Cabin in the Woods (2012)

Cabin in the Woods (2012)

Directed by: Drew Goddard
Starring: Fran Kranz, Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth
Trailer

I feel that it's necessary to begin my review with a few qualifiers. First of all, I am a late-comer to Joss Whedon fandom. It took insistent recommendations from close friends (i.e. peer pressure) to get me to watch my first season of Buffy. Once I did, I jumped in with both feet and never looked back. So, this review of his latest creative endeavor will naturally be colored by that slavish devotion that grips many of Whedon's fans.  Secondly, any reader of Gummi Popcorn will quickly surmise that I'm big on horror. But, I'm also very bored with it. There are times when the usual five-kids-in-a-cabin trope is just what the doctor ordered. When I'm sick at home, I eat lots of soup and watch teenagers get slashed by forest-dwelling psychos, hockey-mask-donning lunatics and ironic twists of fate. That's just the way I'm wired. However, that same formula has been used so often that it has become a joke. And now we get to how the two subjects are related.

As the trailer indicates, there's more going on here than what we as an audience might expect. Yes, there are the stereotypical victims - the blonde sexpot, the confident jock, the dowdy smart girl, the sensitive intellectual, and the pot-smoking loser - however, these are all just manipulations. There is a control room, behind the scenes, that oversees the most critical of decisions (do they stick together or split up?) while allowing enough rope for the characters to hang themselves with. And that's why Cabin in the Woods is not like any horror movie you've seen before.

What I liked about this film is that the creators know what audiences have become accustomed to and built a story behind it. They've added another layer of muscle just under the sagging skin of the horror genre. When, at the end of the film, that pallid flesh is ripped away, it is torn with reckless abandon by every manner of beasts let loose from darkened closets, illuminated legends and feverish nightmares. And yes - it's reminiscent of an episode of Buffy. And yes - it's hilarious.

Whedon has his finger firmly on the pulse of pop culture. He seems to have an innate ability to work subtle but relevant humor into even the worst situations, using a lingo that reverberates with currency. (I imagine him stalking groups of teenagers with a flip phone just to pick up their speech patterns, but I digress.) His comic timing is rarely less than perfect. The writing for Cabin in the Woods reflects that talent, in much the same way Whedon's other creations do.

That being said, I don't expect this film to explode the box office. While it doesn't blatantly cater to Whedon fans (there are no cheesy cameos from Boreanaz or Gellar), it might be a little too offbeat for mainstream audiences. After all, not everyone appreciates having the rug pulled out from underneath them.

Bechdel Test Results: Fail
Second Opinion

Hottie Rating: 4 of 5 (for wolf/girl make-out scene)
Overall Rating: 5 of 5 (this one goes on my top 5 list)

Burn After Reading (2008)

Directed by: Ethan & Joel Coen
Format: Theater
Starring: Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand
Trailer

There are certain directors who can always get me to fill a seat in the theater. The Coens are two of them. Although I've been burned before by the dynamic duo, I will allow that everyone makes mistakes and they haven't illed so much as to cancel themselves from my list of favorites. Burn After Reading was certainly on my list of "what to see" as soon as I saw the trailer. So, when someone offered to take me to a film Friday night, I immediately knew which one I wanted to go to. Knowing that my movie companion was a little on the conservative side (I don't mean politically), I took the chance that she'd appreciate something a little offbeat, but also oddly amusing. At least, that's what I was hoping for...

Burn After Reading is billed as a "spy comedy", but I wouldn't really classify it that way (Get Smart fits the description more). The whole thing begins with Linda Litzke (McDormand) who is a single woman desperate to feel attractive. To do so, she believes, will take a series of expensive operations. Since her insurance refuses her coverage, she is forced to seek other means of financing her endeavors. When her coworkers at the local gym discover a CD loaded with suspicious documents, she sees her chance at making a little cash. The man that she and gym-mate Chad (Pitt) make a clumsy attempt to blackmail is indeed former CIA agent, Osbourne Cox (Malkovich). The reason he's "former" is because he's got some booze-related problems and his wife, Katie (Swinton) is preparing to divorce him for attractive Treasury agent Harry Pfarrer. Pfarrer, despite the fact that he loves his wife, is an habitual cheater. Not only is he sneaking around with Cox's wife, he also manages to get into Litzke's undergarments. As if that isn't confusing enough, add in the rest of the CIA, the Russians, a few divorce attorneys and an unrequited love. Oy.

I've noticed that many great directors, the Coens included of course, choose to work with the same actors on a regular basis. It almost seems like a group of friends making movies for their own entertainment. Among the Coens regulars are Francis McDormand (Fargo, Blood Simple, Raising Arizona, Miller's Crossing) and George Clooney (O Brother, Where Art Thou?). McDormand is a fantabulous actress without a doubt. She's not as astoundingly impressive as she was in Fargo, but it's easy to see why she's got a career. Clooney's Pfarrer is the most amusing character here by far (I almost peed). He's also clearly a dirt bag for his wife's sake, but is really rather human by the end. Excellently played. Malkovich is really creepy and despicable as Cox. He didn't get any sympathy from me at all. Pitt is dumb, but lovable and takes a respectable break from the heartthrob role.

Burn After Reading does have some unsettling scenes. The overall tone of the movie is amusement and lighthearted mishaps. So, when a couple of graphicly violent shots disrupt that tone, they're all the more disturbing. That doesn't, however, make them negative aspects of the movie. In an industry saturated with explosions, zombie guts and gunfire, it's easy to see violence as commonplace. In this film, however, it has a similar effect as it might in real life. Imagine you're going to retrieve your Sunday morning newspaper from your carefully manicured suburban front lawn. You reach down, carful to keep your robe from opening and look up just in time to see the neighbor hack the paperboy's neck with a hatchet. Blood squirts everywhere and it just ruins your whole day. That's what I mean by disturbing.

I don't think I'll ever be the same after O Brother, Where Art Thou, but I think I can lower my guard just a bit. After two solid flicks (No Country for Old Men included), the Coens are proving they haven't lost their touch (although they do remind me of the guys from Myth Busters). As a fan of the two directors, I highly recommend the film. As your average movie goer, it might not be what you're expecting, but it will be worth the admission price. Go and see it now, or rent it later, but don't let it escape you either way.

Overall Rating: 4 stars
Hottie Rating: 3 stars (for Clooney/Pitt combo)

Alternate Recommendation: Blood Simple
Official Site
IMDB Page
Rolling Stone review - in which Peter Travers tries to force some type of social commentary on the picture.

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!***

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!***

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!***

The Darjeeling LImited (2007)

Directed by: Wes Anderson
Format: DVD
DVD Features: trailer, featurette, other trailers
Starring: Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson, Angelica Huston
Trailer

India. It's a country I've never been to, but have long wanted to visit. When I was quite young, I saw The Little Princess, starring Shirley Temple. Even though the movie takes place in Africa, it occurs during the British occupation of that country and Sara Crewe (Temple) has an Indian servant (The British occupied that country as well). Although her young servant has a small role in the film, that is when my interest in the far away land was first roused. Since then, I've read a few wonderful novels (The God of Small Things by Anrundhati Roy and The Moor's Last Sigh by Salmon Rushdie) that have kept the mistuque of India alive in my imagination. In Wes Anderson's latest film, The Darjeeling Limited, the beauty of this country is once again brought to life.

Three brothers, Francis, Peter and Jack Whitman have not spoken in a year. The eldest, Francis, has decided that the three of them need to take a spiritual journey; to reconnect and to visit their estranged mother. They rondevous aboard a train in India, The Darjeeling Limited, and travel across the country together. Along the way, Francis' carefully laid plans go awry, their mother sends word that they're unwelcome and a poisonous snake gets them kicked off the train. Aside from their immediate troubles, each man has unresolved issues of their own.

The visual appeal of this film lies primarily in the set design. The train itself is a work of art and filming aboard a moving locomotive presents challenges of its own. Like most of Wes Anderson's other works, The Darjeeling Limited feels almost like a play insofar as the set is concerned. Unlike The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, there are no fantastic creatures aboard.

Although I was terribly disappointed in Jason Schwartzman as Louis XVI (Marie Anoinette), he has been in most, if not all, of the Wes Anderson movies. So, it's not surprising to find him in the cast of this one. He seems well suited to the director's needs and performs wonderfully in The Darjeeling Limited. He's grown up quite a bit from Rushmore. A new addition to Anderson's usual crew is Adrien Brody. Let's forget for a moment that I completely adore the actor on every level. He's so exciting just to look at! As an addition to the cast, he fits in very smoothly and blends in perfectly amongst Anderson's other creations. I hope to see him again in the director's next project. Owen Wilson, although another regular in Anderson's films, doesn't seem to mesh as well as the other two. He's a bit too overpowering as Francis. Even though the character is a strong one, Wilson is slightly over the top in his performance. Another pair of regulars, Bill Murray and Angelica Huston, appear in The Darjeeling Limited, but not in leading roles. I think that it was a wise descision on the casting director's part, as it avoids making each film too similar while still appeasing the fans.

As if it wasn't apparent by my peppering of his name throughout this review, I am a fan of Wes Anderson's films. I love the whimsical nature of them and their non-linear plots. It's nice not to be tied down to an agenda as so many other movies seem to be. But although The Darjeeling Limited isn't a predictable story, the primary sentiment still comes through. The plot meanders from Francis' well-intended choreography, but the three brothers accomplish their goal in the end. The movie is serious, without being depressing and funny without being rediculous. The exotic setting, the quirky characters and the subtle oddities make The Darjeeling Limited another fantastic addition to the director's filmography. As a side note, I don't usually get excited about the featurettes included on many DVDs. However, I do recommend viewing the extra feature on this one. There are elements of the set design that shouldn't go unappreciated, that one might never notice without watching the behind the scenes footage.

Now, I think I'll go watch it again, before I have to return it!

Overall rating: 5 stars
Hottie rating: 5 stars (4 for Brodie, 1 for Schwartzman)

Alternate Recommendation: The Royal Tenenbaums
Official Site
IMDB Site
Salon.com review (minute spoilers)

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

Fay Grim (2006)

Directed by: Hal Hartley
Format: DVD
DVD Features:
Starring: Parker Posey, Jeff Goldblum, James Urbaniak, Liam Aiken, Thomas Jay Ryan
Trailer

As I recall - and it’s been many years now - the movie Henry Fool was really good. I remember it as being an amusing, avant-garde film about an unusual poet janitor. Of course, I think I may have watched it back in my pot-smoking, Austin days (daze?) and nothing from that era of my life is terribly clear. So, I suppose it’s time I revisit that film, just to see if memory serves. Regardless, Henry Fool was directed by Hal Hartley and is the precursor to Fay Grim. So, when I saw Fay Grim in the video store, in the discount bin, and I needed to round out my stack of 4 for $20, my hazy recollection of Henry Fool prompted me to escort its sequel to the checkout counter.

Fay Grim (Posey) is the wife of Simon Grim, whose presence is presently unaccounted for. According to Agent Fulbright (Goldblum), Simon met his demise sometime after his scandalized flight from the country years ago. What Fulbright and his sidekick Carl Fogg (played by Leo Fitzpatrick) are after isn’t Fay’s estranged husband, but rather, the set of his journals. On the surface, his writings are merely the ramblings of a drunken lunatic. According to Fulbright, Simon’s ramblings may actually contain coded messages regarding national security. So, in exchange for her brother Henry’s release from prison, Fay agrees to fly to France in order to recover the books. The mission however, turns into a bit of a fiasco involving hitmen, international espionage and a secret radical political faction.

There are a number of aspects that make Fay Grim an unusual movie. Yes, it’s a low budget indie film with a few star actors, but that’s not what sets it apart. One obvious difference is the pacing of dialogue. Hartley’s characters all deliver their lines with an unsettling pattern of rhythmic pauses, so that everything they say seems suspect. Even though the plot involves some action scenes, foreign spies and mortal danger, it’s very clear that Fay Grim does not take itself seriously. I think that might be one thing that saves the movie. The entire film has the air of being an inside joke; one that you’re in on along with the actors. While the dialogue is only slightly annoying, what really irritated me was the lack of any straight camera angles. I am almost positive that every single shot in Fay Grim is slanted. At first, the technique was charmingly “art school”. After about 30 minutes of crooked scenes, it stopped being cute.

My verdict is still out on Parker Posey. I’ve never really had a fondness for the actress. Maybe it’s because she reminds me a little of Courtney Cox (and I hate Courtney Cox). Her performance in Blade Trinity was incredibly painful to watch. In Fay Grim, however, Posey was somewhat more appealing. On IMDB’s page for the movie, one user comments that Posey is, “the semi-official Queen of the Indies”. I never really thought of her that way, but as I peer at her filmography, it appears to support the claim. One thing’s for sure – her wardrobe in Fay Grim kicks butt. I am so running around in a black dress coat, wrist warmers and over-the-knee faux leather boots from now on!

One actor I’m not surprised to see on the indie circuit is Jeff Goldblum. He was fantastic in The Life Aquatic (is Wes Anderson still indie?). Like DeNiro and Walken, Goldblum is always himself, no matter which role he’s playing, but that doesn’t make him any less fun to watch. Fans of the actor will appreciate his portrayal as Agent Fulbright. Most of the cast from the original Henry Fool was retained for Fay Grim. One new character, however, is Ned Grim, Fay’s son. Ned is played by Liam Aiken, who I swore I’d loved in another film, but couldn’t remember for the longest time. Finally, I realized that he was Klaus in A Series of Unfortunate Events. Maybe it was the glasses that threw me off. All of the characters in this film are likeable (if somewhat strange) from one angle or another.

Sadly, Fay Grim failed to measure up to my expectations. It could be a bit confusing if you haven’t seen Henry Fool, but I think it’s equally so if you have. Aside from a little character background, which is hastily filled in anyway, you won’t miss out on much of the plot having not seen the first film. It’s a movie that requires a bit of attention, because most of the wit hits quickly and moves on. It doesn’t milk a joke for long. While I did enjoy the subtle humor here, the funniest scene might be Fay’s cell phone experience, which is almost entirely sight driven. But, the obnoxious camera work and the repetitive rhythm of the dialogue took away from my enjoyment of an otherwise entertaining flick. Used in moderation, the two techniques might have lent the film more charm.

Overall Rating: 2
Hottie Rating: 4 (for Aiken, if I was 20 years younger and for Simon, who I have an unexplained raging sexual desire for)

Alternate Recommendation: Doom Generation
Official site
IMDB Page
Roger Ebert's review

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

Juno (2007)

Directed by: Jason Reitman
Format: Theater
Starring: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman
Trailer

Pending a verdict on her book Candy Girl, Diablo Cody might just be my new hero. A former stripper, Cody (that’s a nom de plume), is a year younger than me and has already won an Academy Award. She rocked out on Oscar night, looking like a tattooed Cleopatra. IMDB quotes her as saying, “If this whole writing thing doesn't work out, I'll be getting right back on the pole.” I admire her attitude and I think that the backlash against her is undeserved, but inevitable. Bottom line – she seems particularly human for Hollywood.

Like recent many, I came to know of Diablo Cody because she wrote the screenplay for the movie Juno. Several trusted friends recommended the film to me and when I heard that it stars one of my favorite new actresses, Ellen Page, I had to check it out. I even went to a late showing during the middle of the week so that I wouldn’t have to put up with irritating crowds. The experience would have been perfect if it weren’t for the $9.25 admission. (I feel a savage rant coming on about the steady decline of the movie going experience, but I’ll get back to the subject at hand.)

Juno tells the story of the title character, a high school student who finds herself dealing with an unexpected pregnancy. After flirting briefly with the idea of abortion, she decides to carry the child to term and find a suitable couple to take over. When she visits the home of Vanessa and Mark Loring, Juno chooses the couple as the ideal candidates for surrogate parenthood. All that’s left for her to do is cope with being the only pregnant girl in school, deciding what she wants from her relationship with the father, and her shifting hormones. Easy, right?

Fortunately for her, Juno has the help of a good friend and the support of a wonderful father and step-mom. She’s also got a tough hide and a sarcastic attitude. I thought that Ellen Page did a wonderful job portraying the pregnant teenager. However, I noticed certain elements of her character in Hard Candy carried over to this film. Juno is like a snippet of Hayley Stark extended over a 96 minute time frame. Maybe that’s why she was chosen for the role or maybe Page has less range than I’d hoped. Regardless of the similarity, I enjoyed each character immensely. Second to Juno, I think my favorite character in this movie might have been her boyfriend Bleeker, played by Michael Cera. He’s a little bit of an awkward dork, but he’s so genuine and good-hearted that it’s hard not to be drawn to him.

In fact, the entire film is pleasantly quirky like that, from the soundtrack to the dialogue; something like a cross between Napoleon Dynamite and Little Miss Sunshine. I wonder if the people out there, who’ve criticized Juno for its lingo, have ever listened to a group of teenagers carry on a conversation. Judging from my experience as sister to a teenaged brother, Diablo Cody captured the demographic superbly in that regard. I just wish I could get that Moldy Peaches song out of my head!

It was nice to see a film about a topic that could have easily been a heavily dramatic one, treated with a lighter touch. It’s important to remember that Juno isn’t a movie about teen pregnancy. It’s a story about a girl and how that individual experiences being a pregnant teen. So, don’t look to the film to provide poignant social commentary or moral lessons. Don’t expect a lengthy examination of the abortion issue. Just relax and let yourself fall in love with the characters.

Overall Rating: 4
Hottie Rating: 3 (I'm hot for Bleeker)

Alternate Recommendation: Little Miss Sunshine
Official Site
IMDB Page
Austin Chronicle review

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

Fido (2006)

Directed by: Andrew Currie
Format: DVD
DVD Features: DVD-Rom, making of, Blooper Reel, trailers, deleted scenes, slide show, commentary
Starring: Carrie-Anne Moss, Billy Connolly, Dylan Baker, K’Sun Ray, Tim Blake Nelson, Henry Czerny
Trailer

This is a review suggested by one of my readers. Thanks to Rochelle!

I’m surprised that Fido slipped beneath my radar. I don’t remember hearing a thing about it when it was released. Although horror films rarely ever acquire much acclaim, they most certainly get press. It seems that zombie movies have been appearing in droves these last few years. Ever since 28 Days Later met with such success, zombie horror seems to have risen from the grave. The Dawn of the Dead remake, Land of the Dead, Planet Terror and UnDead are all post 2002. Along with its new popularity, a sub-genre appears to have taken on life; the zombie comedy. While some older movies tend to be a bit campy and amusing, their humor generally wasn’t intentional. Shaun of the Dead, however, was purely farce. The only movie prior to that I can remember mixing humor with flesh-eating corpses was Dead Alive (a.k.a. Braindead), a terrifically gory film directed by Peter Jackson. Fido, in fact, reminded me a great deal of Dead Alive, which is one of my favorite horror movies.

The film opens with a flickering film reel, like the old “educational” reel-to-reels they used to show in class (if you’re old enough to remember). It’s a clever way to introduce the atomic age era of the movie and give Fido’s background story. Due to a sprinkling of space dust, the dead have risen and the newly dead rise again. Thank goodness for corporate entity Zomcon, which has invented a radio collar that quells the undead’s thirst for flesh and turns them into docile servants. “Now we can all be productive members of society, even after we’re dead.” The Robinson family has just gotten one of their very own. At first the man of the house, zombie fearing Bill Robinson (Baker), objects to the new addition. However, his persuasive wife Helen (Moss) reminds him that they’re the only family on the block without a zombie and what must the neighbors think? It’s hardly any wonder that little Timmy Robinson (Ray), slung between his maladjusted, distant father and his appearance obsessed mother, warms to the company of their undead servant.

Timmy decides to name their new zombie Fido and the two soon develop a boy-and-his-dog type of relationship. Fido protects Timmy from the neighborhood bullies and Timmy buries the neighbors that Fido munches on. Even his mother begins to form an attachment to the zombie, much to the chagrin of Mr. Robinson. But their new neighbor, head of Zomcon, starts to suspect that the reanimated neighbors are the result of a rogue undead. How long can Timmy keep Fido’s evil deeds buried?

Suburban 1950’s atmosphere of Fido is somewhat reminiscent of the neighborhood in Edward Scissorhands or Pleasantville; a sarcastic send-up of the era. Everything is over saturated with brilliant hues and unnaturally clean. The insidious corporate beast Zomcon and its brainwashing propaganda appears very lighthearted and campy on the surface, but has a definite edge of political commentary. The Timmy and Fido relationship would be unbearably cheesy if it weren’t for the occasional murder or accidental corpse. Some highlights from the film: elementary school children at target practice, neighbor Mr. Theopolis’ strange relationship with his girl zombie, Mr. Bottoms’ almost Bush-like speech in class and Mr. Robinson’s strange obsession with funerals. The soundtrack was wonderful as well. I was delighted to hear one of my favorite Squirrel Nut Zippers songs again.

All of the actors did a terrific job in this movie. It was strange to me, to see Carrie-Anne Moss in this role as a 50’s suburban housewife after her performance as Trinity, but as the movie progresses, she becomes a much more likeable and convincing character. Mr. Robinson, played by Dylan Baker, is very, very uncomfortable being a father and it is very uncomfortable watching him try to be one. The unease with which he relates to his son springs right off the screen and makes you squirm a bit. K’Sun Ray (who names their son K’Sun Ray??) couldn’t have been a better choice for Timmy. A little more suspicious of Zomcon than the other boys his age, but just as innocent and happy go lucky and Lassie’s companion. My favorite character is probably Mr. Theopolis (Nelson). He’s an odd mix of Hunter S. Thompson and someone I can’t quite put my finger on (probably whomever he’s a direct parody of). I wonder how many takes it took before Billy Connolly could keep a straight face.

The only thing that would have shoved Fido rudely into the realm of greatness would have been more gore. There are scant few scenes of severed limbs and bloody remains. The evil that the zombies in this movie lack though, is nearly made up for by the pseudo governmental security agency. It had a cleverly executed plot and the idea to have zombie slaves in 1950’s suburbia was a stroke of genius. The whole thing could have easily gone horribly wrong, but the filmmakers ended up with a gem. Sarcasm is by far my most beloved form of comedy and Fido was full up.

Overall Rating: 4 ½
Hottie Rating: 1 (freaky zombie love counts for somethin’)

Alternate recommendation: Dead Alive
Official site
IMDB page
Bullz-Eye.com review

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

Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

Director: Marc Forster
Format: Blu-Ray
Disk Features: ??? (please submit)
Starring: Will Farrell, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal

Late in the 1990’s there was a movie called The Truman Show. The movie was based on a number of ideas from different books. One book was Time Out of Joint by Philip K. Dick. Laugh all you want at the name, but the man is a fantastic author. Regardless, the basic premise breaks down like this: main character is living in an artificially constructed world, oblivious of the outside. One day, the cracks in the walls begin to appear and the illusion falls apart. Well, Stranger Than Fiction has a touch of the same idea.

Harold Crick (Farrell) is a middle aged auditor for the IRS. He leads a very calculated lifestyle, brushing the same amount of strokes each morning and walking the same speed to the bus stop at precisely the same time. Aside from being very mathematical, Crick is also very lonely. As you might imagine, IRS auditors aren’t very popular. One day, however, a wrench is thrown into the clockwork of his life, in the form of a mysterious voice, narrating his every action. It becomes particularly disturbing to Crick when he hears it predict his eminent demise.

After becoming dissatisfied with professional psychiatrists, he decides to seek the aid of a literature professor. Professor Jules Hilbert (Hoffmann) analyzes his predicament and tries to help him determine what type of story he might be in. Meanwhile, Harold falls in love with Ana Pascal (Gyllenhaal), the owner of the local bakery whom he’s auditing. It seems that learning he’s going to die has given him a new outlook on life. At the same time, author Karen Eiffel (Thompson) is in the depths of an alcoholic despair, attempting to find a way to kill off the main character in her new book, little realizing that her Harold Crick is a living man.

There were two computer aided effects in Stranger Than Fiction that I was quite fond of. During Crick’s introduction, lines and graphs and diagrams appear over the scene to enhance the description of the calculations in his life. I thought that they were a clever touch, without being terribly intrusive. The other effect was Crick’s wristwatch, which is a character unto itself and figures strongly into the plot. The little clockwork has an adorable personality, but isn’t annoying or overdone.

Although Will Farrell has been very prolific as of late, starring in movies like Anchorman and Talladega Nights, his brand of humor has never appealed to me. His characters are usually well meaning morons. In Stranger Than Fiction, that aspect of his character isn’t as pronounced and I found it more bearable that way. With the semi-seriousness of the plot and the balance of the other great actors, it wasn’t hard to enjoy Farrell at all. Emma Thompson is stellar, as usual. I love her morbidly fascinated alcoholic author role and also enjoyed Queen Latifah as her assistant, Penny Escher. Hoffman didn’t disappoint either, although this type of role for him is getting a little tiresome.

Not nearly as depressing as I was led to believe (I’m looking at you Seanchez), Stranger Than Fiction was a solidly enjoyable film. It’s humor is much more subtle than movies like Old School and yet it isn’t so dramatic as to sink your mood. Think quiet evening at home with a bowl of popcorn.

Overall Rating: 3 ½
Hottie Rating: 3 (for Maggie Gyllenhaal – hello Secretary!)

Alternate Viewing: Punch Drunk Love
Official Site
IMDB Site
James Berardinelli review

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

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)

Director: Adam McKay
Format: Blu-Ray
Special Features: interviews, gag reel, deleted and extended scenes, mock commercials, mock public service announcements, bonus race footage, etc.
Starring: Will Farrell, John C. Reilly, Gary Cole, Jane Lynch, Sacha Baron Cohen

I’m picky when it comes to comedy. I always describe myself as a “Marx Brothers” as opposed to a “Three Stooges”. So, when the latest comic trailer whizzes across the screen, I rarely take notice. However, I’ve heard so much about Talladega Nights that I figured it was about time to take the plunge and see what all the hype was about.

Born in the backseat of a speeding muscle car, Ricky Bobby (Farrell) has always had an addiction to acceleration. One day, while working with a Nascar pit crew, Ricky gets his big break. After the team’s apathetic driver stops in the middle of a race to get a bite to eat, Ricky is chosen to take the wheel and pulls off an amazing finish. From that point on, his career skyrockets. Soon, he finds himself with a gold-digging wife, two kids, a mansion and an inflated ego. But, the team’s manager has it in for Ricky and hires a new driver from France to compete. Jean Girard (Cohen) is not only French, but sharply dressed, suave and gay. After Bobby’s first loss to the newcomer, his life quickly races downhill. But nothing can keep Ricky Bobby down for long because, “If you’re not first, you’re last.”

The cinematography in Talladega Nights is not the first thing about the movie that most people would examine. However, there are some terrific shots in the film. One in particular that caught my attention was a smooth shot following a speeding racecar, moving in through the rear window, through the car and out through the windshield to face the front of the vehicle. Computer aided or otherwise, it was cleverly executed.

Will Ferrell has never been one of my favorite actors, however prolific he has been lately. I am starting to appreciate that he’s a better actor than I first believed though. Ricky Bobby was a definite improvement over Anchorman. There are a few subtleties in his acting style that are the key to his success as a comedic talent and if you’re not paying attention, they’re easy to miss. The character’s sidekick, Cal Naughton, Jr. (Reilly) is a great foil for Ferrell. No matter how dumb Ricky Bobby seems, Naughton is always one step behind him. At one point, two become rivals and one scene in which Naughton casually phones Bobby, after stealing his wife, home and career from him, is greatly amusing. While I may have disliked his movie Borat, Sasha Cohen is much more amusing as the French racer, bent on fighting Ricky Bobby to the finish. His accent is completely over the top. Watching him sip espresso and read fine literature behind the wheel gave me a few giggles. But, the funniest scene by far involved Ricky’s father and a cougar had me in stitches. The two Bobby children, Walker (Houston Tumlin) and Texas Ranger (Grayson Russell) are fantastic and Molly Shannon as Mr. Dennit’s alcoholic wife just killed me.

Talladega Nights is clearly a parody of the stereotypical redneck Nascar fan, but doesn’t go so far overboard as to alienate the very people it pokes fun at. While not cramp-in-the-sides hilarious, this movie had a few good laughs and a decent amount of excitement. There is only one point at which the movie lags, but for the most part, the plot moves along at a steady pace. All of the actors do a fine job. I recommend The Ballad of Ricky Bobby as an accompaniment to a pizza, I case of brew and good company.

Overall Rating: 2 ½ stars.
Hottie Rating: 0

Alternate viewing: Swingers
Official site
IMDB site
Salon.com review

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

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)

Director: Larry Charles
Format: Theater
Starring: Sasha Baron Cohen, Pamela Anderson, Ken Davitian
Theater

If you’re unfamiliar with Sacha Baron Cohen, he’s probably best known as the writer and star of Da Ali G Show. That show, I believe, is where the character of Borat originated. Cohen plays two other characters on the show, Ali G and Brüno and the basic gist of the program consists of Cohen posing as one his various characters in order to interview certain public figures. The whole prank designs to discredit or otherwise embarrass the person being interviewed. Think of Da Ali G Show as a cross between The Daily Show and Jackass. So, if you take the television show, eliminate two of the three characters and stretch the premise for 84 minutes, you’ve got Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.

Borat Sagdiyev is a TV personality assigned by his government to travel to America and report back to Kazakhstan with information with which to better their country. He begins his documentary in his rural hometown, introducing his family. Then, he travels to the US with a camera crew and producer Azamat Bagatov (Ken Davitian) to try and capture some of the culture (and Pamela Anderson). Along the way, he emcees at a rodeo, gets drunk in an RV full of frat boys, attends a fancy dinner party in the South and gains custody of a bear and an ice cream truck. Oh yeah, and who could forget the all-nude wrestling match between Borat and Azamat that rages wildly through a hotel lobby?

The goofy sort of physical and low-brow comedy is not something I usually go for in a film. So, I wasn’t really interested in seeing Borat for a while. I had seen Da Ali G Show a couple of times and thought it was a bit novel and not half bad, but not amusing enough to entertain me for a feature length time span. But, sadly, I became a victim to hype. There was so much hype surrounding this movie when it was released that you couldn’t throw a rock and not hit something with Cohen’s face on it. I did get the point, of course, that the primary purpose for this movie was to illustrate how ignorant and intolerant people in this country often are. As one reviewer put it, “He gives America the rope, but they hang themselves.”

When Borat is interviewing someone and asking seemingly innocent questions, it’s clear that he is attempting to trick them into admitting something that illustrates whatever points Cohen is trying to make. And the victims consistently fall into his trap. It’s not that he’s bad at what he does, quite the contrary. But, it’s not my kind of humor at all. I am already painfully aware of the level of ignorance and bigotry apparent in several aspects American culture. Having the point hammered home is not really funny, but rather depressing and a bit frightening. When the credits rolled at the end of Borat, I was desperately wishing I could have my $5 back. I think I laughed twice during the entire movie; once when Borat introduces his sister and once when he falls out of the frat-boy RV. Neither of which was due to any clever coaxing by our Kazak reporter. Honestly, I’d rather run barefoot through a room full of thumb tacks than see this movie again.

Overall Rating: 1
Hottie Rating: 0

Alternate Viewing: Jackass (at least it has Johnny Knoxville)
Official Site
IMDB Site
Appreciating Great Trash review

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

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Directors: Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Farris
Format: DVD
DVD Features: alternate ending, commentary, deleted scenes, music vidso
Starring: Alan Arkin, Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Collette
Trailer

When I first saw ads for this movie, I wasn’t very interested. It seemed a little too “heartwarming” for my usual taste. Gradually, I began to hear more and more about it. The thing that really surprised me was that most of the people I talked to who gave it a good review were men. It struck me as odd that a film that seemed to target a very tender audience appealed to such a different demographic. So, I decided to give it a shot. Of course, the fact that it won two Academy Awards didn’t hurt either.

In a surprise decision, seven-year-old Olive has been selected as a contestant in the Little Miss Sunshine competition. Short of time before the beauty pageant’s check-in deadline, her father and mother realize they’ve got to pack up the whole family and deliver Olive to the stage themselves. Her coach Grandfather, suicidal Uncle Frank and silent brother Dwayne join them in the family’s dilapidated, yellow VW bus and head off across state lines. A string of mishaps threatens to bring the whole adventure down on their heads.

What makes Little Miss Sunshine entertaining is not the plot particularly, but rather the dysfunctional cast of characters. Olive herself is charming and fairly even tempered, aside from her obsession with the contest. The actress, Abigail Breslin, was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role at the 2006 Academy Awards for Little Miss Sunshine. Alan Arkin, her grandfather and pageant coach in the movie, won Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting role that year. His character has, perhaps, the most disturbing set of vices out of the group. Just prior to their road trip, Grandpa was ejected from a nursing home for snorting heroin and his enthusiasm for pornography actually saves the family at one point in the film. Olive’s Uncle Frank, played by Steve Carell, is a suicidal, homosexual, Proust scholar. It’s strange to see the actor playing this role with such a straight-face, but he manages to be funny anyway; maybe even more so because of it. The girl’s brother Dwayne (Paul Dano) has taken a vow of silence, inspired by his love for Nietzsche and his desire to become an Air Force pilot. He may have been my favorite out of the group.

Olive’s parents are quite a pair as well. Her father Richard (Greg Kinnear), aspires to a career as a motivational speaker and lectures ad nauseum about what types of people make “winners”. Ironically, he’s the biggest “loser” out of them all. I really dislike the roles Kinnear is routinely cast in. He plays the loser quite well, but that doesn’t convince me to like the losers he plays. Richard’s wife Sheryl (Toni Collette) is prone to chain smoking just to cope with the rest of the crew and consistently seems at her wits end. The two of them seem to barely be holding their marriage together. Last, but not least, is the VW bus, which is a character in and of itself. Perhaps it’s a metaphor for the rest of the bunch or for the screwed up journey they experience. Regardless, the vehicle has as many problems as each of the family members. It has to be push started before each leg of the trip, the back door falls off its hinges, and it barely runs.

I was surprised by Little Miss Sunshine. Pleasantly so, because it wasn’t a typical, cheesy “family” film. Several of the characters had a level of depth I wasn’t expecting and the grim humor of Uncle Frank’s situation and Grandpa’s situation appealed to me. Although the film had a distinctly “indie” quality to it, it still reeked of Hollywood. I don’t mean to say that all Hollywood movies are terrible, but there’s something generally synthetic about them. The performances, for the most part, were fantastic. Even though most of the subject matter is depressing in nature, Little Miss manages not to be a downer film. The ending, with all of the JonBenet type girls, was a tad bit disturbing. I think it was meant to be. See Little Miss Sunshine if you’re looking for a movie that’s entertaining, slightly down-tempo, funny and unusual.

Overall Rating: 3 ½
Hottie Rating: 0

Alternate viewing: I Heart Huckabees
Official site
IMDB site
Boston.com review

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

Big Fish (2003)

Director: Tim Burton
Format: DVD
DVD Features: trivia game, commenatry, featurettes
Starring: Billy Crudup, Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Helena Bonham Carter
Trailer

Since the release of Frankenweenie and Pee Wee’s Big Adventure in the mid 80s, Tim Burton has been cultivating a loyal fan base. Most of his films are very successful at the box office and there are a number of well-known figures in Hollywood who collaborate with him regularly. In fact, part of the appeal to his movies, at least for me, is to see what people like Johnny Depp and Danny Elfman will have to contribute. There is no project in which he is involved however, that does not carry Burton’s unique stamp in one form or another. From the telltale black and white wardrobes and sets to the fairy tale ambiance, when you see a Burton film, there’s no mistaking that style.

In Big Fish, Albert Finney plays the aged and ailing Edward Bloom. Realizing that he might not get another chance, Mr. Bloom’s estranged son Will (Billy Crudup) travels to his father’s bedside in an attempt to find out the truth about the man’s life before it’s over. Will is frustrated because he has always heard about his father’s history in the form of fanciful stories and incredible adventures. He stopped believing the tales when he grew up, but has endured them over and over again whenever the elder Bloom recounts his past. It is through these recollections that the audience is introduced to the young Edward Bloom (Ewan McGregor).

As a young man, Bloom was the energetic hero of a small town. When he decides that he’s grown to big for his surroundings, he leaves to explore the bigger picture. He meets up with a giant named Carl (Matthew McGrory) and wanders off through an enchanted forest. There, he finds the small town of Spector; eerily pristine and picturesque. The two travel on and meet a roaming carnival. Under the big top, Edward spots the girl of his dreams, and Carl finds a career. For years, Bloom slaves away, doing odd jobs for the carnival’s boss, Amos (Danny DeVito) in exchange for simple facts about the mystery girl. Finally, he is able to woo her and shortly after the two are married, he is drafted into the war. Taking on the most dangerous assignments, the young hero parachutes into China where he meets the Siamese twins, Ping and Jing. After returning from the war, Bloom takes on a traveling sales job, ending up in the town of Spector again. He finds the town in disrepair and sets about rejuvenating the buildings and the residents. In between these flights of fancy, Will is trying to dig up the truth behind each tale.

Big Fish definitely has star power. Ewan McGregor, Danny DeVito, Helena Bonham Carter, Steve Buscemi, and Jessica Lange give stellar performances as the various and colorful characters in Blooms adventures. McGregor has always been an actor I enjoy. I like that he takes on a wide range of roles and I empathize with his distain for Hollywood. If it weren’t for the way he portrays Edward Bloom in this film, I think the character would have come off as a pretentious jerk. But, McGregor’s treatment of the role with sparkling grin and perseverance in the face of adversity makes Bloom eminently likeable. One other actor of note in this movie is Matthew McGrory. He made it into the Guinness Book of World Records twice; once for tallest actor and in 2006 for having the longest recorded feet.

The very best effect in Big Fish comes when Bloom spots the lovely young Sandra (Alison Lohman) under the big top. The surroundings come to a complete standstill, popcorn suspended in air and cat mid-jump. If you’ve seen the trailers to the film, you might recognize the scene I’m describing. There are some other computer aided scenes in the movie, particularly those of the fish, but they don’t click with the rest of the footage quite as nicely. Most of the visual appeal on screen comes from the very Burtonesque costuming and set design. Keep an eye on Mr. Soggybottom’s outfit particularly.

I don’t think that my enthusiasm for Tim Burton’s films is easily veiled. Because I enjoy the darker side of cinema and the aesthetic texture his movies project, I’d be predisposed to his work anyway. However, there’s a definite way in which he conveys each story and a style in which he directs the actors that goes beyond set design and stop action animation. There have been two disappointments to date in his filmography, but Big Fish wasn’t one of them. Despite the slightly creepy overtones to this film, it remains, much like Burton’s other works, upbeat and fun.

Overall Rating: 4
Hottie Rating: 1 (not McGregor at his hottest)

Alternate Viewing: Pee Wee's Big Adventure
Official site
IMDB site
Rotten Tomatoes review

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

Evolution (2001)

Director: Ivan Reitman
Venue: DVD
DVD Features: audio, subtitles
Trailer

Ah, remember the hey-day of comedic alien action flicks? There was Men In Black, Mars Attacks, Starship Troopers and yes…Evolution. These days it seems to be all about remaking the classics, I, Robot (ok, not about aliens), War of the Worlds, Superman Returns (yes, he’s an alien). I say, let’s bring back the gun-totin’ wise-crackin’ green-blooded days of yore. What about a Ryan Reynolds and Linda Hamilton duo of everydayman fights the menace from Mars? You can’t tell me that Jeff Goldblum wouldn’t make a good astrophysicist trying to keep the military from vaporizing his specimens. Yes, I could conjure plot line after plot line on that topic, but that’s not what we’re here for, is it?

The alien invasion in Evolution arrives by way of meteor, carrying tiny spores of life. Dr. Block (Orlando Jones) and Ira Kane (David Duchovny) are two science teachers at a local community college. When they catch wind of the smoldering rock, they arrive on the scene and quickly collect samples. Back at the lab, they discover that the samples host a soup of single-celled organisms rapidly dividing and changing. In short order, the alien cells become flatworms and from that point, their “evolution” explodes. When our heroes trek back to the crash site, they see that, much to their chagrin, the military has taken over. What begins as a battle of legal rights to research studies, quickly grows into a battle for the human inhabitants of the city. Luckily, they’ve got Dr. Allison Reed (Julianne Moore) who crosses over from the military sector and Wayne Grey (Seann William Scott) a local wannabe fireman on their side. The plot is a good one. It stems initially, from Block’s and Ira’s hopes for fame, which is a departure from the usual fleet of flying saucers. The aliens don’t seem consciously bent on global conquest either. There are no spokes-creatures making demands or laser blasts from tripods. The creatures are seemingly interested only in adaptation and survival. I have to admit that I found myself sympathizing with the invaders.

Plot: 4 stars

Duchovny and Jones make a good comedy team. The movie also hosts a decent cast of established actors from Julianne Moore to Dan Aykroyd. The entire cast pulled together nicely and I can’t think of any glaring moments of loathing for any one character. It was easy to see Duchovny as an ex-military schoolteacher, who’s somewhat washed up. I could also see him befriending Dr. Block and humoring his lecherous after-school “tutoring”. I do think that Duchovney and Moore would have some sinfully ugly offspring though.

Acting: 3 ½ stars

Why is it that I enjoy a good mall thrashing so much? A movie always seems to gain points with me if there are shattering shop windows and screaming consumers scattered about. The first alien mutation to become tolerant to Earth’s atmosphere is a four-legged dragon-like creature. After witnessing it’s mucousey birth and subsequent liftoff, Ira and Block chase the beast to the local shopping complex. Once inside, our heroes smash open a sporting goods gun display and head off after their specimen and its shoplifter prey. It’s a fun scene with lots of ridiculous posing and manly postures. There are also massive detonations of napalm, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Action: 4 stars

Evolution is packed with CGI. At the time the movie was made, computer graphics hadn’t quite reached the point of glistening realism that they have today. Consequently, the visual effects aren’t that spectacular. But, since this is a comedy, and the audience isn’t expected to take anything seriously, it’s not such a crime that the monsters lack a certain polish. I think the ape creature – which was most likely a costume – was a neat design and the cave that becomes the creatures birthplace has a nicely creepy air, if somewhat Star Trekey (Old School, of course). My major gripe about the effects in this film is that none of the alien abominations seem very original at all. From flatworms, to slugs, to reptiles and then apes, all of the spawning creatures mimic Earth life much too closely.

Visual: 3 stars

At last some memorable, albeit not astounding, lines of dialogue from a film! In one scene, Ira is advising his friend not to hope for cooperation from the military. He alludes to some past experience with the government. Allow yourself, for a moment, to believe that he’s talking about The X-Files. The lamest moment of dialogue comes after the rescue of the shoplifter in the mall. I bet you can guess what she says from miles away. So not funny.

Dialogue: 3 ½ stars

I enjoyed Evolution quite a bit. If you asked my brother, he’d tell you that the movie went well with “the munchies”. The next time you want to go retro (read late 90’s to early 2000’s) with your movie choice, pick up Evolution and enjoy some relaxed laughs for a couple of hours.

Alternate viewing choice: Mars Attacks
IMDB site
Official site (none found)
Rotten Tomatoes review

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

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)

Director: Gore Verbinski
Venue: Theater
Starring: Johnny Depp, Keira Knightly, Orlando Bloom
trailer

If you haven’t seen the prequel to this movie, go and rent it now. There are loads of jokes and plot devices that require having seen the first movie to appreciate. Eventually, I will review that one as well, but take my word for it now – it’s great! I only wish there were more pirate movies of this caliber to enjoy. Oh please, oh please, let part 3 come out soon! In the past, I have dreaded follow-ups to my favorite movies. Lately though, movies like Spiderman and Lord of the Rings have proven that the rest of the series can be just as good as their predecessors.

Dead Man’s Chest picks up very near to where we last left Capt. Jack Sparrow (Depp), Will Turner (Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Knightley). On the day of her wedding to Will, Swann is abducted from the altar and thrown in jail. The head of a powerful trading company has an interest in Jack Sparrow’s mysterious compass and knows that Will is the most likely person to be able to find it. So, Elizabeth will be pardoned if Turner can accomplish this task. Capt. Sparrow, meanwhile, is aboard the Black Pearl and has a quest of his own to fulfill. He needs the key to the Dead Man’s Chest, but his compass doesn’t seem to be leading him in the right direction anymore. The Dead Man in question is Davey Jones, an undead sailor with command over the Kraken, a feared and legendary tentacled beast. Swann has no intention of remaining in prison, however, and finds her way out to join the adventure. The plot is original, entertaining, and moves at a good pace.

Plot: 5 stars

All of the original characters from the first Pirates movie are back (with the original stars) along with a few interesting new ones. My favorites of the latter have got to be Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris), the voodoo priestess that helps our friends on their journey and the villain, Davey Jones. She could have worked on her accent a little more though. Depp, Bloom and Knightly are all wonderful in their parts. I have to say that I feel a twinge of jealousy over Kiera and her close proximity to the two leading men (not to mention her role in The Jacket), but I can’t honestly say that she’s a poor actress. Johnny Depp has always been one of my favorite actors, not just because he’s smokin’ hot, but also because he isn’t afraid to step out of Hollywood and take a few obscure roles here and there. In my humble opinion, he’s one of the most under-appreciated men in the business.

Acting: 5 stars

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest can boast to having loads of action. There isn’t a dull moment between the running, the fighting and the thrills. I would say that it is as well paced as the first film. Still, Yuen Woo Ping isn’t the action director, so I can’t possibly give a full star rating to anything less.

Action: 4 stars

This second film is as loaded, if not more so, with CGI as the first. All of the “bad guys” are varying abominations from the depths of the sea. One man has barnacles growing out of his face, while another has the head of a hermit crab. My favorite special effect is Davey Jones (Bill Nighy). His head is basically an octopus, but the undulating tentacles that make up his beard are mesmerizing. The Kraken is a well-created beast as well. Dead Man’s Chest manages to fill the screen with graphics that are obviously computer generated, and at the same time, fascinating and non-cheesy.

Visual: 4 ½ stars

The dialogue in this film is snappy and fun. Although not deep in levels of context, it’s entertaining. No favorite lines spring to mind, but it’s always fun to imitate pirate lingo.

Dialogue: 3 ½ stars

As soon as it’s feasible, I will be purchasing both the first and second films on DVD as well as a ticket to the next feature. I don’t claim to have heard any rumors regarding this movie’s follow-up, but the end is an obvious clue that we haven’t seen the end of the story.

Alternate viewing choice: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
IMDB site
Official site (you’ll need to download the latest version of Flash)
Rotten Tomatoes review

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

The Matador (2005)

Director: Richard Shepard
Venue: DVD
DVD Features: making of, commentary, deleted scenes, radio program, trailers

Once again, I’ve been misled by another trailer. (I should start a list.) The trailer for The Matador never peaked my interest. I thought, “Oh great, yet another Pierce Brosnan spy/action flick.” However, the opportunity to see it came my way and we all know that Neko never passes up a free movie. I’m glad I gave it a chance, because it was not at all what I expected. Brosnan plays a hit man, employed by a certain mysterious party, but, he’s cracking up, losing it, and the wires in his head are getting crossed. Enter Greg Kinnear (i.e. comic relief)

The two characters meet in Mexico. Both are there for business, each of a different sort, of course. They share a few drinks, go to a bullfight, and become sort of awkward friends. They are definitely a mismatched pair. That’s where the comedy derives from. I expected the comedy in this to be cheesy at best, but I was once again surprised. The Matador manages a good blend of laughs and excitement. Julian Noble (Brosnan) begins to find that he can’t handle “the business” anymore, but he can’t get his employer to give him a vacation. So, he travels the world on a few more jobs until one goes awry. Now, he finds himself on the hit list and there’s only one person he can go to for help. Although, in most regards, the plot of this film isn’t terribly original, it’s pulled off very well. My only gripe is, “Couldn’t they have thought up a better title?”

Plot: 3 1/2 stars

Brosnan, of course is a fine actor. When I first saw Kinnear appear in the film, I rolled my eyes. I’ve never liked the characters Kinnear played in any film. I suppose that it’s not the man’s acting ability that I dislike, but the roles he chooses to play. So, I thought that his role in the Matador would be equally as irritating. While he does play somewhat similar to his previous roles, it somehow works well to juxtapoz Brosnan’s role. The supporting cast does a fine job as well, but these two men steal the show.

Acting: 5 stars

The Matador is as exciting as it is funny. Sure, there are no car chases, I don’t recall any explosions, and there certainly isn’t any Kung Fu. However, there is an element of danger, suspense, and anxiety. Whenever Julian shows up, tension is built from wondering what this man will do next and how he’s going to screw up. And then, on top of that, is Danny (Kinnear) going to go along with his hair-brained plans, or back out? There’s also the fact that Julian Noble is employed as a hit man and that’s exciting too.

Action: 2 ½ stars

The lack of international flavor that I experienced with Munich, was made up for with The Matador. Firstly, when the scene switches to a new country, a great, big, full-screen title announces the new venue. Sure, it sounds dopey, but it’s actually kinda cool. Secondly, when the title flashes, “MEXICO”, the sun is bright and tropical, the atmosphere is laid back, and the bartender speaks Spanish. It really feels like Mexico. When the title says, “RUSSIA”, the flavor of the scene changes completely. There are pictures of monuments and recognizable landmarks. The weather is appropriate, the costumes are appropriate and all the intangible essence of the place comes alive. The cinematography is superb and the sets are very well done.

Visual: 4 1/2 stars

Since most of the tension and comedy in the film stems from the dialogue, it would have been difficult to make the movie as entertaining without it. There aren’t any lines out of place or mismatched with the characters. However, I like to find catch phrases in movies that would make a good tattoo, neat to work into daily dialogue, or plaster on a t-shirt. There weren’t any in The Matador.

Dialogue: 3 ½ stars

To summarize, The Matador is a worthwhile movie experience. It wasn’t at all what I expected, and didn’t disappoint. Macey and Kinnear are a good match and the movie has all the elements for an entertaining evening in front of the DVD player. I’m not going to be purchasing the DVD however, because I don’t think the film has repeat viewing value.

Alternate viewing choice: The Man Who Wasn’t There
IMDB site
Official site
Rotten Tomatoes review

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