Posted on 15 August 2008 by foxility
German director Michael Haneke remade his popular German film “Funny Games” into an American version. I don’t believe this thriller was meant to entertain the viewer but made to provoke thought about our violent society, so if you like artsy films this one’s for you.
A family goes on vacation to their summer home on a lake surrounded by an upper class gated community. As Ann (Naomi Watts), George (Tim Roth), and their young son Georgie drive through the wealthy community they notice their neighbors with a couple of young strangers dressed in white. They think nothing of it and they go off to settle into their summer home. While Ann’s in the kitchen getting dinner ready for her family, a familiar guest arrives. It’s one of the young men dressed in white that she saw earlier with her neighbors. The young man asks her for some eggs and she complies and sends him off with the eggs but a few moments later he comes back asking for more because he claims he dropped them, but not after he “accidently” drops her cell phone in the sink that was filled with water; which of course makes the cell phone inactive because we can’t have a working cell phone in a scary movie. She annoyingly gives him some more eggs and he again drops them but this time he is accompanied by the other young man also dressed in white. It becomes apparent to Ann that something isn’t right with these boy’s, even though they continue speaking politely, Ann gets a bad vibe and kicks them out, but they refuse to leave. Ann’s husband eventually get’s involve and agrees with his wife to kick them out, but one of the boys gives him a quick swift golf club swing on George’s knee. This, apparently completely impales him because throughout the rest of the movie he can’t defend his family from the evil boys dressed in white who play sick torturing games. There was no room for character development in this film, therefore we learn almost nothing about the two evil boys; which is either interesting or frustrating depending on the viewer. I must say though Heneke did a good job with the two evil boys because they were annoying me to the point that I wanted someone to punch them in the head or crotch.
There are points in the movie where the boys turn to the camera to address the audience as a sort of challenge, and I thought that it took away from the film and in a way detached me from it; but not to the point where I didn’t feel like continuing with the movie. It wasn’t until the director takes us to a crucial point of the film and then (without giving too much away) gives us two scenarios, and that really ended it for me. I didn’t even want to continue watching, but of course I had to finish with hope of some kind of recovery… which I don’t think it fully did.
I understood what the director was trying to do, especially after reading thoughts of other viewers online, but It didn’t meet my expectations or maybe it was too artsy for me. Don’t expect “Hostel” or “Saw” type of violence or torture; it’s watered down.
The scenes where beautifully shot, and I loved how he made non-scary scenarios seem scary. The man has talent and I would definitely watch it again just because of how visually good looking it was.
Posted on 30 July 2008 by foxility
I happened to see this DVD on sale and read that Joaquin Phoenix was in it so I thought I’d rent it with no idea as to what it was about. It was directed by Terry George and starring Joaquin Phoenix, Jennifer Connelly, Mark Ruffalo, and short appearances by Mira Sorvino.
The story starts calmly with Ethan Learner (Phoenix) and his wife Grace Learner (Connelly) along with their daughter Emma proudly enjoying their 10 year old son Josh playing the cello at his recital. On the other side of town you see attorney Dwight Arno (Ruffalo) and his son Lucas attending a baseball game to cheer for their favorite team the Red Sox in hopes that they make it to the World Series. On the way back home from the recital the Learner family decides to stop at a gas station on Reservation Road to rest and grab some stuff. While the family is busy at the gas station Josh decides to release the lightening bugs that his sister caught in a jar that night by the road.
While Lucas is sleeping on the ride back from the Red Sox game Dwight receives a call from his ex-wife (Mira Sorvino) who is frantic because he is late bringing back their son but he struggles to answer the phone and as he struggles he realizes he ran over someone.
Ethan witnesses his son getting run over and catches a quick glimpse of the perpetrator before he takes off. The family calls for help but it’s too late for Josh, he dies and the hunt for the person responsible begins.
Dwight battles with what he’s done back home. He knows that if he turns himself in he won’t be able to see his son for a long time but at the same time the guilt might consume him. He decides to lay low, hiding his car in his garage and keeping a low profile.
Ethan becomes obsessed with catching the person responsible which starts putting a strain on his marriage. He spends his nights looking for help and support online and straining to remember anything that he saw or heard that day.
Living in the same community both Dwight’s and Ethan’s lives intertwine and puts a darker cloud around Dwight who now after seeing the pain he’s cost the family has to come to a decision of weather to keep it a secret or to face the demon before the family finds out the truth.
I think the director wanted to tell a simple, basic story and it works here. There was nothing thrilling or explosive about the film, it was a bit like a bedtime story…keeps you interested without disturbing your thoughts. The characters seemed realistic and so did the story, it made me think that it could possibly happen that way. I have never seen a movie with this kind of content before and I liked it because of that. The film let’s you peek into the lives of the victim and the perpetrator which Mark Ruffalo plays very well. I enjoyed the film but I wouldn’t recommend it for those people that need action packed films.
Posted on 16 July 2008 by foxility
If you like films I think you will enjoy this movie. Director Michel Gondry creator of “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” gives us this warm family film, although please don’t expect the same originality the Spotless Mind gave. It came out this February but was overlooked I think because it wasn’t overly promoted, either that or cause Jack Black is in it. Whatever reason, it had some good names attached to it; Danny Glover, Mia Farrow, Mos Def, and Jack Black who all mesh well together in the movie.
Mike (Mos Def) lives in a poor community working at the local VHS only video rental store who is fascinated by the story of how the famous jazz musician Fats Waller was born in the store, told by the store owner Elroy Fletcher (Danny Glover). Elroy sees his community enjoying the modern world while old traditions slip away and is forced to realize that he will have to step into this modern thinking because his building is in jeopardy of being demolished and turned into a shopping center. He makes plans to spy on the local, popular DVD-video store to get Ideas on how to save his store and puts Mike in Charge but warns him not to let Mike’s friend Jerry (Jack Black) in the store while he’s away, since he’s energetically odd. After Elroy’s departure Jerry wants Mike to help him sabotage the power plant that’s located near his trailer because he’s convinced it’s unhealthy and is making him sick. Mike agrees at first but once there he has a change of mind, which ends up being good for him because Jerry goes on without him and ends up getting an electric shock. The next day Jerry confronts Mike at the rental store telling him about the sabotage and how his rental tape was blank, nothing but snow on the screen. They come to realize Mike’s body is magnetized and all the tapes in the store are now blank. The store’s long time customer Miss Falewicz finds there is something strange going on at the store because they do not allow her to rent a movie, but reluctantly agrees to pick up the movie the next day by suggestion of Mike to stall some time. Mike, with panic that Elroy will find out about the tapes, decides to remake Ghostbusters with Jerry as the star, then rent it to Miss Falewicz thinking she’s so out of it she’ll never know. She comes back the next day and rents the movie, but a few of her relatives end up seeing the movie and they love it so much they want more. Soon their clientele list rises and so do the suggestion for more movies and with the help of a local woman, Alma, they remake movies like The Lion King, Rush Hour, Driving Miss Daisy, and Robocop; during this they also find a way to demagnetize Jerry. They are collecting a lot of attention from these remakes who also involve some of the locals, but soon Elroy comes back and is surprised to find how popular the store has become. Although it’s looking as though the store could be saved by all the money these movies have been bringing in, they are soon confiscated and destroyed because of a little copyright violation. Now in order to save the store the community has to come together and make a movie of their own.
So the plot is blatantly simple and has been done several times but it has good energy. Gondry uses every extent of his childhood imagination and probably some of his current directorial skills to develop this raw, old school way of assembling these classic movies in the film. Even if you don’t like the film you have to appreciate the person behind it and the amusing way it was put together. The ending doesn’t give you an explosive emotion it gives a happy serene feeling, it sounds boring but I say give it a chance.
Posted on 11 July 2008 by foxility
Will Smith plays an un-conventional superhero in “Hancock” also starring Charlize Theron, and Jason Bateman. It was directed by Peter Berg who is more known for his acting than directing but does a great job in this film.
Hancock (Will Smith) is an un-destructable superhero rescuing the public in time of need but his rescue efforts are looked down upon by the public because of the destruction he leaves behind, including damaged public property, and cost to the city, which fuel his loneliness and drinking problem. After Hancock saves the life of Public Relations Executive Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman) in what the news business calls a car vs. train scenario Ray feels in dept to Hancock and wants to help him become a person the public would trust, and admire. Ray’s wife Mary Embrey (Charlize Theron) on the other hand doesn’t think it’s a good idea having him around but at the same time it seems she is somewhat attracted to him. Ray chooses to have Hancock do some hard time in the L.A. prison thinking that the public will miss him and will demand his comeback- besides he’s a superhero he can escape at anytime. After coaching from Ray behind bars and some anger management meetings, Hancock gets the call… there’s a bank robbery and the L.A.P.D needs him. Hancock does what superhero’s do and saves the day, he is then welcomed with joy from the public accepting this new, nicer superhero. Hancock finally feels accepted and appreciated while the public treats him like a rockstar, but Ray’s wife Mary continues to reject him but for good reason. She has a secret and when Hancock uncovers it he finds out who he really is.
Will Smith did a great job portraying a drunk, lonely superhero and it was fun watching him acting this role because the last time I saw him was in “I am legend” which seemed like the typical hero type of character. The rest of the cast was great also and their characters were well put together. I loved everything about it; there isn’t much that I have to criticize, the writing, acting, and graphics were good, plus there were some great camera shots. I definitely recommend and I would watch again.
Posted on 09 July 2008 by foxility
I love romantic comedies; I hate to admit they are my guilty pleasure. So, I knew I had to watch “Definitely, Maybe” starring the sexy Ryan Reynolds, Abigail Breslin, Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz, and Isla Fisher. It was directed and written by Adam Brooks who has much experience in the romantic comedy genre.
Ryan Reynolds plays Will Hayes a Manhattan professional getting a divorce while sharing custody with his 11 year old daughter Maya Hayes (Abigail Breslin). Maya wants to know the story, from her father, of how her parents met. He is reluctant to tell the story but decides to make her daughter guess which one of his 3 previous girlfriends is her mother. Will tells her of his college girlfriend Emily (Elizabeth Banks) from Wisconsin who he must leave behind to follow his political dreams and work for the Clinton campaign in New York. Then comes Summer (Rachel Weisz) the beautiful writer who could get just about any man she wanted. The third girl is his long time friend and confidant April (Isla Fisher). Maya soon starts to put all the pieces together and as she uncovers who her mother is she also finds that relationships are complicated.
Writer/Director Adam Brooks adds a bit of spice by letting the audience peek into the Clinton campaign while taking you through the relationships of the main character, which I believe adds more depth to the story. Although I enjoyed the film I had trouble with the ending but I can’t exactly put my finger on the reason why, I just felt un-emotional and as if it something was missing, other than that just an ok movie.
Posted on 03 July 2008 by foxility
I was lured to watch “Wanted” by the great cast starring James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, and Morgan Freeman. It was directed by Russian director Timur Bekmambetov who is not well know in the states but the writers Michael Brandt and Derek Haas have a few films under their belt, one of the most recent ones which I happen to love, and not because I use to live there,“3:10 to Yuma.”
The beginning of the film reminded me of the movie “the office,” excluding the funny, in that James McAvoy’s character, Wesley Gibson, is a cubicle guy who hates his job, hates his boss, and he finds out his girlfriend is cheating on him with his best friend. He of course lets his days run one into the next seamlessly because he pities himself and doesn’t have the confidence to do anything about it. As he goes into his habitual pharmacy for his anxiety pill refill he is forced to meet the woman who will change his life -Fox (Angelina Jolie). She starts by telling him his father was one of the greatest assassins and the second greates assassin is right behind him so let the shootout begin. Which by the way you can see this part in the preview, (if you haven’t already) in fact the preview gives away all the action scenes which I believe is the essence of the film. So, he finds out with the help of Sloan (Morgan Freeman) the “boss” that genetically he too is an assassin but not yet a great one cause they haven’t trained him, of course, and they need him to seek revenge on his father’s killer. The training begins and so does the typical montage so the audience can experience his transformation. Finally, the last test arrives, curving the bullet, he has been struggling with this but if you watch the preview you know what happens. He is ready! And he is given his targets, 2 to be exact which he pulls off neatly. Now he is ready for the assassination of his life. There’s suppose to be a twist at the end but I think most people figured it out.
“Wanted” gave me nothing at the end. I felt disconnected with the characters because there wasn’t enough character build up. The movie not only felt hastily put together but also like the ugly step sister to “Shoot ‘Em Up” in that the action was overly exaggerated but without the quality. I recommend watching the preview since it gives away every action scene or if you’re looking for something that will last longer try “Shoot ‘Em Up.”
