Saturday, February 11, 2012
Arachnophobia
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
Friday, February 10, 2012
Idiocracy
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
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.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Adam
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
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
Carrie
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
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
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.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Lost Highway
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
IMDB
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
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.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
She's the Man
IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
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
IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
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
IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Amberly
Original Write Up. This film is all sorts of awesome. So friggin good!
Ponyo
IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Amberly
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
IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Amberly
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
IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
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.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Gerry
IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
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
IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
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
IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
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.
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