Had to get out of the house tonight to stave off encroaching madness so off I went to my Fortress of Solitude; the local cineplex.
Took in Tony Scott's latest entry "Deja Vu". Everyone already knows what a Tony Scott fanboy I am and that I will see just about whatever the guy puts his directing tag on. I like every project the guy has done, even the few lame ones. Because even his lame-ducks are more visually and sonically interesting than most of the drek out there.
I had a feeling "Deja Vu" was going to be pretty mediocre as Scott films go. And I was right. It's a very pretty looking action-thriller with a time-travel twist that falls right into the I'd watch it if it was on tv some afternoon but won't go out of my way to own it category.
Scott reigns in his crazed visual style in this flick. Saving all of his nutso jump-cuts and experimental film-processes for the actual time-viewing machine rather than the entire universe the story takes place in. For the most part, in this one the real world looks and feels like the real world. Which is what is necessary for this story and I think Scott realized that the "Domino/Man on Fire" style wouldn't work here. That said the time-viewing technology looks fucking awesome (cyber-punk meets time-travel).
The fun of all time travel movies is the set-ups and pay-offs. And this movie has a million tiny details that pay-off by the end of the movie. I really thought they did a good job with the "Hey how'd that get there? - Oh right that's how!" kind-of stuff. Of course the science is mumbo-jumbo so you just have to suspend your disbelief and go for the ride. If you nit-pick too much the movie will start to unravel.
Denzel gives a good performance,grounding this far-fetched story by reminding us of the gravity of the situation the characters are in. The other performances are tight.
The best part of the movie for me was the dual temporal planes car-chase. It was probably the sole reason Tony Scott wanted to do this project. It was fucking cool to think about as well as watch.
I'd recommend this one as a good Friday night rental, but save your theater bucks for the bigger fish out there.
Originally posted on December 1, 2006 on Myspace.
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
Saturday, February 25, 2012
"The Fountain" (2006)
I took a study break to catch the latest flick from Darren Aronofsky - "The Fountain".
This is one of those movies that you'll either really like or will hate with every fiber of your being. I liked it a whole lot.
The movie is pretty 'artsy' for mainstream theaters. Deals with the inevitable nature of human mortality. And does so in an extremely beautiful yet entirely ambiguous way. The central plot of this movie is so simple one almost wonders how it could carry a feature length film. It's in the way Aronosky tells this simple tale that really makes this movie one of the better works of cinematic art I've seen in a long while. Aronofsky tells the tale with an amazing and daring narrative structure that seems confusing at first but then becomes clear as the story progresses.
The best thing about "The Fountain" is that the moral of the story is open to about ten different interpretations. Which can be maddening for those who are looknig for a A+B=C plot. But if your willing to go with the flow "The Fountain" offers all kinds of audience participation.
This movie left me thinking about it for hours afterwards. Playing out the possible meaning of what Aronofsky so boldy put on the screen. The movie can play out as extremely depressing or ultimately uplifting depending on your personal world-view. How you see the movie could also just as easily rely on how your day was going before watching it. Which is ambiguous but in a really good way (trust me).
I felt the movie ended on a positive note, while Greta felt it was a downer. Sitting here now, I'm leaning towards the downer interpretation of the ending, but I know the next time I see it my inner romantic will probably win out again.
I tried not to spoil anything in this short review. But if you go see "The Fountain" definitely email me with your thoughts on it. This flick is a fun one to talk about.
Originally posted on November 29, 2006 on Myspace.
This is one of those movies that you'll either really like or will hate with every fiber of your being. I liked it a whole lot.
The movie is pretty 'artsy' for mainstream theaters. Deals with the inevitable nature of human mortality. And does so in an extremely beautiful yet entirely ambiguous way. The central plot of this movie is so simple one almost wonders how it could carry a feature length film. It's in the way Aronosky tells this simple tale that really makes this movie one of the better works of cinematic art I've seen in a long while. Aronofsky tells the tale with an amazing and daring narrative structure that seems confusing at first but then becomes clear as the story progresses.
The best thing about "The Fountain" is that the moral of the story is open to about ten different interpretations. Which can be maddening for those who are looknig for a A+B=C plot. But if your willing to go with the flow "The Fountain" offers all kinds of audience participation.
This movie left me thinking about it for hours afterwards. Playing out the possible meaning of what Aronofsky so boldy put on the screen. The movie can play out as extremely depressing or ultimately uplifting depending on your personal world-view. How you see the movie could also just as easily rely on how your day was going before watching it. Which is ambiguous but in a really good way (trust me).
I felt the movie ended on a positive note, while Greta felt it was a downer. Sitting here now, I'm leaning towards the downer interpretation of the ending, but I know the next time I see it my inner romantic will probably win out again.
I tried not to spoil anything in this short review. But if you go see "The Fountain" definitely email me with your thoughts on it. This flick is a fun one to talk about.
Originally posted on November 29, 2006 on Myspace.
"Casino Royale" (2006)
Speaking of escapism...
Caught the Bond franchise relaunch this weekend. I have to say, it is quite good although somewhat unbalanced between big action and more personal intensity.
Daniel Craig is James Bond from the Ian Fleming books. He is a hard cunt who kicks ass and takes names. And it is awesome to see that James Bond in action on the big screen. This movie is really "James Bond Begins" - it's his first mission and there is definitely a learning curve for the secret agent (both professionally and emotionally). For me that is what made this movie super-great. To see Bond fuck-up, learn, adapt, but at the end of the day blast his way to victory.
I won't get in to plot here other than to say when they slow the story down in the middle section (the card game) the movie really shines. Don't get me wrong, there is a ton of kick-ass action on hand here, but it was nice to have a more classic feeling mid-section to this caper. The Casino segment feels really old-school and is just what this reimagining of the franchise needed.
If they can continue to combine that mature story-telling confidence with Daniel Craig's awesome owning of the Bond character the Broccoli legacy will have several great Bond movies on their hands over the next few years.
Originally posted on November 22, 2006 on Myspace.
Caught the Bond franchise relaunch this weekend. I have to say, it is quite good although somewhat unbalanced between big action and more personal intensity.
Daniel Craig is James Bond from the Ian Fleming books. He is a hard cunt who kicks ass and takes names. And it is awesome to see that James Bond in action on the big screen. This movie is really "James Bond Begins" - it's his first mission and there is definitely a learning curve for the secret agent (both professionally and emotionally). For me that is what made this movie super-great. To see Bond fuck-up, learn, adapt, but at the end of the day blast his way to victory.
I won't get in to plot here other than to say when they slow the story down in the middle section (the card game) the movie really shines. Don't get me wrong, there is a ton of kick-ass action on hand here, but it was nice to have a more classic feeling mid-section to this caper. The Casino segment feels really old-school and is just what this reimagining of the franchise needed.
If they can continue to combine that mature story-telling confidence with Daniel Craig's awesome owning of the Bond character the Broccoli legacy will have several great Bond movies on their hands over the next few years.
Originally posted on November 22, 2006 on Myspace.
Praire Harsh Companion - yet another rant
You know what? Fuck "Prairie Home Companion".
There is a scene in "Harsh Times" (it's a throw-away that doesn't ruin anything to tell it) where Bale's character is drinking beer with two of his friends and he talks about wanting to mow down villagers with the door-gun of a chopper. He wants to kill them, their children, their animals, pets. It's fucked up. And yet is it over-the-top ham-fisted screen-writing as Ayer is being accused of by movie critics? No it isn't. It is honest. I've been in conversations with guys that are that fucked up, and worse.
But these reviewers who have been eulogizing Robert Altman all day and night lambast Ayer for exposing such ugliness. Just because it is an ugly truth doesn't make it less true. Where is the dedication to art these days? Honest, brutal art. I can understand not recommending it to those with weaker stomachs, but to tear the movie down is just wrong.
Meanwhile these same reviewers talk about how genius Altman was in MASH when he "proved a Korean War field hospital could make us laugh" (NBC World News).
I don't know what is more disgusting. Bale openly discussing the murder of villagers, or NBC News reminding us how funny the Korean War was.
Maybe it comes down to different strokes for different folks. Maybe some people don't want to know how fucked our culture is and would rather pull the warm, fuzzy blanket of "Prairie Home Companion" over their eyes.
Of course all of these Altman loving 'sophisticates' probably think they are great patrons of the arts for loving "Godsford Park" and 'getting' "The Player" but in reality these movies are merely distraction and don't really expose anything or inspire any thought at all.
Escapism has its place. I mean hell, look whose talking here - Mike "Diehard" Darpino. But art has its place too, and it pisses me off when it gets over-looked and even more so when there is open hostility towards it - such as in the case of "Harsh Times".
Hollywood really gave itself a big pat on the back last year for recognizing "Crash" at the Oscars but it is sad to me that less than a year later they are abandoning movies like "Harsh Times", a movie that examines the dichotomies of society even further than "Crash" did.
Sure escapism has its place, but escapism is a dime a dozen at the cinema. Art is few and far between these days and should be celebrated rather than attacked. But then I guess America is in attack mode in every arena these days.
Originally posted on November 22, 2006 on Myspace.
There is a scene in "Harsh Times" (it's a throw-away that doesn't ruin anything to tell it) where Bale's character is drinking beer with two of his friends and he talks about wanting to mow down villagers with the door-gun of a chopper. He wants to kill them, their children, their animals, pets. It's fucked up. And yet is it over-the-top ham-fisted screen-writing as Ayer is being accused of by movie critics? No it isn't. It is honest. I've been in conversations with guys that are that fucked up, and worse.
But these reviewers who have been eulogizing Robert Altman all day and night lambast Ayer for exposing such ugliness. Just because it is an ugly truth doesn't make it less true. Where is the dedication to art these days? Honest, brutal art. I can understand not recommending it to those with weaker stomachs, but to tear the movie down is just wrong.
Meanwhile these same reviewers talk about how genius Altman was in MASH when he "proved a Korean War field hospital could make us laugh" (NBC World News).
I don't know what is more disgusting. Bale openly discussing the murder of villagers, or NBC News reminding us how funny the Korean War was.
Maybe it comes down to different strokes for different folks. Maybe some people don't want to know how fucked our culture is and would rather pull the warm, fuzzy blanket of "Prairie Home Companion" over their eyes.
Of course all of these Altman loving 'sophisticates' probably think they are great patrons of the arts for loving "Godsford Park" and 'getting' "The Player" but in reality these movies are merely distraction and don't really expose anything or inspire any thought at all.
Escapism has its place. I mean hell, look whose talking here - Mike "Diehard" Darpino. But art has its place too, and it pisses me off when it gets over-looked and even more so when there is open hostility towards it - such as in the case of "Harsh Times".
Hollywood really gave itself a big pat on the back last year for recognizing "Crash" at the Oscars but it is sad to me that less than a year later they are abandoning movies like "Harsh Times", a movie that examines the dichotomies of society even further than "Crash" did.
Sure escapism has its place, but escapism is a dime a dozen at the cinema. Art is few and far between these days and should be celebrated rather than attacked. But then I guess America is in attack mode in every arena these days.
Originally posted on November 22, 2006 on Myspace.
"Harsh Times" (2006)
"Harsh Times" has gone totally under the radar (already leaving theaters) and that is a damn shame. It is a truly great movie and should be seen as such. Instead most of the reviewers that have seen it don't seem to get it. This movie is a statement of on-screen violence that should be recognized instead of shunned.
Every review I read decries the movie as being "too bleak", "too grim a world view to entertain", and "way too violent". But I say that's the point of the whole damn thing.
"Harsh Times" is art. This movie is fucked up. It made me flinch. It made me mad, frightened, and sad. But most of all it made me think.
The movie is brutal and for most of its running time seemingly pointless, but by the end of it the whole thing comes together in this great statement about the limits of friendship, men in our society being seduced by violence, and madness.
This might be Christian Bale's best performance yet. His character is totally psycho in this movie - on so many different fucked up levels I don't know how a sane actor could keep them straight without losing it himself. The script is street-poetry genius (much like "Training Day" was). David Ayer who is writing, financing, and directing here really put his heart and soul into this flick. So too does Freddy Rodriguez who is Bale's co-star. The guy always gets stuck playing 'the immigrant dish-washer' but here he gets a starring role with equal screen-time and goes round for round with Bale's genius. Rodriguez should get a Best Supporting nod for this.
But he won't. Just like Bale will get overlooked for Best Actor, and Ayer for best screenplay. This movie is too hard a pill to swallow.
It made me think of how "Taxi Driver" would get reviewed if released in today's climate. Nobody really wants hard truths like this in movies anymore - at least not in the mainstream. I think "Harsh Times" is going to be one of those video classics that get passed around a few friends at a time. And every guy who sees it will love the hell out of it, and will 'get it', and will pass it on to their friends who they know will 'get it' too.
This movie isn't for everyone, but it is for those pissed-off, bored, and angry "Stat" type guys. You know who you are. I'm telling you guys - go see "Harsh Times".
Post-script:
I equate 'Harsh Times" to "Way of the Gun" And here's why. McQuarrie writes "The Usual Suspects" which everyone pops a boner for. Then when he follows it up by writing & directing "Way of the Gun" it gets totally ignored by critics and movie-goers. Until it starts getting recommended by the few of us who saw it. And now it's a classic. "Harsh Times" the same thing happened. Ayer writes "Training Day" to huge success. He writes & directs "Harsh Times" and gets totally fucked by critics and box office.
I think the common denominator with both of these writers is that their second movies represent their true, unfiltered visions of the world and of what makes a kick-ass movie. Maybe the 'safety's off' approach that they made their second films with is a turn-off to the Robert Altman loving world but it is exactly what I am looking for.
Originally posted on November 22, 2006 on Myspace.
Every review I read decries the movie as being "too bleak", "too grim a world view to entertain", and "way too violent". But I say that's the point of the whole damn thing.
"Harsh Times" is art. This movie is fucked up. It made me flinch. It made me mad, frightened, and sad. But most of all it made me think.
The movie is brutal and for most of its running time seemingly pointless, but by the end of it the whole thing comes together in this great statement about the limits of friendship, men in our society being seduced by violence, and madness.
This might be Christian Bale's best performance yet. His character is totally psycho in this movie - on so many different fucked up levels I don't know how a sane actor could keep them straight without losing it himself. The script is street-poetry genius (much like "Training Day" was). David Ayer who is writing, financing, and directing here really put his heart and soul into this flick. So too does Freddy Rodriguez who is Bale's co-star. The guy always gets stuck playing 'the immigrant dish-washer' but here he gets a starring role with equal screen-time and goes round for round with Bale's genius. Rodriguez should get a Best Supporting nod for this.
But he won't. Just like Bale will get overlooked for Best Actor, and Ayer for best screenplay. This movie is too hard a pill to swallow.
It made me think of how "Taxi Driver" would get reviewed if released in today's climate. Nobody really wants hard truths like this in movies anymore - at least not in the mainstream. I think "Harsh Times" is going to be one of those video classics that get passed around a few friends at a time. And every guy who sees it will love the hell out of it, and will 'get it', and will pass it on to their friends who they know will 'get it' too.
This movie isn't for everyone, but it is for those pissed-off, bored, and angry "Stat" type guys. You know who you are. I'm telling you guys - go see "Harsh Times".
Post-script:
I equate 'Harsh Times" to "Way of the Gun" And here's why. McQuarrie writes "The Usual Suspects" which everyone pops a boner for. Then when he follows it up by writing & directing "Way of the Gun" it gets totally ignored by critics and movie-goers. Until it starts getting recommended by the few of us who saw it. And now it's a classic. "Harsh Times" the same thing happened. Ayer writes "Training Day" to huge success. He writes & directs "Harsh Times" and gets totally fucked by critics and box office.
I think the common denominator with both of these writers is that their second movies represent their true, unfiltered visions of the world and of what makes a kick-ass movie. Maybe the 'safety's off' approach that they made their second films with is a turn-off to the Robert Altman loving world but it is exactly what I am looking for.
Originally posted on November 22, 2006 on Myspace.
Horror Has A New Head
Just in time for Halloween comes the internet debut of the 90's horror movie classic, Tarpinhead!
Tarpinhead is a short film some friends and I made in the summer of 1999. Our movie features an all DC cast (including Metroblogs' own Jenn Larsen) and made its theatrical debut back in 2001 at the now definct Visions Theater.
I wrote Tarpinhead (in about an hour), co-directed it, and play two parts in it.
Thanks to the wonders of YouTube - our tale of inter-species romance, shrine desecration, and bloody carnage - lives on!
View segment 1 and segment 2 if you dare!!
[Running time is about 16 minutes. Content is work-safe except for some bad language]
Originally published on October 30, 2006.
Tarpinhead is a short film some friends and I made in the summer of 1999. Our movie features an all DC cast (including Metroblogs' own Jenn Larsen) and made its theatrical debut back in 2001 at the now definct Visions Theater.
I wrote Tarpinhead (in about an hour), co-directed it, and play two parts in it.
Thanks to the wonders of YouTube - our tale of inter-species romance, shrine desecration, and bloody carnage - lives on!
View segment 1 and segment 2 if you dare!!
[Running time is about 16 minutes. Content is work-safe except for some bad language]
Originally published on October 30, 2006.
"The Prestige" (2006)
I went to see "The Prestige" for a second time tonight.
This is one of my new favorite movies. I think I will watch it over and over again for all eternity. I recommend it to all of you. It has a wonderful, twisting plot that seems fun at first but really gets nasty by the end. The whole thing is pulled off with a movie magic ease that really dazzles. Jackman and Bale act the hell out of their parts, constantly one-upping each other scene after scene (much like their characters do).
This movie transports you to its setting - which is an end of the old-world dawning-of-the-new scenario. I would almost call this movie steam-punk in that it uses technology of the day in a really fantastical way.
I don't want to ruin any of the plot here, but they do some really cool stuff I did not expect from the previews. In a way this movie reminded me of "The Godfather" - in that endless cycle of violence way.
The story is just really original and fun (if you ask me) and even though I knew all the secrets of it - I still found it exciting and deviously fun watching it again tonight. When you get right down to it this is a mean movie - which some might find depressing - but to me it is perfect entertainment.
Originally posted on October 26, 2006 on Myspace.
In 2012 this still stands as one of my favorite movies.
This is one of my new favorite movies. I think I will watch it over and over again for all eternity. I recommend it to all of you. It has a wonderful, twisting plot that seems fun at first but really gets nasty by the end. The whole thing is pulled off with a movie magic ease that really dazzles. Jackman and Bale act the hell out of their parts, constantly one-upping each other scene after scene (much like their characters do).
This movie transports you to its setting - which is an end of the old-world dawning-of-the-new scenario. I would almost call this movie steam-punk in that it uses technology of the day in a really fantastical way.
I don't want to ruin any of the plot here, but they do some really cool stuff I did not expect from the previews. In a way this movie reminded me of "The Godfather" - in that endless cycle of violence way.
The story is just really original and fun (if you ask me) and even though I knew all the secrets of it - I still found it exciting and deviously fun watching it again tonight. When you get right down to it this is a mean movie - which some might find depressing - but to me it is perfect entertainment.
Originally posted on October 26, 2006 on Myspace.
In 2012 this still stands as one of my favorite movies.
"Edmond" (2006)
So this came straight to video and I bought it for cheap.
"Edmond" is for serious Mamet fanatics and fans of the "Falling Down/Taxi Driver"-type films only. Anyone else will hate this movie and probably be disgusted by it. "Edmond" is a vile-bile-hate-filled rant done Mamet style and then goes into some bizarre territory in the last 20 minutes.
Macy is great, Mamet's writing is out-of-control in this one. It almost detracts from the film when Mamet really let's the words fly. But in a good way if you're into that kind of thing. The movie is about racism, violence, pent-up rage, the "white man's burden", sexual frustration, and madness - all from the perspective of a naive middle-aged zombie gone Travis Bickle without the street-smarts - told with the eloquent language only Mamet can express.
I thought this movie (while seriously flawed) was great. It made me extremely depressed and pissed-off but I loved it. The first half is very relatable to most married, adult men - then Edmond goes bat-shit crazy and you're sitting there hoping against hope "gee I hope I never end up there!" - then the third act goes somewhere even worse (but which could also be interpreted as better).
Very odd ending to this movie but in all an enjoyable experience for fans of the genres I described above.
Originally posted on October 12, 2006 on Myspace.
"Edmond" is for serious Mamet fanatics and fans of the "Falling Down/Taxi Driver"-type films only. Anyone else will hate this movie and probably be disgusted by it. "Edmond" is a vile-bile-hate-filled rant done Mamet style and then goes into some bizarre territory in the last 20 minutes.
Macy is great, Mamet's writing is out-of-control in this one. It almost detracts from the film when Mamet really let's the words fly. But in a good way if you're into that kind of thing. The movie is about racism, violence, pent-up rage, the "white man's burden", sexual frustration, and madness - all from the perspective of a naive middle-aged zombie gone Travis Bickle without the street-smarts - told with the eloquent language only Mamet can express.
I thought this movie (while seriously flawed) was great. It made me extremely depressed and pissed-off but I loved it. The first half is very relatable to most married, adult men - then Edmond goes bat-shit crazy and you're sitting there hoping against hope "gee I hope I never end up there!" - then the third act goes somewhere even worse (but which could also be interpreted as better).
Very odd ending to this movie but in all an enjoyable experience for fans of the genres I described above.
Originally posted on October 12, 2006 on Myspace.
"The Departed" (2006) - Review Pt. II
I think I was a little too hard on Scorcese's latest. While I stand by my earlier comments - I do want to point out that I think most people will really like this flick. Especially if they haven't seen the original HK movie. The plot twists are surprising if you don't already know them.
Also - the acting is way better than most action/crime flicks out there today. DiCaprio is friggin great in this movie. It might be his best performance. Nicholson is a maniac in this and eats up the movie. His mere presence on screen raises the quality of the flick - he looks like a washed-up psycho - he talks like a friggin' poet - awesome. Alec Baldwin even gets in on the act with an awesome flip out scene. And Damon does a pretty creepy, reptilian performance as the mole.
The violence is pretty good too.
Originally posted on October 12, 2006 on Myspace.
Also - the acting is way better than most action/crime flicks out there today. DiCaprio is friggin great in this movie. It might be his best performance. Nicholson is a maniac in this and eats up the movie. His mere presence on screen raises the quality of the flick - he looks like a washed-up psycho - he talks like a friggin' poet - awesome. Alec Baldwin even gets in on the act with an awesome flip out scene. And Damon does a pretty creepy, reptilian performance as the mole.
The violence is pretty good too.
Originally posted on October 12, 2006 on Myspace.
"The Departed" (2006)
Power went out tonight - so yipee an excuse to go to the movies!
I went and saw Scorcese's latest "The Departed". A lot of folks having been calling this movie his best since the 70's - better than "Goodfellas" - yadda yadda.
Well I disagree with those people. The movie is pretty good. The script is awesome and the performances seriously rock. However this movie is nowhere near the level of "Aviator", "Gangs of NY", "Goodfellas" , "Cape Fear", or "Casino" and anyone who thinks it is - well they are on crack. Also the folks who equate this movie to "Taxi Driver" and "Mean Streets" - well they make me sick.
"The Departed" has some big problems. The last 20 minutes are very weak - handled way better in the Hong Kong version. Also the editing is pretty gawd awful in enough parts to be really annoying - especially in a complex plot like this one. Also the music editing - blows. They interrupt songs just as they are beginning to kick ass! (including The Dropkick Murphy's) This technique is used about 10 times and really only lent itself to the drama once - just once - all the other times it was just jerking the audience around.
The end of this movie just let down the rest of it really. Which is ashame. I think with a better editor and a re-written ending the movie has the stuff to be one of Scorcese's best - but as it stands it is an average movie with some great performances. Oh yeah and four dialouge scenes that rule the earth. (Nicholson is god).
Take it from me, this one is a rental.
Originally posted on October 9, 2006 on Myspace.
I've come to enjoy this movie more and more over the years. However I still don't think this is the flick that should have nabbed Marty the Oscar.
I went and saw Scorcese's latest "The Departed". A lot of folks having been calling this movie his best since the 70's - better than "Goodfellas" - yadda yadda.
Well I disagree with those people. The movie is pretty good. The script is awesome and the performances seriously rock. However this movie is nowhere near the level of "Aviator", "Gangs of NY", "Goodfellas" , "Cape Fear", or "Casino" and anyone who thinks it is - well they are on crack. Also the folks who equate this movie to "Taxi Driver" and "Mean Streets" - well they make me sick.
"The Departed" has some big problems. The last 20 minutes are very weak - handled way better in the Hong Kong version. Also the editing is pretty gawd awful in enough parts to be really annoying - especially in a complex plot like this one. Also the music editing - blows. They interrupt songs just as they are beginning to kick ass! (including The Dropkick Murphy's) This technique is used about 10 times and really only lent itself to the drama once - just once - all the other times it was just jerking the audience around.
The end of this movie just let down the rest of it really. Which is ashame. I think with a better editor and a re-written ending the movie has the stuff to be one of Scorcese's best - but as it stands it is an average movie with some great performances. Oh yeah and four dialouge scenes that rule the earth. (Nicholson is god).
Take it from me, this one is a rental.
Originally posted on October 9, 2006 on Myspace.
I've come to enjoy this movie more and more over the years. However I still don't think this is the flick that should have nabbed Marty the Oscar.
“One, two, Freddy’s coming for you.”
STOP THE PRESSES!
Just found out that there is going to be a showing of Wes Craven’s 1984 horror masterpiece “A Nightmare on Elm Street” tonight at 8 at the Hoffman Center in Old Town and also at Ballston Commons.
The screening is part two of a 2-night promotional event for the remastered Freddy DVD. The film will be accompanied by another short-film entitled “Freddy’s Best Kills” – a montage of the best nightmares from the series.
Oh yeah – I’m all over this!
“One, two, Freddy’s coming for you. / Three, four, better lock your door. / Five, six, grab your crucifix. / Seven, eight, gonna stay up late. / Nine, ten, never sleep again.”
Originally published on September 21, 2006.
Just found out that there is going to be a showing of Wes Craven’s 1984 horror masterpiece “A Nightmare on Elm Street” tonight at 8 at the Hoffman Center in Old Town and also at Ballston Commons.
The screening is part two of a 2-night promotional event for the remastered Freddy DVD. The film will be accompanied by another short-film entitled “Freddy’s Best Kills” – a montage of the best nightmares from the series.
Oh yeah – I’m all over this!
“One, two, Freddy’s coming for you. / Three, four, better lock your door. / Five, six, grab your crucifix. / Seven, eight, gonna stay up late. / Nine, ten, never sleep again.”
Originally published on September 21, 2006.
Mass Casualty
I went to see Tony Jaa in The Protector tonight.
Holy living hell.
The man is immortal. I mean Ong Bak was a decent movie with pretty mind-blowing low-budget action. But in The Protector - the man takes it to another level. He is the Bruce Lee of the modern age - there is no question about it now.
As a film the movie itself is 80% good - even the elephants work somehow - you actually care about the elephants. Of course there is a little Asian movie weirdness - got to have a gang on roller blades or something to muck-it-up. But other than that slight awkwardness of that one skating gang (which has amazing action so I'm not complaining too much) and some bad editing in the beginning - the movie is martial arts gold.
Tony Jaa is the man - he is a human wrecking machine. Meaning he wrecks humans - that is all he does through the entire film - oh yeah that and yell "Where's my elephant?!"
What really puts Jaa on the map for me as possibly one of the best movie martial artists ever is the obligatory mass casualty scene. Jaa is no dodge 'em Jackie Chan type - he is a "kill every last muther in the room" type of mass fighter.
One man versus many - a ridiculously super-human number of foes.
The two that come to mind for comparison are Kill Bill 1 and The Chinese Connection.
The sword fight in Kill Bill 1 gets a lot of accolades as the best mass casualty fight in modern movies. I think that's a load of crap and I'll tell you why. Because of The Protector. Tony Jaa in this movie's mass fight scene makes Uma and her stunt double look like a pair of hobbled cows doing jumping-jacks in a field of cow-pies.
The mass fight in The Protector rivals the scene in The Chinese Connection when Bruce Lee takes on the dojo. I shit you not. The dojo scene in The Chinese Connection is arguably Bruce Lee's best mass casualty fight. To me it set the standard for one man against many and that standard has never been matched (See what I mean by watching the dojo fight here). Other movies have great mass fights - don't get me wrong (Streetfighter, several Jackie Chan movies, some Jet Li) but none come close to creating a new precedent for martial arts films. The Protector does.
Tony Jaa destroys about 40 guys. I mean really destroys them. It is exhilarating and gut-wrenching and it goes on for ever. I loved it. I cheered. The whole frigging crowd cheered and hollered and ohh-ed and ahh-ed. It was in-fucking-credible. Best mass fight (well ass-kicking really) in modern movies - bar-none.
Aside from the mass-casualty fight - Jaa is on fire through the rest of the movie as well. I can't believe how fast that guy is or how hard he hits.
Seriously - any of you martial arts flicks fans out there - get your ass to the theater to see this thing. The moves are too incredible to miss on the big screen.
Originally posted on September 21, 2006 on Myspace.
Holy living hell.
The man is immortal. I mean Ong Bak was a decent movie with pretty mind-blowing low-budget action. But in The Protector - the man takes it to another level. He is the Bruce Lee of the modern age - there is no question about it now.
As a film the movie itself is 80% good - even the elephants work somehow - you actually care about the elephants. Of course there is a little Asian movie weirdness - got to have a gang on roller blades or something to muck-it-up. But other than that slight awkwardness of that one skating gang (which has amazing action so I'm not complaining too much) and some bad editing in the beginning - the movie is martial arts gold.
Tony Jaa is the man - he is a human wrecking machine. Meaning he wrecks humans - that is all he does through the entire film - oh yeah that and yell "Where's my elephant?!"
What really puts Jaa on the map for me as possibly one of the best movie martial artists ever is the obligatory mass casualty scene. Jaa is no dodge 'em Jackie Chan type - he is a "kill every last muther in the room" type of mass fighter.
One man versus many - a ridiculously super-human number of foes.
The two that come to mind for comparison are Kill Bill 1 and The Chinese Connection.
The sword fight in Kill Bill 1 gets a lot of accolades as the best mass casualty fight in modern movies. I think that's a load of crap and I'll tell you why. Because of The Protector. Tony Jaa in this movie's mass fight scene makes Uma and her stunt double look like a pair of hobbled cows doing jumping-jacks in a field of cow-pies.
The mass fight in The Protector rivals the scene in The Chinese Connection when Bruce Lee takes on the dojo. I shit you not. The dojo scene in The Chinese Connection is arguably Bruce Lee's best mass casualty fight. To me it set the standard for one man against many and that standard has never been matched (See what I mean by watching the dojo fight here). Other movies have great mass fights - don't get me wrong (Streetfighter, several Jackie Chan movies, some Jet Li) but none come close to creating a new precedent for martial arts films. The Protector does.
Tony Jaa destroys about 40 guys. I mean really destroys them. It is exhilarating and gut-wrenching and it goes on for ever. I loved it. I cheered. The whole frigging crowd cheered and hollered and ohh-ed and ahh-ed. It was in-fucking-credible. Best mass fight (well ass-kicking really) in modern movies - bar-none.
Aside from the mass-casualty fight - Jaa is on fire through the rest of the movie as well. I can't believe how fast that guy is or how hard he hits.
Seriously - any of you martial arts flicks fans out there - get your ass to the theater to see this thing. The moves are too incredible to miss on the big screen.
Originally posted on September 21, 2006 on Myspace.
Ummm...some of you may want to see this film
"American Hardcore"
This is a documentary made by my buddy Fred Dann's old college room-mate. These guys were knee-deep in the shit back in the day. They've traveled all over interviewing the legends of the original American Hardcore punk scene and now they are taking their movie around the country one city at a time.
Look on the web-site for a showing near you.
Originally posted on September 19, 2006 on Myspace.
This is a documentary made by my buddy Fred Dann's old college room-mate. These guys were knee-deep in the shit back in the day. They've traveled all over interviewing the legends of the original American Hardcore punk scene and now they are taking their movie around the country one city at a time.
Look on the web-site for a showing near you.
Originally posted on September 19, 2006 on Myspace.
3 Classics
Watched a trio of classic flicks over the last few days.
"North Dallas Forty" starring Nick Nolte - watched this one to get in the mood for Fantasy Football. This is and "Any Given Sunday" are probably the two best football movies ever. This one is supposed to be funny but really turns out to be insanely depressing. One of Nolte's best.
"Chinatown" starring Jack Nicholson - Jack was a weirdo bad-ass when he was a younger dude. "Chinatown" is supposed to be one of the best written movies of all time. I agree with that about 80 percent through the flick. The dialogue is great and the mystery interesting. However once Jack starts banging his client I feel the movie (plot wise) goes a little awry. But then that is fixed by the classic downer ending.
"The Odd Couple" starring Jack Lemon and Walter Matthau - this is an all-time classic. Talk about good writing in a film! Jack Lemon plays the most annoying character ever in this - and yet you still feel sorry for the poor sap. Meanwhile Matthau plays a great lazy, bum bachelor and when he is on the brink of snapping - you really feel it. This movie is great and the score is too.
Originally posted on August 7, 2006 on Myspace.
"North Dallas Forty" starring Nick Nolte - watched this one to get in the mood for Fantasy Football. This is and "Any Given Sunday" are probably the two best football movies ever. This one is supposed to be funny but really turns out to be insanely depressing. One of Nolte's best.
"Chinatown" starring Jack Nicholson - Jack was a weirdo bad-ass when he was a younger dude. "Chinatown" is supposed to be one of the best written movies of all time. I agree with that about 80 percent through the flick. The dialogue is great and the mystery interesting. However once Jack starts banging his client I feel the movie (plot wise) goes a little awry. But then that is fixed by the classic downer ending.
"The Odd Couple" starring Jack Lemon and Walter Matthau - this is an all-time classic. Talk about good writing in a film! Jack Lemon plays the most annoying character ever in this - and yet you still feel sorry for the poor sap. Meanwhile Matthau plays a great lazy, bum bachelor and when he is on the brink of snapping - you really feel it. This movie is great and the score is too.
Originally posted on August 7, 2006 on Myspace.
"Little Miss Sunshine" (2006)
This movie was so friggin awesome. An excellent film on all levels. I am really very impressed. This movie is so cynical and depressing and yet makes you laugh so hard your sides hurt and leaves you feeling all warm inside. It actually melted my cold grinch-heart. "Little Miss Sunshine" is an oscar-caliber comedy.
Go check it out.
Originally posted on August 6, 2006 on Myspace.
Go check it out.
Originally posted on August 6, 2006 on Myspace.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Double Feature
So I had this bright idea to do a double feature today. Decided I would re-watch White Lightning- starring Burt Reynolds, followed by its sequel Gator - which I have never seen before.
White Lightning - is an early pre-mustache Burt Reynolds film that kicks all kinds of ass. Burt is a freaking bad-ass and actually acts really well in this flick (rather than just mugging for the camera and laughing like most of his 70's flicks). In fact I'd say this is Burt's best early role next to The Longest Yard. But it isn't just Burt that makes this flick so damn good. Ned Beatty plays the meanest, sweatiest, southern sheriff in film history here. Beatty's performance is so real and intimidating - well it is just Oscar-worthy. The score to White Lightning is a great 70's action score with hints of swamp guitar. The screenplay is on fire with some of the best country-fried but hard-boiled dialogue you're likely to find. But it is really the directing by Joseph Sargent that sells this movie for me. Sargent gives the swamps and country around them a 70's grit and realism that really makes you feel the southern heat and taste the moonshine. Sargent would later bring his eye for realism and detail to The Taking of Pelham 123 (a personal favorite of mine).
White Lightning kicks unholy ass - so imagine my surprise when the sequel Gator turned out to be one of the biggest turds of a movie I have ever watched.
Gator is directed by Burt Reynolds (there is your first warning, right?). The story takes place several years after Burt's character's adventure in the first film. In this one Gator has given up running moonshine in hot-rods, to simply brew it in the swamp with his dad and daughter. But of course the Feds come in and threaten to arrest Gator's dad unless Gator helps them clean up a county down in Florida that Gator's childhood friend is ruling over as crime boss. The premise is simple but okay - it is the execution and the bizarre 'sensitive' portrayal of Gator in this sequel that ruins it.
Reynold's plays Gator like he plays The Bandit and it annoys the hell out of me. Gator is a tough, no nonsense, ball of seething rage in the first movie. In the sequel he's a wuss - plain and simple. And he doesn't even get to drive a hot-rod! The movie seemed to avoid car chases at all costs. Which sucks. I don't want to see Gator sneaking around the town carrying an old lady's cat while she fumbles with the keys to the file room. I don't want half the movie dedicated to the New York Jew (fish out of water) Federal Agent. What the hell is that crap? And what's with Gator bedding down with the news-lady women's libber? That sucked! Gator actually almost cries at the end! WTF?
In the first flick Gator bangs his buddy's Mongoloid-Yet-Oddly-Seductive Swamp-Rat-Hoochie-Mama. And when the bad guys have the drop on him, Gator coaxes them into trying to rape her so as to mask his escape attempt. The Gator of White Lightning does not cry, he doesn't tell some upwardly mobile broad " he loves her". The real Gator breaks shotguns over bad guy's heads and kills them with his amazing driving skills and suped-up engines. In the sequel Gator runs from trouble every chance he gets - the White Lightning Gator was a man's man who met trouble head-on (nay he sought trouble out!). Where in development hell did this sequel derail? What the hell were they thinking when they made Gator a 'sensitive' type? Don't they realize no one fucking cares what Gator's favorite color is? Or his philosophy of the ocean? Seriously I kid you not - he talks about his philosophy of the ocean in this movie! I felt like screaming at the screen!
Ack, I am so fucking disappointed! Gator sucked and I will never watch it ever again! Don't waste your time on this piece of shit movie - just re-watch the original instead.
Originally posted on July 26, 2006 on Myspace.
I saw 'Gator' on television again recently (2010) and it is just as offensive to 'White Lightning' fans as ever!
White Lightning - is an early pre-mustache Burt Reynolds film that kicks all kinds of ass. Burt is a freaking bad-ass and actually acts really well in this flick (rather than just mugging for the camera and laughing like most of his 70's flicks). In fact I'd say this is Burt's best early role next to The Longest Yard. But it isn't just Burt that makes this flick so damn good. Ned Beatty plays the meanest, sweatiest, southern sheriff in film history here. Beatty's performance is so real and intimidating - well it is just Oscar-worthy. The score to White Lightning is a great 70's action score with hints of swamp guitar. The screenplay is on fire with some of the best country-fried but hard-boiled dialogue you're likely to find. But it is really the directing by Joseph Sargent that sells this movie for me. Sargent gives the swamps and country around them a 70's grit and realism that really makes you feel the southern heat and taste the moonshine. Sargent would later bring his eye for realism and detail to The Taking of Pelham 123 (a personal favorite of mine).
White Lightning kicks unholy ass - so imagine my surprise when the sequel Gator turned out to be one of the biggest turds of a movie I have ever watched.
Gator is directed by Burt Reynolds (there is your first warning, right?). The story takes place several years after Burt's character's adventure in the first film. In this one Gator has given up running moonshine in hot-rods, to simply brew it in the swamp with his dad and daughter. But of course the Feds come in and threaten to arrest Gator's dad unless Gator helps them clean up a county down in Florida that Gator's childhood friend is ruling over as crime boss. The premise is simple but okay - it is the execution and the bizarre 'sensitive' portrayal of Gator in this sequel that ruins it.
Reynold's plays Gator like he plays The Bandit and it annoys the hell out of me. Gator is a tough, no nonsense, ball of seething rage in the first movie. In the sequel he's a wuss - plain and simple. And he doesn't even get to drive a hot-rod! The movie seemed to avoid car chases at all costs. Which sucks. I don't want to see Gator sneaking around the town carrying an old lady's cat while she fumbles with the keys to the file room. I don't want half the movie dedicated to the New York Jew (fish out of water) Federal Agent. What the hell is that crap? And what's with Gator bedding down with the news-lady women's libber? That sucked! Gator actually almost cries at the end! WTF?
In the first flick Gator bangs his buddy's Mongoloid-Yet-Oddly-Seductive Swamp-Rat-Hoochie-Mama. And when the bad guys have the drop on him, Gator coaxes them into trying to rape her so as to mask his escape attempt. The Gator of White Lightning does not cry, he doesn't tell some upwardly mobile broad " he loves her". The real Gator breaks shotguns over bad guy's heads and kills them with his amazing driving skills and suped-up engines. In the sequel Gator runs from trouble every chance he gets - the White Lightning Gator was a man's man who met trouble head-on (nay he sought trouble out!). Where in development hell did this sequel derail? What the hell were they thinking when they made Gator a 'sensitive' type? Don't they realize no one fucking cares what Gator's favorite color is? Or his philosophy of the ocean? Seriously I kid you not - he talks about his philosophy of the ocean in this movie! I felt like screaming at the screen!
Ack, I am so fucking disappointed! Gator sucked and I will never watch it ever again! Don't waste your time on this piece of shit movie - just re-watch the original instead.
Originally posted on July 26, 2006 on Myspace.
I saw 'Gator' on television again recently (2010) and it is just as offensive to 'White Lightning' fans as ever!
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