CHLOE GRACE MORETZ EDDIE REDMAYNE BLAKE LIVELY
LULI (MORETZ) HAS JUST TURNED THIRTEEN AND IS FED UP WITH HER ALCOHOLIC PARENTS SO SHE DECIDES TO, AFTER SEEING A COMMERCIAL ON TELEVISION, RUN AWAY TO LAS VEGAS. ALONG THE WAY SHE RUNS INTO EDDIE (REDMAYNE) AN EX RODEO COWBOY WHO HAS BECOME A SMALL TIME CRIMINAL, AND GLENDA (LIVELY) A GRIFTER WHO HAPPENS TO LIKE LULI AND DECIDES TO WATCH OVER HER. ALSO, THERE IS A HISTORY BETWEEN EDDIE AND GLENDA.
ESSENTIALLY, THIS IS A COMING OF AGE ROAD MOVIE. LULI GETS EXPOSED TO THINGS THAT NO THIRTEEN YEAR OLD SHOULD BE, SHE MAKES BAD CHOICES FOR HERSELF AND EVENTUALLY COMMITS AN ACT THAT MAY BOTHER HER THE REST OF HER LIFE.
EDDIE IS A TRUE SLIME BALL. YOU KNOW HE CAN'T BE TRUSTED FROM THE FIRST TIME YOU SEE HIM, AND HE PROVES IT AGAIN AND AGAIN THROUGHOUT THE MOVIE.
GLENDA IS ALL FOR HERSELF AND NOBODY ELSE. SHE ONLY PICKS UP LULI BECAUSE SHE KNOWS SHE CAN USE HER, WHICH SHE DOES TO ROB A STORE, AND THEN LEAVES LULI TO GET BY ON HER OWN.
LIVELY AND REDMAYNE DO A VERY GOOD JOB WITH THEIR CHARACTERS, BUT ONCE AGAIN IT'S MORETZ WHO SHOWS US JUST HOW GOOD AN ACTOR SHE IS. SHE IS GOING TO HAVE MANY AWARDS IN HER FUTURE.
RATING 3 out of 5
Monday, October 22, 2012
MOTHER'S DAY
REBECCA DE MORNAY JAIME KING FRANK GRILLO PATRICK FLUEGER
BETH AND DANIEL (KING AND GRILLO) HAVE JUST BOUGHT A FORE CLOSED HOUSE THAT ONCE BELONGED TO THE KOFFINS: MOM NATALIE (DE MORNAY) AND HER FOUR CHILDREN, THE OLDEST BEING IKE (FLUEGER.) THE BOYS DON'T KNOW THAT THEIR MOM HAS LOST THE HOUSE, AND WHEN ONE OF THEM GETS SHOT DURING A BANK ROBBERY, THEY HEAD HOME, ONLY TO DISCOVER THE NEW OWNERS AND THEIR FRIENDS HAVING A PARTY. NEEDING MONEY, WHEN NATALIE SHOWS UP, THE KOFFINS DECIDE TO STEAL FROM THE PARTY GUESTS AND THROW IN A LITTLE TORTURE ALONG THE WAY.
THIS IS A VERY BRUTAL, VIOLENT AND OFTENTIMES STRANGELY DISTURBING MOVIE. THE THREE KOFFIN BOYS WANT ACTION AND ARE READY TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET THAT; THEIR SISTER, THE YOUNGEST OF THE CHILDREN, IS QUIET YET CAN BE JUST AS BRUTAL AS HER BROTHERS WHEN NEEDED; ALL THE CHILDREN WORSHIP THEIR MOTHER, WHO IS THE TRUE PSYCHOPATH, SHE WILL SHOW YOU KINDNESS AND SYMPATHY BUT THEN TURN RIGHT AROUND AND SLIT YOUR THROAT.
I FOUND ALL THE ACTING TO BE GOOD. EACH OF THE CHARACTERS GETS THEIR SCREEN TIME, AND THEIR INTERACTIONS SEEM TO BE TRUE AND HONEST. HOWEVER, THE STANDOUT HERE IS DE MORNAY: WHILE THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT NATALIE TO LIKE, DE MORNAY HAS BEEN ABLE TO CREATE A CHARACTER WE BOTH LIKE AND HATE, A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO DO.
AS WITH THE ACTING, THE DIRECTION IS ALSO DONE WELL. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE AND MANY THINGS GOING ON, AND THE DIRECTOR KEEPS IT ALL CLEAR, TO THE POINT AND GOING AT A GOOD PACE. IT IS ALMOST AS IF THE MOVIE IS PLAYING OUT IN REAL TIME, WHICH ONLY ADDS TO THE TENSION.
RATING 3 out of 5
BETH AND DANIEL (KING AND GRILLO) HAVE JUST BOUGHT A FORE CLOSED HOUSE THAT ONCE BELONGED TO THE KOFFINS: MOM NATALIE (DE MORNAY) AND HER FOUR CHILDREN, THE OLDEST BEING IKE (FLUEGER.) THE BOYS DON'T KNOW THAT THEIR MOM HAS LOST THE HOUSE, AND WHEN ONE OF THEM GETS SHOT DURING A BANK ROBBERY, THEY HEAD HOME, ONLY TO DISCOVER THE NEW OWNERS AND THEIR FRIENDS HAVING A PARTY. NEEDING MONEY, WHEN NATALIE SHOWS UP, THE KOFFINS DECIDE TO STEAL FROM THE PARTY GUESTS AND THROW IN A LITTLE TORTURE ALONG THE WAY.
THIS IS A VERY BRUTAL, VIOLENT AND OFTENTIMES STRANGELY DISTURBING MOVIE. THE THREE KOFFIN BOYS WANT ACTION AND ARE READY TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET THAT; THEIR SISTER, THE YOUNGEST OF THE CHILDREN, IS QUIET YET CAN BE JUST AS BRUTAL AS HER BROTHERS WHEN NEEDED; ALL THE CHILDREN WORSHIP THEIR MOTHER, WHO IS THE TRUE PSYCHOPATH, SHE WILL SHOW YOU KINDNESS AND SYMPATHY BUT THEN TURN RIGHT AROUND AND SLIT YOUR THROAT.
I FOUND ALL THE ACTING TO BE GOOD. EACH OF THE CHARACTERS GETS THEIR SCREEN TIME, AND THEIR INTERACTIONS SEEM TO BE TRUE AND HONEST. HOWEVER, THE STANDOUT HERE IS DE MORNAY: WHILE THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT NATALIE TO LIKE, DE MORNAY HAS BEEN ABLE TO CREATE A CHARACTER WE BOTH LIKE AND HATE, A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO DO.
AS WITH THE ACTING, THE DIRECTION IS ALSO DONE WELL. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE AND MANY THINGS GOING ON, AND THE DIRECTOR KEEPS IT ALL CLEAR, TO THE POINT AND GOING AT A GOOD PACE. IT IS ALMOST AS IF THE MOVIE IS PLAYING OUT IN REAL TIME, WHICH ONLY ADDS TO THE TENSION.
RATING 3 out of 5
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
THE AGGRESSION SCALE
RAY WISE DANA ASHBROOK FABIANNE THERESE RYAN HARTWIG
MOBSTER BELLAVANCE (WISE) HAS JUST GOT OF PRISON AND IS LOOKING FOR THE PERSON WHO STOLE HIS MONEY. HE SENDS FOUR OF HIS HENCHMEN, LED BY LLOYD (ASHBROOK), TO FIND THE MONEY AND THE PERSON. THE SEARCH LEADS LLOYD TO A FAMILY OF FOUR, WHOSE KIDS, LAUREN (THERESE) AND OWEN (HARTWIG) END UP HAVING TO DEFEND THEMSELVES FROM THE HENCHMEN. OWEN HAS SOME EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS, NEVER TALKS AND HAS A HISTORY OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOUR, WHICH HE USES TO FIGHT OFF THE BAD GUYS.
THE DIRECTOR DESCRIBED THIS MOVIE AS "HOME ALONE MEETS RAMBO" AND THAT IS AN EXCELLENT ANALOGY. OWEN SETS UP TRAPS AND OUTSMARTS THE BAD GUYS THROUGH OUT, SOME OF IT BELIEVABLE, SOME NOT. LAUREN, WHILE NOT AS INNOVATIVE, ALSO FINDS HER 'BAD SIDE' AND HELPS OWEN IN THEIR FIGHT.
THIS IS A VERY VIOLENT AND BLOODY MOVIE. THE BAD GUYS DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO, AND THEY DO IT "LOUD AND MESSY" AS INSTRUCTED BY BELLAVANCE.
ASHBROOK, AS LLOYD, WAS VERY MENACING AND SCARY TO WATCH. HARTWIG, IN NEVER TALKING, MADE OWEN BELIEVABLE AND VERY CREEPY. AND THERESE, AS LAUREN, STARTED OUT BEING A BIT IRRITATING, BUT BY THE END I WAS ROOTING FOR HER AS MUCH AS OWEN.
YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT THIS MOVIE.
RATING 3 out of 5
MOBSTER BELLAVANCE (WISE) HAS JUST GOT OF PRISON AND IS LOOKING FOR THE PERSON WHO STOLE HIS MONEY. HE SENDS FOUR OF HIS HENCHMEN, LED BY LLOYD (ASHBROOK), TO FIND THE MONEY AND THE PERSON. THE SEARCH LEADS LLOYD TO A FAMILY OF FOUR, WHOSE KIDS, LAUREN (THERESE) AND OWEN (HARTWIG) END UP HAVING TO DEFEND THEMSELVES FROM THE HENCHMEN. OWEN HAS SOME EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS, NEVER TALKS AND HAS A HISTORY OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOUR, WHICH HE USES TO FIGHT OFF THE BAD GUYS.
THE DIRECTOR DESCRIBED THIS MOVIE AS "HOME ALONE MEETS RAMBO" AND THAT IS AN EXCELLENT ANALOGY. OWEN SETS UP TRAPS AND OUTSMARTS THE BAD GUYS THROUGH OUT, SOME OF IT BELIEVABLE, SOME NOT. LAUREN, WHILE NOT AS INNOVATIVE, ALSO FINDS HER 'BAD SIDE' AND HELPS OWEN IN THEIR FIGHT.
THIS IS A VERY VIOLENT AND BLOODY MOVIE. THE BAD GUYS DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO, AND THEY DO IT "LOUD AND MESSY" AS INSTRUCTED BY BELLAVANCE.
ASHBROOK, AS LLOYD, WAS VERY MENACING AND SCARY TO WATCH. HARTWIG, IN NEVER TALKING, MADE OWEN BELIEVABLE AND VERY CREEPY. AND THERESE, AS LAUREN, STARTED OUT BEING A BIT IRRITATING, BUT BY THE END I WAS ROOTING FOR HER AS MUCH AS OWEN.
YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT THIS MOVIE.
RATING 3 out of 5
DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK
FOUR FRIENDS ARE OUT RUNNING ERRANDS, AND WHEN THEY OPEN THE TRUNK OF THEIR CAR THEY FIND A DEAD HOOKER. NOT KNOWING HOW SHE GOT THERE OR WHO KILLED HER, THEY DECIDE THE BEST THING TO DO IS GET RID OF THE BODY, BUT THAT LEADS THEM INTO A WILD AND BIZARRE STRING OF EVENTS THAT INCLUDES A SERIAL KILLER, DRUGS, A PRIEST AND AN ABANDONED DOG.
WITH A NAME LIKE "DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK" THIS FILM IS DESTINED TO BECOME A CULT CLASSIC, WHICH IT PROBABLY WILL BECOME. IT WAS WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY TWINS JEN AND SYLVIA SOSKA, THE SELF-NAMED TWISTED TWINS, AND THEY MORE THAN PROVE THAT IN THIS, THEIR FIRST FULL LENGTH MOVIE. IT HAS DOSES OF HUMOR, BRUTALITY, VIOLENCE, TORTURE AND GORE, ALONG WITH SOME THINGS THAT SEEM TO BE TO PREPOSTEROUS TO ACTUALLY HAPPEN. BUT, THIS IS AN INDEPENDENT LOW-BUDGET GRINDHOUSE STYLE FILM AND ALL THAT IS EXPECTED, SO WHEN YOU WATCH IT KEEP THAT IN MIND AND REMEMBER TO JUST ACCEPT THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN, YOU WILL ENJOY IT THAT MUCH MORE.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
WITH A NAME LIKE "DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK" THIS FILM IS DESTINED TO BECOME A CULT CLASSIC, WHICH IT PROBABLY WILL BECOME. IT WAS WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY TWINS JEN AND SYLVIA SOSKA, THE SELF-NAMED TWISTED TWINS, AND THEY MORE THAN PROVE THAT IN THIS, THEIR FIRST FULL LENGTH MOVIE. IT HAS DOSES OF HUMOR, BRUTALITY, VIOLENCE, TORTURE AND GORE, ALONG WITH SOME THINGS THAT SEEM TO BE TO PREPOSTEROUS TO ACTUALLY HAPPEN. BUT, THIS IS AN INDEPENDENT LOW-BUDGET GRINDHOUSE STYLE FILM AND ALL THAT IS EXPECTED, SO WHEN YOU WATCH IT KEEP THAT IN MIND AND REMEMBER TO JUST ACCEPT THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN, YOU WILL ENJOY IT THAT MUCH MORE.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
Monday, September 24, 2012
WIN WIN
PAUL GIAMATTI AMY RYAN JEFFREY TAMBOR BOBBY CANNAVALE
BURT YOUNG ALEX SHAFFER MELANIE LYNSKEY
MIKE (GIAMATTI) IS A STRUGGLING LAWYER MARRIED TO JACKIE (RYAN) WITH TWO KIDS. HE ALSO VOLUNTEERS AS THE HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING COACH WITH HIS TWO FRIENDS VIG (TAMBOR) AND TERRY (CANNAVALE). THEIR TEAM LOSES MORE MATCHES THAN IT WINS. MIKE IS THE COURT APPOINTED LAWYER FOR LEO (YOUNG), WHO IS WEALTHY BUT SUFFERING FROM DEMENTIA. DURING A HEARING, MIKE DECIDES TO BECOME THE LEGAL GUARDIAN FOR LEO ONLY SO HE CAN GET THE $1500 MONTHLY STIPEND. ALL SEEMS GOOD UNTIL LEO'S GRANDSON KYLE (SHAFFER) SHOWS UP, RUNNING AWAY FROM HIS MOTHER CINDY (LYNSKEY). KYLE ALSO HAPPENS TOP BE A CHAMPION WRESTLER.
WIN WIN HAS IT ALL: COMEDY, DRAMA, ACTION, A WELL WRITTEN STORY AND GREAT PERFORMANCES, MAINLY FROM THE ALWAYS EXCELLENT GIAMATTI. HE HAS PLAYED THIS TYPE OF DOWN ON HIS LUCK CHARACTER MANY TIMES, AND IT SHOWS IN HIS PERFORMANCE THAT HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO IT TO MAKE MIKE COMPLETELY BELIEVABLE. I ALSO FOUND SHAFFER'S PERFORMANCE AS KYLE TO BE QUITE GOOD: HE IS STRUGGLING WITH THE RELATIONSHIP TO HIS MOTHER, TRYING TO FIT IN AT A NEW SCHOOL, GET BACK INTO WRESTLING, LIVING WITH A NEW FAMILY AND GETTING TO KNOW HIS GRANDFATHER.
RATING 3 out of 5
BURT YOUNG ALEX SHAFFER MELANIE LYNSKEY
MIKE (GIAMATTI) IS A STRUGGLING LAWYER MARRIED TO JACKIE (RYAN) WITH TWO KIDS. HE ALSO VOLUNTEERS AS THE HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING COACH WITH HIS TWO FRIENDS VIG (TAMBOR) AND TERRY (CANNAVALE). THEIR TEAM LOSES MORE MATCHES THAN IT WINS. MIKE IS THE COURT APPOINTED LAWYER FOR LEO (YOUNG), WHO IS WEALTHY BUT SUFFERING FROM DEMENTIA. DURING A HEARING, MIKE DECIDES TO BECOME THE LEGAL GUARDIAN FOR LEO ONLY SO HE CAN GET THE $1500 MONTHLY STIPEND. ALL SEEMS GOOD UNTIL LEO'S GRANDSON KYLE (SHAFFER) SHOWS UP, RUNNING AWAY FROM HIS MOTHER CINDY (LYNSKEY). KYLE ALSO HAPPENS TOP BE A CHAMPION WRESTLER.
WIN WIN HAS IT ALL: COMEDY, DRAMA, ACTION, A WELL WRITTEN STORY AND GREAT PERFORMANCES, MAINLY FROM THE ALWAYS EXCELLENT GIAMATTI. HE HAS PLAYED THIS TYPE OF DOWN ON HIS LUCK CHARACTER MANY TIMES, AND IT SHOWS IN HIS PERFORMANCE THAT HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO IT TO MAKE MIKE COMPLETELY BELIEVABLE. I ALSO FOUND SHAFFER'S PERFORMANCE AS KYLE TO BE QUITE GOOD: HE IS STRUGGLING WITH THE RELATIONSHIP TO HIS MOTHER, TRYING TO FIT IN AT A NEW SCHOOL, GET BACK INTO WRESTLING, LIVING WITH A NEW FAMILY AND GETTING TO KNOW HIS GRANDFATHER.
RATING 3 out of 5
LUCKY
COLIN HANKS ARI GRAYNOR ANN-MARGARET JEFFREY TAMBOR
BEN (HANKS) HAS JUST WON THE STATE LOTTERY, MEETS, DATES AND MARRIES HIS CHILDHOOD FRIEND LUCY (GRAYNOR), LIVES WITH HIS MOM PAULINE (MARGARET) AND IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY DETECTIVE WAYLON (TAMBOR). BEN ALSO HAS A LITTLE SECRET: HE IS A SERIAL KILLER.
LUCKY IS A VERY DARK COMEDY. THE PERFORMANCES ARE GREAT, ESPECIALLY HANKS AS BEN, WHO HAS CREATED A VERY QUIRKY CHARACTER, AND GRAYNOR AS LUCY, WHO DELIVERS MOST OF THE COMEDY IN A VERY STRANGE BUT LIKABLE WAY. THE STORY, WHILE SOMEWHAT FAR FETCHED, IS WELL WRITTEN AND STAYS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF WHAT IS LAID OUT IN THE MOVIE. FINALLY, WHILE THIS IS A COMEDY, YOU SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE THAT IT DOES DEAL WITH A SERIAL KILLER AND THEREFORE HAS SOME SCENES THAT ARE NOT VERY FUNNY, ALTHOUGH NOTHING IS TOO GRAPHIC OR GORY.
RATING 3 out of 5
BEN (HANKS) HAS JUST WON THE STATE LOTTERY, MEETS, DATES AND MARRIES HIS CHILDHOOD FRIEND LUCY (GRAYNOR), LIVES WITH HIS MOM PAULINE (MARGARET) AND IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY DETECTIVE WAYLON (TAMBOR). BEN ALSO HAS A LITTLE SECRET: HE IS A SERIAL KILLER.
LUCKY IS A VERY DARK COMEDY. THE PERFORMANCES ARE GREAT, ESPECIALLY HANKS AS BEN, WHO HAS CREATED A VERY QUIRKY CHARACTER, AND GRAYNOR AS LUCY, WHO DELIVERS MOST OF THE COMEDY IN A VERY STRANGE BUT LIKABLE WAY. THE STORY, WHILE SOMEWHAT FAR FETCHED, IS WELL WRITTEN AND STAYS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF WHAT IS LAID OUT IN THE MOVIE. FINALLY, WHILE THIS IS A COMEDY, YOU SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE THAT IT DOES DEAL WITH A SERIAL KILLER AND THEREFORE HAS SOME SCENES THAT ARE NOT VERY FUNNY, ALTHOUGH NOTHING IS TOO GRAPHIC OR GORY.
RATING 3 out of 5
Monday, September 17, 2012
ENTER NOWHERE
SCOTT EASTWOOD KATHERINE WATERSTON SARA PAXTON
TOM, JODY AND SAMANTHA (EASTWOOD, PAXTON AND WATERSTON) ARE THREE STRANGERS WHO END UP AT A DESERTED CABIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS. AS THE MOVIE UNFOLDS, THEY BEGIN TO LEARN ABOUT THEMSELVES AND EACH OTHER, FINALLY REALIZING WHY THEY ARE THERE AND WHAT THEY MUST DO TO SURVIVE.
AS A VIEWER, WE ARE DROPPED INTO THIS STORY AND WE HAVE TO LEARN WHAT IS GOING ON AS THE CHARACTERS LEARN WHAT IS GOING ON. IT IS A VERY EFFECTIVE WAY OF TELLING A STORY, SINCE IT KEEPS US INVOLVED AND INTERESTED IN THE MOVIE.
AS FOR THE MOVIE, IT IS VERY WELL DONE. THE STORY IS STRONG AND THE DIRECTION KEEPS THINGS MOVING. WITH THE THEME OF THIS STORY, IT IS VERY EASY TO GET THE VIEWER CONFUSED, BUT THE DIRECTOR AVOIDS THAT AND MAKES IT UNDERSTANDABLE.
THE ACTING IS ALSO GOOD. EASTWOOD KEEPS TOM FROM TURNING INTO A JERK AND MAKES HIS WANTING TO CARE FOR THE OTHERS SEEM TRUTHFUL AND BELIEVABLE. PAXTON PLAYS JODY AS THE INDEPENDENT AND SMART ASS ONE WHO JUST WANTS TO LEAVE. HOWEVER, AS HER CHARACTER GROWS, SHE BECOMES SUPPORTIVE AND CARING TO THE OTHER TWO. FINALLY, AS SAMANTHA, WATERSTON IS THE WEAKEST OF THE THREE. BUT WHEN SHE HAS TO STEP UP AND HELP, SHE DOES IT WITHOUT QUESTION.
FINALLY, THE TWIST AT THE END IS NOT TOO UNEXPECTED, BUT IF YOU WEREN'T WATCHING CLOSELY, YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED. THIS IS A MOVIE I WOULD EASILY RECOMMEND.
RATING 3 out of 5
TOM, JODY AND SAMANTHA (EASTWOOD, PAXTON AND WATERSTON) ARE THREE STRANGERS WHO END UP AT A DESERTED CABIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS. AS THE MOVIE UNFOLDS, THEY BEGIN TO LEARN ABOUT THEMSELVES AND EACH OTHER, FINALLY REALIZING WHY THEY ARE THERE AND WHAT THEY MUST DO TO SURVIVE.
AS A VIEWER, WE ARE DROPPED INTO THIS STORY AND WE HAVE TO LEARN WHAT IS GOING ON AS THE CHARACTERS LEARN WHAT IS GOING ON. IT IS A VERY EFFECTIVE WAY OF TELLING A STORY, SINCE IT KEEPS US INVOLVED AND INTERESTED IN THE MOVIE.
AS FOR THE MOVIE, IT IS VERY WELL DONE. THE STORY IS STRONG AND THE DIRECTION KEEPS THINGS MOVING. WITH THE THEME OF THIS STORY, IT IS VERY EASY TO GET THE VIEWER CONFUSED, BUT THE DIRECTOR AVOIDS THAT AND MAKES IT UNDERSTANDABLE.
THE ACTING IS ALSO GOOD. EASTWOOD KEEPS TOM FROM TURNING INTO A JERK AND MAKES HIS WANTING TO CARE FOR THE OTHERS SEEM TRUTHFUL AND BELIEVABLE. PAXTON PLAYS JODY AS THE INDEPENDENT AND SMART ASS ONE WHO JUST WANTS TO LEAVE. HOWEVER, AS HER CHARACTER GROWS, SHE BECOMES SUPPORTIVE AND CARING TO THE OTHER TWO. FINALLY, AS SAMANTHA, WATERSTON IS THE WEAKEST OF THE THREE. BUT WHEN SHE HAS TO STEP UP AND HELP, SHE DOES IT WITHOUT QUESTION.
FINALLY, THE TWIST AT THE END IS NOT TOO UNEXPECTED, BUT IF YOU WEREN'T WATCHING CLOSELY, YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED. THIS IS A MOVIE I WOULD EASILY RECOMMEND.
RATING 3 out of 5
RED WHITE and BLUE
AMANDA FULLER NOAH TAYLOR MARC SENTER
ERICA (FULLER) EXISTS IN A WORLD OF SLEAZY BARS, DEAD END JOBS AND ONE NIGHT STANDS. ONE NIGHT SHE BEDS FRANKI (SENTER) AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT MEETING SETS OFF A FURY OF EVENTS THAT LEAD TO A BRUTAL HORRIFYING AND VIOLENT RESULT, WITH NATE (TAYLOR) THE MAN AT THE CENTER OF THE STORM.
THIS IS A GRITTY MOVIE THAT NEVER LETS UP IN A RELENTLESS PUSH OF REALISTIC SEEDINESS. THE STORY WILL SHOCK YOU, IT WILL SADDEN YOU AND IT WILL PROBABLY LEAVE YOU FEELING A SENSE OF HOPELESSNESS KNOWING THAT THIS IS A STORY THAT COULD HAPPEN IN ANY TOWN, AND THAT IS WHY THIS MOVIE IS SO TERRIFYING.
AS ERICA, FULLER GIVES AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE. SEXUALLY ABUSED AS A CHILD, ERICA HAS GROWN UP SEEING MEN ONLY AS OBJECTS TO USE, WHICH SEE DOES, UNABLE TO CONNECT EMOTIONALLY. SHE HAS VERY LITTLE JOY IN HER LIFE, AND MOST OF HER TIME IS SPENT WORKING, DRINKING AND HAVING SEX. FULLER BRINGS ALL THIS, AND MORE, TO HER CHARACTER.
FRANKI IS SOMEWHAT OF A JERK. THE ONLY THING HE CARES ABOUT IS HIS CANCER STRICKEN MOTHER; HE USES HIS FRIENDS, ABUSES HIS JOB AND MAKES SOME VERY BAD CHOICES THAT SCREW UP HIS LIFE. AS FRANKI, SENTER GIVES A PERFORMANCE THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO HATE HIM ONE MINUTE AND THEN FEEL SORRY FOR HIM THE NEXT. FRANKI IS PROBABLY THE MOST LIKABLE, BUT THAT'S NOT SAYING MUCH.
NATE IS THE MOST TERRIFYING AND SCARY CHARACTER I HAVE SEEN IN A MOVIE IN QUITE A LONG TIME. FROM HIS TELLING ERICA ABOUT HOW HE USED TO TORTURE FAMILY PETS TO THE SAVAGE REVENGE HE PERFORMS IN THE LAST THIRD OF THE MOVIE, YOUR EYES WILL BE GLUED TO HIM THROUGHOUT. TAYLOR HAS CHOSEN TO PORTRAY NATE AS A SOFT SPOKEN, CALM AND VERY METHODICAL MADMAN. IT IS A PERFORMANCE THAT SHOULD NOT BE MISSED.
THIS IS NOT A MOVIE FOR EVERYONE. THE FIRST TWO THIRDS ARE ALMOST LIKE A CHARACTER STUDY OF ERICA AND FRANKI, WHICH ONLY SETS UP THE LAST THIRD, WHERE WE LEARN ALL ABOUT NATE AND JUST HOW CRAZY AND VIOLENT HE IS. IF YOU LIKE GRITTY IN YOUR FACE THRILLER/HORROR MOVIES, THEN THIS IS THE ONE FOR YOU.
RATING 3.5 out of 5
ERICA (FULLER) EXISTS IN A WORLD OF SLEAZY BARS, DEAD END JOBS AND ONE NIGHT STANDS. ONE NIGHT SHE BEDS FRANKI (SENTER) AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT MEETING SETS OFF A FURY OF EVENTS THAT LEAD TO A BRUTAL HORRIFYING AND VIOLENT RESULT, WITH NATE (TAYLOR) THE MAN AT THE CENTER OF THE STORM.
THIS IS A GRITTY MOVIE THAT NEVER LETS UP IN A RELENTLESS PUSH OF REALISTIC SEEDINESS. THE STORY WILL SHOCK YOU, IT WILL SADDEN YOU AND IT WILL PROBABLY LEAVE YOU FEELING A SENSE OF HOPELESSNESS KNOWING THAT THIS IS A STORY THAT COULD HAPPEN IN ANY TOWN, AND THAT IS WHY THIS MOVIE IS SO TERRIFYING.
AS ERICA, FULLER GIVES AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE. SEXUALLY ABUSED AS A CHILD, ERICA HAS GROWN UP SEEING MEN ONLY AS OBJECTS TO USE, WHICH SEE DOES, UNABLE TO CONNECT EMOTIONALLY. SHE HAS VERY LITTLE JOY IN HER LIFE, AND MOST OF HER TIME IS SPENT WORKING, DRINKING AND HAVING SEX. FULLER BRINGS ALL THIS, AND MORE, TO HER CHARACTER.
FRANKI IS SOMEWHAT OF A JERK. THE ONLY THING HE CARES ABOUT IS HIS CANCER STRICKEN MOTHER; HE USES HIS FRIENDS, ABUSES HIS JOB AND MAKES SOME VERY BAD CHOICES THAT SCREW UP HIS LIFE. AS FRANKI, SENTER GIVES A PERFORMANCE THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO HATE HIM ONE MINUTE AND THEN FEEL SORRY FOR HIM THE NEXT. FRANKI IS PROBABLY THE MOST LIKABLE, BUT THAT'S NOT SAYING MUCH.
NATE IS THE MOST TERRIFYING AND SCARY CHARACTER I HAVE SEEN IN A MOVIE IN QUITE A LONG TIME. FROM HIS TELLING ERICA ABOUT HOW HE USED TO TORTURE FAMILY PETS TO THE SAVAGE REVENGE HE PERFORMS IN THE LAST THIRD OF THE MOVIE, YOUR EYES WILL BE GLUED TO HIM THROUGHOUT. TAYLOR HAS CHOSEN TO PORTRAY NATE AS A SOFT SPOKEN, CALM AND VERY METHODICAL MADMAN. IT IS A PERFORMANCE THAT SHOULD NOT BE MISSED.
THIS IS NOT A MOVIE FOR EVERYONE. THE FIRST TWO THIRDS ARE ALMOST LIKE A CHARACTER STUDY OF ERICA AND FRANKI, WHICH ONLY SETS UP THE LAST THIRD, WHERE WE LEARN ALL ABOUT NATE AND JUST HOW CRAZY AND VIOLENT HE IS. IF YOU LIKE GRITTY IN YOUR FACE THRILLER/HORROR MOVIES, THEN THIS IS THE ONE FOR YOU.
RATING 3.5 out of 5
Thursday, September 13, 2012
MEET MONICA VELOUR
KIM CATTRALL DUSTIN INGRAM BRIAN DENNEHY
TOBE (INGRAM) HAS JUST GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL HE LIVES WITH HIS GRANDFATHER POP POP (DENNEHY) AND RUNS A MOBILE HOT DOG TRUCK, THE FAMILY'S BUSINESS. TOBE IS ALSO A HUGE FAN OF MONICA VELOUR (CATTRALL) A FORMER PORN STAR FROM THE 80'S. AS A GRADUATION PRESENT POP POP GIVES TOBE THE HOT DOG TRUCK, WHICH TOBE PUTS UP FOR SALE. HE GETS AN OFFER FROM A MAN IN INDIANA, AND IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT MONICA IS MAKING AN APPEARANCE AT A NEAR BY STRIP CLUB, SO TOBE DRIVES THE TRUCK TO INDIANA. ONCE THERE, HE BECOMES FRIENDS WITH MONICA, BUT ALSO DISCOVERS SHE IS CARRYING A LOT OF BAGGAGE WITH MANY PERSONAL PROBLEMS.
CATTRALL'S PERFORMANCE AS VELOUR IS INCREDIBLE. EVERYTHING FROM HER POSTURE TO HER LOOK TO HER ATTITUDE TO HER LIFE CHOICES CREATES A HARDENED WASHED UP VERY BELIEVABLE EX PORN STAR. INGRAM IS ALMOST JUST AS GOOD. HE PORTRAYS TOBE AS A QUIRKY, NERDY, INNOCENT AND NAIVE TEENAGER WHO REALLY CAN'T BELIEVE WHERE HE IS, BUT ACCEPTS IT AND ONLY WANTS TO HELP BECAUSE OF HIS CRUSH ON MONICA. THE STORY IS WELL WRITTEN WITH QUITE BELIEVABLE DIALOGUE, PROBABLY BECAUSE MANY OF THE LINES CAME FROM REAL EX PORN STARS WHOM THE WRITER HAD INTERVIEWED. DON'T PASS UP THIS GEM OF A MOVIE.
RATING 3 out of 5
TOBE (INGRAM) HAS JUST GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL HE LIVES WITH HIS GRANDFATHER POP POP (DENNEHY) AND RUNS A MOBILE HOT DOG TRUCK, THE FAMILY'S BUSINESS. TOBE IS ALSO A HUGE FAN OF MONICA VELOUR (CATTRALL) A FORMER PORN STAR FROM THE 80'S. AS A GRADUATION PRESENT POP POP GIVES TOBE THE HOT DOG TRUCK, WHICH TOBE PUTS UP FOR SALE. HE GETS AN OFFER FROM A MAN IN INDIANA, AND IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT MONICA IS MAKING AN APPEARANCE AT A NEAR BY STRIP CLUB, SO TOBE DRIVES THE TRUCK TO INDIANA. ONCE THERE, HE BECOMES FRIENDS WITH MONICA, BUT ALSO DISCOVERS SHE IS CARRYING A LOT OF BAGGAGE WITH MANY PERSONAL PROBLEMS.
CATTRALL'S PERFORMANCE AS VELOUR IS INCREDIBLE. EVERYTHING FROM HER POSTURE TO HER LOOK TO HER ATTITUDE TO HER LIFE CHOICES CREATES A HARDENED WASHED UP VERY BELIEVABLE EX PORN STAR. INGRAM IS ALMOST JUST AS GOOD. HE PORTRAYS TOBE AS A QUIRKY, NERDY, INNOCENT AND NAIVE TEENAGER WHO REALLY CAN'T BELIEVE WHERE HE IS, BUT ACCEPTS IT AND ONLY WANTS TO HELP BECAUSE OF HIS CRUSH ON MONICA. THE STORY IS WELL WRITTEN WITH QUITE BELIEVABLE DIALOGUE, PROBABLY BECAUSE MANY OF THE LINES CAME FROM REAL EX PORN STARS WHOM THE WRITER HAD INTERVIEWED. DON'T PASS UP THIS GEM OF A MOVIE.
RATING 3 out of 5
BRIDESMAIDS
KRISTIN WIIG MAYA RUDOLPH ROSE BYRNE MELISSA McCARTHY ELLIE KEMPER
WENDI McCLENDON-COVEY
LILLIAN (RUDOLPH) IS GETTING MARRIED AND SHE ASKS HER BEST FRIEND ANNIE (WIIG) TO BE HER MAID OF HONOR ALONG WITH HER BRIDESMAIDS: HELEN, MEGAN, BECCA AND RITA (BYRNE, McCARTHY, KEMPER AND McCLENDON-COVEY.) ANNIE INSTANTLY DISLIKES HELEN, AND WHILE PREPARING FOR THE MARRIAGE, ANNIE AND HELEN ARE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO ONE UP EACH OTHER AND BUTTING HEADS.
THIS IS A GOD AWFUL MOVIE. IT'S NOT FUNNY, MANY SCENES GO ON MUCH TOO LONG AND MOST OF THE SAD ATTEMPTS AT HUMOR ARE BASED IN JUVENILE THOUGHTS THAT FALL FLAT. THE CHARACTER OF ANNIE IS A JEALOUS SELF-CENTERED PERSON WHO YOU ARE HAPPY TO SEE HER LIFE FALL APART. THERE IS NOTHING REDEEMING ABOUT HER. THE REST OF THE CHARACTERS ARE, IN THEIR OWN WAY, JUST AS IRRITATING, SELF-CENTERED OR JUST BORING TO WATCH. IN FACT, THE ENTIRE MOVIE IS BORING. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND SKIP IT.
RATING 1.5 OUT OF 5
WENDI McCLENDON-COVEY
LILLIAN (RUDOLPH) IS GETTING MARRIED AND SHE ASKS HER BEST FRIEND ANNIE (WIIG) TO BE HER MAID OF HONOR ALONG WITH HER BRIDESMAIDS: HELEN, MEGAN, BECCA AND RITA (BYRNE, McCARTHY, KEMPER AND McCLENDON-COVEY.) ANNIE INSTANTLY DISLIKES HELEN, AND WHILE PREPARING FOR THE MARRIAGE, ANNIE AND HELEN ARE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO ONE UP EACH OTHER AND BUTTING HEADS.
THIS IS A GOD AWFUL MOVIE. IT'S NOT FUNNY, MANY SCENES GO ON MUCH TOO LONG AND MOST OF THE SAD ATTEMPTS AT HUMOR ARE BASED IN JUVENILE THOUGHTS THAT FALL FLAT. THE CHARACTER OF ANNIE IS A JEALOUS SELF-CENTERED PERSON WHO YOU ARE HAPPY TO SEE HER LIFE FALL APART. THERE IS NOTHING REDEEMING ABOUT HER. THE REST OF THE CHARACTERS ARE, IN THEIR OWN WAY, JUST AS IRRITATING, SELF-CENTERED OR JUST BORING TO WATCH. IN FACT, THE ENTIRE MOVIE IS BORING. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND SKIP IT.
RATING 1.5 OUT OF 5
Monday, September 10, 2012
THE RAID: REDEMPTION
SET IN JAKARTA, A POLICE SWAT TEAM INFILTRATES AN APARTMENT HOUSE RUN BY A NOTORIOUS DRUG LORD. THEIR GOAL IS TO EITHER KILL OR ARREST THE DRUG LORD AND CLEAN UP THE BUILDING IN THE PROCESS.
OH MY GOD, BE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR SEAT BELT ON WHILE WATCHING THIS MOVIE. IT IS A NON-STOP THRILL RIDE OF MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTING, VIOLENCE, GORE AND SPURTING BLOOD. THE FIGHT SCENES ARE INCREDIBLY FAST , REALISTIC, BONE CRUNCHING, VIOLENT AND OVER THE TOP MARTIAL ARTS ACTION. THE OTHER BATTLE SCENES ARE EXCESSIVE IN THEIR AMOUNT OF GUNFIRE, VIOLENCE AND GORE, BUT ARE STAGED AND EXECUTED VERY WELL.
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST ACTION MOVIES I HAVE SEEN IN QUITE A LONG TIME. THERE'S NOT MUCH OF A PLOT AND THE STORY IS THIN, BUT WITH THIS TYPE OF MOVIE THAT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER SINCE THE ACTION MAKES UP FOR ANY OTHER SHORTCOMINGS THE MOVIE MAY HAVE. MY SUGGESTION IS TO STRAP YOURSELF INTO A CHAIR, PUT THIS ON AND GET READY FOR THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE.
RATING 3 out of 5
OH MY GOD, BE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR SEAT BELT ON WHILE WATCHING THIS MOVIE. IT IS A NON-STOP THRILL RIDE OF MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTING, VIOLENCE, GORE AND SPURTING BLOOD. THE FIGHT SCENES ARE INCREDIBLY FAST , REALISTIC, BONE CRUNCHING, VIOLENT AND OVER THE TOP MARTIAL ARTS ACTION. THE OTHER BATTLE SCENES ARE EXCESSIVE IN THEIR AMOUNT OF GUNFIRE, VIOLENCE AND GORE, BUT ARE STAGED AND EXECUTED VERY WELL.
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST ACTION MOVIES I HAVE SEEN IN QUITE A LONG TIME. THERE'S NOT MUCH OF A PLOT AND THE STORY IS THIN, BUT WITH THIS TYPE OF MOVIE THAT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER SINCE THE ACTION MAKES UP FOR ANY OTHER SHORTCOMINGS THE MOVIE MAY HAVE. MY SUGGESTION IS TO STRAP YOURSELF INTO A CHAIR, PUT THIS ON AND GET READY FOR THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE.
RATING 3 out of 5
IN HER SKIN
GUY PEARCE MIRANDA OTTO RUTH BRADLEY SAM NEILL KATE BELL
THE BARBERS (PEARCE AND OTTO) EXPERIENCE THEIR WORST NIGHTMARE WHEN THEIR 15 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER RACHEL (BELL) GOES MISSING. WITHOUT GETTING MUCH HELP FROM THE POLICE, THE BARBERS SEARCH FOR THEIR DAUGHTER THEMSELVES, BUT NEVER FIND HER. FINALLY, A MISSING PERSON POLICEMAN GETS INVOLVED, AND SOON THE INVESTIGATION IS FOCUSED ON CAROLINE REID (BRADLEY), A FORMER BABYSITTER FOR KATE AND ALSO A PERSON SUFFERING FROM MEDICAL AND MENTAL PROBLEMS. THE POLICE ARE HELPED BY CAROLINE'S FATHER (NEILL), AND THE TRUTH IS FINALLY REVEALED.
THIS IS A DEPRESSING YET VERY POWERFUL MOVIE THAT IS MADE EVEN MORE STRONGER BY BEING BASED ON A TRUE STORY. THE SADNESS COMES FROM THE DEATH OF KATE, THE FEELINGS OF LOSS AND HELPLESSNESS HER PARENTS EXPERIENCED, THE OBVIOUS AND VERY EASY TO SEE SEVERE MENTAL PROBLEMS OF CAROLINE THAT HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS IGNORED WHEN SHE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN HELP AND THE INABILITY OF CAROLINE'S FATHER TO SEEK HELP FOR HER, EVEN WHEN SHE LASHES OUT IN A VIOLENT ATTEMPT TO BE NOTICED, BECAUSE OF HIS SELF-INTEREST IN HIMSELF. CAROLINE IS AN OVERWEIGHT AVERAGE LOOKING PERSON WHOSE PARENTS ARE GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE. KATE IS A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMAN LIVING IN A FAMILY WHO LOVES EACH OTHER. CAROLINE IS JEALOUS OF THAT, AND THAT JEALOUSLY ALONG WITH HER MENTAL ILLNESS SENDS HER INTO A RAGE THAT LEADS TO THE TRAGIC DEATH OF KATE.
THE POWER OF THIS MOVIE LIES IN THE PERFORMANCES OF PEARCE, OTTO AND ESPECIALLY BRADLEY. IN WATCHING PEARCE AND OTTO AS THE BARBERS, YOU CAN SENSE ALL THAT THEY ARE FEELING AND WHAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING. BUT, BRADLEY'S PORTRAYAL OF CAROLINE IS STUNNING AND TERRIFYING. HER VIOLENT OUTBURSTS ARE INCREDIBLY REALISTIC AND HARD TO WATCH; IN THE OTHER SCENES, YOU CAN SEE THE SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS SHE HAS AND HOW SCARY THAT IS KNOWING WHAT SHE IS PLANNING TO DO. ALSO, THERE ARE TWO OR THREE TIMES SHE BRAVELY GOES TO A PLACE THAT IS UNBELIEVABLY TRUE AND HEART WRENCHINGLY RAW. YES, THIS MOVIE IS DIFFICULT TO WATCH, BUT YOU SHOULD WATCH IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
RATING 3.5 out of 5
THE BARBERS (PEARCE AND OTTO) EXPERIENCE THEIR WORST NIGHTMARE WHEN THEIR 15 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER RACHEL (BELL) GOES MISSING. WITHOUT GETTING MUCH HELP FROM THE POLICE, THE BARBERS SEARCH FOR THEIR DAUGHTER THEMSELVES, BUT NEVER FIND HER. FINALLY, A MISSING PERSON POLICEMAN GETS INVOLVED, AND SOON THE INVESTIGATION IS FOCUSED ON CAROLINE REID (BRADLEY), A FORMER BABYSITTER FOR KATE AND ALSO A PERSON SUFFERING FROM MEDICAL AND MENTAL PROBLEMS. THE POLICE ARE HELPED BY CAROLINE'S FATHER (NEILL), AND THE TRUTH IS FINALLY REVEALED.
THIS IS A DEPRESSING YET VERY POWERFUL MOVIE THAT IS MADE EVEN MORE STRONGER BY BEING BASED ON A TRUE STORY. THE SADNESS COMES FROM THE DEATH OF KATE, THE FEELINGS OF LOSS AND HELPLESSNESS HER PARENTS EXPERIENCED, THE OBVIOUS AND VERY EASY TO SEE SEVERE MENTAL PROBLEMS OF CAROLINE THAT HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS IGNORED WHEN SHE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN HELP AND THE INABILITY OF CAROLINE'S FATHER TO SEEK HELP FOR HER, EVEN WHEN SHE LASHES OUT IN A VIOLENT ATTEMPT TO BE NOTICED, BECAUSE OF HIS SELF-INTEREST IN HIMSELF. CAROLINE IS AN OVERWEIGHT AVERAGE LOOKING PERSON WHOSE PARENTS ARE GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE. KATE IS A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMAN LIVING IN A FAMILY WHO LOVES EACH OTHER. CAROLINE IS JEALOUS OF THAT, AND THAT JEALOUSLY ALONG WITH HER MENTAL ILLNESS SENDS HER INTO A RAGE THAT LEADS TO THE TRAGIC DEATH OF KATE.
THE POWER OF THIS MOVIE LIES IN THE PERFORMANCES OF PEARCE, OTTO AND ESPECIALLY BRADLEY. IN WATCHING PEARCE AND OTTO AS THE BARBERS, YOU CAN SENSE ALL THAT THEY ARE FEELING AND WHAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING. BUT, BRADLEY'S PORTRAYAL OF CAROLINE IS STUNNING AND TERRIFYING. HER VIOLENT OUTBURSTS ARE INCREDIBLY REALISTIC AND HARD TO WATCH; IN THE OTHER SCENES, YOU CAN SEE THE SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS SHE HAS AND HOW SCARY THAT IS KNOWING WHAT SHE IS PLANNING TO DO. ALSO, THERE ARE TWO OR THREE TIMES SHE BRAVELY GOES TO A PLACE THAT IS UNBELIEVABLY TRUE AND HEART WRENCHINGLY RAW. YES, THIS MOVIE IS DIFFICULT TO WATCH, BUT YOU SHOULD WATCH IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
RATING 3.5 out of 5
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
SECONDS APART
EDMUND ENTIN GARY ENTIN ORLANDO JONES SAMANTHA DROKE
TWINS JONAH AND SETH (THE ENTINS) HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE PEOPLE DO AND SEE THINGS THEY MAY NOT NORMALLY DO. IN EXPLORING THIS POWER, THE TWINS HAVE STARTED A PROJECT WHERE THEY FILM PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDER THEIR SPELL, USUALLY ENDING IN DEATH FOR THOSE AFFECTED PEOPLE. THE DETECTIVE (JONES) INVESTIGATING THE MURDERS SUSPECTS THE TWINS, BUT IS UNABLE TO PROVE ANYTHING. THEN ONE DAY A GIRL, EVE (DROKE) COMES BETWEEN JONAH AND SETH, AND THE JEALOUSLY BETWEEN THE TWINS ERUPTS INTO A TRAGIC ENDING BATTLE.
A RATHER UNIQUE STORY FOR A HORROR MOVIE. I FOUND IT TO BE REFRESHING AND IT DIDN'T SINK INTO SOME OF THE SIMPLISTIC CLICHES THAT OFTEN SHOW UP WITH STORIES ABOUT TWINS. AND ALTHOUGH SOME THINGS WEREN'T EXPLAINED COMPLETELY, THE STORY DID STAY TOGETHER AND MAINTAINED A LOGICALLY PLOT LINE.
THE ENTINS DID A VERY GOOD JOB IN PORTRAYING JONAH AND SETH: CREEPY, CONFIDENT, NAIVE WHEN NEEDED AND LOSING CONTROL WHEN DEALING WITH THE JEALOUSLY CAUSED BY EVE.
FINALLY, THE DIRECTOR IS VERY GOOD IN GIVING THIS MOVIE A LOOK AND FEEL OF A CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE BUT WITH NEW CONCEPTS. YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY CHECK OUT SECONDS APART.
RATING 3 out of 5
TWINS JONAH AND SETH (THE ENTINS) HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE PEOPLE DO AND SEE THINGS THEY MAY NOT NORMALLY DO. IN EXPLORING THIS POWER, THE TWINS HAVE STARTED A PROJECT WHERE THEY FILM PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDER THEIR SPELL, USUALLY ENDING IN DEATH FOR THOSE AFFECTED PEOPLE. THE DETECTIVE (JONES) INVESTIGATING THE MURDERS SUSPECTS THE TWINS, BUT IS UNABLE TO PROVE ANYTHING. THEN ONE DAY A GIRL, EVE (DROKE) COMES BETWEEN JONAH AND SETH, AND THE JEALOUSLY BETWEEN THE TWINS ERUPTS INTO A TRAGIC ENDING BATTLE.
A RATHER UNIQUE STORY FOR A HORROR MOVIE. I FOUND IT TO BE REFRESHING AND IT DIDN'T SINK INTO SOME OF THE SIMPLISTIC CLICHES THAT OFTEN SHOW UP WITH STORIES ABOUT TWINS. AND ALTHOUGH SOME THINGS WEREN'T EXPLAINED COMPLETELY, THE STORY DID STAY TOGETHER AND MAINTAINED A LOGICALLY PLOT LINE.
THE ENTINS DID A VERY GOOD JOB IN PORTRAYING JONAH AND SETH: CREEPY, CONFIDENT, NAIVE WHEN NEEDED AND LOSING CONTROL WHEN DEALING WITH THE JEALOUSLY CAUSED BY EVE.
FINALLY, THE DIRECTOR IS VERY GOOD IN GIVING THIS MOVIE A LOOK AND FEEL OF A CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE BUT WITH NEW CONCEPTS. YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY CHECK OUT SECONDS APART.
RATING 3 out of 5
FERTILE GROUND
NATE AND EMILY WEAVER ARE A YOUNG COUPLE LIVING IN NEW YORK. NATE IS AN UP AND COMING ARTIST AND EMILY IS A CLOTHES DESIGNER WHO HAS PUT HER WORK ON HOLD TO HAVE A BABY. THEN ONE NIGHT THEY SUFFER A MISCARRIAGE. NOT WANTING TO STAY IN THEIR APARTMENT, THEY MOVE TO A COUNTRY ESTATE THAT HAS BEEN IN NATE'S FAMILY FOR DECADES. ONCE THERE, ALL SEEMS WELL UNTIL THEY DISCOVER SOME EVIL GOINGS ON AT THE HOUSE, AND EMILY SLOWLY BEGINS TO SINK INTO INSANITY.
FERTILE GROUND IS A GHOST STORY SET IN A HAUNTED HOUSE AND IT AFFECTS NATE AND EMILY IN DIFFERENT WAYS. NATE SLOWLY BEGINS TO TAKE ON THE PERSONA OF ONE OF HIS LONG LOST RELATIVES AND EMILY IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SEE THE GHOSTS AND IN RESPONSE, SEEMS TO BE LOSING HER MIND.
FOR A HORROR MOVIE, THE ACTING IS OKAY, ALTHOUGH THERE IS NOTHING THERE THAT WILL GRAB YOU AS FANTASTIC. THE SPECIAL EFFECTS WERE EFFECTIVE, SOME WERE A BIT SIMPLE IN THEIR EXECUTION, NOR WAS THE MOVIE BLOODY OR VERY VIOLENT. THE DIRECTION KEPT THE MOVIE FLOWING, WITH THE SCARY PARTS SCARY AND THE TENSE PARTS TENSE. FINALLY, THE STORY IS GOOD ENOUGH TO GET ACROSS THE MAIN THEME OF THE MOVIE.
I DIDN'T HATE THIS MOVIE, BUT I ALSO DIDN'T THINK IT WAS ALL THAT GREAT. IT'S A MIDDLE OF THE ROAD HORROR MOVIE THAT MIGHT GIVE YOU A FEW SCARES, A FEW JUMPS AND POSSIBLY A FEW LAUGHS.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
FERTILE GROUND IS A GHOST STORY SET IN A HAUNTED HOUSE AND IT AFFECTS NATE AND EMILY IN DIFFERENT WAYS. NATE SLOWLY BEGINS TO TAKE ON THE PERSONA OF ONE OF HIS LONG LOST RELATIVES AND EMILY IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SEE THE GHOSTS AND IN RESPONSE, SEEMS TO BE LOSING HER MIND.
FOR A HORROR MOVIE, THE ACTING IS OKAY, ALTHOUGH THERE IS NOTHING THERE THAT WILL GRAB YOU AS FANTASTIC. THE SPECIAL EFFECTS WERE EFFECTIVE, SOME WERE A BIT SIMPLE IN THEIR EXECUTION, NOR WAS THE MOVIE BLOODY OR VERY VIOLENT. THE DIRECTION KEPT THE MOVIE FLOWING, WITH THE SCARY PARTS SCARY AND THE TENSE PARTS TENSE. FINALLY, THE STORY IS GOOD ENOUGH TO GET ACROSS THE MAIN THEME OF THE MOVIE.
I DIDN'T HATE THIS MOVIE, BUT I ALSO DIDN'T THINK IT WAS ALL THAT GREAT. IT'S A MIDDLE OF THE ROAD HORROR MOVIE THAT MIGHT GIVE YOU A FEW SCARES, A FEW JUMPS AND POSSIBLY A FEW LAUGHS.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
Thursday, August 30, 2012
MARGARET
ANNA PAQUIN J. SMITH-CAMERON JEANNIE BERLIN MARK RUFFALO
JEAN RENO MATT DAMON MATTHEW BRODERICK
LISA (PAQUIN) IS SHOPPING FOR A COWBOY HAT WHEN SHE SEES A TRANSIT BUS DRIVER (RUFFALO) WEARING ONE. IN TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE HE GOT THE HAT, LISA DISTRACTS HIM WHILE DRIVING, HE RUNS A RED LIGHT AND CRASHES INTO A WOMAN AND KILLS HER. IN THE AFTERMATH OF TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE ACCIDENT, LISA TRIES TO GET HELP FROM HER MOTHER (CAMERON), HER MOTHER'S NEW BOYFRIEND (RENO), TWO OF HER TEACHERS (DAMON AND BRODERICK) AND FINALLY THE VICTIM'S BEST FRIEND EMILY (BERLIN.)
THERE IS ONE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS THE MOVIE: THE ACTING. PAQUIN, CAMERON AND BERLIN ARE AMAZING IN THEIR ROLES. THE REST OF THE MOVIE IS CRAP.
FIRST, WE HAVE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DEBATING COMPLEX SUBJECTS AND SOUNDING LIKE PHD'S. THIS WASN'T BELIEVABLE, AND IT SEEMED TO ME IT WAS ONLY THE WRITER SHOWING OFF HIS ABILITY TO WRITE GOOD DIALOGUE. THAT'S OKAY, BUT THAT DIALOGUE HAS TO BE PUT IN A MOUTH WHERE IT'S TRUTHFUL TO BE HEARD, OTHERWISE IT'S JUST IRRITATING. HERE, IT WAS EXTREMELY IRRITATING.
SECOND, BELIEVABLE TEACHERS. THE TWO TEACHER CHARACTERS HERE ALLOW THINGS TO HAPPEN THAT NO TEACHER WOULD ALLOW, AND IN FACT IF I WERE TEACHING I WOULD BE INSULTED BY THE ACTIONS OF THESE TEACHERS.
THIRD, EDITING. THERE ARE SCENES THAT GO ON WAY TOO LONG, THERE ARE OTHER SCENES THAT JUST END FOR NO REASON AND STILL OTHER SCENES THAT ARE THERE ONLY AS FILLER AND HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MAIN STORY OR ANY OTHER PART OF THIS MOVIE.
FOURTH, IN GENERAL IF THE STORY HAD BEEN KEPT TO THE MAIN IDEA OF THE ACCIDENT AND ITS AFTERMATH, THE MOVIE WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD, BUT INSTEAD WE HAVE ALL THESE SIDE STORIES THAT GET IN THE WAY AND ADD NOTHING TO THE MAIN STORY.
AVOID THIS MOVIE, UNLESS YOU LIKE HAVING THE FEEL OF YOUR SKIN BEING SLOWLY GRATED OFF.
RATING 1.5 out of 5
JEAN RENO MATT DAMON MATTHEW BRODERICK
LISA (PAQUIN) IS SHOPPING FOR A COWBOY HAT WHEN SHE SEES A TRANSIT BUS DRIVER (RUFFALO) WEARING ONE. IN TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE HE GOT THE HAT, LISA DISTRACTS HIM WHILE DRIVING, HE RUNS A RED LIGHT AND CRASHES INTO A WOMAN AND KILLS HER. IN THE AFTERMATH OF TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE ACCIDENT, LISA TRIES TO GET HELP FROM HER MOTHER (CAMERON), HER MOTHER'S NEW BOYFRIEND (RENO), TWO OF HER TEACHERS (DAMON AND BRODERICK) AND FINALLY THE VICTIM'S BEST FRIEND EMILY (BERLIN.)
THERE IS ONE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS THE MOVIE: THE ACTING. PAQUIN, CAMERON AND BERLIN ARE AMAZING IN THEIR ROLES. THE REST OF THE MOVIE IS CRAP.
FIRST, WE HAVE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DEBATING COMPLEX SUBJECTS AND SOUNDING LIKE PHD'S. THIS WASN'T BELIEVABLE, AND IT SEEMED TO ME IT WAS ONLY THE WRITER SHOWING OFF HIS ABILITY TO WRITE GOOD DIALOGUE. THAT'S OKAY, BUT THAT DIALOGUE HAS TO BE PUT IN A MOUTH WHERE IT'S TRUTHFUL TO BE HEARD, OTHERWISE IT'S JUST IRRITATING. HERE, IT WAS EXTREMELY IRRITATING.
SECOND, BELIEVABLE TEACHERS. THE TWO TEACHER CHARACTERS HERE ALLOW THINGS TO HAPPEN THAT NO TEACHER WOULD ALLOW, AND IN FACT IF I WERE TEACHING I WOULD BE INSULTED BY THE ACTIONS OF THESE TEACHERS.
THIRD, EDITING. THERE ARE SCENES THAT GO ON WAY TOO LONG, THERE ARE OTHER SCENES THAT JUST END FOR NO REASON AND STILL OTHER SCENES THAT ARE THERE ONLY AS FILLER AND HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MAIN STORY OR ANY OTHER PART OF THIS MOVIE.
FOURTH, IN GENERAL IF THE STORY HAD BEEN KEPT TO THE MAIN IDEA OF THE ACCIDENT AND ITS AFTERMATH, THE MOVIE WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD, BUT INSTEAD WE HAVE ALL THESE SIDE STORIES THAT GET IN THE WAY AND ADD NOTHING TO THE MAIN STORY.
AVOID THIS MOVIE, UNLESS YOU LIKE HAVING THE FEEL OF YOUR SKIN BEING SLOWLY GRATED OFF.
RATING 1.5 out of 5
MEETING EVIL
SAMUEL L. JACKSON LUKE WILSON LESLIE BIBB
JOHN FELTON (WILSON) HAS JUST BEEN FIRED FROM HIS JOB AS A REAL ESTATE AGENT, HAS BILLS PILING UP AND HIS HOUSE IS ABOUT TO BE FORECLOSED ON. HE THINKS HIS DAY CAN'T GET ANY WORSE, BUT THEN IT DOES WHEN RICHIE (JACKSON) SHOWS UP AT HIS DOOR. RICHIE TRICKS JOHN INTO GOING WITH HIM AND TAKES JOHN ON A WILD RIDE OF MAYHEM AND MURDER. MEANWHILE, JOHN'S WIFE JOANIE (BIBB) HAS SOME SECRETS OF HER OWN THAT MAY BE RELATED TO RICHIE SHOWING UP.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOVIES THAT LEADS YOU DOWN A PATH TO MAKE YOU BELIEVE ONE THING THEN AT THE END SUDDENLY CHANGES DIRECTION AND THE TRUTH TURNS OUT TO BE SOMETHING ELSE. IN SOME MOVIES THIS CAN BE OKAY, BUT IN THIS MOVIE, THAT TRUTH CERTAINLY DOESN'T GEL WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS BEFORE THE BIG REVEAL. JACKSON'S CHARACTER IS EVIL IN THIS MOVIE, AND HE PLAYS IT JUST RIGHT SO IT'S A BIT CAMPY BUT VERY TERRIFYING WHEN NEEDED. IT APPEARS THAT RICHIE'S MAIN GOAL IN THIS MOVIE IS TO FORCE JOHN INTO GROWING A BACKBONE. THAT'S NOT TO SAY JOHN IS A WEAKLING, BUT HE DOES BELIEVE THAT EVERYTHING SHOULD BE ATTEMPTED BEFORE RESORTING TO VIOLENCE. RICHIE DOESN'T SEE THINGS THAT WAY. WILSON PLAYS JOHN CONVINCINGLY, ALTHOUGH AT TIMES HE SEEMS TO BE WHINING MORE THAN DISAGREEING WITH RICHIE.
ONCE RICHIE SHOWS UP, THE DIRECTOR KEEPS THE PACE GOING RAPIDLY AND DOESN'T LET UP UNTIL THE END. THE MOVIE IS VIOLENT BUT NOT REAL GORY OR BLOODY, AND WE SEE THE AFTERMATH OF THE KILLINGS BUT NOT THE ACTUAL DEED. I WILL RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE, BUT ONLY BECAUSE JACKSON IS SO MUCH FUN TO WATCH.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
JOHN FELTON (WILSON) HAS JUST BEEN FIRED FROM HIS JOB AS A REAL ESTATE AGENT, HAS BILLS PILING UP AND HIS HOUSE IS ABOUT TO BE FORECLOSED ON. HE THINKS HIS DAY CAN'T GET ANY WORSE, BUT THEN IT DOES WHEN RICHIE (JACKSON) SHOWS UP AT HIS DOOR. RICHIE TRICKS JOHN INTO GOING WITH HIM AND TAKES JOHN ON A WILD RIDE OF MAYHEM AND MURDER. MEANWHILE, JOHN'S WIFE JOANIE (BIBB) HAS SOME SECRETS OF HER OWN THAT MAY BE RELATED TO RICHIE SHOWING UP.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOVIES THAT LEADS YOU DOWN A PATH TO MAKE YOU BELIEVE ONE THING THEN AT THE END SUDDENLY CHANGES DIRECTION AND THE TRUTH TURNS OUT TO BE SOMETHING ELSE. IN SOME MOVIES THIS CAN BE OKAY, BUT IN THIS MOVIE, THAT TRUTH CERTAINLY DOESN'T GEL WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS BEFORE THE BIG REVEAL. JACKSON'S CHARACTER IS EVIL IN THIS MOVIE, AND HE PLAYS IT JUST RIGHT SO IT'S A BIT CAMPY BUT VERY TERRIFYING WHEN NEEDED. IT APPEARS THAT RICHIE'S MAIN GOAL IN THIS MOVIE IS TO FORCE JOHN INTO GROWING A BACKBONE. THAT'S NOT TO SAY JOHN IS A WEAKLING, BUT HE DOES BELIEVE THAT EVERYTHING SHOULD BE ATTEMPTED BEFORE RESORTING TO VIOLENCE. RICHIE DOESN'T SEE THINGS THAT WAY. WILSON PLAYS JOHN CONVINCINGLY, ALTHOUGH AT TIMES HE SEEMS TO BE WHINING MORE THAN DISAGREEING WITH RICHIE.
ONCE RICHIE SHOWS UP, THE DIRECTOR KEEPS THE PACE GOING RAPIDLY AND DOESN'T LET UP UNTIL THE END. THE MOVIE IS VIOLENT BUT NOT REAL GORY OR BLOODY, AND WE SEE THE AFTERMATH OF THE KILLINGS BUT NOT THE ACTUAL DEED. I WILL RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE, BUT ONLY BECAUSE JACKSON IS SO MUCH FUN TO WATCH.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
Monday, August 27, 2012
ACOLYTES
JOEL EDGERTON MICHAEL DORMAN SEBASTIAN GREGORY JOSHUA
PAYNE HEATHER MANGAN LAWRENCE
AS ADOLESCENTS, FRIENDS MARK AND JAMES (GREGORY AND PAYNE) ARE SEXUALLY ABUSED BY GARY PARKER (DORMAN), WHO HAS CONTINUED TO HARASS THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. ONE DAY, WHILE WANDERING IN THE WOODS, MARK SEES A MAN, IAN WRIGHT (EDGERTON) BURY SOMETHING. MARK RETURNS WITH JAMES AND JAMES' GIRLFRIEND CHASELY (LAWRENCE) TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS BURIED. THEY DISCOVER A BODY. THEY THEN DECIDE TO BLACKMAIL WRIGHT INTO KILLING PARKER, BUT WHAT THE TEENS DON'T KNOW IS THAT WRIGHT IS A SERIAL KILLER NOT TO BE FOOLED WITH.
THIS IS YET ANOTHER WELL DONE AUSSIE THRILLER. I HAVE SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE STORY AND PLOT, MOSTLY WITH THE PLAN THE BOYS COME UP WITH: IS IT POSSIBLE FOR TEENS TO THINK UP SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND THEN BE ABLE TO PUT IT INTO ACTION? I ALSO FELT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO ALLOW THE STORY TO MOVE FORWARD WERE A LITTLE TO EASY, IE, REALLY NOT NATURAL BUT HAPPENED ANYWAY. THERE IS ALSO A SUB PLOT INVOLVING THE DISAPPEARANCE AND DEATH OF A TEENAGE GIRL THAT SEEMS TO BE THERE TO CONVENIENTLY DISTRACT THE VIEWER FROM THE TRUE STORY. HOWEVER, I STILL THINK THIS IS A MOVIE WORTH WATCHING.
RATING 3 out of 5
PAYNE HEATHER MANGAN LAWRENCE
AS ADOLESCENTS, FRIENDS MARK AND JAMES (GREGORY AND PAYNE) ARE SEXUALLY ABUSED BY GARY PARKER (DORMAN), WHO HAS CONTINUED TO HARASS THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. ONE DAY, WHILE WANDERING IN THE WOODS, MARK SEES A MAN, IAN WRIGHT (EDGERTON) BURY SOMETHING. MARK RETURNS WITH JAMES AND JAMES' GIRLFRIEND CHASELY (LAWRENCE) TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS BURIED. THEY DISCOVER A BODY. THEY THEN DECIDE TO BLACKMAIL WRIGHT INTO KILLING PARKER, BUT WHAT THE TEENS DON'T KNOW IS THAT WRIGHT IS A SERIAL KILLER NOT TO BE FOOLED WITH.
THIS IS YET ANOTHER WELL DONE AUSSIE THRILLER. I HAVE SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE STORY AND PLOT, MOSTLY WITH THE PLAN THE BOYS COME UP WITH: IS IT POSSIBLE FOR TEENS TO THINK UP SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND THEN BE ABLE TO PUT IT INTO ACTION? I ALSO FELT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO ALLOW THE STORY TO MOVE FORWARD WERE A LITTLE TO EASY, IE, REALLY NOT NATURAL BUT HAPPENED ANYWAY. THERE IS ALSO A SUB PLOT INVOLVING THE DISAPPEARANCE AND DEATH OF A TEENAGE GIRL THAT SEEMS TO BE THERE TO CONVENIENTLY DISTRACT THE VIEWER FROM THE TRUE STORY. HOWEVER, I STILL THINK THIS IS A MOVIE WORTH WATCHING.
RATING 3 out of 5
CRACKS
EVA GREEN JUNO TEMPLE MARIA VALVERDE IMOGEN POOTS
SET IN THE EARLY 1930'S, THIS MOVIE TELLS THE STORIES OF A GROUP OF GIRLS AT AN ENGLISH BOARDING SCHOOL AND THEIR BELOVED TEACHER,
MISS G (GREEN). MISS G IS COACHING THE GIRLS IN DIVING, AND THEIR TEAM LEADER IS DI (TEMPLE) WHO ALL THE GIRLS LOOK UP TO, ESPECIALLY POPPY (POOTS). DI HAS A CRUSH ON MISS G, AND THE FEELINGS MAY BE MUTUAL. EVERYTHING IS GOING ALONG FINE UNTIL FIAMMA (VALVERDE) SHOWS UP. SHE IS A RIVAL TO DI IN ALL WAYS, INCLUDING THE ATTENTION OF MISS G, AND DI DECIDES TO GET HER REVENGE. FIAMMA ALSO BEGINS TO EXPOSE MISS G FOR WHAT SHE REALLY IS, AND THIS LEADS THE TEACHER DOWN A ONE WAY PATH TO DESTRUCTION.
THIS IS A VERY SUBTLE MOVIE WITH MANY LAYERS THAT ARE SLOWLY PEELED AWAY TO SHOW THE RAWNESS THAT TEENAGE GIRLS CAN DO TO EACH OTHER. IT ALSO SMOLDERS WITH THE SEXUAL TENSION BETWEEN MISS G AND THE TWO GIRLS, DI AND FIAMMA. THE DIRECTOR, JORDAN SCOTT (DAUGHTER OF RIDLEY SCOTT) DID AN IMPRESSIVE JOB IN CREATING THIS SUBTEXT AND THEN LETTING IT PLAY OUT THROUGH THE LIVES OF THE CHARACTERS. EVA GREEN DOES A MASTERFUL JOB AS MISS G, STARTING OUT AS WHAT SEEMS TO BE A HEALTHY PERSON AND THEN SLOWLY AND TRAGICALLY SINKING INTO THE DEPTHS OF INSANITY AS THE TRUTH ABOUT HER BECOMES REVEALED. JUNO TEMPLE IS EQUALLY GOOD, BRINGING TO MIND THAT OLD SAYING 'IF LOOKS COULD KILL' FOR SOME OF THE STARES SHE GIVES TO FIAMMA. YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT THIS MOVIE.
RATING 3 out of 5
SET IN THE EARLY 1930'S, THIS MOVIE TELLS THE STORIES OF A GROUP OF GIRLS AT AN ENGLISH BOARDING SCHOOL AND THEIR BELOVED TEACHER,
MISS G (GREEN). MISS G IS COACHING THE GIRLS IN DIVING, AND THEIR TEAM LEADER IS DI (TEMPLE) WHO ALL THE GIRLS LOOK UP TO, ESPECIALLY POPPY (POOTS). DI HAS A CRUSH ON MISS G, AND THE FEELINGS MAY BE MUTUAL. EVERYTHING IS GOING ALONG FINE UNTIL FIAMMA (VALVERDE) SHOWS UP. SHE IS A RIVAL TO DI IN ALL WAYS, INCLUDING THE ATTENTION OF MISS G, AND DI DECIDES TO GET HER REVENGE. FIAMMA ALSO BEGINS TO EXPOSE MISS G FOR WHAT SHE REALLY IS, AND THIS LEADS THE TEACHER DOWN A ONE WAY PATH TO DESTRUCTION.
THIS IS A VERY SUBTLE MOVIE WITH MANY LAYERS THAT ARE SLOWLY PEELED AWAY TO SHOW THE RAWNESS THAT TEENAGE GIRLS CAN DO TO EACH OTHER. IT ALSO SMOLDERS WITH THE SEXUAL TENSION BETWEEN MISS G AND THE TWO GIRLS, DI AND FIAMMA. THE DIRECTOR, JORDAN SCOTT (DAUGHTER OF RIDLEY SCOTT) DID AN IMPRESSIVE JOB IN CREATING THIS SUBTEXT AND THEN LETTING IT PLAY OUT THROUGH THE LIVES OF THE CHARACTERS. EVA GREEN DOES A MASTERFUL JOB AS MISS G, STARTING OUT AS WHAT SEEMS TO BE A HEALTHY PERSON AND THEN SLOWLY AND TRAGICALLY SINKING INTO THE DEPTHS OF INSANITY AS THE TRUTH ABOUT HER BECOMES REVEALED. JUNO TEMPLE IS EQUALLY GOOD, BRINGING TO MIND THAT OLD SAYING 'IF LOOKS COULD KILL' FOR SOME OF THE STARES SHE GIVES TO FIAMMA. YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT THIS MOVIE.
RATING 3 out of 5
Monday, August 20, 2012
QUARANTINE 2: TERMINAL
AS A PLANE IS LEAVING LOS ANGELES FOR KANSAS CITY, SOME OF THE PASSENGERS BECOME INFECTED WITH A VIRUS THAT TURNS THEM INTO FLESH EATING MONSTERS. THE PLANE TURNS AROUND AND LANDS BACK AT LAX, BUT THE PASSENGERS FIND OUT THEY HAVE BEEN PUT UNDER QUARANTINE AND SEALED INSIDE A TERMINAL BUILDING. AS THE SURVIVORS TRY TO FIND A WAY OUT, THEY MUST ALSO CONTEND WITH THE OTHERS WHO HAVE BECOME INFECTED AND ARE TRYING TO EAT THEM.
FIRST, THIS IS REALLY NOT A SEQUEL TO QUARANTINE, SINCE THE TWO MOVIES ARE TAKING PLACE AT THE SAME TIME. HOWEVER, I DO THINK THIS MOVIE IS BETTER THAN THE FIRST ONE. IT IS WELL PACED, THE ATTACKS ARE FREQUENT AND VICIOUS AND THE TENSION MOUNTS AS THE MOVIE GOES ALONG. WE ALSO GET A LITTLE BIT OF BACK STORY ON THE VIRUS AND WHAT IT IS ABOUT. I ALSO THINK BY PLACING IT INSIDE AN AIR TERMINAL BUILDING, A LOT IS ADDED TO THE MOVIE: THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES TO HIDE, A LOT OF DARK CORNERS AND A MAZE OF CONVEYOR BELTS AND MACHINERY TO RUN THROUGH IN TRYING TO GET AWAY. THIS IS ONE OF THE BETTER HORROR MOVIES I'VE SEEN.
RATING 3 out of 5
FIRST, THIS IS REALLY NOT A SEQUEL TO QUARANTINE, SINCE THE TWO MOVIES ARE TAKING PLACE AT THE SAME TIME. HOWEVER, I DO THINK THIS MOVIE IS BETTER THAN THE FIRST ONE. IT IS WELL PACED, THE ATTACKS ARE FREQUENT AND VICIOUS AND THE TENSION MOUNTS AS THE MOVIE GOES ALONG. WE ALSO GET A LITTLE BIT OF BACK STORY ON THE VIRUS AND WHAT IT IS ABOUT. I ALSO THINK BY PLACING IT INSIDE AN AIR TERMINAL BUILDING, A LOT IS ADDED TO THE MOVIE: THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES TO HIDE, A LOT OF DARK CORNERS AND A MAZE OF CONVEYOR BELTS AND MACHINERY TO RUN THROUGH IN TRYING TO GET AWAY. THIS IS ONE OF THE BETTER HORROR MOVIES I'VE SEEN.
RATING 3 out of 5
MASK MAKER
NIKKI DELOACH STEPHEN COLLETTI
JENNIFER AND EVAN (DELOACH AND COLLETTI) ARE ENGAGED, AND AS AN EARLY WEDDING GIFT/BIRTHDAY PRESENT, EVAN BUYS A RUN DOWN FARM HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. THEY INVITE FOUR OF THEIR FRIENDS TO HELP CELEBRATE AND CLEAN UP THE PLACE, BUT WHAT NONE OF THEM KNOW IS THAT THERE IS A KILLER RUNNING AROUND THE FARM.
THIS IS A TYPICAL HORROR MOVIE THAT FOLLOWS THE SAME FORMULA AS MANY OF THE OTHER FILMS BEFORE IT. IN THAT REGARD, THE STORY IS JUST SO-SO WITH NOTHING REALLY NEW GOING ON. THE ACTING IS A LITTLE BETTER THAN YOU MIGHT EXPECT, AND I FOUND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JENNIFER AND EVAN TO RING TRUE. ALSO, SOMEWHAT SURPRISING, THERE IS A LOT OF TIME SPENT ON DEVELOPING THE BACK STORY FOR THE KILLER, SO THE VIEWER ACTUALLY GETS TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY HE IS THE WAY HE IS. AND, AS WITH MOST SLASHER MOVIES, THE SETTING IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE CHARACTERS, HOWEVER I DIDN'T THINK THE OLD FARMHOUSE AND THE ADJACENT BUILDINGS WERE ALL THAT CREEPY. FINALLY, THERE ARE THREE OLDER CHARACTER ACTORS WHO SHOW UP AND ADD SOME JUICE TO THE MOVIE: TREAT WILLIAMS, TERRY KISER AND MICHAEL BERRYMAN. YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THE NAMES, BUT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THE FACES, ESPECIALLY BERRYMAN'S.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
JENNIFER AND EVAN (DELOACH AND COLLETTI) ARE ENGAGED, AND AS AN EARLY WEDDING GIFT/BIRTHDAY PRESENT, EVAN BUYS A RUN DOWN FARM HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. THEY INVITE FOUR OF THEIR FRIENDS TO HELP CELEBRATE AND CLEAN UP THE PLACE, BUT WHAT NONE OF THEM KNOW IS THAT THERE IS A KILLER RUNNING AROUND THE FARM.
THIS IS A TYPICAL HORROR MOVIE THAT FOLLOWS THE SAME FORMULA AS MANY OF THE OTHER FILMS BEFORE IT. IN THAT REGARD, THE STORY IS JUST SO-SO WITH NOTHING REALLY NEW GOING ON. THE ACTING IS A LITTLE BETTER THAN YOU MIGHT EXPECT, AND I FOUND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JENNIFER AND EVAN TO RING TRUE. ALSO, SOMEWHAT SURPRISING, THERE IS A LOT OF TIME SPENT ON DEVELOPING THE BACK STORY FOR THE KILLER, SO THE VIEWER ACTUALLY GETS TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY HE IS THE WAY HE IS. AND, AS WITH MOST SLASHER MOVIES, THE SETTING IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE CHARACTERS, HOWEVER I DIDN'T THINK THE OLD FARMHOUSE AND THE ADJACENT BUILDINGS WERE ALL THAT CREEPY. FINALLY, THERE ARE THREE OLDER CHARACTER ACTORS WHO SHOW UP AND ADD SOME JUICE TO THE MOVIE: TREAT WILLIAMS, TERRY KISER AND MICHAEL BERRYMAN. YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THE NAMES, BUT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THE FACES, ESPECIALLY BERRYMAN'S.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
Thursday, August 16, 2012
GOD BLESS AMERICA
JOEL MURRAY TARA LYNNE BARR
FRANK (MURRAY) IS FED UP WITH THE MEANNESS AND STUPIDITY OF THE AMERICAN CULTURE. HE BLAMES MOST OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY FOR THIS, INCLUDING REALITY TV SHOWS, THE INTERNET, TALK RADIO AND CELL PHONES. ON THE DAY HE LOSES HIS JOB FOR A TRUMPED UP CHARGE OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, HE ALSO FINDS OUT HE IS DYING FROM AN INOPERABLE BRAIN TUMOR. BELIEVING HE HAS NOTHING TO LIVE FOR, HE GOES HOME TO COMMIT SUICIDE, BUT THEN SEES ON A REALITY TV SHOW A BRATTY DEMANDING TEENAGER TREAT HER PARENTS LIKE CRAP AND DECIDES SHE HAS TO DIE. WHEN HE DOES THE DEED, IT IS WITNESSED BY ROXY (BARR) ANOTHER TEENAGER WITH SIMILAR VIEWS TO FRANK'S. SHE FOLLOWS HIM AND WHEN THEY FINALLY MEET, THEY BOTH DECIDE TO GO ON A CROSS COUNTRY KILLING SPREE TO GET RID OF ALL THE BAD PEOPLE.
THIS MOVIE IS A VERY DARK SATIRICAL LOOK AT MODERN CULTURE. IT PULLS NO PUNCHES, GOES FOR THE JUGGLER AND HAS MANY SHOCKING YET HILARIOUS SCENES. IT IS VIOLENT AND BLOODY, NO WHERE NEAR POLITICALLY CORRECT AND DELIVERS HARD LINE MORAL JUDGEMENTS ON THE RUDENESS AND STUPIDITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND THEN SUGGESTS KILLING PEOPLE AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION. THE SATIRE IS SHARP, POINTED AND SOMETIMES UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT THAT IS WHERE THE COMEDY COMES FROM.
MURRAY PORTRAYS FRANK AS SOMEWHAT LETHARGIC, BUT DEEPLY SUPPORTIVE OF HIS BELIEFS. HE ACTS LIKE HE DOESN'T CARE, BUT HE DOES CARE AND IN FACT KILLS TO SUPPORT HIS BELIEFS. WITH ROXY, BARR HAS SHOWN HER TO BE INTELLIGENT, ABLE TO SPEAK HER THEORIES WITH ARTICULATION, AND YET IS REALLY A CRAZY TEENAGER WHO GETS OFF ON KILLING. IT IS A COMPLEX ROLL THAT BARR DOES VERY WELL.
THIS MOVIE WAS WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY BOBCAT GOLDTHWAIT, AND HIS SUBVERSIVE TWISTED SENSE OF DARK HUMOR OOZES FROM IT. BE SURE YOU WATCH IT.
RATING 4 out of 5
FRANK (MURRAY) IS FED UP WITH THE MEANNESS AND STUPIDITY OF THE AMERICAN CULTURE. HE BLAMES MOST OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY FOR THIS, INCLUDING REALITY TV SHOWS, THE INTERNET, TALK RADIO AND CELL PHONES. ON THE DAY HE LOSES HIS JOB FOR A TRUMPED UP CHARGE OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, HE ALSO FINDS OUT HE IS DYING FROM AN INOPERABLE BRAIN TUMOR. BELIEVING HE HAS NOTHING TO LIVE FOR, HE GOES HOME TO COMMIT SUICIDE, BUT THEN SEES ON A REALITY TV SHOW A BRATTY DEMANDING TEENAGER TREAT HER PARENTS LIKE CRAP AND DECIDES SHE HAS TO DIE. WHEN HE DOES THE DEED, IT IS WITNESSED BY ROXY (BARR) ANOTHER TEENAGER WITH SIMILAR VIEWS TO FRANK'S. SHE FOLLOWS HIM AND WHEN THEY FINALLY MEET, THEY BOTH DECIDE TO GO ON A CROSS COUNTRY KILLING SPREE TO GET RID OF ALL THE BAD PEOPLE.
THIS MOVIE IS A VERY DARK SATIRICAL LOOK AT MODERN CULTURE. IT PULLS NO PUNCHES, GOES FOR THE JUGGLER AND HAS MANY SHOCKING YET HILARIOUS SCENES. IT IS VIOLENT AND BLOODY, NO WHERE NEAR POLITICALLY CORRECT AND DELIVERS HARD LINE MORAL JUDGEMENTS ON THE RUDENESS AND STUPIDITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND THEN SUGGESTS KILLING PEOPLE AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION. THE SATIRE IS SHARP, POINTED AND SOMETIMES UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT THAT IS WHERE THE COMEDY COMES FROM.
MURRAY PORTRAYS FRANK AS SOMEWHAT LETHARGIC, BUT DEEPLY SUPPORTIVE OF HIS BELIEFS. HE ACTS LIKE HE DOESN'T CARE, BUT HE DOES CARE AND IN FACT KILLS TO SUPPORT HIS BELIEFS. WITH ROXY, BARR HAS SHOWN HER TO BE INTELLIGENT, ABLE TO SPEAK HER THEORIES WITH ARTICULATION, AND YET IS REALLY A CRAZY TEENAGER WHO GETS OFF ON KILLING. IT IS A COMPLEX ROLL THAT BARR DOES VERY WELL.
THIS MOVIE WAS WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY BOBCAT GOLDTHWAIT, AND HIS SUBVERSIVE TWISTED SENSE OF DARK HUMOR OOZES FROM IT. BE SURE YOU WATCH IT.
RATING 4 out of 5
THE BEAVER
MEL GIBSON JODIE FOSTER ANTON YELCHIN JENNIFER LAWRENCE
WALTER BLACK (GIBSON) IS SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION, AND AS A RESULT, HE AND HIS WIFE MEREDITH (FOSTER) DECIDE TO SPLIT UP. WALTER MOVES OUT, AND ONE NIGHT WHILE TOSSING STUFF IN A DUMPSTER, HE FINDS A BEAVER PUPPET, PUTS IT ON AND STARTS SPEAKING AND LIVING THROUGH THE BEAVER. MEANWHILE, WALTER'S SON PORTER (YELCHIN) IS WORRIED HE IS BECOMING JUST LIKE HIS FATHER, TO THE POINT OF WHERE HE KEEPS LISTS OF THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN HIM AND HIS FATHER. PORTER IS ALSO TRYING TO START A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HOT SMART GIRL AT SCHOOL, NORAH (LAWRENCE).
I KNOW THIS SOUNDS LIKE A STUPID IDEA FOR A MOVIE, BUT GIVE DIRECTOR FOSTER PLENTY OF CREDIT FOR NOT DELVING INTO THE INANENESS THIS MOVIE COULD HAVE BECOME. INSTEAD, IT IS A MOVING AND REVEALING LOOK INTO THE DESTRUCTION AND HEALING OF A MAN WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND HOW THAT ILLNESS CAN TEAR APART A SEEMINGLY STABLE LOVING FAMILY.
GIBSON ONCE AGAIN SHOWS US JUST HOW GOOD AN ACTOR HE IS. THERE ARE MANY SCENES WHERE HE CONVEYS MANY DEEP EMOTIONAL FEELINGS THROUGH A SIMPLE EXPRESSION. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH HIS PERFORMANCE. FOSTER IS ALSO VERY GOOD IN HER ROLE AS THE MOTHER AND WIFE. SURPRISE, SHOCK , SUPPORT AND ANGER ARE MANY OF THE FEELINGS SHE SHOWS AND SHE DOES THEM VERY TRUTHFULLY. YELCHIN, AS THE SON, HAS A VERY TOUGH ROLE: HE LOVES HIS DAD, BUT IS AFRAID HE IS BECOMING LIKE HIM, AND THEREFORE REALLY DOESN'T WANT TO BE AROUND WALTER. HE IS ALSO ATTRACTED TO NORAH, BUT MAKES A FEW STUMBLES THERE THAT ALMOST ENDS THEIR RELATIONSHIP. ALL OF THIS HE DOES TRUTHFULLY AND REALISTICALLY. FINALLY, WITH NORAH, LAWRENCE HAS A CHARACTER WHO IS TOUGH AND SELF-ASSURED YET IS HURTING AND FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT HER BROTHER'S DEATH. WHEN PORTER FORCES HER TO CONFRONT HER FEELINGS, LAWRENCE'S TRUE SKILL AS AN ACTOR COMES OUT AND IT IS AN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE.
BE SURE TO WATCH THIS MOVIE, YOU WILL BE SURPRISED AT HOW GOOD IT IS.
RATING 3.5 out of 5
WALTER BLACK (GIBSON) IS SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION, AND AS A RESULT, HE AND HIS WIFE MEREDITH (FOSTER) DECIDE TO SPLIT UP. WALTER MOVES OUT, AND ONE NIGHT WHILE TOSSING STUFF IN A DUMPSTER, HE FINDS A BEAVER PUPPET, PUTS IT ON AND STARTS SPEAKING AND LIVING THROUGH THE BEAVER. MEANWHILE, WALTER'S SON PORTER (YELCHIN) IS WORRIED HE IS BECOMING JUST LIKE HIS FATHER, TO THE POINT OF WHERE HE KEEPS LISTS OF THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN HIM AND HIS FATHER. PORTER IS ALSO TRYING TO START A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HOT SMART GIRL AT SCHOOL, NORAH (LAWRENCE).
I KNOW THIS SOUNDS LIKE A STUPID IDEA FOR A MOVIE, BUT GIVE DIRECTOR FOSTER PLENTY OF CREDIT FOR NOT DELVING INTO THE INANENESS THIS MOVIE COULD HAVE BECOME. INSTEAD, IT IS A MOVING AND REVEALING LOOK INTO THE DESTRUCTION AND HEALING OF A MAN WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND HOW THAT ILLNESS CAN TEAR APART A SEEMINGLY STABLE LOVING FAMILY.
GIBSON ONCE AGAIN SHOWS US JUST HOW GOOD AN ACTOR HE IS. THERE ARE MANY SCENES WHERE HE CONVEYS MANY DEEP EMOTIONAL FEELINGS THROUGH A SIMPLE EXPRESSION. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH HIS PERFORMANCE. FOSTER IS ALSO VERY GOOD IN HER ROLE AS THE MOTHER AND WIFE. SURPRISE, SHOCK , SUPPORT AND ANGER ARE MANY OF THE FEELINGS SHE SHOWS AND SHE DOES THEM VERY TRUTHFULLY. YELCHIN, AS THE SON, HAS A VERY TOUGH ROLE: HE LOVES HIS DAD, BUT IS AFRAID HE IS BECOMING LIKE HIM, AND THEREFORE REALLY DOESN'T WANT TO BE AROUND WALTER. HE IS ALSO ATTRACTED TO NORAH, BUT MAKES A FEW STUMBLES THERE THAT ALMOST ENDS THEIR RELATIONSHIP. ALL OF THIS HE DOES TRUTHFULLY AND REALISTICALLY. FINALLY, WITH NORAH, LAWRENCE HAS A CHARACTER WHO IS TOUGH AND SELF-ASSURED YET IS HURTING AND FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT HER BROTHER'S DEATH. WHEN PORTER FORCES HER TO CONFRONT HER FEELINGS, LAWRENCE'S TRUE SKILL AS AN ACTOR COMES OUT AND IT IS AN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE.
BE SURE TO WATCH THIS MOVIE, YOU WILL BE SURPRISED AT HOW GOOD IT IS.
RATING 3.5 out of 5
Monday, August 13, 2012
NUDE NUNS WITH BIG GUNS
SISTER SARA IS KIDNAPPED AND BRUTALIZED BY A BIKER GANG AT THE DIRECTION OF HER PRIEST. WHILE AT THE EDGE OF DEATH, SARA BELIEVED THAT GOD SPOKE TO HER AND TOLD HER TO TAKE REVENGE ON ALL THE BAD GUYS SHE SEES. SHE GETS HERSELF SOME BIG GUNS AND STARTS TAKING OUT THE BADDIES.
THIS IS A GRINDHOUSE EXPLOITATION FLICK AND SHOULD BE WATCHED WITH THAT IN MIND. THE ACTING ISN'T BAD, THE DIRECTION IS OKAY AND THE STORY IS JUST BARELY THERE. HOWEVER, IT HAS ALL THE THINGS YOU WOULD EXPECT IN A GRINDHOUSE MOVIE: NUDITY, VIOLENCE, DRUGS, BIKER GANGS, CORRUPT PRIESTS AND A SENSE OF HUMOR. THAT IS WHT WE LIKE THESE MOVIES, THAT IS WHT WE WATCH THESE MOVIES AND THAT IS WHY I RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE. THE TITLE TELLS YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW, AND IT IS ALL THAT, BUT SO MUCH MORE.
RATING 3 out of 5
THIS IS A GRINDHOUSE EXPLOITATION FLICK AND SHOULD BE WATCHED WITH THAT IN MIND. THE ACTING ISN'T BAD, THE DIRECTION IS OKAY AND THE STORY IS JUST BARELY THERE. HOWEVER, IT HAS ALL THE THINGS YOU WOULD EXPECT IN A GRINDHOUSE MOVIE: NUDITY, VIOLENCE, DRUGS, BIKER GANGS, CORRUPT PRIESTS AND A SENSE OF HUMOR. THAT IS WHT WE LIKE THESE MOVIES, THAT IS WHT WE WATCH THESE MOVIES AND THAT IS WHY I RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE. THE TITLE TELLS YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW, AND IT IS ALL THAT, BUT SO MUCH MORE.
RATING 3 out of 5
X: NIGHT OF VENGEANCE
VIVA BIANCA HANNA MANGAN LAWRENCE
SHAY (LAWRENCE) HAS RUN AWAY FROM HOME AND ENDS UP ON THE STREETS OF SYDNEY AUSTRALIA. ONCE THERE, SHE TRIES TO BECOME A CALL GIRL, BUT THINGS JUST GO FROM BAD TO WORSE. MEANWHILE, VETERAN HOOKER HOLLY (BIANCA) IS PLANNING TO RETIRE. SHE HAS ONE LAST JOB BUT NEEDS A SECOND GIRL. BY CHANCE SHE RUNS INTO SHAY ON THE STREET AND HIRES HER. WHILE IN THE JOHN'S ROOM, SHAY AND HOLLY SEE HIM GET KILLED, AND THE REST OF THE MOVIE IS THE KILLER CHASING AFTER THE TWO GIRLS.
FIRST, BE AWARE THAT THIS IS AN ADULT MOVIE: IT IS VERY OPEN AND STRAIGHT FORWARD IN ITS DEPICTION OF THE SEEDY SIDE OF SEX-ON-THE-STREET LIFE. BASICALLY, IT IS A CHASE MOVIE THROUGH THE STREETS OF SYDNEY. THERE IS VERY LITTLE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, ALTHOUGH WE DO GET A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFO ON BOTH SHAY AND HOLLY. ALSO, WE GET NO REASONS AS TO WHY THE JOHN WAS KILLED OR HOW THE KILLER IS INVOLVED.
THE ACTION WAS GOOD AND THE DIRECTION KEEPS THE MOVIE FLOWING, SOMETIMES FAST AND THEN AT TIMES A LITTLE SLOWER, BUT NOT TO THE POINT OF STOPPING THE MOVIE. THE ACTING WAS GOOD, ALTHOUGH SHAY, AT ONLY 17, SEEMED A LITTLE TOO COMFORTABLE ON THE STREETS.
THERE ARE SOME GOOD AND INTERESTING FILMS COMING OUT OF AUSTRALIA, AND THIS MOVIE WOULD BE ONE OF THEM. YOU SHOULD CHECK IT OUT.
RATING 3 out of 5
SHAY (LAWRENCE) HAS RUN AWAY FROM HOME AND ENDS UP ON THE STREETS OF SYDNEY AUSTRALIA. ONCE THERE, SHE TRIES TO BECOME A CALL GIRL, BUT THINGS JUST GO FROM BAD TO WORSE. MEANWHILE, VETERAN HOOKER HOLLY (BIANCA) IS PLANNING TO RETIRE. SHE HAS ONE LAST JOB BUT NEEDS A SECOND GIRL. BY CHANCE SHE RUNS INTO SHAY ON THE STREET AND HIRES HER. WHILE IN THE JOHN'S ROOM, SHAY AND HOLLY SEE HIM GET KILLED, AND THE REST OF THE MOVIE IS THE KILLER CHASING AFTER THE TWO GIRLS.
FIRST, BE AWARE THAT THIS IS AN ADULT MOVIE: IT IS VERY OPEN AND STRAIGHT FORWARD IN ITS DEPICTION OF THE SEEDY SIDE OF SEX-ON-THE-STREET LIFE. BASICALLY, IT IS A CHASE MOVIE THROUGH THE STREETS OF SYDNEY. THERE IS VERY LITTLE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, ALTHOUGH WE DO GET A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFO ON BOTH SHAY AND HOLLY. ALSO, WE GET NO REASONS AS TO WHY THE JOHN WAS KILLED OR HOW THE KILLER IS INVOLVED.
THE ACTION WAS GOOD AND THE DIRECTION KEEPS THE MOVIE FLOWING, SOMETIMES FAST AND THEN AT TIMES A LITTLE SLOWER, BUT NOT TO THE POINT OF STOPPING THE MOVIE. THE ACTING WAS GOOD, ALTHOUGH SHAY, AT ONLY 17, SEEMED A LITTLE TOO COMFORTABLE ON THE STREETS.
THERE ARE SOME GOOD AND INTERESTING FILMS COMING OUT OF AUSTRALIA, AND THIS MOVIE WOULD BE ONE OF THEM. YOU SHOULD CHECK IT OUT.
RATING 3 out of 5
Thursday, August 9, 2012
A DANGEROUS METHOD
VIGGO MORTENSEN MICHAEL FASSBENDER KEIRA KNIGHTLEY
A MENTALLY DISTURBED YOUNG RUSSIAN GIRL, SABINA (KNIGHTLEY) ENDS UP IN THE CARE OF CARL JUNG (FASSBENDER). IN TRYING TO CURE SABINA, JUNG TRIES OUT A BRAND NEW METHOD DEVELOPED BY SIGMUND FREUD (MORTENSEN). THIS LEADS TO THE EVENTUAL MEETING BETWEEN THE TWO DOCTORS, WHERE THEIR FRIENDSHIP DEVELOPS BUT IS ULTIMATELY TORN APART BY THEIR DIFFERING APPROACHES TO PSYCHOLOGY. SABINA IS ALSO A FACTOR IN BOTH OF THE DOCTOR'S LIVES. THIS MOVIE TELLS THEIR STORIES.
IN TELLING THE STORY OF THE DEVELOPING FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN JUNG AND FREUD, WE GET TO SEE THE CHARACTERS INTERACT AND THEREBY HOW THAT FRIENDSHIP BEGINS. DURING THE TIME THEY BREAK APART, WE ONLY GET TO SEE THIS THROUGH THE READING OF LETTERS THEY SEND EACH OTHER, WHICH SEEMS TO LACK SOME CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. THERE WERE ALSO TWO OR THREE TIMES WHEN SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN, BUT IT WAS NEVER FULLY EXPLORED OR EXPLAINED, WHICH WAS BOTHERSOME.
MORTENSEN AND FASSBENDER DID A GOOD JOB AT PORTRAYING THE TWO DOCTORS: I FOUND THEIR ACTING TO BE BELIEVABLE. AS FOR KNIGHTLEY, THERE WERE TIMES IN THE FIRST HALF WHERE SHE SEEMED TO BE OVERACTING IN TRYING TO CONVEY HER MENTAL ILLNESS. THEN IN THE SECOND HALF WHEN SHE IS CURED AND A STUDENT, SHE ALMOST SEEMS TO BE UNDERACTING. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS HER DOING, THE DIRECTOR'S DOING OR IF THE SCRIPT WAS WRITTEN THAT WAY, BUT IT IS INCONSISTENT.
FINALLY, I THINK THIS MOVIE NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE LONGER SO THAT MORE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT COULD BE ADDED, ESPECIALLY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO DOCTORS.
I WILL RECOMMEND, BUT WITH SOME RESERVATIONS.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
A MENTALLY DISTURBED YOUNG RUSSIAN GIRL, SABINA (KNIGHTLEY) ENDS UP IN THE CARE OF CARL JUNG (FASSBENDER). IN TRYING TO CURE SABINA, JUNG TRIES OUT A BRAND NEW METHOD DEVELOPED BY SIGMUND FREUD (MORTENSEN). THIS LEADS TO THE EVENTUAL MEETING BETWEEN THE TWO DOCTORS, WHERE THEIR FRIENDSHIP DEVELOPS BUT IS ULTIMATELY TORN APART BY THEIR DIFFERING APPROACHES TO PSYCHOLOGY. SABINA IS ALSO A FACTOR IN BOTH OF THE DOCTOR'S LIVES. THIS MOVIE TELLS THEIR STORIES.
IN TELLING THE STORY OF THE DEVELOPING FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN JUNG AND FREUD, WE GET TO SEE THE CHARACTERS INTERACT AND THEREBY HOW THAT FRIENDSHIP BEGINS. DURING THE TIME THEY BREAK APART, WE ONLY GET TO SEE THIS THROUGH THE READING OF LETTERS THEY SEND EACH OTHER, WHICH SEEMS TO LACK SOME CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. THERE WERE ALSO TWO OR THREE TIMES WHEN SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN, BUT IT WAS NEVER FULLY EXPLORED OR EXPLAINED, WHICH WAS BOTHERSOME.
MORTENSEN AND FASSBENDER DID A GOOD JOB AT PORTRAYING THE TWO DOCTORS: I FOUND THEIR ACTING TO BE BELIEVABLE. AS FOR KNIGHTLEY, THERE WERE TIMES IN THE FIRST HALF WHERE SHE SEEMED TO BE OVERACTING IN TRYING TO CONVEY HER MENTAL ILLNESS. THEN IN THE SECOND HALF WHEN SHE IS CURED AND A STUDENT, SHE ALMOST SEEMS TO BE UNDERACTING. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS HER DOING, THE DIRECTOR'S DOING OR IF THE SCRIPT WAS WRITTEN THAT WAY, BUT IT IS INCONSISTENT.
FINALLY, I THINK THIS MOVIE NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE LONGER SO THAT MORE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT COULD BE ADDED, ESPECIALLY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO DOCTORS.
I WILL RECOMMEND, BUT WITH SOME RESERVATIONS.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
LONDON BOULEVARD
COLIN FARRELL KEIRA KNIGHTLEY RAY WINSTONE BEN CHAPLIN
MITCHELL (FARRELL) HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED FROM JAIL. HE IS PICKED UP BY BILLY (CHAPLIN) A FRIEND AND A SMALL TIME HOOD. BILLY WORKS FOR THE LOCAL GANGSTER GANT (WINSTONE), AND BILLY IMMEDIATELY TRIES TO GET MITCHELL INVOLVED WITH GANT. BUT MITCHELL WANTS TO GO STRAIGHT, AND ONE NIGHT FINDS OUT ABOUT A JOB AS A CARETAKER FOR RECLUSIVE ACTRESS CHARLOTTE (KNIGHTLEY). HOWEVER, GANT STARTS PRESSURING MITCHELL TO COME WORK FOR HIM, AND WE FIND OUT HOW MITCHELL RESOLVES THIS PROBLEM.
WITH THIS CAST I WAS EXPECTING MORE FROM THIS MOVIE. THE ACTING IS OKAY: WINSTONE IS MENACING AS GANT, CHAPLIN'S BILLY IS THE PROPER AMOUNT OF GREASY, FARRELL MAKES MITCHELL TOUGH AND CARING, ALTHOUGH I HAD A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT MITCHELL WOULDN'T COME OUT OF PRISON A LOT MORE JADED THAN HE WAS AND KNIGHTLEY MADE CHARLOTTE SEEM BELIEVABLE. MY MAJOR COMPLAINT IS WITH THE WRITING: THERE ARE QUITE A FEW HOLES IN THE STORY, THERE ARE CHARACTERS WHO COME AND GO WITH NO REAL REASON TO BE THERE OR ADD TO THE STORY AND AS I SAID WITH MITCHELL, SOME OF THE CHARACTERS DON'T RING TOO TRUE. I ALSO FOUND THE ENDING TO BE A LET DOWN, ALMOST LIKE IT WAS DONE JUST TO END THE MOVIE WITHOUT ANY IDEA OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED BEFORE.
I THOUGHT THE PHOTOGRAPHY WAS WELL DONE, SHOWING LONDON ALMOST TO THE POINT OF IT BEING ANOTHER CHARACTER IN THE MOVIE. I THINK THE DIRECTOR WAS TRYING FOR A 1960'S FILM FEEL TO THIS MOVIE AND HE GOT IT ABOUT HALF RIGHT.
I WILL RECOMMEND, BUT WITH SOME RESERVATIONS.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
MITCHELL (FARRELL) HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED FROM JAIL. HE IS PICKED UP BY BILLY (CHAPLIN) A FRIEND AND A SMALL TIME HOOD. BILLY WORKS FOR THE LOCAL GANGSTER GANT (WINSTONE), AND BILLY IMMEDIATELY TRIES TO GET MITCHELL INVOLVED WITH GANT. BUT MITCHELL WANTS TO GO STRAIGHT, AND ONE NIGHT FINDS OUT ABOUT A JOB AS A CARETAKER FOR RECLUSIVE ACTRESS CHARLOTTE (KNIGHTLEY). HOWEVER, GANT STARTS PRESSURING MITCHELL TO COME WORK FOR HIM, AND WE FIND OUT HOW MITCHELL RESOLVES THIS PROBLEM.
WITH THIS CAST I WAS EXPECTING MORE FROM THIS MOVIE. THE ACTING IS OKAY: WINSTONE IS MENACING AS GANT, CHAPLIN'S BILLY IS THE PROPER AMOUNT OF GREASY, FARRELL MAKES MITCHELL TOUGH AND CARING, ALTHOUGH I HAD A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT MITCHELL WOULDN'T COME OUT OF PRISON A LOT MORE JADED THAN HE WAS AND KNIGHTLEY MADE CHARLOTTE SEEM BELIEVABLE. MY MAJOR COMPLAINT IS WITH THE WRITING: THERE ARE QUITE A FEW HOLES IN THE STORY, THERE ARE CHARACTERS WHO COME AND GO WITH NO REAL REASON TO BE THERE OR ADD TO THE STORY AND AS I SAID WITH MITCHELL, SOME OF THE CHARACTERS DON'T RING TOO TRUE. I ALSO FOUND THE ENDING TO BE A LET DOWN, ALMOST LIKE IT WAS DONE JUST TO END THE MOVIE WITHOUT ANY IDEA OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED BEFORE.
I THOUGHT THE PHOTOGRAPHY WAS WELL DONE, SHOWING LONDON ALMOST TO THE POINT OF IT BEING ANOTHER CHARACTER IN THE MOVIE. I THINK THE DIRECTOR WAS TRYING FOR A 1960'S FILM FEEL TO THIS MOVIE AND HE GOT IT ABOUT HALF RIGHT.
I WILL RECOMMEND, BUT WITH SOME RESERVATIONS.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
Friday, August 3, 2012
CHERRY
KYLE GALLNER LAURA ALLEN BRIT ROBERTSON
AARON (GALLNER) IS AN EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT WHO GETS ACCEPTED INTO AN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL AT 17. ONE DAY HE MEETS LINDA (ALLEN), A HOT 30 SOMETHING STUDENT, AND INSTANTLY BECOMES ATTRACTED TO HER. LINDA LIKES AARON ALSO AND INVITES HIM TO DINNER ONE NIGHT. WHILE THERE, AARON MEETS BETH (ROBERTSON), LINDA'S 14 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, WHO HAPPENS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH AARON.
ONCE AARON GETS INVOLVED WITH LINDA AND BETH, HIS LIFE SPIRALS OUT OF CONTROL. HE MISSES CLASSES, DOESN'T STUDY AND ALMOST FLUNKS OUT OF SCHOOL. HE STRUGGLES WITH HIS ATTRACTION TO LINDA WHILE TRYING TO DISCOURAGE BETH'S ATTRACTION TO HIM. HIS ATTEMPTS FALL SHORT OF THEIR GOALS.
THIS IS A MULTI LAYERED STORY THAT IS DONE INCREDIBLY WELL. KYLE HAS AN OVERBEARING MOTHER, HAS TO SURVIVE ON HIS OWN FOR THE FIRST TIME, HAS TO DEAL WITH HIS ROOMMATE, FRIENDS AND CLASSES, AND HOW BEING A VIRGIN AFFECTS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH LINDA AND BETH. LINDA IS A RECOVERING ADDICT, TRYING TO BETTER HERSELF THROUGH SCHOOL BUT FAILING, HAS A REBELLIOUS DAUGHTER AND AN ABUSIVE BOYFRIEND. BETH, ALSO A VIRGIN, HAS HAD TO TAKE CARE OF HER MOM, IS RECKLESS AND OUTSPOKEN, AND IS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE IN HER LIFE. WHEN SHE FINDS THAT PERSON IN KYLE, SHE GETS REJECTED AND IT ALMOST DESTROYS HER.
I KNOW THAT'S A LOT OF STUFF TO HAVE IN ONE MOVIE, BUT WHEN IT IS AS WELL DONE AS IT IS IN CHERRY, IT IS A MOVIE THAT SHOULD NOT BE MISSED.
RATING 3.5 out of 5
AARON (GALLNER) IS AN EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT WHO GETS ACCEPTED INTO AN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL AT 17. ONE DAY HE MEETS LINDA (ALLEN), A HOT 30 SOMETHING STUDENT, AND INSTANTLY BECOMES ATTRACTED TO HER. LINDA LIKES AARON ALSO AND INVITES HIM TO DINNER ONE NIGHT. WHILE THERE, AARON MEETS BETH (ROBERTSON), LINDA'S 14 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, WHO HAPPENS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH AARON.
ONCE AARON GETS INVOLVED WITH LINDA AND BETH, HIS LIFE SPIRALS OUT OF CONTROL. HE MISSES CLASSES, DOESN'T STUDY AND ALMOST FLUNKS OUT OF SCHOOL. HE STRUGGLES WITH HIS ATTRACTION TO LINDA WHILE TRYING TO DISCOURAGE BETH'S ATTRACTION TO HIM. HIS ATTEMPTS FALL SHORT OF THEIR GOALS.
THIS IS A MULTI LAYERED STORY THAT IS DONE INCREDIBLY WELL. KYLE HAS AN OVERBEARING MOTHER, HAS TO SURVIVE ON HIS OWN FOR THE FIRST TIME, HAS TO DEAL WITH HIS ROOMMATE, FRIENDS AND CLASSES, AND HOW BEING A VIRGIN AFFECTS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH LINDA AND BETH. LINDA IS A RECOVERING ADDICT, TRYING TO BETTER HERSELF THROUGH SCHOOL BUT FAILING, HAS A REBELLIOUS DAUGHTER AND AN ABUSIVE BOYFRIEND. BETH, ALSO A VIRGIN, HAS HAD TO TAKE CARE OF HER MOM, IS RECKLESS AND OUTSPOKEN, AND IS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE IN HER LIFE. WHEN SHE FINDS THAT PERSON IN KYLE, SHE GETS REJECTED AND IT ALMOST DESTROYS HER.
I KNOW THAT'S A LOT OF STUFF TO HAVE IN ONE MOVIE, BUT WHEN IT IS AS WELL DONE AS IT IS IN CHERRY, IT IS A MOVIE THAT SHOULD NOT BE MISSED.
RATING 3.5 out of 5
CARNAGE
JODIE FOSTER KATE WINSLET CHRISTOPH WALTZ JOHN C. REILLY
WHEN PENELOPE (FOSTER) AND MICHAEL'S (REILLY) CHILD GETS HIT THE FACE WITH A STICK BY NANCY (WINSLET) AND ALAN'S (WALTZ) CHILD, THE PARENTS HAVE A MEETING TO TRY AND WORK THINGS OUT. THE MEETING STARTS OUT TENSE BUT CORDIAL, HOWEVER IT QUICKLY SINKS INTO A VERBAL ATTACK BETWEEN ALL FOUR PARENTS.
CARNAGE IS A VERY DARK AND SUBTLE COMEDY. THERE IS A LOT OF DIALOGUE, AND YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO WHAT IS BEING SAID TO GET THE FULL IMPACT OF ALL THE PERFORMANCES. REILLY SEEMED A LITTLE OUT OF PLACE: HIS ACTING IS GOOD BUT IT'S JUST A TAD BELOW THAT OF THE OTHER THREE AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD SHOW. HIS CHARACTER MICHAEL TRIED TO KEEP THINGS CIVIL AND NOT LET THINGS GET TOO WILD. ALAN, AS PLAYED BY WALTZ, WAS A SELF-RIGHTEOUS LAWYER WHO CARED MORE ABOUT HIS CASES THAN HIS FAMILY. THIS MANIFESTED ITSELF QUITE HILARIOUSLY IN HIS USE OF HIS CELL PHONE. NANCY WAS A BIT CONSERVATIVE WHO WANTED TO DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT NEEDED TO VENT HER FEELINGS ON CERTAIN THINGS THAT WOULD LEAD TO A CONFRONTATION WITH THE OTHERS, INCLUDING HER HUSBAND. FINALLY PENELOPE, THE LIBERAL OF THE GROUP, CLASHED WITH THE OTHERS MOSTLY BECAUSE OF HER LIBERALNESS. AS MIGHT BE EXPECTED, THE MEN BONDED AND THE WOMEN DIDN'T.
CARNAGE WAS ADAPTED FROM A PLAY AND SOMETIMES IT FEELS MORE LIKE WATCHING A PLAY THAT HAS BEEN FILMED THAN WATCHING A FILM, BUT THE PERFORMANCES ARE QUITE GOOD AND THERE ARE MANY LAYERS IN THE CHARACTERS THAT WILL BECOME APPARENT AFTER A FEW VIEWINGS. CHECK IT OUT.
RATING 3 out of 4
WHEN PENELOPE (FOSTER) AND MICHAEL'S (REILLY) CHILD GETS HIT THE FACE WITH A STICK BY NANCY (WINSLET) AND ALAN'S (WALTZ) CHILD, THE PARENTS HAVE A MEETING TO TRY AND WORK THINGS OUT. THE MEETING STARTS OUT TENSE BUT CORDIAL, HOWEVER IT QUICKLY SINKS INTO A VERBAL ATTACK BETWEEN ALL FOUR PARENTS.
CARNAGE IS A VERY DARK AND SUBTLE COMEDY. THERE IS A LOT OF DIALOGUE, AND YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO WHAT IS BEING SAID TO GET THE FULL IMPACT OF ALL THE PERFORMANCES. REILLY SEEMED A LITTLE OUT OF PLACE: HIS ACTING IS GOOD BUT IT'S JUST A TAD BELOW THAT OF THE OTHER THREE AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD SHOW. HIS CHARACTER MICHAEL TRIED TO KEEP THINGS CIVIL AND NOT LET THINGS GET TOO WILD. ALAN, AS PLAYED BY WALTZ, WAS A SELF-RIGHTEOUS LAWYER WHO CARED MORE ABOUT HIS CASES THAN HIS FAMILY. THIS MANIFESTED ITSELF QUITE HILARIOUSLY IN HIS USE OF HIS CELL PHONE. NANCY WAS A BIT CONSERVATIVE WHO WANTED TO DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT NEEDED TO VENT HER FEELINGS ON CERTAIN THINGS THAT WOULD LEAD TO A CONFRONTATION WITH THE OTHERS, INCLUDING HER HUSBAND. FINALLY PENELOPE, THE LIBERAL OF THE GROUP, CLASHED WITH THE OTHERS MOSTLY BECAUSE OF HER LIBERALNESS. AS MIGHT BE EXPECTED, THE MEN BONDED AND THE WOMEN DIDN'T.
CARNAGE WAS ADAPTED FROM A PLAY AND SOMETIMES IT FEELS MORE LIKE WATCHING A PLAY THAT HAS BEEN FILMED THAN WATCHING A FILM, BUT THE PERFORMANCES ARE QUITE GOOD AND THERE ARE MANY LAYERS IN THE CHARACTERS THAT WILL BECOME APPARENT AFTER A FEW VIEWINGS. CHECK IT OUT.
RATING 3 out of 4
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
THE DIVIDE
MICHAEL BIEHN LAUREN GERMAN MILO VENTIMIGLIA ROSANNA ARQUETTE
AFTER A NUCLEAR ATTACK ON NEW YORK, NINE PEOPLE END UP IN A BOMB SHELTER IN THE BASEMENT OF AN APARTMENT BUILDING. THE SHELTER WAS BUILT BY THE BUILDING'S SUPER MICKEY (BIEHN), AND INCLUDES EVA (GERMAN), JOSH (VENTIMIGLIA) AND MARILYN (ARQUETTE) WHO NOT ONLY ARE TRYING TO SURVIVE TO NUCLEAR FALLOUT BUT ARE ALSO TRYING TO SURVIVE EACH OTHER.
THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE MOVIES WHERE PEOPLE ARE HOLED UP TOGETHER AND THEN WE GET TO WATCH THEM INTERACT AS THEY SLOWLY DEVOLVE INTO THE BASIC ANIMALISTIC BEASTS HUMANS ARE. AS A RESULT, THIS MOVIE CAN BE HARD AND DISTURBING TO WATCH: SOME SCENES ARE VERY BRUTAL, SOME SCENES ARE VERY PHYSICALLY RAW AND SOME SCENES ARE JUST INDESCRIBABLE.
THE DIRECTION WAS GOOD, IT KEPT THE STORY FLOWING AND THE TENSION CRANKED UP. ACCORDING TO THE DVD COMMENTARY, THE DIRECTOR ALLOWED THE ACTORS TO DO QUITE A BIT OF IMPROVISATION, AND I THINK THAT ADDED A LOT TO THE REALISM OF THE CHARACTERS.
AS FOR THE ACTING, I THOUGHT MICKEY WAS A LITTLE OVER THE TOP A FEW TIMES; JOSH WENT FROM A BRASH YOUNG MAN TO A VERY CHILLING DARK DICTATOR LIKE ANIMAL. BUT I WAS MOST IMPRESSED WITH ARQUETTE: HER MARILYN STARTS OFF AS A VERY SCARED MOTHER WITH A YOUNG DAUGHTER TO BECOMING THE SEXUAL PLAYTHING OF JOSH AND HIS PARTNER, ALLOWING HERSELF TO BE SEXUALLY BRUTALIZED WITH TRAGIC RESULTS.
THIS ISN'T AN UPLIFTING MOVIE, IT IS DARK, BRUTAL, DISTURBING AND ENDS VERY BLEAKLY. THAT BEING SAID, IT IS HARD TO RECOMMEND, BUT I FEEL IT IS A MOVIE YOU SHOULD SEE.
RATING 3 out of 5
AFTER A NUCLEAR ATTACK ON NEW YORK, NINE PEOPLE END UP IN A BOMB SHELTER IN THE BASEMENT OF AN APARTMENT BUILDING. THE SHELTER WAS BUILT BY THE BUILDING'S SUPER MICKEY (BIEHN), AND INCLUDES EVA (GERMAN), JOSH (VENTIMIGLIA) AND MARILYN (ARQUETTE) WHO NOT ONLY ARE TRYING TO SURVIVE TO NUCLEAR FALLOUT BUT ARE ALSO TRYING TO SURVIVE EACH OTHER.
THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE MOVIES WHERE PEOPLE ARE HOLED UP TOGETHER AND THEN WE GET TO WATCH THEM INTERACT AS THEY SLOWLY DEVOLVE INTO THE BASIC ANIMALISTIC BEASTS HUMANS ARE. AS A RESULT, THIS MOVIE CAN BE HARD AND DISTURBING TO WATCH: SOME SCENES ARE VERY BRUTAL, SOME SCENES ARE VERY PHYSICALLY RAW AND SOME SCENES ARE JUST INDESCRIBABLE.
THE DIRECTION WAS GOOD, IT KEPT THE STORY FLOWING AND THE TENSION CRANKED UP. ACCORDING TO THE DVD COMMENTARY, THE DIRECTOR ALLOWED THE ACTORS TO DO QUITE A BIT OF IMPROVISATION, AND I THINK THAT ADDED A LOT TO THE REALISM OF THE CHARACTERS.
AS FOR THE ACTING, I THOUGHT MICKEY WAS A LITTLE OVER THE TOP A FEW TIMES; JOSH WENT FROM A BRASH YOUNG MAN TO A VERY CHILLING DARK DICTATOR LIKE ANIMAL. BUT I WAS MOST IMPRESSED WITH ARQUETTE: HER MARILYN STARTS OFF AS A VERY SCARED MOTHER WITH A YOUNG DAUGHTER TO BECOMING THE SEXUAL PLAYTHING OF JOSH AND HIS PARTNER, ALLOWING HERSELF TO BE SEXUALLY BRUTALIZED WITH TRAGIC RESULTS.
THIS ISN'T AN UPLIFTING MOVIE, IT IS DARK, BRUTAL, DISTURBING AND ENDS VERY BLEAKLY. THAT BEING SAID, IT IS HARD TO RECOMMEND, BUT I FEEL IT IS A MOVIE YOU SHOULD SEE.
RATING 3 out of 5
WOLF MOON
A GROUP OF FRIENDS ARE HAVING A PARTY AT THEIR ENGLISH COUNTRY MANOR WHEN THEY GET ATTACKED BY A WOLF LIKE CREATURE AND THEN TRY TO SURVIVE.
SOMEWHAT OF A MEDIOCRE HORROR MOVIE. THERE'S NOTHING REALLY NEW, ALTHOUGH THE DIRECTOR IS ABLE TO CREATE SOME TENSION AND SUSPENSE. BUT, MOST OF THE CHARACTERS ARE SO UNLIKEABLE I WAS ROOTING FOR THEM TO GET KILLED. ACTING AND EFFECTS ARE OKAY, STORY IS A LITTLE WEAK AND THE DIRECTION GETS THE STORY TO WHERE IT HAS TO GO. WATCH AT YOUR OWN RISK.
RATING 2 out of 5
SOMEWHAT OF A MEDIOCRE HORROR MOVIE. THERE'S NOTHING REALLY NEW, ALTHOUGH THE DIRECTOR IS ABLE TO CREATE SOME TENSION AND SUSPENSE. BUT, MOST OF THE CHARACTERS ARE SO UNLIKEABLE I WAS ROOTING FOR THEM TO GET KILLED. ACTING AND EFFECTS ARE OKAY, STORY IS A LITTLE WEAK AND THE DIRECTION GETS THE STORY TO WHERE IT HAS TO GO. WATCH AT YOUR OWN RISK.
RATING 2 out of 5
Monday, July 30, 2012
SAVAGES
TAYLOR KITSCH AARON JOHNSON BLAKE LIVELY BENICIO DEL TORO SALMA
HAYAK JOHN TRAVOLTA
THIS MOVIE TELLS THE STORY OF BEN AND CHON (JOHNSON AND KITSCH) AND THEIR GIRLFRIEND O (LIVELY) WHEN A MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL RUN BY ELENA (HAYAK) AND HER ENFORCER LADO (DEL TORO) TRY TO TAKE OVER BEN AND CHON'S MARIJUANA BUSINESS. ALSO INVOLVED IS DENNIS (TRAVOLTA) A CORRUPT DEA AGENT.
AS THE MOVIE STARTS, BEN, CHON AND O ARE ON TOP OF THE WORLD. THEIR BUSINESS IS DOING GREAT, MAKING THEM TONS OF MONEY AND ALLOWING THEM TO LIVE AS THEY WANT. BUT THEN THE MEXICANS BEGIN TO MOVE IN, AND WHEN BEN AND CHON REJECT THE CARTEL'S OFFER, LADO KIDNAPS O AS A BARGAINING TOOL TO FORCE THE BOYS INTO ACCEPTING THE OFFER. BEN AND CHON HAVE THEIR OWN PLANS: MAINLY TO GET O BACK, GET OUT OF THE DRUG TRADE AND GO LIVE SOMEWHERE FAR AWAY WHERE IT IS WARM.
AFTER O IS TAKEN, THE REST OF THE MOVIE IS ABOUT WHAT BEN AND CHON TRY TO DO TO GET HER BACK. THEY TRY MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, USUALLY WITH HELP FROM DENNIS BY PROVIDING INFORMATION.
THIS IS AN OLIVER STONE MOVIE, AND SO YOU WOULD EXPECT IT TO BE POLITICAL AND CONTROVERSIAL. IT HAS NEITHER OF THOSE. IN FACT, IT IS JUST PRETTY MUCH A RUN OF THE MILL DRAMA ABOUT THE DRUG TRADE THAT ANYONE COULD HAVE DONE.
AS YOU WOULD EXPECT, IT IS VIOLENT AND SOME SCENES ARE DISTURBING, HOWEVER I HAVE A FEELING THAT IN REAL LIFE THE VIOLENCE IS MUCH MORE HORRIFIC AND SHOCKING.
I FOUND THE ACTING TO BE GOOD. ALL THE MAIN CHARACTERS DO A GOOD JOB, BUT I REALLY LIKED DEL TORO'S LADO: VERY LAID BACK BUT ABLE TO KILL OR TORTURE WITHOUT A CONSCIENCE. I ALSO LIKED THE ARC OF JOHNSON'S BEN: HE STARTS OFF AS A PEACE LOVING GUY NOT WANTING TO HURT ANYONE, BUT BY THE END HAS BECOME ONE OF THE SAVAGES, SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS TO DO TO SURVIVE.
FINALLY, MY ONLY REAL DISLIKE IS THAT O NARRATES THROUGHOUT THE MOVIE. I REALLY DISLIKE NARRATION SINCE IT ONLY TAKES AWAY FROM THE STORY. I THINK IT IS MUCH BETTER TO JUST LET THE STORY UNFOLD BY ITSELF. A GOOD DRAMA THAT I CAN RECOMMEND.
RATING 3 out of 5
HAYAK JOHN TRAVOLTA
THIS MOVIE TELLS THE STORY OF BEN AND CHON (JOHNSON AND KITSCH) AND THEIR GIRLFRIEND O (LIVELY) WHEN A MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL RUN BY ELENA (HAYAK) AND HER ENFORCER LADO (DEL TORO) TRY TO TAKE OVER BEN AND CHON'S MARIJUANA BUSINESS. ALSO INVOLVED IS DENNIS (TRAVOLTA) A CORRUPT DEA AGENT.
AS THE MOVIE STARTS, BEN, CHON AND O ARE ON TOP OF THE WORLD. THEIR BUSINESS IS DOING GREAT, MAKING THEM TONS OF MONEY AND ALLOWING THEM TO LIVE AS THEY WANT. BUT THEN THE MEXICANS BEGIN TO MOVE IN, AND WHEN BEN AND CHON REJECT THE CARTEL'S OFFER, LADO KIDNAPS O AS A BARGAINING TOOL TO FORCE THE BOYS INTO ACCEPTING THE OFFER. BEN AND CHON HAVE THEIR OWN PLANS: MAINLY TO GET O BACK, GET OUT OF THE DRUG TRADE AND GO LIVE SOMEWHERE FAR AWAY WHERE IT IS WARM.
AFTER O IS TAKEN, THE REST OF THE MOVIE IS ABOUT WHAT BEN AND CHON TRY TO DO TO GET HER BACK. THEY TRY MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, USUALLY WITH HELP FROM DENNIS BY PROVIDING INFORMATION.
THIS IS AN OLIVER STONE MOVIE, AND SO YOU WOULD EXPECT IT TO BE POLITICAL AND CONTROVERSIAL. IT HAS NEITHER OF THOSE. IN FACT, IT IS JUST PRETTY MUCH A RUN OF THE MILL DRAMA ABOUT THE DRUG TRADE THAT ANYONE COULD HAVE DONE.
AS YOU WOULD EXPECT, IT IS VIOLENT AND SOME SCENES ARE DISTURBING, HOWEVER I HAVE A FEELING THAT IN REAL LIFE THE VIOLENCE IS MUCH MORE HORRIFIC AND SHOCKING.
I FOUND THE ACTING TO BE GOOD. ALL THE MAIN CHARACTERS DO A GOOD JOB, BUT I REALLY LIKED DEL TORO'S LADO: VERY LAID BACK BUT ABLE TO KILL OR TORTURE WITHOUT A CONSCIENCE. I ALSO LIKED THE ARC OF JOHNSON'S BEN: HE STARTS OFF AS A PEACE LOVING GUY NOT WANTING TO HURT ANYONE, BUT BY THE END HAS BECOME ONE OF THE SAVAGES, SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS TO DO TO SURVIVE.
FINALLY, MY ONLY REAL DISLIKE IS THAT O NARRATES THROUGHOUT THE MOVIE. I REALLY DISLIKE NARRATION SINCE IT ONLY TAKES AWAY FROM THE STORY. I THINK IT IS MUCH BETTER TO JUST LET THE STORY UNFOLD BY ITSELF. A GOOD DRAMA THAT I CAN RECOMMEND.
RATING 3 out of 5
A LONELY PLACE TO DIE
WHILE ROCK CLIMBING IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS, FIVE FRIENDS STUMBLE UPON A LITTLE GIRL BURIED IN A BOX IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. AFTER RESCUING HER, THEY BEGIN TO HEAD TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION, BUT ALONG THE WAY ARE ATTACKED BY THE MEN WHO KIDNAPPED THE GIRL AND THEY MUST THEN TRY TO SURVIVE.
FIRST, THE GOOD STUFF: THE SCENES OF THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS WERE WELL FILMED AND QUITE BREATHTAKING; THE CLIMBING SCENES WERE TENSE, THRILLING AND LOOKED TO BE BELIEVABLE; THE ACTING WAS GOOD, EVEN THE LITTLE GIRL.
NOW, THE BAD: TOWARD THE END OF THE FILM THERE IS A FESTIVAL IN A TOWN WHERE CHILDREN ARE PRESENT YET A LOT OF THE WOMEN IN THE FESTIVAL ARE TOPLESS--I FOUND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE; DURING THIS FESTIVAL THERE IS ONLY ONE, OR MAYBE TWO, POLICEMEN ON DUTY--THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE CORRECT; FINALLY, THE STORY WAS FULL OF HOLES AND DIDN'T SEEM TO BE VERY FOCUSED. IT STARTS OFF AS A SURVIVAL IN THE MOUNTAINS PICTURE BUT THEN ENDS UP IN A TOWN WHERE THE BAD GUYS ARE KILLING EACH OTHER WHILE LOOKING FOR THE GIRL. NOT A GREAT MOVIE, NOT A BAD MOVIE, BUT JUST A MOVIE THAT LOST ITS FOCUS.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
FIRST, THE GOOD STUFF: THE SCENES OF THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS WERE WELL FILMED AND QUITE BREATHTAKING; THE CLIMBING SCENES WERE TENSE, THRILLING AND LOOKED TO BE BELIEVABLE; THE ACTING WAS GOOD, EVEN THE LITTLE GIRL.
NOW, THE BAD: TOWARD THE END OF THE FILM THERE IS A FESTIVAL IN A TOWN WHERE CHILDREN ARE PRESENT YET A LOT OF THE WOMEN IN THE FESTIVAL ARE TOPLESS--I FOUND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE; DURING THIS FESTIVAL THERE IS ONLY ONE, OR MAYBE TWO, POLICEMEN ON DUTY--THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE CORRECT; FINALLY, THE STORY WAS FULL OF HOLES AND DIDN'T SEEM TO BE VERY FOCUSED. IT STARTS OFF AS A SURVIVAL IN THE MOUNTAINS PICTURE BUT THEN ENDS UP IN A TOWN WHERE THE BAD GUYS ARE KILLING EACH OTHER WHILE LOOKING FOR THE GIRL. NOT A GREAT MOVIE, NOT A BAD MOVIE, BUT JUST A MOVIE THAT LOST ITS FOCUS.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
CHRONICLE
ONE NIGHT WHILE ATTENDING A PARTY, THREE HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS, ANDREW, MATT AND STEVE DISCOVER A HOLE IN THE GROUND WITH A STRANGE NOISE COMING OUT OF IT. THE THREE GO DOWN TO LOOK AROUND AND FIND A LARGE GLOWING CRYSTAL. THE NEXT DAY THEY FIND OUT THEY HAVE THE POWER TO MOVE THINGS. THE MORE THEY LEARN HOW TO USE THEIR POWER AND THE STRONGER THEY GET, THEIR LIVES BEGIN TO TUMBLE OUT OF CONTROL.
THIS MOVIE STARTS OFF NOT BEING TOO SERIOUS: MOST OF THE SCENES ARE OF THE GUYS PULLING PRACTICAL JOKES ON UNSUSPECTING PEOPLE, BUT AS THE MOVIE GOES ALONG AND THEIR POWER GROWS, THE MOVIE GETS VERY SERIOUS AND VERY DARK.
I THOUGHT THE EFFECTS WERE DONE QUITE WELL AND LOOKED BELIEVABLE; THE ACTING WAS GOOD AND DIRECTION WAS OKAY, HOWEVER IT SEEMED LIKE THE THREE FRIENDS ACCEPTED THIS NEW POWER A LITTLE TOO EASILY, AND DIDN'T SEEM TO BE TOO CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IT WAS DOING TO THEM, BUT THEY WERE ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THEY COULD DO TO OTHERS. FINALLY, I WOULD HAVE LIKED SOME SORT OF EXPLANATION ABOUT THE CRYSTAL, BUT THERE IS NONE.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
THIS MOVIE STARTS OFF NOT BEING TOO SERIOUS: MOST OF THE SCENES ARE OF THE GUYS PULLING PRACTICAL JOKES ON UNSUSPECTING PEOPLE, BUT AS THE MOVIE GOES ALONG AND THEIR POWER GROWS, THE MOVIE GETS VERY SERIOUS AND VERY DARK.
I THOUGHT THE EFFECTS WERE DONE QUITE WELL AND LOOKED BELIEVABLE; THE ACTING WAS GOOD AND DIRECTION WAS OKAY, HOWEVER IT SEEMED LIKE THE THREE FRIENDS ACCEPTED THIS NEW POWER A LITTLE TOO EASILY, AND DIDN'T SEEM TO BE TOO CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IT WAS DOING TO THEM, BUT THEY WERE ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THEY COULD DO TO OTHERS. FINALLY, I WOULD HAVE LIKED SOME SORT OF EXPLANATION ABOUT THE CRYSTAL, BUT THERE IS NONE.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
Monday, July 23, 2012
TAKE SHELTER
MICHAEL SHANNON JESSICA CHASTAIN
CURTIS (SHANNON) IS A MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY MAN MARRIED TO SAMANTHA (CHASTAIN) WITH A DAUGHTER. HE WORKS AS A WELL DRILLER ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE. ONE DAY HE HAS A NIGHTMARE ABOUT AN APOCALYPTIC STORM, WHICH IS FOLLOWED BY MORE DREAMS THAT ARE MORE TERRIFYING AND HORRIFIC. WITH A HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN HIS FAMILY, CURTIS STARTS SEEING A COUNSELOR TO HELP, BUT THE DREAMS GET WORSE AND CURTIS EVEN BEGINS TO HALLUCINATE WHILE AWAKE. BELIEVING THE END IS NEAR, CURTIS BUILDS A STORM SHELTER FOR PROTECTION, BUT THAT ONLY CAUSES MORE PROBLEMS FOR HIMSELF, HIS MARRIAGE, HIS FAMILY AND HIS FRIENDS.
THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING MOVIE. IT HAS MANY LAYERS THAT CAN BE INTERPRETED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU VIEW THE MOVIE. BOTH SHANNON AND CHASTAIN GIVE REMARKABLE BELIEVABLE PERFORMANCES: HE AS A PERSON WHO THINKS HE IS SLOWLY GOING INSANE BUT HAS NO IDEA WHY OR WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT, WITH THIS ALL CONSUMING DESIRE TO BUILD A SHELTER TO PROTECT HIS FAMILY; SHE AS A PERSON WHO IS WATCHING THE MAN SHE LOVES BECOME SOMEONE ELSE, NOT KNOWING WHY, BUT THERE TO SUPPORT HIM, AND THEN WHEN SHE LEARNS EVERYTHING, RATHER THAN RUNNING SHE STAYS TO HELP IN ANY WAY SHE CAN.
THE MOVIE IS SOMEWHAT SLOW MOVING, BUT THE STORM SEQUENCES ARE FULL OF TENSION AND DREAD, AND ALONG THE WAY THE MOVIE DOES BUILD TO SOME SMALL CLIMAXES, AND THEN FINALLY TO THE ENDING, WHICH SHOULD BE LEFT FOR THE VIEWER TO DECIDE UPON. THIS IS A MUST WATCH MOVIE.
RATING 3.5 out of 5
CURTIS (SHANNON) IS A MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY MAN MARRIED TO SAMANTHA (CHASTAIN) WITH A DAUGHTER. HE WORKS AS A WELL DRILLER ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE. ONE DAY HE HAS A NIGHTMARE ABOUT AN APOCALYPTIC STORM, WHICH IS FOLLOWED BY MORE DREAMS THAT ARE MORE TERRIFYING AND HORRIFIC. WITH A HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN HIS FAMILY, CURTIS STARTS SEEING A COUNSELOR TO HELP, BUT THE DREAMS GET WORSE AND CURTIS EVEN BEGINS TO HALLUCINATE WHILE AWAKE. BELIEVING THE END IS NEAR, CURTIS BUILDS A STORM SHELTER FOR PROTECTION, BUT THAT ONLY CAUSES MORE PROBLEMS FOR HIMSELF, HIS MARRIAGE, HIS FAMILY AND HIS FRIENDS.
THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING MOVIE. IT HAS MANY LAYERS THAT CAN BE INTERPRETED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU VIEW THE MOVIE. BOTH SHANNON AND CHASTAIN GIVE REMARKABLE BELIEVABLE PERFORMANCES: HE AS A PERSON WHO THINKS HE IS SLOWLY GOING INSANE BUT HAS NO IDEA WHY OR WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT, WITH THIS ALL CONSUMING DESIRE TO BUILD A SHELTER TO PROTECT HIS FAMILY; SHE AS A PERSON WHO IS WATCHING THE MAN SHE LOVES BECOME SOMEONE ELSE, NOT KNOWING WHY, BUT THERE TO SUPPORT HIM, AND THEN WHEN SHE LEARNS EVERYTHING, RATHER THAN RUNNING SHE STAYS TO HELP IN ANY WAY SHE CAN.
THE MOVIE IS SOMEWHAT SLOW MOVING, BUT THE STORM SEQUENCES ARE FULL OF TENSION AND DREAD, AND ALONG THE WAY THE MOVIE DOES BUILD TO SOME SMALL CLIMAXES, AND THEN FINALLY TO THE ENDING, WHICH SHOULD BE LEFT FOR THE VIEWER TO DECIDE UPON. THIS IS A MUST WATCH MOVIE.
RATING 3.5 out of 5
TEXAS KILLING FIELDS
SAM WORTHINGTON JEFFREY DEAN MORGAN JESSICA CHASTAIN CHLOE
GRACE MORETZ
SET IN TEXAS CITY, TEXAS, THIS MOVIE FOLLOWS THE LIVES OF TWO HOMICIDE DETECTIVES, MIKE SOUDER (WORTHINGTON) AND BRIAN HEIGH (MORGAN) AS THEY TRY TO SOLVE NOT ONLY A MURDER IN THEIR OWN TOWN, BUT ALSO HELP OUT A FELLOW DETECTIVE, PAM STALL (CHASTAIN) AS SHE TRIES TO SOLVE A SERIES OF MURDERS OCCURRING IN THE BAYOUS, ALSO KNOWN AS THE KILLING FIELDS.
THIS MOVIE SEEMS TO HAVE A LACK OF DIRECTION. AFTER WATCHING IT I COULDN'T DECIDE IF IT WAS ABOUT THE DETECTIVES, ABOUT THE MURDERS OR ABOUT BOTH OF THEM. THEY ARE BOTH COMPELLING STORIES AND IF THE DIRECTOR HAD CHOSEN ONE TO BE THE MAIN FOCUS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT BETTER MOVIE.
THE STORY ASIDE, THE ACTING WAS GENERALLY GOOD. WORTHINGTON OVERACTED IN A FEW SCENES, MORGAN SEEMED ALMOST ASLEEP IN A FEW SCENES, CHASTAIN AS THE LONE FEMALE IN A MALE DOMINATED SOUTHERN WORLD WAS VERY GOOD, BUT MORETZ, AS LITTLE ANN, SHOWED ONCE AGAIN WHAT AN OUTSTANDING ACTOR SHE IS. HER CHARACTER IS ABUSED AND NEGLECTED, AND SHE WAS ABLE TO EXPRESS HER FEELINGS INCREDIBLY WELL, SOMETIMES ONLY THROUGH A LOOK.
I ALSO LIKED THE FEEL OF THE MOVIE. THE DIRECTOR WAS ABLE TO CAPTURE THE LONELINESS AND THE CREEPINESS OF THE BAYOUS, THE STARK CONTRAST OF HOW PEOPLE LIVED AND THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE, RATHER IT BE RACIALLY MOTIVATED, POLICE--CRIMINAL OR JUST A FAMILY GET TOGETHER. I WILL RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE, BUT WITH SOME RESERVATIONS.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
GRACE MORETZ
SET IN TEXAS CITY, TEXAS, THIS MOVIE FOLLOWS THE LIVES OF TWO HOMICIDE DETECTIVES, MIKE SOUDER (WORTHINGTON) AND BRIAN HEIGH (MORGAN) AS THEY TRY TO SOLVE NOT ONLY A MURDER IN THEIR OWN TOWN, BUT ALSO HELP OUT A FELLOW DETECTIVE, PAM STALL (CHASTAIN) AS SHE TRIES TO SOLVE A SERIES OF MURDERS OCCURRING IN THE BAYOUS, ALSO KNOWN AS THE KILLING FIELDS.
THIS MOVIE SEEMS TO HAVE A LACK OF DIRECTION. AFTER WATCHING IT I COULDN'T DECIDE IF IT WAS ABOUT THE DETECTIVES, ABOUT THE MURDERS OR ABOUT BOTH OF THEM. THEY ARE BOTH COMPELLING STORIES AND IF THE DIRECTOR HAD CHOSEN ONE TO BE THE MAIN FOCUS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT BETTER MOVIE.
THE STORY ASIDE, THE ACTING WAS GENERALLY GOOD. WORTHINGTON OVERACTED IN A FEW SCENES, MORGAN SEEMED ALMOST ASLEEP IN A FEW SCENES, CHASTAIN AS THE LONE FEMALE IN A MALE DOMINATED SOUTHERN WORLD WAS VERY GOOD, BUT MORETZ, AS LITTLE ANN, SHOWED ONCE AGAIN WHAT AN OUTSTANDING ACTOR SHE IS. HER CHARACTER IS ABUSED AND NEGLECTED, AND SHE WAS ABLE TO EXPRESS HER FEELINGS INCREDIBLY WELL, SOMETIMES ONLY THROUGH A LOOK.
I ALSO LIKED THE FEEL OF THE MOVIE. THE DIRECTOR WAS ABLE TO CAPTURE THE LONELINESS AND THE CREEPINESS OF THE BAYOUS, THE STARK CONTRAST OF HOW PEOPLE LIVED AND THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE, RATHER IT BE RACIALLY MOTIVATED, POLICE--CRIMINAL OR JUST A FAMILY GET TOGETHER. I WILL RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE, BUT WITH SOME RESERVATIONS.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
Monday, July 16, 2012
RESURRECTION COUNTY
TWO COUPLES ARE ON A CAMPING TRIP. THEY END UP IN RESURRECTION COUNTY WHERE THEY RUN AFOUL OF SOME SOUTHERN REDNECK RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS WHO TAKE THE "EYE FOR AN EYE" REVENGE TENET VERY SERIOUSLY.
THERE'S NOT A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THIS MOVIE. I WOULD DESCRIBE IT AS SOUTHERN REDNECK TORTURE PORN DELIVERED TO BOTH MALES AND FEMALES IN A BRUTAL HUMILIATING FASHION THAT AT TIMES IS HARD TO WATCH. I SUPPOSE IF YOU ARE INTO THIS TYPE OF FILM, THEN RESURRECTION COUNTY SHOULD GO ON YOUR WATCH LIST: THE TORTURE SCENES ARE DONE WELL AND ARE EFFECTIVE. THE LITTLE BITS OF RELIGIOUS THEOLOGY THROWN IN ALONG THE WAY MAKE IT EVEN SEEM MORE DISTURBING.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
THERE'S NOT A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THIS MOVIE. I WOULD DESCRIBE IT AS SOUTHERN REDNECK TORTURE PORN DELIVERED TO BOTH MALES AND FEMALES IN A BRUTAL HUMILIATING FASHION THAT AT TIMES IS HARD TO WATCH. I SUPPOSE IF YOU ARE INTO THIS TYPE OF FILM, THEN RESURRECTION COUNTY SHOULD GO ON YOUR WATCH LIST: THE TORTURE SCENES ARE DONE WELL AND ARE EFFECTIVE. THE LITTLE BITS OF RELIGIOUS THEOLOGY THROWN IN ALONG THE WAY MAKE IT EVEN SEEM MORE DISTURBING.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
PLAYBACK
IN 1994, HARLAN DIEHL MURDERS HIS ENTIRE FAMILY AND VIDEO TAPES THE WHOLE INCIDENT. EIGHTEEN YEARS LATER, AS PART OF A SCHOOL ASSIGNMENT, 6 FRIENDS DECIDE TO INVESTIGATE THE MURDERS AND DO A REPORT ON THEM. HOWEVER, WHEN WATCHING ONE OF THE TAPES, ONE OF THE GROUP GETS POSSESSED BY THE SPIRIT OF DIEHL AND GOES ON A MURDER SPREE.
FOR A HORROR MOVIE, THE STORY WAS WELL DONE AND HAD MORE TWISTS AND TURNS THAN MIGHT BE EXPECTED, ALTHOUGH IT WAS THIN ENOUGH TO SEE WHERE THE STORY WAS GOING AND HOW IT WOULD END. THE MURDERS WEREN'T SOAKED IN BLOOD BUT WERE VIOLENT AND GORY ENOUGH TO BE EFFECTIVE. THE ACTORS WHO PLAYED THE MAIN CHARACTERS DID A GOOD JOB AND SEEMED TO BE BELIEVABLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. A GOOD CHOICE FOR A WEEKEND HORROR MOVIE FEST.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
FOR A HORROR MOVIE, THE STORY WAS WELL DONE AND HAD MORE TWISTS AND TURNS THAN MIGHT BE EXPECTED, ALTHOUGH IT WAS THIN ENOUGH TO SEE WHERE THE STORY WAS GOING AND HOW IT WOULD END. THE MURDERS WEREN'T SOAKED IN BLOOD BUT WERE VIOLENT AND GORY ENOUGH TO BE EFFECTIVE. THE ACTORS WHO PLAYED THE MAIN CHARACTERS DID A GOOD JOB AND SEEMED TO BE BELIEVABLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. A GOOD CHOICE FOR A WEEKEND HORROR MOVIE FEST.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
RESTRAINT
STEPHAN MOYER TRAVIS FIMMEL TERESA PALMER
RON AND DALE (FIMMEL AND PALMER) ARE FELONS ON THE RUN. THEY END UP AT A COUNTRY ESTATE OWNED BY ANDREW (MOYER) WHO HAS JUST SPLIT UP WITH HIS FIANCEE AND ALSO HAPPENS TO BE AGORAPHOBIC. ANDREW, IN TRYING NOT TO DIE, SUGGESTS A PLAN TO RON AND DALE THAT WILL GET THEM A LOT OF MONEY.
RESTRAINT IS ANOTHER WELL DONE AUSTRALIAN THRILLER. ALL THE CHARACTERS ARE WELL DEVELOPED: RON IS JUST A LITTLE CRAZY, CAN BE SCARY AND BRUTAL, YET AT TIMES SHOWS HUMOR AND A WARMNESS; DALE STARTS OFF COMPLETELY DEVOTED TO RON, BUT AS SHE WATCHES RON AND LEARNS MORE ABOUT ANDREW, SHE SLOWLY STARTS HAVING FEELINGS FOR ANDREW; WITH ANDREW, HE STARTS OFF JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE, AND THEN IN GETTING TO KNOW RON AND DALE BETTER, HE BEGINS TO USE THEIR WEAKNESSES AGAINST THEM TO GAIN THE UPPER HAND. WHILE THIS IS A THRILLER THAT HAS IT'S VIOLENT AND SHOCKING MOMENTS, IT IS MORE OF A CHARACTER STUDY THAT IS DONE VERY WELL. PUT THIS IN YOUR QUEUE AND WATCH IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
RATING 3 out of 5
RON AND DALE (FIMMEL AND PALMER) ARE FELONS ON THE RUN. THEY END UP AT A COUNTRY ESTATE OWNED BY ANDREW (MOYER) WHO HAS JUST SPLIT UP WITH HIS FIANCEE AND ALSO HAPPENS TO BE AGORAPHOBIC. ANDREW, IN TRYING NOT TO DIE, SUGGESTS A PLAN TO RON AND DALE THAT WILL GET THEM A LOT OF MONEY.
RESTRAINT IS ANOTHER WELL DONE AUSTRALIAN THRILLER. ALL THE CHARACTERS ARE WELL DEVELOPED: RON IS JUST A LITTLE CRAZY, CAN BE SCARY AND BRUTAL, YET AT TIMES SHOWS HUMOR AND A WARMNESS; DALE STARTS OFF COMPLETELY DEVOTED TO RON, BUT AS SHE WATCHES RON AND LEARNS MORE ABOUT ANDREW, SHE SLOWLY STARTS HAVING FEELINGS FOR ANDREW; WITH ANDREW, HE STARTS OFF JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE, AND THEN IN GETTING TO KNOW RON AND DALE BETTER, HE BEGINS TO USE THEIR WEAKNESSES AGAINST THEM TO GAIN THE UPPER HAND. WHILE THIS IS A THRILLER THAT HAS IT'S VIOLENT AND SHOCKING MOMENTS, IT IS MORE OF A CHARACTER STUDY THAT IS DONE VERY WELL. PUT THIS IN YOUR QUEUE AND WATCH IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
RATING 3 out of 5
TRESPASS
NICOLAS CAGE NICOLE KIDMAN LIANA LIBERATO BEN MENDELSOHN
CAM GIGANDET
KYLE MILLER (CAGE) IS A SUCCESSFUL DIAMOND DEALER. ONE NIGHT, HIS HOUSE GETS INVADED BY A GANG OF BURGLARS, LED BY BROTHERS ELIAS AND JONAH
(MENDELSOHN AND GIGANDET.) MILLER'S WIFE SARAH (KIDMAN) AND DAUGHTER AVERY (LIBERATO) ARE ALSO HELD CAPTIVE BY THE GANG.
I WAS EXPECTING SO MUCH MORE FROM THIS MOVIE, BUT GOT NOTHING BUT DISAPPOINTMENT. THE STORY IS THIN, THERE ARE SOME HUGE PLOT HOLES AND IN GENERAL, THE ACTING IS SO OVER THE TOP IT ALMOST BECOMES HARD TO WATCH. THERE ARE INCONSISTENCIES IN THE CHARACTERS: SARAH, WHEN HIT ON BY JONAH, REBUFFS HIM FORCEFULLY YET WHEN DEALING WITH THE GANG SHE BECOMES A SCREAMING MESS; KYLE, WHEN PUSHED BY ELIAS, ACTS SCARED AND COWARDLY, YET THEN HE DOES A COMPLETE TURNAROUND AND BECOMES A STRONG FIGHTER.
ON THE PLUS SIDE, I THOUGHT MENDELSOHN DID A GOOD JOB AS THE LEADER OF THE GANG: FOR THE MOST PART HE REMAINS SUBDUED AND DETERMINED, MAKING ELIAS SEEM THAT MUCH MORE MENACING. YOU PROBABLY SHOULD SKIP THIS ONE.
RATING 2 out of 5
CAM GIGANDET
KYLE MILLER (CAGE) IS A SUCCESSFUL DIAMOND DEALER. ONE NIGHT, HIS HOUSE GETS INVADED BY A GANG OF BURGLARS, LED BY BROTHERS ELIAS AND JONAH
(MENDELSOHN AND GIGANDET.) MILLER'S WIFE SARAH (KIDMAN) AND DAUGHTER AVERY (LIBERATO) ARE ALSO HELD CAPTIVE BY THE GANG.
I WAS EXPECTING SO MUCH MORE FROM THIS MOVIE, BUT GOT NOTHING BUT DISAPPOINTMENT. THE STORY IS THIN, THERE ARE SOME HUGE PLOT HOLES AND IN GENERAL, THE ACTING IS SO OVER THE TOP IT ALMOST BECOMES HARD TO WATCH. THERE ARE INCONSISTENCIES IN THE CHARACTERS: SARAH, WHEN HIT ON BY JONAH, REBUFFS HIM FORCEFULLY YET WHEN DEALING WITH THE GANG SHE BECOMES A SCREAMING MESS; KYLE, WHEN PUSHED BY ELIAS, ACTS SCARED AND COWARDLY, YET THEN HE DOES A COMPLETE TURNAROUND AND BECOMES A STRONG FIGHTER.
ON THE PLUS SIDE, I THOUGHT MENDELSOHN DID A GOOD JOB AS THE LEADER OF THE GANG: FOR THE MOST PART HE REMAINS SUBDUED AND DETERMINED, MAKING ELIAS SEEM THAT MUCH MORE MENACING. YOU PROBABLY SHOULD SKIP THIS ONE.
RATING 2 out of 5
Monday, July 9, 2012
TERROR AT BLOOD FART LAKE
A GROUP OF COLLEGE FRIENDS DECIDE TO HAVE ONE LAST FLING BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS, BUT RUN INTO A CRAZED KILLER.
THIS MOVIE TRIES TO BE A CAMPY SATIRICAL TAKE ON SLASHER MOVIES, BUT FAILS IN A BLAST OF NUCLEAR ANNIHILATION. I THINK IF EVERYTHING HAD BEEN TONED DOWN A FEW NOTCHES THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH BETTER MOVIE. BUT THE ACTING, COSTUMES AND WRITING ARE SO OVER THE TOP THAT IT ALL BECOMES UNBEARABLE AND IRRITATING. THERE ARE A FEW MOMENTS OF HUMOR AND SOME RAUNCHY LINES THAT WERE FUNNY, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IT WAS JUST BAD.
RATING 1 out of 5
THIS MOVIE TRIES TO BE A CAMPY SATIRICAL TAKE ON SLASHER MOVIES, BUT FAILS IN A BLAST OF NUCLEAR ANNIHILATION. I THINK IF EVERYTHING HAD BEEN TONED DOWN A FEW NOTCHES THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH BETTER MOVIE. BUT THE ACTING, COSTUMES AND WRITING ARE SO OVER THE TOP THAT IT ALL BECOMES UNBEARABLE AND IRRITATING. THERE ARE A FEW MOMENTS OF HUMOR AND SOME RAUNCHY LINES THAT WERE FUNNY, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IT WAS JUST BAD.
RATING 1 out of 5
THE GIRL IN THE BASEMENT
ALEC IS AN INTROVERTED 23 YEAR OLD VIRGIN WHO COMES FROM AN ABUSIVE FAMILY. HE'S WORKING AS A DISHWASHER AND GETS A CRUSH ON KATE, ONE OF THE SERVERS AT THE RESTAURANT. HE FINALLY GETS UP THE COURAGE TO ASK HER OUT, BUT ON THEIR DATE KATE IS MORE INTERESTED IN CHECKING THE TIME THAN GETTING TO KNOW ALEC. ALEC SNAPS, KNOCKS HER OUT, KIDNAPS HER AND TIES HER UP IN HIS BASEMENT.
WE NEVER FIND OUT WHY ALEC KIDNAPS KATE, AND HE NEVER REALLY FIGURES OUT WHAT TO DO WITH HER. DURING HER TIME IN THE BASEMENT KATE SLOWLY LEARNS JUST HOW MENTALLY UNSTABLE ALEC IS, AND SHE BEGINS TO USE WHAT SHE LEARNS TO BECOME FRIENDS WITH ALEC IN HOPES HE WILL LET HER GO. ALEC AND KATE HAVE SOME INTERESTING INTERACTIONS, THINGS YOU DON'T ALWAYS SEE IN A MOVIE THAT, IN GENERAL, RING TRUE. FINALLY, EVERYTHING IS RESOLVED WHEN ALEC ATTACKS HIS ABUSIVE MOM WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ONE OF KATE'S FRIENDS SHOWS UP AND FINDS HER.
THIS MOVIE IS LISTED AS "REINDEER GAMES" AT IMDB. IT WAS CHANGED TO "THE GIRL IN THE BASEMENT" WHEN THE BEN AFFLECK "REINDEER GAMES" CAME OUT IN 2000. ALSO, IN A TRAGIC EVENT, SHAYNE WORCESTER, THE DIRECTOR, WAS KILLED IN A RANDOM MUGGING IN SAN FRANCISCO IN 1999. THIS MOVIE WAS MADE IN 1996.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
WE NEVER FIND OUT WHY ALEC KIDNAPS KATE, AND HE NEVER REALLY FIGURES OUT WHAT TO DO WITH HER. DURING HER TIME IN THE BASEMENT KATE SLOWLY LEARNS JUST HOW MENTALLY UNSTABLE ALEC IS, AND SHE BEGINS TO USE WHAT SHE LEARNS TO BECOME FRIENDS WITH ALEC IN HOPES HE WILL LET HER GO. ALEC AND KATE HAVE SOME INTERESTING INTERACTIONS, THINGS YOU DON'T ALWAYS SEE IN A MOVIE THAT, IN GENERAL, RING TRUE. FINALLY, EVERYTHING IS RESOLVED WHEN ALEC ATTACKS HIS ABUSIVE MOM WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ONE OF KATE'S FRIENDS SHOWS UP AND FINDS HER.
THIS MOVIE IS LISTED AS "REINDEER GAMES" AT IMDB. IT WAS CHANGED TO "THE GIRL IN THE BASEMENT" WHEN THE BEN AFFLECK "REINDEER GAMES" CAME OUT IN 2000. ALSO, IN A TRAGIC EVENT, SHAYNE WORCESTER, THE DIRECTOR, WAS KILLED IN A RANDOM MUGGING IN SAN FRANCISCO IN 1999. THIS MOVIE WAS MADE IN 1996.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
ARENA
SAMUEL L. JACKSON KELLAN LUTZ KATIA WINTER
DAVID LORD (LUTZ) IS KIDNAPPED BY MILLA (WINTER) AND FORCED INTO A BRUTAL ONLINE FIGHTING SITE RUN BY LOGAN (JACKSON.) THE FIGHTS ARE TO THE DEATH, AND LORD MAKES A DEAL WITH LOGAN THAT IF HE CAN SURVIVE 10 FIGHTS THEN HE WILL GET HIS FREEDOM.
THERE'S NOT MUCH TO THIS MOVIE. IT'S BRUTAL, VIOLENT AND BLOODY WITH A VERY THIN STORY. I'M NOT SURE WHY JACKSON WOULD BE IN CRAP LIKE THIS, MAYBE HE NEEDED THE MONEY. THE ACTING IS OKAY, THE FIGHT SCENES AREN'T EVEN STAGED THAT WELL AND SEEM TO BE VERY SHORT, AND I FOUND THE REACTIONS OF THE PEOPLE WATCHING ONLINE TO BE A LOT MORE ENTERTAINING THAN ANYTHING ELSE. I WOULD SAY IT IS HIGHLY PREDICTABLE, BUT THEN THE ENDING HITS YOU IN THE FACE LIKE SOME SLIMY FISH: CONCOCTED, ILL CONCEIVED AND PUT THERE TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE SOME REDEEMING VALUE BUT IT ONLY MAKES THE VIEWER FEEL CHEATED AND LET DOWN. IF YOU ARE INTO BRUTALITY, VIOLENCE AND GORE THAN WATCH THIS MOVIE, IF NOT, THAN AVOID IT AT ALL COSTS.
RATING 2 out of 5
DAVID LORD (LUTZ) IS KIDNAPPED BY MILLA (WINTER) AND FORCED INTO A BRUTAL ONLINE FIGHTING SITE RUN BY LOGAN (JACKSON.) THE FIGHTS ARE TO THE DEATH, AND LORD MAKES A DEAL WITH LOGAN THAT IF HE CAN SURVIVE 10 FIGHTS THEN HE WILL GET HIS FREEDOM.
THERE'S NOT MUCH TO THIS MOVIE. IT'S BRUTAL, VIOLENT AND BLOODY WITH A VERY THIN STORY. I'M NOT SURE WHY JACKSON WOULD BE IN CRAP LIKE THIS, MAYBE HE NEEDED THE MONEY. THE ACTING IS OKAY, THE FIGHT SCENES AREN'T EVEN STAGED THAT WELL AND SEEM TO BE VERY SHORT, AND I FOUND THE REACTIONS OF THE PEOPLE WATCHING ONLINE TO BE A LOT MORE ENTERTAINING THAN ANYTHING ELSE. I WOULD SAY IT IS HIGHLY PREDICTABLE, BUT THEN THE ENDING HITS YOU IN THE FACE LIKE SOME SLIMY FISH: CONCOCTED, ILL CONCEIVED AND PUT THERE TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE SOME REDEEMING VALUE BUT IT ONLY MAKES THE VIEWER FEEL CHEATED AND LET DOWN. IF YOU ARE INTO BRUTALITY, VIOLENCE AND GORE THAN WATCH THIS MOVIE, IF NOT, THAN AVOID IT AT ALL COSTS.
RATING 2 out of 5
THE DEBT
HELEN MIRREN TOM WILKINSON JESSICA CHASTAIN
SAM WORTHINGTON MARTON CSOKAS CIARAN HINDS
IN 1965 THREE MOSSAD AGENTS (CHASTAIN, WORTHINGTON AND CSOKAS) ARE SENT TO EAST GERMANY TO CAPTURE DIETER VOGEL, A NAZI WAR CRIMINAL. WHEN PROBLEMS ARISE, THEY DECIDE TO KEEP A SECRET ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. THIRTY YEARS LATER, THE THREE (MIRREN, HINDS AND WILKINSON) DISCOVER THEIR SECRET MAY NOT BE SAFE AND DECIDE TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
THE MOVIE JUMPS BETWEEN 1965 AND 1997, BUT IT IS EASY TO FOLLOW AND THE BULK OF THE STORY TAKES PLACE IN 1965. WHILE THE STORY IS CENTERED ON THE CHARACTER OF RACHEL, PLAYED BY MIRREN AND CHASTAIN, WHO BOTH DO A VERY GOOD JOB, ALL OF THE OTHER ACTORS ARE GOOD IN THEIR ROLES. AND ALTHOUGH THE STORY DOES DELVE INTO A COUPLE OF SUB PLOTS, THE DIRECTOR KEEPS HIS AIM ON THE PREPARATION AND CAPTURE OF VOGEL AND THEN THE RESULTING PROBLEMS. THE SUSPENSE IS THERE; IT'S NOT AN EDGE OF YOUR SEAT THRILL RIDE, BUT THERE ARE SOME UNEXPECTED EVENTS THAT WILL KEEP YOUR INTEREST AND MAKE YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS. I FOUND THIS TO BE A GOOD SPY THRILLER AND RECOMMEND IT.
RATING 3.5 out of 5
SAM WORTHINGTON MARTON CSOKAS CIARAN HINDS
IN 1965 THREE MOSSAD AGENTS (CHASTAIN, WORTHINGTON AND CSOKAS) ARE SENT TO EAST GERMANY TO CAPTURE DIETER VOGEL, A NAZI WAR CRIMINAL. WHEN PROBLEMS ARISE, THEY DECIDE TO KEEP A SECRET ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. THIRTY YEARS LATER, THE THREE (MIRREN, HINDS AND WILKINSON) DISCOVER THEIR SECRET MAY NOT BE SAFE AND DECIDE TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
THE MOVIE JUMPS BETWEEN 1965 AND 1997, BUT IT IS EASY TO FOLLOW AND THE BULK OF THE STORY TAKES PLACE IN 1965. WHILE THE STORY IS CENTERED ON THE CHARACTER OF RACHEL, PLAYED BY MIRREN AND CHASTAIN, WHO BOTH DO A VERY GOOD JOB, ALL OF THE OTHER ACTORS ARE GOOD IN THEIR ROLES. AND ALTHOUGH THE STORY DOES DELVE INTO A COUPLE OF SUB PLOTS, THE DIRECTOR KEEPS HIS AIM ON THE PREPARATION AND CAPTURE OF VOGEL AND THEN THE RESULTING PROBLEMS. THE SUSPENSE IS THERE; IT'S NOT AN EDGE OF YOUR SEAT THRILL RIDE, BUT THERE ARE SOME UNEXPECTED EVENTS THAT WILL KEEP YOUR INTEREST AND MAKE YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS. I FOUND THIS TO BE A GOOD SPY THRILLER AND RECOMMEND IT.
RATING 3.5 out of 5
Monday, June 25, 2012
THE DESCENDANTS
GEORGE CLOONEY SHAILENE WOODLEY AMARA MILLER
AS THE MOVIE OPENS, MATT KING (CLOONEY)'S WIFE HAS HAD AN ACCIDENT AND IS IN A COMA. IN TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE TRAGEDY, KING GATHERS TOGETHER HIS FAMILY; HIS TWO DAUGHTERS: 17 YEAR OLD ALEXANDRA (WOODLEY) AND 10 YEAR OLD SCOTTIE (MILLER). HIS GOAL IS TO REESTABLISH SOME SORT OF FATHER-DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIP WITH BOTH OF THEM. AS A SUB PLOT, KING IS DESCENDED FROM HAWAIIAN ROYALITY, AND HE AND HIS FAMILY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SELLING THE LAST PARCEL OF LAND IN THEIR FAMILY.
CLOONEY DOES A VERY GOOD JOB IN THIS MOVIE. IT IS BASICALLY A STORY ABOUT HIS COMING OF AGE, THROUGH DEALING WITH THE TRAGEDY OF HIS WIFE, THE LAND DEAL AND TRYING TO BECOME A FATHER TO HIS DAUGHTERS. ALONG THE WAY, HE FINDS OUT SOMETHING ABOUT HIS WIFE THAT SHOCKS HIM, AND CLOONEY'S REACTIONS SEEM VERY REAL AND VERY WELL DONE. WOODLEY AND MILLER ALSO DO AN OUTSTANDING ACTING JOB: WOODLEY'S ALEXANDRA GOES FROM A TROUBLED TEEN TO A SUPPORTING DAUGHTER, ALTHOUGH IT SEEMED A LITTLE TO FAST AND EASY FOR ME, AND MILLER'S SCOTTIE PLAYS HER AGE VERY WELL, FROM WANTING TO BE LIKE HER SISTER TO FEELING THE LONLINESS OF NOT HAVING HER MOTHER THERE TO HELP HER. KING'S DECISION CONCERNING THE LAND SELL FEELS RIGHT, AND BY THE END OF THE MOVIE, IT APPEARS HE HAS BECOME A GOOD AND CARING FATHER. AS FOR THE END, IT IS VERY SATISFYING. WATCH THIS MOVIE.
RATING 4 out of 5
AS THE MOVIE OPENS, MATT KING (CLOONEY)'S WIFE HAS HAD AN ACCIDENT AND IS IN A COMA. IN TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE TRAGEDY, KING GATHERS TOGETHER HIS FAMILY; HIS TWO DAUGHTERS: 17 YEAR OLD ALEXANDRA (WOODLEY) AND 10 YEAR OLD SCOTTIE (MILLER). HIS GOAL IS TO REESTABLISH SOME SORT OF FATHER-DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIP WITH BOTH OF THEM. AS A SUB PLOT, KING IS DESCENDED FROM HAWAIIAN ROYALITY, AND HE AND HIS FAMILY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SELLING THE LAST PARCEL OF LAND IN THEIR FAMILY.
CLOONEY DOES A VERY GOOD JOB IN THIS MOVIE. IT IS BASICALLY A STORY ABOUT HIS COMING OF AGE, THROUGH DEALING WITH THE TRAGEDY OF HIS WIFE, THE LAND DEAL AND TRYING TO BECOME A FATHER TO HIS DAUGHTERS. ALONG THE WAY, HE FINDS OUT SOMETHING ABOUT HIS WIFE THAT SHOCKS HIM, AND CLOONEY'S REACTIONS SEEM VERY REAL AND VERY WELL DONE. WOODLEY AND MILLER ALSO DO AN OUTSTANDING ACTING JOB: WOODLEY'S ALEXANDRA GOES FROM A TROUBLED TEEN TO A SUPPORTING DAUGHTER, ALTHOUGH IT SEEMED A LITTLE TO FAST AND EASY FOR ME, AND MILLER'S SCOTTIE PLAYS HER AGE VERY WELL, FROM WANTING TO BE LIKE HER SISTER TO FEELING THE LONLINESS OF NOT HAVING HER MOTHER THERE TO HELP HER. KING'S DECISION CONCERNING THE LAND SELL FEELS RIGHT, AND BY THE END OF THE MOVIE, IT APPEARS HE HAS BECOME A GOOD AND CARING FATHER. AS FOR THE END, IT IS VERY SATISFYING. WATCH THIS MOVIE.
RATING 4 out of 5
THE RUM DIARY
JOHNNY DEPP MICHAEL RISPOLI AARON ECKHART AMBER HEARD
GIOVANNI RIBISI RICHARD JENKINS
SET IN PUERTO RICO IN 1960, THIS MOVIE TELLS THE ADVENTURES OF PAUL KEMP (DEPP) AN ALCOHOLIC WRITER WHO GETS A JOB AT A LOCAL SAN JUAN NEWSPAPER. KEMP HAS RUN INS WITH HIS EDITOR (JENKINS) BUT MAKES FRIENDS WITH SALA (RISPOLI) A PHOTOGRAPHER AND MOBERG
(RIBISI) ANOTHER WRITER. KEMP ALSO GETS INVOLVED WITH SANDERSON (ECKHART) A SHADY REAL ESTATE AGENT AND SANDERSON'S GIRLFRIEND CHENAULT (HEARD.)
LOOSELY BASED ON THE BOOK BY HUNTER S. THOMPSON, THIS MOVIE DOESN'T HAVE A MAJOR STORYLINE, BUT MOVES THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT STORIES: THE ADVENTURES OF KEMP AND SALA, WHICH INCLUDE COCK FIGHTING TO A RUN IN WITH SOME LOCALS; KEMP'S NOT SEEING EYE TO EYE WITH HIS EDITOR; THE ATTEMPTED WOOING OF KEMP TO JOIN SANDERSON'S GROUP; AND FINALLY THE EMERGING LOVE STORY BETWEEN KEMP AND CHENAULT. THIS MAY SEEM LIKE A JUMBLED MESS, BUT THE DIRECTOR KEEPS EVERYTHING FLOWING SO THAT IT IS ALL EASY TO FOLLOW. THERE ARE MOMENTS OF INTENSE DRAMA AND, AS ONE WOULD EXPECT WHEN BOOZE IS INVOLVED, MOMENTS OF LAUGH OUT LOUD HUMOR, BOTH WHICH MAKE THE MOVIE A LOT MORE INTERESTING TO WATCH. ALL THE LEAD ACTORS DO A GOOD JOB, AND I ESPECIALLY LIKED THE SUBTLE LOOKS ON DEPP'S FACE AS HE WOULD HEAR OR SEE SOMETHING UNEXPECTED, THEY CONVEYED HUMOR IN A VERY SLY WAY. THIS IS A GOOD MOVIE THAT SHOULD BE SEEN.
RATING 3.5 out of 5
GIOVANNI RIBISI RICHARD JENKINS
SET IN PUERTO RICO IN 1960, THIS MOVIE TELLS THE ADVENTURES OF PAUL KEMP (DEPP) AN ALCOHOLIC WRITER WHO GETS A JOB AT A LOCAL SAN JUAN NEWSPAPER. KEMP HAS RUN INS WITH HIS EDITOR (JENKINS) BUT MAKES FRIENDS WITH SALA (RISPOLI) A PHOTOGRAPHER AND MOBERG
(RIBISI) ANOTHER WRITER. KEMP ALSO GETS INVOLVED WITH SANDERSON (ECKHART) A SHADY REAL ESTATE AGENT AND SANDERSON'S GIRLFRIEND CHENAULT (HEARD.)
LOOSELY BASED ON THE BOOK BY HUNTER S. THOMPSON, THIS MOVIE DOESN'T HAVE A MAJOR STORYLINE, BUT MOVES THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT STORIES: THE ADVENTURES OF KEMP AND SALA, WHICH INCLUDE COCK FIGHTING TO A RUN IN WITH SOME LOCALS; KEMP'S NOT SEEING EYE TO EYE WITH HIS EDITOR; THE ATTEMPTED WOOING OF KEMP TO JOIN SANDERSON'S GROUP; AND FINALLY THE EMERGING LOVE STORY BETWEEN KEMP AND CHENAULT. THIS MAY SEEM LIKE A JUMBLED MESS, BUT THE DIRECTOR KEEPS EVERYTHING FLOWING SO THAT IT IS ALL EASY TO FOLLOW. THERE ARE MOMENTS OF INTENSE DRAMA AND, AS ONE WOULD EXPECT WHEN BOOZE IS INVOLVED, MOMENTS OF LAUGH OUT LOUD HUMOR, BOTH WHICH MAKE THE MOVIE A LOT MORE INTERESTING TO WATCH. ALL THE LEAD ACTORS DO A GOOD JOB, AND I ESPECIALLY LIKED THE SUBTLE LOOKS ON DEPP'S FACE AS HE WOULD HEAR OR SEE SOMETHING UNEXPECTED, THEY CONVEYED HUMOR IN A VERY SLY WAY. THIS IS A GOOD MOVIE THAT SHOULD BE SEEN.
RATING 3.5 out of 5
Sunday, June 17, 2012
THE DEAD
ROB FREEMAN PRINCE DAVID OSEIA
WHEN HIS EVACUATION PLANE CRASHES INTO THE OCEAN, LT. BRIAN MURPHY (FREEMAN), AN AMERICAN MILITARY ENGINEER, IS THE ONLY SURVIVOR. HE WASHES ASHORE AND IS IMMEDIATELY ATTACKED BY ZOMBIES. HE GETS AWAY, AND IN TRYING TO ESCAPE AND SURVIVE, RUNS INTO SGT. DANIEL DEMBELE (OSEIA) AN AFRICAN MILITARY OFFICER TRYING TO GET TO HIS SON. THE TWO MEN DECIDE TO HELP EACH OTHER AND THE REST OF THE MOVIE IS THEM TRAVELLING THROUGH THE AFRICAN WILDERNESS TRYING TO SURVIVE.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ZOMBIE MOVIE. THE FIRST THING I NOTICED IS THAT THERE ARE ZOMBIES EVERYWHERE AND THE TWO MEN ARE NEVER REALLY SAFE. THEY CAN BE AND ARE ATTACKED AT ANY TIME. IT IS ALSO SOMEWHAT SLOW MOVING, WHICH IN THIS CASE IS A GOOD THING. IT GIVES THE CHARACTERS TIME TO DEVELOP AND IT ALSO RAMPS UP THE TENSION. THE MOVIE ALSO HAS A REAL FEEL TO IT, SINCE IN MANY OF THE SCENES THE ACTORS WERE ACTUALLY DOING WHAT WAS BEING SEEN: FIXING A CAR, DRIVING, CLIMBING ROCKS, ETC. THERE IS ALSO A SENSE OF DREAD THROUGHOUT, ALMOST AS IF THERE IS NO HOPE FOR ANYONE. THE MOVIE DOESN'T BUILD TO A FINAL CLIMAX, BUT ENDS AS IT SHOULD, COMPLETELY TRUE TO THE REST OF THE STORY, ALBEIT WITH A LITTLE HOPE THROWN IN.
RATING 3 out of 5
WHEN HIS EVACUATION PLANE CRASHES INTO THE OCEAN, LT. BRIAN MURPHY (FREEMAN), AN AMERICAN MILITARY ENGINEER, IS THE ONLY SURVIVOR. HE WASHES ASHORE AND IS IMMEDIATELY ATTACKED BY ZOMBIES. HE GETS AWAY, AND IN TRYING TO ESCAPE AND SURVIVE, RUNS INTO SGT. DANIEL DEMBELE (OSEIA) AN AFRICAN MILITARY OFFICER TRYING TO GET TO HIS SON. THE TWO MEN DECIDE TO HELP EACH OTHER AND THE REST OF THE MOVIE IS THEM TRAVELLING THROUGH THE AFRICAN WILDERNESS TRYING TO SURVIVE.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ZOMBIE MOVIE. THE FIRST THING I NOTICED IS THAT THERE ARE ZOMBIES EVERYWHERE AND THE TWO MEN ARE NEVER REALLY SAFE. THEY CAN BE AND ARE ATTACKED AT ANY TIME. IT IS ALSO SOMEWHAT SLOW MOVING, WHICH IN THIS CASE IS A GOOD THING. IT GIVES THE CHARACTERS TIME TO DEVELOP AND IT ALSO RAMPS UP THE TENSION. THE MOVIE ALSO HAS A REAL FEEL TO IT, SINCE IN MANY OF THE SCENES THE ACTORS WERE ACTUALLY DOING WHAT WAS BEING SEEN: FIXING A CAR, DRIVING, CLIMBING ROCKS, ETC. THERE IS ALSO A SENSE OF DREAD THROUGHOUT, ALMOST AS IF THERE IS NO HOPE FOR ANYONE. THE MOVIE DOESN'T BUILD TO A FINAL CLIMAX, BUT ENDS AS IT SHOULD, COMPLETELY TRUE TO THE REST OF THE STORY, ALBEIT WITH A LITTLE HOPE THROWN IN.
RATING 3 out of 5
SCREAM OF THE BANSHEE
LAUREN HOLLY LANCE HENRIKSEN
WHEN AN ARCHELOGY PROFESSOR (HOLLY) FINDS A BOX SENT TO HER BY A RETIRED PROFESSOR (HENRIKSEN) SHE OPENS THE BOX AND RELEASES A BANSHEE WHO STARTS KILLING PEOPLE.
HOLLY AND HENRIKSEN DO AN OKAY JOB HERE. THERE'S NOT MUCH OF A STORY, MOSTLY JUST THE PROFESSOR AND HER INTERNS TRYING TO FIGURE HOW TO RECAPTURE THE BANSHEE. THEY FINALLY REALIZE THE RETIRED PROFESSOR HAS THE ANSWER AND GO TO HIM FOR HELP. HE DOESN'T EXACTLY WANT TO HELP, BUT IS FORCED INTO IT.
THE EFFECTS WERE DONE WELL, WITH VERY LITTLE CGI, WHICH IS A BIG PLUS. AND IN LISTENING TO THE COMMENTARY, THE DIRECTOR CLAIMS THAT THE MOVIE IS NOT WHAT HE WANTED SINCE MUCH OF THE POST PRODUCTION WORK WAS DONE WITHOUT HIS CONSENT OR KNOWLEDGE. IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER FILM DONE HIS WAY.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
WHEN AN ARCHELOGY PROFESSOR (HOLLY) FINDS A BOX SENT TO HER BY A RETIRED PROFESSOR (HENRIKSEN) SHE OPENS THE BOX AND RELEASES A BANSHEE WHO STARTS KILLING PEOPLE.
HOLLY AND HENRIKSEN DO AN OKAY JOB HERE. THERE'S NOT MUCH OF A STORY, MOSTLY JUST THE PROFESSOR AND HER INTERNS TRYING TO FIGURE HOW TO RECAPTURE THE BANSHEE. THEY FINALLY REALIZE THE RETIRED PROFESSOR HAS THE ANSWER AND GO TO HIM FOR HELP. HE DOESN'T EXACTLY WANT TO HELP, BUT IS FORCED INTO IT.
THE EFFECTS WERE DONE WELL, WITH VERY LITTLE CGI, WHICH IS A BIG PLUS. AND IN LISTENING TO THE COMMENTARY, THE DIRECTOR CLAIMS THAT THE MOVIE IS NOT WHAT HE WANTED SINCE MUCH OF THE POST PRODUCTION WORK WAS DONE WITHOUT HIS CONSENT OR KNOWLEDGE. IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER FILM DONE HIS WAY.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
Monday, June 11, 2012
CONAN THE BARBARIAN
JASON MOMOA RON PERLMAN STEPHEN LANG RACHEL NICHOLS ROSE
McGOWAN
AS A YOUNG CHILD, CONAN (MOMOA) WATCHES HIS VILLAGE GET DESTROYED AND HIS FATHER (PERLMAN) KILLED AT THE HANDS OF THE EVIL KHALAR (LANG) AND HIS WITCH DAUGHTER MARIQUE (McGOWAN.) CONAN MAKES IT HIS LIFE MISSION TO AVENGE HIS FATHER'S DEATH. ALONG THE WAY, HE MEETS TAMARA (NICHOLS) WHOM KHALAR IS AFTER BECAUSE OF HER PURE BLOODLINE.
THIS IS NOT A REMAKE OF THE 80'S CONAN. THERE ARE SOME WISPS OF SIMILARITIES, BUT IT IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY. AND THE STORY IS FAIRLY SIMPLE, WITHOUT MANY PLOT TWISTS. IT IS STRAIGHT FORWARD ENOUGH SO YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND THEN YOU CAN JUST SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE RIDE GETTING THERE. ALL THE ACTING IS QUITE GOOD, HOWEVER I REALLY LIKED TAMARA, A SPUNKY TAKE CHARGE WOMAN IN A TIME WHEN WOMEN WERE ONLY SERVANTS. HER SCENES WITH CONAN ARE PARTICULARLY FUN, HAVING HER TELL HIM NO, AND THEN HE JUST LOOKING AT HER NOT BELIEVING SHE JUST REFUSED HIM. THE FIGHT SEQUENCES ARE VIOLENT, BLOODY AND DONE VERY WELL, AND THE REST OF THE SPECIAL EFFECTS ARE GOOD. I ESPECIALLY LIKED THE SAND WARRIORS CONAN HAS TO BATTLE. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOME ESCAPIST ENTERTAINMENT, THIS MOVIE WILL FILL IT FOR YOU.
RATING 3.5 out of 5
McGOWAN
AS A YOUNG CHILD, CONAN (MOMOA) WATCHES HIS VILLAGE GET DESTROYED AND HIS FATHER (PERLMAN) KILLED AT THE HANDS OF THE EVIL KHALAR (LANG) AND HIS WITCH DAUGHTER MARIQUE (McGOWAN.) CONAN MAKES IT HIS LIFE MISSION TO AVENGE HIS FATHER'S DEATH. ALONG THE WAY, HE MEETS TAMARA (NICHOLS) WHOM KHALAR IS AFTER BECAUSE OF HER PURE BLOODLINE.
THIS IS NOT A REMAKE OF THE 80'S CONAN. THERE ARE SOME WISPS OF SIMILARITIES, BUT IT IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY. AND THE STORY IS FAIRLY SIMPLE, WITHOUT MANY PLOT TWISTS. IT IS STRAIGHT FORWARD ENOUGH SO YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND THEN YOU CAN JUST SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE RIDE GETTING THERE. ALL THE ACTING IS QUITE GOOD, HOWEVER I REALLY LIKED TAMARA, A SPUNKY TAKE CHARGE WOMAN IN A TIME WHEN WOMEN WERE ONLY SERVANTS. HER SCENES WITH CONAN ARE PARTICULARLY FUN, HAVING HER TELL HIM NO, AND THEN HE JUST LOOKING AT HER NOT BELIEVING SHE JUST REFUSED HIM. THE FIGHT SEQUENCES ARE VIOLENT, BLOODY AND DONE VERY WELL, AND THE REST OF THE SPECIAL EFFECTS ARE GOOD. I ESPECIALLY LIKED THE SAND WARRIORS CONAN HAS TO BATTLE. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOME ESCAPIST ENTERTAINMENT, THIS MOVIE WILL FILL IT FOR YOU.
RATING 3.5 out of 5
I AM NUMBER FOUR
ALEX PETTYFER TIMOTHY OLYPHANT DIANNA AGRON TERESA PALMER
CALLAN McAULIFFE
WHEN THEIR PLANET IS ATTACKED, NINE BABIES, ALONG WITH PROTECTORS, ARE SENT TO EARTH TO SURVIVE. HOWEVER, THE ATTACKERS FOLLOW THEM TO EARTH AND KILL THEM IN ORDER. NUMBER FOUR (PETTYFER) IS NEXT. HE AND HIS PROTECTOR HENRI (OLYPHANT) END UP IN PARADISE OHIO WHERE NUMBER FOUR GETS A GIRLFRIEND, SARAH (AGRON) AND IS HELPED BY A FRIEND SAM (McAULIFFE) IN FIGHTING THE ATTACKERS. HE IS FINALLY JOINED BY NUMBER SIX (PALMER.)
THIS MOVIE REMINDED ME OF A SYFY CHANNEL MOVIE, ONLY WITH A BIGGER BUDGET AND BETTER PRODUCTION VALUES. IT STARTS OUT WITH A CHASE INVOLVING NUMBER THREE, THE ATTACKERS AND SOME CGI MONSTERS. IT ENDS WITH A FIGHT BETWEEN THE ATTACKERS, NUMBER FOUR, NUMBER SIX AND SOME MORE CGI EFFECTS. THE MIDDLE PART IS BASICALLY A LOVE STORY BETWEEN NUMBER FOUR AND SARAH. ALONG THE WAY, NUMBER FOUR BEGINS DEVELOPING POWERS HE DIDN'T KNOW HE HAD AND THEN HAS TO LEARN HOW TO USE THOSE POWERS. THERE IS ALSO A SUBPLOT INVOLVING SAM AND HIS MISSING FATHER AND WHAT THEY MAY HAVE DISCOVERED ABOUT ANCIENT ASTRONAUTS.
THE STORY IS NOT GREAT SCIENCE FICTION, NOR IS IT A GREAT LOVE STORY--PRETTY MUCH ALL THE CLICHES YOU EXPECT ARE THERE--AND THERE ARE SOME STUMBLES ALONG THE WAY, BUT FOR WHAT IT IS, THE STORY IS OKAY. THE DIRECTING AND ACTING WERE GOOD, AND THE SPECIAL EFFECTS WERE DONE WELL, HOWEVER I STILL THINK CGI LOOKS CARTOONISH. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE ONLY IF YOU ARE A DIE HARD SF FAN, OR IF YOU HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO WATCH.
RATING 3 out of 5
CALLAN McAULIFFE
WHEN THEIR PLANET IS ATTACKED, NINE BABIES, ALONG WITH PROTECTORS, ARE SENT TO EARTH TO SURVIVE. HOWEVER, THE ATTACKERS FOLLOW THEM TO EARTH AND KILL THEM IN ORDER. NUMBER FOUR (PETTYFER) IS NEXT. HE AND HIS PROTECTOR HENRI (OLYPHANT) END UP IN PARADISE OHIO WHERE NUMBER FOUR GETS A GIRLFRIEND, SARAH (AGRON) AND IS HELPED BY A FRIEND SAM (McAULIFFE) IN FIGHTING THE ATTACKERS. HE IS FINALLY JOINED BY NUMBER SIX (PALMER.)
THIS MOVIE REMINDED ME OF A SYFY CHANNEL MOVIE, ONLY WITH A BIGGER BUDGET AND BETTER PRODUCTION VALUES. IT STARTS OUT WITH A CHASE INVOLVING NUMBER THREE, THE ATTACKERS AND SOME CGI MONSTERS. IT ENDS WITH A FIGHT BETWEEN THE ATTACKERS, NUMBER FOUR, NUMBER SIX AND SOME MORE CGI EFFECTS. THE MIDDLE PART IS BASICALLY A LOVE STORY BETWEEN NUMBER FOUR AND SARAH. ALONG THE WAY, NUMBER FOUR BEGINS DEVELOPING POWERS HE DIDN'T KNOW HE HAD AND THEN HAS TO LEARN HOW TO USE THOSE POWERS. THERE IS ALSO A SUBPLOT INVOLVING SAM AND HIS MISSING FATHER AND WHAT THEY MAY HAVE DISCOVERED ABOUT ANCIENT ASTRONAUTS.
THE STORY IS NOT GREAT SCIENCE FICTION, NOR IS IT A GREAT LOVE STORY--PRETTY MUCH ALL THE CLICHES YOU EXPECT ARE THERE--AND THERE ARE SOME STUMBLES ALONG THE WAY, BUT FOR WHAT IT IS, THE STORY IS OKAY. THE DIRECTING AND ACTING WERE GOOD, AND THE SPECIAL EFFECTS WERE DONE WELL, HOWEVER I STILL THINK CGI LOOKS CARTOONISH. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE ONLY IF YOU ARE A DIE HARD SF FAN, OR IF YOU HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO WATCH.
RATING 3 out of 5
Thursday, June 7, 2012
EVERYTHING MUST GO
WILL FERRELL REBECCA HALL CHRISTOPHER CJ WALLACE
ON THE DAY HE LOSES HIS JOB, NICK (FERRELL) COMES HOME TO FIND HIS WIFE HAS LEFT HIM AND PUT ALL HIS STUFF ON THEIR FRONT LAWN. NICK DECIDES TO LIVE THERE AND DURING THIS TIME HE MEETS A NEW NEIGHBOR SAMANTHA (HALL). NICK ALSO DECIDES TO HAVE A YARD SALE, AND HIRES A NEIGHBORHOOD KID KENNY (WALLACE) TO HELP HIM OUT.
NICK IS AN ALCOHOLIC, AND THAT IS WHY HE LOSES HIS JOB AND HIS WIFE LEAVES HIM. THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT ROLE FOR FERRELL, MORE DRAMATIC THAN COMEDIC, AND HE DOES A VERY GOOD JOB. GRANTED, HIS PORTRAYAL IS LOW KEY AND NOT WITH A LOT OF EMOTION, YET WHEN HE NEEDS TO SHOW EMOTION, HE DELIVERS. I FOUND A NEW RESPECT FOR FERRELL, WHOM I HAVE NEVER REALLY LIKED, OR AT LEAST NOT LIKED THE TYPE OF CHARACTERS HE PLAYED. AS THE NEIGHBOR, SAMANTHA PLAYS THE LOVE INTEREST, BUT SINCE SHE IS MARRIED, IT IS MORE OF A FRIENDSHIP THAT ANYTHING ELSE. SHE AND NICK GO THROUGH THE STEPS OF THAT TYPE OF FRIENDSHIP: GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER, THE BIG FIGHT AND THEN GETTING BACK TOGETHER. IT IS A SOLID BOND WITH A REAL SENSE OF TRUTH, EXCELLENTLY PORTRAYED BY FERRELL AND HALL. WITH KENNY, NICK GETS THE SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND CARING THAT IS MISSING IN HIS LIFE. ON THE SURFACE, THIS MAY SEEM LIKE A SIMPLE MOVIE, YET IT HAS MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS ALL TIED TO THE RECOVERY OF NICK FROM HIS DRINKING. IT IS MUCH MORE THAN A "YARD SALE" MOVIE, IN WHICH THE "EVERYTHING" REFERS TO THE STUFF ON NICK'S LAWN TO THE DEMONS THAT DRIVE NICK TO DRINK.
RATING 3.5 out of 5
ON THE DAY HE LOSES HIS JOB, NICK (FERRELL) COMES HOME TO FIND HIS WIFE HAS LEFT HIM AND PUT ALL HIS STUFF ON THEIR FRONT LAWN. NICK DECIDES TO LIVE THERE AND DURING THIS TIME HE MEETS A NEW NEIGHBOR SAMANTHA (HALL). NICK ALSO DECIDES TO HAVE A YARD SALE, AND HIRES A NEIGHBORHOOD KID KENNY (WALLACE) TO HELP HIM OUT.
NICK IS AN ALCOHOLIC, AND THAT IS WHY HE LOSES HIS JOB AND HIS WIFE LEAVES HIM. THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT ROLE FOR FERRELL, MORE DRAMATIC THAN COMEDIC, AND HE DOES A VERY GOOD JOB. GRANTED, HIS PORTRAYAL IS LOW KEY AND NOT WITH A LOT OF EMOTION, YET WHEN HE NEEDS TO SHOW EMOTION, HE DELIVERS. I FOUND A NEW RESPECT FOR FERRELL, WHOM I HAVE NEVER REALLY LIKED, OR AT LEAST NOT LIKED THE TYPE OF CHARACTERS HE PLAYED. AS THE NEIGHBOR, SAMANTHA PLAYS THE LOVE INTEREST, BUT SINCE SHE IS MARRIED, IT IS MORE OF A FRIENDSHIP THAT ANYTHING ELSE. SHE AND NICK GO THROUGH THE STEPS OF THAT TYPE OF FRIENDSHIP: GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER, THE BIG FIGHT AND THEN GETTING BACK TOGETHER. IT IS A SOLID BOND WITH A REAL SENSE OF TRUTH, EXCELLENTLY PORTRAYED BY FERRELL AND HALL. WITH KENNY, NICK GETS THE SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND CARING THAT IS MISSING IN HIS LIFE. ON THE SURFACE, THIS MAY SEEM LIKE A SIMPLE MOVIE, YET IT HAS MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS ALL TIED TO THE RECOVERY OF NICK FROM HIS DRINKING. IT IS MUCH MORE THAN A "YARD SALE" MOVIE, IN WHICH THE "EVERYTHING" REFERS TO THE STUFF ON NICK'S LAWN TO THE DEMONS THAT DRIVE NICK TO DRINK.
RATING 3.5 out of 5
PUNCTURE
CHRIS EVANS MARK KASSEN MARSHELL BELL BRETT CULLEN
BASED ON A TRUE STORY OF HOW TWO SMALL TIME PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS, MIKE WEISS (EVANS) AND PAUL DANZIGER (KASSEN) TAKE ON A LARGE MEDICAL SUPPLY COMPANY WHICH IS TRYING TO PREVENT THE USE OF SAFETY NEEDLE DESIGNED BY JEFFREY DANCORT (BELL). THE MEDICAL SUPPLY COMPANY IS REPRESENTED BY NATHANIEL PRICE (CULLEN).
THIS IS THE CLASSIC STORY OF DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH, AND IT PLAYS VERY WELL. THERE IS INTRIGUE, COVER UPS, PAYOFFS, AND PERSONAL DEMONS -- WEISS IS A DRUG ADDICT -- THAT ALL THE PEOPLE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND OVERCOME. THE STORY IS COMPELLING: IT ALL STARTED WHEN A NURSE ACCIDENTALLY STICKS HERSELF AND THEN GETS AIDS. IT IS TOLD IN A STRAIGHT FORWARD STYLE WITHOUT TOO MANY TURNS TO CONFUSE YOU. THE CHARACTERS ARE VERY BELIEVABLE: PRICE IS JUST WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT -- A WEASELLY LAWYER WHO WOULD DO ANYTHING TO WIN; DANCORT IS A NO NONSENSE OLDER MAN FED UP WITH THE SYSTEM AND TIRED FROM ALL THE HOOPS HE HAS HAD TO JUMP THROUGH IN TRYING TO GET HIS NEEDLE TO BE USED; AND WEISS AND DANZIGER ARE THE LAWYERS WHO BELIEVE THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, FIND THEIR WAY BLOCKED AT EVERY STEP, YET CONTINUE TO PURSUE THEIR GOALS. IF YOU LIKE WELL DONE DRAMAS DRIVEN BY CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, THEN THIS IS A PERFECT MOVIE FOR YOU.
RATING 3 out of 5
BASED ON A TRUE STORY OF HOW TWO SMALL TIME PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS, MIKE WEISS (EVANS) AND PAUL DANZIGER (KASSEN) TAKE ON A LARGE MEDICAL SUPPLY COMPANY WHICH IS TRYING TO PREVENT THE USE OF SAFETY NEEDLE DESIGNED BY JEFFREY DANCORT (BELL). THE MEDICAL SUPPLY COMPANY IS REPRESENTED BY NATHANIEL PRICE (CULLEN).
THIS IS THE CLASSIC STORY OF DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH, AND IT PLAYS VERY WELL. THERE IS INTRIGUE, COVER UPS, PAYOFFS, AND PERSONAL DEMONS -- WEISS IS A DRUG ADDICT -- THAT ALL THE PEOPLE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND OVERCOME. THE STORY IS COMPELLING: IT ALL STARTED WHEN A NURSE ACCIDENTALLY STICKS HERSELF AND THEN GETS AIDS. IT IS TOLD IN A STRAIGHT FORWARD STYLE WITHOUT TOO MANY TURNS TO CONFUSE YOU. THE CHARACTERS ARE VERY BELIEVABLE: PRICE IS JUST WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT -- A WEASELLY LAWYER WHO WOULD DO ANYTHING TO WIN; DANCORT IS A NO NONSENSE OLDER MAN FED UP WITH THE SYSTEM AND TIRED FROM ALL THE HOOPS HE HAS HAD TO JUMP THROUGH IN TRYING TO GET HIS NEEDLE TO BE USED; AND WEISS AND DANZIGER ARE THE LAWYERS WHO BELIEVE THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, FIND THEIR WAY BLOCKED AT EVERY STEP, YET CONTINUE TO PURSUE THEIR GOALS. IF YOU LIKE WELL DONE DRAMAS DRIVEN BY CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, THEN THIS IS A PERFECT MOVIE FOR YOU.
RATING 3 out of 5
Sunday, June 3, 2012
LITTLE DEATHS
AN ANTHOLOGY OF THREE MOVIES WHERE THE CONNECTING THEME IS SEX AND VIOLENCE. THE FIRST ONE TELLS THE STORY OF A COUPLE WHO LURE HOMELESS WOMEN TO THEIR HOUSE FOR SEX, BUT THEY PICK THE WRONG ONE THIS TIME. SECOND IS THE STORY OF A MAD SCIENTIST WHO IS USING MUTATED SEMEN TO CREATE A NEW DRUG. AND LASTLY, IS THE TALE OF A COUPLE IN A DOM/SUB RELATIONSHIP UNTIL THE SUB DECIDES HE HAS HAD TOO MUCH AND EVENS THE SCORE.
IN THE FIRST SHORT, THE WIFE TELLS HER HUSBAND "WE ALL HAVE APPETITES, JUST DIFFERENT TASTES." THIS IS A VERY FOREBODING STATEMENT AND COMES BACK TO HAUNT THE COUPLE. I REALLY LIKED THE WOMEN IN THIS ONE: THE WIFE WAS JUST KINKY ENOUGH TO BE SCARY AND THE VICTIM WAS QUIET WHEN SHE NEEDED TO BE THEN TURNED INTO SOMETHING COMPLETELY HORRIFIC.
THE SECOND SHORT WAS JUST BIZARRE AND TRIED TO SHOCK THE VIEWER MORE THAT ANYTHING ELSE. IT INVOLVED MUTATED MALE BODY PARTS AND THE HARVESTING OF MALE BODILY FLUIDS.
THE LAST SHORT DEALT MORE WITH REVENGE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. THE SUB IN THE RELATIONSHIP, WHO IS THE MALE, FINALLY HAS ENOUGH OF THE WOMAN'S CONTROLLING HIM AND WHEN SHE HAS SEX WITH HIS BEST FRIEND, HE DECIDES TO PAY HER BACK BY USING HER BIGGEST FEAR AGAINST HER.
IN LOOKING AT THE MOVIE AS A WHOLE AND JUDGING ON ACTING, DIRECTING AND STORYTELLING, THE FIRST WAS THE BEST, THE THIRD WAS OKAY AND THE SECOND WAS THE WEAKEST.
RATING 2.5 OUT OF 5
IN THE FIRST SHORT, THE WIFE TELLS HER HUSBAND "WE ALL HAVE APPETITES, JUST DIFFERENT TASTES." THIS IS A VERY FOREBODING STATEMENT AND COMES BACK TO HAUNT THE COUPLE. I REALLY LIKED THE WOMEN IN THIS ONE: THE WIFE WAS JUST KINKY ENOUGH TO BE SCARY AND THE VICTIM WAS QUIET WHEN SHE NEEDED TO BE THEN TURNED INTO SOMETHING COMPLETELY HORRIFIC.
THE SECOND SHORT WAS JUST BIZARRE AND TRIED TO SHOCK THE VIEWER MORE THAT ANYTHING ELSE. IT INVOLVED MUTATED MALE BODY PARTS AND THE HARVESTING OF MALE BODILY FLUIDS.
THE LAST SHORT DEALT MORE WITH REVENGE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. THE SUB IN THE RELATIONSHIP, WHO IS THE MALE, FINALLY HAS ENOUGH OF THE WOMAN'S CONTROLLING HIM AND WHEN SHE HAS SEX WITH HIS BEST FRIEND, HE DECIDES TO PAY HER BACK BY USING HER BIGGEST FEAR AGAINST HER.
IN LOOKING AT THE MOVIE AS A WHOLE AND JUDGING ON ACTING, DIRECTING AND STORYTELLING, THE FIRST WAS THE BEST, THE THIRD WAS OKAY AND THE SECOND WAS THE WEAKEST.
RATING 2.5 OUT OF 5
SHAME
MICHAEL FASSBENDER CAREY MULLIGAN
BRANDON (FASSBENDER) IS A YUPPIE IN NEW YORK WHO IS A SEX ADDICT. THE ADDICTION RULES HIS LIFE. WHEN HIS SISTER SISSY(MULLIGAN) UNEXPECTEDLY SHOWS UP, BRANDON MUST TRY TO DEAL WITH HIS ADDICTION ALONG WITH HIS FEELINGS FOR HIS SISTER.
THIS IS A VERY RAW FILM. IT IS RATED NC-17 FOR STRONG SEXUAL CONTENT AND FULL NUDITY, BOTH MALE AND FEMALE. FASSBENDER DOES AN INCREDIBLE JOB, AND MANY OF YOU MAY BE SURPRISED AT HOW FAR HE GOES TO EXPRESS HIS ADDICTION. THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR MULLIGAN, WHO IS TRYING TO RECONNECT WITH HER BROTHER AND FIND SOME LOVE IN HER LIFE. THE SEX IN THIS MOVIE IS NOT TITILLATING OR EXCITING, BUT IT IS WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT FOR AN ADDICT, SIMPLY A MEANS TO AN END. AND IT IS IMPLIED BUT NEVER SHOWN THAT BRANDON DOES HAVE SEXUAL FEELINGS FOR HIS SISTER. ON THE NIGHT THAT BRANDON GOES OFF THE DEEP END AND ENGAGES IN ONE ACT AFTER ANOTHER, A TRAGEDY TAKES PLACE THAT YOU HOPE WILL FORCE HIM INTO GETTING HELP, BUT THAT DECISION IS LEFT UP FOR THE VIEWER TO DECIDE.
RATING 3 OUT OF 5
BRANDON (FASSBENDER) IS A YUPPIE IN NEW YORK WHO IS A SEX ADDICT. THE ADDICTION RULES HIS LIFE. WHEN HIS SISTER SISSY(MULLIGAN) UNEXPECTEDLY SHOWS UP, BRANDON MUST TRY TO DEAL WITH HIS ADDICTION ALONG WITH HIS FEELINGS FOR HIS SISTER.
THIS IS A VERY RAW FILM. IT IS RATED NC-17 FOR STRONG SEXUAL CONTENT AND FULL NUDITY, BOTH MALE AND FEMALE. FASSBENDER DOES AN INCREDIBLE JOB, AND MANY OF YOU MAY BE SURPRISED AT HOW FAR HE GOES TO EXPRESS HIS ADDICTION. THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR MULLIGAN, WHO IS TRYING TO RECONNECT WITH HER BROTHER AND FIND SOME LOVE IN HER LIFE. THE SEX IN THIS MOVIE IS NOT TITILLATING OR EXCITING, BUT IT IS WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT FOR AN ADDICT, SIMPLY A MEANS TO AN END. AND IT IS IMPLIED BUT NEVER SHOWN THAT BRANDON DOES HAVE SEXUAL FEELINGS FOR HIS SISTER. ON THE NIGHT THAT BRANDON GOES OFF THE DEEP END AND ENGAGES IN ONE ACT AFTER ANOTHER, A TRAGEDY TAKES PLACE THAT YOU HOPE WILL FORCE HIM INTO GETTING HELP, BUT THAT DECISION IS LEFT UP FOR THE VIEWER TO DECIDE.
RATING 3 OUT OF 5
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
LAID TO REST 2
Chromeskull is up to his old tricks: kidnapping young girls to torture and kill. Beginning from where Laid to Rest ended, a young girl is brought to Chromeskull's lair. The local police are searching for her; she tries to escape but can't partly because she has an eye disease that has rendered her legally blind. Finally, there is a confrontation between Chromeskull and the police.
Within the first 10 minutes we find out that Chromeskull has created an organization that helps him in his murderous activities. He has a "cleaner" who is working at tying up loose ends -- mainly the survivors from the first movie, a personal assistant who takes care of him and apparently a limitless supply of money. This all adds to the myth of Chromeskull and adds some intrigue to the story, but as for the story, it just kind of plods along at a steady pace never creating much suspense. Once again, the kills are inventive, the effects are first rate and the gore is over the top. I will give props to Brian Austin Green who plays the cleaner, he is very creepy, a little crazy and very fun to watch.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
Within the first 10 minutes we find out that Chromeskull has created an organization that helps him in his murderous activities. He has a "cleaner" who is working at tying up loose ends -- mainly the survivors from the first movie, a personal assistant who takes care of him and apparently a limitless supply of money. This all adds to the myth of Chromeskull and adds some intrigue to the story, but as for the story, it just kind of plods along at a steady pace never creating much suspense. Once again, the kills are inventive, the effects are first rate and the gore is over the top. I will give props to Brian Austin Green who plays the cleaner, he is very creepy, a little crazy and very fun to watch.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
LAID TO REST
A young woman wakes up in a coffin, a victim of head trauma that has left her with memory loss. After getting out, she discovers she is being chased by Chromeskull, an unrelenting killer. In trying to escape, she is helped by some of the locals, until the eventual confrontation with Chromeskull.
This is a horror picture, so you get what you expect: so so acting, poorly written and plot holes. However, you also get some very inventive kills, excellent special effects and plenty of violence and gore. The writer also added some character development, which is not seen too often in horror films. In general, it is fun to watch, but not too scary or intense.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
This is a horror picture, so you get what you expect: so so acting, poorly written and plot holes. However, you also get some very inventive kills, excellent special effects and plenty of violence and gore. The writer also added some character development, which is not seen too often in horror films. In general, it is fun to watch, but not too scary or intense.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
COLOMBIANA
ZOE SALDANA CLIFF CURTIS MICHAEL VARTAN LENNIE JAMES
Cataleya (Saldana) as a young girl, watches her parents get murdered by a Colombian gang lord. She survives and ends up living in America with her uncle Emilio (Curtis) who trains her to become an assassin. She has a boyfriend Danny (Vartan) who knows nothing of her life, and is being tracked by agent Ross (James) of the FBI. At each kill, she leaves clues for the gang lord to discover and come out of hiding so she get her revenge for her parent's murder.
Colombiana is a pure action movie with very little character development, not much of a plot and is very predictable, but the enjoyment comes from the ride to the eventual end, and it is a very fun ride. The movie starts out with a 10 to 15 minute chase scene through the streets of Cataleya's Colombian town, where she is being chased by the gang lord's henchmen. It is very exciting to watch, sets up the rest of the movie and leaves you wanting more. From there, it goes into one of her kills, which takes place at a jail full of police officers and government agents. Yes, it is a little unbelievable at what she does and how she does it, but it is pure fun to watch. The rest of the movie is the same, mixing some emotional scenes with adrenaline pumping action sequences, until we get to the climax. Sure, we know what's going to happen, but seeing how it happens is the pay off. If you are looking for an action movie that doesn't require a lot of concentration, then Colombiana is the one.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
Cataleya (Saldana) as a young girl, watches her parents get murdered by a Colombian gang lord. She survives and ends up living in America with her uncle Emilio (Curtis) who trains her to become an assassin. She has a boyfriend Danny (Vartan) who knows nothing of her life, and is being tracked by agent Ross (James) of the FBI. At each kill, she leaves clues for the gang lord to discover and come out of hiding so she get her revenge for her parent's murder.
Colombiana is a pure action movie with very little character development, not much of a plot and is very predictable, but the enjoyment comes from the ride to the eventual end, and it is a very fun ride. The movie starts out with a 10 to 15 minute chase scene through the streets of Cataleya's Colombian town, where she is being chased by the gang lord's henchmen. It is very exciting to watch, sets up the rest of the movie and leaves you wanting more. From there, it goes into one of her kills, which takes place at a jail full of police officers and government agents. Yes, it is a little unbelievable at what she does and how she does it, but it is pure fun to watch. The rest of the movie is the same, mixing some emotional scenes with adrenaline pumping action sequences, until we get to the climax. Sure, we know what's going to happen, but seeing how it happens is the pay off. If you are looking for an action movie that doesn't require a lot of concentration, then Colombiana is the one.
RATING 2.5 out of 5
HAYWIRE
GINA CARANO EWAN MCGREGOR CHANNING TATUM MICHAEL DOUGLAS
MICHAEL FASSBENDER
Mallory (Carano) works for Kenneth (McGregor) as a special agent. Aaron (Tatum) is a co-agent. During one of her missions, Mallory finds out she has been set up and then, while trying to survive, she tries to find out why. Also involved are Paul (Fassbender) a British agent and Coblenz (Douglas) an American government official.
I really wanted to like this movie since I enjoy films that have strong female leads, but it is such a poorly written story that it is almost impossible to like. As you might expect, the fight scenes were well done and looked very authentic. We learn from the DVD extras that no stunt people were used in the fights and this adds realism, however well done fights do not make a good movie. The acting was good: Carano did a good job for her first starring role, and the guys are all seasoned actors who know what they are doing, although there are times when Tatum just stands there with a dumbfounded look on his face. It was directed by Steven Soderbergh, a good director who keeps the movie flowing along with the action popping up at the right times. As for the story, it is just bad. For everything that happens in this movie, the viewer is never given or told a reason why it is happening. It is a major hole that takes away from the movie.
RATING 2 out of 5
MICHAEL FASSBENDER
Mallory (Carano) works for Kenneth (McGregor) as a special agent. Aaron (Tatum) is a co-agent. During one of her missions, Mallory finds out she has been set up and then, while trying to survive, she tries to find out why. Also involved are Paul (Fassbender) a British agent and Coblenz (Douglas) an American government official.
I really wanted to like this movie since I enjoy films that have strong female leads, but it is such a poorly written story that it is almost impossible to like. As you might expect, the fight scenes were well done and looked very authentic. We learn from the DVD extras that no stunt people were used in the fights and this adds realism, however well done fights do not make a good movie. The acting was good: Carano did a good job for her first starring role, and the guys are all seasoned actors who know what they are doing, although there are times when Tatum just stands there with a dumbfounded look on his face. It was directed by Steven Soderbergh, a good director who keeps the movie flowing along with the action popping up at the right times. As for the story, it is just bad. For everything that happens in this movie, the viewer is never given or told a reason why it is happening. It is a major hole that takes away from the movie.
RATING 2 out of 5
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