Review: Moon

Moon (2009)
starring: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey
dir. Duncan Jones


This is a pretty damned good science fiction film. Some of the advanced word had comparisons to 2001 (1968). So when I walked in I was waiting for a head trip. That wasn't what I was going to get, but it wasn't what was intended either. What I first felt as disappointment, turned into a level of admiration as the film continued to roll around in my head for the next few days. When that happens you know there is more going on there. It may not be 2001, it's more of a thinking mans Outland (1981), which in itself sounds odd, but works quite well here.

Sam Rockwell proves that he is one of the best talents working today. He continually gives layered performances and this is no exception. To go into more detail about his work here would give away the key plot of the movie, so I'll just say it's an incredible job and Rockwell deserves major praise.

Director Duncan Jones in his feature debut shows skill with the camera. I was blown away to find out they only spent five million dollars on this movie. It is visually arresting and Jones finds the right moments to sell the world he has created. His decision to use practical effects and models instead of CGI for key scenes is great to see. It ads a tangibility that today's computer work seems to lack.

Last and certainly not least is the score by Clint Mansell who delivers atmosphere and emphasis that drives the the film home and wraps it up into one very tight package.

This isn't going to be opening wide, so keep your eyes open because it's an intelligent piece of science fiction that we don't see a lot of anymore.

8.5 out of 10

Review: The Hangover

The Hangover (2009)
starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong, Heather Graham
dir. Todd Phillips


Is this a funny film? Yes. That's all I asked for and I got it. It's not a movie as much as it's a concept piece using several skits and the theme of finding a lost friend to tie it all together. This isn't a film about change or building character, it's about setup and punchline. Looking at it from that point of view it delivers and is firing on all four cylinders.

Todd Phillips keeps the pace moving and creates a very visually appealing movie. It's nice not to see flat lighting and a wide/medium/closeup photography. He's good with comedy as long as he's given a good script. Just look at Starsky & Hutch (2004) or School For Scoundrels (2006) to understand his limitations. He can't improve, he can only deliver the package in hand.

I ran into Ed Helms at a party once and he was kind of a jerk, so I just don't like him. therefore I can't tell you if he was any good in this, all I could see was the jerk. Cooper plays a dick well and can look good doing it with stylish clothes and copious amounts of hair product. Galifianakis is the breakout. His stand up comedy, ore like performance art, is brilliant and he gets a chance to show off some of his skills with his man child character. He's sweet, a little demented and could be scary in the right circumstances.

It's a really funny movie and worth the price of admission. There is over the top humor and some subtle moments that might slip by if your not paying attention. It wants to make you laugh and nothing more. Mission accomplished.

8 out of 10

Clip Art: Brando Interview

This week I'm going to go in a different direction. Instead of a scene from a movie, here is an interview with Marlon Brando from 1965. The guy was a genius who was eccentric and a sense of humor way beyond the times. enjoy.




You can catch part 2 here. For some reason there is no embed code.

But there is code for part three. Hmmmm.

Review: Up

Up (2009)
starring: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Delroy Lindo, Bob Peterson
dir.Pete Doctor


This is another great film from Pixar. Is it really a shock anymore? These people have a batting average that would put any studio to shame. Even the lesser films are better than most. When it comes to choosing the best movie, it's all about personal taste.

I have request. Make a film that just sucks. I want to see what one of those are like. Shoot for something really lofty with ambition and go after it with the conviction and passion that you show all your other films. Then just tank it. Get a tomato rating of 16%. Really toss it in the gutter just so an audience can see how badly you can screw the pooch. Don't make anything offensive, like the already mentioned pooch screwing, just something that falls flat on it's face. In the end it will be nothing but beneficial for you.

Your stuff is so damned good that it's almost starting to feel boring. "Oh look, another piece of art from Pixar" Yawn. Can't you see that we're getting bored of giving you money for something good while most of the movie industry takes our cash and shafts us for two hours. Stop being such iconoclasts and get aboard the crap boat.

On the good side, I do have to say I'm not sold on 3D. When it's used as a gimmick it feels like a gimmick. When it's not it becomes a bit of a distraction from the great visuals that you put up on the screen.

To sum up: For the good of humanity, lay a rotten egg so we as audience members can universally say you have a bad film. That you aren't the greatest animation studio today and that everyone is capable of showing up in public with a giant zit on their nose. Pretty please.

9.5 out of 10

Review: Drag Me To Hell

Drag Me To Hell (2009)
starring: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver,DiLeep Rao, David Paymer, Reggie Lee
dir. Sam Raimi

This film is getting a lot of critical praise and it deserves it. After a very long sabbatical from horror films, Sam Raimi is back on his home turf and as comfortable as ever.

Using every trick in the horror arsenal, Raimi shocks, build tension, grosses us out and makes us laugh with the best intentions of entertaining the hell out of us. He has leapt back to the era of The Evil Dead movies and knocks it out of the park.

It would be unfair to not praise Alison Lohman, she gives a great performance and is a real trooper. Everything is done to her in this film and it takes real commitment to trust the filmmakers to pull of the horror/humor combo. Lohman has so many different things poured into her mouth, you cold see an adult film star saying no.

But really the best part is seeing Raimi going back to his old bag of tricks and making an energetic and fun horror movie that is a throwback to the old days that has a decent budget behind it. I could easily complain about some of the CGI. There are moments that really pull you out of the film, which is a shame. But the thing that is amazing is how Raimi can move between horror and comedy with such ease, the mind reels trying to figure out how he does it.

If you're the type of person who will roll with a talking goat, then this is a movie for you. It's a blast and you'd have to be a cold cynical bastard if you don't enjoy the hell out of this film.

9.5 out of 10

The Eclectic Choice: The Exorcist 3

The Exorcist 3 (1989)
dir. William Peter Blatty

This is one of those rare occasions when a equal made twenty years after the original actually turns out to be good. As a matter of fact it's even better than part two which was just down right awful. Yes, I'm saying it and will wear it with a badge of honor, The Exorcist 3 is a really good horror film.

It's got a great performance by the master George C. Scott. In the film he plays Detective Kinderman who was portrayed in the original film by Lee J. Cobb. The film picks up twenty years later (fitting) and Kinderman is on the trail of a serial killer who happens to kill the same fashion that a presumably dead serial killer used to. This leads to all sorts of questions and a patient in an insane asylum who happens to look a lot like Father Karras, the priest who took a tumble down the stairs at the end of the first one. Hmmmmm, this could get interesting.

Filled with a moody and terror filled atmosphere, William Peter Blatty made a wonderfully underrated horror film that has it's fans, but has yet to reach the position it so righteously deserves. Scott did well in the horror genre between this film and the classic ghost story The Changeling (1980). It also has one of the best ball busting friendships in cinema history. You can't help but smile as Scott and Ed Flanders (no relation to Ned) banter back and forth with frothy sarcasm, but show that deep caring of old friends in the smaller moments. It's a great relationship, though short lived on screen.

If you haven't seen this movie, you're missing out. You'll never trust people who crawl on the ceiling again.

Review: Easy Virtue

Easy Virtue (2009)
starring: Jessica Biel, Colin Firth, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Barnes, Kris Marshall, Fizz the Dog
dir. Stephan Elliott


The problem with summer is that we are bombarded from every direction with advertising for the giant tent pole movies that many smaller films slip by. It's a real shame because some of these little gems could use a bigger audience.

Director Stephan Elliott is best known for the sleeper hit The Adventures Of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert (1994). After a few misfires, an early retirement, near death experience and decision to get back into filmmaking Elliott has brought us a great little film with heart and some great comedy.

Based off of a Noel Coward play, Elliott and screenwriting partner Sheridan Jobbins have updated it and expanded some of the characterization with great success. It is a movie full of energy, some great gags and a few really great performances.

Jessica Biel delivers a solid performance, but is really shown up by those around her. Colin Firth delivers another solid character who silently suffers and holds onto a secret that has kept him tormented and bitter for years. But the real standout and it's no real suprise is Kristen Scott Thomas as the family matriarch. It's a thankless role and she is pitch perfect as a woman who struggles to keep her famly together even though they are becoming more and more secuded as society around them is changing at a rapid pace.

One of the more surprising elements is the soundtrack. It includes several Coward songs, but also more contemporary songs arranged to fit the style of the 20's. At first I was scratching my head trying to place the tune when I realized it was Car Wash set to swing. It is another layer that adds to the comedy of the piece and reminds us that we're watching a film by a guy willing to take chances.

It's a fun film that moves quickly, looks great and is fun of some real inspired comedy. If you're into something that's a little more offbeat and doesn't have giant robots or huge explosions, it's well work a look.

8 out of 10