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

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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

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The Fountain (2006)

Director: Darren Aronofsky
Format: DVD
DVD Features: trailer, featurette
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz, Ellen Burstyn
Trailer

I have a cousin, close in age and remote in distance, whose life parallels my own in many ways. His, like mine, has been laden with a series of unhappy events (I call them Little Tragedies) and thus, he is always recommending tragic dramas for me to watch. Last time, it was Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. That one cut right to the heart. This time, it was The Fountain and I watched it with my grandmother and uncle. Neither of them seemed to grasp what the movie was about, and they expressed a sense of confusion at the conclusion. This cousin of mine is a writer, and thinks deeply on many levels, so I knew the movie was meaningful to him. I think I got a bit more from it than my companions did, but it is a highly interpretive film.

The “fountain” in the title refers to The Fountain of Youth in various senses. There are three storylines in the movie that parallel each other and each has to do with the search for immortality. In the primary storyline, Hugh Jackman plays Dr. Tom Creo. Creo is a medical researcher who is trying frantically to find a cure for the brain tumor that’s killing his wife. However, he’s spending so much of his time in this desperate quest that he’s missing out on the few precious moments he has left with her. She, however, has taken a more courageous view of her situation and prefers to consider death as the beginning of something new.

Creo’s wife, Izzi (Rachel Weisz), is in the process of writing a story, and this is where the second aspect of the movie comes into play. Jackman, this time, is a conquistador who is sent by his Spanish queen (also Weisz) on a quest for The Tree of Life. She hands him a ring and promises that when he’s returned successful, the two of them will join and the crown will be safe. He is relentless in his search for the Tree, to the point that his accompanying troops begin to believe that he’s gone mad.

In yet a third thread of The Fountain, Jackman plays a man traveling through space in an enclosed bubble of atmosphere. The only other traveler in the bubble is a large tree, from which he receives sustinence and companionship. His goal is to bring the tree to a nebula which will preserve the ailing tree’s life.

Aside from common theme and actors, the three tales are linked by two other elements. One is The Tree. It is The Fountain of Youth that the conquistador searches for. It is the man in the bubble’s only concern. It is also an ingredient that Dr. Creo uses in his experiments. The other associated object is a ring. In the main storyline, the doctor loses his wedding ring when he is washing up for surgery. It is also an object of promise from the Spanish queen. And in the bubble, the man has tattooed himself with rings signifying the years he and the tree have shared together. Eventually, some of these ingredients cross over from one stream of the story to another and the three become more entwined.

I cannot say enough good things about either Hugh Jackman’s or Rachel Weisz in this movie. Both of them make you care so much about their characters that it’s almost impossible not to become emotionally invested in what’s happening to them. Izzi is practically an angel and is so enlightened in her perspective but remains very human at the same time. Weisz as the Spanish queen is almost ethereal and likewise angelic. It’s hard not to sympathize with Creo, because it’s apparent that his every effort is expended on his wife’s behalf and that his love for her is very powerful. While there are a few supporting roles, none of them seem of any consequence compared to Creo and his wife.

As I mentioned earlier in this review, The Fountain has many different layers and I think that it can be interpreted in several ways. It can either be terribly depressing or gently uplifting, depending on your perspective. The overall message can be one of despair, or one of encouragement. However, there is a difference in the way I interpreted this film and the comments I’ve read online about it. Generally, people seem to view the three storylines as past, present and future. Contrary to that, I believe that the three stories indicate the same message and longing for discovery, but rather than being a difference in time, they are a difference in the way that Dr. Creo chooses to consider the battle between himself and his wife’s illness.

The main story is what happens in actuality. The story involving the queen and her soldier is a tale that Izzi had written in order to express to her husband how she perceives his quest for a cure. Finally, the man in the bubble is the doctor’s personal insight into his relationship with his wife and his urgent desire to hold on to her. I hesitate to delve further into my explaination for fear of spoiling the film, but that is the basic concept of the film as I saw it.

It seems that The Fountain has some really nice CGI. But, in fact, the director wanted to stay away from computer graphics. Instead, he used microphotography to create many of the effects. The lighting in the film is effective in giving the entire story a sort of fantasy quality. However, some scenes were shot so dimly that it was very difficult to follow the action. That is probably my only criticism of the entire film.

Because there are so many layers of meaning to The Fountain, it really depends on one’s interpretation of the film as to whether or not that person will find it enjoyable. The Fountain is definitely not a funny, happy-go-lucky movie. Neither is it for the kids. Don’t look to the film for high action or witty dialogue and don’t expect a clear resolution. I think that it will appeal to fans of Aronofsky’s other work, but may turn off much of the mainstream movie going audience. While the two main characters are played by popular stars, the movie strays sufficiently off the beaten path to resist appeal to a wide selection of Jackman and Weisz fans. Personally, I found it engaging, asthetically appealing, tragic and deeply meaningful. However, it’s not a movie I would watch all the time because it is so heavy on the heart and mind.

As a final note, I would like to mention that The Fountain does depict animal testing (specifically on monkeys) which is something that I neither endorse or condone. So, as a warning to fellow animal rights crusaders, some scenes may be difficult for sensitive viewers.

Overall Rating: 4 ½
Hottie Rating: 4 (Jackman with his shirt off)

Alternate viewing: Pi
Official site
IMDB site
Cinepinion review

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Final Destination 3 (2006)

Director: James Wong
Venue: DVD
DVD Features: trailers, making of, "choose their fate" feature, animated short, documentary, extended scenes, commentary, DVD-ROM material
Trailer

Even though this is the third installment in the Final Destination series, it’s not terribly necessary to have seen the previous two. Some reference is made to the first movie, but none at all to the second. There are no repeat characters from any of the prior cast either. Expect a high school atmosphere with a decent dose of gore mixed in. It’s different from the average teen horror flick in that it’s not a “slasher” movie and doesn’t follow the usual “if you do drugs or have sex, you die” morality. The overlaying premise of all three movies is as follows: one person has a ghastly premonition. That person saves a group of people from a horrible disaster. Since Death has been cheated, each person who was initially saved is now a target for some subsequent twisted demise. Basically, it’s as if Death must catch up and even the score. Each survivor of the first accident must die in the order they were originally intended to. One of the plot devices that I find entertaining is the trail of “clues” that make it possible to determine how the next person will die.

In Final Destination 3, a group of senior high school students is enjoying their class party at an amusement park. Wendy (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) our “clairvoyant” is taking pictures for the yearbook. If you haven’t figured out what the disaster is going to be yet, you don’t have long to wait before the suspense is relieved. After she saves a group of fellow students, she goes home and mourns the death of her boyfriend. It isn’t until she reviews the photographs from that dreadful night that she starts to notice a pattern. Her jock friend Kevin (Ryan Merriman) also tips her off to something he read online about Flight 180 (from the first movie). The pair join forces and try to save the lives of the remaining survivors. Naturally, it’s hard to make believers out of everyone. For a teenage horror film, Final Destination 3 is a refreshing departure from most of the standard movies in that genre. I like the idea of “Death” as the antagonist, rather than some scary dude in a mask. There is a satisfactory amount of blood and guts. And, as previously mentioned, I like trying to decipher the messages and figure out how the next person will meet their end.

Plot: 3 ½ stars

The acting in this movie is what you might expect. The cast is a group of (I suspect) twenty some-things posing as teenagers. Final Destination 3 isn’t going to be nominated for any academy awards, surely, and I’d be surprised to see any of the actors going on to a prosperous Hollywood career. Certainly, none of them will show up in Final Destination 4, if there is one. I have definitely seen worse acting though.

Acting: 2 stars

I was satisfied with the amount of action in this film. There aren’t any terribly long periods of monotony between the bloodshed and there is a palatable degree of suspense. Once again, don’t expect any car chases or kung fu.

Action: 2 ½ stars

The important visual effects in this movie, naturally, involve the deaths of each character. There isn’t any detectable CGI, and I think the film was better off without it. The gore and special effects are gruesome and realistic. I love spattering blood! Final Destination 3 doesn’t offer anything in the way of other-worldly atmosphere, but it wasn’t meant to. All in all, visually stunning it was not, but neither was it cheesy or fake.

Visual: 3 stars

Regarding the dialogue in the movie, I was pleasantly surprised. I expected a group of teenagers to produce dialogue that was trite, forced and obnoxious. There was only one scene that felt out of place.Wendy turns, at one point, to her younger sister for support. Apparently, she’s so very burdened with guilt over not being able to save her boyfriend’s life, that she needs comfort an understanding from her sibling. I believe the scene was meant to give the impression of drawing the two characters closer together, but it just doesn’t work. The entire movie wouldn’t have suffered at all had this scene been cut. It doesn’t really play through. And, although Wendy is supposedly a person who needs to feel in control, and that line is driven into the ground throughout the film, there is no evidence through the acting or any other part of the dialogue to make this trait believable.

Dialogue: 2 ½ stars

In my opinion, this third movie didn’t measure up to the previous two. Maybe it was the cast of characters, or the repitition of the plot, or just that the other two were better all around. I wouldn’t consider buying the DVD- although it has some interesting options and I might watch it one more time, but that would be final.

Alternate viewing choice: Final Destination 2
IMDB site
Official site
Rotten Tomatoes review

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The F List

Fay Grim

Fido

Final Destination 3

The Fountain