A movie article by Jeffery Sanders
Copyright © 1999 Jeffery Sanders

Here's a look at some of the feedback I've received from some of my Articles and reviews. Remember, I love to get feedback, both positive and negative.

Hey Jeff,

I read your "Academy of Idiots" article. I agree with most everything you said. Obviously, The Truman Show "took it up the tailpipe" the hardest! I have lost all respect for the academy for that fact alone. They overlooked the best film and best acting performance of the year, perhaps the decade. Just a couple other points, where was "Out of Sight?" The film was phenomenal! Clooney and Lopez give two of the best performances of the year! A screenplay nom just doesn't do that movie justice.Two other films that got shut out and should have been recognized in some way were "The Spanish Prisoner" and "Zero Effect." Damn short term memory academy. Open your film in the first three months of the year, forget about the Oscars (i.e. Donnie Brasco last year).I agree that Elizabeth, The Thin Red Line, and Life is Beautiful are wasted, throw away nominations. They don't stand a chance. Also, did you notice that only two time periods (WW II and Elizabethan England) are represented in the best picture nominees. What, modern day isn't good enough any more?There's my opinion on the snubs. Now, perhaps the worst nomination that did happen was Tom Hanks. Was I the only person in the world that recognized that that film had NO story and even less character development? It had a point to make and it made it well. But screenplay? Best actor? Give me a break! Tom Hanks (Mr. I'm in bed with the academy) steals a spot from the two best performances of the year (Carrey and Clooney) because Carrey is, by reputation, too silly, and Clooney is a TV actor who played a bad Batman! Thank God Edward Norton got nominated! Screw the Academy!

-Don Salami (Sam Salamone)

Well, Don Salami, I have to say you being up some good points. I loved Out of Sight, and the more I see it the better it is, but I never expected it to get many nominations. It’s just not that sort of film. But, had the film performed better at the box-office (it grossed a mediocre $33M) there’s no way it wouldn’t be up for many Oscars. Although, surely, Lopez and Clooney deserved nods. I though Tom Hanks performance did the job, but it’s just not an impressive enough performance to earn a nomination. I am also glad Norton got nominated as I though his great turn in American History X (a great flick) would be overlooked. Still, I suppose I’ll have to watch the award just to see how badly the Academy screws up.

How could you put The Big Lebowski in your top twenty films of 98. It blew chunks!!! It wasn’t about ANYTHING! It was just stupid.

-Mina N.

To me, not being about anything was The Big Lebowski’s charm. The performances were flawless and the humor was wonderfully offbeat- at least to me. It’s definitely a love or hate film. And while you hate it, I love it.

Hello! I just watch the movie " Snake eyes " and I wonder what is themeaning of " Snake eyes ". I think that you can explain this to me. Thanks.

-Chingchai U.

Snake Eyes is a gambling turn. When you roll the dice in craps and you come up "Snake Eyes", it means you rolled two 1s. To roll Snake Eyes has become a idiom meaning to come up unlucky. Hope that answered your question.

I didn’t understand Shakespeare In Love. Was that actually Shakespeare.

-Steven Joe

Ummmmm….. Next question?

I just saw She’s All That. Why was Sarah Michelle Gellar an extra in the cafeteria scene. She didn’t even say a word.

-Reverend Schnookums

First off, interesting name. I am actually not sure why but the best explanation I can come up with is that they filmed She’s All That on the same set as (my fave show) Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I guess she decided to help out her I Know What You Did Last Summer co-star by making a word-less cameo in his first film with him in the lead. Did it help the film? The box-office reports speak for themselves. Here’s a related question…

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the 1992 movie with Kirstie Swanson sucked. Is the TV show good?

-Layne Meyers

I agree that the movie sucked. It was kinda fun, in an incredibly campy way. However the show is everything the movie wasn’t. Smart, funny, sexy, and topical- yes it’s a teen vampire show. I can’t tell you how much of an awesome show it is so check it out. It is also available for rent on video. I love Buffy, and so will most people who give it an honest try. In fact, Entertainment Weekly called it the BEST show on TV.

Hey Jeff. Don’t you hate Jeffrey Wells. He’s a "writer" who does atrocious columns at www.mrshowbiz.com. He is so self absorbed and bitchy. He does not know what he’s talking about.

-Caitlin Zeeman

I don’t really want to go into how much I hate the man’s opinions. He is a good writer but he annoys me very, very much with his awfully cynical views and his mean-spirited columns. It truly disgust me when the man goes on about how a celebrity has gotten fat jowls as of late. It’s grotesquely superficial. But I digress. Some people must like him, and so I respect him for having views and opinions at all.

Hey Jeff! I am throwing a party and I need to know what movies would be good to rent. I’m 16 years old and I want some movies that’ll keep my guests interested and happy.

-Jacob Pinsky

I have thrown many video parties and I realize that there are certain things a good party flick needs.
A) Laughs- when people laugh together at a movie it creates a real sense of fun and togetherness.
B) Simple Plot- nothing too complicated or guests who missed a bit getting something to eat will get confused.
C) Fast Pace- keeps things fresh. Never, ever get a slow movie no matter how good it is for a party. It just doesn’t work. My personal pic for a party video would be the Sam Raimi classic Evil Dead 2, which has lots of laughs, lots of gore and no plot at all. Other faves include Airplane, BASEketball, Austin Powers, Scream, Gremlins 2, Mousehunt, Blade, or True Lies. Oh, and Jacob… Can I come?

That’s it for this installment of Ask Mr. Sanders. But they’ll be another one for sure! As long as I get mail people will be Asking Mr. Sanders.

Got a question for Mr. Sanders? E-mail him at
Jeffery Sanders @ Movie-Page.Com