Word: detracted
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...Unfortunately, the plot and screenplay detract from the film's artistic merit. James Schamus' screenplay might reflect the language of the Civil War, yet the dialogue is entirely self-important and melodrama destroys any stake the viewer might have in the plot. Lee wishes to establish the North as a human presence, so Roedel reads some found union letters to the camp. Similarly, Lee has Roedel and Chiles talk under the stars to emphasize the characters' brotherhood...
...wishes to "get through the humanity of all involved" in his novel, Lee's Ride With the Devil is merely a mockery of human relationships. Maguire's Jimmy Stewart-like treatment of his character, the unexplored dramatic richness of Holt's story and Jewel's shaky on-screen image detract from Lee's normally rich character development. Lee fails in Ride With the Devil. The film is not poorly conceived, but his past films and demonstrated talent grant occasion to expect more from him. This time, Lee tries too hard bridge the gap between the subtlety and serious nature...
...heart and goes to Barcelona in search of Esteban's father, a transvestite originally an Esteban himself but now Lola the Pioneer. The depiction of one train moving forward and another train moving backward, when coupled with Manuela's voice-over of the history and purpose for her journey detract from Almodvar's intention that the scene serve as a point of transition and departure. In an almost music-video-like sequence, a distraught Manuela peruses the local transvestite meat market. She does not find Lola, but she does come upon La Agrado (Antonia San Juan), or the agreeable...
...rock and roll, it's the first lesson and Dave Grohl learned it well. Just to get it out of the way early, yes, Grohl cut his teeth in some other big famous Seattle band before the Foo Fighters. Unfortunately, Grohl's celebrated lineage has always seemed to detract from his talents rather than advance them. With the first Foos' album, the world was waiting to see how many Kurt Cobain references they could find in his songs (regardless of the fact that much of the album was written pre-suicide). With the second, The Colour and the Shape, there...
...their all-too-human indulgence in the pleasures of civilized life--grapes in the winter, lapdances and such. But this is not to say that Egan's role was carried on the shoulders of another. Throughout the play, Egan remains the most believable. In spite of the attempt to detract from the religious overtones, it would be difficult to not symphatize with Dr. Faustus in his final attempt for redemption. Here, director McClelland '02 divvied up Faustus's last soliloquy to the cast who in some literal and figurative sense stole Fautus's final plea for God. Equally appropriate...