What Robert's Watching

City of God

2012-03-06T00:02:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Tyler

Wow it's been a long time since I last saw this it was almost like watching it for the first time again. Except everything kept coming back right before it would happen.

This film is just stunning. It feels so epic and moves at such a pace through all these chronicles of memorable characters. The editing really stands out as a feature here. Fernando Meirelles makes a big impression with this one, getting great performances out of non-actors as well as a sort of controlled chaos in his visual style.

I'm not really a big fan of gangsters or true crime stories usually, but when they are told as exuberantly as this one it's hard not to be swept up.

And I totally recognised Alice Braga this time.

So great to watch this again, I always remember loving it and it's still, in my opinion, one of the best films from the last decade.

Kill List

2012-03-05T23:50:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Jordan, Tyler

Write Up.

I loved this one so much just had to show it off. Can't wait to hear the commentary next time.

To Kill a Mockingbird

2012-03-04T19:04:00.000+08:00

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First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

I watched this once or twice before, when I was much younger (including watching it in english class when we studied the book in high school). I know it more from my love of the beautiful score by Elmer Bernstein which I still listen to regularly. I saw it had been released on bluray as part of Universal's awesome 100 year anniversary restoration and rereleasing scheme. I'm really excited about some of the titles that are going to finally be released but this was one that I only have vague memories of so was really interested to check out again.

It's easy to see why it's such a classic. There's an elegance to everything about it, that seems so simple and yet accomplishes so much. All the pieces are right where they need to be and do exactly what they are designed to do to tell this story. It's a brilliant adaptation, emotive and full of nostalgia.

Atticus Finch is a character that's almsot christ-like. He's put up on such a pedestal I find it hard to believe anyone like him actually exists in the world, however as in the novel, the point of view is always a recollection from the children which also explains the bed-time story feeling of the whole film.

And I totally recognised Robert Duvall this time.

The clean up and restoration is pretty good but you can see a lot of grain smoothing going on which doesn't look that nice. Unfortunately the film features a lot of post push ins which makes this all the more noticeable. I'd personally prefer to just see the grain.

Wonderful to watch this again and if Universal's other restored releases are this loaded with extra features as well, we're in for a hell of a year.

Children of the Corn: Genesis

2012-03-04T14:04:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

Ten years after the last entry, they go for the reboot angle. Except it's not really it's just the same as always.

First thing that jumps out is the 2.35:1 ratio. Children of the Corn just went widescreen. It instantly looks classier. Unfortunately the script is still dreadful. Although it's a huge step up from the last entry which was probably the worst of all of them. Nicer cinematography, a much more modern colour grading scheme and a better score this time too.

Barbara Nedeljakova from Hostel is in this one. Billy Drago is creepy as ever. My problem is not the acting in this one. It's the fact that absolutely nothing happens.

Sure there's some car flips at the end and it's the most impressive, albeit brief amount of actin in the entire franchise but then again, the franchise was never about action, or even gore, despite what part 3 might think.

Well except for a tv movie from the syfy channel in 2009 which has no relation to the Dimension films, that's all the children of the corn films. Not a great horror series despite my love for that first film and the insanity of part 3.

Children of the Corn VII: Revelation

2012-03-04T13:13:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

Uhhhhhhhh no.

Don't be excited like I was for Michael Ironside when I saw his name in the opening credits. He delivers 3 lines then leaves.

This time it's just ghost children killing people in an old apartment that's about to be knocked down. And there's a little corn patch growing out the front. A lady comes looking for her grandmother, who just moved there and went missing, and finds out she is the only surviving member of the original cult. Eh.

Absolutely horrible score filled with 90's samplers.

No wonder they killed the franchise after this one. Oh wait, there's one more.

Heavenly Creatures

2012-03-03T23:19:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Paul

One of my all time favourite films ever. My favourite Peter Jackson film. I'm so glad I finally got this on bluray.

I just love everything about this film, except some of the score. Melanie Lynskey and Kate Winslet in their first film roles are just unstoppable. Jackson goes for broke directing this one, and how can you not be thankful for the creation of Weta Digital? Richard Taylor's awesome prosthetics are on full display here too.

I also love that this true crime story is a great coming of age film, a fast paced drama and a horror thriller. It's also very funny in parts. The film really take you into the minds of these two girls, into their fantasies and their view of reality which inevitably leads to some dark places. Such a brilliantly structured and crafted screenplay. I hear it's well researched too but I'm not so concerned with that as much, but well deserved of its Oscar nomination for original screenplay.

This is a must see!

Carnage

2012-03-03T18:22:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

Yes! Wonderful! Bravo.

Roman Polanski does another play adaptation and with this delightful cast it's just brilliantly handled. Just two couples talking in a room, all played out in real time and lasting just over an hour but it's absolutely captivating and hilarious.

I just love that the film starts off with one couple leaving and they can just never get away. Once they make it to the door, twice they make it all the way to the elevator but slowly and surly this argument keeps drawing them back and things just keep getting more out of hand.

I remember watching Polanski's Death and the Maiden in high school which made me really want to perform the play. But reading the play, all the parts I loved from the film were absent. I don't know how much has been changed from this play but the film at least knows not to overstay its welcome.

You get the point pretty early, well you can probably tell the point from the trailer, but this film manages to bows out at a high where any further escalation would be cartoonish.

Really I just love watching these actors perform. That's reason enough to like it for me.

Also, even though it's only used in the opening and closing credits Alexandre Desplat gave the film a nice little score.

While it might seem a little slight for some, it was just was I was hoping for to end today. Very nice indeed.

The Devil Inside

2012-03-03T18:03:00.001+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

I think the trailer is scarier than the film. It's also more interesting. This film stops dead in it's tracks, the credits start rolling what feels like half way through act 2, completely unsatisfying. Almost infuriating actually.

I had to leave the cinema briefly twice to try and convince the staff the top and bottom of the film was being cut off. unfortunately due to the found footage motif changing ratio all the time and a lot of black frames, the first time they came to check they didn't believe me. But when the film proper started and the quality jumped up a bit it was obviously wrong, name captions in the lower 3rds were being cropped off. they stopped the film for 5 or 6 minutes to fix the issue and then continued it.

I really don't think it made any impact to the film tough, it wasn't really building to anything at that stage. By the time it actually does start doing something it bloody well finishes.

I had heard bad things about the film going in, so I was expecting a train wreck but the start gave me some hope that it wasn't going to be all bad. In fact I didn't mind the main girl at all and during the regular scenes everyone else seemed fine too, but when the spooky stuff starts all credibility just goes out the window. I wanna just put it down to bad acting but I don't know how much of the script was improvised by them or if they were forced to deliver some of those lines. Either way, not good.

Worst of all, it's nothing we haven't seen a dozen times before.

Unless there's a part 2 that resolves everything in an amazing and twisty way there's absolutely no reason to see this.

Blood Diner

2012-03-03T17:51:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Michael, Alex

Write Up.

What a ridiculous film.

The Ordeal

2012-03-03T17:48:00.000+08:00

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First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Michael, Alex

A great little horrorish thriller from Belgium a few years back. A slow build to a very tragic and sick romance. A film that's probably more interested in its villains than its protagonist.

It's a slow moving kind of dread. One of those situations where you're trying to get away but going nowhere and things keep getting worse. I find the situation rather amusing however the way it is executed is certainly not played for laughs. In fact it's pretty darn sick.

There's some real deliverance country stuff going on here behind closed doors. however the way the film is shot it's just ever so slightly more abstracted. I get the feeling that every single person the protagonist encounters wants exactly the same thing from him and the whole film is his journey from unwillingness to give himself over to finally letting go, for whatever reason.

It's tragic, horrifying and also slightly amusing thanks to some great performances. A favourite of mine.

Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's Return

2012-03-02T18:39:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

Ok, so we suddenly jump 660 sequels to get to part 666, the main feature of which is the return of Isaac from the original. The only actor to be in more than 1 of these films. Nancy Allen is here too, taking over the role of Rachel from the first film and now trying to stop her estranged daughter from returning to the town and fulfilling some prophecy.

The most surprising thing about this film is how visual it was. I did not expect to get to part 6 and admire the cinematography, the lighting, the colours. It all goes towards making a mood that works well for the film, even though it feels so very mid 90's music video. At least you can tell there was an actual director at the helm on this one.

And one of the strangest love scenes I've seen in a horror film.

A big step up from the last entry. Better actors, a story that's still pretty tenuous but at least the effort is there. And while there's not much gore this one goes for mood and succeeds pretty admirably.

Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror

2012-03-02T14:43:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

OK things are getting really bad now. This time we have a young Eva Mendes in her first film, but at the complete opposite end of the spectrum from Naomi Watts in part 4, Mendes shows she was never a good actress in the first place.

Fred Williamson and David Carradine show up in bit parts and I'm pretty sure that was Kane Hodder sans Jason hokey mask.

There's really nothing here much else here. Once again the evil little kid gets more to do than anyone else and the series has just become a showcase of little Shakespearian actors sprouting religious mumbo jumbo coupled with some corn related death. I'm not holding out much hope for the rest of these. The series burnt out at number 3.

Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering

2012-03-02T10:33:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

So this is the one starring Naomi Watts. Man she sells this crap like it's oscar bait. It truly is amazing and the only reason to watch. Karen Black shows up too and that little girl from Dante's Peak.

This one feels more like a viral outbreak zombie movie. It's far more serious than the last offering but also less gory (I'm thinking nothing is going to top that ridiculous climax in number 3). It pretty much ignores the events from the last films and is its own thing. However even the connective tissue within the film is tenuous at best.

Project X

2012-03-02T10:20:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

Yet another found footage movie, this time tackling an r-rated comedy about teens throwing a party.

Despite marginal efforts to the contrary there is little else in the way of plot and character. Just barely enough to string the events together and for what the film is trying to accomplish it's arguable that they needed any more than that anyway. It's really just about the experience of going to the most out of control party ever filmed.

I absolutely hated the main characters. I wanted more than anything to see them get their comeuppance but that never happens. Instead the film rewards them for their bad behaviour, much like producer Todd Phillips' Hangover movies, and leaves me feeling morally corrupted, which I guess is the idea. I have a fundamental dislike of loud crowded parties and drunk people so to see all this being glamorised really pissed me off. The objectification of girls in this movie is on another level.

But hey, what do I know, the audience seemed into it. If you love the trailer you can pay to get that stretched out over an hour and a half.

Right At Your Door

2012-03-01T02:25:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler

Before getting pick to handle the much bigger budget and very silly The Darkest Hour, Chris Gorak made this great inventive thriller about a huge event but done cleverly on a small indie scale.

It's pretty effective too and also manages to get some great imagery. While the action is localised to a single house for the most part the few glimpses of outside L.A. exploding or covered in toxic ash is great.

The first half of the film is surprisingly tense and effective. Then of course this becomes about the character drama which is well done but the twisty ending, while fine and serving of a purpose does feel a little cheap compared to the rest of the film.

Still I think it's a brilliant example of doing a large scale high concept film on a small budget and pulling it off effectively, so it's no wonder Hollywoods been scouting Gorak for his talent.

The Grey

2012-03-01T02:16:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler, Jordan, Alex

Write Up.

Such a beautiful film. Dour but beautiful. I had concerns that seeing it in a smaller cinema, the sound wouldn't be as effective but if anything it was even louder and more intense than before. Man there are some big jump scares in this film. And that plane crash is just as intense the 2nd time.

This time I made sure to stay through the credits to see the post credit action I missed the first time through. It's just a brief and slightly vague shot but still keeps the open ending which I like.

So great.

Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest

2012-03-01T02:10:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

Well that's more like it. I mean I don't really like the way they are dumbing down the mystery but at least they do it with an awesome climax with a giant corn monster and a children massacre that is by far the goriest and most fun of the series.

Gone is the eeriness, it's been replaced with camp and gore. And they just transplant the action to a city which manages to make the film even more dated and hilarious.

And that was totally Charlize Theron as one of the random teenagers in the many cut aways.

Huge step up from the last one but things are getting fx heavy and silly now. And I'm not even half way through the series!

Apt Pupil

2012-02-29T02:53:00.002+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan

Write Up.

While I had this out, I figured I should show it off for friends. So great.

Memento

2012-02-29T02:51:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan

Such a great film. Been a while too so good to catch up.

We have a series of slightly overlapping scenes, ordered backwards and a single sequence that creates the beginning, shot in black and white, split between the backwards scenes until they meet up at the end. And some flashbacks too. And yet it's all pretty straight forward to comprehend. Probably what gave Christopher Nolan the ambition to do something like Inception. Should probably get around to watching that again too.

Guy Pearce is great, I really like Carrie-Anne Moss in this role and even though her time is brief Jorja Fox gives a heartbreaking performance.

Beyond being a great concept this is a fantastically crafted script, translated into a fantastic film. It's a different headspace it pulls you into. A classic.

Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice

2012-02-28T21:49:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

Oh boy, regretting my decision already hahahaha.

Great early 90's hair.

Man it's rather terrible though. Despite some of the kids best efforts. That whole thing with the native american is just horrible.

Children of the Corn

2012-02-28T17:38:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

My Stephen King viewing continues. I don't know how much this follows the short story but I do know King wasn't very pleased with the adaptation.

Well I don't think it's that bad. I quite enjoy a lot of it. Fun to see a young Linda Hamilton. Some of the kids are really good too. There's a kind of Midwich Cuckoos or Who Can Kill A Child? vibe to it with the added King religious frantic stuff.

It just so happens I got my hands on the whole collection of all the sequels, none of which I've ever seen, nor do I hold much hopes for, but still it might be fun to go through like I did with Friday the 13th's, Nightmare on Elm St's, Halloween's and Hellraiser's a few years ago.

For this first one at least, it actually holds up better than I thought. So we're off to a good start.

Vertigo

2012-02-28T12:56:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler

Decided to watch this after the Oscars last night. So many arbitrary films nominated this year, none of my favourites made the grade and only one or two that I thought were worthy of any kind of award. Alfred Hitchcock never won though so what do they know?

Some very cool Saul Bass designs for the credits. And an awesome total trip out dream half way through the film. Very cool.

I forgot how slowly the film moves. Everything is methodically told to the audience. You'd never get away that today. But it does allow long periods of no dialogue where Bernard Herrmann gets to show of his music. This is a far more melodramatic score that I'm used to from him but it's till great. They used it in The Artist, which is probably what made me want to watch it again tonight.

Without that music we're just watching James Stewart tailing Kim Novak for an hour. But the music gives a sense of mystery and dread to the whole affair.

Now I'll be honest I've never been a big James Stewart fan. I know he's had some cool roles but I don't get him as an actor. I know him more as a funny voice impression than anything else. Kim Novak's pretty great though.

This whole film has such an eerie feeling. But despite the slow pace is always riveting. Good stuff!

May

2012-02-27T11:02:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler, Jordan

Lucky McKee's breakthrough film is just delightful due in no small part to a wonderful lead performance by Angela Bettis. They two have collaborated on pretty much everything since and their latest film together, The Woman, was one I really enjoyed too.

This film is basically a quirky late 90's indie romantic comedy and it's easy to fall in love with May, the central character. Things get kinda dark towards the end but as horror-ish as it gets, it never looses that sweetness. I probably also helps tat I love Jeremy Sisto too.

This is a great film to see cold, without knowing about where it ends up. The journey there is wonderful and although everything is very clearly set up people usually don't realise it until it's too late.

This really is just the sweetest little horror film ever made. Adorable and always a pleasure to watch again.

Contraband

2012-02-26T16:25:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

I somehow managed to avoid ever seeing a trailer for this film so going in all a knew about it was Mark Wahlberg has some money strapped to his abs, from the poster in the lobby.

So imagine my delight when I see Lukas Haas, Giovanni Ribisi and Ben Foster's names come up in the opening credits. Damn solid supporting cast there. Also noted that it's a remake of some foreign film (Iceland's 2010 Oscar entry Reykjavik-Rotterdam, which oddly enough stars the guy who ended up directing the remake) which gave me some hope as to the story being worthwhile enough to consider remaking. I should probably track down the original now.

Indeed the plot flows well for what you would think to be an uncinematic heist. They layer on some ransom kidnapping drug dealers and squeeze in an armoured car robbery too.

The morals in this story are a little grey though, apparently crime doesn't pay, unless you're a nice guy like Mark Wahlberg. The film has so many moments where it's completely obvious the plan is going to fall apart that it almost made me uncomfortable. But I guess that means it's working.

Kaboom

2012-02-26T10:26:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

This plays out like a slightly more intentionally comical episode of Dante's Cove. If you've never heard of that reference, chances are you wouldn't be interested anyway. But it's like someone tried to smooch together a very sexually charged teen coming of age comedy and a lovecraftian end of the world cult mystery and once they figured out how to get them to work together didn't bother to finish either of them.

But it's kinda funny the way it ends. I dunno, I think i'm still trying to process this.

The only Gregg Araki film I've seen before is Mysterious Skin and that is at the complete opposite end of the spectrum from this film. That was a deadly serious character double hander but this movie has more funky transitions than an Amanda Bynes film. It's a much more pop aesthetic and has gloriously bright saturated colours.

The supernatural mystery dream stuff never works as well as the teen character relationship stuff. It's a really odd mix and hard to tell how straight a face they are telling the story with. Judging by the end, they seem in on the joke, I just don't think I found it that funny.

30 Minutes or Less

2012-02-25T12:09:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

This films release has been delayed and delayed in Australia. I had been looking up release dates for it since mid last year and found out it's apparently because of some real life bombing incident in the country where a girl had a bomb strapped to her. Unfortunately during my research I also found out that there was another real life event except the poor guy actually exploded.

Knowing that really tainted this entire film. It made laughing at it feel wrong. The filmmakers claimed to have no knowledge of the incident but the entire set up plays out the same, so I presume the writers did.

I like Jesse Eisenberg. He isn't required to do that much here but I still like him in the role. Michael Peña has managed to make another classic Observe and Report-esque character for himself. It's kind of strange that the film spends almost a s much time giving funny scenes to the villains as to the good guys. Danny McBride and Nick Swardson have some funny stuff together and you never get the feeling that you want to see them killed or hurt, despite what they are doing.

This film feels like a fun little interlude for Ruben Fleischer, hopefully before making a sequel to his debut Zombieland. The film has quite a pace to it and manages to keep upping the stakes but building the laughs throughout the running time.

Despite the knowledge of the real life incident, I really did enjoy the film. It's the first straight comedy film I've seen this year too which makes it a nice change of pace.

Killer Elite

2012-02-25T11:37:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Michael

I saw Film Victoria's name in the opening credits, which I thought was odd. But then every other actor in the film was Australian and most of it looked like it was filmed here doubling for somewhere else. Even Ben Mendelsohn showed up but he only opened his mouth to speak once and he had a thick scottish accent.

That's always a little jarring and never helps suspension of disbelief. Neither does a script made almost entirely of trailer moment dialogue. So many bad examples of characters stating something about other characters or their situation that just reeks of bad exposition. Probably the only levity I got from the film.

Jason Statham seems to just churn out these kind of moderate to okay action flicks. While I'd say this is probably one of the better ones it still didn't leave much of an impression, however much they claim it's based on a true story.

Never really cared about which characters would live or die, in fact towards the end I had no idea which side we were supposed to be rooting for. Perhaps that's a good thing but it didn't feel like it at the time.

It's not trashy enough to be fun and it's not engaging enough to be taken seriously. It exists in this middle of the read area where I think it was okay but probably won't remember a thing about it tomorrow .

Gone

2012-02-24T16:15:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

This film is the definition of a by the numbers thriller. It's a pay day for all involved. Sure it's well put together and if you've never seen a thriller before it might provide some interest but for the rest of us, it's just this years model.

The Abyss

2012-02-24T10:54:00.001+08:00

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First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Alex

This is one of the best movie ever made period. For the sheer audacity of the filmmaking and for the epic final product. For some reason even many James Cameron fans don't seem to know about it. And it's not out on bluray. These things both need to change.

James Cameron makes big movies. And not just long movies, but big ones, where you get your monies worth in the cinema. They are just so darn satisfying and manage to cram everything you could want from a story into their running time. Now I'm of course looking at the "special edition" cut, I haven watched the theatrical cut for probably 15 years and don't think I ever could again know how the soul of the film was just chopped out. The heart is still there but the whole point of the story seems to have gone.

And for many that's cool, they don't need social messages with their adventure films as was made quite clear when Avatar came out. I want it though. Somehow every time I watch this movie there's a huge stretch of action and finally some gut wrenching character relationship scenes that always get me so worked up I completely forget the start of the film which always make the final moments an unexpected surprise EVERY TIME. I love that. I love that this film is juggling all these narrative threads so expertly and the most esoteric of them is leaves lingering for so long only to pull out the big guns for the finale.

Now we all know Young Sherlock Holmes started the CG craze in feature films, but really this was the film that made it logistically practical for use on productions. Amazing. Not half as amazing as knowing that everything else besides that one effect had to be done either with old techniques or practically.

And boy do they do a lot of this practically. I don't think there'll ever be a production like this again, because they'd just do whole environments with effects now. But nothing beats seeing the real actors doing some bloody dangerous stunt work.

I know the actors went through hell on this film but they are all so good. I love it when Cameron writes for a team or group of characters and he somehow manages to give each one an individual voice and a reason for the audience to love them. Or give you villains that are so big and easy to despise. A bit of a change up for Michael Biehn but he's so good as the villain this time around.

Now the film doesn't have massive Avatar style action but it has its fair share of big sequences. Some thrilling and really cool stuff. But most importantly throughout these sequences and the drama around them is this rising tension that just never lets up. Probably in no small part due to the inhospitable location that's just a s scary as deep space. Anyone with a fear of drowning will have many a heart stopping moment.

Which leads to that one scene that I know is coming and I still have a hard time making it through it's so overwhelmingly intense. That dreaded inevitability just creeps up in that scene and makes for probably the biggest hold and joyous release of tension I've ever seen in any film ever.

Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio are the heart of this film and it's a beautifully realised relationship. God, they are so good. More than Ripley and Hicks, more than Sarah and Kyle and even more than Jack and Rose, I want these two to survive this and get together. Which is why the rest of the film works so well.

And Alan Silvestri's score! So Good!

Incase you can't tell, I just love this film. So good to watch again.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

2012-02-23T15:44:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

I was sceptical going into this one. The trailer made the film look extremely pandering and incredibly schmaltzy. Don't know the book but the film was pretty much what I was expecting and just ever so slightly more interesting than I thought going in.

But really the do lay it on thick. For over 2 hours. I think it just begins to ware you down by the end.

There's a lot to like about it, the editing and cinematography is nice, the performances are all pretty great. They ask a lot of their lead and newcomer Thomas Horn delivers for the most part pretty well.

A lot of the contrivances are probably easier to swallow when introduced gradually over a longer period of time like you can afford to do in a novel. Squeezing it into a film will always be tricky. It's gonna work for some and not at all for others. I think I fell somewhere in between.

Weekend

2012-02-23T10:11:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

This one has a very Before Sunrise vibe to it. A couple that share a brief moment together spent talking ideologies, plans, wishes regrets and whatever else about their life. And then they have to let it all go.

It's a conversation film, dialogue driven and doesn't try to be that visually stimulating. A very indie low budget affair with a few nice moments and a lot of sections I didn't care for at all.

But I get that annoying dilemma of spending time with someone you can see yourself in a serious long term relationship with only to discover they are just about to leave the country for and extended period of time. That's happened to me twice now and it sucks.

It paints a very honest picture of these characters and I suppose the success of the film will depend largely on how you connect to them. The do in fact do the running to the airport cliche, although it's a train station here but manages to never feel false or unrealistic.

It's a sweet little film with modest intentions and a few rough patches where it lost me but overall enjoyed alright.

Shame

2012-02-22T21:41:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

I thought Steve McQueen's Hunger was interesting and featured a dedicated performance from Michael Fassbender but in the end wasn't really my cup of tea. I'd say the same about this film except many the last part, I was hooked on this film much easier.

There's a much larger story that's hinted at over the course of the film and I was waiting for the inevitable exposition but McQueen seems content to let the audience fill in the blanks or indeed forget about them completely. And it's true, the film stands alone, it doesn't need any backstory or rationalisations for these characters and their actions and relationships.

What we end up with is a slow building character study with more than a few long single take scenes examining the life of someone struggling with what is more than likely a serious addiction.

While the film feels evasive at times that only emphasises our character plight. Add to that an ending that's left open to interpretation and you have a film designed with ninja like precision to generate discussion for one reason or another.

Of course the other reason being how casually nude Fassbender is in certain scenes. The depiction of sex is frank and given Fassbender's character is largely emotionless. I think he was snubbed an oscar nom as he does brilliant work here.

Likewise Carey Mulligan, who gets to play a bit of a different role to what I've seen her do in the past, is great too. And we get to hear her entire rendition of New York, New York. That, along with a few other scenes I felt went on a bit but that's a minor grievance in an otherwise intriguing film.

Kill List

2012-02-21T20:59:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

Holy crap this film is intense. Brilliant. Horrifying. Incredibly uncomfortable. I loved it!

Even well before the plot kicks in and it's just setting up characters the normal suburban domestic relationships are so infused with an oppressive tension it made me so uncomfortable. I felt like I just wanted to leave the room but the camera wouldn't let me.

The editing is great and sets up a lot of what you're gonna need to know stylistically about the story it's telling. It's filled with small jump cuts and rather than show us a whole scene it just cuts right to the most important beats. But never in a jarring or unnatural way. Now I reflect on the story I see how the structure mirrors this too.

If the whole film continued to be a character study of this man and his family and friends it would have been riveting. However things just progress from there. It somehow manages to just keep upping the stakes and taking left turns. You have no idea what's going to happen next you just know it's probably going to be bad. By the time I got to the last few scenes I was just loosing my mind.

This one really did a number on me. I want to say it's a slow burn thriller, and it is, but it's one that starts with you walking on eggshells around these characters already. Masterfully directed and acted. Go watch it right now.

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

2012-02-20T23:20:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

Write Up.

Well George Lucas got my money. I went and saw the 3D version. In Gold class too.

The problems with the film remain but it's a nice conversion. The holograms do strange things to my head but I gotta admit that podrace put a smile on my face.

Higher Ground

2012-02-20T15:27:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

I missed seeing this in its cinema release last year in the art house circuit. But I was curious about what Vera Farmiga might get up to behind the camera, she's always so good in front of it.

Looks like she followed the cardinal rule of American independent films set in small rural towns and went ahead and cast John Hawkes. He just keeps popping up doesn't he.

Now when I see a film about red state christians, I just presume it will end up being a horror film. This whole film had me uneasy, all due to my own problems with religious fundamentalists. The characters here aren't exactly fundamentalists but it's enough to get me on edge.

Of course that is not at all the intention of the film. It's a character study of one woman's struggle with her faith and to find her place in the community. It's slow paced and thoughtful and I was engaged once I figured out there was no horror story about to unfold.

It's a nice little film about a woman that asks some big questions and is cut off by her community for it. It feels very authentic.

Not exactly my cup of tea but glad to see Farmiga is as technically competent at filmmaking as well.

Safe House

2012-02-19T23:25:00.001+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Paul

When you can pick who the mole in the CIA is from the trailer, you got some trouble.

Actually in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't really matter how obvious everything was going to be. getting to the end was a fun enough ride I didn't mind so much. Or perhaps I'm just reacting to a welcome change from an entire day of romance films at the cinema.

Seeing this in a big cinema with massive pumping sound helps. The gun shots really pop. There's a rather thrilling car chase towards the beginning of the film, after the initial bust out of the safe house, despite the overly shaky and gritty Tony Scott style cinematography and editing. In fact that goes for all the action in the film. It was all quite enjoyable despite the shaky overly graded filming. Perhaps it's in Denzel Washington's contract to be filmed only in high contrast. High contrast doesn't automatically equal a gritty film guys.

There were more than a few times some dodgy focus pulling was getting in the way. I think I even recognised a few attempts at digitally sharpening or resizing, as the grain suddenly jumps out at you from shot to shot, to the point where even a laymen would notice. Sometimes I wish you could still shot action films like they did in the early 90's.

The awesome sound did a lot to alleviate the shakycam incomprehensibility. I remember noting that you could quite clearly recognise that one of the assassins had pulled a knife out during a fight where you couldn't see what the hell was going on, simply because of the overly exaggerated unsheathing metal sound. You couldn't even see the knife until 4 shots later but it managed to u the stakes where it needed it thanks to the sound.

Denzel Washington is doing what he does, playing another badass guy. Ryan Reynolds takes his shirt off. Pretty much everyone else in the film gets killed. High body count. Everyone that appears in the film gets shot at least once.

A trashy but enjoyable action film, the perfect capper to a double movie marathon day at the cinema.

My Week with Marilyn

2012-02-19T19:58:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Paul

Well, I haven't seen much Laurence Olivier OR Marilyn Monroe. So I'm not going to comment on impersonations. I will however say, this is my favourite kind of biopic. The kind where they have an interesting and not as well known story about a very specific part of someones life which they use to make a snapshot that's representative of the whole. A self contained story always works better on film fro me than trying to cram a whole life into 2 hours.

Plus you get the investment of this being told from the outsiders point of view so you have a journey to go on with them. It gets a little convenient at times to just have the characters standing in the far background of scenes he was probably never at, just so we as an audience can see them but that's probably something most people wouldn't notice.

Well I can seen now why people talk of Marilyn Monroe as a tragic figure. And it's an interesting relationship that plays out over the course of the film. Of more interest to me was the behind the scenes of British film making in the late 1950's.

The whole film was very enjoyable and well put together. Emma Watson has a pretty nothing part but I really like they way they ended her story. Dame Judi Dench playing Dame Sybil Thorndike was splendid as was Branagh's Laurence Olivier.

They also managed the feat of making the English countryside look warm, sunny and inviting.

If you're interested in the subject matter I'm sure you'll love this one. If like me you know practically nothing about it, it's still an enjoyable and pretty fascinating look at these people.

The Vow

2012-02-19T16:28:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Belinda

And now we get to the straight romance. The one about memory loss but it's based on a true story which makes it completely believable though right? Hmm, well perhaps the most basic element of the premise but nothing beyond that.

I would count myself as one of the few Channing Tatum but not in roles like this. He can pull off charming and handsome well enough, and even most of the emotional beats, I just wish he would learn to open his mouth when he speaks. Rachel McAdams seems born to play roles.

I'll admit the main draw for seeing this film was to spot a friend who was an extra in one of the scenes. I didn't manage to see her but the film doesn't exactly prompt me to watch it again just for another look.

The most hipster wedding I've ever seen on film. I started disliking the couple right away. Now while I'll admit that situation they are in is pretty shitty for both parties I really didn't care enough about their relationship or them as characters to fully invest any emotion into it. The problem for me is we a rushed through their time together to get to the set up that drives them apart that we end up more in the frame of mind of Rachel McAdams, having to discover their relationship purely by what Channing Tatum is trying to remind her about it, not by what we've seen or felt. Consequently it's easier for us to root for Tatum to give up his unbelievable noble efforts and let her go than it is to root for them to get back together.

I think 50 First Dates is actually more romantic. This is obviously more dramatic, and will hit the weepy factor for many. It's defiantly not horrible but I never quite got there for it to work with me.

This Means War

2012-02-19T13:07:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Belinda

Another action/romantic comedy mix however this one has obviously had a much larger budget thrown at it. And far more likeable stars. McG delivers another slick looking popcorn flick and although there were no giant apocalyptic sentient robots it was equally as unbelievable.

But who cares. Chris Pine and Tom Hardy both get their shirts off. Reese Witherspoon isn't good enough for either of them. And as usual, the nice guy of the two doesn't get the girl. But that's ok they set up a fall back option for him early in the film so it's pretty obvious how it's all going to shape out.

I loved seeing them try to shoehorn in whole movies worth of subplots. You got your CIA terrorist hunt, which ends in an obligatory kidnapping and car chase, you got your romantic comedy girls dilemma complete with horrible advice giving best friend (or in this case, older sister probably one of the worst characters ever to grace the silver screen), you got your buddy cop movie, father having trouble connecting with son, vapid males midlife existential crisis and a divorced couple trying to make it work again. And they all blend together pretty seamlessly, well for the most part. The terrorist thing, not so much. All that does is give a little action set piece for the start and at the end to heighten the romantic dilemma.

5 formulaic plots make for one giant formulaic movie. It has all the advantages and disadvantages inherent with each. You know what the entire film is from the trailer. You'll know if you'll enjoy it or not. It's well paced, fun, the leads are hot. You could do worse.

One for the Money

2012-02-19T10:48:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Belinda

I'm wary of Katherine Heigl, she seems to make more trash than most actresses her age. At least this time it seems she's trying to have a bit of fun too. Based on some book series I've never heard of, so I'm hoping I won't have to sit through any more. One is okay but this doesn't seem like the kind of film to make a series out of.

They did have an opening title sequence. I like it when romantic comedies have a title sequence. It was pretty good too. And then I enjoyed watching picking the cast of supporting characters from what I had seen them in before. Jason O'Mara who plays the lead male actually gave me the most trouble. I had to look him up before I realised he's the guy distracting from all the CG dinosaurs in Terra Nova.

The other thing I liked watch was the prostitutes inventive and constantly evolving hairstyles. Does that make me super gay? Anyway it does what it sets out to do. I still don't believe Katherine Heigl would have actually made it through these events alive. No way in hell. But yeah, girl power, or whatever.

Any Questions for Ben?

2012-02-19T09:33:00.001+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

I wasn't expecting something so light from Working Dog. I just don't really get what they were trying to do. The film is alright, I mean it follows all the romantic comedy beats but everything felt so inconsequential.

I guess my main problems is I never cared that much about Josh Lawson's existential crisis. We are repeatedly told how awesome his life is and see him having a good time, so it's hard to feel sorry for him when he figures out he wants something more.

There's not a film worth of character development here. This is an episode arc at best. Once he figures out he wants a change in his life we see him doing the same things and questioning it for the next hour gets very repetitive.

Josh Lawson turns up the charm to an 11 in the titular role of Ben. A lot of the crew from Thank God You're Here pop up too.

I think I enjoyed it ok, it's just so light and familiar that it fades away quick. Watching Daniel Henshall be the nicest guy in the film right after I've seen him be the most evil guy ever is also very disconcerting.

Apt Pupil

2012-02-18T08:13:00.021+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

Another more dramerific Stephen King and a bloody great film from early-ish Bryan Singer. Ian McKellen and Brad Renfro are so great in this and like Misery, it's full of quite moments of high suspense.

Oddly enough I watched this right after an episode of Fringe so Joshua Jackson suddenly popping up 14 years younger was a bit jarring.

It's probably a little flashier though and the power plays going on are far more complicated. Also fellow cat haters will all appreciate a particular scene.

Fantastic characters and I just love watching their little games. It gets pretty dark and hile I understand the ending is different than the novella, I love the way it finishes. Ian McKellen is just damn creepy.

Chronicle

2012-02-16T14:09:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Alex

Write Up here.

What a difference the crowd can make. The first time I saw the was with a massive crowd that were really engaged and attentive. This time there were less than half of that and, while they were actually equally as attentive they were some how far more vocal in their response.

At least in the first half. They were really making fun of the characters, calling them gay but still laughing along at all the little jokes and funny bits along the way. While it may sound like they were being annoying and didn't like the film, quite the opposite was true. They were treating the characters like their own mates. Making fun of them and laughing with them and really enjoying all the practical jokes they were playing.

Which is why when the film turned and the characters started heading down a rocky path they became dead silent. By the end of the film it was absolutely heartbreaking. Far more emotional than the first time I saw it. To see these bogan guys in the theatre watching a character they treated like one of their own fall so far was just incredible. I can't get it out of my head. This film played these guys something fierce.

So, the film played far more depressing this time. I still can't get it out of my head. I really really loved it.

MirrorMask

2012-02-15T12:54:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Amberly, Tyler

Watch The Labyrinth the other day reminded me I wanted to watch this again.

I do like Neil Gaiman stories and his graphic novels are usually accompanied by Dave McKean's unique visual stylings. Here we get and entire film done in this way and it's very trippy indeed.

It's a usual riff on the ol' girl goes into fantasy world to help cope with real world dilemma, the way they always make Alice in wonderland or Wizard of Oz. But it's very surreal and dream like. So watching it at midnight after an exhausting day just makes it extra extra trippy.

I lobe the music in this. I love that they got FX artists straight out of College and gave them each their own scene to do with what they wanted under Dave McKean watchful eye.

While there's a lot less puppetry from a Jim Henson company film than you might like it's still pretty magical. Give it a try!

Man on a Ledge

2012-02-15T12:39:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

This film came out the week I was away. When I came back I was a bit dismayed to see it was already only playing once a day at my local cinema. As I write this up it's already finished it's very brief cinema release as I managed to just catch the very last session on Wednesday morning.

Surely a sign that the movie tanked and is probably no good right? Unfortunately for the film but fortunately me I was totally satisfied with this one. I didn't know it at the time but I really needed a bit of fun like this and it managed to hit that sweet spot.

I had seen the trailer a few times so I knew a bit about what to expect but I think this film rewards no knowing too much beyond the basic Man on a Ledge premise. Sam Worthington is that man, and he continues to prove you don't need to be able to hold an accent in order to be a leading man in Hollywood, bless him.

It's rounded out by a pretty cool cast, with 2 of my favs, Elizabeth Banks and Jamie Bell. And Ed Harris shows up half way through the film as the bad guy. What fun.

Now I would have loved to see them do a phonebooth and make the Man on the Ledge story the focus of the whole film, but this is not one of those films. This one has the flashbacks and the action and heist film and revenge, it's basically a slightly more centralised than usual action film and it has interesting enough characters that you can get invested in what's going on.

My biggest complaint is the series of increasingly implausible coincidences needed to made the resolution turn out the way it does. They stretch things pretty far but by that stage I think I was just so happy to be in a cinema and enjoying myself that I didn't care that much.

And when he finally does go off the ledge and the camera follows, man if that doesn't give you vertigo, I don't know what will. Major props for not cheaping out and using bluescreen for the whole film. Actually filming in New York that high up really makes a world of difference.

I really enjoyed this as a fun popcorn action film, it's a shame its release totally got dumped here.

Time Bandits

2012-02-14T12:08:00.001+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

What a trailer.

This is one of those Terry Gilliam films I saw once, a long time ago and very much forgot most of. I was basically watching it for the first time here although I had very vague memories of bits and pieces.

It's easy to see why now I've seen it again, it all plays out like some strange dream. It's not exactly the most cohesive film either but there are a lot of cool things in it and of course, some utterly bizarre. Being a Gilliam film there's some nice imagery too, although I must admit I don't like this as much as some of his other work.

And there's a quite the mean streak going through this film. You'd have a hard time ending a film the way this film does at any studio today.

Interesting to watch again, but it'll probably be a while before I get back to it again.

The Grey

2012-02-13T23:46:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Paul

Unlike The Artist, this film did manage to blow me away. I had read a lot about it and was excited to see it and I think I probably had a slightly better idea of what to expect from it, judging by the reactions as the film ended.

This is a character study first and foremost, that is masked by a survival horror. But make no mistake, the film is Liam Neeson's. And he is damn great in it as well.

I saw this at an advanced screening and I always think the cinema seem to go out of their way to make those screenings the best possible. They had the sound cranked right up and I'd say it probably made the film %50 more effective. The sound is incredible. Especially during that crash sequence. (Unfortunately at this particular screening the focus was ever so slightly out, enough for no one else to care or notice but to bug me to no end. But with such a packed crowd and a cinema with no isles and very little room between rows I didn't want to inconvenience everyone to tell someone to fix it.)

Now we've seen wolves in film before, but I don't think I've ever seen them realised as terrifyingly as in this film. As soon as they show up they set the stakes with a brutal attack. And for the entire rest of the film you never feel safe, like at any moment they'll burst out and rip another survivor apart.

The actors playing the band of survivors are all fine, they seem to be playing pretty strong archetypes. I was upset one of my favourites was offed so soon. They do a great job of making them more than just wolf food to spread out over the running time.

Really though, this whole situation is just a metaphor for our hero's internal struggle. This is a film about fighting through all the shit life throws at you to make it through the day. This struggle is realised in many ways through the film and the more I think about it, the more heartbreaking I think a lot of it is. But damn, you'll be rooting for them to survive by the end. Even when they struggle to find any reason for themselves.

I really want to see this one again soon. I have a feeling this one will be right up there on my 2012 film list.

The Artist

2012-02-13T11:34:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Domini

A really enjoyable little film that was severely diminished by my own over-saturation of it leading up to its release. They played the trailer in front of pretty much every movie I have seen at the multiplex for the last 4 months. And while I was hoping to be surprised, unfortunately my dreaded suspicions were confirmed upon watching, that damn trailer it literally the entire film beat for beat.

So the only surprises this film had in store for me was the playful use of silent film language and sound and how it is intrinsically linked to the story and characters. That was fantastic.

And I really did like the film a lot, it's great and I really recommend it. I'm not sure it's as awards worthy as everyone is making out but I can't deny that it really does play up to the film lovers, so like Hugo, it's an obvious choice to pander to the critics.

The film's story is very simple, the characters straightforward. It's a shame I had already seen it 200 times before I paid to watch it again, its simple charms were completely lost on me.

Arachnophobia

2012-02-11T18:12:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

Such an Amblin Entertainment film. Frank Marshall directs, Kathleen Kennedy produces. Made in 1990 so it still has that 80's vide to it. And it's a lot of fun. And if you're scared of spiders it's also horrifying. I happen to love spiders and the film.

This is yet another film I grew up on and watched repetitively but haven't seen in a very long time. But of course as soon as it started it all came flooding back. There's a reason all these Amblin films were so popular. Those guys knew what they were doing. You can see it in the structure of this film, the script, the action, the characters, the editing and music. It's not the greatest film ever made it it's so confident.

Jeff Daniels as the lead is wonderful too. John Goodman is hilarious.

This one has a hell of a climax. I think it was bigger in my memory of it though, rewatching it again it went by pretty quickly, but when that house gets completely taken over it's pretty unnerving, even for someone who loves spiders. I imagine this would have caused many a nightmare as it's much darker than that trailer makes out. Hehehehe

Idiocracy

2012-02-10T17:54:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

An overlooked masterpiece. That trailer is horrible though, perhaps a reason why no one saw it and it was dumped straight to dvd in Australia. Pity.

I guess you'd call it a comedy but I think of it more as a prophetic sci-fi horror film. The ideas in this film are truly disturbing. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

What's extra great about the film is that it walks such a fine line between stupid low brow comedy and one of the smartest satires I've ever seen that the idiots it's making fun of will love it as much as the intellectuals but for completely the opposite reason.

It's also the kind of film that looks like it would have been very challenging to make on a budget. Still I think the design and execution of all the future world stuff is pretty good. I like the actors in it too.

Fans of Office Space or Mike Judge or Dystopian Future films owe it to themselves to seek this out. It's great!

Gantz: Perfect Answer

2012-02-10T17:39:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

Well if Gantz was Part 1 then Perfect Answer is parts 2, 3 and 4 combined. Man they pack a lot into this film. The concept was well established in the first part but this one takes those ideas and plays with them in new and exciting ways. It's much more complex and justifiably has a much longer running time. It has a much more satisfying conclusion although it does leave open possibilities for further instalments.

Once again, the action and fx are great and the characters are also on par. I think this is a textbook example of how to develop the 2nd and 3rd act of a story, even though it still doesn't feel like it had enough time to get everything in. I also wonder if it would have helped to introduce some of the elements in part 2 in the first film. It would definitely free up some room here but would also make the ending of the first film much more inconclusive.

This was a really interesting series that I enjoyed immensely. The ending does go on a bit but I like where it finally ended up.

Adam

2012-02-09T17:15:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

Watching Hugh Dancy in Martha Marcy May Marlene a few weeks ago reminded me of his awesome performance in this film. I'd consider this one of the best romantic comedies (or perhaps just romances) of the last 5 years. It's wonderful.

Unfortunately it was a film that was also completely overlooked by the people that would have enjoyed it the most, only playing on one tiny arthouse cinema screen for a few weeks before never being heard of again. It's a real shame, I think it's truly a beautiful and unique love story and one that doesn't get too full of itself or sentimental about things.

Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne are both fantastic. I'm hesitant to say too much more, I think even the trailer gives away more than I knew when I saw it at the cinema and so there were a few surprises for me which was also really nice. So don't watch the trailer if you can help it. If you're in the mood for a New York romance, get a copy of this little gem.

A Single Man

2012-02-09T17:10:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

Brief Write Up.

I should say I think Tom Ford has done a hell of a job with his first film, and coming from the world of fashion, you can be sure all the costumes are fantastic. The 50's never looked so classy.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

2012-02-09T17:06:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

Write Up.

Always nice to revisit. Leatherface gets damn close to that poor actress. Freaky.

Carrie

2012-02-09T16:36:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

I her this one bandied about in reviews for Chronicle. I can see why the comparisons, and it's been a very long time since I last saw this classic horror from Brian De Palma.

Another Stephen King adaptation too. Been watching a lot of King lately.

What I found so refreshing watching this again is how straightforward it is. There really wasn't much more to the film that what I remembered, it's a very simple story and isn't bogged down in sub plots and extraneous characters.

Some De Palma split screen at the end there. And the infamous jump scare at the end that has been used by horror films for years since. Great stuff.

Piper Laurie is just so creepy in this role, she's playing everything so large, but really I can't imagine it any other way.

Classic horror, great to see again.

The American

2012-02-09T16:26:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

A slow paced character study with a few tense moments and brief explosions of action. Like an old Western. Anton Corbijn delivers a beautifully shot film, as to be expected. George Clooney gives a great quiet performance.

I like the film, I really do, but I gotta say, the music drives me nuts. It almost ruins it for me. I can't stand it. I don't know if it's because it sounds like bad midi sometimes or because it's too simplistic or inappropriate for the film or just plain bad but I know I would like this film much more if it had no score. It doesn't really need a score anyway. All of the important sections play great without music.

The rest of the film is really great though. It really feels like a 70's slow burn thriller or something like that. Very cool.

Gantz

2012-02-09T16:12:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

The Producer that made the live action version of Deathnote a few years ago. Like that film, I have not seen the Manga or anime series the live action film is based on, so it's all new to me and I won't be commenting on it as an adaptation.

Deathnote had a great premies and characters and the set up for Gantz follows a similar big idea, that the dead are resurrected to fight alien invaders. As this is part one of a two parter, it doesn't exactly wrap things up all neat and tidy but it does have a logical finishing point.

The action and effects are pretty cool. The story is kinda intriguing and the characters are okay too. Quite fun, but I'll wait till part 2 to see how it all turns out.

Lost Highway

2012-02-08T11:45:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan

Another classic David Lynch and a while since I looked at it. I believe the bluray comes out this week too.

I have my own theories about what is going on in the film and they work for me but really at the end of the day it doesn't matter so much, these films are all about tone, mood and imagery. This one is particularly dark.

I'm a Lynch fan but it's not for everyone, you'll probably know if you'll enjoy this kind of film or not. It's a surreal dream and one that has some interesting things to say about memory and reality. I love it.

Mary and Max

2012-02-08T09:56:00.000+08:00

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First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

A cute veneer is just a sugar coating to help swallow a very bitter pill. There's a depressing reality at the heart of this film that would overwhelm if not for the homely animation and humorous tangental narration which makes it bearable, even sweet at times. I enjoy it quite bit.

Manderlay

2012-02-08T09:15:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

The second in Lars von Trier's USA: Land of Opportunities trilogy which is as yet unfinished. It follows on from the events in Dogville and keeps the unusual Brechtian epic theatre style, with no sets and minimal props. Bryce Dallas Howard takes over the role of Grace from Nicole Kidman and she's pretty darn good too.

I find Manderlay more concise than Dogville (although I have not seen the 3 hour cut of that film) and also slightly more intriguing. Not only is the style Brechtian but so is the story it tells. Still he is filming with Dogma '95 style here with a lot of handheld and SD cameras which looks a little odd when further cropped to widescreen. But everything is in keeping with the ideals of story first and everything else becomes secondary.

Thankfully the story is great, as is the cast.

Steamboy

2012-02-08T09:08:00.001+08:00

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Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

Write Up.

SCIENCE! hahah. I still can't get over how detailed this animation is. So epic.

She's the Man

2012-02-07T23:03:00.000+08:00

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Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

Out of the 4 Amanda Bynes star vehicles, this is the best. That's not going to mean much to most people, I get that, but I do like her in a trashy teen flick kind of way. I think this one manages too surpass some of that stigma and be legitimately good in a few places.

Perhaps using William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night as a basic structure is enough to make this a step up from the rest. Lovewrecked is pure trash but Sydney White, also using previous story for it's structure, manages to come out fine as well. They are both films I genuinely find funny and enjoyable. What can I say, it's the teen girl in me. The other star vehicle film I'm thinking of is What a Girl Wants, but I've only seen that once and it was a very long time ago, so I'll save passing judgment on that for later.

Also some early work from Channing Tatum, who delivers a passable performance for this kind of film. He's someone who I think can be genuinely good but really needs a great director and the right role.

Again, we have some great montages and kooky hijinks, the stock characters we've all come to expect in a teen movie and no real surprises in the story. But who cares about that, it's all good fun.

Troll Hunter

2012-02-07T22:53:00.002+08:00

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Watched With: Jordan

Write Up.

This is a recent one that's passed most people by. I love it. As stated in my Chronicle write up, I like the found footage device when done well, and here it delivers gloriously on its promise.

Seek it out! It's well worth it.

Black Book

2012-02-07T22:49:00.001+08:00

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Original Write Up. This film is all sorts of awesome. So friggin good!

Ponyo

2012-02-07T22:17:00.000+08:00

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Another Miyazaki! And what will likely be his last directorial effort, unless he comes out of retirement.

While this one skews to a much younger demographic it's no less imaginative or inventive and equally enjoyable.

There are some strange turns and as is usually the case, it's impossible to tell where the film is heading with Miyazaki's stream of consciousness writing style but no one can deny that the imagery throughout is fantastic and beautiful.

While the animation style is ever so slightly simpler and graphic than Ghibli has done in the past the effort put in to detail is incredible. I believe them when they say this film has the most amount of images produced for a Miyazaki film despite not having nearly as long a running time as others. There's just so many layers of animation in every shot, so much effort!

I personally find the fate of the world balancing on the love of two 5 year olds a little odd but then theres so much else about the film I love, especially the stylised movement of the ocean and seeing all the sea life swimming around the submerged town.

Mystery Men

2012-02-07T22:00:00.000+08:00

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Like Dick Tracy, even more so, I feel this was completely under-appreciated in its time and would play much better in todays marketplace.

I know this film bombed at the box office, I hear there may have been problems on set, but I don't see any of that in the final film. I really love it.

Again the production design is incredible. Champion City is beautifully realised. This is obviously a heightened reality. And one of those amazingly eclectic casts of actors I love and filled to the brim with cameos. Michael Bay as leader of the Frat Boys always makes me chuckle. In fact the whole film makes me chuckle. I find it's humour delightful.

Maybe it just hit at a time when I was ripe for it. It happens all the time though, I go nuts for films everyone else hates or have absolutely no interest in seeing even though they might actually love it if they ever did. Well, I'll keep on singing this films praises and maybe one day someone will give it a watch and think, yeah that wasn't bad at all.

Everything with Geoffrey Rush and Greg Kinnear is priceless.

Just Imagine

2012-02-07T21:41:00.001+08:00

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Watched With: Myself

Retro futures are awesome. Imagine the world of 1980. So this film was a little off with its predictions, it was still pretty funny to watch.

This is a musical from 1930 set 50 years in the future where a young couple in love are denied a marriage licence unless the male can prove himself the better man over his opposing suitor. So of course he does the logical step of going on the first manned trip to Mars, where he meets the local natives in order to gain the notoriety necessary to win his girl's hand. All accompanied by his best friend and a man brought back to life from 1930, who might be the most annoying comedy relief ever.

While I'd classify this as a musical, it's important to note that it was made in 1930, and what we know as a musical structure today was not yet solidified. This has a far greater resemblance to the follies. Big dance numbers from the Martian natives full of spectacle, some love songs, a drinking song, a few others all of which are completely stand alone and have no baring on the plot whatsoever, something I find infuriating in musicals today but have to give a little leeway to here.

It's quite the curiosity and a fascinating look at an imagined future as well as the film and theatre conventions of the past.

Gerry

2012-02-06T21:21:00.000+08:00

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Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

I originally put this film on as a punishment. That's being really harsh on the film though. I actually quite like it. But it's not the sort of thing you watch over and over again. Very divisive and rightly so.

Gus Van Sant's first foray into his minimalist style, which he continued and refined with Elephant and Last Days. Of the 3 I find Elephant to be the most successful but this certainly has it's merits.

It's one I think you have to be prepared for though, it's easy to be infuriated by this one. Really, not much happens. And then less happens. Eventually even the landscape just becomes flat white.

The film doesn't give you much to go on but if you find it possible to become invested in these two characters the slow dragging of time actually manages to keep upping the stakes and the finale is quite effective. Although it's still exceptionally subdued and subtle. Like the whole film.

Man, it's a tricky one. But I do find if you're in the right mood it can be somewhat hypnotic. You just need to make sure you're willing to set aside the time. It'll also hit home harder if you ever have been lost in the wilderness, at least I think it does for me.

Dick Tracy

2012-02-06T21:01:00.000+08:00

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Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

15 years before Sin City dazzled audiences with it's highly stylised graphic world, there was Dick Tracy. This one seems to have been forgotten by most but I feel like, in todays comic book saturated media environment it'd probably play like gangbusters.

It rightfully won oscars for art direction and make-up. It's odd to recognise the actors under these comic style caricatures. The look of this world is wonderful. And the Matte paintings! Oh boy they are awesome.

The other oscar it won was for one of Stephen Sondheim's songs he wrote for the film. They are all great and very recognisable as his work. Madonna manages to butcher them but thankfully Sondheim regular Mandy Patinkin in on hand to rectify this as much as he is able. Danny Elfman produces a very Batman-esque score but really, Sondheim's songs carry a lot of the film.

The film has one hell of a cast and they all look like they are having a great time playing everything so big.

Wonderful to watch this favourite from my childhood again. It holds up wonderfully.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

2012-02-06T20:32:00.001+08:00

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Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

Shane Black finally gets a chance at directing his own material. And like his awesome 90's action films, this one is a lot of fun. It also helped bring Michelle Monaghan to the public eye.

The film plays loose with the 4th wall and its narrator. Sometimes I think it's great and other times I don't care for it that much but it certainly keeps things lively. There is a awful lot of lampshade hanging too. They foreground the improbable detective story clichés by the character's constant references to detective story clichés from their favourite book series.

Robert Downey Jr. seems born to perform Black's dialogue. Val Kilmer is more delightful than he's been in many years.

All in all this is super crazy hijinks fun times. Story, action, all that's great and what really shines are the characters and Black's patented banter.

Eyes Wide Shut

2012-02-04T23:57:00.001+08:00

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Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

Another one it's been a while since I last saw. Sadly, Stanley Kubrick's last film and one I am sure I was probably far too immature to process properly when I first saw it.

It's easier to watch now and focus on the story and characters, without all the tabloid publicity that accompanied it on it's release, Mainly concerning the two stars and also the untimely death of the director. It's perhaps a little more straightforward than I had remembered but there's still this Kubrickian undercurrent of dark unease saturating the scenes.

As Dr. Bill's sexual temptations begin at the start of the film you have no idea just how far things will go or where the film ends up. It kind of segues into a mystery thriller but as it never fully resolves these threads it really just serves as an extended obstacle to overcome. The film is very sure about what its intentions are however I know I forget this everytime and always wish for that tangent to become the main story. I suppose if it was all resolved the film wouldn't still have this uneasy mystery about it upon rewatching.

Alan Cumming! Haha, his brief role here is hilarious.

Longest movie shoot at 400 days? That's quite the commitment.

This film has lost none of its potency. It still manages to draw me in, I find it mesmerising.

Marie Antoinette

2012-02-04T22:26:00.001+08:00

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Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

I really appreciate Sofia Coppola's rendition of a historical biopic. She's presented as a Paris Hilton type. The slight modern slant not only makes the character far more relatable but also doesn't bore me to tears. There's something about always staring in this fantasy world of palace life and never addressing the real issues of the country that is so effective, keeping the audience about as in the dark as Marie Antoinette probably was. The accents never bothered me either.

Absolutely stunning visuals. The Hair, costumes, locations and food all look immaculate. Also The cast is populated with many favourites. Easy to win my favour, something Sofia Coppola doesn't always manage to do.

Perhaps a more relatable Marie Antoinette is not what the French public wants. But I do. I love ending it where they did too. Good stuff.

Stand By Me

2012-02-04T22:12:00.001+08:00

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Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

Just had to watch this again after viewing Misery again the other week.

Another Stephen King story but this feels infinitely more Rob Reiner-ish. This is also a childhood favourite of mine. It somehow manages to make me nostalgic for a time and place I've never seen and friends I've never had.

Stellar performances by the 4 leads. Always a joy to watch.

The Host

2012-02-04T22:01:00.000+08:00

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Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

What a fantastic monster movie. It feels so epic, it has so much going on and keeps things moving. And most importantly, the monster is awesome. The Orphanage have done a great job with this dude. That first attack sequence, which happens in bright daylight with a bunch of extras, is just so thrilling.

It's also one of those films that managed to be sad and tragic one minute, hilarious and horrifying the next. I love the way it sets up all the conventions of a hollywood monster movie but then does the exact opposite.

This is at it's heart, the story of a dysfunctional family who have to band together to save the youngest. They all get their own bits to do and the outcome is pretty shocking but very refreshing. Definitely a favourite.

In Time

2012-02-03T21:59:00.000+08:00

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Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

Write Up 1 and 2.

And while this film probably doesn't warrant 3 cinema viewings, it was the second of a double feature at the Drive-In which, again, is novelty enough for me to stick it out. Besides, it's pretty fun.

We Bought A Zoo

2012-02-03T21:47:00.000+08:00

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Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

Write Up.

Haha, I didn't really write anything much did I. Well I did enjoy it alright. It's VERY Cameron Crowe, filled with whimsical little bits of dialogue that only characters in Cameron Crowe films would ever say. There was one in particular that annoyed me so much, but he managed to retroactively make it better by explaining the origin of it in the last scene of the film. It's sweet enough and Elle Fanning is just adorable. There's nothing pretentious about her laughing in this, it's so genuine it's catching. You can't help but smile.

Added bonus, Saw this at an honest-to-god old school drive-in cinema. Not too often you get the opportunity, so I'll take the novelty over good sound and washed out projection when the film starts before the sun has completely gone down.

Spirited Away

2012-02-03T21:44:00.000+08:00

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Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

Write Up.

So magical. I really love the score too. Beautiful.

Baxter

2012-02-03T21:26:00.000+08:00

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Watched With: Myself

The life of a psychotic bull-terrior as he finds his way from owner to owner in the suburbs of France.

Delightfully black comedy. There have been a few films that are narrated from the point of view of a dog, but none are as twisted as this. Things get especially dark in the latter half with Baxter's final owner, a young boy who it seems is every bit as psychotic as he is.

Extremely enjoyable. If you ever can find a copy, give it a watch.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

2012-02-02T21:22:00.001+08:00

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Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

Previous Write Up.

A double feature with 2001 makes a hell of a night.

2001: A Space Odyssey

2012-02-02T21:18:00.002+08:00

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Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

It's quite the jump from Apollo 18 to this. So good to watch on a big screen from the bluray. Still, I'd love to see a real 70mm print one day.

I always remember the Jupiter mission section of the film the best, as that section feels the most like a contemporary film. It has characters, dialogue, conflict, action, that sort of thing. It's always a surprise when it starts and I remember there's the whole dawn of man and the moon trip first. And with the roadshow overture, entr'acte and intermission (which we utilised) on the bluray you really feel the epic scope of the story that is told so impressionistically.

I have to admit, I always feel slightly fatigued by the end of that trippyness going beyond the infinite. It really does go on for what feels like forever.

The effects in this film are still stunning today. And I'm still creeped out by the silence in space, especially when HAL is going homicidal. There's something very eerie about so much of this. Always the feeling that something terrible or great is lurking just beneath the surface and you're not sure which but you have to be prepared for either.

When dealing with such huge concepts as this, I really appreciate the interpretive approach. It's like a Rorschach blot with an awesome soundtrack. I'm pretty sure that trailer explains more than the film ever does. This is a movie for special occasions. I usually can't watch it more than once a year or so, but I always love it when I do.

I wish we had a Hilton space station we could stay at now though. With awesome retro pink couches.

Apollo 18

2012-02-02T20:51:00.000+08:00

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First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

In my Chronicle write up I mentioned how much I love the found-footage concept. More times than not though, it doesn't really work. I do love the audacity of found-footage from the moon. That's just ridiculous. I only wish the end game wasn't so ridiculous.

I'll be honest I didn't have high hopes for this film after the release was dumped. So I was surprised to find a few moments where the slow build really did work, as well as some genuinely creepy scenes. I think something about the absolute isolations of space makes these situations all the more tense inherently. All credibility goes out the window when it's finally revealed what the big secret is. I think a simpler survival horror story would have been far more effective. But this film takes the b-movie route big time.

One thing I cannot falter is the recreation of the moon surface and period footage. As unlikely as it would be that as much footage as we see was recorded, the authenticity of the environment and the footage is far beyond anything I can recall and I really have to give it big credit for that, as it's something I'm always trying out in my own work.

I note Timur Bekmambetov as a producer, so I presume he helped provide the lunar landscape fx that blend so authentically. It truly is beautiful.

Pity about the end. This is a real could-have-been.

The Breakfast Club

2012-02-01T22:26:00.000+08:00

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Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

Been itching to give the bluray of this a spin for a while now. It's never a bad time to throw on some John Hughes.

And really, this has the gotta be at the top of the list of great teen films, 80's or otherwise. It's hard to encapsulate just how this one works so well and yet seemingly has not real plot. But by using these character archetypes we are all so familiar with and then giving them a chance to play off each other we get some funny, poignant, tragic and memorable scenes.

By any rights, a classic.

Silent Hill

2012-02-01T20:25:00.000+08:00

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Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

Previous Post.

It's so prrdy.

Sex, Lies, and Videotape

2012-02-01T20:19:00.000+08:00

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Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

Wow, it's been a very long time since I saw this little number. Steven Soderbergh's breakthrough film and an extremely enjoyable 90's drama. Also contains one of my favourite pieces of IMDB triva:

"On the first day of production, the producers sent a telegram to Steven Soderbergh; they teased him good-naturedly, telling him they'd heard reports that he couldn't direct traffic. Twelve years later, Soderbergh won an Oscar for directing Traffic."

Hilarious.

James Spader, you are just awesome. Probably the least annoying Andie MacDowell role ever as well.

And apart from the great dialogue and acting, one of the things I find interesting about this film is that it makes me slightly nostalgic for those big cassette videocameras. Beta is better folks.

Labyrinth

2012-02-01T19:51:00.001+08:00

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Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

The Imagination of Jim Henson, The Wizardry of George Lucas, The Excitement of David Bowie!

Another nostalgic all-time childhood favourite. Many would agree that this is far more digestable than The Dark Crystal although slightly more dated. You get humans in this film, a faster pace and musical numbers. Plus Terry Jones' humour coming through in the dialogue. And Brian Froud's amazing designs and Trevor Jones' great 80's-tastic score.

And a young Jennifer Connelly, who is just adorable.

Those that grew up with it love it. Those that didn't might find it odd but I think more of it still works than what doesn't. The puppetry is still incredible. I really love the production design, the forced perspectives, matte paintings, all of it. Some revolutionary CG used in the opening titles. A taste of George Lucas to come...

When I think about it now, the idea of David Bowie trying to seduce a 12 year old girl is rather frightening but, that really the point of the whole film, the ol' "young girl escapes to a fantasy world to help her deal with pressures of becoming an adult" story. I do love them.

Well I have nostalgia blindness with this film. I can't view it objectively when I can recite the whole thing, vocal inflections and all. I will say, loved watching it again on a big screen and on bluray. Looks great.

Chronicle

2012-01-31T19:48:00.000+08:00

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Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Jordan, Amberly, Michael

Yay! This was everything I could have hoped for after viewing the trailer. There was a big opportunity here for some extreme suckage but thankfully these freshman filmmakers have managed to make one of those films that feels like it was made just for me.

Now, I am a big fan of the doco-style found footage movie which has been abused a lot over recent years and is rarely done well but I think really works here for the most part (I wish my cheap home video cameras shot in 2k). And again, for the most part, the fx worked really well too. I noted Rhythm and Hues in the credits, so no shock there.

Really jealous to learn that director Josh Trank and writer Max Landis are the same age as me and have made exactly the kind of film I would want to make given the opportunity. They've taken the Akira-like concept of observing what happens when angsty teens get the powers of a god and given it a modern and personal spin. And despite having far more modest goals that that anime epic it still has some big moments and a great climax.

To top it off, I think the actors do a great job with their characters giving us something to invest in. Nice to see Alex Russell on the big screen after being able to watch him work filming Wasted on the Young.

Make an effort to go out and see this one at the cinema. At the moment, this is the film to beat for 2012.

From Dusk Till Dawn

2012-01-31T00:39:00.000+08:00

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Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

It's great when you can show people films from long ago enough that they don't remember or never saw the trailer and reviews and instead can watch with a clean slate. It definitely makes the twists and turns of the film more fun, although when people consistently check IMDB stats about the film they are watching while they are watching it it really ruins the surprise.

Even so I think this film is just so much damn fun. I love the set up, the whole first act. We get some interesting characters and Tarantino has written himself a wonderfully creepy role.

And then the shit hits the fan and all hell breaks loose. The rest of the film is a lot of genre action fun times. Some great KNB fx work and some early cheap visual effects here too but still some really inventive sequences.

I think it's still fun even if you know where it's heading but nothing beats the surprise in my book. Either way, I enjoy it immensely every time.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

2012-01-30T00:41:00.000+08:00

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First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

Why would I see this? Well there's no way it could possibly be as bad as the first one. And it's not. It's definitely not great but you could do worse. Where else are you gonna see The Rock sing a song while playing the ukulele or Michael Caine riding a giant bee?

The only holdovers from the first instalment I can see are Josh Hutcherson, the pretty cool score by Andrew Lockington and the bastardisation of another beloved Jules Verne novel. They do get away with it somewhat by treating the novel as a treasure map within the story, just like the first. They also throw in some 20 000 leagues for good measure and set up a trilogy capper with from the Earth to the Moon.

First off, I'm gonna say, the 3D is great and the Fx are way better this time around. I don't like what I hear about the poor fx houses getting cheated out of wages in the first instalment but I still didn't care for their work. Thing look pretty good this time and there a range of creatures and incredible vistas keeping things looking very pretty.

Once again the 3D is abused for many gimmicky tricks in the name of fun. I didn't mind so much though.

Luis Guzmán doesn't fare to well in this but the rest of the cast were fine, even Vanessa Hudgens.

I'll probably never see this again but it's not too horrific and definitely a step up from part 1.

A Few Best Men

2012-01-30T00:23:00.000+08:00

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Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

Once again Australia tries to combine influences from American and British aesthetics and ends up with a bland mix that won't work for anyone. It seems to be aiming for something outrageous like the Hangover but it has none of the pace, physical comedy or interesting and divers characters, nor does it contain an ounce of that wonderful dry British wit from when two social classes collide.

Now I am aware I just said The Hangover has diverse and interesting characters and as ridiculous as that sounds, it actually does when compared to something like this. There is just something awkward about this film. The editing is odd, especially at the start, cutting scenes before lines of dialogue are finished. I suppose it's a way to save time and make things feel like they are moving towards the 2nd act but it comes off as sloppy.

Don't even get me started on the music. Horrifying Australianised covers of popular songs that rarely fit into the scenes they play in and have vocal tracks that usually interfere with the dialogue. No.

And is it just me of has Laura Brent been badly dubbed for the entire film? That or some very bad ADR.

The worst thing is barley a handful of the jokes land. Most of the actors look like idiots, especially Olivia Newton-John. Even Rebel Wilson is finding it hard to get a laugh here. Xavier Samuel comes out the most unscathed probably due to the fact that he's playing the straight man to all the shenanigans.

I really don't know what Stephan Elliott was thinking. This one just didn't come together. Hell even the comedic tone was all over the map. Some people are playing it real while others like it's a kids cartoon. Very disappointing on all fronts.

J. Edgar

2012-01-30T00:01:00.000+08:00

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Watched With: Myself

People over the age of 40 seem to just apply blanket praise to everything Clint Eastwood touches. I haven't really liked anything I've seen from him in the last decade and was kind of dreading this one after Hereafter.

While nowhere near as terrible as that, I found it to be everything I expected. Beautifully photographed, brilliantly acted technically well made story I didn't care at all about. I get no heart from Eastwood films, just empty emoting. And he really needs to stop doing music for his own films and hire someone that can write more than just one song that repeats throughout the duration. That's not a score.

I don't know anything about Hoover so I have no idea how accurate this depiction is. The way the character is presented is structurally very close to The Iron Lady, telling a story from the end of his life and flashing back to various other scenes from the past. Again they don't attempt to vilify him or make him sympathetic, he just is and I'm still not sure why I should care either way.

For a film over 2 hours long there's no way it should feel so lacking.

Underworld: Awakening

2012-01-29T23:41:00.000+08:00

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Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

Oh yeah the Underworld series. That was a thing.

It's been amicable enough so far. Nothing spectacular. This time we get our original lead actors back, we go 3D and we get those Swedish dudes that made Shelter directing. I've still yet to see their big breakout film but it's on my list.

This entry in the series is problematic. It suffers from what so many film series or potential series seem to think is passable as a story arc, in that it only bothers to tells a small part. It's something that is increasingly pissing me off. I'm thinking specifically of films that like to break up novel adaptations in to parts in order to have more time (and make more money) so they never complete the journey and often don't get the funding to actually finish the story, leaving any potential fans with an unresolved cliffhanger or at the very least, a lot of questions. Underworld is not based on any previous stories, despite it being derivative of so many, however in the past they have managed to tell complete stories.

Awakenings sets up a new world, it introduces new ideas, some new characters. It does not play them out into any kind of story though and feels so very incomplete. They've taken a 20 minute introduction and padded it out with an hour of action. The action isn't terrible, but there are no stakes yet. Nothing is determined or explained for either side and consequently nobody cares how anything plays out yet. This could work better if all these film were watched back to back but I haven't seen any of them since the last release and this film jumps into the action so quick and never bothers to take any time to reintroduce any of the characters in a meaningful way. Nor does it ease into the action. So the entire endeavour is a whole lot of sound and fury signifying not much at all. It's the sort of thing that could retroactively become better if they do in fact make any sequels that build on the ideas presented here but it does not work as a stand alone.

The characters are as dull and cold as the cinematography. Actually I sometimes quite like this very stylised blue world but if you are going to make the next instalment of your film franchise in 3D don't choose a world where everything is pitch black and only lit in reflected hi-lights. It's nice they went to the effort to shoot in 3D but the the inter-occular reflective discrepancy is a major issue. Especially when your lead character is waring shiny black leather that has slightly different hot spots in each eye.

When there is more light in the scenes the 3D works well and also sells the CG creatures really well. The majority of the time is unfortunately spent at night in sets with shiny metal or glass and wet roads. Not good for 3D.

Some of the action beats are cool. There's definitely some nice stuff in here and I do like the reset to the world they've done but now I want to actually see some stories told in it. The chess pieces are all set up in place, so it just remains to be seen if the film makes enough money to warrant paying off the work they've done so far.

Martha Marcy May Marlene

2012-01-28T12:09:00.001+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Amberly

I've always been fascinated by cults. Here we see a young girl desperately trying to adjust to normal life after escaping and writer/director Sean Durkin really manages to get the audience in her mindset by the end of the film.

An amazing performance from Elizabeth Olsen who is indeed the younger sister of the Olsen twins from Full House. I believe she will also be staring in the remake of Silent House which now has me slightly more intrigued to see it.

John Hawkes is great as ever, and really creepy to boot, as the charismatic leader of the cult. Also Hugh Dancy is as gorgeous and British as ever. My god that man is handsome.

The film manages to make you really fear for this poor girl. You do get a sense that the she may eventually get the help she desperately needs but the ending of the film is probably it's greatest jolt and really lets the paranoia set in within the mind of the audience.

It's a slow and quiet film that builds tension almost without you being aware. I really enjoyed watching this one and it managed to work the crowd in the cinema rather well too. Very intriguing.

Misery

2012-01-27T23:04:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Amberly, Jordan

Oh man such a great film and It's been so long since I've seen it. It seems like such an odd choice for Rob Reiner at the time but he brings everything he's got and makes yet another all time classic with another great script from William Goldman and story by Stephen King.

Kathy Bates guys. Kathy Bates. So good.

SO GOOD!

District 9

2012-01-27T17:52:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Amberly, Michael

My number one film from 2009. Love it.

Look I get the documentary/found footage style pisses people off and theres a lot of crap done with it but I love it, especially when it's high concept genre stuff where it's used to sell the reality of the fantastic. Also I can appreciate all the hard work to track and composite visual effects onto footage shot like that.

Well this one is a very overt metaphor. But what's sneaky about this is that although the hand held cameras are kept throughout the film,. the actual documentary style slowly bleeds out until it's pretty much a sci-fi action film. The action set pieces in the last third of the film are a lot of fun and Neill Blomkamp must have been like a kid in a toy store making this.

The aliens are done so well here, extraordinarily impressive. Better still are their weapons that are all kinds of cool. But best of all is Sharlto Copley and his character arc over the course of the film. It's a melancholic story and one that leaves you begging to find out what happens next.

I can't believe we have to wait another year before we get something else out of Blomkamp, I'm really intrigued by what he's done here and eagerly await his next project.

Freeway

2012-01-27T15:38:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Amberly, Leith

I've been waiting for an excuse to watch this again. Gloriously trashy and dark retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and As much as I loveTracy Flick from Election, I think this is my all time favourite Reese Witherspoon role.

I originally found out about this film listening to one of those early Danny Elfman compilation albums. The music intrigued me. Then when I finally saw the film I was blown away, it's just the kind of thing I love and everyone in it looks to be having a great time. Kiefer Sutherland is especially great.

Seeing how the story plays out and how close they manage to stick to the riding hood story is a lot fun. Transplanting it to the white trash world is great. Even the heroine has a very dark side of her own that comes to the fore towards the end.

Good times.

Twister

2012-01-27T13:19:00.002+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Amberly, Leith

Write Up.

All time favourite. So great!

Speed

2012-01-27T11:18:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Amberly, Leith

Gonna have a Jan de Bont double feature. Awesome.

Speed is one of the greatest high concept action thrillers of all time in my book. Although fatigue sets in during the subway train end segment the pacing and tension and character work of everything before it is gold.

The opening elevator sequences has more action and tension that the entirety of most action films. And only then do you get to the Bus, where they manage to keep things interesting and exciting. You can hear Joss Whedon's voice in some of the dialogue too.

Jan de Bont's jump from cinematographer to director is impressive. But looking at his filmography it's no wonder, he'd already worked on some of the best action films ever made before making one himself. Thankfully here he has a great (if not a little cheesy or unbelievable) script to work from and as usual casts all the roles, especially the side characters surrounding the leads, with interesting actors.

No one does sweeping melodic action scores like Mark Mancina. Freaking Awesome.

So great to see this again, it's been far too long. The bluray also has an interesting and revealing new commentary from the writer as well as the director's commentary that's on the dvd. well worth a listen.

Tucker & Dale vs Evil

2012-01-26T12:59:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

Write up. I got the bluray for my birthday, and sure enough, my home projection from the bluray was not only better quality but a bigger screen than when I saw it at a cinema. That is very disconcerting. But I'm glad I got to see it on a big screen again, it's a load of fun.

Timecode

2012-01-26T11:12:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Jordan, Amberly

After watching The Silent House go for the real time single take approach to filmmaking I was reminded of this little gem that I haven't seen in many years. I remember going to see it twice at the cinema just to see if I could take in some more of the four screens that play simultaneously.

When I watch it now the first thing that jumps out at me is the incredible cast that is assembled to improvise there way through the day. When I originally saw it I was only familiar with a handful of them but now I've seen a loved performances from pretty much every single person on screen. And they are asked to do some difficult and interesting things not all of which work.

The film presents a snapshot of various intersecting characters in a film company in L.A. and is filled with all the various types you would expect to be associated with such a place. While I'd argue that there is a main story the point seems to be that you can follow whatever characters take your fancy.

An experimental film if ever I saw one and like all experimental films some of it works and some of it doesn't. Once again the realtime filming means there are often long stretches of not much happening, but the advantage is you always have somewhere else to look if you are bored. The sound works to direct your gaze however one of the cool features on the dvd is that you can interactively choose which picture you want to hear at any given moment. One of the few situations where the home video release adds an important element to a film.

On the whole I really enjoy this film. I was always annoyed that Russian Arc claimed to be the first one take film when this was out two years previous, but in truth it's technically 4 takes at once. Still it's been overlooked and is still extraordinarily hard to find in Australia but well worth seeking out.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

2012-01-25T01:48:00.000+08:00

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Nicole, Josh, Tyler

A slow burn cold war espionage thriller. While there is no action to speak of I will admit to being riveted for the entire running time only to find the pay off far more straight forward than I was hoping for. For a 70's spy movies there is decidedly less double crossing and paranoia going on for my tastes.

England looks dreary as ever. The recreation of the 70's is stunning. The actors are all great even if some of my favourites don't really have much to do. A stand out was Benedict Cumberbatch who was actually given some sort of action and a small and heartbreaking character beat that probably made him the most well rounded character of the bunch.

Tomas Alfredson keeps everything so detached you can barley make out what half the characters look like until their third of fourth scene when they might finally get a mid shot or god forbid, a close up. The audience is well removed from the proceedings and that can make it a bit of work but I've always enjoyed films that let an audience put two and two together.

Really really loved the score and soundtrack. I guess the more I think about it the only thing that lets it down is the deceptively simple mystery and complete lack of stakes. Sure there is tension in a few scenes but you never really have any doubt about what the outcome will be. If all feels very safe.