Director: Andrew Currie
Starring: Carrie-Anne Moss, Billy Connolly, Tim Blake Nelson
Tagline: Good dead are hard to find
Basic plot: Idyllic 1950s American small town in the aftermath of Zombie wars. Humans have figured out how to control the zombies (using a collar to curb their flesh-eating desires) and use them as servants, workers, girlfriends, etc. This is the sweet story of a young boy who befriends his family Zombie, Fido, and what happens when Fido's collar mal-functions....
The opening B&W sequence to set up the story sets a great tone for what is to follow. The color saturation of the film itself as well as the choice of houses, cars, hair and clothes creates the classic 1950s americana look. Sitting down to watch it, I wanted it to be good. I wanted to enjoy it - I wanted it to be funny and silly and captivating. And it was. No long review here - it's a cute zombie movie.
Favorite things:
1. The B&W newsreel introduction.
2. Zomcom.
3. Head coffins.
4. The giving of the gun.
HIGHLY Recommended.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Sunday, October 21, 2007
disappointment ...
As you might have realized, i got off to a good start, but haven't posted anything in almost 2 months. I have been watching films, but nothing really good enough to write about.
the wicker man - everyone can act except nicolas cage - what happened to him? i didn't care for the film - moved too slow. Though, i must say, i didn't read anything about it, didn't know who was in it before i started watching it and was thrilled when ellen burstyn turned out to be sister summersdale. she's so great at parts like that.
fracture - it was ok, but not spectacular
the good shepherd - perhaps i just wasn't in the mood to have to pay constant unwaivering attention to this film. I found i had to keep rewinding parts to catch up again - which made an already long film even longer.
rocky balboa - actually, this was pretty good, but i just didn't have enough to write a review about. it's good - a perfect end to the rocky saga.
vacancy - the storyline just seemed old - travelers end up in the middle of nowhere and sadistic hicks turn their hotel stay into a horror movie.
the contract - morgan freeman & john cusack. Again, it was ok, but not spectacular. It had some good moments, but i didn't feel the tagline - "Every Killer Meets His Equal". john got lucky, but i don't think he was morgan's equal. is anybody???
hopefully i'll find something good to write about soon - otherwise i might have to do the short list, part 2.
the wicker man - everyone can act except nicolas cage - what happened to him? i didn't care for the film - moved too slow. Though, i must say, i didn't read anything about it, didn't know who was in it before i started watching it and was thrilled when ellen burstyn turned out to be sister summersdale. she's so great at parts like that.
fracture - it was ok, but not spectacular
the good shepherd - perhaps i just wasn't in the mood to have to pay constant unwaivering attention to this film. I found i had to keep rewinding parts to catch up again - which made an already long film even longer.
rocky balboa - actually, this was pretty good, but i just didn't have enough to write a review about. it's good - a perfect end to the rocky saga.
vacancy - the storyline just seemed old - travelers end up in the middle of nowhere and sadistic hicks turn their hotel stay into a horror movie.
the contract - morgan freeman & john cusack. Again, it was ok, but not spectacular. It had some good moments, but i didn't feel the tagline - "Every Killer Meets His Equal". john got lucky, but i don't think he was morgan's equal. is anybody???
hopefully i'll find something good to write about soon - otherwise i might have to do the short list, part 2.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
idiocracy, 2006
Director: Mike Judge (writer, too)
Starring: Luke Wilson, Dax Shepard, Maya Rudolph
Tagline: The Future Is A No Brainer
Basic plot: Luke Wilson stars as Joe Bauers (Mr. Average American) who is chosen along with a prostitute named Rita to be the guinea pigs in an Army experiment about freezing humans. The base they are stored on is shut down and 500 years pass before they are "unfrozen" into an exquisitely "dumbed down" world.
Mike Judge is a genius. There is no disputing that fact. I have not enjoyed a movie so much in such a long time. It would be wrong of me to write a long review on the social criticism offered thru this 84 minute masterpiece. It is what it is, and it is fabulous. Watch it.
Favorite things:
1. The garbage avalanches.
2. Fuddruckers becoming Butt-Fuckers over 500 years - and it's still family dining!
3. Carl Jrs taking custody of children and sponsoring the Secretary of State
4. Rehabilitation - and the monster machine too large for the arena
HIGHLY Recommended.
Starring: Luke Wilson, Dax Shepard, Maya Rudolph
Tagline: The Future Is A No Brainer
Basic plot: Luke Wilson stars as Joe Bauers (Mr. Average American) who is chosen along with a prostitute named Rita to be the guinea pigs in an Army experiment about freezing humans. The base they are stored on is shut down and 500 years pass before they are "unfrozen" into an exquisitely "dumbed down" world.
Mike Judge is a genius. There is no disputing that fact. I have not enjoyed a movie so much in such a long time. It would be wrong of me to write a long review on the social criticism offered thru this 84 minute masterpiece. It is what it is, and it is fabulous. Watch it.
Favorite things:
1. The garbage avalanches.
2. Fuddruckers becoming Butt-Fuckers over 500 years - and it's still family dining!
3. Carl Jrs taking custody of children and sponsoring the Secretary of State
4. Rehabilitation - and the monster machine too large for the arena
HIGHLY Recommended.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
the lives of others, 2006
Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (writer also)
Starring: Ulrich Mühe, Sebastian Koch, Martina Gedeck
Tagline: Before the Fall of the Berlin Wall, East Germany's Secret Police Listened to Your Secrets
Basic plot: 1984 - Weisler (Ulriche Mühe) is a member of the East German Secret Service (Stasi) who is in charge of surveillance on a playwright and author, Dreyman (Sebastian Koch). The playwright appears to follow the Party line, but Weisler believes something isn't right when he watches him at a performance of his latest play. Winner: oscar for best foreign film, 2007
I am so impressed by this film. I doubted whether i should rent it because it sounded downright depressing. It's not. It's a tale of a man's slow change - of letting his "human-ness" win. Ulrich Mühe is fantastic. If you watch the writer/director interview, you'll find out that Mr. Mühe was actually under surveillance in real life by the Stasi starting just after he left high school. His portrayal of the Stasi officer is moving.
Favorite Moments of Change:
1. Listening to Dreyman playing the piano - the Lenin quote.
2. The elevator.
3. Reading Brecht.
Scariest Quote: "Know what the best part is? Most Type 4's we've processed in this way never write anything again. Or paint anything or whatever artists do...." - Grubitz (Weisler's superior)
Highly Recommended.
Starring: Ulrich Mühe, Sebastian Koch, Martina Gedeck
Tagline: Before the Fall of the Berlin Wall, East Germany's Secret Police Listened to Your Secrets
Basic plot: 1984 - Weisler (Ulriche Mühe) is a member of the East German Secret Service (Stasi) who is in charge of surveillance on a playwright and author, Dreyman (Sebastian Koch). The playwright appears to follow the Party line, but Weisler believes something isn't right when he watches him at a performance of his latest play. Winner: oscar for best foreign film, 2007
I am so impressed by this film. I doubted whether i should rent it because it sounded downright depressing. It's not. It's a tale of a man's slow change - of letting his "human-ness" win. Ulrich Mühe is fantastic. If you watch the writer/director interview, you'll find out that Mr. Mühe was actually under surveillance in real life by the Stasi starting just after he left high school. His portrayal of the Stasi officer is moving.
Favorite Moments of Change:
1. Listening to Dreyman playing the piano - the Lenin quote.
2. The elevator.
3. Reading Brecht.
Scariest Quote: "Know what the best part is? Most Type 4's we've processed in this way never write anything again. Or paint anything or whatever artists do...." - Grubitz (Weisler's superior)
Highly Recommended.
pulse, 2006
Director: Jim Sonzero
Starring: Kristen Bell, Ian Somerhalder
Tagline: There are some frequencies we were never meant to find.
Basic plot: A guy hacks another guy's computer and lets loose the ultimate virus - one that attacks people.
I actually saw this in the theater when it came out. I went with Maryanne. I'm not sure if any of you have ever gone to see a scary movie with Maryanne - she screams and she grabs. Needlesss to say, i laughed at her.
I watched it again recently when it came on cable. It was pretty freaky because about 45 minutes into it, the channel info bar that you can access that shows across the bottom of the screen kept buzzing in and out (i wasn't doing anything). Then my cable box front shows "fail" and then "boot". Too freaky when watching a movie about dead people that use our wireless systems as a doorway to get us.
Enough of my viewings.... You should really give this film a chance - the screenplay was co-written by Wes Craven and it's a good little film.
Favorite things after one viewing:
1. "It keeps them out. Don't know why." The red duct tape - both the idea of it and the contrast it makes with the rest of the staging because the film is so greyish, overcast, doom-like. Also, there is no blood in this film and it's very interesting to have the color red associated with safety.
2. The guy getting sucked into the wall.
3. Izzy in the laundry room. I won't say anymore.
4. The car accident - fantastic sequence for this scene and comes out of nowhere.
5. "They are the system."
Recommended.
Starring: Kristen Bell, Ian Somerhalder
Tagline: There are some frequencies we were never meant to find.
Basic plot: A guy hacks another guy's computer and lets loose the ultimate virus - one that attacks people.
I actually saw this in the theater when it came out. I went with Maryanne. I'm not sure if any of you have ever gone to see a scary movie with Maryanne - she screams and she grabs. Needlesss to say, i laughed at her.
I watched it again recently when it came on cable. It was pretty freaky because about 45 minutes into it, the channel info bar that you can access that shows across the bottom of the screen kept buzzing in and out (i wasn't doing anything). Then my cable box front shows "fail" and then "boot". Too freaky when watching a movie about dead people that use our wireless systems as a doorway to get us.
Enough of my viewings.... You should really give this film a chance - the screenplay was co-written by Wes Craven and it's a good little film.
Favorite things after one viewing:
1. "It keeps them out. Don't know why." The red duct tape - both the idea of it and the contrast it makes with the rest of the staging because the film is so greyish, overcast, doom-like. Also, there is no blood in this film and it's very interesting to have the color red associated with safety.
2. The guy getting sucked into the wall.
3. Izzy in the laundry room. I won't say anymore.
4. The car accident - fantastic sequence for this scene and comes out of nowhere.
5. "They are the system."
Recommended.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
fay grim, 2006
Director: Hal Hartley
Starring: Parker Posey, Jeff Goldblum, James Urbaniak
Tagline: Featuring the continuing adventures of Henry Fool
Basic plot: Henry Fool, part deux. Fay Grim is visited by the CIA, told Henry is dead and that they need her to retrieve 2 volumes of his "confessions" from the French government. Things progress from there.
#1: If you haven't seen Henry Fool (1997), rent it. Watch it. Love it. This movie will not make any sense unless you've seen it.
#2: If you've never seen a Hal Hartley film - shame on you. You can start with Henry Fool and then this one - but know there are others - fantastic others. Search them out. Watch them. I particularly recommend Amateur with Isabelle Huppert. He can be sort of an aquired taste - don't expect a hollywood film - but definitely give him a try.
As with most of his stories, events collide to keep producing even more outrageous results. The dialogue is fast, so pay attention. Parker Posey and Jeff Goldblum do an outstanding job. What's even more amazing is that 9 years later, they have the exact same cast - same kid, same Father, same publisher, etc. It's fantastic. It's a great film that will take you on a ride - espionage, encrypted manuscripts, and exiled Afghanistan leaders. It's all in there.
Favorite Quote: "A self-perpetuating literature of obfuscation, hearsay, rumor, innuendo and outright lies. A bestseller for sure." Angus, the publisher
Recommended.
Starring: Parker Posey, Jeff Goldblum, James Urbaniak
Tagline: Featuring the continuing adventures of Henry Fool
Basic plot: Henry Fool, part deux. Fay Grim is visited by the CIA, told Henry is dead and that they need her to retrieve 2 volumes of his "confessions" from the French government. Things progress from there.
#1: If you haven't seen Henry Fool (1997), rent it. Watch it. Love it. This movie will not make any sense unless you've seen it.
#2: If you've never seen a Hal Hartley film - shame on you. You can start with Henry Fool and then this one - but know there are others - fantastic others. Search them out. Watch them. I particularly recommend Amateur with Isabelle Huppert. He can be sort of an aquired taste - don't expect a hollywood film - but definitely give him a try.
As with most of his stories, events collide to keep producing even more outrageous results. The dialogue is fast, so pay attention. Parker Posey and Jeff Goldblum do an outstanding job. What's even more amazing is that 9 years later, they have the exact same cast - same kid, same Father, same publisher, etc. It's fantastic. It's a great film that will take you on a ride - espionage, encrypted manuscripts, and exiled Afghanistan leaders. It's all in there.
Favorite Quote: "A self-perpetuating literature of obfuscation, hearsay, rumor, innuendo and outright lies. A bestseller for sure." Angus, the publisher
Recommended.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
hot fuzz, 2007
Director: Edgar Wright
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
Tagline: Big Cops. Small Town. Moderate Violence.
Basic plot: Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg - cowriter) is a stellar cop who has 400% more arrests than any other London police officer. Because he makes everyone look bad, he is sent to a small town to disappear.
This is a great buddy comedy action horror flick. You've gotta remember these are the guys that brought us Shawn of the Dead, so when people die in this film, there's lots of, um, bloody debris. Is it just me or did Simon Pegg have a bit of a Daniel Craig thing going on when he was 'all-business'? Mmmmm ... nice.
Things i loved after one viewing:
1. crossword puzzle at the front desk
2. the shortcut thru the gardens
3. the sea mine & swan recurring themes
4. "policeman officer"
5. the fight in the model town
Recommended (may be better with beer).
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
Tagline: Big Cops. Small Town. Moderate Violence.
Basic plot: Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg - cowriter) is a stellar cop who has 400% more arrests than any other London police officer. Because he makes everyone look bad, he is sent to a small town to disappear.
This is a great buddy comedy action horror flick. You've gotta remember these are the guys that brought us Shawn of the Dead, so when people die in this film, there's lots of, um, bloody debris. Is it just me or did Simon Pegg have a bit of a Daniel Craig thing going on when he was 'all-business'? Mmmmm ... nice.
Things i loved after one viewing:
1. crossword puzzle at the front desk
2. the shortcut thru the gardens
3. the sea mine & swan recurring themes
4. "policeman officer"
5. the fight in the model town
Recommended (may be better with beer).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
