Shutter (2008)

Directed by: Masayuki Ochiai
Format: DVD
DVD Features: trailers, director feature, spirit photography featurettes, deleted scenes
Starring: Joshua Jackson, Rachael Taylor, Megumi Okina, John Hensley, Maya Hazen
Trailer

I thought the trend of Asian horror movie remakes was at an end. It apparently hasn't quite died yet. This time, instead of taking from the stock of Japanese films, the original Shutter was from Thailand. Nonetheless, the American version was shot in Japan by a Japanese director. According to his interview in the special features section of the disc, Ochiai attempted to stay as true to the original as possible. While I feel that to be an admirable trait, I remember being disappointed when I saw Ringu because it was so similar to the American version. When will American audiences learn to enjoy foreign cinema without having it tailor-made for us?

In Shutter (the English version), Benjamin and Jane have just gotten married. The happy couple plans to spend their honeymoon in Japan, where Ben has a photography shoot. He'll be working with his two pals Bruno and Adam who've set the couple up with a nice apartment and studio in an abandoned building. As the couple is driving in from the airport, Jane accidentally crashes into a girl standing in the road. When they regain consciousness, there's no body and the police find no evidence of an injured girl. Riddled with guilt, Jane begins to see the girl in window reflections. But Ben tells her she's imagining things and with the stress he's experiencing at the job, it's not a good time to bring this up. Apparently, the expensive photo shoot didn't go well. All of Ben's pictures developed with strange defects, just like their honeymoon roll. While Jane is flipping through her amateur shots, she notices the girl from the road is in all of them. Who is this woman, what does she want and what doesn't Jane know about her husband's past in Japan?

The main premise of Shutter relies heavily on the concept of spirit photography. A big deal in Japan, it hasn't quite hit Western shores (I always wondered where the idea for the game Fatal Frame came from). There are magazines filled with pictures of ghosts in Japan and it seems that Ben and Jane have managed quite a collection of their own. I think spirit photography is a fascinating idea and an interesting one to base a film around. But Shutter suffers from many of the same similarities as most of its predecessors. There is always the culture shock of American transplants to Japan and it always seems to be the girlfriends who are suffering. While Jane does a little bit better tackling the subway system than most, she's still feeling a bit lost and isolated. Just once, I'd like to see an American woman who's having a good time in that country.

Shutter also has the same brand of fear as most of the other films. There isn't really a gore factor and all of the terror comes in slow, suspenseful waves. I appreciate the fact that the filmmakers aren't constantly trying to make the audience jump at inane little things. However, I'm getting really tired of spooky long-haired chicks. In The Grudge it was scary. In The Ring it was a puzzle. In Shutter, it's just old news. This film does have the benefit of an interesting plot and a few unexpected twists, which makes it more enjoyable than it otherwise could have been and that's what saves it from just another Japanese remake.

All of the actors here are acceptable in their roles. None are really fantastic or will leave a lasting impression. Joshua Jackson makes a great loving husband who falls gradually from grace, but I didn't buy his fear. Seeing a character in a horror film truly convey their fright makes me feel afraid all the more. Jackson didn't do that for me. Jane (Taylor) never seems more than curious and frustrated. The Japanese actress, Megumi (who plays the ghost Megumi) doesn't have to do much more than move slowly. Bruno (David Denman) and Adam (Hensley) are really just sort of older jocks who've acclimated to live overseas. No depth there, I'm afraid.

I can't really confess any strong feelings either way on this movie. I did expect it to be terrible and it wasn't. It's just different enough of a movie to be interesting, but just similar enough to others to be boring. I don't regret the rental and the DVD's special features are good (just don't watch them before you see the movie). But, when you've seen one American remake of an Asian horror film, you've sadly seen them all.

Overall Rating: 3
Hottie Rating: 2

Alternate Recommendation: go see something in its original language
Official Site
IMDB Page
A.V. Club review

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Brainscan (1994)

Directed by: John Flynn
Format: On Demand
Starring: Eddie Furlong, Frank Langella, T. Ryder Smith, Amy Hargreaves, Jamie Marsh
Trailer

Lately, I've been stumbling upon some not-quite-classic-but-still-campy nuggets of recently-passed cinema. You know - not quite Casablanca and not quite MST3K. To be honest, it's mostly due to the fact that I'm lazy and broke and I haven't returned my Netflix movies in a while. But, being lazy and broke has its advantages, believe it or not. Namely, stumbling upon not-quite-classic-but-still-campy nuggets of recently-passed cinema. I digress. There's something to be said for hidden treasure. The risk in hunting for it is, of course, finding crap along the way. I came across Brainscan and, recognizing the name, decided to give it a chance.

It's the mid-nineties. Video games and computers offer limitless entertainment, but Michael Bower (Furlong) thinks he's seen it all. When his best friend Kyle (Marsh) calls him up to tell him about an intriguing ad in the latest issue of Fangoria, he takes a break from video taping the girl next door's bedroom window to respond. The ad is for a product called Brainscan and it promises an experience so realistic and terrifying that it's like no game ever played before. Feeling an affront to his teenage boy video game prowess, Bower takes on the challenge. Soon, disc 1 arrives in the mail. Brainscan leaps from the screen and takes over. Michael's mission is to go into a man's house and murder him (creatively) before the time limit is up. He's absorbed into the first-person perspective and completes the mission with time to spare. The next day he learns that a local man has been murdered and inside his freezer is the man's foot! How realistic is too realistic?

Brainscan is loaded with cool, outdated technology presented as cutting edge. Michael's phone is a voice-activated and crudely animated butler named Igor. The game discs are played via cartridge inserted into his DVD/disc drive device. Even the special effects are mid-nineties conceptions.

Who knew that Eddie Furlong was in anything except Terminator 2? In fact, looking over his rap-sheet, I don't see anything later than 1999 that I recognize. Really, would any of us recognize Furlong if we saw him now? I know plenty of girls who confess a crush on dear Eddie (oh, I'm sorry, Edward)from "back in the day". For his role as Michael Bower, just imagine John Connor with a little less rebellion but just as much of a techie fetish. Brainscan is entirely suitable for anyone with a Furlong habit. One of the most amusing characters in this movie was Trickster, played by T. Ryder Smith. Trickster is the goblin-like character that springs from the Brainscan disc. He's sort of the movie's version of Beetlejuice, but a little more punked out. At least he appreciates Primus. Smith plays him (underneath a lot of makeup) as an impish creature; ridiculous and odd, but perfect for the film and plenty of personality. The rest of the cast is the usual gathering of high-school misfits. They're not outstanding by any means, but likeable enough. None of them steal the spotlight from Furlong.

There are a slew of improvements that could be made to Brainscan to make it a better film. For one, Michael has the "Pipi Longstocking Syndrome". That is to say that he's got plenty of neat gadgets, no cash flow issues and, most importantly, absent parents. For another thing, I would have made the game's first victim the troublesome school principal, who cancels the boys' classic horror movie club. Kyle should have been a much more prominent character, being Bower's best friend, and could have been given a good deal more screen time. The topic of Micheal's mother is strong in the beginning of the movie. It seems as if it will be a major factor, but is never really developed.

To summarize, Brainscan isn't quite the film it could have been, but it's amusing to watch. It's not in the least bit frightening, of course, but it gets a smidge tense at times. I wouldn't go adding this movie to your personal collection, unless you're into this sort of thing, but rental (at a reasonable discount) is not something to shy away from. However, if you're into smoking a bit of the green stuff, or getting a bit tipsy (not that GP condones that sort of thing), it could be the perfect 96 minute diversion.

Overall Rating: 3 stars
Hottie Rating: 2 stars

Alternate Recommendation: Videodrome
Official Site (none found)
IMDB Page
The Austin Chronicle review

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Editorial: DVD vs. TV

We are lucky, in this day and age, to have so many movie formats at our disposal. We can view our favorite flicks on VHS, DVD, Blue Ray, television, On Demand cable, theater and the internet. There was even a short-lived laserdisc phase. VHS was nice while it lasted, but it's quickly on the outs in favor of more durable digital formats. I think the most common ways to see a movie lately, have been DVD or television. So, here's our verdict on which way to go.

Pros TV: The convenience of movies on television is definitely a bonus. Making a special trip to the store, incurring late fees and even awaiting your next DVD via post can be a drag. Several channels, such as AMC and IFC offer uninterrupted viewing, eliminating the need to mute those pesky commercials. If cable is an option, On Demand offers a variety of films that can easily be rewound, paused and fast forwarded, just like a DVD. The list of free movies changes frequently and new releases can be purchased, often for a lower cost than at the video store.

Pros DVD: The invention of the DVD was an absolute improvement over VHS. Not only do they not wear out and streatch like magnetic tape will, the picture quality and chapter-to-chapter scrolling make this format superb (not to mention the elimination of the need to rewind). DVDs usually include subtitles in several languages, extra features, behind the scenes peeks and commentaries that were never available before. Plus, if you've got the time, DVDs can be watched over and over again without incurring extra cost. DVDs are frequently available in widescreen format as well, which allows you to see the entire screen shot.

Cons TV: Watching a movie on television has its share of drawbacks. If you elect to see a film this way, you must put up with a number of detriments. First, there are commercials. Even if you can avoid those, networks almost always edit your films for time, content and the dreaded "formatted to fit your screen". You see, when filmmakers set up camera, they usually intend for what they're shooting to end up on a movie theater sized screen. Notice the rectangular shape of a theater screen. Now, notice the shape of your TV at home (unless you've got a fancy wide-screen version). It's square, isn't it? That means, when a movie is formatted, each end of the picture must be severed to account for the change in size and shape. That's what is often referred to as "pan and scan". So, not only are you missing part of the original picture, you must rely on the editors to focus on the most important bits of the shot. They don't always do a great job of this. If you have children watching, it might be important to you to have some of the dialogue edited so as not to offend their delicate ears. But, being the purist that I am, I enjoy viewing a film in the most original format possible. And, if English isn't your first language or if it isn't the original language of the film, the availability of subtitled versions is limited. Even On Demand is flawed. The newest releases are around $5 and you can only review the movie for 24 hours without paying again. The selection of free movies is terribly lacking and even something as recent as Top Gun is off the list. Normally, you will find yourself settling for a B grade horror flick that never even made it to theaters.

Cons DVD: Unless you have Netflix or something similar, renting a DVD comes with the inconvineince of running back to the store or paying an extra charge for returning your selection late. The discs can get lost or broken or arrive so scratched up that they're unreadable. Then, there's the financial factor. Are you willing to shell out the charges to keep a movie for a few measly days? I'm often surprised at the bill from my local video store.

While either option carries its advantages and disadvantages, I overwhelmingly recommend DVDs. The selection is usually broader, the movies are available unedited, and the special features often shed some light into the movie that one may not gather otherwise. But take my advice and always, always rent the widescreen version!

Update: Communication

A short while ago, a new feature was added to Gummi Popcorn. Towards the bottom of the left nav bar, we've added a widget that tracks our visitors from all over the globe. We were pleasantly surprised to find that GP has a number of international visitors. Welcome! We're ecstatic to have folks from South America, Europe and even Australia here and hope that you continue reading and enjoying our reviews!

Also, there is currently a small mailing list circulating. Members of the mailing list get alerts whenever GP is updated with a new review or post. Several of our readers get the newest GP updates through Google reader, but if you don't have gmail, the mailing list is the way to go. Anyone is welcome to subscribe or unsubscribe as they wish. All you need to do is leave a comment on this post with your email address. As usual, your email addresses will not be published here. We will simply record your addy and delete your comment, so that it will not be published on the web.

We whole-heartedly welcome all of our visitors! Please continue to read and submit your comments. There are still openings for Gummi Award nominations (foreign movies are definitely eligible), so what are you waiting for?

The Devil's Backbone (2001)

a.k.a. El Espinazo del Diablo (Spanish title)
Directed by: Guillermo del Toro
Format: On Demand
Starring: Íñigo Garcés, Eduardo Noriega, Federico Luppi, Irene Visedo, Fernando Tielve
Trailer

I'd first seen a trailer for The Devil's Backbone some years ago in an art haus theater. I don't remember what I'd gone there to see, but I remember keeping this Spanish movie in the back of my mind. So, on a dark and stormy recent night after a few martinis, I'd only barely convinced myself not to stop at the video store on the way home. On Demand, I reasoned, would have to suffice in the name of my budget (Grey Goose martinis are seldom cheap). But, I was lucky that night and happened upon The Devil's Backbone in the horror menu. It was just the perfect selection for my mood and one I'd seemed to have put off for too long. I remember seeing del Toro in person, at a special screening of an early film in Austin. Of course, he went on to direct Pan's Labrynth, so the credentials behind this movie are substatial.

Somewhere, in a rural area of war-torn Spain, there is an orphanage. An old widow, Carmen (played by Marisa Paredes), runs the boy's home with the gold left behind by her late husband. After, Carlos (Tielve) loses his father, family friends leave him in the care of Carmen. With his stash of comic books and wind-up toys, the boy makes fast friends. Jaime (Garcés) is the resident bully and he's not terribly impressed with Carlos, and maybe a little jelous. During his first night, Carlos learns that the orphanage harbors a secret - there's a ghost roaming about. He also learns that the young handyman, Jacinto (Noriega) has a thirst for gold. The war hovers nearer their doorsteps and yet their greatest threat may come from inside. Is it the little boy's ghost or the greedy Jacinto that will ruin them all? What horrible secret is Jaime privy to? Where is the gold hidden and who will come out of this place alive?

History not being my strong suit, I couldn't begin to tell you which famous Spanish war is raging in The Devil's Backbone. del Toro knows though, and he seems fond of showing its effects on children. In both this film and in Pan's Labrynth, he depicts the orphans of this particular entaglement. While not concentrating on the fighting itself, he chooses to explore the lives of who may have been left behind. I tend to sympathize with his choice. Often, history is told of heroes and noble generals, not the underestimated courage of people on the fringe. His focus is poinant and special.

No matter what language, good acting shines through. For a child actor, Ferando Tielve does an impressive job. The majority of the boys do what they do best - be boys. The best character by far, was Irene Visedo. She plays a tough, amputee widow with dignity and grace. Íñigo Garcés was a little less convincing and I think he was chosen mostly for his eye-candy factor (if you're into that sort of thing). His girlfriend, Conchita (played by Irene Visedo) is a noble character, but really little more than an ornament in this film. All around, half of the cast acted suburbly and the other half was so-so.

The Devil's Backbone is really a story within a story. The dual plot keeps things interesting and the perspective of the young characters makes the film refreshing. I liked the way the movie was shot, with plenty of dusty browns and shadows. I think the bomb might have been developed a little more as an aspect of the film. It's hinted at and maybe some of the symolism escaped me, but it could have played a bigger part. This movie is not as fanciful, even considering the ghost, as Pan's Labrynth and I believe that there was more room for that fantastic aspect. One thing's for certain though, I shouldn't have waited so long to see The Devil's Backbone.

Overall Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Hottie Rating: 1, maybe

Alternate Recommendation: Pan's Labrynth
Official SiteIMDB Page
The Austin Chronicle's review

***Note: If you found this review via IMDB, please let us know by leaving a comment. Thanks!***

Boy Eats Girl (2005)

Directed by: Stephen Bradley
Format: On Demand
Starring: Samantha Mumba, David Leon, Tadgh Murphy, Laurance Kinlan
Trailer

I have my issues with the free movies that come with my On Demand cable. Usually, it's hard to find anything worth the time to see. Most times, those movies are the ones you pay for. However, I've noticed that certain factors determine what goes onto the free menu and one of them seems to be country of origin. It appears that American audiences are reluctant to watch anything from foreign lands unless that movie has made it to the Oscars or has attained "cult status". Lucky for me, these are the kinds of movies I like to watch and I never balk at subtitles. While Boy Eats Girl does not require English subtitles, it does come from Ireland. Oh, and - bonus! - all the guys have delicious Irish accents!

Boy Eats Girl revolves around a foursome group of friends; Jessica, Nathan, Diggs and Henry. The four high-schoolers (although they all look like they're in their mid-twenties) have been friends for a while and Nathan's began to take a shine to Jessica. His friends arrange a meeting between the two to force Nathan to finally ask Jessica out. But, on that fateful night, Jessica's father won't let her out of the house and Nathan gets tired of waiting. As he's headed home, he catches sight of his potential girlfriend (who managed to sneak out eventually) in a car with another guy. His hopes dashed and his heart broken, he goes to his room and proceeds to drink heavily. As he's toying with the idea of hanging himself, his mother bursts in and accidentally completes the deed.

Previously, as his mother was painting a chapel, she'd stumbled across an ancient book of voodoo. So, she goes back to steal it and uses black magic to resurrect her son. As everyone knows though, if you mess with the dark arts, something's bound to go awry. Nathan wakes up the following morning with no recollection of the night's events and a terrible hunger he can't quite alleviate. He decides to show up at the school dance and ends up in a fight with the class bully. Guess who gets bitten. From that point forward, there's a string of gruesome incidents, eventually turning everyone in town into flesh-eating zombies.

If you've read a few of my reviews, you will have noticed that I heart gore. Boy Eats Girl does not disappoint in that regard. There's one scene in particular in which Jessica uses a piece of farm equipment to puree a group of attackers. It's lovely! Intestines spill, heads explode, internal organs are obliterated - in short, it's a lovely display! The dismembered pieces are a bit rubbery, but that can be easily overlooked in the name of comedy.

The essence of the film is one quarter romantic comedy, three fourths Shawn of the Dead. While the dialogue and the humor of Boy Eats Girl don't quite meet the level of the British film, it's not a total loss. For one thing, it wasn't nearly as hyped. The teenage team has the advantage of a stronger, faster Nathan who hasn't yet given in to the madness of the flesh. If you ask me, he should have eaten the class slut, but that's beside the point. The mother and son actually have a decent relationship, which is absent in most films about teenagers. The attraction between Nathan and Jessica is cute, but not particularly compelling. I was satisfied that the girl could kick ass. Plot-wise the movie was entertaining, not spectacular.

The cast is typically well-rounded; there's the slut, the bully, the dork and the stoner-types. Diggs (Murphy) and Henry (Kinlan) provide most of the comedic element. Mumba and Leon are okay actors and do quite a fair job. The worst cast member was probably Mark Huberman, who play class bully Samson. Random gang of zombies could have done a much better job of groaning and dragging their limbs. The worst they seem to do is hover about and gnash their teeth. There wouldn't have been anything wrong with a bit more horror.

So, as a discount rental or a free On Demand pick, Boy Eats Girl is a safe bet. It won't leave you in bed with the lights on and it won't have you holding your sides with laughter. On the other hand, the action and humor will hold your attention.

Overall Rating: 3
Hottie Rating: 3 (God, I love guys with accents!)

Alternate Recommendation: Fido
Official Site
IMDB Page
Dystopia Magazine review - Carol Sullivan is a bit more generous than I was.

***Note: If you found this review via IMDB, please let us know by leaving a comment. Thanks!***

Atonement (2007)

Directed by: Joe Wright
Format: On Demand
Starring: Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, James McAvoy, Romola Garai, Juno Temple
Trailer

**The movie is a Gummi Awards nominee for the Most Offensive Example of Animal Testing/Cruelty category.**

One of the great things I've discovered since I began The Gummi Awards contest is that I've been pushed outside my usual boundaries. Because I have committed to watch and review every movie nominated, I find myself venturing into genres I never would have otherwise. In fact, as much as I adore film and as often as I watch them, there are plenty that slip under my radar. I'd never even heard of Atonement prior to its nomination. It's not a movie I think I would have thought to see. I do enjoy drama, but only every so often and usually when it involves my favorite actors. I also steer clear of war movies in general and while Atonement doesn't center particularly around the war, it's a substantial aspect of the plot.

This movie takes place in London during the early part of the 1940s. Young Briony (Ronan) is a clever 13 year old girl. She was born into wealth and spends her time writing plays. She's got a crush on Robbie Turner (McAvoy), her elder of about 10 years, who works for her family. Robbie has fallen in love with Briony's older sister, Cecilia (Knightley). When Robbie writes a note to her, he gives it to Briony to deliver. But, it's the wrong note and when Briony sneaks a peek at it, she gets the idea that dear Robbie is a bit depraved. That very same night, she stumbles across the scene of a crime. Her cousin Lola is being raped and she catches the assailant in the act. Although she catches only a brief glimpse of the man, she tells the authorities that she's sure it was Robbie Turner.

Robbie is arrested and sentenced on Briony's testimony. Faced with doing time or joining the war effort, Robbie goes off to fight the Germans. Cecilia, who returns Robbie's love, commits to wait for him to return and shuns her family. Realizing what she's done by accusing the man her sister loves, Briony denys an education at Cambridge and enrolls in nursing school. While Robbie and Cecilia yearn to be together, Briony leads an almost nun-like existence, still writing and still hoping to make things right.

Make no mistake, Atonement is a serious drama. There's no comic relief and no airy atmosphere to distract from the tragedy. The love affair between Robbie and Cecilia is a tortured one full of longing, hope, and pain. Briony doesn't have it easy either. She is learning the full scope of consequences resulting from her action. Really, the story isn't about the pair of lovers, even though they get the majority of the screen time. It's truly about young Briony growing up and trying to cope with her actions. The plot is solid, well told and very moving. It's also inventive and original.

Atonement is superbly acted as well. I thought Ronan did the best of the three actresses who portray Briony. She's intense but childlike at the same time. McAvoy is so utterly charming that it's impossible not to fall in love with his character. Knightley is an actress that I haven't decided whether to like or not. I enjoyed her performance in The Jacket, but could barely stand her in the Pirates of the Caribbean films. Her portrayal of Cecilia in Atonement has swung her once again toward the positive verdict. Even the supporting cast does a wonderful job in each of their various roles. Lola is a veritable Lolita, but innocent all the same.

This movie was very depressing. Not on the scale of Eternal Sunshine, but close. However, I appreciate a film that makes me feel something over a bland romantic comedy. The love between the two main characters is palpable and I wanted every moment for them to be together. While it's Briony who's caused all the trouble, it's difficult to hate her completely. The ending was nicely done and unexpected. I love the originality of Atonement and the fact that it portrayed the horrors of war without making the leap to become a "war movie". It's a beautiful film and one that I recommend, as long as you have a box of tissues and a bottle of Prozac handy.

Overall Rating: 4
Hottie Rating: 4 1/2 (for the library scene)

Alternate Recommendation: The Illusionist
Official Site
IMDB Page
Salon.com review

***Note: If you found this review via IMDB, please let us know by leaving a comment. Thanks!***

Update: Director List

As you may have noticed, there's a little bit of maintenance going on here at GP. Our list of directors was getting a bit long. So, we've broken it up into sections. Now you can pinpoint a range of director names instead of searching through the entire list. If you're looking for our latest review, go straight to it by clicking in the New Reviews section in the left-hand nav bar.

Director List: Y thru Z

**Note: This list consists only of directors noted in my reviews, and only their movies that I have reviewed. It is not meant to be all inclusive by any means.***

Mennan Yapo

Premonition

David Yates

Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix

[A-C] [D-F] [G-I] [J-L] [M-O] [P-R] [S-U] [V-X]

Director List: V thru X

**Note: This list consists only of directors noted in my reviews, and only their movies that I have reviewed. It is not meant to be all inclusive by any means.***

Gore Verbinski

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

The Weather Man

Peter Weir

Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World

James Wong

Final Destination 3

Joe Wright

Atonement

[A-C] [D-F] [G-I] [J-L] [M-O] [P-R] [S-U] [Y-Z]

Director List: S thru U

**Note: This list consists only of directors noted in my reviews, and only their movies that I have reviewed. It is not meant to be all inclusive by any means.***

Tony Scott

Domino

Takashi Shimizu

The Grudge

M. Night Shyamalan

Lady In the Water
Unbreakable

Bryan Singer

Superman Returns

David Slade

Hard Candy

30 Days of Night

Christopher Smith

Creep

Stephen Sommers

Van Helsing

Steven Spielberg

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Munich

The Spierig Brothers

UnDead

John Stockwell

Turistas
Into the Blue

Bryan Taylor

Crank

[A-C] [D-F] [G-I] [J-L] [M-O] [P-R] [V-X] [Y-Z]

Director List: P thru R

**Note: This list consists only of directors noted in my reviews, and only their movies that I have reviewed. It is not meant to be all inclusive by any means.***

Danny Pang

The Messengers

George Pavlou

Rawhead Rex

Mark Pellington

The Mothman Prophecies

Sam Raimi

Spiderman 3

Harold Ramis

The Ice Harvest

Ivan Reitman

Evolution

Jason Reitman

Juno

Kevin Reynolds

The Count of Monte Cristo

George A. Romero

Land of the Dead

Gary Ross

Seabiscuit

[A-C] [D-F] [G-I] [J-L] [M-O] [S-U] [V-X] [Y-Z]

Director List: M thru O

**Note: This list consists only of directors noted in my reviews, and only their movies that I have reviewed. It is not meant to be all inclusive by any means.***

Terrence Malick

The New World

Michael Mann

Collateral

Greg Marcks

11:14

Neil Marshall

The Descent

John Maybury

The Jacket

Paul McGuigan

Lucky Number Slevin

Adam McKay

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Hiroyuki Morita

The Cat Returns (a.k.a. Neko No Ongaeshi)

Hideo Nakata

The Ring Two

Mark Neveldine

Crank

Andrew Niccol

Lord of War

Christopher Nolan

The Prestige

The Dark Knight

Patrick O'Brien

Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World

[A-C] [D-F] [G-I] [J-L] [P-R] [S-U] [V-X] [Y-Z]

Masayuki Ochiai

Shutter

Director List: J thru L

**Note: This list consists only of directors noted in my reviews, and only their movies that I have reviewed. It is not meant to be all inclusive by any means.***

Lewis Jackson

Christmas Evil a.k.a. You Better Watch Out

Norman Jewison

Only You

Fritz Lang

M

Francis Lawrence

Constantine

I Am Legend

Ang Lee

Brokeback Mountain

Jonathan Liebesman

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning

Richard Linklater

A Scanner Darkly

[A-C] [D-F] [G-I] [M-O] [P-R] [S-U] [V-X] [Y-Z]

Director List: G thru I

**Note: This list consists only of directors noted in my reviews, and only their movies that I have reviewed. It is not meant to be all inclusive by any means.***

Christophe Gans

Silent Hill

Mackye Gruber

The Butterfly Effect (with Eric Bress)

Christopher Guest

Best In Show

Mikael Hafstrom

Derailed

1408

Michael Hamilton-Wright

The Mangler 2

Mary Harron

The Notorious Bettie Page

Hal Hartley

Fay Grim

Alfred Hitchcock

Notorious

Mike Hodges

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead

Ron Howard

The Da Vinci Code

Shuqin Huang

A Soul Haunted By Painting

Peter Hyams

A Sound of Thunder

Running Scared - 1986

Alejandro González Iñárritu

Babel

[A-C] [D-F] [J-L] [M-O] [P-R] [S-U] [V-X] [Y-Z]

Director List: D thru F

**Note: This list consists only of directors noted in my reviews, and only their movies that I have reviewed. It is not meant to be all inclusive by any means.***

Jonathan Dayton

Little Miss Sunshine

Jan de Bont

The Haunting

Guillermo del Toro

The Devil's Backbone

Jon Favreau

Iron Man

Gary Fleder

Runaway Jury

John Flynn

Brainscan

Marc Forster

Stranger Than Fiction

[A-C] [G-I] [J-L] [M-O] [P-R] [S-U] [V-X] [Y-Z]

Director List: A thru C

**Note: This list consists only of directors noted in my reviews, and only their movies that I have reviewed. It is not meant to be all-inclusive by any means.***

Wes Anderson

The Darjeeling Limited

Darren Aronofsky

The Fountain

Brian Avenet-Bradley

Dark Remains

Timur Bekmambetov

Night Watch a.k.a Nochnoy Dozor

Wanted

Peter Berg

Hancock

Brian Bertino

The Strangers

Stephen Bradley

Boy Eats Girl

Eric Bress

The Butterfly Effect (with Mackye Gruber)

Tim Burton

Big Fish

Sleepy Hollow

Martin Campbell

Casino Royale

Alfonso Caurón

Great Expectations

Jay Chandrasekhar

Beerfest

Larry Charles

Borat: Cultural Learnings of American for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

Oxide Pang Chun

The Messengers

Ethan & Joel Coen

No Country for Old Men
Burn After Reading

Chris Columbus

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone

Sophia Coppola

Marie Antoinette

Cameron Crowe

Almost Famous

Andrew Currie

Fido

[D-F] [G-I] [J-L] [M-O] [P-R] [S-U] [V-X] [Y-Z]

Update

Often times, we here at GP get the urge to expand on a topic that reaches outside of the scope of one film. Often, it centers around a particular director, or a perceived problem about the industry in general.

At the end of each post, you will find a list of tags or labels. Follow these links to find all of the posts tagged with that particular word or phrase. For instance, if you look at the review for Premonition, you will find 6 links at the bottom. These links are the first letter of the movie title (P), the name of the director (Yapo), the year the film was released (2007), the genre (Drama), the format in which the movie was viewed (DVD) and, since Premonition was nominated for an award, the phrase (gummi awards). Clicking on any one of these links will take you to a list of all the posts that share that link. So, every movie at GP that begins with the letter P can be reached by clicking the P at the bottom of the post.

To satisfy our need to explore broad topics here at GP, we've decided to add a new category - Editorials. The editorials will be titled as such and be tagged as well. There will also be a link added to the left nav bar that leads to all of the editorials. We hope you will enjoy reading these posts as much as you enjoy reading our reviews! Editorials in the works - Movies vs. Television, The Problem with Theaters, To Sub or To Dub, and What To Look For When Renting.

The Dark Knight (2008)

Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Format: Theater
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Trailer

Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, Daniel Craig - Bond. Michael Keaton, George Clooney, Val Kilmer, Christain Bale - Batman. No matter who you put in the suit, some franchises live on. Some men fill out the suit better. Some men play the ladies' man with more finesse. But no matter how good or how bad, people always flock to the characters they know the best. That, my friends, is why movies like the 007 series and the Batman series will be revisited by the film industry over and over again. After Batman and Robin in 1997, I thought Hollywood had murdered my favorite caped crusader. When Batman Begins resurrected Gotham in 2005, my hopes were lifted a bit. So, did Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale disappoint in round 2? Does Heath Ledger's last performance live up to the "legendary" status his death has created?

In The Dark Knight, Batman is beginning to get a little bit of help. Officer Gordon (Oldman) has become Commissioner Gordon and a new district attorney, Harvey Dent (Eckhart), is ambitious enough to take on the mob. It looks as if Gotham City may finally see a ray of light at the end of a dark reign of crime. Hold off on that sigh of relief though, because organized crime may not be the biggest menace the city faces. A new face has arrived to challenge Batman, and it's a painted one. The Joker's got no fingerprints and no identity and he doesn't seem to crave power or money. So, how do you fight a man you don't understand? How do you deal with this new flavor of criminal?

In the original comic book series, The Dark Knight represented a more grim and introspective side of Batman. He was a Batman with a shadow over his head and one who was inherently more dangerous. But, the movie version doesn't present that same troubled hero. Instead, it makes Harvey Dent the shining light and Batman not much more than a ready and willing scapegoat. The plot, however, has intensified since Batman Begins. There's more at stake and not everyone will come out alive or unharmed. The appearance of The Joker does make an impact and it isn't business as usual anymore. There's more of a puzzle to be solved in this new movie. The new movie isn't without its' faults, however. There are a lot of unanswered questions at the end of 152 minutes. What happened to the Chinese crook who was so prominent a threat in the beginning? How did The Scarecrow get out of custody? Why isn't Wayne all that upset that his girlfriend is dating Dent?

Whenever a new actor comes along to fill the shoes of another, there's always a comparison. So, naturally, the question comes about, "Is Heath Ledger as good as Jack Nicholson as The Joker?" Well, my answer to that is, "perspective". It was 1989 when Nicholson donned the purple suit and clown makeup of Batman's greatest foe. There were a different set of expectations back then, and Nicholson filled them memorably. But, it's nearly twenty years since that moment and we're all expecting something different. Ledger is not the same Joker as Nicholson was. But, he wasn't trying to be. Initially, when I saw the trailers for The Dark Knight, I had the opposite impression. However, Ledger is a more thoughful character. There's more mystery behind him and a certain twisted logic that added depth. There's no goofy side this time. Granted, he wasn't nearly as "dark" as everyone told me he would be. Nonetheless, I loved him. Ledger did not disappoint.

Bale, as in the last film, isn't quite as satisfying. He doesn't suit the playboy Wayne role as well and he doesn't look as good in the mask. Something about Bale's mouth has always bugged me. And, what's with the voice? Caine as Alfred plays the perfect, if nagging, butler of Wayne manor. Morgan Freeman is a great new addition to the Bat-verse as Gotham's version of Q. Maggie Gyllenhaal was just annoying in The Dark Kight, although she wasn't bad in the previous film. Oldman is the perfect choice for Gordon and I applaud that casting call in particular.

Ever since the death of Ledger, The Dark Knight has been hyped beyond reason. There was a lot of expectation. I, for one, judged it even more harshly than I might have otherwise; approached the movie with more skepticism. It wasn't the directing, the script or the production team that made this movie a success. It was the actors. My faith in Batman remains strong. I never noticed the time go by.

Overall Rating: 3 1/2
Hottie Rating: Hmm...2

Alternate Recommendation: Batman
Official Site
IMDB Site
rave Rolling Stone review

***Note: If you found this review via IMDB, please let us know by leaving a comment. Thanks!***

Beerfest (2006)

Trailer

Directed by: Jay Chandrasekhar
Format: DVD - Unrated
DVD Features: Commentary, party foul featurette, frog fluffer featurette, deleted scenes, trailer
Starring: Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske, Cloris Leachman, Steve Lemme, Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan

**This movie was nominated for a Gummi Award in the Most Nauseating Vomit Scene category.**

America's favorite pastime? You think it's baseball? Well, I think it's drinking! I'd bet a case of your favorite brew that more people in this country drink than watch baseball. After all, what goes better at the ballpark than a pint and a bag of peanuts? So, it stands to reason that a few frat boy-ish comedies would be made about the golden elixer. If America is populated with beer-guzzling folks, what about Europe? More specifically, the famous land of Octoberfest - Germany?!

In Beerfest, two brothers, Jan and Todd Wolfhouse (Soter & Stolhanske), travel to Germany to deliver the remains of their grandfather. At Octoberfest, they manage to set off a Rube Goldberg type fiasco. Just as they're making their escape, the man their grandmother sent them to meet, Mr. Schniedelwichsen (Bjørn Johnson), rescues them and delivers them to the "real" drinking match - Beerfest! At this underground beer-lympics they learn about their family's past and have their butts kicked by the German drinking team. After returning to America in disgrace, they decide to gather the ultimate team of brew drinkers and train for next year's games.

This movie is sort of a Fight Club/Olympic Games mashup. There are a few lame gags - such as the German team spying on the Wolfhouse's in a submarine and the Jewish member of the team joining solely to beat the Germany - that will make you roll your eyes. It's not without its share of gratutious naked breasts either. There's even a frog ejaculating scene, just for gross-factor. The plot is very straightforward, as expected, and doesn't take a genius to understand. The German team is decidedly retarded, but not nearly as amusing as the Nihilists in The Big Lebowski. The movie does poke fun at itself. After one of the teammembers unexpectedly leaves the group, his twin brother shows up, needing no training and asking to be called by the same name. It's mockingly convenient.

What about dialogue? As typical of most movies of its ilk, Beerfest has a gaggle of puns and one liners. However, they manage not to drill them into the ground and a few lines incited a giggle or two ("Let's go get sour on some Krauts?"). The sight gags are on the same level. There's a sausage scene that reminded me of a few Austin Powers routines.

As befitting of a well-rounded team, there's a variety of characters involved in Beerfest. The director, Jay Chandraskehar, plays Barry - a prodigy at Quarters and ex prostitute. Landfill, played by Heffernan, is a hot-dog eating champ who used to work at the local brewery. The requisite geek on the team is Fink (Lemme) who has worked out the science of drinking. Together, they make a hilarious group and each actor has his moment. Cloris Leachman is delightful as the elderly German grandmother.

For the most part, comedy is not my bag. I've grown tired of the sight gags and potty humor. I like my laughs delivered in clever quips and sarcastic remarks. As I'm fond of saying, "I'm a Marx Bros. not a Three Stooges." From time to time though, I will indulge in a Scary Movie or two. I had my concerns about renting Beerfest and honestly only did so because of the rules of The Gummi Awards. Surprisingly, Beerfest wasn't half bad. I enjoyed the characters, the plot and the humor. It wasn't entirely low-brow either. The DVD production and special features were also above par. I'm happy with Beerfest and definately recommend checking it out at least once. It's even better with a few drinks under your belt!

Overall Rating: 3 1/2
Hottie Rating: 1 (Barry kinda has it goin' on)

Alternate Recommendation: The Big Lebowski
Offical Site
IMDB Page
Reel.com Review

***Note: If you found this review via IMDB, please let us know by leaving a comment. Thanks!***

Almost Famous (2000)

Directed by: Cameron Crowe
Format: DVD
DVD Features: making of, production notes, cast, filmmakers, trailer, Rolling Stone articles, music video
Starring: Patrick Fugit, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson, Jason Lee, Philip Seymour Hoffman

**This movie has received a Gummi Award nomination for Most Inappropriate Musical Sequence.**

Have you ever wanted to shirk your responsibilities, leave your job, leave your life and run off to follow your favorite band? The Dead Heads did it back in the day. If I was skinnier, prettier and 10 years younger, I'd run off and follow mine. Have you ever waited outside a tour bus, hoping you'd see your favorite singer, your favorite drummer and maybe, just maybe they'd take special appreciation of you and ask you to come on board? If I won the lottery, I guarantee you that I'd be following a tour bus (and blogging the whole while).

In Almost Famous, William Miller is a young boy when his older sister decides to leave home and tour the world aboard an airline. As she departs, she whispers to William that his future is awaiting him under his bed. There, he discovers a suitcase stocked with a prime selection of rock records (most of them, I recognize from my parents' collection that I used to raid as a kid). Years later, in 1973, he meets music critic Lester Bangs (Hoffman) who becomes his mentor. William publishes his writing through an underground magazine and one fateful day, Rolling Stone takes notice. They offer him $1k to follow the band Stillwater on tour.

William's mother reluctantly allows him to flee the nest, provided that there are "no drugs" involved. Along the way, he meets rock legends, a girl named Penny Lane, almost dies in a plane crash and learns about life on the road. He's torn between telling the objective truth and becoming one of the groupies. But his publisher warns him, "We already have Hunter Thompson". His mentor reminds him to always be, "honest and unmerciful".

Although the movie takes place in the Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin days, there isn't a heavy focus on period dress or psychodelic drugs. It's not without its celebrity look-alikes, mind you, but the film doesn't focus on the crazy hippie aspect of Rock 'N' Roll the way Stone's The Doors did. One odd symbol that I noticed was Lester's red telephone. It's like the Bat-phone in the Adam West series, the one that Commisioner Gordon picked up whenever there was trouble.

The acting in Almost Famous is sturdy, but not spectacular. One of the best characters, Penny Lane (Hudson), has a great line. In regards to her "non-groupie" brigade of girls and their rock-star relations, she says, "I always tell the girls, 'Never take it seriously. If you never take it seriously, you never get hurt. If you never get hurt, you always have fun. And if you ever get lonely, you just go to the record store and visit your friends." Despite the great line, Lane doesn't follow her own advice. But, they could have gotten anyone to fill Penny Lane's shoes. The best acting was given by the Stillwater members themselves - well, Billy Crudup as the guitarist Russel Hammond (not a real band member?) and Jason Lee as the vocalist Jeff Bebe.

I really enjoyed Almost Famous. It takes the viewer on a tour behind stages, but without all of the drugs and debauchary that most rock-band movies rely on. The main character, William, never loses his nievete and innocence. From the perspective of a rock fan, it's a vicarious journey no matter which band you adore. From the perspective of a critic, it shines a little ray of hope. And from the viewpoint of a movie lover, although not as deep and thoughtful as some, this film is a winner. It might even make it into my permanent collection.

Overall Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Hottie Rating: eh...2 stars (props to the groupie life)

Alternate Recommendation: Velvet Goldmine
Official Site
IMDB Page
Rolling Stone review (and yes, I'm aware of the irony)

***Note: If you found this review via IMDB, please let us know by leaving a comment. Thanks!***

Links: Vomit Editorial

I came across this article online today and since it deals with one of the Gummi Awards categories, I thought I'd post a link to it for your amusement. Although I'm not in complete agreement with everything the author has to say, I think it's well-written and considerate.

Premonition (2007)

Directed by: Mennan Yapo
Format: DVD
DVD Features: Commentary, deleted scenes, gag reel, making of featurette, precognition featurettes, previews
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Julian McMahon, Amber Valletta, Peter Stormare

**This movie has recieved a Gummi Awards nomination for Most Abrupt and/or Confusing Ending.***

Premonitions; visions of the future. Believe it or not, I've had them. No, I don't claim to be psychic. I can't tell you who you're going to marry or what's going to happen tomorrow, but I have had dreams that came true. My grandmother has too. She dreamed about Kennedy. I dreamed about 9-11. Sounds kind of loopy, I know. The trouble is, I can never tell if it's just a dream or if it will happen. It's unreliable. But, if you watch the precognition featurette on this DVD, you'll find out that some people's visions are much more dependable. It presents a paradox. Is the future certain? Can you alter it if you know about it? Would you choose to have this ability if you could? Would you like to know the future, even if you couldn't change it? There has been a lot of research on the subject, a lot of speculation, and a lot of movies. Premonition is one of them.

Linda Hanson wakes up one morning and goes about her homemaker routine as usual. She takes the kids to school, she does the laundry and she goes for a jog. Then, there's a knock at her door. The officer on her portch tells her that her husband has been in a fatal car accident. Predictably, she's in shock and grief sets in. That night, she falls asleep on her sofa and the next morning, everything has changed. Not because her husband is gone, not because her children are fatherless, but because her husband...is in the shower! The next morning, she walks downstairs to find a funeral and the next, her husband is cooking pancakes for the kids. Is she going mad, she wonders? She seeks help. She tries a doctor, she tries a priest, and when she realizes that she's not insane, she tries to stop it. But, after she finds out why her husband has been so distant, does she still want to?

Although there isn't much to the movie visually (i.e. special effects, period costume), there is a lot of symbolism in Premonition. Images of crows are consistent throughout the film and Linda's daughters are working on a jigsaw puzzle in the story. The crows, naturally, giving a feeling of forebodeing and the puzzle metaphorically representing the clues and events that Linda is piecing together in the plot. The two symbols also serve to show the relative time involved. Little things like that really help the viewers in movies like these, but aren't terrbily subtle in this film.

The premonition that Linda has in the movie feels less like visions of the future and more like time travel. She moves through the movie with memories intact, while people she saw yesterday, don't know her name the next. Which, of course, presents certain paradox, just like the time travel theory. If you can see the future, can you change it? And if you can, then does it really mean you predicted the future? Premonition gets through the maze of "what if?"s fairly easily, but we're left with some questions. Whether or not she can save her husband is a big one, but not something I'm going to give away here. Some of mine were, "Who's really that close to their life insurance agent?", "What churches have cushioned pews?" and, "Why the Hell doesn't she call 9-11?"

I've never been a Sandra Bullock fan, nor counted her as one of the world's great actresses. However, I think she does a decent job in Premonition. Bullock convincingly portrays a woman dealing with great loss, motherhood and a failing grip on sanity. It's easy to take her seriously in the role of Linda Hanson; put yourself in her shoes. Her husband, Jim (played by Julian McMahon) is mostly a prick. The couple are having the usual marital issues. McMahon is passable in the role, but not extraordinary. Playing Linda's doctor, is Peter Stormare. You might remember him as the homicidal kidnapper in Fargo. With that association, I can never see him in a film and not consider him a "bad guy". And really, he isn't such a "good guy" in Premonition either. McMahon is good at what he does, but he doesn't seem to have much range.

When I went to the video store to check out this movie, I was thinking that, for some odd reason, this was the one about the lake house with Keanu Reeves. When I plugged it into the DVD player, I realized that I'd already seen this movie! So, it's an amusing side note that I was renting a movie that I'd seen in the past. For a Hollywood film, with a fairly tame plotline, Premonition wasn't half bad. It even raised some ponderous questions. At one point in the film, Linda is talking to her priest (Jude Ciccolella) in an attempt to get some direction. He mentions the theory that "nature abhorrs a vaccuum, even spiritually", basically amounting to her visions being gifted to her because of a lack of faith. I found that an interesting subject and not totally off the wall, even considering (or maybe more due to) my athiesm.

In the end, I don't think Premonition was a complete waste of time. It won't make it into my personal collection, but my initial chagrin at having rented it twice didn't sustain itself. If you want to see Bullock in a reputable role and you want a drama that's not overwhelmingly deep, Premonition might be the rental for you. It was thought-provoking on some levels, but lacked the sort of spice, style and excitement that makes truly entertaining cinema. And thusly, I endow the following rating.

Overall Rating: 2 1/2 stars
Hottie Rating: 0 stars

Alternate Recommendation: Memento
Official Site
IMDB Page
Reel.com review

***Note: If you found this review via IMDB, please let us know by leaving a comment. Thanks!***

Running Scared (1986)

Directed by: Peter Hyams
Format: DVD
DVD Features: Outtakes/Behind the scenes, trailer
Starring: Billy Crystal, Gregory Hines, Dan Hedaya, Joe Pantoliano

**This movies has been nominated for a Gummi Award in the Best Dialogue category.**

I'm old enough to remember the 1980's. The hair, the spandex, the sport coats...the legwarmers (shudder). If there was a committee to suppress the comeback of legwarmers, I'd join up. As much as I detest the fashion and a great majority of the music from that decade, there are moments when I recall it with amusement. Thoses moments are mostly connected to the period's rare gems of film. I've ranted before about all of the great movies I remember from the 80's, bit it's the advances in technology that I get a kick out of. There's just something about a cell phone the size of a dictionary that cracks me up. Yes, Running Scared features one such phone and even a box of 8-track tapes!

Running Scared is a mid-eighties "buddy cop" comedy. Danny Costanzo (Crystal) and Ray Hughes (Hines) are officers with The Chicago Police Department. The pair are a little rough around the edges and don't always do things by the book. Nevertheless, they get the job done. Their latest case involves a known drug smuggler - Julio Gonzales (Jimmy Smits), who has been recently released from prison and is already up to no good. Hughes and Costanzo are on the case, sure that something smells fishy but lack the evidence to back up their hunch. They capture one of Gonzales' henchmen, Snake (Pontoliano) and convince him to wear a wire - unaware that they're about to tangle an undercover op.

The banter between the two partners is often clever and amusing. In one scene, the pair get held up by a couple of petty theives. Far from being rattled, Costanzo and Hughes exchange whitty remarks, "Pointing a gun at a police officer - can we waste them for that?" They also take quite a bit of liberty with The Miranda Rights. What makes the comedy here so effective is the delivery. Each line is delivered with a straight face, expert timing and so nonchalant that they're often easy to miss.

The plot, on the other hand, leaves something to be desired. It's very typical of the genre and the era. In Running Scared, can be found the following: the requisite hard ass Sargent, the suspended leave of absence for bad behavior, the pissed off ex wife and the familiar "bad guy kidnaps loved ones" scenario. But, certain scenes make up for the unoriginal content. I particularly enjoyed the car chase on the train tracks, the rigged police line-up and the ways Hughes finds to distract his lover's boyfriend. One thing I didn't expect was the ending. Have you seen the Simpson's "Schwarzenegger/Mendoza" send up? Well, without giving too much away, I'll just say that it always seems to be a curse when cops decide to retire.

I got more than I'd hoped for with Running Scared. I expected to groan and roll my eyes a lot, but I didn't expect to laugh. I expected cheesy one-liners, race related humor and terrible hair. I even expected Hines to do some dancing. On all counts, I was pleasantly surprised. There's a reason Crystal was a star.

Overall Rating: 3 1/2
Hottie Rating: 0

Alternate Recommendation: Rush Hour
Official Site (none found)
IMDB Page
DVD Verdict review (and I swear I wrote my review before I read this one!)

***Note: If you found this review via IMDB, please let us know by leaving a comment. Thanks!***

Best in Show (2000)

Directed by: Christopher Guest
Format: DVD
DVD Features: commentary, added scenes, trailer, cast & crew
Starring: Eugene Levy, Cahterine O'Hara, Perker Posey, Christopher Guest
Trailer

***A character in this movie, Sherri Ann Cabot (Jennifer Coolidge), has received a Gummi Award nomination for Dumbest Blonde.***

If you're a dog lover, or just an animal enthusiast, you might have seen the Eukanuba or the Westminster dog shows. The preening, the prancing, the judging. They're the dog world's version of The Ms. America Pagaent. Believe it or not, there is a lot of money to be had in this business. Winners can charge sky-high fees for breeding, be hired for endorsements and the blue ribbon comes with a great deal of prestige. For some, this is the Super Bowl, the Stanley Cup, the pinnacle achievement for handlers, owners and breeders alike. If you're not in the business, all of the special doggie diets and pet psychologists might seem a trifle silly. Christopher Guest took notice of all the silliness and fashioned a mock-umentary entitled Best In Show.

Best In Show follows the lives of five eccentric groups of contestants and their canines as they make their way through The Mayflower Dog Show. At home, contestants are interviewed about their backgrounds. Preparing for the big event are hotel staff, convention centers, judges and announcers. As the pressure mounts, and the big day is at hand, tempers flare, complications arise and the true characters of man and dog alike are revealed.

The key element of Best In Show is really the colorful cast of characters. The previous winners are at the Mayflower are the owner and handler of Rhapsody In White, a pristine white poodle. Sherri Ann Cabot (Jennifer Coolidge) is the wealthy and dim-whitted dog owner who travels to Philadelphia with Rhapsody's handler Christy Cummings (Jane Lynch). Equally ambitious are Megan and Hamilton Swan, two attorneys with the drive to take their Weimaraner to the top. The flamboyant owners of a little Shih Tzu, Stefan Vanderhoof and Scott Donaln, want to prance home with the blue ribbon as well. Another pair of contenders, Cookie and Gerry Fleck are the hometown types with their terrier, Winkie, in the running. Rounding out the contenders are Harlan Pepper and his hound dog.

There are a group of prize-winning scenes in Best In Show. One of which is the busy bee scene. The two owners of the Weimaraner are unbelieveably high strung. Posey plays the wife, Megan Swan, and when the couple lose the dog's favorite toy, a "busy bee", Megan tears apart their hotel room to find it. Then, she tears apart the mild-mannered petshop clerk downstairs. The amusing thing is that the dog involved could care less and Swan demonstrates that she clearly knows nothing about her dog. The couple who own the Shih Tzu are quite a pair as well. Scott is a flambouant homosexual, who amuses himself by shocking the straight-folk. His partner, Stefan is a more reserved queen and hairdresser. The two form an Odd Couple sort of relationship which garnered a few chuckles from yours truly. Sherri Ann Cabot is well-deserving for a Dumbest Blonde prize (although the verdict's still out). At one point in the movie, she steps up to the consession stand and orders a tub of popcorn, "half salt, half butter". Then, she muches away while awaiting a message from herself. The pair of commentators is also a quirky pair. Buck Laughlin (played by Fred Willard) handles the show as a layman, devoid of any sense of delicacy or knowledge of breeds. His counterpart, Trevor Beckwith (Jim Piddock) is the stuffy yet knowledgable gentleman. The pair play off of each other neatly.

Each of the actors in this movie play their characters with a straight face and pinpoint delivery. There really wasn't one player that I thought screwed the pooch on this one. I applaud all of the cast in Best In Show. Somewhat underappreciated, I suspect, are the dog actors in the movie. It's easy to forget that each of the animals in the film had to be trained, handled and rehearsed for their roles as well. The relationship each of the actors has with the dogs didn't just develop overnight. So, I'd like to give a great paws-up to all of the four-legged cast. The Rhapsody In White poodle was the best behaved and most convincing of the group (although the dog's real name is impossibly long).

Coming from the perspective of someone who's familiar with championship dog shows as a spectator, I thought Best In Show was a good laugh. It makes relentless fun of the obsessive dog showing crowd, but holds on to a realism that makes the comedy even more potent. As a someone who isn't typically a comedy viewer, it caters to my sense of humor and doesn't rely heavily on sight gags and low-brow fart jokes. So, if you're a dog lover or even a Eugene Levy fan, go out and rent Best in Show and have a laugh.

Overall Rating: 3 1/2
Hottie Rating: 0

Alternate Recommendation: This is Spinal Tap
Official Site
IMDB Page
Reel.com review

***Note: If you found this review via IMDB, please let us know by leaving a comment. Thanks!***