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Conference bookie::movies

Title:Movie Reviews and Discussion
Notice:Please do DIR/TITLE before starting a new topic on a movie!
Moderator:VAXCPU::michaudo.dec.com::tamara::eppes
Created:Thu Jan 28 1993
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1249
Total number of notes:16012

156.0. "Benny and Joon" by 32198::KRUEGER () Mon Apr 26 1993 14:28

    Saw this movie last night and LOVED it!  It's a very unusual movie, and
    sometimes painful to watch, but there were so many scenes were I
    laughed out loud and wanted to clap my hands like a kid.
    
    Three incredible actors star in this movie: Aidan Quinn who plays a
    mechanic who cares for his mentally ill sister after their parents are
    killed in a car crash.  There's no mention if this is what started
    "Joon's" problems or not, but problems is what she has, and plenty of
    them.  Quinn (Benny) has no life other than his job and his devotion to
    Juniper Pearl.  He's attractive and kind, and his only social outlet is
    a weekly poker game where his friends don't bet money, but gadgets and
    services (listen closely to their bets; it's hilarious!).
    
    June, played by Mary Stuart Masterson (who can do ANYTHING; this is the
    next Meryl Streep), is a vulnerable, artistic and observant young woman
    who lives in a house full of disarray and disgruntled housekeepers who
    get fed up QUICK with watching her during the day so Benny can work.
    
    Enter Sam, played by Depp, who moves in with Benny and June as the
    result of a poker game gone wrong.  June is intrigued by Sam, who is
    dressed like Charlie Chaplin; he's the cousin of one of Benny's friends
    who wants to get rid of him.  Sam is odd and can't read; he's also
    intuitive, kind, responsive, and hilarious.  He does a better Charlie
    Chaplin than Robert Downey Jr.  He's also an excellent housekeeper and
    fascinates June, who fascinates him right back.
    
    The three characters have such strong plots that you can't figure out
    who to root for the most.  Quinn's character finds almost-love in the
    form of an actress-turned-waitress who befriends Sam and June, and that
    subplot is touching, too.  There's also a shrink that June and Benny
    see who is pushing for a "home" for June rather than continuing living
    with her brother.  So there's lots going on.
    
    So bring your wife, your girlfriend, your boyfriend, your husband, your
    kids, and any cynics you happen to know, and expect to be delighted
    with this movie.
    
    **** out of ****
    
    Leslie
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156.2DSSDEV::RUSTMon Apr 26 1993 14:525
    Re Keaton vs. Chaplin: all the reviews I've read mentioned Depp's
    "Keaton" imitation, but the clips I've seen feature the highly
    Chaplin-esque "potato dance," so maybe he's imitating both of 'em.
    
    -b
156.3I liked it, tooVAXWRK::STHILAIREblue windows behind the starsMon Apr 26 1993 15:356
    I enjoyed this, too.  I thought it was funny and cute, with good
    acting.  It's a pleasant excuse to look at Aidan Quinn who, I think, is
    one of the best looking men around.
    
    Lorna
    
156.4Chaplin vs. Keaton ... whoops!32198::KRUEGERMon Apr 26 1993 17:446
    Johnny Depp isn't exactly chopped liver, either! :-)
    
    And you're right, Barry ... it was Buster Keaton, but he also reminded
    me of Chaplin, too.  He was just the best!
    
    Leslie
156.5I'm crazy, not stupid. I can count.16821::POGARResident Movie Critic & Costner FanTue Apr 27 1993 20:3220
    I agree with all of the previous noters. But Barry do you think you can
    repost your "iron settings" info behind a form feed? I think that's a 
    spoiler (just my opinion, tho).
    
    I saw this movie Friday night with a friend and took my 6-1/2 year old
    daughter back on Sunday to see it. I explained the story to her on the
    way to the theatre and she understood quite well what was going on.
    
    The first scene that made me nearly "lose it" was in the cafe, when
    they were all sitting at the bar to have a beer. Sam starts tapping,
    and what he does from there on had me in stitches. I think I laughed
    even harder the second time around.
    
    Excellent, excellent movie! One of the best "warm fuzzies" that I've
    had in a long time.
    
    10/10
    
    Catherine
    
156.6New & Improved reply .18269::BARRIANOchoke me in the shallow water...Wed Apr 28 1993 01:0929
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
re                      <<< Note 156.0 by 32198::KRUEGER >>>
                              -< Benny and Joon >-

  >  Saw this movie last night and LOVED it!  It's a very unusual movie, and
  >  sometimes painful to watch, but there were so many scenes were I
  >  laughed out loud and wanted to clap my hands like a kid.

  Me too!
*Spoiler Warning*

    I liked the scene when Benny and Joon are talking about what the proper
iron setting is, for doing grilled cheese sandwiches: wool or rayon!
    

>    Enter Sam, played by Depp, who moves in with Benny and June as the
>    result of a poker game gone wrong.  June is intrigued by Sam, who is
>    dressed like Charlie Chaplin; he's the cousin of one of Benny's friends
>    who wants to get rid of him.  Sam is odd and can't read; he's also
>    intuitive, kind, responsive, and hilarious.  He does a better Charlie
>    Chaplin than Robert Downey Jr.  He's also an excellent housekeeper and
>    fascinates June, who fascinates him right back.
    
    Sam is doing Buster Keaton.  Haven't you been to any silent movies lately
   Leslie :-)   


    Regards
   Barry
156.7Depp - Strong character30188::LYONSThu Apr 29 1993 17:1713
    
    
    I really enjoyed this movie too.   Like a previous reply, I felt it was
    a movie that gave you the "warm fuzzies".
    
    RE: Johnny Depp
    
    I really thought that he was the absolute best person for the role of
    Sam.  I don't think any other person could have pulled it off.  I think
    that J.D. has some true acting talent and I hope to see him in other
    movies soon.  (I always enjoyed him on the show "21 Jump St."
    
    
156.8VAXWRK::STHILAIREi kiss my cat on the lipsThu Apr 29 1993 20:124
    I liked Johnny Depp in Edward Scissorhands, too.  I think he's very
    convincing at portraying innocence.
    
    Lorna
156.9More Depp praise32198::KRUEGERFri Apr 30 1993 14:134
    Johnny Depp was also perfect in "Cry Baby" ... Winona Ryder is one
    lucky girl!
    
    Leslie
156.103270::AHERNDennis the MenaceThu May 06 1993 01:496
    RE: .2  by DSSDEV::RUST 
    
    >the clips I've seen feature the highly Chaplin-esque "potato dance," 
    
    I think you'll find that Chaplin was roll playing.
    
156.11DSSDEV::RUSTThu May 06 1993 13:403
    <Grooooaaaannnn!!!> ;-)
    
    -b
156.12DELNI::DISMUKEThu Dec 09 1993 18:326
    OK, tell me who was doing the song at the end of the movie that I can't
    get out of my head.
    
    -sandy
    
    
156.13VAXWRK::STHILAIREand all I gotta do is surviveThu Dec 09 1993 18:334
    re .12, The Proclaimers, I think, a Scottish band.
    
    Lorna
    
156.14"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)"26291::CARTERThu Dec 09 1993 19:085
    If it is the song that was on the soundtrack, it is indeed The
    Proclaimers, and the title of the song is "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)".
    It is also on their SUNSHINE ON LEITH CD.
    
    Keith
156.15This is my next on the list of rentals58378::P_CHAPLINSKYFri Dec 10 1993 11:188
    If the lyrics are something like this:
    
    	"I will walk 500 miles, yes, I will walk 500 more.."
    
    It's a hit song in Ottawa and another reason for me to rent this movie
    on the weekend (it it's in ... sigh).
    
    Patricia
156.16ACESMK::CHELSEAMostly harmless.Mon Dec 13 1993 19:507
    "And I would walk five hundred miles
     And I would walk five hundred more
     Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles 
     To fall down at your door."
    
    Rented this recently.  Nice movie, but I can't say it had any real
    depth to it.
156.17VAXWRK::STHILAIREwhat about now?Mon Dec 13 1993 19:544
    re .16, with a smile like Aidan Quinn's, who needs depth?  :-)
    
    Lorna
    
156.18ACESMK::CHELSEAMostly harmless.Mon Dec 13 1993 19:581
    I confess, he was a major reason I rented it.
156.19Thumbs up58378::P_CHAPLINSKYTue Dec 14 1993 11:3613
    We called the video store - their copy was in - so I watched half of
    it on friday night, the rest on Saturday morning - Will I ever be able
    to make it through a movie :^) ?
    
    I liked the movie - don't laugh but I have an uncle that iron's his
    toast - it's actually good.
    
    Johnny Depp did a fine performance.  He's young - does anyone know how
    old he could be? - I'd guess mid-20's.
    
    What's next on my list ... "Untamed Hearts"
    
    Patricia
156.20Age=3012368::michaudJeff Michaud, PATHWORKS for Windows NTTue Dec 14 1993 14:046
>     Johnny Depp did a fine performance.  He's young - does anyone know how
>     old he could be? - I'd guess mid-20's.

	Today's Nashua telegraph has some short excerpts from an
	interview with him (in the Trivia & Entertainment box).
	They have him listed as being 30.
156.215793::STARRColdest winter in almost 14 years....Tue Jan 25 1994 16:396
A very charming movie, nice to watch on a rainy day (well, snowy day this 
past weekend). All three main characters were well done, although I thought
the plot was pretty predictable, and it had a bit of a made-for-TV feel.
Good, light entertainment....

alan