Movie #38 Saw

I am WAY behind on my reviews so I will  have to be brief with them in order to get things caught back up.  Fortunately for me the first picture on my list is Saw.  I am not a huge horror aficionado, but some people who's opinion I trust (or used to) on films recommended this to me.  They said it subverted the genre.  They told me that is had both style as well as substance.  They informed me that there was a morale message to the film.  They praised it for its production values.  They clamored on about the devices of torture and the twist at the end.

I did not see hardly any of this.  I saw a mildly clever setup, terrible (and I mean terrible) acting, hokey scenes of violence and pain and a total lack of morality.  There was no "message" to this film.  The twist at the end did surprise me, but by that time I didn't really care.  I had no reason to root for or become invested in any of these characters.  I did really care what happened to them. 

At best there is a subversion to the genre here.  This is the first American film that I know of to be classified as "Torture Porn".  Essentially films that display torture mearly for the sake of torture.  It is shock cinema.  These types of films have been in the grindhouses and underground for decades.  Movies like Saw and Hostel simply put scenes of mutilation and degradation in the multi-plex. There is no horror here.  There is no slasher, or physiological thrills.  No haunting music or disturbing soundscapes.  Hell, there really isn't even any scares.  A few things jump out at you, but there was nothing frightening about the film.  I watched it on my phone while lying in bed.  I turned it off when it was over and fell right asleep.  I couldn't have done that after The Shining, or Texas Chainsaw Massacre. 

I could care less about a film or film makers morale's.  I just want to be entertained or manipulated into feeling something.  The only thing I felt during and after Saw was cheated.  I am glad there are people that enjoy watching these movies, and now they have easier access to them.  But you won't see me in line to go see Saw 14.  I give this movie a 1.5/5 stars.  Check out the link below for the trailer....if you dare, ohhhhhhh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFQebvkii90

This Weekend

I had a pretty busy weekend.  I watched Young Frankenstein and Shawn of the Dead with my lady.  Then today I watched a new doc called "Inside Job" about the finical collapse, and I watched a Chinese movie called "A Woman, A Gun and A Noodle Shop".  It is a retelling of the first Coen Brother movie "Blood Simple".  Reviewed on this very blog about a month ago.

I will try to get around to reviewing them this week as well as "Saw" which I just finished last week.  I have started the 1934, John Ford film Stagecoach staring a young John Wayne.  I have also started David Fincher's Panic Room with Jodie Foster.

This weekend I spent over 10 hours on the highway.  Most of the time I was listening to Peter Biskind's book "Easy Riders and Raging Bulls".  It is all about the ushering in of the New Hollywood in the late 60's and follows it through the early to mid 80's.  I listened to it on audio book. It was awesome.  I like another one of his books as well.  It's title is "Pictures at a Revolution".  It is similar however it mainly focuses on the 5 Best Picture nominees for an Oscar in 1968.  Among them are Bonnie and Clyde, The Graduate, In the Heat of the Night, Look Who's Coming to Diner and Dr. Doolittle.  Both are great reads (or listens).

Movie #37 The Friends of Eddie Coyle

After watching "The Town" a few weeks ago I kept reading about a movie that it apparently drew pretty heavily from.  The Friends of Eddie Coyle. So I saw it and man, I would say so.  The Town owes about 40% of it's scenes and shots and even it's location to Eddie Coyle.

The friends of Eddie Coyle stars one of my new favorite actors Robert Mitchum as well as Peter Boyle, Steven Keats, Richard Jordan and Alex Rocco.  Dynamite cast!  The story is about a nice guy thief "Eddie Coyle" played with a cool understated sense of urgency by Robert Mitchum.  Colye is looking at doing a few years in the joint for some minor truck heist he was a part of.  In order to avoid doing that time he is ratting out every two bit thug and thief he knows.  In addition to that he is working with a crew that is holding up banks all across Boston.

This film is held together by Mitchum's performance, but the supporting cast is like the sprinkles on the cake.  Keats and Jordan were both excellent in their roles.  This films was made made in 1973 and it looks like it.  Of course you have the vehicles from that time period, the wah-wah guitar soundtrack and the wardrobe is dated to say the least.  At times it reminded me a little of Dirty Harry and The French Connection.  High praise in both cases.  The direction in the film is slick without drawing attention to its self.  A perfect example of that 70"s action character study.  There is a fantastic scene shot during a Boston Bruins hockey game.  Another scene stolen by Affleck except he uses Finway Park and the Sox instead of Bobby Orr and the Bruins.

I don't have a lot more to say about this film.  It is shot and directed very professionally, the writing is solid, the performances are wonderful.  If I was to nit pick something, it was a little disjointed.  I didn't always understand the bank robbery scenes and how they tied into the overall plot.  This movie also makes its protaginist a snitch.  That is a person that can be a little hard to pull for.  Especially when his motives are unclear of weak.  In Eddie Coyle's case I would say both apply, but Mitchum is so charismatic he can make me overlook those minor flaws.

I would give this film a 4/5 stars and make this a must see.  If for nothing else it is a great example of a heist movie that has been borrowed from for 30 plus years now.  Check out the link below for the trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WtR-mi6VtU

Movie #36 Buried

I love a films that can make me have a visceral reaction to them.  I enjoy the manipulation of being made to feel sad or angry or sick to my stomach.  But this weekend I had an experience like I have never had before.  The movie staring Ryan Reynolds (and only Ryan Reynolds) made me squirm from the feeling of claustrophobia.  That is a feeling I have never had before.  Generally I kind of enjoy being alone.  Tight spaces have never really bothered me before.  But this film had me stretching in every direction, attempting to gain some sense of peace and comfort.

The film is a cinematic experiment.  It is the ultimate in single location filming.  It takes place entirely within a coffin that has been buried.  Ryan Reynolds character is a US truck driver in Iraq.  His convoy is ambushed and he wakes up in his own grave.  After freaking out for about 10 minutes straight he finds a few things his imprisoners have left him.  He has a cell phone, a couple of glow sticks, a lighter, a pencil, a small pocket knife and a flashlight that is on the fritz. 

Director Rodrigo Cortes does an excellent job in using every trick in his cinematic bag to keep the visuals fresh and exciting.  Never once do we get out of the coffin.  The farthest we get from our protagonist is once he gives up hope and begins to make peace the camera pulls back making the coffin look 10 feet deep.  Kind of an homage to Trainspotting when Renton OD's on heroin and falls deeply into the red carpet.  The only other reprive from the grave is when Reynolds has a brief halouncination of being rescued.  The coffin lid begins to open and white light pours in.  The light floods out any other visuals and then we are quickly snapped out of it back into the grim reality.

The story is a little thin and you have to overlook a few continuity errors (the coffin depth ranges from inches above his nose to him being able to turn over on his side).  You are also required to take a leap of faith in that he can get cell phone service underground and that he isn't burning up all of his oxygen wiht his Zippo.  But these are nit picky critisims.  This film won me over big time.  It is bold and fearless.  Like many horror films you are comforted by a knowledge that someone has to survive the ordeal.  With Reynolds being the only character in the film, you fear for his life but with that spark in the back of your mind that surely they won't kill him off.

Buried was a Sundance favorite, but hasn't tested well with other audiences.  I was fortunate to be the only one at my screening.  That atmosphere really added to the loneliness and abandon feelings Reynolds character was going through. 

This film has a few weak political threads thrown in towards the end.  It is as much a movie about bureaucracy and the absurdity of governments and business and the relationship between them.  This is like Brazil for the post 911 crowd.

I loved this movie.  I will give it a 4.5/5 stars.  Check out the link below to view the trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVMUwoNZs2Y

Movie #35 The Rocky Horror Picture Show

This past Saturday night I got to mark another thing off my bucket list.  I attended a midnight showing of the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show.  For some bonus points I went on the night before Halloween.  In attendance was my girlfriend, an good friend, his girlfriend, and about 200 other freaks. 

We waited in line for about an hour in the freezing cold.  The line wrapped around an old dilapidated theater that looks like it should have been condemned years ago.  The line was populated with people dressed as characters from the film and if you have ever seen the movie you can imagine what a sight that was.

If you haven't seen the movie allow me to attempt to summarize it.  Two virginal newlyweds get stranded roadside and make their way to a castle in the woods in an attempt to get help.  To their surprise the master of the house is a flaming transvestite mad scientist in drag creating male lovers to fulfill his sexual desires.  There seems to be a party going on consisting of bizarre onlookers and perverts.  The party is seemingly to celebrate his (Dr. Frank N Furter) newest creation "Rocky", a muscle bound Aryen dream that is replacing his past creation "Eddie" played as a cryogenicly frozen rock star by Meatloaf.  Did I mention that the house is a space ship and that the inhabitants are aliens?  Did I mention that it is a musical?  Sound like a cult classic huh?

Needless to say the movie sucks.  Tim Curry is brilliant as the good Dr. and the music is cheesy and insane but definitely catchy.  The most recognizable of the songs is "Let's do the Time Warp Again".  What really makes showings of Rocky Horror famous is an entire second script that is yelled out by the viewers.  Along with shouting at the screen those in attendance are encouraged to use props to enhance the experience.  Things like rice, toilet paper, flashlights, news paper, noise makers, and toast are all part of the fun.  It is different than the Lebowskifest in a big way though.  While watching The Big Lebowski with a group of "Achievers", it is common place to shout out lines from the movie.  In RHPS participants shout out and entirely different script.  Also Lebowski is a lighter, laid back atmoshpere.  Rocky Horror is a sex filled seemingly angry crowd.  Many of the things shouted during RHPS are insulting to the characters.

This was my second venture to a RHPS viewing.  I have to say that the first time was better.  It was in a much nicer theater.  Most of the people there didn't know all the alternate lines so when they shouted the lines out it was more clear.  At this viewing everyone was yelling different things at different times.  It was very difficult to understand the dialogue.  The building was filled with a loud white noise.

The cool thing about this viewing was that there was a local acting troupe actually performing the film below the screen.  I was in the back of the room and couldn't see or hear if they were reciting lines or not, but they had the pantomime down pat.  It was very cool to watch.

Ranking this movie is somewhat irrelevant.  People don't go to Rocky Horror to see a great movie.  They go for the experience.  The movie is a 2/5 stars.  This experience is one that I will remember for years to come.  Check out the link below for a trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHNFkqPFBko

Marwencol | OFFICIAL trailer US (2010) ComicCon SXSW Silverdocs IFF Boston

This looks awesome! Great year for docs.

Movie #34 The Parking Lot Movie

I feel like and absentee landlord.  I checked and I haven't blogged in 10 days.  Not too good for a blog that started out with the concept of watching and blogging about a movie every day for a year.  Rest assured though that I have been watching films during this time.  I just haven't committed myself to blog about them.  I will try to catch up over the next few days.

I started out watching a movie I DVR'ed on PBS.  It's called The Parking Lot Movie.  It is a low budget documentary about a small pay-to-park parking lot in Charlottesville, VA.  The lot if controlled and surveyed by a rotating group of grad students, philosophy majors, snarky artists and twenty something slackers.  Many of whom move on from the parking lot to prestigious jobs in equally prestigious fields or occupations. 

Meghan Eckman is the director of the film.  She attempts to add some gravitas to a rather banal story by adding chapter titles and slow motion shots.  It makes the film come off a little self important and only makes the film look that much more amateurish.  It's visual style reminded me a little of the Canadian sketch comedy TV show "The Kids in the Hall".

This film is an interesting one for me.  It made me think about other documentaries I have seen this year.  It made me wonder what makes a good doc, or what makes a doc good?  The lines or rules that used to goveren documentaries are being blurred more now than ever.  Franqois Truffaut said that mock-umentaries were the last oridginal genre of film to be created.  Documentaries now have built in naritives.  Documentaries make you question your surrounding.  Documentaries make you question their authencity.  Movies like "I'm Not Here" and "Exit from the Gift Shop" are really pushing the boundries of what is a documentary.

The Parking Lot movie doesn't really push any buttons like the doc's mentioned above. It thrives on the characters that inhabit the colelction booth.  As a whole it is a soild character study.  I only wish the director had simpily allowed the camera to roll and not try to "pretty up" the films with visual flairs that did nothing for the story.  This film is only about 80 minutes long.  It fills the time without overstaying it's welcome.  I give the film 3/5 stars.  Check out the link below for the trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSvZXidLJ3U