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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

602.0. "It Could Happen To You" by 17617::MAYNARD (The Front Row Kid) Wed Aug 03 1994 16:40

    	A nice romantic comedy, starring Nicholas Cage, Bridget Fonda,
    Rosie Perez and a surprise cameo by Red Buttons.
    Cage plays a cop who is almost pathological in his effort to be nice
    and do the right thing, in a world full of greedy, hyperactive
    people, personified by his wife, played by Rosie Perez. Finding
    himself short of cash, while at a coffee shop, he promises the
    waitress,(Bridget Fonda)
     in lieu of a tip, half of his lottery winnings, if he should,
    happen to win. He wins (surprise, surprise) and the rest of the
    movie is simply, how it affects the people around him.
    
    Cage and Fonda are obviously cast against type as the romantic leads,
    and while they won't make anyone forget Tracy and Hepburn, they do
    much better than I expected.
    
    Rosie Perez steals EVERY scene that she is in, playing the same type
    of obsessive character, that she played in White Men Can't Jump.
    
    Overall, a good but not great movie. 
    
                                         Jimbert
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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602.17892::BUSY::SLABOUNTYAsk for a mine and I'll give you the shaft.Wed Aug 03 1994 18:069
    
    	The reviewer in the paper said that Rosie's whining got old
    	really quick.
    
    	Not that I really care what the papers say, but just in case
    	anyone wanted to know.
    
    							GTI
    
602.2NETRIX::michaudEasy RiderWed Aug 03 1994 19:453
	Siskel & Ebert both give this one a strong thumbs up.  The biggest
	flaw Ebert said is that they should of stuck to the original
	title (something like) "Cop Gives Waitress $2 Million Tip"
602.3I hate that voice8269::CAMERON_SMon Aug 08 1994 20:254
    Rosie Perez plays a great B*TCH in the movie, but I just can't stand
    her voice. I would trade her in for Briggete Fonda any day of the week. 
    I did really like the movie though.     Thumbs up!
    
602.424661::LPIERCEGirls with GitarsWed Aug 10 1994 15:257
    
    The movies is loosly based on a true story.  Yes, a cop and
    a waitress picked #'s together and they split the pot.. they
    are both still married to they origianl SO's and they are still
    good friends (its in this weeks people mag)
    
    
602.5Some negative votes3D::COULTERIf this typewriter can't do it, ...Thu Aug 11 1994 09:0722
    Four of us went to see it last night (bargain night in
    Chelmsford):  four thumbs down.
    
    Nicolas Cage and Bridget Fonda were terrific.  The story 
    was very uneven in pacing and interest.
    
    And then there's this (RE: Note 602.0):
    
    	"Rosie Perez steals EVERY scene that she is in, 
    	 playing the same type of obsessive character,
    	 that she played in White Men Can't Jump."
    
    I'd change that to "Rosie Perex RUINS ,,,,".  Part of it
    is her character's role in the film;  a lot of it is just
    her.  Cast someone different, change some of their behavior,
    and maybe Cage and Fonda can drag this over the finish line
    for you.
    
    At best a video rental.  But the two stars are great fun to
    watch.
    
    				dick
602.6What did she say... what did she just say?17135::AWILLETOR U Green?Thu Aug 11 1994 12:161
When you go see it, take along a Rosie intrepretor.
602.7Very romantic, very sweet, very nice movieTNPUBS::NAZZAROWill edit for foodFri Aug 12 1994 15:008
    I really enjoyed the Nicolas Cage - Bridget Fonda interaction.  These
    two seemed as if they were meant for each other, and their chemistry
    made the movie come alive.  Terrific, believable acting.
    
    Rosie Perez on the other hand must be an acquired taste that I haven't
    yet obtained.
    
    NAZZ
602.84262::HASBROUCKFri Sep 09 1994 18:119
An enjoyable film.  And I would say Nicholas Cage has made up for
"Guarding Tess".  

The film strains belief a bit.  It's all about how great it is being
nice.  But towards the end I was scratching my head thinking shucks 
maybe nice really is boring after all!  I'll leave it to some other
film to convince me otherwise.

Brian
602.97361::MAIEWSKIMon Sep 12 1994 15:1822
  I didn't like it. 

  When Jimmy Stewert did "It's a wonderful life" that was fine. When Marlo
Thomas remade it I didn't understand why. This movie is a variation on that
story (the moderator is even called "Angel") but it's weak by comparison. 

  Nicolas Cage is at his best playing a character with a rough edge. He's great
at bringing out a character's flaw but as a nice guy he just walks through the
part. Any highschool leading kid could have done as well. 

  Bridget Fonda is pretty but the part was fluff. She was much better in the
movie where she had the sicko room mate. 

  Rosie Perez does good as a supporting character but she's no Mr Potter and
couldn't carry the film. 

  This movie has some good moments and it's kind of cute but it's the kind of
fluff that works best on TV on a Sunday night where no doubt it be headed soon
enough, probably just in time for Christmas.

  ** out of 5
  George
602.10NETRIX::michaudFreshmanThu Feb 02 1995 11:4321
>   Bridget Fonda is pretty but the part was fluff. She was much better in the
> movie where she had the sicko room mate. 

	I beleive that was "Single White Female".

	This movie was nice overall.  One big flaw (I believe) however
	that kept ruining some of it for me is that it was implied the
	jackpot winners were paid in a single lump sum.  In reality
	however most State jackpots (NY Lotto included, I believe) are
	paid out over 20 years.

	In other words, the $2M the Cop got equals only $100K/year
	before taxes (only $50-66K after taxes).  But the way the
	characters were spending money they would of run out of the
	money from the 1st payment in no time.

	And does the NY lottery really have a harbor cruise for the
	jackpot winners?

	And the cop's wife's lawyers seemed fake, and the trial scene
	was very poorly done that I didn't buy the lawyers or the trial.
602.11SWAM2::SMITH_MAThu Feb 23 1995 12:4912
    I rented this last night, having missed it at the theatre.  On a scale
    of 1 to 10 I give it a weak 3.
    
    It was predictable, boring, insipid, unrealistic in every way.
    
    I didn't think NC and BF had _any_ chemistry at all and this material
    was way below Cage's standards!  I mean the man is brilliant (Raising
    Arizona, and the David Lynch film I can't think of the title for)
    
    Don't waste your time.
    
    MJ
602.12PENUTS::DDESMAISONSCML IAC RTL RALThu Feb 23 1995 13:072
  .11 "Wild At Heart"
602.13SUFRNG::WSA038::SATTERFIELDClose enough for jazz.Wed Jun 07 1995 13:369

I thought this was one of the better romantic comedies in the past couple of
years. Cage and Fonda were quite good in thier roles, Cage playing well against
type. Perez was irritating but she needed to be in the interests of the story.
It helps to keep in mind that the film is framed as a fairy tale.


Randy
602.14HeartwarmingREGENT::WOODWARDI'll put this moment...hereWed Jan 17 1996 12:2714
    I liked this movie alot, except for Rosie Perez.  Her character
    tempted me to hit the fast forward button on the remote.  I couldn't
    deal with her voice. (Her poor husband, stuck with her since High
    School!)
    
    Nicolas Cage (who also impressed me in "moonstruck") played the cop great.
    He has a unique style.  I prefer him over Brad Pitt anyday. 
    
    Bridget Fonda did a great job too.  She's so beautiful, I can't imagine
    why we haven't seen more of her in the movies.
    
    It's a good movie if you're a romantic at heart. 8)
    
    Kath
602.15BUSY::SLABOUNTYDon't like my p_n? 1-800-328-7448Wed Jan 17 1996 12:575
    
    	Yeah, I wouldn't mind seeing ALL of Bridget Fonda in a movie.
    
    	8^)
    
602.16REGENT::WOODWARDI'll put this moment...hereWed Jan 17 1996 13:367
    That's NOT what I meant. I mean, why doesn't she get more exposure in
    movies?  Well, maybe not "exposure" in *that* sense..I mean she should
    have more parts in movies...not those PARTS!  
    
    Forget it.
    
    8)
602.18Bridget did okay, but Rosie ...ZPOVC::GEOFFREYThu Jan 18 1996 04:1513
    One of the things that really spoilt the movie for me was Rosie Perez,
    and the over-the-top portrayal of the wife. As previously mentioned,
    if I could have fast-forwarded every appearance of her on the screen,
    I would have enjoyed the movie much more.
    
    re: BF in the movies ...
    
    She's been in several (IMHO) excellent movies, my favorites being Doc
    Hollywood, Single White Female, and Scandal in that order. Those who
    are interested in less entertaining but more revealing performances
    should be sure to pick up Aria, where she has a non-speaking yet
    memorable performance, with nothing left to the imagination.
    
602.19BUSY::SLABOUNTYDon't like my p_n? 1-800-328-7448Thu Jan 18 1996 09:315
    
    	I saw "Aria" and don't remember it too well.
    
    	Looks like it's time to check it out again.
    
602.20BUSY::SLABOUNTYCatch you later!!Tue Jul 09 1996 11:298
    
    	I finally saw this movie the other night, and loved it.  I
    	was surprised all the way through, never knowing what would
    	happen next.
    
    	And in case anyone cares, the "bum" was played by Isaac
    	Hayes.