Film Forum

Episode Recap

Episode 3, Summer 2005

July 26, 2005

Films Reviewed: Must Love Dogs and Dark Water

Commentary: The works of John Cusack

Featurette: Behind the scenes of Dark Water

Regarding Must Love Dogs:

Matt: This movie is a tad too short.  No, scratch that.  This movie is flat out too short.  Gary David Goldberg takes Claire Cook's novel and introduces us to some wonderful characters that I felt we hardly got to know at all.  Each member of the supporting cast could have headlined their own film and it would have been great.  But I was very glad I got to see this romantic comedy.  Three stars.

Aron: Well, I loved this romantic comedy a lot!  John Cusack and Diane Lane made a great couple of forty-somethings trying to struggle with life post break up.  And the supporting cast (including Christopher Plummer, Stockard Channing, Elizabeth Perkins, Dermot Mulroney and some really cute dogs) were all fantastic.  It really turned the film into an ensemble piece and it's a perfect date movie.  Four stars!!!

Average Rating: ***1/2 (out of ****)

Regarding Dark Water:

Aron: It's another remake of a Japanese horror film.  And, if you take elements from The Ring and The Grudge, then you have Dark Water.  It's okay, but you've seen it before.  Two stars.

Matt: Okay, I admit it.  I am not crazy about Japanese horror films.  And I am even less crazy about American remakes of Japanese horror films.  Despite the casting of Jennifer Connelly, this film is just flat out boring and not scary.  One star.

Average Rating: *1/2 (out of ****)

Commentary: From teenagers to government employees to record store owners and assassins who attend high school reunions, there isn't much John Cusack hasn't done on the big screen.  Aron and Matt took a look at some of their favorites of his work. 

Featurette:Behind the scenes of Dark Water, starring Jennifer Connelly