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Victor Khomenko

I didn't let the Cuban boy dominate my weekend. As I mentioned before, I brought home seven Giannini's movies - from the list of about 60 that he made since Swept Sway - admitedly my last visit with him.
It turned out to be mixed bag. The first one - Walking in the Clouds I put back right away. I remember seeing that one some time ago without much excitement. If not for Zorba the Greek, it would be a disaster.
Then - even worse. Mimic. Pile of horse dung with Mira Sorvino not doing even here rather mediocre "best". Why would anyone have to make that sort of trash is beyond me. We watched it for perhaps 20 minutes, and Giancarlo was great, but everything else sucked, so we turned it off.
In that pile there also was The New York Stories - a well known quantity. No comment.
Then came something passable. "Once Upon a Crime". A nice family entertainment with Sean Young not too objectionable, and Giannini as enjoyable as ever. I think I can safely recomment that one for $2 rental.
The rest I didn't finish, because Kristin Scott Thomas entered the picture. Man, what an entry!
I have a weak spot to that classy beauty, much to my wife's consternation. So I try to keep my positive predisposition private. You can't hide things like that from a smart lady, though. She seems to have some way of monitoring the blood tostesterone level, and 100% reliably... As soon as Kristin enters the screen, my wife goes: "Aha!".
She was perhaps the greatest in that incredible black and white evening dress in the trashy Bitter Moon. Few unremarkable films in between, and now - Random Hearts. Thank you, Ms. Thomas.
It is based on a completely lame novel - the one of the supermarket counter romance trash type. No, I have not read it, but I think it speaks for itself. The story line is idiotic and characters flat. Something no one besides young suburban idle housewives would ever read, I presume.
Sydney Pollack didn't have to make this movie. He is NOT one of great directors, but he had done OK. Besides, he always managed to earn his keep by doing small side roles in other director's movies - I guess he plays golf with them, so they feel obligated.
He puts one of my favorite American masters of fine acting - Harrison Ford, in charge of creating another shlock piece ready for prime time television. Ford is as wooden as ever, and nearly pulls it off. Except... except they both had underestimated Kristin.
She makes this lame piece watchable and enjoyable. Never mind Ford, other plywood cutouts, they all don't matter. It is her movie and she single-handedly rivets your attention. The material is awful, but that doesn't matter. She simply plays a woman, she acts like a woman, she is true and honest. She is unbelievable.
No matter what idiotic scene the director throws at her, she excells. Take that incredibly foolish one in a car, one straight from the 13-years old adolescent fantasies. She simply sails through it with not sign of strain. She makes the scene believable. And trust me on this one - that takes talent.
I watched that movie two times. What defines great acress? Being true is of paramount importance. Not trying for some cheap impressive effects. Kristin is as true as it gets. I think she has a very solid foundation in place, a bit more and she will become a true star. Not Hollywood star, I hope.
The move? Perhaps recommended, if you like the actress. She is definitely one of the better ones today.
Ford? He didn't matter much. He is as unable of playing any emotions or feelings as the worst in Hollywood. That hardly matters - it is HER movie.

Films/DVD Asylum

Giancarlo Giannini vs. Ms. Thomas