Mulholland Falls

While "Mulholland Falls" completely nails the atmosphere and tone it attempts to achieve, it also suffers from a slight pacing issue and some miscast actors. This is one of the few times that I didn't feel like Malkovich was cutting it, and Chris Penn--well I don't think he's ever been well cast. Still, movies like this are rare, and this one hits a niche spot that is difficult to satisfy elsewhere.

I think there's a solid hook between its conflict of lower level law enforcement being pitted against much stronger political forces but they handle this in the most lame way possible. Not much is given to the actual motivation of the crime and we're just given the culprit in the most bombastically obvious way by the end with no clue leading to him? On some level I dig it fully embracing the neo-noir vibe but at times I couldn't help but roll my eyes at how "Hollywood" the dialog was.

I really liked this movie despite it's clear limitations. Good cast, solid mystery, some neat little moments.

More fun than I expected, even if I guessed about the cause of death from the start. The rest goes in interesting directions still

Crazy shit

In many ways this feels like it really gets some of the nihilism inherent in detective noirs, full of winding ultimately unfulfilling roads with hard boiled self absorbed characters. I really enjoyed that aspect. This kind of story is really helped by having big scene stealing actors, who give the script and story an extra dimension, but Malkovich is the only cast member capable of that, and he doesn't get much to do.

This should be great, with the noir style, somewhat interesting story, and pretty good cast, but everything falls flat. I think the blame probably lies with the director but the writing isn't very good either.

Sub De Palma junk that desperately wanted to be Chinatown

5- worth experiencing, alright

I wanted to like this movie, but aside from the small doses of Jennifer Connelly nothing really works (well I guess Melanie Griffith is ok). It tries so desperately to conjure up the past sentiments of Chinatown and other Noir/Neo-Noir films, but in the end its a nice effort that just doesn't add up. With better directing and a more involving screenplay I guess all the pieces could have come together, but in its present form it just feels like everyone is simply going through the motions.

Style over substance. It could have been pretty good.

Great cast, decent story and mediocre directing.

Coudl've used that extra oomph, a quality for which this lovable genre is known for and Tamahori's heavy handed grasp of some scenes fuel the film's unexploited potential. I was nonetheless intrigued by the investigation aspect and the assembled cast is pretty amazing. Just give it some time to get going, and you shouldn't be that disappointed.

#90s#, story, (casting)

i would like to have seen more of Jennifer Connelly.

Been awhile

A movie which just sort of failed for me. I wanted to like it, I really did, but was never able to make the leap. A disappointment, really.

uneven film looks good and has some solid acting

Very strange, I didn't really understand the movie.