Word: charming
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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Reza, from early childhood, felt guilty for the pain his condition caused the family. He tried to compensate by becoming a totally undemanding, problem- $ free child, and to disarm potential tormentors with charm -- or stoicism when, as often happened, they persisted in their cruelty. "He's never cranky," says Giancalo Chersich, a classmate and friend of Reza's from early childhood...
...while Charles Dance plays his part with characteristic woodenness and lack of charm, Kingsley provides proof of his versatility as an actor. His expressive face finds interesting contortions in this film as he runs the gamut of feelings--anger, fear, anguish and love being the chief ones. At times manipulative and at times manipulated, Pascali is always convincing. Kingsley's perfomrance is so good, in fact, that one can almost forgive him for the lousy script and blatant prejudice. But almost isn't good enough...
...Brits have guts. They do things Americans wouldn't do, like taking a picture off a mantelpiece when there's been a death in the family." But Hogan defends his kind: "Listen, mate. When a world-class story in Monaco erupts, the Brits will still be sent. They charm the pants off people with their velvety lilts...
...moral here, it is lost in the film's desperate dash to ingratiate. As Cruise says at Cocktail's climax, "I tried to sell out to you, but I couldn't close the deal." He should know you can't sell star quality, but you can sell it out. Charm is the wrapper, not the package. And Cocktail is a bottle of rotgut in a Dom Perignon...
Since the project was founded five years ago, 252 Giraffes have been named, and each has been sent a certificate commending the "courageous actions." Apart from whatever publicity the couple can drum up, that's it. No foundation bequest. No fancy banquet. Its charm lies in its simplicity...