Grand Canyon

Rating:
Summary: An Insightful Commentary on Life from Lawrence Kasdan
Review: Early in this film one of the characters makes the observation that half of the people in the city of Los Angeles (in which the story is set) live every day on the verge of hysteria. It is further noted that the other half ARE hysterical, and the predominant aspect of their lives is attempting to control their constant fear; fear generated entirely by the very nature of their environment, and just the way things "are." It's a thought provoking concept of life in the '90s and beyond, and of a world in which babies are abandoned, people live in boxes on the street and the guy with the gun is in charge. And as another character so succinctly points out, "This isn't the way the world is supposed to work--" All of which and more is considered by director Lawrence Kasdan in his evocative drama "Grand Canyon," starring Danny Glover, Kevin Kline and Mary McDonnell. It's a contemplation of the kind of world in which we are forced to live, the huge gaps and voids it creates in our lives, and the decisions and choices we make in an effort to fill the crevasses it all forms in our souls. This is more than just a film, it's a statement; a reflection upon what it takes for millions of people from all walks of life to get out of bed every morning and face the day. And for those who care enough and are bold enough to look deeply into Kasdan's eyes, there's a message to be found here, and a powerful one it is.

In the song "Johnny 99," Bruce Springsteen sings about a part of town where "When you hit a red light you don't stop," and when Mack (Kline) leaves a Laker's game at the Forum and decides to try a short cut to avoid traffic, it is precisely in "that" part of town that his car gives up the ghost. His cell phone is dead, but he manages to find a phone booth and call for road service. But just as he gets back to his car, he becomes the target of a gang of armed young hoodlums out for an easy score or possibly more. And when things are looking about as bad as they can for Mack, the tow truck arrives, and out steps a man named Simon (Glover), who thankfully knows a thing or two about negotiating with gang members; after all, this is his turf-- where he lives and makes his living. Simon takes Mack out of harms way, and it is at that auspicious moment that a convergence of two heretofore divergent worlds occurs.

Mack is an immigration lawyer who lives and works within the environs of the Miracle Mile; Simon is a part of the town in Springsteen's song. Two individuals from different worlds whom fate brings together for a split second; and It's a moment that is destined to change both their lives forever, and like ripples issuing from a stone dropped into a pond, it is soon going to touch and make a difference in many other lives, as well. Mack and Simon are about to learn a few things from one another, the most important of which may be found in Simon's perspective of the human race, and the significance of "people" when compared to one of Eternity's masterworks, the Grand Canyon.

Lawrence Kasdan and Meg Kasdan wrote the screenplay for this film, from which Mr. Kasdan proceeds to deliver one of his finest cinematic offerings. As previously stated, this is more than a film; it's a contemplation of who we are and what we have become as a species during our time upon this planet, and where it's all taken us. And under Kasdan's steady guidance and insightful gaze, it is truly riveting drama that works especially well because there is something in it to which everyone will be able to identify or relate. Certainly it will strike a deeper chord with those who live or have spent time in a large metropolitan area; the situations in this film will resonate much more for someone who has lived in L.A., as opposed to those born and raised in Independence, Oregon, for example. But all will find a connection with the human issues Kasdan so incisively examines, because they are universal in nature. Quite simply, Kasdan hits a perfect pitch here. This is emotionally involving drama from beginning to end, aided in no small part by the mesmerizing score by Bill Conti and James Newton Howard that serves as a veritable pulse for the entire film.

The outstanding ensemble cast matches Kasdan's excellence with a number of unforgettable performances, beginning with Kline and Glover. Kline gives the kind of performance we've come to expect from him, which is to say convincing, believable and entirely credible. He explores all of the nooks and crannies of his character and concisely expresses all that he finds there. Glover, too, hits his stride perfectly, making Simon genuine and real by finding his character's center and effectively maintaining his focus on it.

It is Mary McDonnell, however, who nearly steals the show with her portrayal of Claire, Mack's wife. This is an extremely complex character, and McDonnell manages to thoroughly examine all of her myriad emotional levels and express them convincingly. This is a woman at a most fragile time of her life, with the concerns of being a loving, devoted wife in conflict with her more maternal nature; coping with the sense of loss associated with the fact that her only child, Roberto (Jeremy Sisto) is fifteen and growing up too fast, and seeking to satisfy her need to nurture. In Claire, McDonnell creates a woman with an absolute aura of beauty about her; it's a brilliant performance that is the very heart of the film.

And finally, Steve Martin (Davis), Mary-Louise Parker (Dee) and Alfre Woodard (Jane) take "Grand Canyon" to the zenith of cinematic accomplishment.

Rating:
Summary: A must! Movies like this can change your viewpoint in life
Review: The first time I found this movie standing on the shelf of a videostore, I thought the cast was breathtaking... I knew Mr. Lawrence Kasdan for his work in "The Empire Strikes Back" and "The Return of the Jedi", but that was about it.

The first 3 minutes sequence, really grabbed me. The music, photography, the subtle message, the edition... Instantly, I knew this was a piece of art... After watching it whole, I couldn't do anything else but to watch it again, sometimes while I worked at the computer... just letting the dialogues sink in.

The power of this film on anyone with an open mind, can be overwhelming. It's not a pretentious movie,it's a realistic one. I have placed it in the top 10 movies I've ever seen, and as a screenwriter on his beginnings, believe me, I've seen a lot... this one is unique. All the performances as well really stand out.

Rating:
Summary: high mileage!
Review: The VHS tape I had forwarded to a friend was faded with use (she said.) Certainly not a commentary on this remarkable movie but a caution on the original sourcing of this tape.

Rating:
Summary: pretty good, muddled at times
Review: I like movies where several seemingly-unrelated characters are drawn together through the small things that happen in life. This movie is one of those, but at times it stretched overlong and became a bit muddled.

Kevin Kline is Mack, an LA yuppie who is married with a 17-year-old son, Roberto. One night, his car breaks down in Brentwood, a predominantly African-American neighborhood, and as he waits for AAA, a gang approaches his car with a gun. Danny Glover is the AAA man who arrives, and defuses the situation with the gun-toting youths. He says to the boy "It shouldn't be this way. I should be able to do my job, tow this car, without this happening."

Kline is grateful and wants to befriend Simon (Glover.) H ehas recently had a one-night stand with Claire, his assistant. His wife goes jogging and finds an abandoned baby. Roberto goes to camp to be a counselor. Simon's sister, nephew and neice are threatened by gangs. And Steve Martin, director of violent films, has an epiphany when he experiences violence himself.

It was a bit disjointed and there were a few too many characters. I liked when Mack introduces Simon to Jane and they start falling in love. It's sweet. Of course, Alfre Woodard is a favorite of mine so I may be a bit biased.

Other than that, I found myself not really caring about yuppies in LA learning they are shallow.

Rating:
Summary: Coming to the edge 10 years later
Review: Ten years ago when GRAND CANYON was released many people snickered at a movie so overblown with making the world (read Los Angeles) seem so seemingly cruel and unjust. Some of us found the movie poignant and apocalyptic, but I think the press barred the public from taking the movie seriously. Well, here we are ten years laater watching this well crafted movie, surrounded by even more cosmic madness than ever before. A lot of contemporary prophecy films such as this need to be more widely viewed if we as a culture, as a world, are to survive. Living in this tenuous time where most fingers are on triggers, whether they be personal guns or national weapons, private or public disasters, or just on the thin strings that contain sanity - now more than ever we can benefit from films such as this. Caring, finding solace in acts of kindness shared at times of direst need, and yes, even putting it all in perspective by returning to the natural positive phenomena such as the Grand Canyon seems like our only reliable way of making it. This Kasdan film has more fine performances (Kevin Klein, Mary McDonnell, Alfre Woodward, Danny Golover, Jeremy Sisto, etc etc etc) and drives relentlessly to a final ending of such beauty that even ten years later we can only say "Thank you " to Kasdan and crew.

Rating:
Summary: A must! Movies like this can change your viewpoint in life
Review: The first time I found this movie standing on the shelf of a videostore, I thought the cast was breathtaking... I knew Mr. Lawrence Kasdan for his work in "The Empire Strikes Back" and "The Return of the Jedi", but that was about it.

The first 3 minutes sequence, really grabbed me. The music, photography, the subtle message, the edition... Instantly, I knew this was a piece of art... After watching it whole, I couldn't do anything else but to watch it again, sometimes while I worked at the computer... just letting the dialogues sink in.

The power of this film on anyone with an open mind, can be overwhelming. It's not a pretentious movie,it's a realistic one. I have placed it in the top 10 movies I've ever seen, and as a screenwriter on his beginnings, believe me, I've seen a lot... this one is unique. All the performances as well really stand out.

Rating:
Summary: This is a film
Review: This is a movie about life, plain and simple. I saw this dvd on sale for $$$$ at my local best buy, so i thought i would give it a shot........from the first scene where Mack is on the verge of getting held up i was totally hooked - the whole movie was breath-taking , I have never seen a film quite like it, i know alot of people try to compare it to magnolia but i think that's ridiculous.....this film deserves to be recognized for what it is, a story about life and the fact that everybody is a little peon on this planet, but each and everyone of us dictates each others lives in a significant way when we are not even aware of it. I'm tired of reading negative reviews from this tree-hugging hippy new york times junkies, please watch this movie for yourself to form your own opinion rather than basing it on a media outlet. This film will resonate w/ you, it's not your typical friday night rental, it is the type of film that will be in the back of your mind right after you watched it.........

Rating:
Summary: Faith, God, Life and everything in between...
Review: This is a great place to begin a journey of thinking...when this world is so big, is God really interested in my every day life? A great film that depicts intertwined stories (like the brilliant "Magnolia" but less gracefully executed) and people's trials and hard times along the bumpy road of life. See it, breath it and think hard...it may make you doubt what you believe, but whatever it does, hopefully, it will make you a better person in the end.

Rating:
Summary: A little silly and quite pretentious
Review: I see what the director was aiming for, but the execution is so poor and the script so humorless that the project becomes a jacknifing trainwreck. Steve Martin, trying to be serious in his white beard, is particularly awful. I laughed myself off my seat.

Rating:
Summary: A terrible movie all around
Review: The acting: grim.

The storyline: sad.

The characters: disgusting.

In short, there was nothing anyone could possibly like about this movie. The moral of the story is no matter how many well respected actors appear in a movie, it cannot save it from bad writing and direction.