This is topic Harvard Man in forum Film Handlers' Movie Reviews at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000351
Posted by Mike Schindler (Member # 1309) on 07-13-2002, 07:06 PM:
I had been looking forward to this movie for, like, 2 years, but I never thought I'd actually get to see it. I had heard that it was released in France about a year ago, and that it was going straight to video in America later this year. So on Thursday night, I was flipping through the local paper looking at this week's movie listings, and there it was. "HARVARD MAN. Exclusive engagement starts Friday." Upon seeing this, I said, "Holy Shit!" And then I stood up and did a little dance.My point is that I had high expectations for this film. It didn't live up to those, but it was still a good movie. James Toback is dealing with a lot of the same issues that he touched on in BLACK AND WHITE, but here they are developed a lot further, and are much more focused.
Speaking of focus, this is something which the image that I saw projected today was out of. Nor did it have proper framing. It was also a scope movie on a screen which was about ten feet in width (which is really funny when you think about how the auditorium next door was playing a 70mm print of PATTON) But none of this has anything to do with the actual movie, so I apologize.
The performances in this film were very good. I was especially pleased to see America's most under-used and under-appreciated actress, Joey Lauren Adams. She was very good. But so was everyone else. Even Rebecca Gayheart.
The one problem which I had with the film was the editing. There are a lot of jump cuts which seem to serve no purpose other than to be cool, and the visual style of the film is too conservative to make them work. But after the inital annoyance, they can be overlooked.
On the whole, I liked this movie a lot. If you like Toback's other work, or if you have a thing for Buffy, I think you'll enjoy it.
Posted by Michael Barry (Member # 237) on 07-14-2002, 12:23 AM:
Thanks for the heads up, Mike. I will see this when it comes out. I must add, however, that I thought that a previous Toback outing called 2 GUYS AND A GIRL was directionless, shapeless and formless. Other than that, it went nowhere.Even though I saw it for free, I pulled the plug after reel 3 (one of the advantages of screening 2000ft reels on a changeover setup!)
Also, do you think it is possible NOT to be a Buffy fan? (Hi, John!)! 
Posted by Mike Schindler (Member # 1309) on 07-14-2002, 12:43 AM:
I loved TWO GIRLS AND A GUY! All three of those performances were amazing. Robert Downey, Jr. should've won the Oscar that year. The one problem I have with that movie (and it's a big one) is that the ending has pretty much nothing to do with the rest of the film.And no, I don't think it's possible not to be a Buffy fan. 
Posted by Michael Barry (Member # 237) on 07-14-2002, 12:54 AM:
OK, maybe I should give it a second look. Of course, it helps if I get the name of the movie right!
Posted by Mike Schindler (Member # 1309) on 07-14-2002, 01:33 AM:
Just make sure you get the X-rated director's cut with the additional 7 seconds of "clothed but graphic sex."