeCurtis,Vinny(Tony Spiridakis)dreams to become an actor and Ray(KenOlin)a painter.Even if the dreams of some of these guys don't comethrough,their strong and profound tie is the reason to continue to hopein the future.I also think the title is the only very funny thing ofthe movie(in Italian language it's "Dreaming Manhattan")but the filmsucceeds to alternate melancholy and thoughtless scenes:Mantegna climbsup the bridge which links Astoria to Manhattan,Ken Olin listens to hismessage "I love you guys" while he's thinking about his life,KevinBacon and Michael Zelniker play "ordinary people song" while Zelnikerand Malkovich look at each other,Malkovich jilts Terry Kinney,who hadfallen in love with him,because he doesn't like the way he talks abouthis friends(when Kinney asked him if those guys were his type,hereplied "that I don't know but they are the best I could do"),TonySpiridakis howls with a healer without a reason,Tom Waits reads his oddpoem at Jack's,Jamie Lee Curtis takes Mantegna's gun and learns him tothrow all away,Chloe Webb tells Madame Rose,a palmist, she's surroundedby idiots,the five boys shout out Arnold's name while they're having abath under Hellgate during the night because he was the only guy,apartfrom Mantegna,who climbed up that bridge and they don't see LindaFiorentino stealing their clothes out of spite,because her husbandMantegna spent all his time with his friends(he also kisses JohnMalkovich at the disco)...well,these guys are amazing!They are eithercrazy or gay,either sad or happy,sometimes they make you cry,sometimesthey make you amuse.Personally I was a depressed sixteen year old girlwhen I saw this movie for the first time on a night during last summerand it made me dream:this movie is everything for me,it lets me to takerefuge in another world and it makes me isolate from my reality,whom Ihate as much as I can, but fortunately I'm not here,I'm under HellgateBridge to dream with other Queens.I thank Tony Spiridakis,who wrote thestory,and all the actors very much for this wonderful movie!!!