FilmJerk Favorites

A group of unique directors and the essential works that you've got to see.

||| Joseph L. Mankiewicz |||
Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Mankiewicz directed 20 films in a 26-year period, and was very successful at every kind of film, from Shakespeare to western, drama to musical, epics to two-character pictures, and regardless of the genre, he was known as a witty dialogist, a master in the use of flashback and a talented actors' director.

The 1950 Oscar for Best Picture and Screenplay brought Mankiewicz wide recognition as a writer and a director, with his sardonic look at show business glamour and the empty lives behind it. This well orchestrated cast of brilliant and catty character actors is built around veteran actress Bette Davis and Anne Baxter as her understudy desperate for stardom.

One of Mankiewicz’ more intimate films, this highly regarded and major artistic achievement is a spirited romantic comedy set in England of the 1880’s about a widow who moves into a haunted seashore house and resists the attempts of a sea captain specter to scare her away. This is a pleasing and poignant romance that is equally satisfying as a good old ghost story.

Mankiewicz wrote and directed this witty dissection of matrimony that has three women review the ups and downs of their marriages (with all its romance, fears and foibles) after receiving a letter telling them that one of their husbands has been unfaithful. Once again Mankiewicz deftly utilizes the skills of a well-chosen ensemble, which includes a young Kirk Douglas at his dreamiest.

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Undisputed

By EthanMonroe

August 23rd, 2002

Ah, boxing. One of the greatest sports ever invented. Not really, invented. It's pretty much fighting with rules. One guy beats the shit out of the other guy. It's a pure ass-kicking session. In movies, we have to endure sub-plots like "romance" and "racial sterotypes". But the hero always overcomes.


When I first saw the preview for "Undisputed," I thought it was a really cool idea. The undisputed champion on the outside butts heads with the champ on the inside. I'm a fan of Ving Rhames, even though I firmly believe that Wesley Snipes cannot act. Then came the release delays. For anyone familiar with what this means for a movie, let me point to you the horrors of "Texas Rangers," "Impostor," "Deuces Wild" and "The Adventures Of Pluto Nash." I still shudder whenever someone mentions "Texas Rangers."

I don't know what made me choose this film over "Simone." I don't think I can ever forgive myself for it. Maybe I wanted to see a good movie, maybe I wanted to see a serious ass-kicking. Whatever I was looking for, I didn't find.

What makes this movie so awful is how quickly, and half-assed, everything is done. Our two main characters, Monroe (Wesley Snipes) and Iceman (Ving Rhames) are stereotyped right down to the bone. Monroe's character is the quiet bad ass. The one that everyone respects, and constantly ends up in solitary. And of course, he has nothing to lose because he's in for life, without parole. Iceman, however, is a new entry with his appeal still in courts. The heavyweight champion of the outside world is getting charges pressed against him for, you guessed it, rape. Is that the only thing boxers can do? Beat the shit out of people and rape women?

Eventually, the idea crosses someones mind that they should fight. So, it gets arranged through a series of corrupt and forgettable characters, including one played by Peter Falk and another by Jon Seda. Then finally, we get to see some serious action. Monroe is the obvious favorite. All the prisoners cheer him on. But who wins?

It doesn't matter anyway. They both get what they want in the end anyway. It's a very "feel-good" ending. You can choose either character you want to win, and they'll win. Each in their own way. However, I was incredibly pissed off by this concept. Enough with the feel good crap. These are two criminals, let one of them get a serious ass-whooping and feel humiliated. Don't send him away with the golden ticket! Beat the shit out of him! Damn!

Apparently, the writer of this film had seen Wesley acting in previous films, and decided to give his character as little dialogue as possible. Whenever he does talk, it's usually very brief. Most of the time, we find him giving a Keanu Reeves stare. The kind of stare that's supposed to be menacing, but makes you laugh at the same time. Ving on the other hand, was chosen because he looks like he could kick the crap out of you. He spends most of the time showing us what massive muscles he's got and punching shit. The director is clearly showing you that Ving is the front runner for this fight.

I hate having my films fed to me. I like to not know what's right around the corner, but I saw the ending coming a mile away. Poor setup, horrible execution. The acting wasn't much better either. If I was a teacher, and this was presented to me, I would send it back telling the student that he should spend more time on his work. "Undisputed" isn't just bad, it's direct-to-video.

My rating: D-