Hans Brockman Movies
Before his commercial breakthrough with Boogie Nights (1997), writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson made this low-key drama. John (John C. Reilly), a half-bright loser stranded in Reno, is down to his last few bucks when Sydney (Phillip Baker Hall), taking pity on him, buys him breakfast and offers him a few tips on making money in the casinos. Two years later, John has become Sydney's partner, but his lack of common sense goes from problematic to dangerous when he falls in love with Clementine (Gwyneth Paltrow), a cocktail waitress who isn't above turning a few tricks when she needs to make money -- and isn't any brighter than John. Hall and Reilly, both first-rate character actors, are cast in rare leading roles, and Paltrow is cast strongly against type as a part-time prostitute with a serious lack of street smarts. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, (more)
- 1993
Spacy Callahan (Markus Klemp) has two problems. In the first place, he's a young teen, which is difficult enough. In the second place, he has been placed "for his own good" in an Iowa juvenile facility which has more than a passing resemblance to a military prison. If a boy breaks one of the innumerable rules of the place, they get placed in a situation where the will probably be sexually molested by their jailer Mr. Kibby, while he quotes Bible verses at them. He has a friend, though, a boy named Gary (Elijah Shepard), and together they make the best of things. That is, until it becomes clear that a clueless young inmate could make things really difficult for them - really difficult. The decide to escape their rural confinement and look up Spacy's mother (Mary Beth Hurt), who has finally divorced Spacy's abusive, alcoholic father. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Beth Hurt
- 1986
Set in a country estate beside the river Alz, the focus on this intellectual German drama, an adaptation of a text by Goethe, is on the complex interaction and conversations between four people involved with the film industry. Edouard is a restless filmmaker who is planning to make a film out of his fiancee Charlotte's upcoming first book. She is an actress and will star in the film. To help with the scripting, Edouard invites screenwriter Otto to stay with them. The last member of the quartet is Charlotte's pretty niece Ottilie, a classical guitar student. Tensions arise when Charlotte and Otto find each other equally inept as writers. Much of the film centers upon the heavy and frequently aloof discourse that goes on between the foursome as they wrangle their way towards finishing and marketing the script. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vera Tschechowa, Hanns Zischler, (more)
