American History X Spoiler I hadn't seen it in awhile and re-watched it last week. For anyone who hasn't seen it, the movie starts Edward Norton as a reformed skinhead named Derek Vinyard. Derek served 3 years in prison for the murder of two black guys and when he gets out he discovers that his younger brother, Danny (played by Edward Furlong), has become a skinhead and is following in his footsteps. The movie takes place in the present in the 24 hours after Derek is released from prison, and Danny narrates most of the movie, as he has been assigned to write a paper on the events surrounding Derek incarceration and release. The movie also features a lot of flashbacks that show events that happened leading up to Derek committing the murders and his time in prison. This is a good, powerful film, but it also has some flaws. Derek is the only fully developed character. The rest of the cast basically represented stereotypes: the black principal, the liberal sister, the sick mom, the Jewish teacher, the overweight racist friend, the racist girlfriend, the older guy who is the leader of the neo-Nazi gang, and even Danny's character doesn't rise far beyond the impressionable younger brother stereotype. However, this is all more or less compensated for by a superb performance by Norton, and the other actors doing a good job with what they had. I also had a hard time believing that Derek's character would be driven to murder. One strength of the film is that Derek is made to be a smart, charismatic young man, and not an idiot. He tells Danny that he was drawn into the neo-Nazi group and did the things that he did because he was "pissed off." I just didn't think that his character was presented that way. It is believable that Derek doesn't like blacks and other minorities because of some of the things that had happened in his family, and we learn his view on race relations regarding crime, poverty, and affirmative action. Even with those views, I find it hard to believe that he would have walked out of his house and murdered those guys and risked going to jail when he could have just called 911 (However, I should note that Wikipedia says that in the original cut of the film he was drunk when he committed the murders). The flashback of Derek telling Danny what happened to him when he was in jail takes up about a quarter of a movie. It does an okay job of showing what happened and how Derek let go of his racist views, but I felt like it didn't quite dig deep enough, especially considering how much of the movie it takes up. The film is also too preachy at times. Overall, it is a great movie with a lot of very strong scenes and smart dialogue, and is not afraid to take a serious look at race relations in America. We care what happens to the Vinyard family, and Norton's Oscar-nominated performance really carries it. 90/100
If you get Fearnet as part of your programming, they are airing Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer this month (should be on demand as well). The film originally had an X rating due to the violent and graphic content, but Fearnet is listing it as TV-MA. I haven't seen it since its theatrical release in 86-87, but I remember it being a very disturbing film as you'd expect given the subject, Henry Lee Lucas and his partner, Toole. I've got a morbid fascination with serial killers and other criminal psychopathologies, so this is right up my alley, but as I recall, it's not for the faint of heart. Though, it may have been edited to a much weaker cut.
It's not as brutally violent as its rating suggests (but still pretty violent), but the psychological aspect (not to mention the subject matter) make for a shattering film, not to mention Michael Rooker's dead-to-rights title performance.. I mean, why in the hell is he not a huge star from this film?!?!. Watch this movie, then watch it again. I've never heard of a weaker cut, all video versions I've seen are the original (now "unrated") version.
Brotherhood of War (2004). This is a two and a half hour epic story about two brothers in the Korean War, essentially the Korean "Saving Private Ryan", except without a ton of the patriotic bullshit. Seriously, this is every WW2 movie I've seen taken to eleven and it does not pull punches. It's (hopefully) far from realistic, but fucking intense. Also, it never paints a portrait of "good vs. evil" like most war movies. The good: everything. I can honestly say I was moved to tears by the end of this movie, and I didn't understand a single spoken word of dialog above "why?" and "gee, thanks." For me, that's good film-making. This movie was iconic, and did the best job of making you feel the real terror of the trenches of any movie I've seen. The bad: it's loooooooong. Also, the soundtrack is nothing special and you have to make an effort to not think about "Tropic Thunder" during the final scenes. It can go over the top at times, especially in the beginning. Also, I would suggest reading the Wiki about the conflict before watching this. It would make a lot more sense knowing the timeline and important battles.
Watched Cowboys and Aliens on Max the other night. Even Olivia Wilde's naked ass couldn't save this turd. Luckily, I went into it with low expectations.
Nobody's Fool (1994) Here we have the Hollywood comedy-drama par excellence. Incredibly funny and believable slice of small-town Americana that is cast peerlessly. Paul Newman plays Sully, a ne'er do well handyman trying (not very hard) to sort out past personal mistakes while living in small-town New York. All of the other townsfolk that we see him interact with-- like him-- are colourful, funny and interesting. And what a cast: Bruce Willis (completely uncredited) is shockingly amazing as Newman's charasmatic nemesis-friend. Melanie Griffith has never been more appealing (or attractive) as Willis' wife, whom Sully has a serious crush on. Jessica Tandy I have never liked more than this film, as Sully's aging but quick-witted landlord/ex-teacher (her last film, she went out with style). Pruit Taylor Vince plays yet another oversized but endearing idiot, and Philip Bosco absolutely devours the scenery in his two hilarious scenes as the town's acid-tongued judge who hates stupid people. However, the film belongs to Newman. This is my very favourite performance for him. It almost seems like he isn't even trying, his performance is so natural. His lines are classics, and he has such range with his reactions. In the film's best scene, he sits in his pick-up with his estranged son, telling him about his own monstrously drunk father. The pain and hate that registers on his face is worth seeing the movie on its own, but then you'd also get see all the other treasures this timeless film has to offer. The writing is pointed and PERFECT, as is the art direction-- People don't live in perfectly-groomed mansions like so many Hollywood films and shows. They drive rusty vehicles, wear cheap clothes in layers, work in blue collar conditions, it looks like they shot the whole film on location without any sets built at all. That detail helps the film ring even more true and make it more relatable for so many viewers. In short, a joy to watch every time. I loved this and you should too. 9.5/10
With as much talk as there has been about this movie in recent years, I'd be remiss in NOT watching it. 'Bout to watch Brokeback. Cover me...
OK, that was a SERIOUSLY good movie. Straight up forbidden love, broken heart story, with a melancholy conclusion. That was pretty much film-making at it's best, and I see why it won awards...
Yeah it's good, but I kinda wish there was more queer cinema that wasn't either a complete misery fest, or an over the top, fey comedy.
Have you watched The Birdcage? Absolutely hilarious, and if you've ever been friends with a gay couple that includes a diva, you know this is more dead-on than over-the-top.
Seriously? The Bobby Brown soundtrack? Shit even the NES Advantage controller they used to move Lady Liberty was better than that turd of a song or his cameo as the Mayor's doorman.
The I Inside (2003) This movie is a psychological... ...wait, I'll get to the point. It sucks. Don't waste your time. 1/10.
For the season, some better-than-averages: The Relic (1996) Old fashioned monster b-movie given then 90's high-gloss polish, this one about VIP's trapped inside the Chicago Natura lHistory Museum with a tribal monster running amok. Follows the contirved forumla, but has ecent performances and an especially wily and impressive monster (though it's genetic make-up is pretty hilarious) called the Kathoga-- it looks like some sort of Dante's Inferno demonic dinosaur, with the agility of a tailback and teeth like fence pickets. It has no quarter and doesn't taunt. It rips people to pieces and the slippery beast pops up everywhere. The violence is above the norm and this one is tense and scary, the way a good monster movie should be. 7.5/10 Stephen King's Silver Bullet (1985) Though panned by many on it's release, I think that this is an excellent horror film based on King's Cycle Of The Werewolf. In this, it plays out like a whodunnit as a fearless parapalegic boy (Corey Haim) along with his sister and uncle (pre-insane Gary Busey) try to find an exceptionally brutal werewolf ripping up their fellow townfolk near Halloween. The identity of the werewolf is a little easy and it's predictable (not to mention conventional), but it more than makes up with a truly chilling atmosphere and affective horror scenes: a particular dream sequence at a boy's funeral scared the living fuck out of me as a kid. Film deliver a score of good shocks to balance its cold brutality, and Haim actually makes for an aimable and likable young hero. Love that turbo-powered wheelchair. 7/10 Re-Animator (1985) Balls-out, unforgettable horror-comedy was Stuart Gordon's first and best directing effort, based on H.P Lovecraft's novella about a nutbag med-school genius (Geofrrey Combs) who develops a serum to bring the dead back to life, with seriously crazy and disigusting results. Film is always willing to cross the Line, not for the squeamish but ugly fun all the way. 8/10 Blade (1997) "Horror movie" usually does not describe this film, were it not for it's opening and closing sequences which shattered the taboos of bloodletting in Hollywood films. Wesley Snipes is surprisingly well-cast as the Marvel comics maniac, but the dialogue is stilted and the martial arts show-offy. The reason to see this film (and why it's a horror film) is its absolute shitstorm opening sequence, a spectacularly gross rave scene that trounces the elevator blood flood in The Shining. The film is almost admirable blackhearted and stylish, a decent view. Part II is also decent, the third film is a fucking mess. 7/10
The Loved Ones (2009): HOLY FUCK WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS UNDER THE FLOOR??!? YES! KILL THAT FUCKING BITCH AND HER DAD TOO!!! Dude, that girl would never give you a piece... This review consists entirely of things I said/yelled at the TV while watching this flick. 10/10
so I checked this out, since it is described as a horror film. The Loved Ones (2009) Jesus Christ. "Black Comedy" does not even begin to describe this bright-eyed torture porn with serious laughs. Make no misktake, this Aussie film is straight-up fucking nuts, about a psychopathic high school girl and her psychopathic father who abduct a prom date that they put through hell on earth. And just when you think the excrutiating part is over, is dives into straight-up fucking madness. Beleive me: this film has a stunning display of graphic brutality. It's really hard to say this is a comedy because the film is so horrific. It's almost as bad as I Saw The Devil, and almost as stylish as that amazing movie too. I can at least say this: this film is (one hopes) the pinnacle of its own kind. Funny, but not for the faint of heart. And this movie's heart is as black as coal. And the "under the floor" part he mentions above? Fuck. Me. 7.5/10
Human Centipede is ridiculous and stupid: shock value for the sake of shock value and nothing more (like Eli Roth movies). This movie is like crossing a slick comedy with Audition.