Garyswordz

Big Budget Disaster movie, 16 October 2008

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Rarely can so much money have been spent to so little effect, or for so few laughs.Like the recently released, “Step brothers”,a funny idea is stretched too thinly over too long a period, and snaps and destroys itself.Awash with in-jokes,visual references to other films and other “knowing” material which was probably quite funny in the set trailer park after a few beers, the humour does not survive the cold light of day.

Stiller, who writes, directs and stars in the film (always dangerous territory) implodes with the self indulgence of it all, and his sister Amy, listed as script supervisor appears to have been absent for the gig.In De Palma’s magnificent “Carlitos Way”, Sean Penn plays a part so removed from the norm that it is possible to forget that he was in it, whilst revelling in his character’s performance.Here, Tom Cruise is virtually slapped across your face before the final “reveal”.

I smiled a few times, but didn’t laugh once, no-one did at the screening i attended.Which is a shame, because the idea of a war film that turns real does have some decent comic and dramatic possibilities. Few are explore though, as the stellar cast of actors amuse themselves by having a good time – amongst themselves.

Lees money, a smaller cast, shorter running time and a better script were the solution.Avoid

Deeply Disappointing Horror Homage, 10 October 2008

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Director Alexandre Aja is a member of the so-called new wave “Splat pack” of horror directors, and a self confessed disciple of the genre.Despite a good basis for a story, a credible cast, and a very generous budget this film fails to deliver.It is a long time since I went to a Horror Movie and found myself looking at the time DURING the action sequences.

Whilst the cinematography and locations are fine,a preposterous script makes the cinema goer cringe with embarrassment rather than with fear.Convincing horror depends upon the viewer being convinced that the extraordinary can come from the ordinary, this test is failed in spades. Frustratingly the ingredients are not bad.Kiefer Sutherland plays a solid, Ben Foster, a Cop suspended from duty for shooting dead a fellow officer.However the mental anguish of the event is eschewed in favour of the demons that apparently haunt the backs of the mirrors in a dilapidated fire ravaged building for which he is a Night Watchman.

When the action is largely confined to the fire damaged department store, an interesting, if routine level is found.Once the action goes outside all plot credibility disintegrates.Afficiandos of the genre will be pleased to know that there is the obligatory nude/ bare breasts/ girl in the bath scene acted by Amy Smart playing fosters sister.We even have a wet t shirt scene acted by Paula Patton playing Fosters sister.But just when the rationale and logic of the malevolent ghosts in the mirrors is “cracking up” it gets worse.Foster identifies the root cause of the problem, a cured schizophrenic Nun whom he kidnaps at gunpoint from a Nunnery without challenge or consequence and persuades her to happily give up her own life in favour of Fosters anonymous family.

The coda “plot twist” is a mere device, clever but shallow.Less money, but more characterisation,less gore and more threat are required next time round for Aja.

Exciting, Overblown Action, 8 October 2008

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

This film has much going for it. Liam Neeson is a credible leading man as Bryan, the retired Special Forces Agent who is trying to rebuild his relationship with his daughter Kim, after his wife remarried.The action is exciting, relentless,and well-staged.Largely set in Paris, the locations are a welcome change from standard Hollywood fare and are well handled by Director Morel, and Writer Besson, both native Frenchmen.The big budget gives plenty of bangs for your buck -or Euro, and the 90 odd minute running time flys by with a convincing story steeped in the “revenge” genre so often played out in Westerns.

But there is also much wrong with it, which, considering the acting talent and budget, could have been put right.The language issue is horribly fudged.Sometimes French and Albanian is sub titled, sometimes it is not. Sometimes French characters speak in English, sometimes they do not. Most comic is a scene in which Neeson impersonates a French Police Officer to Albanians, in broad American English!

This unwillingness to immerse in the French culture creates other problems.Bryan has apparent close connections with the French Authorities which helps him through the plot no end, but it seriously detracts from the “stranger in a strange land” dynamic which helps a tale like this.Equally, the girls, once “taken” hardly appear again. I would gladly have lost the unnecessary 4×4 chase, shoot-out and explosions at the Albanians camp for a view of “the other side”.

Equally, the shoot outs both at the “Auction” Hotel and the Sheikhs boat are preposterous and needlessly over the top, the story would have been more effective for a bit of restraint, not less.Finally, the racial stereotyping is lazy.The Americans are good and wholesome, the French corrupt, Albanians, swarthy and evil, Arab Sheikhs, fat with exotic sexual demands. Although mainly set in Paris, rarely is there a french ambiance to proceedings or sense of “place”, in sharp contrast to the recently released “In Bruges”. No reference at all is made to the fate that befalls his daughters travelling companion.

So, an exciting enough film, enjoyable enough in its own right which should have been a lot better.

A Collection of Short Stories, 6 October 2008

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

A quirky, and very British, collection of nine ten minute short stories all set on the London underground.There is no obvious central theme, and no message. Just a celebration of the diversity of everyday goings on in our subterranean transport system.

You don’t have to, and are probably not intended to, like all the stories. There is no “eureka” moment.What you do get is idiosyncratic story telling by a distinguished cast. The dialogue is often sparse, placing great importance on acting, and space, which the film delivers in spades.

In an era of increasingly formulaic and homogeneous film making this dares to be different, and rewards the viewer accordingly.Perversely the fact that the tales are no longer than ten minutes makes the overall running time seem longer, as you mentally “rewind” after each short. And if one is losing your interest? Well you are only a few minutes away from your next one

Uncomfortable “Shocker”, 12 September 2008

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Director James Watkins has made an unsettling debut in this “shocker” which skips around a few genres, and borrows from illustrious antecedents, in this stock tale of bad things happening to good people.Young couple Michael Fassbender playing Steve, and Kelly Reilly playing Jenny ,unwisely choose a weekend away in a remote park and pay for their mistake.

Some of this is stock formula; the pretty junior school teacher, the Sat Nav which urges them to “turn around”,swimming in a cold English lake with their bags on the shoreline etc. However the film has aspirations for a bit more, with the antagonists being young feral children whose characters are allowed some development.

The posse of miscreants is led by a malevolent Jack O’Connell playing Brett who reprises the empty viciousness of “A Clockwork Orange” into a modern setting, borrowing heavily from “Lord Of The Flies” in his sadistic manipulation of his peers.The “strangers in a strange place” theme is not as convincingly dealt with as “Deliverance” and “Straw Dogs” achieve, but nevertheless, although both films are borrowed from, Watkins does create am idiosyncratic modern quirky English paranoia which taps into one of the concerns of the day – juvenile delinquency .

The very low budget is not at the expense of an intelligent script, and some convincing acting performances.But ironically, it’s “realism” is to some extent its undoing.I left the cinema depressed and drained.The violence is not “stylised” it is real, there is not much room for suspension of disbelief. Although the plot twists groan a bit, no doubt around budgetary constraints, it’s social realism touches Ken Loache’s “Kess”.This sets it apart from other stable mates, not least the recent American “Timber Falls” which starts from a similar premise.

The feral youth ARE placed in the context of brutish, amoral parenthood. The bloodbath is initiated by the “collateral” killing of Brett’s pet Rottweiller which elicits more emotion from him than the torture of his victims.The moral ambiguity of right and wrong are explored gently when Steve finds himself inadvertently “breaking into” a house, and more savagely when Jenny kills a young teenager in her flight for help.Pointedly, the behaviour of the adults in the community is a sick cauldron for the behaviour which is unleashed.

I cannot say i enjoyed this film. Yet there is something undeniably powerful about it.Watkins deals with the personalities particularly well and I wonder if he has more to offer us than straight horror fare, I suspect the answer is yes.

A Solid Return to Form, 10 September 2008

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

Director Guy Ritchie is quite good at making London gangster films and this certainly bears favourable comparison with his two previous efforts, “Lock, Stock etc”, and “Snatch”. Featuring multiple characters, a plot that thinks it is more complicated than it is,entertaining banter, and some “biff, bang, wallop” violence, it offers more than enough for its core audience.

The ending is more wrap up than conclusion, and the proliferation of characters gives precious little time for them to “breathe” individually. Perversely at 114 minutes the running time stays just within its welcome, suggesting that the story itself could have been sharpened up.Bent accountant, Stella, played by the sassy Thandie Newton is wonderful and deserves more space.Whilst Ticket Tout Mr Big, Nonso Anozie, fresh from his strong performance in “Cass” is strangely anaemic and unconvincing.

There is a strong homosexual thread running through the narrative offering much opportunity for humour. Ritchie’s treatment of the theme is pretty ambivalent with female characters largely absent.The sexy accountant is, naturally, laid by “one of the boys” whilst the only other female character of note is bedroom bait for a corrupt Councillor. It appears that Ritchie “doesn’t do relationships” in his films.

Although a return to form, Ritchie is curiously tentative in some parts of the film.The opening cash heist is preposterously inept, whilst the subsequent cash heist descends into comic book violence. It is almost as if Ritchie doesn’t know quite where to pitch it. Equally there is a brief gay sado – masochistic torture scene which is set up, but never “delivers”. Tarrantino would have milked it for much more explicit violence ( the cellar scene in Pulp Fiction), and humour.

The 25 year old “Long Good Friday” still stands as the modern London Gangster film to beat, and whilst failing in that tilt, still delivers a pretty good attempt at the title.Multi national London, bursting with foreign cash and schemers is still a rich seam of opportunity to work and the possible sequel would not be unwelcome.The absence of a bloodbath finish gives plenty of characters room for more in the next installment.

A Real Treat For Horror Afficiandos, 9 September 2008

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

This film certainly appears to have polarised opinion, and on one level I understand why.It isn’t original, it is formulaic, and it does require suspension of disbelief. So for those who like to see genres “pushed”, this will be tired and hackneyed. BUT, for those who ENJOY the horror / gore genre for what it is, this story delivers with a vengeance.

The first feature by Director, 31 year old Bryan Bertino,it carefully and skilfully deploys all the “tricks” required to make for a genuinely scary experience, and at 85 minutes the running time is only fractionally too long. However this is not a criticism, as an hour and a bit is about all you are going to get from a modest house besieged by masked assailants.

Liv Tyler plays the terrorised Kristen McKay with conviction and style. Sadly the only missing staple from such a film, the bare breasts shot, is missing! Her boyfriend James Hoyt, played by Scott Speedman, is well cast as the male incapable of preventing “bad things” happening to both of them.

Essentially this is a story that plays on our fears of “things that go bump in the night”, literally, and works very effectively as such.The opening advice that the story “was inspired by true events” was a little unnecessary, especially as there was no coda at the end to offer further explanation.Neverteless a fine debut offering from a director who will certainly deliver more, and better, as his career unfolds.My 8/10 rating reflects its position within the genre – not out of “all comers”.

Pretentious Pap, 8 September 2008

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

Don’t believe the hype.Advocates of this movie swoon at the hand held camera work, bitty narrative, and edgy imagery.They are wrong. This is a classic case of the Emperors New Clothes, all style and no substance.

It is telling that Director Matt Reeve’s previous claim to fame was Under Siege 2 (straight to video) and writer Drw Goddards credentials revolve around being a producer on TV Bore fest “Lost”. It shows.

The hand held camera work is fine for the opening “party” Act, although I would have left the party during its 20 minute duration.The characters are sketched as quirky and diverse, like a scene setting episode of “Lost”, but lack any warmth or emotional interest. I was willing them ALL to die half way through the film.However when the action kicks in the camera work is firstly nausea inducing, secondly it is used to artificially create a drama and tension which is not in the narrative.

Matt Reeve, by dipping us into this tale and then suddenly dipping us out is essentially telling a short story. And he is not good enough to carry a short story on film off.It fails at virtually every level.I was checking my watch every 10 minutes or so, a good indicator of how poorly the film engages with its audience.

A film I will NEVER watch again. A Director whose films I shall actively avoid in future.

The Worst “Comedy” I Have Ever Seen, 30 August 2008

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

A comedy that isn’t funny is in trouble. A comedy that searches for the lowest common denominator, is devoid of life and invention and replaces ideas with formulas is in very big trouble. As a result I award my lowest ever IMDb score.

Director and writer Adam McKay is hopelessly out of his depth with a feature length, his history with Saturday Night live (which he shares with co writer Will Ferrell) is the clue. As a 90 second sketch the premise of this film has legs,at 98 minutes it is 96 1/2 minutes too long.

Ferrell and Mckay are both the same age that they are writing about, but do so with no comic ingenuity or insight.The premise of the film is of two mature singletons who get together with 40 year old sons still living at home. The joke is that they behave like 15 year olds. this is funny for about 30 seconds.It then moves into weird, bordering onto infantilism.

I have no problem with base, gross, profane, crude humour aimed at amusing 13 -15 year olds.But in casting the protagonists as grown men playing children it patronises children whilst causing adults to question the sexual motivation of what is going on here. and when in doubt say “fuck”, thats bound to get a laugh isn’t it? Pitched against the recently released,equally coarse, but immeasurably funnier and superior “Zohan” this picture is exposed for the barren Turkey it is. Adam Sandler demonstrates a grasp of the grotesque and absurd which is totally missing here. The sparkling dialogue which American Screen Writers have shown they can write, with such institutions as “Friends” and “Cheers”, is nowhere to be seen.

“Mother”, Mary Steenbergen, and “Dad”,Richard Jenkins, who both gave creditable performances in recent hits “The Brave One” and “The Kingdom” respectively do their best (hence the 1), but will not be quoting this one in their memoirs.

Unfunny, unremittingly awful, avoid at all costs.

Lots of off-beat fun, 18 August 2008

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Do not be put off by some of the carping criticism that this film has received. It is very funny, made me laugh out loud, and dares to touch on some areas of humour which are traditionally taboo, especially in American cinema. I am not a particular Adam Sandler fan, and have only seen “Happy Gilmore” of his previous work. But I was highly entertained by some genuinely amusing set pieces, and his exploration of humour in very dangerous territory.

The plot line is simple enough. Zohan, the uber counter terrorist Mossad agent, decides to hang up his Uzi for a pair of hairdressers scissors in New York. But the past is never far behind…………………………………… The opening scenes which establish his credentials as a super agent are funny, fast paced and engaging with plenty of wry self deprecating put downs including his parents begging him to “play safe” in his present job. After faking his death at the hands of his arch rival, the Phantom played by John Turrito, he then resurfaces in New York.

At this point two things are worth mentioning. Firstly Turrito plays the Phantom for laughs, which ironically drains some of the humour. A straight “bad guy” would have been funnier. Secondly the “second act” is primarily made up of crude, sexual innuendo which is wholly inappropriate for an audience that can get into a UK 12A certification. It is very funny, and there are plenty of laughs to be had from a youngish hairdresser with no hairdressing skills acquiring superstar status by “banging old ladies with big tits”. But it is miles away from the humour of the trailer and the first fifteen minutes.

The part of Zohan appears to have been inspired by Sasha Cohen’s “Borat”, but Sandler insists that his idea for this film pre-dates Borat. It certainly shares the same mad cap humour. The two calls to the “Hezbolah helpline” are wonderful vignettes. However the heavy hand of Hollywood is never far away and Zohan’s romance with the astonishingly beautiful Palestinian hairdresser boss Dalia. played by Emmanuelle Chirqui, is played for feel good value, rather than the devilment it could have been. Equally the artificial introduction of a greedy property developer and White Ayrian Supremacists are artificial ,and a device to move the “villainy” around. The cameo appearances by Mariah Carey and John McCenroe are extraordinary for them being totally unnecessary.

A denouement with a message that we should all just get on together is a bit too sugary for my tastes, and plays to American sensibilities. Nonetheless this is a brave attempt at satire, and for the most part comes off. Possibly twenty minutes too long, a “harder” story stripped of the saccharine ending would have been stronger. Still well worth a look though.