Word: contrivedness
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That moral and symbolic victory was achieved in the face of seemingly insuperable odds. The shocking, still unsolved assassination of Opposition Leader Benigno ("Ninoy") Aquino Jr. in Manila last August awoke almost overnight a vigorous and vociferous opposition to Marcos' government. When Marcos refused to meet demands to guarantee...
Chris Cain's The Stone Boy, a touching--if somewhat contrived view of a small town Montana family struck by tragedy--is unmistakably an ideological throwback to Ordinary People. Both films present pictures of ostensibly cohesive, happy families; both revolve around the same tragic insident--the accidental death of an...
Additionally, though Arnold's initial unwillingness to communicate to anyone but his wise old grandfather (Wilford Brimley) is ostensibly the central issue of the film, partially developed side-plots frequently creep in. The exploits and marital problems of Arnold's uncle Andy, for example, occupy a significant part of the...
The reader experiences short gusts of incredulity only when the children of the novel discuss Greek politics with an alertness and a willing acceptance of facts not found in most adults. One can't know whether Greek children of this time were much different from American children now, but their...
EQUALLY PROBLEMATIC is the film's notable lack of character development. Most of the characters are one dimensional, performing gratuitous actions without motivation. Why Mike chooses, for example, to play white slave to a decadent Black homosexual remains a mystery, as does most of his entire background. Similarly, though we...