AcidQueen

I had been anxious to see Kevin's newest film, "Jersey Girl" for over a year; I was extremely disappointed when Miramax held up the film's release for almost a year after it was completely done. Anyway, the release date did finally come and I went to see it the weekend it came out. I LOVE IT!!! I wondered just how Kevin would pull off this film, since it is completely different than any of his previous films and I have to admit, I wasn't surprised by what a GREAT JOB he did writing and directing his "Jersey Girl". Naturally, as with many films, there were a few places in the film that I thought seemed a little weak; for instance, the development of Afleck/Tyler's relationship, just didn't seem believable to me; however, the relationship which developed between Afleck and the 'jersey girl' was phenominal! As was the relationship between Ollie and his father. I gained a brand new and deserved respect for George Carlin after seeing him in "Jersey Girl". more so than in any of Kevin's other films that he appeared in. One thing that I worried about prior to seeing "Jersey Girl" was whether or not my familarity with the movie's setting and location would keep me from 'getting into the film and characters' like I should. I grew up in Atlantic Highlands,which is the neigboring community to Highlands; I spent as much time in Highlands and knew that community as well as I knew Atlantic Highlands. I went to St Agnes Parocial for grammar school, but transferred to the new regional school built for junior/senior high school students from both Atlantic Highlands and Highlands in 1962 as an 8th grader and graduated just before the famous, "Summer of Love" in June 1967, Henry Hudson Regional School, home of the Admirals. Anyway, my 'fears'about my familarity with the film's setting were non-existent as I watched and enjoyed "Jersey Girl". I found myself becoming 'emotionally involved' with what the characters were going through and any movie that can bring this out in the viewer is not just a 'good movie', it's a GREAT MOVIE! Thank You, Kevin; and yes, Ms Keeler definately would be PROUD!

A production aimed at teens, "Can A Guy Say No?" is just one of the "DeGrassi High" film series from Canada, it touches, as all the shows in the series do, on issues that teenagers face as they 'come of age'. This particular show, starring Steve Antin and Brook Bundy, explores teenage sexuality; using the ideas of peer pressure to to do something, even though you don't feel comfortable about doing something is presented very nicely in the story line. Antin plays a good looking and popular high school boy (about 16-17 years old); he's a good student, has a steady girlfriend and a part time job, who is concerned and upset because he's still a virgin. As the film progresses you understand how much of his insecurities are not coming from within him, but are being planted in his mind by 'his buddies'; all of which are still virgins, also, I want to add. He begins to go through all these 'phases' to prove his masculinity--clothes that he wears, places he goes to, etc; this longing to 'do it' for the first time, leads to his meeting and eventually developing a friendship with the girl nextdoor, who he knows only from the rumors going around, that she's 'easy' and the school harlot.

In getting to know her for 'his' purposes, he ends of learning about her and why she behaves the way she does. As they become good friends, they both actually begin to realize that 'sex' is more than just proving your a man, on his part and not the way to get boys to like you, on her part.

It is a very well done show for teens, market which is sorely lacking on any valuable programming geared for them, on American television.

Although, the performance of the other actors in "Murder In the First" were okay, anyone who's seen this movie will have to agree that Kevin Bacon's performance is what really makes this movie! Bacon portrays the character of 'Henri Young' so well that it becomes difficult to watch the film more than a couple of times, I found; and I love to watch 'good' films over and over. You are just so drawn to the feelings of and what this young man went through, most of which, weren't really his fault or responsibility. After watching this film just a couple of times I so deeply felt 'Henri's pain', I haven't been able to watch it again. It's a 'good' actor that can make you feel this way about the character they're protraying. I am not going to contend that I am much of an afficianado of Kevin Bacon's films; I've only seen a merely handful, but this by far is his best, as far as I'm concern. One of the other review comments suggests that Bacon is what makes this movie and 'holds it together' and I have to admit 'totally agreement' with that; he does! Without his portrayal of 'Henri Young', I don't think this film would of even made it to the video market!