Along with X-Men: First Class this is one of the best superhero movie that came out this summer. Chris Evans plays Steve Rogers, the weakling who would become the WWII superhero Captain America. Along with his buddy Bucky, they take on Red Skull, played with vile precision by Hugo Weaving, the rogue Nazi agent planning on taking on the world. Director Joe Johnston does a terrific job creating the WWII era and bringing it all together. The action is great, the comedy just right and the love story beautiful. Finally a love interest in a superhero film that works and I give a lot of the credit to Hayley Atwell who plays Peggy Carter. Oh, and the writers I guess have something to do with that too. Grade: A-
Spoilers: If there's any flaw in the film is that I wanted more. Because of the future Avenger film, the film makers are forced to push the story to an ending that sets up that film. The problem is I want another Captain America film with the Captain, Bucky and gang going on WWII missions to stop Red Skull. Being tied to the Avenger story line helps in some cases, it gives the mystical science a connection to Thor, and with Mr. Stark there we're tied to Iron Man but it's kind of rushed. I can only hope that they do make another Captain America film that's sort of a in between film, an adventure that occurred during WWII before Bucky dies. This way we get to see Peggy again too.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
The Amatuers (2005)
A hidden treasure in the Direct-to-DVD market, this comedy surprises. Jeff Bridges plays Andy, a lovable loser and divorcee who decides to make a porn film with the help of his friends, all lovable losers too. His friends are played by a myriad of talented actors: Ted Dansen, Tim Blake Nelson, William Fichtner and Joe Pantoliano for example. There is a lot of wit and comic timing at work here. But what's really great is that even though it's about men trying to make a porno we never really see anything. (Which might disappoint some, I guess, but I loved this approach to the subject matter.) This is a funny little film with heart. I can see why it wasn't released in the theaters, but as a rental its a nice change of venue. Grade: B+.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Election (1999) - Revisited
I caught this film on TCM the other night and I couldn't change the channel. What a pitch-perfect film that Alexander Payne made. It's based on a novel written by Tom Perrotta (who also wrote the novel Little Children) and I'm going to have to read the book someday. What struck me as I watched it again was how good Matthew Brodrick is (seeming to echo Jeffrey Jones' Edward Rooney from Ferris Bueller's Day Off but with his own charm). I have to say I think it's probably his best performance. Of course this is the film that made people take notice of Reese Withersoon and she's delightful if a little exaggerated. Overall if you haven't seen this movie and you like High School movies with some bite to them than check out this a new classic. Grade: A.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Top Ten Revenge Movies
Revenge is a dish best served cold, or so the proverb says. I'm still thinking about I Spit On Your Grave and it inspired me to consider a list of the top ten best Revenge movies. I'm sure I've missed a few and I know of some right of the bat that I've not see yet (Death Wish for example) but I'll do my best.
10. Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982) - These type of movies can be divided into those where the hero sets out for revenge or where the hero must survive an attempt at revenge. This classic sequel has Captain Kirk and crew needing to deny Khan the revenge he seeks. It's exciting and helped keep the Star Trek franchise alive after a disappointing first film.
9. High Plains Drifter (1973) - A mystical western where a stranger rides into a town needing a punishment. This is Clint Eastwood's second project he would direct and it's a satisfying dark film.
8. Hard Candy (2005) - By putting this on the list we are kind of spoiling the film but it is one of the better revenge films out there. Patrick Wilson and Ellen Paige go back in forth in this disturbing and well-crafted film.
7. Cape Fear (1962) - Some might be surprised I'm referring to the original black and white film and not the Scorsese remake which is really good too, but I love the J. Lee Thompson version. Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck are so good together.
6. Ocean's Eleven (2001) - Yes, this is a heist movie but the motivation from the very beginning is revenge.
5. Old Boy (2003) - This Korean film completely redefines the revenge movie with a great mystery and a shocking ending that cleverly proves that one doesn't need to kill someone to destroy their soul.
4. Unforgiven (1992) - Clint Eastwood's famous western that dissects violence and the need for revenge. Everyone involved delivers the goods in a film where an old gunslinger is hired for revenge ending up needing to satisfy his own kind of justice at the end.
3. Virgin Spring (1960) - Bergman's medieval revenge movie became the bases for the American horror film The House on the Left. What a powerful film with a performance by Max Von Sydow that's incredible.
2. Kill Bill (2003 & 2004) - I considered putting this at number one but ended up sticking it here, but there really hasn't been a revenge story more fun to watch. Quentin Tarantino really nailed it when he set out to make a great revenge tale and the Bride is a fantastic heroine to follow.
1. In the Bedroom (2001) - What does a father do when his son is killed and the killer walks free? This drama asks this question and we follow Tom Wilkinson make a choice that he knows he shouldn't. Sissy Spacek also stars.
Honorable Mentions:
Ricochet (1991) - Another survival movie with Denzel Washington having to thwart a crazy criminal played by Jonathan Lithgow from ruining his life. The main reason I wanted to mention this film is because of the rape scene. Wow, that's a way to enact revenge.
Memento (2000) - I really considered putting this exceptional film, told backwards, on the list but it just didn't make the cut. Still, I wanted to mention it.
10. Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982) - These type of movies can be divided into those where the hero sets out for revenge or where the hero must survive an attempt at revenge. This classic sequel has Captain Kirk and crew needing to deny Khan the revenge he seeks. It's exciting and helped keep the Star Trek franchise alive after a disappointing first film.
9. High Plains Drifter (1973) - A mystical western where a stranger rides into a town needing a punishment. This is Clint Eastwood's second project he would direct and it's a satisfying dark film.
8. Hard Candy (2005) - By putting this on the list we are kind of spoiling the film but it is one of the better revenge films out there. Patrick Wilson and Ellen Paige go back in forth in this disturbing and well-crafted film.
7. Cape Fear (1962) - Some might be surprised I'm referring to the original black and white film and not the Scorsese remake which is really good too, but I love the J. Lee Thompson version. Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck are so good together.
6. Ocean's Eleven (2001) - Yes, this is a heist movie but the motivation from the very beginning is revenge.
5. Old Boy (2003) - This Korean film completely redefines the revenge movie with a great mystery and a shocking ending that cleverly proves that one doesn't need to kill someone to destroy their soul.
4. Unforgiven (1992) - Clint Eastwood's famous western that dissects violence and the need for revenge. Everyone involved delivers the goods in a film where an old gunslinger is hired for revenge ending up needing to satisfy his own kind of justice at the end.
3. Virgin Spring (1960) - Bergman's medieval revenge movie became the bases for the American horror film The House on the Left. What a powerful film with a performance by Max Von Sydow that's incredible.
2. Kill Bill (2003 & 2004) - I considered putting this at number one but ended up sticking it here, but there really hasn't been a revenge story more fun to watch. Quentin Tarantino really nailed it when he set out to make a great revenge tale and the Bride is a fantastic heroine to follow.
1. In the Bedroom (2001) - What does a father do when his son is killed and the killer walks free? This drama asks this question and we follow Tom Wilkinson make a choice that he knows he shouldn't. Sissy Spacek also stars.
Honorable Mentions:
Ricochet (1991) - Another survival movie with Denzel Washington having to thwart a crazy criminal played by Jonathan Lithgow from ruining his life. The main reason I wanted to mention this film is because of the rape scene. Wow, that's a way to enact revenge.
Memento (2000) - I really considered putting this exceptional film, told backwards, on the list but it just didn't make the cut. Still, I wanted to mention it.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
The Midnight Meat Train (2008)
Based on a Clive Barker story, this film tells the story of a photographer (Bradley Cooper) who becomes obsessed with trying to track down a serial killer (Vinnie Jones) who butchers people on the subway. This is a gruesome horror film with a decent story. Vinnie Jones is so threatening its scary and watching Bradley Cooper's character fall deeper into an almost insane crusade is what keeps this film interesting. The ending is silly but I didn't mind it for some reason, baby because I'm familiar with the source material. Grade: B.
Spoilers: The ending as stated is silly but it didn't have to be. The design team responsible for the monsters at the end of the line failed big time. The director Ryuhei Kitamura should have just not showed us what they looked like (in the same way Spielberg avoided showing us Bruce in Jaws) because in the end they didn't seem scary enough to threaten all of humanity. Still I love the idea and I wish it had been developed a lot better.
Spoilers: The ending as stated is silly but it didn't have to be. The design team responsible for the monsters at the end of the line failed big time. The director Ryuhei Kitamura should have just not showed us what they looked like (in the same way Spielberg avoided showing us Bruce in Jaws) because in the end they didn't seem scary enough to threaten all of humanity. Still I love the idea and I wish it had been developed a lot better.
Friday, September 2, 2011
I Spit On Your Grave (2010)
A remake of a cult classic B-film that I never want to see because of the cheesy almost hilarious trailer of which I saw on youtube, this is a grueling revenge flick with tension and tragedy balanced just right with torture horror. This would fit into the classification known as Torture Porn but in this case it works. The story is pretty simple. Young woman, alone, drives to a friend's cabin to get some novel writing done. She's attractive so she catches the eye of three Redneck dirtbags. As you can imagine she's assaulted in a very ugly way. Yet this is not a woman you mess with, she's capable and willing to focus her rage in proving she's not a victim. This film isn't for the squeamish. It's brutal and some might say they go too far. I'm fine with the violence because its tied to the drama. That said I would only recommend it for true horror fans. Kudos to Sarah Butler for willing to go where most actresses would feel uncomfortable going, her performance is quite good. Grade: B+
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Source Code (2011)
Duncan Jones is becoming a favorite of mine after only two films. First was Moon, which was a perfect little film that proves you don't need lots of special effects to make a great science fiction film, and here he does it again with a fresh spin on the time travel movie. Okay, it's not time travel but I don't want to spoil the film. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Army pilot Stevens, who is sent back into the body of a stranger to find out who was responsible for a terrorist attack that already happened. It's a thrilling mystery with strong performances from both Jake and Vera Farmiga (who plays the Captain in charge of his mission). The best way to describe it is Groundhog Day mets Minority Report. When I finished the movie I experienced that little tingle of joy one gets after watching a rewarding film. Grade: A-.
Spoilers: I know there's been some criticism that the film had a happy ending but I liked it because it expands on the concept of the parallel universe theory. True, it would have been a good ending if he just died when the program ended too, but I like how the the story continues with there being another Stevens, waiting to go on a mission at the end of the film. One thought I had afterward was what happened to the guy Stevens replaces, Sean the school teacher? Poor guy, Stevens saves everyone but Sean. It's kind of a cruel consequence of Steven heroics. I wonder if there will be a sequel where Stevens tries to live Seans life but soon is sucked into another adventure to save the world. I'd see it but only if Mr. Jones is behind the project.
Spoilers: I know there's been some criticism that the film had a happy ending but I liked it because it expands on the concept of the parallel universe theory. True, it would have been a good ending if he just died when the program ended too, but I like how the the story continues with there being another Stevens, waiting to go on a mission at the end of the film. One thought I had afterward was what happened to the guy Stevens replaces, Sean the school teacher? Poor guy, Stevens saves everyone but Sean. It's kind of a cruel consequence of Steven heroics. I wonder if there will be a sequel where Stevens tries to live Seans life but soon is sucked into another adventure to save the world. I'd see it but only if Mr. Jones is behind the project.
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