Cast: Antonio Banderas (Pierre Dulaine), Alfre Woodard (Augustine James), Rob Brown (Rock), Yaya DaCosta (LahRette)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Take the Lead page.
Take the Lead is not just another chick flick, though I admit that women are more likely to fully enjoy it. The most amazing thing about this movie is that it's based on a true story and has affected a lot of children in New York City. Pierre Dulaine is an amazing man and I'm glad they made a film about him.
The dancing and acting in Take the Lead is really amazing. The story is wonderful and it made a great film. I highly recommend it! It made me want to go dancing! If only my husband would agree to take ballroom dancing lessons with me. I miss it!
If you love dancing, you must see this movie! Even if you don't, it's worth seeing, since the story is great and very touching.
Grade: A-
Labels: 2006, Antonio Banderas, dancing, drama, movie, musical, New York, Rob Brown
Reviewed by Kat at the 2:55 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Antonio Banderas (Luis Antonio Vargas), Angelina Jolie (Julia Russell/Bonnie Castle), Thomas Jane (Walter Downs/Billy/Mephisto), Jack Thompson (Alan Jordan)
For complete cast, see IMDb's Original Sin page.
This movie of mistaken identity, deceit, and scandal was one of the biggest surprises I've ever seen. My sister, aunt, and I went to see this in the theatre, since we wanted to see a movie and there was almost nothing else out. I don't think any of us really expected to enjoy Original Sin. We were in luck! Original Sin is a wonderful movie. Not only does the plot twist and turn often enough to keep you interested during the whole movie, but it contains one of the best done love scenes we've ever seen in a movie.
I wouldn't be surprised if you skipped this in theatres, since it wasn't marketted very well. It's definitely worth catching on DVD, though, so rent it and enjoy!
Grade: B+
Labels: 2001, Angelina Jolie, Antonio Banderas, drama, movie, romance, thriller
Reviewed by Kat at the 4:50 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Madonna (Eva Peron), Antonio Banderas (Che), Jonathan Pryce (Juan Peron)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Evita page.
In my opinion, the movie Evita contains the best overall cast of Evita ever. Yes, Mandy Patinkin was a better Che, but the accent Antonio Banderas brought to the part really helped make Che seem more authentic and beneath Eva. They did take out my favorite lyric in the musical, but they didn't alter too much and did an amazing job putting this musical on film.
Although some are upset that the mistress's part was almost complete cut out (since Madonna asked to sing "Another Suitcase in Another Hall"), how can anyone who's heard the song blame Madonna? It's one of my favorites from Evita and she sings it beautifully.
The lowering of some of the notes in "Rainbow High" bothered me quite a bit (as a soprano who used that song in auditions), but it worked in the show and it's still a great song.
I decided to see the movie before deciding if I needed to buy another version of Evita on CD (I owned the American recording already) and I've decided that I need the movie soundtrack, since it's such a great cast.
Grade: B+
Labels: 1996, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Antonio Banderas, drama, history, Madonna, Mandy Patinkin, movie, musical
Reviewed by Kat at the 2:30 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Tom Cruise (Lestat de Lioncourt), Brad Pitt (Louis de Pointe du Lac), Kirsten Dunst (Claudia), Stephen Rea (Santiago), Antonio Banderas (Armand), Christian Slater (Daniel Malloy)
For complete info, see IMDb's Interview with the Vampire page.
The funniest thing (as a huge Anne Rice fan now, who hadn't read a book until she saw the movie was about to come out and then started reading) about this movie is that so many people complained about the casting of Tom Cruise as Lestat and almost no one complained about the casting of Antonio Banderas as Armand. I find this so interesting! I think that Tom Cruise did a wonderful job as Lestat, though he might not have been my first choice.
When I've discussed the casting of Antonio Banderas with friends, they've pointed out that in the first book (which this movie is based on), the reader doesn't know Armand's age. While that is true, since Armand is a vampire, he can't age and when we find out in the second book that he's a young teen when he's made into a vampire, he would have to be a young teen in the first book, and therefore the movie.
That being said, I still think that they did a very good job making Interview with the Vampire a movie. Of course, unlike most movies Anne Rice was allowed to write the screenplay for Interview with the Vampire, which certainly helped!
Grade: B+
Labels: 1994, Antonio Banderas, Brad Pitt, Christian Slater, drama, fantasy, horror, Kirsten Dunst, movie, Tom Cruise
Reviewed by Kat at the 4:10 PM show | 0 screams