August (NF16/TV7/MM8/CC6/OS1)
* The Pink Panther Strikes Again: (1976 - Comedy, adventure / UK, USA) Peter Sellers stars in a role that fit him well. As the bumbling French detective Clouseau. When former Inspector Dreyfus is under review from the psychiatric hospital, Clouseau shows up and Dreyfus tries to kill him. The movie's plot is ridiculous. Dreyfus escapes from the loony bin, recruits the worlds greatest criminal masterminds, and concocts a plan that is sure to kill Clouseau. Of course Clouseau shows up and steals the show. Bumbling physical humor, corny comedic dialog, and just enough laughs to compensate for the mediocre direction and lagging pace. 3 out of 5.
* The Fall of the House of Usher: (1928 - / France - Chute de la maison Usher, La) A black & white, silent movie, with english narration of the french interstitials. A movie which is made like a painting is a fitting adaptation to this Edgar Alan Poe short story. The camera shots are outstanding. Great composition, framing, lighting, and slow motion work. The pacing, while slow was an excellent fit for this movie. The music was existentially creepy, and helped create a mood of despair as the movie unwound. The acting (for it's time) was also very good. When an aristocrat's wife becomes ill, he sends for his best friend, who travels a great distance to the man's castle. As he arrives in the bog like dreamscape which comprises this private nightmare, he discovers that the man's wife is suffering from some unusual ailment. The more detail the artist puts into the realistic portrait of his wife, the more she suffers. As his masterpiece is completed, his wife dies from the strange ailment. When she is entombed in the family crypt, the husband becomes unhinged. Convinced that she has been buried alive. The ending is dreamlike and disturbing. The only drawback to this movie is the poor print quality. 4 of 5.
* Tiptoes: (2003 - Drama, romance) Lent to me be a co-worker. Here's a film for the niche crowd. A successful young man (Matthew McConaughey) is engaged to a beautiful young artist (Kate Beckinsale), but their relationship is threatened by his secretive ways. She nearly stumbles over the mystery one day, when the man's brother (played by Gary Oldman) shows up at their door. His entire family suffers from dwarfism, and she's pregnant! The situation makes for some excellent social commentary on discrimination and the family. As the film proceeds, we find out that he's the one unable to cope with the reality of the situation. While the writing (the screenplay) isn't the best, and the supporting cast can't act, the acting by the primaries more than makes up for all the downsides to this movie. I give it a 3 out of 5.
* Stander: (2003 - Drama, action, crime / South Africa) An amazing film about Andre Stander, a South African cop who turns to robbing banks after he becomes disillusioned and disgusted by his governments corrupt and unjust system. This movie was filmed on location in Africa, and the actors spoke accented English. It felt very authentic and I was taken in by the feeling of apartheid falling apart as I watched the movie. A great drama disguised as an action film. Terrific acting by Thomas Jane, Ashley Taylor, David O'Hara, Dexter Fletcher, Deborah Kara Unger, Marius Weyers and At Botha. perfect direction by Bronwen Hughes, and a great soundtrack. Everything in this movie clicked. This time around, I watched the movie with the director's commentary. Directed by Bronwen Hughes, the commentary reveals how incredible the true story of Andre Stander truly is. I give it a 5 out of 5.
* * Star Trek - The original series - Vol. 33, episodes 65 & 66: [For the World Is Hollow / Day of the Dove]: I've been watching episodes of the original Star Trek series for the last couple of years. I watched it as a kid when I was growing up (Yow! that makes me... old?), I loved it back then, and I still love it. My friends and I used to pretend to be members of the 'Starship Enterprise', and this television series was a great source of imaginative exercise while I was growing up. For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky. In this episode, Kirk and crew beam down onto the surface of an asteroid which is on a collision course with a federation planet. The Captain and crew are soon abducted by the local residents, and taken beneath the surface of this 'Dyson Sphere'. A hollowed out asteroid, which serves as a generation ship for a race of people known as the Fabrini. Kirk then proceeds to reveal how their entire culture is a lie, that they're all going to die without his help. They refuse, and the crew is left to find a way through force, to overcome the paralyzing pain implants of the Oracle, destroy the computer that is the Oracle, and then adjust the asteroids course using other controls. Some solution! Day of the Dove is an episode featuring a cruel energy based entity that forces people to fight. As a Klingon ship is destroyed, the remaining Klingons believe that the Enterprise is to blame. They beam down to the planet where Kirk and crew are engaged in a survey mission. Klingons capture Kirk and crew, force them to take them to the Enterprise, and combat ensues. Apparently the creature feeds on ill will and violence. When crew members or Klingons are injured, they heal from mortal wounds, only to enter the fray again. When Kirk and crew figure out what's going on, they join forces with the Klingons and refuse to fight. The entity leaves when the fun is spoiled.
* Three Amigos: (1986 -Comedy, adventure) A classic comedy. Starring Chevy Chase, Steve Martin and Martin Short as out of work actors. When they get a cable/telegram from down Mexico way, they assume it's a summons to act in a movie. Once they get there, they slowly come to realize that this is no silver screen set, it's the real thing. The bullets are real, El Guapo is a real Mexican bandit, and lives really are in danger. As the trio stumble their way through this dangerous adventure, we're treated to some great performances, excellent lines, and ridiculous situations. The three principals were excellent in their roles as bumbling actors trying to be something they aren't. Excellent pacing, framing and direction. 4 out of 5.
* To Catch a Thief: (1955 - Crime, mystery, romance) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. Despite the fact that this is something of a non-standard Hitchcock movie, it's an awesome movie. The chase and evasion segments have a distinct Hitchcock feel to them. The glamorous sets, locations, costumes are all magnificent. The acting is very good, and the story is great. When a spate of burglaries crop up on the French riviera, authorities suspect Cary Grant's character (John Robie), a wealthy retired cat burglar, pardoned as a result of his efforts to oust the Germans during WWII. Officials are unconvinced by Robie's sincerity, and they hound him mercilessly. He turns to the insurance firm in an effort to catch the burglar in the act. While all this is going on, Robie becomes romantically involved with the wealthy and beautiful Frances Stevens (played by Grace Kelly). In another romantic entanglement, a very young (19?) French Girl (played by Brigitte Auber) is infatuated with Robie, and he's either unaware of her amorous advances, or extremely cautious in his approach. Throw in the bumbling cops, and you've got a great crime caper with a romantic angle. The pacing is superb, the camera work outstanding and the direction excellent. Remade a couple of times (Charade 1963, Arabesque 1966). 4 of 5.
* Hot Fuzz: (2007 - Comedy, action, crime, satire) Written (in part) and directed by Edgar Wright (of Shaun of the Dead). Based on the strength of Shaun of the Dead, I bought this movie sight unseen. When a super cop in the big city (London) puts everyone else to shame, his superiors banish him to a backwater village in rural England. When he arrives he struggles to fit in with the rest of the cops. Eventually, he starts to notice some peculiar things, like 'a lot' of 'accidental' deaths. Teamed with his partner, together they unveil the insidious plot of this peaceful little village. British humour at it's best. Never overplayed or heavy handed, the casting and acting were excellent. I did notice some interesting twists in the depictions of violence. There seemed to be two types of violence in the movie - Violence committed by the good guys never killed anyone. Shoulder and leg shots. Violence committed by the bad guys killed people, sometimes in ridiculously cartoonish ways. In addition to the high level of violence (especially in the second half of the movie), there was also a disturbing editing technique introduced in the second half of the movie. Extremely fast cuts. While they were well timed, they were so short that they left me dizzy and disoriented. The over the top hollywood satire/spoof was excellent - Bruckheimer eat your heart out! I really liked the fact that none of the villains were archetypical. Old folks and kids, ordinary citizens willing to kill in order to achieve their goal. An excellent buddy cop comedy. 3 out of 5. Rating may improve with repeat viewings.
* C.H.U.D.: (1984 - Horror, comedy?) A classic campy B-Horror flick. This movie takes three protagonists, starts them out solo, and brings them together to battle a common cause. A police detective, a journalist and a soup kitchen minister. Together they uncover a conspiracy beneath the streets of New York city. When the homeless underground dwellers begin to mutate into flesh eating cannibals, they threaten the society that thrives above. The cannibalistic humanoid underground dwellers aren't the only danger in this movie. There are those above ground who would keep the mystery covered up. When the protagonists start to meddle in these secretive affairs, they're harassed, followed and threatened. Despite the low budget and sub-par acting, this movie had excellent pacing, dedicated performances, and a pretty good plot. It may have been campy, but it was good. Very good. 4 out of 5.
* This Island Earth: (1955 - Science-fiction, horror, adventure) If you love 50's B grade sci-fi, like I do, you'll love this flick. It's got death rays, nuclear scientists, flying saucers, mutants and a little bit of romance. When an American scientist builds a mail-order 'Interoceter', he's offered a job he can't resist. He takes a trip to Georgia in a pilotless airplane, and finds a small community of brilliant scientists working for Exeter (an obvious alien). With little by way of explanation, the scientists work in laboratories towards the goal of developing limitless energy with the help of their alien hosts. Then comes the day when these aliens have to leave earth. Swept up in the intergalactic plot, two of the scientists are brought along to Metaluna where the final throws of a galactic war are being played out. This movie may be fodder for MST3K, but it's one of the best movie of it's genre. The special effects were pretty good, the acting - well it was quite good for the genre, the dialog was great, the lighting and technical aspects outstanding. 4 out of 5.
* The Falcon and the Snowman: (1985 - Espionage, mystery, drama) Could it be more controversial? I've seen this movie before, but never really appreciated how tense the drama was. How nuanced the political ideology, how poignant the character development. When two friends team-up as part of a political statement, they go the distance and begin selling government secrets. Based on a true story, the movie vainly attempts to disguise the contractor (RTX = TRW) involved in the true story. The acting by Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn was outstanding. The direction, pacing and character portrayals spot on. The story was compelling and accurate in it's depiction of the industry at the time of the events. An excellent movie in all regards. 5 of 5.
* My Voyage to Italy: (1999 - Documentary, auto-biography / Italy - Mio viaggio in Italia, Il) In an auto-biographical documentary, director Martin Scorsese reminisces about his child hood, growing up as an Italian American in New York. This documentary has a very simple message. Scorsese talks about early Italian cinema, the films that helped shape his life's work. As he analyzes and waxes on these classic movies, we see into the soul of a native American son. We see the heritage that lives in all of us, the tragic, dramatic and powerful images that shaped our generation. While I've already seen some of the movies he mentioned, I learned of many more which interest me. Unfortunately, there are many movies here that you can't find on DVD/NetFlix. I can only hope that these great works will one day be recognized by the American audience at large. Authentic, heartwarming and endearing words from a great American director. If your a fan of well crafted movies, despite their origin or age, do yourself a favor - Enjoy your own 'Voyage to Italy', rent this movie (Warning - this movie is over four hours long). 4 out of 5.
* The Battle of Algiers: (1966 - Drama, action, historical, war / Italy - Battaglia di Algeri, La) A controversial Italian film, that showcases the power of Neo-realism. Critical of the French government while remaining true to both sides of the story. This movie is the tale of native resistance to French rule in Algeria (back in the late 50's / early 60's). This movie is authentic, powerful and compelling. In a realistic depiction of revolutionary action, a group of Algerian rebels are hunted, haunted and harangued by the French military. In winning the battle, the French lose the war. Their tactics led to an intense examination (back home) of the costs of victory. The historically and strategically realistic depiction of military action is excellent. Full of tactics and ethics, we're exposed to a clinical, documentary style drama that uses makes excellent use of locations, sets and costumes to create an untouchable classic, an authentic look into guerilla warfare. Add in an Enio Morricone score, and you have another reason to appreciate this movie. The relevance of this film in today's world, remains as powerful as it is distressing. Must see for anyone studying the conflict in Iraq. 5 out of 5 and I'm adding it to my list of 'must buy' movies.
* Six-String Samurai: (1998 - Action, adventure, sci-fi, musical) Yuck! An art film gone wrong. Here the acting is bad, the film work pretentious, the music a preposterous pretense to the ludicrous and ridiculous story. In a dystopian future, Nevada is the sole remaining state after a Russian conquest leaves America a waste land, and 'Lost Vegas' a kingdom searching for a replacement to the recently deceased king 'Elvis'. Into this wasteland walks the guitar slinging 'Elvis Costello/Buddy Holly' look-alike Samurai warrior. He stalks the land like a post-apocalyptic placebo for the ills of humanity. Accompanying this 'Six-string Samurai' is his sidekick 'primitive orphan boy'. On the heels of this duo are the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. A heavy metal quartet known only as 'Death'. On his journey across the scorched earth of 'Lost Vegas', he encounters mutants, spacemen, cannibals, and a seemingly endless series of pointless battles. The acting (for the most part) is poor, the writing completely lacking in cogent plot, and the characters shallow stereotypes of hollywood's worst cliches. The only credit goes to the lead actor 'Jeffrey Falcon' for his acting, kung-fu moves, and co-writing credit. 2 out of 5.
* The Last Mimzy: (2007 - Comedy, Sci-fi, drama) Kim and I watched this as a pay feature on Comcast. While the premise was good (that children's minds are malleable stuff, they can be modified to learn the skills necessary to complete this 'mission'), and the story well written, The acting was terrible. Yeah, I know they were kids, but I found it stilted, staged, and sucky. Yes I've seen better acting by kids. The direction was fair, the pacing was off and the magnificent special effects wasted on this sci-fi fairy tale. It was the story that kept me going. Two children - brother and sister, discover a box of 'toys' on the beach one day, while they play with the toys, they begin to develop extraordinary abilities. The source of the powers is an advanced culture trying to save itself by sending back 'Mimzies'. When the kids finally figure it out, there's a climactic culmination which helps pay for the poor acting. This one is for the kids. If I rate it as a movie for adults it gets a 2 of 3. For kids, I'd rate it 3 out of 3. Question? Are kids movies sucky because I'm an adult? Or, should we hold kids movies to the same standard? Do I have to be a kid to think this is a good movie? Can I make crappy movies, pass them off as 'Kids Movies', and receive praise for my efforts?
* The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence: (1962 - Western, drama, romance) A western in the classic sense. Directed by John Ford, this movie featured John Wayne, James Stewart and Lee Marvin in the lead roles. Here's a classic western that's got more going than some simple gun-play. It's a portrait of the two types of people required to build our nation. John Wayne and James Stewart play ideals in their characters. One is pure and driven. He sets out to conquer the west by the power of justice alone. Then there's John Wayne's character. A rough, tough realist, who sees the west for what it is. Lee Marvin represents all the worst things in western society. Disregard for others, brutality and the vigilante ethic. When Stewart learns the hardships of western life (at the hands of Lee Marvin), John Wayne steps in to defend his own 'stake' in this community. Together, Wayne and Steward work to make the west a better place. Excellent characters and great acting. John Fords direction was exceptional film. 4 out of 5.
* The Keep: (1983 - Horror, drama, war) When Nazis encamp in a centuries old Romanian keep, they have no idea what sort of evil they're about to awaken. Directed by Michael Mann, and starring Scott Glenn, Alberta Watson, Jürgen Prochnow (one of my favorites), Robert Prosky, Gabriel Byrne and Ian McKellen. I've owned this movie for quite some time. Loaned it to a friend lately, and he didn't like it. So, I had to watch it again. Unavailable on DVD, it's currently being remade. Or so the rumors say. The movie immediately starts out with some excellent music and a very spooky opening scene where the German trucks are driving through the fog shrouded alps. This opening sequence drags on just long enough to establish a foreboding sense of doom. One that's carried on throughout the movie. The characters are stereotypical archetypes, but it's the Keep itself that thrills me. The building is a non-traditional fortress. Inverted against the wall of the Alps, it's built inside out, and the interior makes for an excellent setting to this movie. With one large ante-chamber, several long passages, and catacomb like rooms, the Keep serves as a prison to something ancient and evil. Deep in the bowls of the earth is a prison. Inadvertently, the soldiers occupying the Keep awaken this evil, and it sets about in a quest to escape from the quest. Morality lingers on the tips of everyone's lips in this movie. There are ordinary Wehrmacht soldiers, SS Stormtroopers, a pair of Jewish refugees, a village of sheepherders, and a mysterious stranger. What role do they all play? To this day I find the story engrossing, thrilling, and horrifying. The special effects were excellent, the lighting and pacing perfect, and the very good. 4 out of 5.
* Jacob's Ladder: (1990 - Drama, war, horror, thriller, mystery) I've seen this movie before, but I had forgotten how good it was! Adrien Lyne directs a Bruce Joel Rubin screen play. Starring Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña and Danny Aiello. Here's the story of a Vietnam vet who starts to see things. Strange glimpses of otherworldly demons, haunting flashes from his past, and faceless beings following him. It soon becomes evident that someone, or something is out to kill him! As the mystery deepens, he contacts his former vietnam buddies, and learns that there IS a VAST CONSPRIACY. They ARE out to get him! They're out to get all of them. What unspeakable attrocity did the government perpetrate out there, in the jungles of vietnam? Outstanding special effects, excellent acting, a fantastic soundtrack, and wonderful camera work. Adrien Lyne brilliantly wove all the elements together in this taught supernatural thriller. 5 out of 5.
* They call me Mr. Tibbs!: (1970 - Crime, drama, mystery) Reprising his role as Mr. Tibbs, Sydney Poitier plays the smart, practical, and hard nosed homicide detective. I really wanted to like this movie. Unfortunately, unlike 'In the Heat of the Night', it has a different director (Gordon Douglas), and different screen writers. Yes, it's based on characters from the original novel, but it lacks the energy, excellent timing, and supporting cast that the former movie held. While Sydney Poitier's acting is top notch, the direction in this movie was terrible, the pacing and editing were way off, and the supporting cast couldn't match Poitier with a ten foot pole. The story thrusts Mr. Tibbs into a murder investigation where a good friend is the Primary suspect. Martin Landau plays Logan Sharpe, a liberal street preacher with political aspirations. Someone has murdered a young prostitute, and Mr. Tibbs is on the case. The movie switches between murder investigation and the home life of Mr. Tibbs. While the murder investigation was a fairly typical hollywood plot, the home life portion of this movie was terrible. The family had no chemistry whatsoever, and Poitier was forced to portray Tibbs as an abusive father. In the end, this movie effectively killed the Mr. Tibbs character. There really was nowhere left to go with character development, and this dud of a movie pretty much ended the chances that we would see a 'Mr. Tibbs' television series. A dull, predictable crime drama, where the mystery is as boring as any television cop drama. 2 out of 5. This movie also points out a potential problem with the NetFlix rating system. While I loved 'In the Heat of the Night', I didn't like this movie at all. A rating of 5 vs 2. Still, NetFlix marked this movie as 'recommended', based on the following movies: In the Heat of the Night, To Kill a Mockingbird, Papillon, Serpico, The Dirty Dozen, The Magnificent Seven, 12 Angry Men, and Marathon Man. I rated all these movies 5 out of 5. But none of them were directed by Gordon Douglas. Apparently the NetFlix recommendations algorithm doesn't take directors into account when trying to figure out whether you will like a movie. I wonder how many people, who liked these other movies, also liked this movie?
* * * Freaks and Geeks - The complete series (a six disc series): I recently began watching these television shows on DVD. I was surprised to learn that this NBC series only ran for a single season. I found it "Awesome!" I was instantly transported back to my high school - where I was one of the geeks. Many of the actors were too old for the roles they were cast in, but the acting was excellent. The cast did a magnificent job of portraying that 'lost' feeling you experience as a kid in high school. You never really know what clique you're supposed to fit into, and your parents are as alien as Toasters to Coyotes? Disc 5 (So far I've seen the first 5) was excellent. 4 of 5 (for the episodes on this disc).
* Sansho the Bailiff: (1954 - Drama, historical / Japan - Sanshô dayû) Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi, this movie tells the tale of a Japanese governor who is exiled to a remote province when he speaks out against his lords heavy handed policies. The principle of "Without mercy, man is not a human being." is the overarching thread that runs through this movie. When the governor is sent away, he sends his family ahead of him, his wife is taking the children to her families home before joining her husband. During their journey, they are taken in by a kind stranger, who turns them over to slavers. The family is broken up, with the two children sold into slavery, and the mother forced to be a concubine. Through the ordeal of their separation and enslavement, we learn how cruel the world can be when you fail to recognize that all people are created equal. While we focus on the plight of the characters, the direction paints a broader scope, one of social commentary on the historical forces of the time (just on the verge of America's civil rights movement). The acting in this movie is superb, the direction flawless. The music wasn't the best, and the pacing was a bit slow. The subtitles were outstanding, as was the cinematagraphy. Excellent camera work, composition and lighting. I think that a color remake could add much to this movie. As the primary characters struggle to overcome the hardships in their life, they come to learn the truths behind their father's wisdom. 4 out of 5.
* Record of a Living Being: (1955 - Drama, history / Japan - Ikimono no kiroku (I live in fear)) Directed by Akira Kurosawa (still my favorite director), this movie was made less than ten years after we dropped nuclear bombs on Japan. The story centers around a man and his extended family. The main character - Kiichi Nakajima, played by Toshirô Mifune, is overcome by his fear of radioactive fallout. Some of the fear is rational, some is not, and he occassionally has halucinations regarding bombs or explosions. He's convinced that the radiation is going to kill him, and his entire family. The drama is tense, sliding back and forth from one side to the other. As this aging foundary owner attempts to sell off all his families assets, he's blocked by his children and a rigorous legal system. He's convinced that he's making the best decision for all. He has a plan, a well concieved, well though out plan. He's going to move the entire family to Brasil, where they will take up farming. That plan may work, but many of the family members think that he's gone too far, some even suggest he's unstable! Some of the family members are with him, some against him, and the familial tug-of-war was intense. Akira's film plays with our sympathies like a cat with a mouse. I found myself going back and forth over who I would side with. At times the tension gets so heated that you think that this family is going to melt down, then Kiichi shows up with nice cold sodas for everyone. This film is not a statement on the bomb, or an anti-war movie. It's a moving drama about how families cope. The ending of the movie was excellent, the acting outstanding. The makeup on Mifune was excellent. Only 35 at the time, they managed to make him look 65 years old, and his acting was spot on for the role. While the movie was excellent, and deserves a much higher rating, I have to mark it down for poor quality transfer and absolutely horrible subtitles. The video was washed out, contained a lot of over saturated lighting, and really was piss-poor. The translation was so incredibly bad, the gramar and spelling so attrotious, that I found myself ignoring the subtitles in order to focus on the acting and poor quality images. This film deserves better treatment. 3 out of 5.
* 300: (2006 - Action, drama, historical) Release date 2006? Yes, this movie was originally released 9 Dec, 2006. At the Austin, TX 'Butt-Numb-A-Thon' film festival. I've been waiting for this movie for some time. I own 'The 300 Spartans', and I've read a few books about this event - Including the more recent 'Gates of Fire' by Steven Presfield. The movie opened this weekend (9 Mar 2007), and Kim and I went to see it at the theater. This movie was truly amazing, a visually perfect movie. Every scene could be ripped from the movie and made into a movie poster. The overanimation introduced in 'Sin City', reaches it's ultimate conclusion in this movie - Perfection. It was highly artistic, but not too comic like. It gave the viewer some distance when the scenes became gory, and they did, quite frequently. The acting was outstanding, the action tremendous, the music perfectly matched, the sets, costumes, cgi, animation, Wow! Frank Miller's vision is transformed into actual mythology at the hands of Zack Snyder. A pantheon of characters so powerful, an environment so rich, and reactions so visceral it felt as if I lived it. While this movie had a few historical problems (seemed to blend the war aims/efforts of Darius and Xerxes into a single campaign, didn't cover the other Greek warriors very well (focusing primarily on the Spartans)), it contained a very clear message, and it was fairly accurate in a historical sense. The story isn't new, it isn't original, but it has never been seen in this way. While politicians haggle over authority, financial ramifications and political expediency, 300+ free Greek warriors make a desperate stand to hold off an invading horde of Persians intent on conquering the entire world. This movie will stand out for decades to come as a masterpiece in a new style. The blending of cgi, animation and live action was flawless. Each complemented the other like no other film I've ever seen. The movie comes at a time where some may be asking 'What price for freedom? and Why do we fight?' While this movie may become a lightning rod for those questions, it is undeniably a sublime visual masterpiece, and I for one hope to see it stand in that light before any debate regarding the 'supposed' political ramifications. As a twenty year veteran of the armed forces, this movie connected with me on a level I doubt some could understand. If you see any movie this year, let this be the one. 5 out of 5.
* Lemony Snicket's - A series of unfortunate events: (2004 - Adventure, comedy, family, adventure) Based on a series of novels by Daniel Handler, the screenplay was written by Robert Gordon, and the movie was directed by Brad Silberling. This movie weaves a wonderfully woeful tale, a fantastic fable, a splendid movie appropriate for the entire family. With a captivating cast, this movie was visually stunning, perfectly paced, and underpinned with a masterful soundtrack. The set's, costumes, and characters created a world unlike any other. Jim Carrey out does himself. Playing three different villainous cads, he relentlessly pursues the three orphans and the fortune that they represent. Billy Connolly plays a benevolent but short lived uncle, and Meryl Streep plays the neurotic aunt Josephine. Rich with details and visually stunning, this cunning movie left me laughing, Kim crying, and the whole audience sated. Compare this movie (admitedly a 'kids' movie), to 'The Last Mimzy' (see above). I give it a 5 of 5.
* * Star Trek - The original series - Vol. 34, episodes 67 & 68: [Plato's Stepchildren / Wink of an Eye]: I've been watching episodes of the original Star Trek series for the last couple of years. I watched it as a kid when I was growing up (Yow! that makes me... old?), I loved it back then, and I still love it. My friends and I used to pretend to be members of the 'Starship Enterprise', and this television series was a great source of imaginative exercise while I was growing up. Plato's Stepchildren - On a planet where the civilization is based on Plato's principles. Everyone dresses in garb of the ancient Greek's, and the inhabitants have telekinetic powers. Unfortunately, they also suffer from a weakened immune system. After Bones heals their leader, they repay the kindness by insisting that he stay forever. When Kirk and crew refuse, the Platonian's make puppets of them using their telekinetic powers. Two more crew members are beamed down, and the 'Foolishness' continues. In one scene - This aired on broadcast telelvision in 1968 - Kirk and Uhuru are forced to kiss! and Spock compelled to experience intense emotions. Was this the first televised inter-racial kiss? Not hardly, you'd have to go back a little further - Perhaps 1967 when Nancy Sinatra kissed Sammy Davis Jr. in a TV special about Nancy Sinatra. In the end there's a battle of wills between the leader of the Platonian's and Kirk. Newly imbued with telekinetic powers (induced by an injection of some native mineral). Kirk wins - Of Course! and the Platonians are chastized for their bad behavior. Wink of an Eye - An excellent episode featuring the Scalosians, a race of accelerated aliens. Moving at hyperfast speeds, the Scalosians are invisible, and their speech sounds like buzzing insects. When they take over the Enterprise, it's up to Kirk and Spock to figure out what's going on. While the Scalosians intend on turning the crew into breeding stock, Kirk struggles to outwit their beautiful leader. In one scene, Kirk is seen sitting on Deela's bed, while he pulls his boots back on. Deela is standing beside a mirror, fixing her hair. I wonder what this scene was implying?
* The Shawshank Redemption: (1994 - Drama) Directed by Frank Darabont (also directed 'The Green Mile'), starring Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, Clancy Brown, William Sadler, Gil Bellows and James Whitmore. This is a movie based on the tagline 'Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.' It's a buddy movie, a prison break movie, a great drama. The story is based on a Stephen King short story, and the plot is fairly predictable. The acting was superb, and the camera work and editing were flawless. Sets work and costumes brought an absolutely authentic feel to the movie. Filled with inspirational lines and fine performances, the movies message is relentlessly hammered on. The drawbacks to this movie? The reasons why I didn't give it a 5 out of 5? It's derivative (Birdman of Alcatraz, Papillon, Escape from Alcatraz), too slowly paced, lacking in tension, and relentlessly heavy handed in it's message. There are no surprises here. Everything plays out exactly the way you expect it to. While the music was good, it was a bit too sappy. The cast was perfectly matched to the pace of this movie. Robbins and Freeman give outstanding performances, and their style of acting complements the film wonderfully. While the screen play was an excellent adaptation, the direction set the pace a bit too slow. It's the subtle touches and attention to detail which make this movie great. 4 out of 5.
* El Topo: (1970 - Avant Garde, western, experimental) Written, directed by, and starring Alejandro Jodorowsky. This incredibly bizarre film left me so disgusted that I had to stop watching. I realized that I could be doing something much more important, like staring at my cuticles. Talk about garbage. Oh, it was avant garde alright, it was bizarre to be sure, but imagery of senseless violence, nude children, actors pretending to be 'god', and a disconnected series of misogynistic fantasies, isn't my idea of entertainment. The blood, eviscerated horses, and homo-erotic imagery was a complete waste of time. Praised by some - bunch of idiots - as visionary allegory replete with psycho-sexual fantasies of religious rebellion, this film made me gag. I stopped watching after approximately an hour. I'm amazed that I made it that far into the movie. Pointless, plotless, pretentious, self-indulgent, and lacking any traditional story or character development. The acting was horrible, the music poor, and the direction... Directionless. If you're looking for an LSD substitute, this film may suffice. No this wasn't a NetFlix recommendation - I watched it for it's supposed 'cult film' status. In fact it belongs in the 'crap film' category. Do yourself a favor, don't watch this one. You can't unwatch it! 1 out of 5.
* The Long, Hot Summer: (1958 - Drama, romance) Starring Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Anthony Franciosa, Orson Welles, Lee Remick, Angela Lansbury and Richard Anderson. Here's a guilty pleasure, a summer romance. A character based drama with little substance but plenty of passion. With outstanding acting (Orson Welles and Paul Newman). The story is one of Ben Quick and the Varner family. When Ben Quick (played by Paul Newman) is driven out of town under accusations of barn-burning, he sets out on the road, trying to find a place to belong. When two beautiful women give him a ride, he ends up in Frenchman's Bend, MS. A town where everyone, and everything revolves around the town's most powerful man - Will Varner (played by Orson Welles). When Varner recognizes something of himself in Quick, he quickly formulates a plan that will ensure his 'immortality'. He sets about trying to pair his daughter (played by Joanne Woodward) with this independent rascal, Quick. As the sparks fly, the actors light up the screen. The acting was fantastic. Orson Welles played the southern center of the universe to a T. Paul Newman was fantastic as well (winning a best actor Oscar for this performance in 1958). The direction (by Martin Ritt) was good, the music o.k. The opening score sucked, but the rest of the music was o.k. The pacing was a bit fast, but so was Will Varner. The make-up on Orson Welles was distracting. Wearing a horrible wig, a false nose, and make-up that was ten shades too dark, I got the feeling that he was sweating buckets throughout the whole movie. Despite these flaws, the story was compelling, dramatic and intense. 4 out of 5.
* 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag: (1997 - Comedy, crime, thriller, adventure) Starring Joe Pesci, Kristy Swanson, Todd Louiso, George Hamilton, Dyan Cannon, David Spade, Anthony Mangano, Andy Comeau, Joe Basile. This dark comedy moves at quite a clip. Meet Charlie (Andy Comeau). He's on his way to Mexico - To meet his fiance, Laurie Bennet (Christy Swanson) and her parents (George Hamilton and Dyan Cannon). Unfortunately, Charlie picks up the wrong duffle bag as he's leaving the airport. When Tommy (Joe Pesci) discovers his Bag 'O Heads is missing, he quickly heads out in search of Charlie. Those heads belong to Big Sep - The mafia/crime boss, and he's gonna get his 8 heads; one way or another. While Tommy heads for Charlie's apartment, Charlie discovers his luggage is full of craniums. His prospective mother in law (Dyan Cannon) also makes the shocking discovery, and heads straight for the liquor cabinet. When Tommy arrives at Charlie's apartment, he begins torturing the room mates (Louiso and Spade) for information. Charlie's predicament is compounded by the head of his fiance's family (Hamilton), and the hi jinks are hilarious. The acting was good, the casting great, and the comedy dark, but not gross. A dream sequence with singing heads is great, and the movie gets my vote. 4 out of 5.
* The Hidden: (1987 - Action, sci-fi, horror, drama, crime, mystery, thriller) This thrilling crime drama features a fantastic sci-fi slant. When an alien ends up on Earth, it goes on a rampage. Bank robbery, murder, fast cars, loud music and loose women are all it wants. While this wacko, looking like any ordinary joe (or jane), engages in his lustful rampage of wanton acquisition and discard (reeking of consumerism and a corrupted version of the disposable 'me first' ethic), another alien (played by Kyle MacLachlan) hooks up with a top-notch LA police detective (Michael Nouri) in order to stop this murderous mutant. As our two protagonists go on the hunt for this amoral killer, the alien is on a bloodthirsty rampage. We soon discover the true nature of the alien. A slug like beastie that inhabits human bodies like some bloated parasite. Once it wriggles into it's victim's body - by way of the mouth, it takes them over completely. Wearing the new victim like a trench coat, the rampage continues. While we get some insight into the quirky buy law-abiding alien (MacLachlan (Paul Usul Muad'Dib Atreides from the original Dune), the ultra-violent amoral alien remains quite the mystery. As MacLachlan and Nouri get closer to their quarry, it begins to look for a more powerful victim to 'wear'. Ultimately, it sets it's sights on a powerful political figure, and the stakes are raised dramatically. This sci-fi action flick moves forward in fifth gear. The fast cars, hot chicks, and loud music complement the pacing perfectly, and the story keeps you watching all the way through to the flaming hot ending. 4 out of 5.
* Blades of Glory: (2007 - Comedy) A ten minute Saturday Night skit made into a movie. This movie lacked any kind of content, the laughs were shallow snickers, and this movie lacks anything approaching contender status. The acting was poor. Will Ferrell didn't commit to this movie, and I got the feeling that he basically adlibbed his entire performance. While I enjoyed Heder in Napoleon Dynamite, he's reaching the limit of his employability by taking roles like this one. His acting in this movie was terrible. The pacing and editing were laughable, and the direction lacking. The writing was shallow and insipid. Replete with homo-erotic and forbidden love references, the movie pokes fun at actual substance, but never commits to any character development. Not making Jimmy (played by Heder) gay, was stupid, and the inclusion of a romantic sub-plot for his character was ridiculous. This formulaic comedy follows the all too often repeated pattern of "Up, Down, Up again", that we've seen so many times before. It's a formula that's gotten stale with time, and can't possibly hold my attention any more. A short story plot, filled out with lackluster cameos and skating insider innuendo, this movie is a waste of a Saturday afternoon. While I'm not giving up on Will Ferrell, I really can't stomach this type of movie any longer. Save yourself some time. Just watch the previews. All the funniest moments are in there. 2 out of 5.
* Slacker: (1991 - Drama, comedy) Written and directed by Richard Linklatter (see Dazed and Confused, Waking Life, A Scanner Darkly). This movie is an art film. It has a coffee house experimental feel to it, and it can only be appreciated in that vein. Without a cogent plot, or any real characters, this movie is a meandering stroll through Austin's twenty something community. As the movie floats from character to character, we're bombarded with non-stop chatty folk who seem to be pre-occupied with themselves, despite their splendid commentary on the state of mankind. The cast is immense and completely untrained. While the acting is insignificant, the camera work was worth mentioning. Smooth and mesmerizing, it complements the character transitions splendidly. The only departure is evident in a few scenes from the cameras 'point of view'. These highly stylized scenes were very well done, but out of place. I liked the fact that we never 'figured out' any of the characters, but I didn't like the overly 'revolutionary' rants recited by some of the characters. These particular scenes felt staged and over-dramatacized. I liked the ethic of the film, but found parts of the dialog overwrought. 3 out of 5.
* The Defiant Ones: (1958 - Drama, adventure, crime) This one was in my NetFlix queue, but I watched it using Comcast on Demand. Starring Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier. In this excellent drama, Sidney Poitier and Tony Curtis star as escaped prison convicts. Shackled together they're on the run from 'the man'. A highly charged movie about racism and equality. While the two convicts are shackled together, they start out hating each other, come to realize that they will need to work together in order to get away, and finally end up as friends at the end of the movie. This movie was made in a climate of racial tension. The language and manerisms of the era bring to light issues that persist yet today. The acting was outstanding, and the writting by Nedrick Young and Harold Jacob Smith was excellent. The black and white camera work was perfectly lit, framed and tracked. 4 out of 5.
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Psycho: (1960 - Horror, thriller, suspense, drama) The original black and white (despite the year) Alfred Hitchcock thriller. The novel was written by one of my favorite 'lovecraftian' authors; Robert Bloch (See my books page). His work is tense, frightening and rich with detail. This movie is masterpiece of modern horror. The genesis of many spin-offs and wannabes. Spectacular acting, a terrific script, suspenseful music, and a great set/location. It's been quite some time since I've seen this psychological thriller. The camera work in the opening sequence was excellent. Panning over the town from above, then moving in through an open window. There was definitely some good camera work in this movie. The beginning and ending of the movie are just as good as the shower scene. 5 out of 5.
* Offside: (2006 - Drama, comedy, sport / Iran) Written (in part) and directed by Jafar Panahi. This Iranian film stars an ensemble cast of Junior actors, filled with passion and some excellent acting abilities. This movie manages to disguise social commenatry in a slightly humorous drama about 'a day at the soccer stadium'. In Iran, it is illegal for women to attend a soccer match (I'm not certain about the legal status, and the film even questions the legal ramifications). This movie focuses on a group of girls (who don't know each other), who have disguised themselves in an attempt to attend a world cup qualifying match between Iran and Bahrain (the movie was shot during the actual event). Unfortunately for the girls, they get caught by gaurds and sequestered at the stadium. Penned in an enclosure just adjacent to a stadium gate, the girls are guarded by a group of young male soldiers, while they await their fate. As the game proceeds/as the movie unfolds, the cast gives us a fantastic performance. The dialog covers many social issues, as well as the current soccer match. This is not a pro or anti film, but it was an excellent drama, filled with insight, passion and pride. 4 out of 5.
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