A Blast of Silence

Teaser For Claustrophobic "Buried" Debuts, Film Set to Screen at Sundance

2010-01-20T17:09:00.006-05:00

A teaser and clip has surfaced for the rather experimental film Buried. Directed by Rodrigo Cortés, Buried shows what happens when a U.S. contractor (Ryan Reynolds) working in Iraq is held hostage in a coffin with nothing to work with but a lighter and a cell phone.

From the looks of the teaser, the film, which is on the 2010 Sundance roster, has an obvious claustrophobic feel. Reynolds might seem like an unlikely matching for a film like this, but we'll see how it pans out. He's a good enough actor to be convincing. It will also remain to be seen if an experimental film like this will mix well with American audiences. I'm guessing that this will be Reynolds' one-man army film and a platform for him to showcase any talent that he might have hidden all these years.

The clip below is a teaser of rough quality as it's made out to be the hostage video the character records on his cellphone. Below that is the actual clip from the film that leads up to that moment. Check it out.

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

DVD Picks of the Week: January 19, 2010

2010-01-18T22:27:00.004-05:00

I'm feeling motivated, so here comes back to back weeks of DVD and Blu-ray picks. Here we go.

Gamer [DVD][Blu-ray]

The entirely forgettable Gamer starring Gerard Butler is one of the bigger releases on this particular Tuesday. Certainly not the worst of its kind, but Gamer doesn't do anything that titles like The Running Man have already done better. The film is probably worth a rental for fans of the genre, because the battle scenes do amount for some good entertainment. And Michael C. Hall's song and dance scene is so random and delightful that it practically makes the second half of the film worth watching. Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, the duo repsonsible for the great Crank series, aren't on the same level of greatness as they were in the first two Crank films, but they give a somewhat decent effort. Give this a go if you're a fan of the style or genre.

Pandorum [DVD][Blu-ray]

I've heard enough good and bad about Pandorum, the Event Horizon-esque spaceship thriller that features the great young and talented Ben Foster (3:10 To Yuma, 30 Days of Night) alongside Dennis Quaid. I haven't seen this film yet, but like the above title, this might be worth watching for fans of the genre. I'll definitely take a look sometime soon.

Che (Criterion) - [DVD][Blu-ray]

Workhorse filmmaker Steven Soderbergh has been churning out films like nobody else lately. The Informant! and The Girlfriend Experience have both impressed critics and fans alike. Now the great Criterion Collection has unleashed his two part film Che on DVD and Blu-ray. The film stars Benicio del Toro as the titular character. I haven't seen this yet, even though I am a self-proclaimed big fan of Soderbergh.

Aziz Ansari: Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening [DVD]

Aziz Ansari is one of the breakout comedy stars of 2009. By way of television show Human Giant, bit roles in films like Observe and Report and Funny People and the much improved second season of Parks and Recreation (which I must say, based on my own parks and rec experience, is very realistic), Aziz has busted onto the comedy scene with a rather explosive style. I was able to catch the uncensored version of this stand-up special on Comedy Central last night, and I must say, fans and newcomers alike will be pleased. Ansari tells some of his best jokes. He even busts into the obnoxiously funny character of Randy (with eight A's) at the end of the show.

What else comes out this week: Weeds: Season Five, Dallas: The Complete Twelfth Season, The Invention of Lying, Whiteout, Magnolia [Blu-ray], Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball, Smokin' Aces [Blu-ray], Boogie Nights [Blu-ray], Kingdom Of The Spiders [Special Edition].

What to stay away from: Whiteout. I know Kate Beckinsale is easy as sin to look at, but I've heard through the films literal whiteout you can't even see her! ;)

Take care.

DVD Picks of the Week: January 12, 2010

2010-01-12T18:06:00.004-05:00

It took a really great week of DVDs and Blu-rays to get me to make my first picks of the week entry of 2010, but nonetheless, I'm here. Let's get started.

In the Loop [DVD][Blu-ray]

I'm pretty certain that In the Loop is going to remain my favorite film of 2009. Coupled with the return of the related television show The Thick of It (both feature a few of the same characters and actors), creator Armando Iannucci had his hands full of comedy in 2009. The film and show are both led by vulgar fire-breathing spin doctor Malcolm Tucker (played brilliantly by Peter Capaldi). Tucker is a man that cusses like no one else and is credited with some of the more unique ways of telling someone off. In the Loop, a political satire of both the American and British governments, is a fast-paced comedy that in my eyes lands at the top of the list for 2009.

The Hurt Locker [DVD][Blu-ray]

One of the very best films of 2009 and a masterpiece of the war genre, Kathryn Bigelow's tense war thriller should be on the ballot come Oscar season. Jeremy Renner's lead performance is the sign of a rising star and shouldn't go unnoticed. The Hurt Locker is one of the true "edge-of-your-seat" films of the year.

Moon [DVD][Blu-ray]

Sam Rockwell, directed by David Bowie's son, Duncan Jones, turns in a captivating performance as a man stranded on a mining facility on the moon. Today is just a great day for some of the best films of 2009 to be available for purchase and home viewing. Moon is one of the better science fiction pieces of the decade as its aided by keen directing, a sharp screenplay and an eerie and unsettling mood of paranoia.

Departures [DVD]

A film I have yet to see but have just requested off of Netflix, Departures won the award for best foreign film at the 2009 Oscars. The Japanese film apparently follows a newly unemployed cellist who accepts a job preparing the dead for their funerals.

8 1/2 [Criterion Blu-ray]

8 1/2 will always have a special place in my heart. It was one of the first Criterion's I ever saw and the very first Fellini film I ever saw. At the beginning of my adventure into foreign films, few struck me as hard as this one. Perhaps only a couple of Ingmar Bergman titles have exceeded it. Watching 8 1/2 for the first time is a magical experience, something not created by most other films. And now having it available is crisp Blu-ray? What more can you ask for? I urge all newcomers to go out and get this film.

Big Fan [DVD]

I popped in Big Fan the other night and came away impressed. The film was directed and written by Robert Siegel, the man responsible for the screenplay to last year's critically-acclaimed film The Wrestler. Siegel certainly has something of a claim on the brooding loser genre. Big Fan is a darkly funny film starring Patton Oswalt in a challenging performance he might have been born for. Must see film for fans of films and sports. Those that live in the New York Metropolitan area, or even in Connecticut like myself, will appreciate the realism around the obsessed fans and late night radio show callers.

The Brothers Bloom [DVD][Blu-ray]

It seems like it took The Brothers Bloom long enough to be released. I still haven't seen it, but I'm making sure that I do eventually. Stars Rachel Weisz, Adrien Brody, and Mark Ruffalo.

The House On Sorority Row [DVD]

I feel like this should have been released at the same time the remake made its ways into theaters. A remake that is different enough from its original that its possible to enjoy as fresh content. The remake, Sorority Row, also took itself as least serious as possible, which was great for the film in the long run. The original is a good film as well, one of the unheralded slasher classics of the 1980s.

What else comes out this week: The Simpsons: The Complete Twentieth Season, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Fame, Halloween II, Last Action Hero [Blu-ray], The Burning Plain, Passing Strange, Amreeka, Urban Action Collection: 4 Film Favorites, Billy Jack [Blu-ray].

What to stay away from: CockHammer? Maybe? We'll find out.

Wrap up of Films Watched in December 2009

2010-01-05T18:26:00.002-05:00

Yes, I'm still alive. December seems to be the month where my blog annual slows down, even though I'm at the highest point of free time right now. Whatever. The year went by and I watched 285 films. Here's the list for December.

269. 12/1 – Precious*
270. 12/1 – Samson & Delilah*
271. 12/2 – Harry Brown*
272. 12/8 – Extract*
273. 12/13 – Tromeo and Juliet*
274. 12/16 – The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans*
275. 12/18 – Avatar*
276. 12/19 – The Road*
277. 12/20 – The Big Lebowski
278. 12/20 – Where the Buffalo Roam*
279. 12/23 – Trailer Park Boys: The Countdown to Liquor Day*
280. 12/24 – Blast of Silence
281. 12/24 – A Christmas Story
282. 12/24 – Home Alone
283. 12/27 – The Sniper (1952)*
284. 12/27 – Erin Brockovich*
285. 12/28 – My Left Foot*

It was a rather enjoyable ending to 2009. Now on to the awards.

Best Film (New Viewing): The Road
Yeah, The Road wowed me more than Avatar's mesmerizing visuals did. And it beat out a few other films from the past year as it skyrockets into my top 10 of 2009 (a list that is technically still in progress). The Road was a bleak and dismal portrayal of a post-apocalyptic future and yet was a simple story of a man and his boy as they fight to survive. A must-see film.
Runners-up: Precious, Avatar, Samson & Delilah, The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans, The Sniper, My Left Foot. (It was a good month).

Best Film (Repeated Viewing): The Big Lebowski
I know, I didn't pick the film I named my blog after. It's The Big Lebowski, dude. Blast of Silence would beat most films.
Runners-up: Blast of Silence.

Most Surprising Film: Harry Brown
The Michael Caine-led Harry Brown was like Taken with brains. Caine gives a fierce and unforgettable performance.
Runners-up: Samson & Delilah.

Most Underrated Film: Where the Buffalo Roam
Bill Murray's interpretation of the great Hunter S. Thompson hardly gets the respect Johnny Dep's good performance in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas gets. This is a terrifically funny film. Runners-up: The Road (Where's its and Viggo's Oscar buzz!?)

The list will continue once again in 2010. And not that anyone cares, but I will likely pick up on DVD picks, just not where I left off. Hey, give me credit, I had that going every week or so for quite some time. Look for more posts and reviews in the future. Peace.

‘Precious’ Full of Pain, Hope and Incredible Performances

2009-12-10T02:01:00.002-05:00

The unreal reality and disparaging tale of Clareece Precious Jones begins with an affliction of Precious’ diluted view of life. “I want to be on the cover of a magazine,” says the 16-year-old girl. “I wish I had a light-skinned boyfriend with good hair. But first I want to be in one of those BET videos.”

New talent Gabourey Sidibe plays the obese and illiterate Precious in the Oscar-buzzing film directed by Lee Daniels. Saddling up alongside Sidibe to make for one impressive female-led cast are Mo’Nique, Paula Patton and Mariah Carey.

It’s hard to recall a film carried by its acting as much as Precious is. Sure, the story, based on a novel by Sapphire, is dark and unrelenting and that alone makes for an effective drama, but the performances turned in by likes of Sidibe and Mo’Nique carries the film to a whole different quadrant of impactful storytelling. The extreme pain of the characters is felt alongside an unmistakable sense of reality, which is a combination proven time and time again to hit audiences the hardest.

And while Precious might end up as one of the toughest films to watch all year long because of the emotional performances coupled with content such as sexual, physical and mental abuse, there is a somewhat deeply-rooted sense of hope that exudes out of the tale of the struggling 16-year-old girl named Precious. Her admittance to an alternative school and the role that institution plays as a gleaming beam of hope gives the film a slight feel-good vibe you absolutely wouldn’t expect after the film’s opening sequences.

It’s easy to see why Precious has been stunning audiences at the various film festivals it has been shown at. The jarringly painful and intimate performances, especially Sidibe’s lead performance and the rather surprising and Oscar-deserving turn from Mo’Nique as Precious’ abusive mother, are all jaw droppers. I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t think Mo’Nique had this kind of performance in her. With a round-up of acting credits that includes Phat Girlz and Soul Plane, you can’t blame me, but I’m glad to be proven wrong.

Even Mariah Carey adds to the dramatic mix with her solid performance as welfare worker Mrs. Weiss, a key character in the discovery of the revelations of Precious’ painful life. Paula Patton, as Ms. Blu Rain, Precious’ new teacher at her alternative school, gives the most inspiring and hopeful performance as Precious’ ticket out of her personal hell.

And as you study these characters a little more deeply, you find that each adds its own purpose to the story and to Precious herself. They’re more than simple characters with a name and a face. Precious herself is a puzzling character, she often sees herself living a different life, perhaps one of a slender white woman, and even though she might want change, shows a fear to engaging it. Her mother is her hindrance, Ms. Rain is her gateway to salvation and Mrs. Weiss is her personal diary. The final two characters are the undeniable sense of hope I make reference to.

Precious won’t win awards for cinematography, as the jerky handheld cam is unbalanced at times, but it should take home something for its acting. A female-led film such as this doesn’t come around that often and the achievements should be recognized.

Precious is a must-see film. While it is a bit of a tear-inducing film typical of the Oscar season, it leaves you feeling an overall sense of optimism and does so remarkably with its realistic grasp on life boosted by a round of great performances.

'Swimming with Sharks' A Dark, Absurd Journey

2009-12-07T00:41:00.003-05:00

Remember that job you once had with the unrelenting and insulting boss? Well, Guy (Frank Whaley) does, and it’s why he’s decided to take Buddy Ackerman (Kevin Spacey) hostage.

Swimming with Sharks is the unforgiving, unapologetic, aggressive and darkest of dark comedies that tells the story of how Guy got to be throwing hot sauce in Ackerman’s open wounds.

This rather bleak look at the studio system in Hollywood is a scalding hot piece of comedy, a deeply hysterical albeit sad piece of social commentary on the business behind the pretty facade.

What makes this foul-mouthed film work so well is Spacey’s comically brilliant performance as true asshole Buddy Ackerman. A man who’s on the top of it all at Keystone Pictures, Ackerman uses and abuses Guy on all fronts, from stealing credit of his work to yelling at him in front of the entire office over a packet of Sweet‘N Low.

And on the other side, Whaley plays two versions of Guy. The more quiet and timid youngster looking to make a name for himself in the world of film and the berserk, near-psychotic man that storms into Ackerman’s house to hold his boss hostage and torture him with salt and paper cuts.

The film’s narrative is one of the huge keys to the film, as it supplements the present day events of Guy torturing Ackerman in his own home with the abuse and hostility Ackerman sprayed towards Guy during his time as his assistant. Jumping back and forth from past to present really allows the viewer to get a different sense of the events. It’s certainly an experimental way to tell a film of this kind, but I think it works much better than the straightforward start to finish narrative that could have been used.

And when I say that Swimming with Sharks is the darkest of dark comedies, I truly mean it. There might be films darker than this that dash comedy in here and there, but I have to admit that I didn’t get the film I expected when I read the critic comments of “Hysterical!” on the back of the DVD case. Writer and director George Huang offers so much bleak light into the life of Guy and the Hollywood system it’s unbelievable. The outcome of the situation is even more disparaging. If not for the humorous approach, Ackerman’s snide and ruthless bouts of yelling and the all-around foul-mouthed nature of the film, I’d have a hard time calling it a comedy.

But now that I’ve seen Swimming with Sharks I have a problem wondering why this film isn’t more beloved. It’s certainly not far from a brilliant total package, a working together of comic mischief and unabashed ruthlessness. The film isn’t afraid to point at dark, touchy subjects while maintaining a light sense of humor on the side. Think Glengarry Glen Ross had it been about holding your boss hostage.

Wrap Up of Films Watched in November 2009

2009-12-07T00:29:00.002-05:00

Nope, I didn't forget this feature, I'm just late. November was a pretty weak month from my part. The year is drawing to a close and the energy is growing low. I only watched 13 films this month. Here's the tally and awards.

October
256. 11/3 – Easy Rider*
257. 11/6 – The Men Who Stare at Goats*
258. 11/6 – (500) Days of Summer*
259. 11/6 – Whatever Works*
260. 11/14 – The Boat That Rocked*
261. 11/14 – The Limits of Control*
262. 11/14 – Swimming with Sharks*
263. 11/17 – Moon*
264. 11/20 – Naked Lunch
265. 11/20 – In the Loop
266. 11/21 – The Hangover
267. 11/25 – Wise Blood
268. 11/29 – Thirst*

Best Film (New Viewing): Moon
I loved absolutely everything about Duncan Jones' isolated science fiction thriller, from the extraordinary visuals to the stellar acting from Sam Rockwell. This is one of 2009's best films and a must-see film.
Runners-up: Easy Rider, Thirst, The Men Who Stare at Goats.

Best Film (Repeated Viewing): In the Loop
The best film of the year (so far)! Watch this, dam you. And then watch The Thick of It from start to where it's at right now. You won't be sorry. I just wish the Oscar buzz train was rolling for Peter Capaldi.
Runners-up: Wise Blood, Naked Lunch.

Worst Film (Any Viewing): None.
Sorry, but I enjoyed it all this month. So don't tell me "Oh, something has to be the worst!" That isn't the intention of this slot.

Most Surprising Film and Most Underrated Film: Swimming with Sharks
Yeah, it wins both of these, so to save space and time I'll condense it to one slot. Swimming with Sharks was a $2 blind buy for me at Big Lots and I couldn't have been happier with the outcome. I'll be posting my "Netflix It" piece I wrote on the film for The Recorder shortly.

DVD Picks of the Week: Nov. 24 + Dec. 1

2009-11-30T23:50:00.004-05:00

More excuses, Thanksgiving weekend shook me up. But I'm back. I'm gonna start blogging more consistently once school is done with in three weeks.

November 24th

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Season 4 [DVD]

Because everybody loves a little Hitch, even if he didn't direct the majority of these thrilling episodes.

Funny People [DVD][Blu-ray]

Funny People is a great film, just not in the way it was advertised. Judd Apatow's name certainly leads to audience members expect one thing, but they received different. Drama comes first in Funny People, but the film isn't without it's comedic moments. Check this one out, just don't expect Superbad or a number of other Apatow flicks.

Gomorrah [Criterion DVD][Criterion Blu-ray]

The amazing 2008 Italian gangster film Gomorrah gets the pristine treatment with this new Criterion release of the film. I loved it. Couldn't say enough good about it in my review. I need to pick this up eventually.

The Monster Squad [Blu-ray]

Already having been released on standard Blu-ray, The Monster Squad comes back to us on Blu. This great film might dig up some nostalgic moments for some. Don't be turned off to the slight "kiddie" vibe the film has, it's really a treat. And a bargain at that.

The Golden Age of Television [Criterion DVD]

The other important release from Criterion this week was The Golden Age of Television, a collection which features the kinescopes of some of the finest television dramas of the 1950s. The set includes Marty, Requiem for a Heavyweight, No Time for Sergeants, Bang the Drum Slowly, Days of Wine and Roses, A Wind from the South, The Comedian, and Patterns. This seems like a neat time capsule.

Mad Dog Morgan [DVD]

The latest out of Troma's vault is an early Dennis Hopper film titled Mad Dog Morgan. This film is entry #5 in the Tromasterpiece Collection, a series I happen to own all of. The releases are consistently thorough and give these classic but sometimes lost films the treatment they deserve.

Three Monkeys [DVD]

Three Monkeys is the terrific neo-noir/crime drama that came out in Turkey in 2008. The film is a dark and poignant tale and is expertly captured. I reviewed this one around the same time as Gomorrah, funny they should see release the same exact day.

What else comes out this week (Nov 24.): Angels & Demons, Shorts, The Maiden Heist, Angel Heart [Blu-ray], Cujo [Blu-ray], Frailty [Blu-ray], The Way of the Gun [Blu-ray], Ink [Blu-ray], My Bloody Valentine (Original) [Blu-ray], Silent Scream.

What to stay away from: Zac Efron - The Ultimate Idol. This doesn't need to be explained, does it?

December 1st

Terminator Salvation [DVD][Blu-ray]

A film that didn't deserve the scorn it yielded, McG's Terminator Salvation was an above average action/sci-fi flick. I really felt the film got the heat mainly because it was the fourth installment in the iconic franchise. But then again, it wasn't as bad as the putrid third film. Yes, it should have been rated R, just for continuity sake, but whatever, deal with it. But as I mentioned in my review, the film was a fun and enjoyable watch. Christian Bale was decent and Sam Worthington was outstanding.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: XVI [Limited Edition]

Much like the above Zac Efron comment, this doesn't need to be described either. But for good reasons. Cash in on some more MST3K fun.

A Christmas Tale [Criterion DVD][Criterion Blu-ray]

Criterion strikes in back to back weeks. This week sees A Christmas Tale getting the dual DVD and Blu-ray treatment. And much like last week with Gomorrah, A Christmas Tale is also a 2008 film, something that isn't so common with Criterion's releases.

What else comes out this week (Dec 1.): Snatch [Blu-ray], The Green Mile (Blu-ray Book) [Blu-ray], Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels [Blu-ray], Saturday Night Live: The Complete Fifth Season, The Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray], Paper Heart, Silent Night, Deadly Night III, IV, & V [Box Set], Gremlins [Blu-ray].

What to stay away from: Ben 10: Alien Swarm. I'm not really sure why, it just looks stupid.

That's all. Clearly the week of November 24th was better, possibly to push their products off shelves on Black Friday. So long.

DVD Picks of the Week: Nov. 10 + Nov. 17

2009-11-20T02:26:00.003-05:00

Sorry folks. November is the time when college classes practically control your energy. But some great titles have come out in the past two weeks and I wanted to make sure I got the chance to speak briefly about them. Let's go!

November 10th

Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut [DVD][Blu-ray]

This is the current grand daddy of Watchmen releases right now. I can't imagine something more comprehensive being released anytime soon. For those who waited, your patience has been reward. But even still, this might be too much Watchmen for most to handle. This contains the longer but much superior extended cut of the film interlaced with the extra content that was released on standalone DVD months back. This is for the serious fan.

Heat [Blu-ray]

Who wouldn't want to see Michael Mann's classic in high-def? Especially that killer shootout. This crime classic is a must for Blu-ray owners.

Up [DVD][Blu-ray]

The acclaimed Pixar film saw its released by way of a 4-disc Blu-ray set and the standard DVD release. I haven't seen this film yet, but I have it queued up and ready to go as far as my must watch list is concerned. Expect some comments on this and whether I think it's Oscar worthy shortly. As a precursor I'll let you know I wasn't exactly blown away by Wall-E last year.

The General [Blu-ray]

The General is one of those films I should have seen already. Hell, Buster Keaton is an artist I need to watch more of. Anyways, I picked this because anytime a film from 1926 is remastered and released on Blu-ray it's worth mentioning, especially one as well-regarded as this one. I just hope I get to make a post about Metropolis and its Blu-ray release sometime soon.

What else came out this week : Monsters, Inc. (4-Disc Edition) [Blu-ray], The Ugly Truth, The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 7: 1952-1954, Godzilla [Blu-ray], Near Dark [Blu-ray].

What to stay away from: Make the Yuletide Gay. Just taking a wild guess on this one!

November 17th

Star Trek [DVD][Blu-ray]

One of the best science fiction films of 2009 hit shelves earlier this week. I saw this beauty twice in theaters and would love to see it again. It's a visually astonishing movie and easy to swallow space opera all in one clean and fun package. A lot was accomplished with this flick.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Its A Very Sunny Christmas [DVD][Blu-ray]

Gaining access to the Fox Press website has its perks. I was able to watch this special episode of Always Sunny more than a month ago. It's a funny episode, much more crude than the beyond funny television episodes that we've all come to love over the years. You can do more with the free reign of a DVD release than you can with cable TV, and it shows. Recommended as a must for any fan of the show.

Fight Club [Blu-ray]

A week after one significant 1990's film (Heat) saw release on Blu-ray comes another. This time it's the wildly beloved Fight Club. I was this film for the first time about a year ago. Yes, much later than the rest of you cool folks out there, but whatever. I still enjoyed it.

Bruno [DVD][Blu-ray]

The gayest film of the year! All joking aside, Bruno is more of the strange social satire/commentary from Sacha Baron Cohen that's had him riding to the top of the charts in comedy. He did it with Da Ali G show and still doing it now as he completes his trifecta of characters. If you're a homophobe, you won't like this film. If you have any sense of humor and don't want to shoot every homosexual you see with a shotgun or send them to hell by the power of God, you'll get a huge kick out of Cohen's absurd and outrageous brand of humor.

Thirst [DVD]

One of my most anticipated films of the year is Thirst, Chan-wook Park's vampire film. Park is best known for directing the "Revenge Trilogy", a series consisting of Oldboy, Mr. Vengeance and Lady Vengeance, three films connected only in mood and the factor of revenge. Park struck gold in all three of those films and I thought he carried that hot streak very well into his offbeat romantic comedy I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK, an impressive and genuine film. One can only hope Park keeps his pace up with Thirst, a film I'm dying to see.

The Limits of Control [DVD]

In a most Lynch-ian effort, Jim Jarmusch returns to the big screen with The Limits of Control, his most minimalistic and perhaps most strange work yet. The film follows a cool and quiet assassin (common Jarmusch actor Isaach De Bankolé) country to country on his assigned mission, something the audience rarely learns about. The film is aided by the characters he meets, played by some great accomplished actors such as John Hurt and Bill Murray. For fans only, The Limits of Control is a whole lot of slow-paced action that ultimately doesn't give a huge payoff. But still, I found it to be an impressive film, just not overly satisfying.

Downhill Racer [Criterion DVD]

I don't know much about this film, other than the fact that Robert Redford and Gene Hackmen star in it and it has to do with a U.S. downhill ski team. But hey, Criterion put it out, and I'm sort of a slave to them. If they say it's good enough to release, it must be good enough to watch.

Sex, Lies, and Videotape [Blu-ray]

Oh my god!! I really need to get a PS3. Steven Soderbergh's ultra-successful independent film that helped change the landscape of the American indie film is now on Blu-ray. Words can't really describe this strange film. See it for yourself.

What else came out this week: Gone with the Wind (70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray], The Professional [Blu-ray], Galaxy Quest [Blu-ray], Working Men (Rush),
Is Anybody There?, Clerks [Blu-ray], Chasing Amy [Blu-ray], Avant-Garde 3: Experimental Cinema 1922-1954.

What to stay away from: Easy choice. NHL: Montreal Canadiens - 100th Anniversary Collector's Set. Haha, why would you want to watch a complete DVD box set about the 100 years this franchise has been in existence?

Anyways, that's all for this week. Don't get mad that I didn't include photos for all those titles. Cya sometime soon, I hope!

'Pirate Radio' An Ultimate Ode to Rock & Roll

2009-11-15T22:48:00.002-05:00

Once director and writer Richard Curtis sets the sails of Pirate Radio and turns its rocking volume to 11, he never looks back, making sure that this is the undeniable film that rocked.

Pirate Radio tells the fictitious tale of the infamous people aboard Radio Rock, a pirate radio rock and roll station floating in the North Sea, much to the chagrin of the British government.

A film that is carried as much by its terrific ensemble cast as it is by its undying love for rock and roll, renowned writer Curtis’ second directorial film is one of the most uplifting and spirited films of the year. A production that will leave fans of 1960’s rock and roll feeling as good as they hopefully came walking in.

There is almost way too much to love about Pirate Radio. But the best thing about the film is its cast. Each actor does his or her part to add to the melting pot of funny Curtis has created. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Darby, Nick Frost, Kenneth Branagh and Rhys Ifans are only a few of the talents associated to this rather international cast.

It’s hard to pick a few out of the bunch that do it best, but a special nod must be given to Hoffman, who not only turns in a funny performance, but also a genuinely good one, the kind he is expected to be able to give. As superstar disc jockey The Count, Hoffman plays up the ego as he goes head-to-head with the even more egotistical disc jockey Gavin (Ifans), the returning “king of the airwaves.”

And then you have the incomparable Kenneth Branagh back on land trying to shut them down. Best remembered for his many Shakespearean performances, Branagh plays a rigid but coldly funny minister in the British government attempting to get the pirate radio off the air in whatever way possible. He’s opposed on ship by the terrific Bill Nighy, whose character Quentin plays father and leader to the entire team of radio hosts.

But all these absolutely spirited performances and well-written characters pay reminder to the changed landscape of both rock and roll and radio. A system that is now so corrupted by corporation and money that some might yearn for the simpler days of similar broadcasts. Good luck turning on the radio these days to find a disc jockey with not only as much personality as these guys but also an undying love and knowledge of the records they’re spinning.

And a constant mainstay for the film is its toe-tapping soundtrack. Aided by the likes of The Turtles, The Who, Jimi Hendrix and The Beach Boys. The film is practically a who’s who of 1960’s rock and roll and its result will leave any music lover feeling absolutely fine.

Now yes, the film revels in it history of drugs, sex and rock and roll and maybe so in a too glamorous light. And really, the plot is saturated with impossible and magical occurrences. But I think at the honest heart of this lovable and heartfelt film, there is really nothing more than a love letter to rock and roll. With all the doom and negativity in the world so often focused on in film, an endearing story like the one of Pirate Radio is something absolutely welcomed by me.

The true value of Pirate Radio is in its incredible ability to make you smile. You’re just about guaranteed to love and grow attached to at least one character in Curtis’ deep cast of radio superstars, much like the folks of England were as the team’s broadcasts continued. There’s just so much love, happiness and relentless groovin’ happening on this boat that you won’t want it to ever end.

Clooney, Bridges Brilliant in Bizarre Goat-Staring Experiment

2009-11-08T22:39:00.005-05:00

At a certain point in The Men Who Stare at Goats, the entire ensemble cast of George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey and yes, Goat, comes together to form a troupe of actors that makes everything about the offbeat film feel right.

And the absurd and ridiculously beyond belief yet still more true than you would want to believe story that leads up to and culminates in the uniting of these mega actors is a fine tale of journalism, politics and army experimentation of a different kind, best served with a hint of dark satire and a dash of farcical screwball comedy.

The Men Who Stare at Goats, based on Jon Ronson’s book of the same name, is a look inside the attempts of US military forces to adapt and use psychic powers such as remote viewing and invisibility. More specifically, the film follows reporter Bob Wilton (McGregor) as he stumbles across an ambitious story when he meets special forces operator Lyn Cassady (Clooney) who agrees to take Wilton along on his bizarre mission.

As attractive as Goats is, it’s a film that takes a little brain muscle from its viewers to be liked. The film develops slowly, following Wilton and Cassady around parts of the Middle East while interjecting flashbacks featuring the characters of Bridges and Spacey to help tell how exactly Cassady ended up where he is. Because of the intermittent disruptions the film doesn’t find its absolute bearings until a little more than halfway through the film. But once the film does develop and retain its lovable satirical style the eventual payoff is huge and redeeming.

And as much as any film of its kind, Goats is a film that absolutely relies on its ensemble cast. Similar to how Joel and Ethan Coen’s spy farce Burn After Reading used its cast of actors to gain an advantage, so does Goats. Even with a witty and smart screenplay from Peter Straughan, the right actors are needed to help turn that subtle, strange and offbeat humor into something that works. And can you think of a better actor to play a hippie-like army lieutenant versed in the studies of New Age army techniques than Jeff Bridges?

This perfect casting is what gives Goats its absolute strength during its bouts of laughter and moments of idiocy. Clooney, much like with Burn After Reading, gives an outstanding comedic performance of the paranoid kind. And the usually more serious Spacey turns in another one of his brilliant comedic performances. Tied together by McGregor and small roles from the likes of Stephen Root, Stephen Lang and Robert Patrick and you really have a cast that is absolutely perfect for the goofy screwball type of humor that Goats truly is.

The Men Who Stare at Goats has all the makings of being a cult movie. There’s really a market of people out there that’ll love this film. Conversely there’s a market that won’t really want to have anything to do with it after seeing it. It isn’t the flashiest of films, it isn’t the funniest and it isn’t the most remarkable, but it makes up for all of that by being a well-acted and strangely satisfying comedy carried by its bizarre moments and strong comedic cast.

With inspirational lines of dialogue relating to one’s destined path such as “So Anne Frank wants to grow up and be a high school teacher? Tough titties!” and the supposed origin of the creation of the Army’s slogan “Be All You Can Be”, The Men Who Stare at Goats is one of those special films that will strike numerous chords with its intended crowd. It was evident from the beginning with its silly trailer and mocking poster art where it displayed the goat as one of the film’s stars that this film didn’t care about being taken seriously. And that’s a good thing, as it continues and succeeds at the ever-increasing style of odd, partly dry and satirical humor seen in films such as Burn After Reading and The Informant!, a type of humor I hope sticks around.

DVD Picks of the Week: Oct 27 + Nov 3

2009-11-06T17:42:00.005-05:00

My trip to Austin got me a little behind as far as updating my weekly picks DVD and Blu-ray is concerned. So I decided to turn the two past missed weeks into one. I'll only be touching on the really super cool stuff here.

October 27th

Night of the Creeps [DVD][Blu-ray]

I already made comment on this terrific 1980's campy b-movie that blends horror with satire and spoof. Night of the Creeps finally gets its long-awaited DVD and Blu-ray release, and is really an essential edition to anyone's collection. Even if you haven't seen this film, just go buy it. If you love the genre you'll love this too.

Orphan [DVD][Blu-ray]

I missed seeing this in theaters because my friends collectively thought it was stupid. Ever since its theatrical release, I've only heard good things from fans of horror about this title. I meant to watch it during the month of October, but time didn't allow for it. It's on the top of my list.

Whatever Works [DVD][Blu-ray]

Been waiting on this one for awhile. Whatever Works is the collaboration between Larry David and Woody Allen. What perfect timing as I watched this today. It's a different style of humor. David is able to successfully separate his character from the one seen on Curb Your Enthusiasm all the while staying true to a similar form of social comedy that everyone loves out of him. Well worth watching.

The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue [Blu-ray]

I could have sworn this film had already been released on Blu-ray. First known to me by its alternate title of Let Sleeping Corpses Lie, this is one of the unheralded zombie classics. Of all time. It has a slow-moving pace like most other European zombie titles, but the complete package is totally worth it. Increase your zombie experience with this title.

Z [Criterion DVD]

Z gets a reissue by Criterion. Add this to the list of films I've meant to watch. That is all.

The Sam Fuller Film Collection [DVD]

Boy did I pick a busy week to skip. A new collection featuring the films of the great Sam Fuller has been released. Gotta love Sony and what they've been doing lately. This collection includes: IT HAPPENED IN HOLLYWOOD, ADVENTURE IN SAHARA, POWER OF THE PRESS, SHOCKPROOF, SCANDAL SHEET, UNDERWORLD USA. Sorry about the caps. Blame Amazon!

What else came out this week (Oct. 27): Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Monty Python: Almost The Truth, Nothing Like the Holidays, Tales from the Darkside: The Second Season, Luis Bunuel's Death in the Garden, Black Devil Doll, 42nd Street Forever 5: Alamo Drafthouse Edition, Sauna, Messiah of Evil: The Second Coming, Il Divo, Tinto Brass Collection, Vol. III

Stan Helsing, Fear(s) of the Dark, The Asphyx, Night of Death!.

What to stay away from (Oct. 27): Two things. One for quality. Stan Helsing because it's one of those stupid spoofs from one of the seven writers of Scary Movie. The other for stupidity in packaging. Adult Swim in a Box, while containing quality television programming, is a baffling collection. You get random seasons of some of the best shows. Season 2 of Sealab 2021, Season 3 of Space Ghost and so on. So unless the stars align and you need those exact seasons, this would be a strange way to begin an Adult Swim collection.

November 3rd

North by Northwest [DVD][Blu-ray]

The real treat with this new release is the Blu-ray. North by Northwest is probably the film that made me fall in love with Alfred Hitchcock. I've only seen one film of his that left a bad taste in my mouth (Topaz). Hitchcock had one of the most remarkably consistent careers of any filmmaker. His worst is best than some director's best. North by Northwest is an especially alluring film for its epic sweeping of the country. It's a grandiose adventure unlike anything else the master of suspense created. Fans should look to eat up this beautiful new release and Blu-ray transfer. And to save space I'll mention this here. Also released this week is a collection of four Hitchcock classics. In TCM's continuing series of budget releases, Suspicion, Strangers on a Train, The Wrong Man and I Confess are packaged together in one affordable collection of Hitchcock goodness. Strangers on a Train is probably the best film here, but all four are some of his best work.

Wings of Desire [DVD][Blu-ray]

One important service of these blog posts are to remind me that there are artists out there that I personally haven't checked out yet. I probably would have seen Wim Wenders' Wings of Desire had it not been out of print back when I searched for it on Netflix. Now Criterion has pulled another miracle and given the film its supposed due with a DVD and Blu-ray release. I gotta check this one out.

Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics, Vol 1. [DVD]

I'll own this set one day. I'm only familiar with Fritz Lang's The Big Heat out of the collection of five films. Included are (The Big Heat / 5 Against the House / The Lineup / Murder by Contract / The Sniper). What this set does great is bring some hidden gems out of the woodwork and gives them great transfers. The Sniper is an especially appealing film from Edward Dmytryk, one of the more unheralded film noir directors of his generation. Look into this set, noir fans.

What else came out this week (Nov. 3): Walt Disney Treasures: Zorro - The Complete First Season, Food, Inc., Love Actually [Blu-ray], The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3,

Rocky: The Undisputed Collection [Blu-ray], A Christmas Carol [Blu-ray], It's a Wonderful Life [Blu-ray], Howards End (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray], Forrest Gump [Blu-ray], The Claudette Colbert Collectio n, Nirvana Live at Reading.

What to stay away from (Nov. 3): I don't know, I heard G.I. Joe was pretty piss poor, and that comes out this week.

So long!

Album review: Pelican - What We All Come to Need

2009-11-04T12:10:00.002-05:00

I find it somewhat difficult to express how I really feel about Pelican. Instead, the four-piece instrumental band from Chicago prefers to constantly make its post-rock sound laced with metal collide with my senses, leaving me with no room to function.

What I really love about Pelican and their sludgy, sometimes droning, but always engaging music, is how it absolutely always cuts to the chase. There is no fooling around here, no need for an unnecessary and sometimes anti-climatic buildup technique other prominent bands inside the post-whatever genres make use of. And the band’s fourth album What We All Come to Need is one of the best examples of this yet.

“Glimmer” opens the album, grabs you, and makes a point that it isn’t going to let go of you. All four members of this band are simply incredibly competent in letting their instruments do the heavy speaking. Sibling rhythm section of Bryan Herweg on bass and Larry Herweg on drums keeps the music flowing consistently while the band’s dual guitarists Trevor de Brauw and Larent Schroeder-Lebec place biting and harsh riffs on top of it all.

“The Creeper” and “Ephemeral” stand out as two favorites of mine. They both have this uncanny hooking ability thanks to the quartet’s ability to work and feed off of each other. The rest of the album is simply more of the same.

Before all is said and done with the pulsating eight track album, diehard Pelican fans will be hearing something different on the eighth and final track. Fans might be surprised to hear vocals on “Final Breath”. It’s true, you aren’t hearing things. Ben Verellen of Harkonen provided vocals for what is the first Pelican song to ever feature vocals, and the experiment avoids disaster.

Not much more can be said for a band like Pelican. You’ll either love it or hate it. There’s no catch to their straightforward sound, but at the same time it ends up being satisfying and addicting. They might just be the most accessible band inside the many post-rock genres, and What We All Come to Need is more proof of that claim.

Wrap Up of Films Watched in October 2009

2009-11-03T18:40:00.003-05:00

Well here it is. I'm reaching the end stretch. 255 total films have been watched. I viewed 23 in October, with only one not being a horror film. Here's the recap. * denotes first time viewing.

233. 10/1 – Summer School*
234. 10/1 – Drag Me to Hell
235. 10/1 – Laid to Rest*
236. 10/1 – The Sentinel*
237. 10/2 – Zombieland*
238. 10/6 – The Hills Run Red*
239. 10/6 – Jungle Holocaust*
240. 10/7 – Fright Night*
241. 10/8 – MST3K: Zombie Nightmare*
242. 10/10 – Trick ‘r Treat
243. 10/10 – Splinter*
244. 10/13 – Where the Wild Things Are*
245. 10/15 – Children of the Corn*
246. 10/16 – The Ruins*
247. 10/16 – Cat People (1942)*
248. 10/18 – The Poughkeepsie Tapes*
249. 10/21 – Paranormal Activity*
250. 10/22 – Night of the Creeps*
251. 10/22 – Ghostwatch*
252. 10/23 – Shock*
253. 10/23 – From a Whisper to a Scream*
254. 10/23 – Theater of Blood*
255. 10/24 – Basket Case*

Best Film (New Viewing): Zombieland
I really do believe that Zombieland was the champion of October. The film is so much fun and simply gets it right. Read my review for more.
Runners-up: Where the Wild Things Are, Paranormal Activity, Night of the Creeps.

Best Film (Repeated Viewing): Drag Me to Hell
There weren't too many repeated viewings. In fact, both repeated viewings from the month of October were two of my favorite horror films of the year. Drag Me to Hell edges out Trick 'r Treat here though. Sam Raimi's return to horror is one of the absolute top highlights of film in 2009.
Runner-up: Trick 'r Treat.

Worst Film (Any Viewing): Zombie Nightmare
Hands down. An absolutely terrible film. The MST3K riffing of it was brilliant, but this Adam West film is a laughable attempt at the zombie voodoo genre.
Runner-up: None.

Most Surprising Film: Splinter
I expected solid things from Splinter, but I got so much more. The film was an intense portrait of four people trapped inside a gas station while an unheard of parasite-like creature stalks them from the outside. The film grips viewers and doesn't let go.
Runners-up: From a Whisper to a Scream, The Sentinel.

Most Underrated Film: Theater of Blood
Among all of Vincent Price's classic, I think this one gets the least admiration. I'm not sure why either. Price turns in a signature performance as a Shakespearean actor set on killing all critics who did him wrong. One by one by way of deaths seen in Shakespeare's own plays. Terrific fun.
Runners-up: Cat People.

And so my dedication to horror films is done. I won't stop watching them, but it feels nice to not have to feel compelled to watch one every night. I have two months left to hit the 300 mark. That means 45 films must be watched between now and January 1st. Stay tuned.

October Horror Movie Challenge: The Final Results

2009-11-03T00:02:00.004-05:00

Okay, so I had a pretty bad showing this past month compared to the past couple of years. But I have my excuses. Lots of hockey was to be seen, the Yankees are having a great playoff run and I took four days out of October to head to Austin, TX for a college journalism and media conference. All pretty worthy reasons for not watching horror films. I finished with only 21, a total that ranks as fourth in the five years I've taken part in the contest. Here's the last stretch of films watched and a mini review to go along with.

October 21st
15. Paranormal Activity (2007)*
October 22nd
16. Night of the Creeps (1986)*
17. Ghostwatch (1992)*
October 23rd
18. Shock (1977)*
19. From a Whisper to a Scream (1987)*
20. Theater of Blood (1973)*
October 24th
21. Basket Case (1982)*

Paranormal Activity: If you already read my review on this film, you'll know I absolutely loved it. If you haven't, maybe you should, because I said more about it there than I can say here. Highly recommended.

Night of the Creeps: This is the ultimate 1980's campy horror film. I was lucky enough to have DVD Pacific get me my copy of the film's long-awaited DVD release early. It was a blind buy, so in turn my first viewing. And WOW, was I blown away. What a classic. Highly recommended.

Ghostwatch: BBC put this fake ghost hunter broadcast on back in the 90's and scared the crap out of some viewers. Played like a real ghost hunting newscast, the faux documentary used some of the same tactics Paranormal Activity used. It's a very effective piece of entertainment. Recommended.

Shock: The great artist Mario Bava's last film. This isn't the best results from the master, but it's still much better than some artist's best. It's a neat and chilling story, with a memorable child performance. Recommended to fans of Bava.

From a Whisper to a Scream: Vincent Price acted as the mood setter in this horror anthology film. The stories here are all so different, all so grim and all so entertaining. One of the good ignored horror films of the last 25 years. Recommended.

Theater of Blood: Staying with Vincent Price, I went straight for this film. Price plays a Shakespearean actor who exacts revenge on critics who gave him negative reviews over the years. The catch is, Price's character does so by killing them based on Shakespeare's plays. A dark but humorous film with a classic performance from Price. Highly recommended as I found it to be such an enjoyable and unique film.

Basket Case: Inside that brown basket is not a picnic lunch. It's a fucking malformed monster-like creature that'll fucking kill you. And it's so fun to watch. This is one of the essential b-movies of the 1980's. Check it out. Recommended.

So 21 films, and mostly all of them were new viewings. I had no time for my favorite horror classics this month. Sorry Suspiria, Dawn of the Dead (1978) and Bay of Blood.

Paranormal Activity vs. Saw VI: An Update

2009-11-02T23:53:00.003-05:00

My last blog post before leaving for Austin (which was a great deal of fun) had to do with the importance of Paranormal Activity beating Saw VI at the box office. And now I'm sold.

This past Halloween weekend, the $15,000 budget Paranormal Activity grossed $16,387,32716 in an expanded role, leaving the film with a $84,627,372 total gross. Saw VI floundered, dropping four spots and only ending up with $5,270,794 in its pocket. Still, the film has made $22,534,749, good enough to double the film's budget of roughly $11 million. And even though Saw VI got beat hard, it's still considered a profitable success. The film will likely yield more money come DVD/Blu-ray release.

But to end this quick update on a positive, I'll announce victory on behalf of horror films across the world! Saw VI was defeated.

The Importance of Beating Saw

2009-10-27T00:29:00.004-04:00

Like the film or not, horror fans must be happy that Paranormal Activity beat Saw VI in this past weekend's box office standings. The psychological horror and torture porn horror films went toe-to-toe in a battle of wits, with Paranormal Activity coming out on top with a weekend earnings of $21,104,070. Saw VI finished second with earnings of $14,118,444.

This says a few things about the state of horror films in this country. America is ready for the goods to be delivered. While I personally think the Saw series wore out its welcome a couple films ago, the series still had a decent enough backing to survive on its miniscule budgets. But the recent buzz and hyping of Paranormal Activity by way of Twitter, Facebook and Eventful.com has helped lend to the takeover atop the box office charts.

And the rise of Paranormal Activity hasn't been short of amazing. The film has accumulated a grand total of $61,580,588 in its five weeks in theaters. These five weeks include instances where the film was only being shown in as little as 12 theaters. In its first week the film managed to average $6,489 per theater. The film then expanded to 33 theaters, 160 theaters, 760 theaters and finally 1,945 theaters this past weekend.

What shouldn't go unmentioned in that beating of Saw VI is that fact that Paranormal Activity was shown in only 1,945 theaters while Saw VI was put into a whopping 3,036 theaters the same weekend. Paranormal Activity averaged an outstanding $10,850 per theater to move to the top spot and beat the sixth film of a dying series.

But this race is far from being over. With Halloween coming on a Saturday this year, this coming weekend should prove to be the finally telling point in the competition of two brands of horror filmmaking. Did people put Saw VI off for Halloween weekend, or will more people hop on the Paranormal Activity wagon and ignore Saw VI once again? If next weekend's box office numbers are similar to these latest ones, I'll be more confident in calling it a knockout.

And even though Saw VI finally felt defeat, I'm still not sure the series is completely over. I wouldn't be surprised if I kept having to see a new release each October. Because the films are cheap to make and because there will always be that core group of fans that actually find the films entertaining, they always make a good size profit for Lionsgate in just its first week of release. Even though the film ended up in the second spot behind a different horror film, it still made just about $3 million more than it's $11 million budget. Look for a good chunk of change to land in Lionsgate pocket after this coming weekend as well.

This year has certainly been a kick in the butt for the horror genre. Sam Raimi made a brilliant return with Drag Me to Hell and the great Trick 'r Treat finally made its DVD debut. Spain saw the release of [REC]2, a film diehard fans of [REC] are begging to see in the states sometime soon. Lars von Trier's Antichrist added a little depth to the horror genre with his atypical film and Sorority Row put the fun back into campy slashers. A myriad of other quality titles, such as The Haunting in Connecticut, Orphan, the terrific Zombieland also saw release. These, coupled with the upcoming limited release of Ti West's House of the Devil, a return to horror by Wes Craven and a brand new zombie film from the lord of zombies, George A. Romero, made for a year that gives me hope for a revival of sorts inside the horror genre.

I always knew the Saw films would take a nose dive. It was just a matter of when. But much like all the other horror franchises that became mega-popular over the last 20 years, I'm certain Saw will continue to see films added to its mundane legacy. They might not even come on a year-by-year basis, but they'll still be there. I'm just wondering how long until they remake the first Saw.

DVD Picks of the Week: October 20, 2009

2009-10-26T18:28:00.005-04:00

Habitually late again, let's cut to the chase.

The William Castle Film Collection [DVD]

A great new box set was just released featuring some of the great and gimmicky horror filmmaker William Castle. Best known for The House on Haunted Hill, Castle made a living off of inserting numerous gimmicks into his B-movie's theatrical experiences to bring in the crowds. Examples of such are buzzers that would "shock" the audience during certain parts of the film and a 3D-esque piece of viewing equipment to help audience members spot the ghosts in the film. All very campy, all very goofy and all very much lost in the recent commercialism of film. This Castle set looks very nice but is a bit too pricey for me at this point. I'll hold off just a bit. The set includes the following films: 13 Frightened Girls, 13 Ghosts, Homicidal, Strait-Jacket, The Old Dark House, Mr. Sardonicu, The Tingler, Zotz! Check out the video below for an example of Castle's gimmicks.

Monsoon Wedding [DVD][Blu-ray]

More Criterion this week in the form of Mira Nair's 2001 film Monsoon Wedding. Nair just saw the release of her latest film, Amelia, into cinemas and this release completes her busy week. Nair also directed the beautiful and touching 1988 film Salaam Bombay!, a terrific expose of being young and without family in Bombay. It's certainly nice to see more female filmmakers get a few nods of respect. Wouldn't it be sweet if Kathyrn Bigelow's latest masterpiece The Hurt Locker was given the Criterion treatment?

Spaghetti Western Bible Presents: The Fast, the Saved & the Damned [DVD]

Let's forget for a second that the cover art of this new release of old spaghetti western films is a ripoff of the packaging of the Sergio Leone collection released awhile back. A few Spaghetti Western Bibles have been released already. There's been Sartana Saga: Spaghettie Western Bible 2 and Grindhouse Experience Presents: Spaghetti Bible. And even though the quality of these prints and transfers are sometimes lousy, fans of the genre have still got to love these types of genre compilations. A lot of these films would probably never see a remastered single release in a million years, so it's nice to get them somehow. I have a few similar sets for the film noir and exploitation genres and they're more than acceptable for extra viewing. Includes in this collection are the following films:

- Blindman (1971) Ferdinando Baldi
- Minnesota Clay (1965) Sergio Corbucci
- 7 Dollars on the Red (1966) Alberto Cardone
- Massacre Time (1966) Lucio Fulci
- Price of Power, The (1970) Tonino Valerii
- Beast, The (1970) Mario Costa
- They Call Him Cemetery (1971) Giuliano Carnimeo
- Bounty Killer (1972) Angelo Pannacciò
- One Dollar Too Many (1968) Enzo G. Castellari
- Apocalypse Joe (1971) Leopoldo Savona

Don't look for much greatness, but there are a few good names in there. For example, Lucio Fulci, who made a few off the beaten path westerns and adventure films went on to become one of Italy's most accomplished horror filmmakers before eventually becoming labeled as one of the godfathers of gore. Enzo G. Castellari directed the original The Inglorious Bastards. Fans of the genre should want to check this collection out.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen [DVD][Blu-ray]

I skipped on seeing this in theaters and am in no rush to check it out. But I figured there might be a few of you out there you love your Transformers. Don't get me wrong here, I don't have anything against the Autobots or whatever they're called. I just have things against Michael Bay. I don't care how many times you blow things up, it doesn't mean your film won't be excruciatingly painful to watch.

Jethro Tull: Live at Madison Square Garden - 1978 [DVD]

Biased, yes, because I love me some Jethro Tull. But you should too. Or at least try to. Ian Anderson made the flute look badass and did it while turning Jethro Tull into one of the giants of the progressive rock genre. They've left their mark and continue to play as a band to this day. This set has both a DVD of the show and a CD to go along with it for maximum Tull value. "Thick as a Brick", "Aqualung" and "Locomotive Breath"? Count me in.

What else comes out this week: Blood: The Last Vampire, Peanuts: 1970's Collection, Vol. 1, Wrong Turn 3: Left for Dead, Planes, Trains and Automobiles (Those Aren't Pillows Edition), Black Adder Remastered: The Ultimate Edition, Easy Rider [Blu-ray], The Tournament, Sherlock Holmes: The Archive Collection, Escaflowne: The Movie [Blu-ray], Fados, Black Rain, 100 Feet [Blu-ray], The Crew, They Killed Sister Dorothy, P, Last of the Living.

What to stay away from: Personally, I already said I'm staying away from the latest Transformers film. If you don't want to stay away from that, I'll suggest keeping far from 2012: Supernova. Just wait for Roland Emmerich's ridiculous film for your end of the world fix.

So long.

Minimalistic 'Paranormal Activity' An Old School Horror Sensation

2009-10-25T16:56:00.003-04:00

Less is more is the mantra carried out by director Oren Peli throughout his debut film Paranormal Activity. The mockumentary style horror film has been making noise, creating buzz and scorching up the box office charts ever since its initial limited release in September.

And it’s easy to see why a film such as Paranormal Activity can frighten and excite audiences so easily. With no suffocating glitz of a typical Hollywood horror film or thick wall of fake installed to separate the audience and the characters, Paranormal Activity is a realistic, believable and modern take on the haunted house genre.

A lot of the believability and realistic tendencies of the haunting of couple Katie and Micah come from the minimalistic nature of Peli’s film. Leaving some of the scare unexposed and inside the mind, the film encourages audience imagination. In a time where the horror genre is saturated with films whose intentions are to expose as much pain, terror and grief as possible, Peli shows he understands that the opposite of that method can be just as effective, if not more.

The most macabre films of the 1940’s and on made their way into spooking audiences through atmosphere and terror of another kind, not by seeing how many pounds of intestines they can show moviegoers. And with Paranormal Activity there is a sort of rousing of this old school style found in those more classic types of horror films. With a miniscule budget of $15,000, Peli faced that same sort of barrier an older film with no means for extravagance might have, but one he overcame and seemed to most certainly welcome. Peli’s methodical film is a reminder that the lost art of making truly terrifying cinema isn’t so lost after all.

In full, Paranormal Activity is a toxic mix of the techniques of The Blair Witch Project and the spooky happenings of Robert Wise’s classic 1963 horror film The Haunting. And I say all that as only to shed some light where the inspiration of this film comes from, not to imply any sort of “been there, done that” attitude. And even though there are striking similarities to the BBC’s faux news program Ghostwatch that was broadcasted on Halloween in 1992, this is somewhere horror fans simply haven’t been yet. This is the rare little film that could, breaking through all conventions of the genre seen in the more modern years.

Peli’s grassroots direction is both deliberate in nature but oh so vicious and intense at climax. Peli creates what can only be described as textbook horror suspense. The film is a constant cycle of buildup and slowdown, separated by day and night. And even when you know and can feel that something is about to happen, the film still manages to place you on the edge of your nerves, even to a point where the most frightened viewers of the film will fear night and the darkness it brings as much as the haunted Katie does.

Many words are fair game in describing the scares brought on by Peli. Freaky, creepy and disturbing would rank on the top of that list. Whether the film will truly frighten you both in theaters and later that night at home when you turn the light off is completely subjective. Those who feast on the terror will be reeling from the excitement of it all, while those most susceptible to fright might find themselves in over their heads. It isn’t my job to tell you if you’ll be scared by this film or not. If you’ve been scared by a horror film before, chances are you’re in for something here, as the film has the capability to unsettle even those most steel-nerved horror fanatics. But Peli’s film will only be effective on those who allow it to be. I can’t stress enough how necessary it is to let yourself into the film and truly want to be scared by it. On that level is where Paranormal Activity is most effective.

And if anyone has trouble placing themselves inside this film it might be due to the interaction between Katie and Micah, the two that combine to make for one irritable couple. They don’t act like they’ve been dating for three years, and Micah’s constant desire to not listen to his partner is almost as disturbing and unlikeable as the demons haunting their nights. I found this to be really forgettable and forgivable, as Peli has already said that the dialogue was “natural” because there was no true script to the film, just situations to set off improvisation. But in a strange way, Peli’s course for natural dialogue pays off, as it hides the rather amateurish acting of both Micah Sloat and Katie Featherston. Just don’t go looking for any sort of character development.

While I’m pretty sure Paranormal Activity hasn’t made me afraid to sleep with the lights off, it’s most certainly a wonderful case of how sometimes a genuinely haunting atmosphere and perfect suspense building combined with a believable style of storytelling can make for some of the most effective and unnerving moments the horror genre has seen in years.

October Horror Movie Challenge Update: 20 Days Later

2009-10-20T18:05:00.004-04:00

It's been a slow October. Too many things have gotten in the way of my usually addictive horror film viewing. The Yankees continued playoff run and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson are two reasons why I've only watched 14 films thus far. But with a week of Ferguson and Conan O'Brien reruns, I should be able to capitalize on that ever-important late night showtime. Anyways, I've watched four films since my last update. Pathetic.

October 15th
11. Children of the Corn (1984)* - 8/10
October 16th
12. The Ruins (2008)* - 7.5/10
13. Cat People (1942)* - 9/10
October 18th
14. The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007) - 8/10

Children of the Corn: This is such a fun film. A film that is more a classic for its legendary name than anything else, Children of the Corn is still a must-see film in the genre. It's one of the great kids gone bad tales and adapted successfully to film here. You have to love the evil performances of John Franklin and Courtney Gains as the sadistic leaders of the group of children. The film takes a rather campy turn at the end, but it's all so fascinating. Recommended.

The Ruins: The Ruins is a case of "I've seen worse". And oh how true it is. This film won't be remembered in the long run, but it certainly hits all the right buttons along the way. The film follows the adventure five young vacationers take off the beaten path. Unfortunately for them, they visit the one set of ruins you don't want to set foot on. There's some effective gore and gross-out moments that'll most definitely sick out the easy victims, while those who who are like me will mostly give a "Hmm" and think of the more disturbing things they've seen. Still, the film is a button-pusher, and holds the suspense in the right places. Recommended.

Cat People: This terrific film from 1942 explores sexual tension and frustration in a place of horror. Directed by Jacques Tourneur, a noted contributor to the film noir genre, Cat People is certainly set inside a noir-like city. The shadows are heavy, deep and encompassing. Particularly so as the film moves along into its more "frightening" and climatic scenes. I put frightening in quotes because this film won't move you in the way it moved movie-goers back in the 40's. But still, the film is effective in its subtext, is one of the legendary Val Lewton produced films, and reigns in the top level of black and white horror films. Highly recommended.

The Poughkeepsie Tapes: A film by John and Erick Dowdle, The Poughkeepsie Tapes is a mockumentary, in the vein of say, The Last Broadcast, around a serial killer and the tapes he left for police to find. The film uses mock interviews in correspondence with the videotapes to produce a rather grisly and sometimes disturbing picture of a serial killer. I really quite liked the profile they created of this murderer. The acting here isn't the best as it is a low budget film, but the film still remains fairly effective, as the rough and gritty condition the tapes are shown in retain some realism amid the fluctuating quality of acting. Recommended.

That's all for now. I hope when I make my final wrap-up I have a few more titles to talk about. So long.

DVD Picks of the Week: October 13, 2009

2009-10-18T16:04:00.004-04:00

Yeah, you got that right, I'm late again. Here we go.

Drag Me to Hell [DVD][Blu-ray]

What the hell else do you think I'd put first? I was lucky enough to watch this, the best horror film of 2009 (so far), in 720p and it looked splendid. The film is as effectively entertaining as it was the first two times I saw it in theaters. I can't say more than my review can, but I will add that you should definitely watch this one with either a good sound system or the sound turned up. It really adds to the whole thing. If anyone is wondering about the "director's cut" and what was added or taken away, the answering is nothing much. I counted one short addition to a scene that I recognized that wasn't in the theatrical cut, and it's debatable as to whether it actually benefits the film or not. Like director Sam Raimi said, he didn't make this film with ratings in mind. He just made it. And it ended up being PG-13. That isn't a sin when you know what you're doing.

Stop Making Sense [Blu-ray]

I was shocked to find this among the releases for this week. Stop Making Sense, for those that don't know, is the Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs) directed concert film featuring the unbeatable Talking Heads. David Byrne and company made for one of the best concert films I've ever seen, and the fact that this is getting a Blu-ray release is completely justifiable and terrific. "Hey, I got a tape I wanna play," says Byrne right before playing a solo version of "Psycho Killer" as the first member of the band to appear on stage. Song by song the entire band eventually makes their way onto stage, and once that full group is together, the show is electric. This is a must see for fans of the band and should convert those unfamiliar with their music.

Eclipse Series 18: Dusan Makavejev - Free Radical [DVD]

Criterion's spin-off series Eclipse has just released their 18th box set. This time it features the films of Dusan Kakavejev. Free radical is one way to describe him. The video clip I just checked out began with a black cat crawling on top of a naked woman's bum. Intriguing. But then it translated to a woman cooking in the kitchen, and now I don't know what to think. Further researched tells me that the Yugoslavian Makavejev made films in the 1960s about about political and sexual liberation, both revolutionary and raucous. Criterion describes wonderfully, saying: "Across these, his wild, collagelike first three films, Makavejev investigates—with a tonic mix of earnestness and whimsy—love, death, and work; the legacy of war and the absurdity of daily life in a Communist state; criminology and hypnosis; strudels and strongmen." So that all sounds cool. It make take some patience to watch these films, but they certainly seem historical. I trust the Eclipse series, especially after that terrific Nikkatsu Noir collection.

Hardware [DVD][Blu-ray]

Just watch this sci-fi horror film's trailer. I can't explain it better than it can.

The Stepfather [DVD]

I suppose there is one thing that I like about all those unnecessary horror remakes. Their original counterparts usually get nice new DVD releases when the remake is set to come out in theaters. Such is the case this week with The Stepfather. Instead of talking more about this film or the remake I'm just gonna embed a video of my beloved Craig Ferguson making great jokes about the remake and how non-blood relatives are getting a bad rap.

Happy Birthday to Me [DVD]

I freaking love horror films. And I really want to see this one. Mainly because I want to find out about this whole shish kabob on your birthday business. And then the whole getting apparently murdered by a shish kabob killer. Of course that might be way off the point of the film but I don't care. It's intriguing enough.

What else comes out this week: Land of the Lost, Married... With Children: The Complete Eleventh Season, South Park: Bigger Longer Uncut [Blu-ray], The Hunger: The Complete Second Season, Jackass: The Lost Tapes, Natural Born Killers (Unrated Director's Cut) [Blu-ray], Futurama: The Complete Collection, Infestation, Bob Dylan: Keep Your Eyes on the Prize, Adoration, The Craft [Blu-ray], Screwballs [Blu-ray], Pets, Midnight Movie [Blu-ray], How To Be A Serial Killer, The Killing Room.

What to stay away from: Nickelback: Live at Sturgis. On Blu-ray. They suck enough in standard definition, why go any further? I look forward to your letters.

So long!

Not Just Nostalgia-Driven, 'Where the Wild Things Are' Ignites Imagination

2009-10-14T12:09:00.002-04:00

Even before entering director Spike Jonze’s monster-inhabited fantasy island, Where the Wild Things Are sets the tone at home for what young Max’s upcoming adventure will be all about. A culmination of difficult issues inside a family, struggling to cope with the idea of being lonely and the pains of growing up send Max storming out of his house angry and confused after an incident with his mother, leading him to escape via imagination.

Jonze has made a name for himself with other challenging, visually impressive and near dreamlike films like Adaptation and Being John Malkovich. But could adapting a 48 page book heavy with illustrations be his most challenging effort yet? Maurice Sendak, author of the classic children’s book of the same name, handpicked Jonze after feeling most connected to his work than the rest of the names on the long list of prospective directors. And from there Jonze and writer Dave Eggers stretched the short book into a lengthy screenplay, all the while staying in touch with Sendak to ensure the author’s approval on nearly all fronts.

From the moment Max touches land on the imaginary island the visual and emotional scope of Jonze’s film is realized. More melancholy than you might be prepared for, Where the Wild Things Are will leave children bewildered and adults absolutely satisfied.

But that satisfaction isn’t just the nostalgia factor of seeing a classic childhood book come alive. Jonze’s film is a spirited affair that forces its viewers to use their imagination in joint fashion with Max’s. Even the most stubborn grown ups must relinquish their inhibitions and revert their minds back to a freeing childlike state to really feel the sentimentality and emotion put into motion by Jonze and Eggers. So much of what Jonze and Eggers have to say about Max’s time spent with the monsters in his imaginary land can be traced back and related to Max’s life at home, a relatable emotion for most viewers.

An amazing source of this emotion springs forth from the inhabiting monsters themselves. Through a combination of live action, suitmation, animatronics and CGI, the monsters are brought to life in incredible fashion. It truly is remarkable how many effective displays of emotion and personality are pumped into and eventually out of these creatures. The decision to not rely solely on CGI really proves to be an excellent direction. By not depending on computers and leaving this sense of reality from the natural movements of actors in suits, the audience is even more drawn into Max’s imagination, and each monster is given a multi-faceted set of traits it can call its own. There is a sort of unspeakable believability instilled into the fantasy.

Visually Jonze’s film transcends good and leaps into artistic brilliant. Careful cinematography helps capture the beauty of the various types of terrain and land growing inside Max’s imagination. And one look at the fort built by Max and the monsters leaves the eyes in awe. Jonze uses a fresh palette of colors that relates to whatever the current mood of the film may be. In turbulent times a snowstorm sets in, while a beautiful bright sun can be seen in the more innocent, loving and tender moments.

Also speaking greatly for the mood of the film is the film’s soundtrack by Karen O, lead singer of rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs and former girlfriend of Jonze. In her own innocent, childlike way, Karen O’s music speaks volumes for the tone. Karen O captures every raucous, playful and exciting moment like the enjoyable dirt clump fight but is also able to reflect on the more melancholy, experience-growing and sedative of Max’s experiences while away from the real world. There isn’t a moment in the film where her music doesn’t fit the scene, and for that her ability to ride the same wavelength as the film and resulting addition to the experience is just about as important as anything else.

A wonderful performance is put in by Max Records as central character Max. His innocence and determination is spellbinding. It’s a truly genuine performance and even more impressive when you consider the acting situation Records was put in, as the largest portion of the film is Records acting alongside actors in suits. Impressive voice acting was added to the project from the likes of Forest Whitaker, James Gandolfini, Paul Dano and Lauren Ambrose, all of whom help give the monsters their unmistakable personalities.

Fears that Where the Wild Things Are would only succeed on a nostalgic level should be immediately forgotten. A spirited Jonze took to task and created this magical, endearing masterpiece of youthful and soulful exploration that while ultimately working better as adult fare, will still entertain young ones even though they might wonder why exactly those monsters get so darn angry.

http://centralrecorder.com/2009/10/14/not-just-nostalgia-driven-where-the-wild-things-are-ignites-imagination/

With All the Ghouls in Line, 'Trick 'r Treat' Captures Halloween Perfectly

2009-10-13T14:56:00.001-04:00

Going right along with all the urban legend, folklore and tradition of Halloween comes the films we watch to celebrate the holiday. For 30 years, John Carpenter’s visceral 1978 slasher Halloween has been one of the most revered Halloween-themed horror films and a yearly tradition right along with the tamer It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

And now a film set to seriously challenge the champions of Halloween has arrived. Originally set to be released in October of 2007, Michael Doughtery’s Trick ‘r Treat has finally seen release via DVD and Blu-ray. Trick ‘r Treat is four interwoven stories all taking place on one Halloween night in a town that celebrates Halloween like no other.

The best thing about Trick ‘r Treat is how the film perfectly captures the spirit of the holiday it celebrates. In lush and eye-catching fashion the film recreates what we love and fear about the ghoulish night of Halloween. The film covers all facets of Halloween, including the annual celebrations, spooky local urban legends, those creepy next door neighbors, mountains of lit Jack-o'-lanterns and that friendly reminder to respect those Halloween rules and rituals.

Trick ‘r Treat can be best described to horror aficionados as the third Creepshow film we never received. The same fresh breath of air that was breathed into George A. Romero and Stephen King’s joint anthology horror project is alive and well in Doughtery’s film, someone who seems to be easily able to grasp the joys of the horror film. This is a fun-loving horror film.

When people call Trick ‘r Treat one of the better horror films they’ve seen, which I will, it isn’t because it’s scary. The film is far from being terrifying. But from the understanding that a horror film doesn’t have to be scary to the viewer comes the greatest appreciation of the genre and this film in particular. Doughtery’s film is a perfect blend of what makes the genre as great as can be. There’s a little bit of Sam Raimi-esque physical splatter horror, a new twist on the tales of werewolves and a dark humor-blended story about a principal that commits atrocities that wouldn’t go over well with any school’s PTA. This kind of mixture creates a film that doesn’t tire itself out from the same kind of device a typical slasher film or gore film might.

And part of the brilliance of the four interwoven stories penned by Doughtery himself are the overlapping ties between them, something you notice more and more of on second and third viewings of this film. The little things characters see, do or say not caught on a first viewing are picked up on repeat viewings. At a quick 82 minutes the film practically speeds by and because of this brevity is very easy and enjoyable to watch.

The other part of Doughtery’s film that I find most fascinating is his character Sam. Sam is literally our little reminder to follow and respect Halloween traditions. Donning a burlap pumpkin mask, Sam is the one constant tie to all four stories, and takes vengeance on those that disrespect the spirit of Halloween. And with that Sam represents more than just a piece of the horror, he’s that ideal memory of what Halloween is supposed to be, and another piece of the all-encompassing Halloween package that Trick ‘r Treat truly is.

While it won’t scare the pants off you, Trick ‘r Treat perfectly captures the essence of what Halloween is all about. I can’t imagine many horror fans not falling in love with this film. As long as enough people are able to see it, Trick ‘r Treat should become the Halloween classic of this generation. Michael Myers might just have to take a step back and let pint-sized Sam take his rightful place as Halloween’s number one masked character.

Album reviews: The Flaming Lips + Buckethead

2009-10-13T14:49:00.003-04:00

The Flaming Lips
Embryonic
Warner Bros.
October 13, 2009

In a true change of the pace, weird rockers The Flaming Lips reverted to the strangeness that gained them a boatload of fans on the cult level. When you consider that Zaireeka, the album before their switch to a more standard sound, was an album with four compact discs that when played simultaneously on four audio systems the four CDs would produce a harmonic or juxtaposed sound, you’d understand how normal their weird sound is to them.

Embryonic is definitely weird but ultimately still an accessible album. I’d hate to say that if you jumped on the Lips album with The Soft Bulletin and never became familiar with their earlier work, you might feel a little let down. But those who love the band’s strange, sometimes ambient interludes, freaked out and extended jam-like sessions that are all over the place might fall in love. Or if you love strange things in general you should find a place inside of lead singer Wayne Coyne’s mind.

Definitely favorites for me from the album are tracks like “See the Leaves”, a pulsating psychedelic track and “The Sparrow Looks Up At The Machine”, which feels like a companion sister track to the aforementioned one.

In the category of just plain weird falls “I Can Be A Frog”. Help here is given from Karen O, lead singer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The lyrical content here reminds me of classic Lips work like “Moth in the Incubator” or “She Don’t Use Jelly” from their Transmissions from the Satellite Heart album.

I’d encourage people to try this album even if they are only familiar with their last three albums in The Flaming Lips’ discography. And it isn’t that the band’s last three albums before this weren’t good, they’re excellent albums and good entry points into the band in general. It’s just that they’re different, and listeners should be prepared for that to able themselves to make the best judgment of the band’s most excellent latest work.

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Buckethead
Needle in a Slunk Stack
TDRS Music
September 24, 2009

I’m never going to stop listening to and loving Buckethead. But something is amiss in his last few albums, and this continues into his latest offering, Needle in a Slunk Stack, his twenty-eight studio album.

Don’t get me wrong, like all his albums, this one shreds, and does so in the most experimental ways. And while the technical ability of Buckethead is still to be found, the playful fun of his older work isn’t. Giant Robot was the first album I ever listened to from the guitar virtuoso and that album, unlike his more recent efforts, is one I do find myself going back to more often.

I don’t know, maybe nostalgia is getting to me. Yes, nostalgia of four years. I still just don’t think Buckethead’s latest work is as enjoyable for me as his earlier stuff. I personally don’t think he’s had a truly classic and great album since Inbred Mountain came out back in 2005 and Crime Slunk Scene in 2006, even though he has produced a plethora of work since then.

But don’t take this as a negative review for this latest offering. It’s simply more of what we Buckethead fans love the guy for. He shreds and does so different than anyone else in the game can. And for that, a never ending respect and appreciation of the artist forms, even if at times I yearn for something else.

Perhaps more experimental than most of his other recent work, Needle in a Slunk Stack is vastly different than the most beloved albums from Buckethead such as Colma or Population Override. Tracks like “Interview With The Double Man” and the two-part “Wormwood's Workshop” are most definitely welcome pieces.

The worst thing I could do here is be unappreciative of this artist. He loves music, loves his fans, and shows it by his nonstop releases of explored styles. I’ll take all I can get from Buckethead. Is there a limit to how much one can take? Probably, but I don’t think we’ve reached it yet.

With Help from Internet, 'Paranormal Activity' Goes Nationwide

2009-10-13T14:47:00.000-04:00

Making huge buzz across Facebook and Twitter the past few weeks has been the little film that could, Paranormal Activity.

What started as a quiet and small 13 theater release in various “college” towns across the country turned into a nation of horror fans literally demanding the film be released nationwide and conversely one of the most impressive uses of the internet’s fastest growing social networking tools, a game plan that might change the landscape of film in the future.

The internet has been credited to the success of a lot of various bands, films, artists, you name it. But has there ever been a film screening decided by the general public before? Using eventful.com, director Oren Peli encouraged fans to “demand” where the film is played next, the first time a film studio used the service to virally promote and release a film. The film sold out 12 of its first 13 showings, with the one non sellout being accredited to the fact that a Penn State football game stole the attention of much of the prospective audiences.

With the successful use of internet tools such as Twitter, Facebook, and Eventful, Paranormal Activity managed to gain more sellouts and more demand for a wider release. Most recently the film moved to 40 larger markets and began playing at all hours of the day, and not just the previous midnight-only showtimes. This past weekend the film grossed an impressive $7,066,000 while playing in just 160 theaters, a total that averages out to be $44,163 per theater.

And then the final challenge for eager viewers was given. Reach 1,000,000 demands for the film on Eventful and the film would go nationwide, giving everyone a chance to be scared by the film that is being lauded as one of the most terrifying horror films in years. On Saturday, October 10th, the ticker on Eventful reached the necessary total to award the film its nationwide release, which will begin on Friday, October 16th.

It isn’t often that you find an independent film that cost $15,000 to make receive this kind of buzz. And this achievement is one worth looking at closely, trying to figure out how exactly social networking devices like Twitter helped spread the word. With a busy and hardworking person manning the film’s official Twitter account, @TweetYourScream, the account has managed to accumulate more than 400 tweets, mostly rebroadcasting how scared other fans on Twitter were while watching the film.

This word of mouth technique proved to be successful in letting Paramount Pictures know exactly what the fans wanted. In past years a success story like this would not only be impossible, but something that got lauded at. The only previous way for fans to let studios know what they wanted was to let them know through box office totals. Forget sending the message right to them in words.

And I can only hope that this customer-studio relation continues in the future. Far too often the little guy is given the shake. It’s easy to forget that cinema is a business. But I do think Paramount is about to be rewarded for their experimental release procedure. All I ask is that horror fans join me this weekend and show Paramount and the rest of Hollywood that they made the right choice by giving us a voice.

October Horror Movie Challenge Update: The First 10 Days

2009-10-12T14:05:00.004-04:00

Why the first 10 days? Because that is when I decided to write this. Let me start by saying that I do think I'm under-performing. But I do have excuses. The Yankees, New York Rangers and Hartford Wolf Pack can all be held responsible for taking up viewings. That and life in general. Anyways, below you will find my list, and under that, a brief review for each film I've watched thus far. Just some general off-hand comments about what I liked or didn't like about the film.

October 1st
1. Summer School (2006)* - 6/10
2. Drag Me to Hell (2009) - 10/10
3. Laid to Rest (2009)* - 8/10
4. The Sentinel (1977)* - 9/10
October 2nd
5. Zombieland (2009)* - 9.5/10
October 6th
6. The Hills Run Red (2009)* - 8/10
7. Jungle Holocaust (1977)* - 7/10
October 7th
8. Fright Night (1985)* - 8/10
October 8th
9. MST3K: Zombie Nightmare (1994/1986)* - 9/10 - 2/10
October 10th
10. Trick ‘r Treat (2008) - 9.5/10
11. Splinter (2008)* - 9/10

Summer School: A crude little independent film with a rather brilliant concept. The film deals with a summer school student who after staying up for hours upon hours watching horror films for his film review website (sounds familiar to me!) begins to dream. He keeps waking up to different nightmares, and so on. All bases are covered here. Nazis, creatures from the beyond, and Deliverance-like mountain folk. Recommended.

Drag Me to Hell: Nothing more can be said about this masterpiece. One of the greatest horror films made in a long time, Sam Raimi marks his return to the genre that made him famous. For more, be sure to read my review I wrote back when the film first came out. Highly recommended.

Laid to Rest: A great new slasher with a great new slasher villain. Chromeskull, fitted in a chrome mask and a camera perched on his shoulder to tape all his victims, tracks down a group of people who just have the worst of luck. The film is really good as far as slashers go, so I'll highly recommend this one.

The Sentinel: I had been meaning to see this 70s horror film for quite some time, and I'm glad I finally did. The Sentinel deals with what keeps earth and hell separated. In this film, it's apparently an apartment complex in New York. A woman moves in to the apartment only to find out that what she has been seeing and experiencing isn't really there. Or is it. The film has one of the creepiest scenes in all of horror film, and is more off-the-wall than one would expect. Recommended.

Zombieland: Again, I fell in love with this film instantly. Check out my review to get the full effect of my flattering. Highly recommended.

The Hills Run Red: Riding a bit of hype into its DVD release, The Hills Run Red is a slasher-esque film that details one young horror film enthusiast and his attempt to uncover the mystery of The Hills Run Red, the horror film within this film. It's a long lost film, never to be seen by the general public. Then he goes into the woods. Things get crazy. And very gory. Recommended.

Jungle Holocaust: I'm really not going to lather this one up and recommend it to anyone but cannibal/jungle exploitation films. This is the film Ruggero Deodato made before his infamous film Cannibal Holocaust. This plays as more of an adventure-horror film than anything else and certainly isn't for all eyes and ears. So skip it, unless you're like me and enjoy the genre. Then it's recommended.

Fright Night: One of the campy treats from the 1980s is Fright Night. You'll recognize Amanda Bearse as Marcy from the great Married with Children and you'll recognize the odd Stephen Geoffreys from gay porno. Or maybe you won't. Hey I'm not judging. Premise here is that a high school aged boy begins to believe that he is living next door to a vampire. Which he is. But of course no one believes him. So with the help of his two friends, they enlist the help of the great vampire killer extraordinaire Peter Vincent, a play on horror film legends Peter Cushing and Vincent Price. This is a fun film, recommended.

MST3K: Zombie Nightmare: Zombie Nightmare is terrible. But the Mystery Science Theater 3000 riffing of it is brilliant. Amazing how those guys can make almost any piece of disjointed crap watchable. Adam West stars (sort of) in the film and, well, that alone should be worth your time. Recommended, but only the MST3K version. The film itself is dreadful.

Trick 'r Treat: Brilliant. I'm not going to say too much on this film. I just wrote a review which will be up shortly, so just read that. Highly recommended.

Splinter: Even though I had heard nothing but good things about Splinter, this still reigns as the most surprising flick I've watched this month. The film is a breeze to watch, a short 82 minutes. But once the film grabs you, it doesn't let go. A new kind of parasitic plague is running ramped deep within the woods and four unsuspecting people come across it at a small gas station. People say it's too much like The Thing, but trust me, it really isn't. The film grips you and has you waiting for what will develop next between the survivors and the increasingly dangerous parasite. Highly recommended.

There we have it. Hopefully my pace picks up in the next 10 days. We'll see!

DVD Picks of the Week: October 6, 2009

2009-10-06T22:11:00.009-04:00

I told you I'd be back today. I'm hopefully going to be returning to more timely postings of the latest DVDs and Blu-rays, but we'll see how that goes.

Trick 'r Treat [DVD][Blu-ray]

What a year for horror films it has been. The long awaited release of Trick 'r Treat only strengthens what has been a great revival year for the genre that once seemed lost. Trick 'r Treat is the ghoulish Halloween night tale of multiple interlocking spook stories that kind of encompass all of what Halloween is about. There are vampires, werewolves, zombies, haunted tales, creepy next door neighbors, mountains of lit Jack-o'-lanterns and that friendly reminder to respect those Halloween rules and rituals. Four creepy tales come together in what can be best described as our generation's Creepshow. The film also tends to touch on all facets of great horror. There's some Sam Raimi-esque splatter horror to go along with more comedy themed bits, and so on. The film has been catching on all over and been receiving loads of hype. It's a shame this wasn't given a wide theatrical release right now, but I'll take this terrific film however I can get it. If there's one horror film you watch this October, make it Trick 'r Treat.

Karloff & Lugosi Horror Classics [DVD]

I can't say I've seen any of the four films offered in this particular set (The Walking Dead/Frankenstein 1970/You'll Find Out/Zombies on Broadway) but I don't care, I'm still going to recommend it. It's Boris Karloff. It's Bela Lugosi. Both in one nicely priced set. Just in time for Halloween. I've heard that The Walking Dead is the classic of the set, but don't take my word for it. Plus one of the films is called Zombies on Broadway. That's enough incentive for me.

Audition [2-Disc DVD][Blu-ray]

Making its debut on Blu-ray is one of the most jarring horror films of the last 10 years. Audition is Takashi Miike's cerebral classic, a slow developing film that tenaciously picks away at its viewers' nerves one shot at a time. By the time this film ends, it leaves you just about speechless. I don't know if the DVD version is worth replacing your older copy for, but I'd love to see this on Blu-ray. You don't want to know anything about this film other than how awesome it is before you see it. Makes for a better experience. Go enjoy it now.

The Gate [DVD]

I haven't seen this film yet, but I've heard it's another one of those good tongue in cheek 1980s horror films that needed to be released on DVD. Well it looks like it finally is. Since my words can't say much about this film, maybe the trailer can.

Chinatown [DVD]

Okay, so director Roman Polanski isn't in the best light right now. And yes, I don't know why Chinatown needed to be released AGAIN (who ever does?). But still, here it is, now apart of the Centennial Series, a really great collection of films from Paramount that have been reissued. This is a great neo-noir, one of Jack Nicholson's best performances and a Polanski classic. Good timing if you want to give yourself a break from the horror films that come out this week. The mystery is a real spellbinder, and loads of fun.

Not Quite Hollywood [DVD]

I wrote at the end of September about two "ozploitation" films from Brian Trenchard-Smith that I really loved, Dead End Drive-In and Turkey Shoot. Well this week comes a documentary I had been hearing a lot about lately concerning that genre. Names like Quentin Tarantino and Dennis Hopper are to be found here, and I can usually support anything those two guys get involved with.

Staunton Hill [DVD]

Another I haven't seen, and I haven't really heard much great about it, but it is directed by Cameron Romero, son of the legendary filmmaker George A. Romero. That's enough for me to make mention of this film and eventually see it, even if it might be a steaming pile of crap.

Ghost Ship [Blu-ray]

Level with me here for a minute. Ghost Ship isn't that bad. Sure, it isn't the most brilliant film in the world, but I thought it did its job. It also has a terrific opening scene that's hard to dislike if you're a horror fan. There's a little bit of atmosphere in this freak out thriller and that's what I like about it. I guess I'll give it another go this month to make sure I wasn't seeing things when I first watched this way back when.

What else comes out this week: Splatter Movie: The Director's Cut, It's My Party and I'll Die if I Want To!, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs [Blu-ray], Anvil: The Story of Anvil, Year One, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein [Blu-ray], It's Alive, Man vs. Food: Season One, Children, Dark Country, The Thaw, Children of the Corn (Remake), Seventh Moon, Wolf / Dracula / Frankenstein Trilogy [Blu-ray], Offspring, Marlene (1984), Feeding Grounds.

What to stay away from: Dance Flick. Fuck that movie.

Okay, I hope you enjoyed my return to my regular time (Tuesdays) and my sans-Chinatown horror themed selections. Get used to that this October. Drag Me to Hell comes out next week.

Wrap Up of Films Watched in September 2009

2009-10-05T22:12:00.005-04:00

It's taken me five days, but here's my month of September wrap-up. I watched a total of 23 films this month, a worthy number considering summer ended and school began. It was a good mixture of things, more rough on the edges horror and exploitation genre flicks than anything else though. And as I mentioned in an earlier blog post, October is going to be all horror, all the time, unless I need to see a film outside the genre to review for The Recorder. Anyways, here's the list, with my monthly awards following. As always, * denotes a first time viewing and all links lead to IMDB pages for the specific film.

210. 9/1 – Au revoir les enfants*
211. 9/3 – Smash Cut*
212. 9/4 – Gamer*
213. 9/4 – High Anxiety*
214. 9/6 – Observe and Report
215. 9/6 – A Colt Is My Passport*
216. 9/7 – Blackbeard, the Pirate*
217. 9/8 – Combat Shock*
218. 9/8 – In the Jungle: The Making of Cannibal Holocaust*
219. 9/10 – The House on Sorority Row*
220. 9/11 – Sorority Row*
221. 9/12 – Bad Lieutenant*
222. 9/13 – Sex Drive*
223. 9/18 – The Informant!*
224. 9/18 – State of Play*
225. 9/19 – All the Colors of the Dark*
226. 9/20 – Burn After Reading
227. 9/20 – The Man from Earth*
228. 9/21 – Dead-End Drive In*
229. 9/21 – Cut and Run*
230. 9/27 – Turkey Shoot*
231. 9/28 – Trick ‘r Treat*
232. 9/30 – Homicide*

Best Film (New Viewing): Trick 'r Treat
Okay, maybe Au revoir les enfants is an infinitely better film than Trick 'r Treat, but part of this award involves it being my favorite film as well. And Trick 'r Treat is one of the greatest horror films I've seen in quite some time. The film contains a few stories that eventual interlock in one way or another, and sets the perfect Halloween tone, reminding us all of why we love the holiday the way we do. This should be the mood setter for Halloween 2009 and for years to come. It might even be the best Halloween themed ever. Yes, I really did just say that.
Runners-up: Au revoir les enfants, Bad Lieutenant, Homicide, The Man from Earth, Combat Shock.

Best Film (Repeated Viewing): Tie - Burn After Reading/Observe and Report
For the first time in Blast of Silence history, we have a tie. This award essentially came down to two of my favorite comedies of the last two years, and deciding between them looks impossible. I really don't know what else to say about both of these terrific films. They aren't for everyone, but for those that they are for, you'll love them.
Runners-up: None.

Worst Film (Any Viewing): Gamer
Perhaps I might be a little too nice when I say that Gamer isn't a terrible film. The film got panned by critics and the public, but I really thought it had a few things going for it. That said, it was ultimately a forgettable film with nothing that brings it above the mediocre region it belongs it.
Runners-up: Smash Cut, Sex Drive.

Most Surprising Film: A Colt Is My Passport
This month's most surprising film goes hand in hand with last month's, Youth of the Beast. A Colt Is My Passport has not only a great film title, but it's also a shockingly good Japanese take on the American film noir. This is a brooding gangster film and done stylishly. I can't wait to get out the rest of the Nikkatsu noir titles soon.
Runners-up: The Man from Earth, Combat Shock, Homicide.

Most Underrated Film: The Man from Earth
I know it was written years back, but I like to consider this one of the greatest science fiction screenplays to be made into a film in the recent years. It's smart, clever and impacting. It could have holes, but I don't really care, the thing is a killer. A man spends a night trying to convince his intellectual colleagues that he is actual a caveman? Brilliant.
Runners-up: Homicide.

DVD Picks of the Week: September 29, 2009

2009-10-05T17:54:00.003-04:00

Sorry, I guess I have become a habitual slacker as of late. Here's this past weeks most notable DVDs and Blu-rays. Look for me to return tomorrow with this week's DVDs and Blu-rays as a horror title hits stores tomorrow that I want everyone to know about.

The Wizard of Oz [Blu-ray][DVD]

When a classic like The Wizard of Oz hits Blu-ray, it must be talked about. Whether this would be your first viewing (what?) or your 40th, the Blu-ray remaster looks terrific and brings to life this classic for a new generation. Be sure to check this out.

The Girlfriend Experience [DVD][Blu-ray]

It's really easy to figure out what I love. Steven Soderbergh is one of those things. If you've been following this blog for any period of time you'd be able to figure that out. I loved The Girlfriend Experience, one of his latest experimental films. Sasha Grey is featured in this very low key and dialogue driven film, and the porn star turned actress proves to be not a huge slouch when it comes to her new focus. Give it a go, but don't expect anything loud.

The Hills Run Red [DVD]

I just got this title in from Netflix and look forward to watching it and adding it to my list of horror films watched this October. Lots of hype has been surrounding it as one of those titles that flies under the radar until it hits DVD, so I'm eager to see if that all holds up. Check back to find my thoughts on The Hills Run Red, either via review on this blog or as a Twitter update.

The Hanging Woman [DVD]

Troma does it again. This time digging from the vault, they bring back The Hanging Woman, a film featuring the great Paul Naschy, who plays a deranged gravedigger. The film focuses on a small village in 19th-century Scotland where a stranger's arrival to claim an inheritance is met with apocalyptic visions and other evil omens. I don't know if the film is any good, but it sounds good, and I love what Troma is doing here, releasing the film at a price point lower than $10.

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer [Blu-ray]

One of the best serial killer films of all time gets a Blu-ray touch up and a new release here. Henry is a pretty dark and grisly film and because of this it really leaves a lasting impact on its viewers. I can't recommend this one enough. Check it out.

The Sexy Box [DVD]

There is nothing more I want than four sexy comedies from Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz of Troma. NOTHING.

What else comes out this week: Monsters vs. Aliens, Away We Go, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) [Blu-ray], The Dark Crystal [Blu-ray], Labyrinth [Blu-ray], The New York Ripper [Blu-ray], Snakes on a Plane [Blu-ray], Stepfather II (DVD Special Edition), Billy Jack [Blu-ray], Traffik, Daughter of Darkness, Lucifera: Demon Lover.

What to stay away from: Orgies and the Meaning of Life. Haha I don't know why, I just wanted you to know that this really was a DVD.

See you tomorrow, I hope.

Land of the Zombies, Home of the Dead, 'Zombieland' Is a First Rate Zom-Com

2009-10-04T00:00:00.002-04:00

Most folks tend to believe that placing zombies into any old situation can make for a watchable film, so long as you apply enough splatters of blood and gnawing of human flesh in between. I might watch it because of the zombies, but there’s no promising that it won’t be a piece of crap.

Ever since George A. Romero changed the way we looked at zombies in film with his 1968 classic Night of the Living Dead, the zombie has arguably been America’s favorite monster alongside the classic vampires and werewolves. Since then the genre has been nearly beaten to death, with just about everyone trying to get in on the phenomenon of our neighbors coming back to life to eat us.

Some of those trying to get into the genre just don’t belong there. It’s very easy to mess up a zombie film. As someone who began to love film with Romero’s Dawn of the Dead, I hold my breath every time Hollywood dips its fingers into the mix, praying they don’t ruin zombies the way they’ve begun to ruin vampires, turning them into emotional teenagers who care far too much about each others feelings. “I’m coming to console you, Barbara!” says the teenage heartthrob zombie to his human love interest in a Twilight-inspired zombie chick flick.

But oh boy was I able to exhale quickly at the sight of Ruben Fleischer’s Zombieland, a film that from the look of just its trailer seemed to get it. Briefly, Zombieland is America’s Shaun of the Dead. It’s a clever, smart and downright funny ode to the zombie infestation of our beautiful country. The land of the zombies, the home of the dead, is what you might want to change those national anthem lyrics to now.

A real brilliant idea and the source of much of the film’s humor comes from the knocking down of the fourth wall between Jesse Eisenberg’s character and the audience. His list of rules for surviving the zombie apocalypse and handing out of “zombie kill of the week” includes the audience in the storytelling as he speaks directly to us.

Eisenberg’s shut-in character works well with Woody Harrelson’s, the machismo zombie killer extraordinaire known only as Tallahassee. The two play off each other brilliantly, as Harrelson’s testosterone fueled ambitions and Eisenberg’s safer and more timid nature present an ideal odd couple. All four characters, which includes Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin on the female side of the operation, are developed just enough to separate them from being boring cardboard characters, which is important for this film’s progression and key to becoming a memorable classic. The character relationships are a huge part of the film, and might go underlooked by most viewers.

At a brisk but perfect 80 minutes, Zombieland is a gut-buster all the way through. Sometimes literally. The zombie kills are fairly inventive and vary greatly. I don’t want to get stuck on this facet of the film for too long, but gore is really an important part of a good zombie film, and the team behind it all here has hit the mark. There are enough absolutely satisfying kills from the hands of Tallahassee and company to please veterans and newcomers of the genre alike. If you aren’t saying “Oooh!” at just about every zombie slaying, you’re most likely watching a dull film. Not the case here.

And with all the zombie brain smashing and all the funny and witty one-liners, Zombieland is a complete joyride, and one of the most fun films of its kind. This is proof enough that there are still shimmers of hope within the zombie genre. It’s a smart film that knows exactly what it wants to achieve and successfully does so, a best of both worlds of zombies and comedy.

It has since dawned on me that Zombieland is the kind of film that you really have to try to hate. Not to get overly confident with my opinion, but if you don’t enjoy this film you might be as soulless as the zombies that inhabit it.

Special Edition: 2009 October Horror Movie Challenge

2009-09-30T23:26:00.002-04:00

Tonight at midnight will mark the fifth straight year of me partaking in DVDTalk's October Horror Movie Challenge. It's a casual event, mostly for fun. Just tally up all the horror films you watch in October. I've never watched more than 39 before, but I really want to try and break my own personal record by at least a couple. Here's a recap of what I watched the last four years.

2005
In 2005, I watched a measly 15 titles. Wimpy status.

1. House by the Cemetery
2. Dead Heat
3. Let Sleeping Corpses Lie
4. Hell of the Living Dead
5. City of the Living Dead
6. Nightmare City
7. House
8. House II
9. Hellraiser
10. Suspiria: LE
11. Zombi 3
12. Zombie 4: After Death
13. Zombie 5: Killing Birds
14. Evil Dead
15. Evil Dead II
16. Dawn of the Dead (remake)
17. Night of the Living Dead

2006
2006 saw me watching 25 titles, as my taste for horror had only grown from the previous year.

October 1st
1. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) 5:45 PM 10/10
2. The Evil Dead (1981) 9:45 PM 10/10
October 2nd
3. The Last House on the Left (1972) 12:15 AM 9/10
4. Horror Hotel (1960) 10:30 PM 8.5/10
October 4th
5. Night of the Living Dead (1968) 11:10 AM 10/10
6. Drive-In Massacre (1976) 1:10 PM 5/10
October 5th
7. Dawn of the Dead (1978 - U.S. Theatrical) 10:25 PM 10/10
October 6th
8. Day of the Dead (1985) 1:00 PM 9.5/10
October 7th
9. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) 12:00 AM 8.5/10
October 8th
10. Night of the Demons (1988) 9:30 PM 7/10
October 9th
11. The Undead (1957) 7:30 PM 4/10
October 10th
12. Do You Like Hitchcock? (2005) 8:00 PM 9/10
13. Texas Chain Saw Massacre Shocking Truth Documentary 11:45 PM 8.5/10
October 11th
14. Tenebrae (1982) 9:00 PM 10/10
October 13th
15. Neon Maniacs (1986) 8:00 PM 8.5/10
October 15th
16. Noche del terror ciego, La (1971) 7:30 PM 8.75/10
October 16th
17. Pet Sematary (1989) 7:15 PM 9/10
October 19th
18. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) 7:00 PM 9/10
October 22nd
19. Rabid (1977) 7:30 PM 9.5/10
October 23rd
20. Tremors (1990) 7:30 PM 9/10
October 24th
21. Feast (2005) 7:15 PM 8.5/10
October 25th
22. I Drink Your Blood (1970) 7:45 PM 7.5/10
October 26th
23. Slither (2006) 7:45 PM 9/10
October 31st
24. Rosemary's Baby
25. Dead Alive

2007
In 2007 I raised the bar to 35. More than one a day, an admirable effort I must say.

1. Evil (Kako, To)
2. Hellraiser
3. Demons
4. Demons II
5. Equinox
6. Flesh Eater
7. Zombie Honeymoon
8. Peeping Tom
9. Bug
10. Les Diaboliques
11. Severance
12. 28 Weeks Later
13. Dagon
14. A Nightmare On Elm Street
15. Twilight Zone: The Movie
16. Deathdream
17. The Haunting
18. Planet Terror
19. Death Proof
20. Black Sabbath (The Three Faces of Terror )
21. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
22. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
23. Day of the Dead
24. Dracula (1931)
25. The Haunted Strangler
26. Zombie Holocaust
27. Club Dread
28. The Pit and The Pendulum
29. House
30. Hour of the Wolf
31. Frankenstein (Karloff)
32. The Toxic Avenger
33. Videodrome
34. Rabid
35. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

2008
My best total yet came last year as I watched 39 films. For the first time I attempted the check off list. You can find both lists below.

October 1st
1. Suspiria (1977) -- 10/10
2. Cannibal Ferox (1981) -- 7.5/10*
3. The Howling (1981) -- 8/10*
October 2nd
4. 28 Days Later (2002) -- 9.5/10
5. MST3K: Boggy Creek II (1985) -- 9/10 -- 2/10*
October 3rd
6. 28 Weeks Later (2007) -- 8.5/10
7. Horror of Dracula (1958) -- 8/10 *
October 5th
8. Seven Blood Stained Orchids (1972) -- 8/10*
October 6th
9. Midnight Meat Train (2008) -- 8/10*
10. Black Sheep (2006) -- 9.5/10
11. Dead Silence (2007) -- 6.5/10*
October 7th
12. The Descent (2005) -- 9/10*
October 8th
13. Wolf Creek (2005) -- 8/10*
14. Your Vice Is A Locked Room and Only I Have The Key (1972) -- 7.5/10*
October 9th
15. [REC] (2007) -- 9.5/10
October 10th
16. Quarantine (2008) -- 7/10*
17. Neon Maniacs (1986) -- 5.5/10
October 12th
18. The Cottage (2008) -- 7/10*
October 14th
19. Habitat (1997) -- 6.5/10*
20. Bride of Re-Animator (1990) -- 7.5/10*
October 17th
21. Halloween (1978) -- 9.5/10
22. Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis (2005) -- 3/10
23. Halloween II (1981) -- 7.5/10*
October 18th
24. Ringu (1998) -- 9/10*
October 20th
25. Saw II (2005) -- 5.5/10*
26. Saw III (2006) -- 4.5/10*
27. Saw IV (2007) -- 3/10*
October 21st
28. Bay of Blood (1971) -- 10/10
29. 5 Dolls For An August Moon (1970) -- 8/10*
October 22nd
30. Baron Blood (1972) -- 8/10*
October 23rd
31. The Last Broadcast (1998) -- 7.5/10*
32. To Let (2006) -- 9/10*
October 24th
33. Saw V (2008) -- 2/10*
October 27th
34. Sleepaway Camp (1983) -- 8/10*
October 29th
35. Opera (1987) -- 9/10*
October 30th
36. Night of the Living Dead (1968) -- 10/10
October 31st
37. Dawn of the Dead (1978) -- 10/10
38. Poultry in Motion: Truth Is Stranger Than Chicken (2008) -- 9.5/10*
39. The Shining (1980) -- 10/10

* = First Time Viewing

Checklist:
Watch one film from every decade of film history.
--- 1890 -
--- 1900 -
--- 1910 -
--- 1920 -
--- 1930 -
--- 1940 -
-X- 1950 - Horror of Dracula
-X- 1960 - Night of the Living Dead
-X- 1970 - Suspiria
-X- 1980 - Cannibal Ferox
-X- 1990 - Bride of Re-Animator
-X- 2000 - 28 Days Later

Watch a film for each rating:
-X- Unrated (pre-MPAA) - Horror of Dracula
--- G -
-X- PG - Boggy Creek II
--- PG-13 -
-X- R - The Howling
--- NC-17 -
--- X -
-X- Unrated (post-MPAA) - Cannibal Ferox

Watch a film starring:
--- Bela Lugosi -
--- Lon Chaney Sr. -
--- Boris Karloff -
--- Lon Chaney Jr. -
--- Vincent Price -
-X- Peter Cushing - Horror of Dracula
-X- Christopher Lee - Horror of Dracula
--- Robert Englund -
--- Bruce Campbell -
--- Jamie Lee Curtis -

Watch films in at least two languages other than English.
-X- First language, (Italian), (Your Vice Is A Locked Room and Only I Have The Key).
-X- Second language, (Spanish), ([REC]).

Watch a film in each of the following subgenres/types:
-X- Vampire -Horror of Dracula
--- Frankenstein -
-X- Werewolf - The Howling
--- Mummy -
--- Invisible Man -
--- Ghost/haunting -
-X- Witchcraft/satanic/religious - Suspiria
-X- Zombie - Bride of Re-Animator
-X- Slasher/psycho/homicidal maniac - Wolf Creek
-X- Monster/creature feature/Godzilla - The Descent
-X- Documentary - Poultry in Motion: Truth Is Stranger Than Chicken
--- Musical -
-X- Spoof/comedy - Black Sheep
-X- Revenge - Dead Silence
-X- Killer/evil doll - Dead Silence
-X- Killer/evil animal - Black Sheep
--- Killer/evil child -
-X- Giallo - Seven Blood Stained Orchids
-X- J horror - Ringu
-X- MST3K/rifftrax/CT - Boggy Creek II
-X- film and its remake - [REC], Quarantine
--- based on a video game -
-X- based on a novel - Horror of Dracula
--- directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis or Uwe Boll or Ulli Lommel -
--- won an Academy Award -- any category -
--- silent film -
--- Criterion version film -
--- with commentary -
--- film and at least two of its sequels -
--- anthology film -
--- takes place on a holiday -
--- takes place in space -
--- takes place on or under the sea -
--- animated film -
-X- called "Night of the ..." - Night of the Living Dead (1968)
-X- called "Return of the ..." - Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis
--- called "Revenge of the ..." -
--- called "Attack of the ..." -
-X- with the words "Living Dead" in the title -Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis

So what will this October bring? I'm not really sure. I do know a few things that will get in the way though. One, a hopefully lengthy Yankee playoff run. Two, the Hartford Wolf Pack and New York Rangers. And three, a trip to Austin, Texas for a journalism conference at the end of the month. Hopefully the theaters there are playing some horror films to help fill in the holes. Until then, I'll happily grind through multiple horror films. Oh and in case you were wondering, I dedicate my eyes to all horror all the time in October. That means Ingmar Bergman and company will just have to wait a month. Check back to the blog for updates, recaps and reviews on what I've been watching and what I thought of. And if you have any horror films I should check out, please send the titles this way, I love new things.

Album review: Alice in Chains - "Black Gives Way to Blue"

2009-09-29T16:14:00.001-04:00

After the death of iconic singer Layne Staley, it seemed that the identity of Alice in Chains had been lost forever. Staley’s rough, recognizable voice and dark, meaningful lyrics were two of the centerpieces of the band.

But the return of Alice in Chains sounds a lot like what made them famous with Staley. And why shouldn’t it? The driving musical force behind the band remains, with Jerry Cantrell still on guitar and providing vocals, Mike Inez still on bass and Sean Kinney still sitting at the drums. It’s not hard to sound like you do, even with the loss of an influencing and lead band member.

Cantrell and company added singer and guitarist William DuVall to the mix, whose voice automatically clicked with the band’s heavy metal tendencies and dark lyrical content.

Fans were reserved their right to be skeptical of the band’s return to the studio, but they might as well throw those reservations away, because Black Gives Way to Blue is an absolute time machine, transporting listeners back to the heyday of Alice in Chains. All that’s missing is everyone’s favorite lead singer.

And as far as the new goes, DuVall fits in perfectly. “Last of My Kind” works as one of the heaviest songs on the album and proves to be DuVall’s initiation to the band. The song is both lyrically and vocally impressive, as DuVall finds what will be the song that will make even the sternest Alice fan accept him.

It’s safe to say that Cantrell is the leader of the band. Much like on the band’s first three albums and numerous other recordings, Cantrell appears as both the main vocalist and as a dual vocalist to accompany DuVall. What was one of the most significant and recognizable components of the Alice in Chains style were the unique vocal harmonies between Cantrell and Staley of sometimes overlapping content. All of that is reborn with DuVall at Cantrell’s direction.

Cantrell’s guitar playing is up to par as well. The Wah-wah effect and absolutely heavy metal playing complete with soaring solos is noticeable just about everywhere on the album. Cantrell’s riffs have always pummeled at the ears of its listeners, and is does so here too, just give “A Looking in View” a listen. Melody wise, no one really constructs a song like Cantrell does, and this dark, brooding style is one of the best parts of Alice in Chains.

Where you won’t hear those particular Cantrell solos and riffs are on the bands slowed down acoustic tracks. Either I’m crazy or “Your Decision” sounds just like “Nutshell” or another classic Alice in Chains acoustic work. “Black Gives Way to Blue” features the unlikely teaming with Elton John on piano, but it really works, and proves to be a beautiful exit for what is a thunderous album.

My winner on the album is “Private Hell”, a morose ballad that might be the most similar to old track on the album. The “Ahhhhhhhhh’s” belted out by Cantrell and Duvall doesn’t do anything but make me imagine Staley singing a track as great as this one.

As far as content goes, it’s all here. The lyrics are mostly dark, totally relatable and memorable, and the music gives you a taste of the past. The album is the way heavy and hard rock should be done, and I’m glad one of the greatest bands to play the genre of rock has returned to show the rest how it’s done.

Black Gives Way to Blue is a tremendous ode to lost singer Staley and good music and general. The debate about whether or not the guys should have changed the name of the band might linger, but I don’t care, if you can point me in the direction of a better return to brilliance than this, I’d love to hear it.

DVD Picks of the Week: September 22nd, 2009

2009-09-28T00:05:00.005-04:00

Perhaps last week's untimeliness wasn't a rare lapse, for it happened again this week! Sorry folks. But you know me, I won't let a week slip by. I've been doing this since March and can't recall a week missed. On to the goods.

Observe and Report [DVD][Blu-ray]

Easily one of my favorite comedies of 2009, Observe and Report is what Taxi Driver would have been if it centered around a bipolar mall cop. The film is a dark journey through a delusional mind, but still remains very funny. Director Jody Hill reached high acclaim with his work on Eastbound and Down and this film only continues that same style of humor. You must check this title out, but don't expect anything Judd Apatow just because Seth Rogen is the film's star.

Shaun of the Dead [Blu-ray]
Hot Fuzz [Blu-ray]

Here we are, a double dose of Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright on Blu-ray. These are two of the more spectacular films of their kinds ever made, not only of the last few years. Shaun of the Dead is of course a tribute to the zombie films made famous by filmmakers such as George A. Romero, while Hot Fuzz takes a look at crime, paying tribute to action and cop buddy films. If you haven't seen either of these, I don't know what you're waiting for. I mean really.

Gojira [Blu-ray]

Because you need the original old school black and white Godzilla on Blu-ray.

You know what? This might not have been a bad week to be slow on. Nothing else gives me the urge to write. There are some Criterions, but they're just reissues on Blu-ray.

What else comes out this week: Star Trek The Original Series: Season Two [Blu-ray], Star Trek: The Next Generation Motion Picture Collection [Blu-ray], 30 Rock - Season Three, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles - The Complete Second Season, The Haunted World of El Superbeasto, Friday the 13th: The Series - The Final Season, The Complete Monterey Pop Festival- Criterion Collection [Blu-ray], Pierrot Le Fou- Criterion Collection [Blu-ray], Paul Newman: The Tribute Collection, Clive Barker's Book of Blood, Lymelife, Rage, O'Horten, Zombies of the Stratosphere, Jimi Plays Monterey & Shake! Otis At Monterey- Criterion Collection [Blu-ray].

What to stay away from: Carnival of Souls - IN COLOR! Not because this is a bad film. In fact, Carnival of Souls is one of the best black and white horror films ever made. Key word being black and white. This being put into color, just like Night of the Living Dead and The Last Man on Earth, along with countless other classics, is just an atrocity. These films were made for black and white and were so haunting because of the way they used the black and white. Go grab the Criterion Collection version of Carnival of Souls if you want the definitive release. Otherwise, you can find the film just about anywhere, even for free, as it is a public domain film now.

See ya.

All Deviants Line Up Immediately

2009-09-27T22:12:00.003-04:00

Brian Trenchard-Smith was a staple filmmaker of the aggressive and violent Ozploitation movement in Australia during the early 1970s and late 1980s. Dead End Drive-In trapped a young couple inside a dystopic era drive-in theater with no way out. Turkey Shoot collected an assortment of supposed rule benders in need of behavior modifications and reeducation in one of many labor camps during a totalitarian future trying to clean the land of social deviants.

Both films present outlandish characters and situations, and play somewhat like Troma films, but on steroids. Dead End Drive-In had a mixed assortment of strange people similar to the gang of cretins in Lloyd Kaufman's classic Class of Nuke 'Em High. And with what seem to be slightly bigger budgets, the Aussie exploitation films are able to grab a few names, like Olivia Hussey for Turkey Shoot.

Turkey Shoot surely reigns as the more infamous title of the two Trenchard-Smith films. The film is a twisted version of The Most Dangerous game, with five prisoners being selected to be part of a special hunt. What keeps this version of the classic story from being another formulaic reproduction is the whole manner of the hunt, and the weapons that go along with it. And you can't forget the brutality.

A slimy redhead gets himself hunted by a suave hunter driving some kind of bulldozer accompanied by a cannibalistic sideshow freak he managed to pick up on the way there. A blond bombshell is being tracked down by a horse-riding woman complete with bow and a few various types of arrows. I think you get the idea.

Blood and guts abound, Turkey Shoot really doesn't stop short of providing memorable kills. The film also does serve as a genuine reminder of prison abuse and punishment, with some sadistic and disturbing prison sequences. Turkey Shoot isn't all serious, but Dead End Drive-In certainly provides more schlocky humor than the sadistic hunting film does.

Now, these are the only two Trenchard-Smith films I've seen, but all first reaction leads me to wanting more and more. Who knows what other films by one of the better Ozploitation filmmakers have to offer, but I know I want to take a look.

Album review: Porcupine Tree - The Incident

2009-09-23T13:49:00.003-04:00

Consider the fact that progressive rock band Porcupine Tree has found itself testing the waters of almost every related genre. From their early pulsing trance induced tracks to spacey Pink Floyd-like psychedelic rock to their later heavy metal influenced work, the band has woven itself a collective work as vast as one could imagine.

And then listen to The Incident. In what can only be described as a great culmination of their works, the band’s latest album, which works as a 55-minute song cycle, draws from a bit of everything the band has been known for.

The album does replicate the feel of the band’s last few albums more than anything else, and there’s certainly nothing as strange as what’s found on the first cassette founder and front man Steven Wilson ever released, Tarquin’s Seaweed Farm, but the legacy and groundwork of this band can be found in some way or another all across this ambitious and surreal concept album.

Wilson found the concept for the album after realizing how detaching the commonly used word “incident” was for situations that were really so destructive and traumatic for the ones involved. The strong theme carries straight through all 14 parts of The Incident as each song, although very different, has apart of another inside it as the entire 55-minute experience seamlessly flows by.

The album certainly has its inspirations, perhaps most prevalent on the album’s longest track, “Time Flies”, which feels a lot like Pink Floyd’s “Dogs” right from the start. Of course, the two songs are very different, as each are made up of a different kind of musicianship. Meanwhile, instrumental “Circle of Manias” is about as heavy as the album gets, and perhaps draws from experimental progressive rock artists like Meshuggah. And rightly enough this track goes right into the deliriously beautiful “I Drive the Hearse”, a contender for best somber Porcupine Tree song. Self titled track “The Incident” might very well be the most impressive track on the album while the preceding track “Drawing the Line” hits hard with a powerful refrain from Wilson.

Playing as tight-knit as they ever have, the musicianship of Porcupine Tree continues to be one of their most impressive aspects. Drummer Gavin Harrison continues to prove why he deserves to be considered one of the best and most influential drummers alive and Colin Edwin’s bass and Richard Barbieri’s keyboards and synth fill up the atmosphere. And it can almost go unsaid, but Steven Wilson is still himself with guitar in hand, his spacey but heavy riffs give the band a true identity.

Dare I say that The Incident is Porcupine Tree’s undisputed masterpiece? It just might be. While I’ll forever always love the band’s early and mind intruding work such as The Sky Moves Sideways as much as anything else the band puts out, The Incident could be looked at as being their defining work and perhaps as the greatest example of their brilliant musicianship when all is laid to rest.

Finely Tuned 'NHL 10' Deserves To Hoist Cup

2009-09-23T13:42:00.004-04:00

One look at NHL 10 and you might easily mistake it for NHL 09. Play through one game of NHL 10 and you’ll begin to realize that this is no clone.

The latest hockey offering from EA Sports looks just about the same as last year’s edition, but the inside workings of this beast are completely fine tuned and reworked. The team at EA Canada could have easily spent their time tweaking the presentation or changing a few items in the cosmetic area of the game, but they instead stayed dedicated to what the fans wanted, a tuned tweaking to what has become known as one of the most pure sports experiences in all of video games.

The authentic gameplay of NHL 09 has become even more similar to a real life NHL game in NHL 10. Developers claimed during production that over 200 gameplay changes were made over the course of development. Whether this is true or not is irrelevant, for the core gameplay of NHL 10 feels completely more true to the sport of hockey and is nearly an impeccable product.

Because of the preciseness of the actual sport, the NHL video games, for the time being, will probably never be able to get it 100% right. You’re still going to find the occasional hiccup in gameplay, the rare but still beyond stupid lapse by the goalie, and a few very strange bounces of the puck. What’s most important is that when EA said they would fix the glitch goals cheesers abused online, they did. They followed up on important promises like the reduction of cheap goals and many others fallacies in last year’s game that all add to the raising of the level of gameplay to be as close to the real thing as possible.

And while true hockey fans and purists will find NHL 10 to be an addictive simulation of the sport they love, casual fans might struggle to learn the ropes. The game involves strategy like no other sports game has before, and the control scheme might be one of the trickiest we’ve seen yet. Passing takes the right touch from the trigger finger and shooting requires spot-on aim. If you don’t know hockey, you might find yourself a bit out of the water. The learning curve is large, one a veteran might have to relearn for the new year, but can be at least partially mastered by anyone who concentrates and puts their mind to it.

And with that comes the reward. NHL 10 is the most realistic sports video game I’ve ever played, a title previously held by last years game. The new title only ups the ante, with more realistic player animations, including goalies that make miraculous saves not seen in video games before, and a new board play feature, that while sometimes feels almost random at outcome, is a beautiful implemented feature for hardcore hockey fans to really allow them to achieve a supreme forecheck on their opponent.

The additions didn’t only come on the ice, as EA reworked and added new features off the ice too. Be a GM mode improves on what was previously known as the franchise mode. More control is given to the player as the general manager of the team, and there’s more to control. Computer AI has been upped significantly in the trade department. No longer will struggling teams trade away young talent for an aging veteran simply because their ratings are similar. Make an offer like that in NHL 10 and you’ll find that your GM will begin to lose respect amongst his colleagues.

Returning for another year is the EA Sports Hockey League, a creation that forever changed sports gaming when it was introduced last year. The EASHL allows you to create a player, be it yourself or a fictional character, and start a club of your own or join one that has already been created. As you control just your single character, the EASHL allows for up to six players to be active in one game on each team, making for deep and absolutely rewarding gameplay. It appears EA has taken care of all of last years glitch goals, which means no more passes that goes through two defensemen, right past the goalie who stands motionless in his crease, and to the opponent’s teammate who’s waiting on the other side for an easy tap in.

Whether you have NHL 09 or not isn’t the main question to ask yourself when considering NHL 10. What really needs to be asked is whether or not you played that game at an unstopping pace. If you did, NHL 10 is a most worthy investment for the updated authentic gameplay on its own, forget about the bevy of game modes that will leave you wondering which to play first. Those unfamiliar with the NHL series shouldn’t be turned away at the high level of learning or competitive nature this game brings, for the lower difficulty levels and great tutorials make great help in understanding the nature of the game.

The developers behind NHL 10 continue to disprove the age old belief that sports games are simply recycled and slightly tweaked versions every year. This game is not simply a roster update with a cosmetic buffer and a few new game modes, it’s a finely tuned piece of dedicated work, and the greatest sports game of all time.

Another Undeserved Shunning

2009-09-21T12:20:00.004-04:00

I know I've made my point of great, low-budget horror (or other similar genre) films getting shunned out of becoming big releases. It's a shame how often it happens. All the Boys Love Mandy Lane still is yet to be found in region one and Trick-R-Treat, which I've heard is supposed to be one of the next great things in horror, has no chance of becoming one of those great franchise titles we love when it comes to DVD on October 6th and doesn't go into theaters around Halloween. Of course, Saw VI will be in theaters around Halloween, you can bet your lucky stars on that. Just don't get me started on the shunning of [REC] and it's upcoming sequel in America.

It's just a shame that the film I want to talk about today won't be in theaters across the country anytime soon. Opening this Friday in a limited setting is Paranormal Activity, a new low-budget horror film that's been getting absolutely rave reviews. Check out the trailer below, it appears to be an exhilarating experience. Also, at the end of the trailer you'll notice a short list of the first cities this film will play in. You can then log on to the film's Eventful page and "demand" your city to be included. Los Angeles has about 2,500 demands while our Hartford metro area has only 300. But what can you do, Hollywood is a corporation where as an independent filmmaker you either have your foot in someone's door or you get very lucky. Check out the trailer below to make up your mind as to whether Paranormal Activity deserves better treatment.

Don't Ask Muse to Mime

2009-09-21T01:22:00.006-04:00

British rockers Muse are a favorite band of mine, but for more than just their sound. As their popularity has grown across the world over the years, Muse has appeared on many television shows throughout Europe. A lot of the time they've been asked to mimic and lip-sync their way through their performances. Bad idea, crazy random European talk show hosts. Muse, led by Matthew Bellamy, strike back when this happens. In the most amusing fashion, the guys of Muse make extreme light of the situation, and perform in absolute joke fashion, not caring what they appear like. So to show my extreme appreciation for this honest attitude from the band, I decided to collect a few of the better Muse miming moments on Youtube for your enjoyment, starting with the most recent incident.

Here first we have "The Muse" as the idiotic host refers to them "performing" Uprising off their latest album The Resistance. Here lead singer and guitarist Matthew Bellamy went to sit on the drums, wildly and randomly smacking the set in a pattern I'm sure he couldn't even follow. All the while Bellamy makes some of the most amusing faces, misses drum rolls and even carelessly loses a drum stick or two. At one point in the video he does quite the maneuver, putting his left hand behind his head before pointing at the camera. Moving up front is Dominic Howard to take over Bellamy's vocal duties and Chris Wolstenholme's bass. Wolstenholme grabs Bellamy's guitar and keyboard, and the two new front-men don darkened shades as their mimic away at their new instruments.

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Next up is the one that made me notice all this. Playing "New Born" here, Bellamy keeps his usual duties of vocals/guitar/keys but lets it all go loose. In the piano intro for the song he absolute jokes around with some of the most freeform piano playing skills in the universe, as he eventually transcends into just waving his arms up and down in a strange fashion. Be sure to notice Bellamy's over exaggerated guitar playing that turns into not even playing at all.

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Here for "Muscle Museum" the band puts tights on their heads and appear to play the song as three bank robbers. If this doesn't throw an organizer or promoter off I don't know what will. I also believe Bellamy flips the camera off for a good amount of time while pretending to sing.

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Next we have the band playing "New Born" again, but a bit different here. The focus this time should be on Bellamy's completely off the mark vocals in the intro. Hilariously not singing what is being played through the speakers. And you've gotta love Bellamy's fall on his back and shred the fuck out of that heavy part right after the low key intro. Things get absurdly funny here.

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Not much to say here. Bellamy is just the ultimate showman when it comes to this stuff. He can easily transform himself into that larger than life superstar whenever he wants to.

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This one here is just an audio clip, for no good video can be found. It's a miming performance with live vocals. "Hey you crazy kids!" Bellamy shouts at the beginning of what turns out to be a most interesting singing performance. Just wait until 1:24 and 2:24 and everything in between. Read Bellamy's take on the performance here.

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Anyways, this is just one big lesson in not asking Muse to mime. Ever. If you do, you should expect a farce, because it might be what they give you. But really, why ask one of the most exhilarating live acts to pretend to play?

And just to not forget about the rest of music history, this isn't the first time this has been done by a band. Iron Maiden made a joke out of a performance years back. Nirvana even had a more extreme pretending where Kurt Cobain just waves at the guitar during "Smells Like Teen Spirit". Check those videos out below.

DVD Picks of the Week: September 15th, 2009

2009-09-19T22:03:00.006-04:00

You'll have to forgive me for this rare lapse, for the release of NHL 10 (which you can read my review of in a couple of days) took up all my attention ever since its release on Tuesday. But don't be worried, because DVDs will always have a huge place in my heart, no matter how good NHL 10 might be (and it's VERY good).

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 4 [DVD]

The newest season of Always Sunny started up this past Thursday and to coincide with that came the release of season four on DVD. The fourth season might not always hold up to the rest of the show, but it still has a few gems, including most notably the production of Nightman Cometh, which has since been turned into a live show featuring the cast. The highlight of the special features is a 50 minute broadcast of the live show, a must see for fans. If you haven't seen this show, start from the beginning, you'll find yourself hooked if you have any sense of humor inside you.

Army of Darkness: Screwhead Edition [Blu-ray][DVD]

Yeah, another release for Army of Darkness. It seems like once a year one of the films out of the famed Evil Dead series gets a reissue. The big deal here is the debut of Army of Darkness on Blu-ray. Reviews say the video and audio vary from mediocre to good, and that some of the lapses in quality are almost unavoidable. So, Sam Raimi fans, this might be the best you're going to do right now in terms of picture quality. A true collector will probably buy this along with the countless other iterations of the film anyways.

Phantasm II [DVD]

The reissue and release pattern for the Phantasm series was a strange one. What probably was the result of strange rights issues, the second Phantasm film ended up being the last of the four to get released by Anchor Bay. I actually already own the third film, but just haven't watched it because a doable copy of the second one has yet to become available. In time for October, it seems it's about time to pick up both the second and fourth film to complete the Phantasm series. The first film is absolute classic of the genre, by the way, so see that if you haven't.

Misery [Blu-ray]

Yeah, The Shining is awesome, but Misery has got to be one of the best Stephen King adaptations. Kathy Bates is absolutely terrific and demonic as the obsessive fan of a famous writer here. She finds him struggling to live after he survives an accident. What begins as being a nice person turns to being a loony. If you haven't seen this one, it's another must see title, especially on Blu-ray, just in time for October. It's got a perfect tense feel to it, and some terrific acting to go along with it.

Friday the 13th, Part VII: The New Blood [DVD]
Friday the 13th, Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan [DVD]

Way back on June 16th, I wrote about the five Friday the 13th titles that had been reissued in new "deluxe" editions to coincide with the release of the Friday the 13th remake. At that time I hoped that eventually a box set would be released, and that I might wait for that. Little did I know that I would find the first three films in the series, in deluxe reissued format, for as cheap as $2.50 each used online. Now combine the fact that I bought those and the fact that I am a series completest, and you'll realize that I must complete the series at some point. So I was happy to see that two more titles have been reissued. Released this week are "The New Blood" and "Jason Takes Manhattan", two later titles in the series. Just a heads up for all those slasher fans out there.

John Carpenter: Master of Fear Collection [DVD]
Wes Craven Collection [DVD]

Not that these two fantastic filmmakers are very similar, but I felt like including these two collections together for a few reasons. One, they come out on the same day. Two, they cost the same. And three, they're the same concept. Repackage a bunch of titles and sell them cheap. For those that don't own these films, you can't do much better at getting them this cheap. For starters, the Carpenter collection includes The Thing, arguably his greatest achievement, and one of the genre's masterpieces. Additionally, They Live is one of the more fun films the director has ever made. Craven's triple-headed collection includes The Serpent and the Rainbow, an old school take on the zombie genre, and one of the most underlooked of its kind. Also, The People Under the Stairs, is a sight to behold. Just trust me on that one. Anyways, these are two good places to start to get more involved with these two talented filmmakers.

What else comes out this week: X-Men Origins: Wolverine, An American Werewolf in London [Blu-ray], Van Helsing [Blu-ray], Wagon Master, My Name Is Earl: Season Four, Dark Shadows: The Vampire Curse, Dark Shadows: The Haunting of Collinwood, Child's Play [Blu-ray], Fear Itself: The Complete First Season, The Hannibal Lecter Anthology [Blu-ray], One Step Beyond: The Official First Season, Directed by John Ford, Nightwatching, Grace, Trumbo, Deadgirl.

What to stay away from: Barbie and the Three Musketeers. I mean, unless you're into that kind of stuff.

Be seeing you.

Damon Leads Strong in Soderbergh’s Quirky Tattle-tale

2009-09-18T19:14:00.004-04:00

Steven Soderbergh rides along on a wavelength that is all to himself. It’s impossible to directly liken him to another name in cinema. In fact, the one constant that runs along all the films in his filmography is that outside of the Ocean’s series, no one film is truly like another.

And Soderbergh’s quietly funny satire The Informant! is only an extension of the variance his films have contained ever since he broke into the business with his industry changing film Sex, Lies and Videotape.

Based on a true “tattle-tale”, The Informant! is the story of a lysine price-fixing conspiracy centered on the company ADM. High-ranking Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon) plays whistleblower on the whole situation, but things just don’t work out the way the bipolar executive envisions them to.

Certainly nothing about a man’s turmoil in life due to a bipolar disorder is funny, but this film, which happens to focus on such a thing, certainly is. Damon’s performance as antihero Mark Whitacre is a charismatic and indulging turn, and probably one of the actor’s best ever. And this perfect portrayal of a delusional, reckless-with-words man that Damon had to gain 20 to 30 pounds for is one of the reasons the film has such a high level of satirical, ironic and subtle sense of humor. Most of the funny business here flies low under the radar and the facade of the whole thing.

While I remain true to my no two Soderbergh films are the same mantra, those that have seen Soderbergh’s earlier comedy about office plight, Schizopolis, will know better than anyone else what to expect with this film. While not as strange as the experimental Schizopolis, the film is certainly not straight on its rocker, much like the main character. This goes for the film’s pacing and interludes of Whitacre’s random bipolar induced thoughts, which makes for some of the funniest dialogue in the film. “How do polar bears know their noses are black?” Whitacre wonders mid conversation.

And what cultural subtext message about big business sent by Soderbergh and screenwriter Scott Z. Burns, who adapted the story to screen from the book The Informant, by Kurt Eichenwald. Here we have this mentally perturbed man, who if not for criminal involvement of his own, would be seen as a national hero for his exposure of his own corrupt corporation. And this “everyman” who absolutely earns his title of antihero, is one of the most likeable characters in the film and a man who appears to be one of the good guys, but in the end still comes out as corrupt.

It is true that people who aren’t in the same strange stratosphere as Soderbergh might not understand what there’s to take out of this film. But without Soderbergh’s consistently ironic tone or Damon’s outrageous performance that builds and builds and pulls the audience back into the story with each additional lie, what’s left is a rather average business web of intrigue story. I wouldn’t be shocked to see a few people feel left out. The Informant! could end up being comedy’s best kept secret.

The Informant! isn’t going to be remembered as a masterpiece mostly because it won’t appeal to everyone, and that’s fine, but for Soderbergh-ites like me, it truly is what’s expected and wanted when he attacks humor. If this film doesn’t successfully sneak up on everyone else by surprise, The Informant! is likely destined for cult status, much like most of Soderbergh’s past catalog has already been resigned to.

Album review: Muse - The Resistance

2009-09-18T11:53:00.003-04:00

You might listen to Muse’s latest album The Resistance and ask yourself, “Where did all the guitar riffs go?” Well, they’re still around, there’s just not as many and they come in different forms.

This the fifth studio album from Muse, a band who’s more popular in the United Kingdom than you could ever imagine, brings the best of the old and a few shining spots of great new to create a new organic listening experience for the band’s diehard fans.

Both rhythmically rocking and symphonically constructed, The Resistance is a turn in a different direction and a change of intent for the trio of unique musicians that make up Muse. At the same time, the album is both strikingly different but all so ever familiar sounding.

The Resistance sheds influences of classical composures with the ending of “United States of Eurasia” being an arrangement of a Frédéric Chopin piece, subtitled “Collateral Damage”, a track that begins more similar to Queen than anything else. It’s this variety that in the grand scheme of things makes for this absolutely swooping collection of songs, hitting all spots of genuinely heart pounding musicianship.

A track like “Unnatural Selection”, “Resistance” or “MK Ultra” might ring more true to the origins of Muse with catchy choruses and heavy electronic based guitar riffs, but this all eventually turns into the albums closure, the three part “Exogenesis”, a true Muse symphony. The dynamics of adding an orchestral touch to the end of this booming album is a beautiful touch.

The album isn’t all perfect. The lyrical portion of Muse has never been something I’ve been blown away by, but with the way lead singer Matthew Bellamy presents what he’s saying, he could be singing about whatever he wants to and I’ll still fall under the spell of his up and down falsetto style.

A few tracks hit low marks, such as the R&B inspired “Undisclosed Desires”, a track that is too far from what makes Muse great to really hold in high regard. And the worst song on the album is “Guiding Light”, a strange, far too synthy and almost 1980’s ballad piece complete with a soaring but for some reason cheesy solo.

But those are a few negatives I’m willing to put aside for a great chance. I’m not sure I’ll ever love this version of Muse as much as I love the Absolution-era band, but this certainly is a beautiful and captivating album, and one brilliant modern orchestral composition.

'Sorority Row' Rides the Highs of the Lows

2009-09-11T21:57:00.003-04:00

A hooded killer dressed all in black, mean college-aged girls and bloody results. Nothing about Sorority Row is particularly original, but then again it is a slasher film, one of the most copied, repeated and cashed in on genres in the last 30 years.

We wouldn’t be watching slasher films for this long if what we wanted was true originality. Sure, it’s nice, but you aren’t going to get it every time, so in some situations it’s passable. But here’s the kicker – Sorority Row is a remake of Mark Rosman’s 1983 slasher The House on Sorority Row, a film that hovers between good and classic in the overall realm of the genre.

Stewart Hendler’s updated version of Rosman’s original places a group of sorority sisters in harms way of a serial killer haunting them with the tragedy of the accidental death of their house-sister that they were all responsible for, a memory they’re trying to forget.

Nothing about Sorority Row should really make for a good film. Alright, nothing other than the fact that a bunch of dumb college girls and their frat boy toys, all wearing next to nothing at one time or another, are getting plucked off one by one by a vicious serial killer in some of the most amusing ways.

But still, this typical slasher film somehow manages to leave mediocre status and enter a level of enjoyment it probably doesn’t belong in. All that even with unsurprisingly stereotypical characters and a plot that meanders into near stupid by the time the big reveal comes around.

Where Sorority Row really succeeds is with its ability to not take itself too seriously. With a semblance of an identity problem, writers Josh Stolberg and Pete Goldfinger let the film range comfortably between being a seriously moody horror film and a blood-spurting and genuinely campy film. Hit-or-miss one-liners, especially those out of the mouth of queen bitch Jessica (Leah Pipes), indulge the audience in a bit of comedy amid death. “Oh, she looks terrible!” says Jessica, in regards to the rotted body of one of her dead sisters while panic surrounds the rest.

There really isn’t anything scary, shocking or surprising about Sorority Row and outside of a few of the deaths, nothing overly impressive in the blood, guts and gore department. You see better and more creative work at lower budgeted levels. And yet, something felt absolutely right about watching a group of morally haunted sorority sisters stupidly sneak around their sorority house, hoping they aren’t next on the list of whoever that serial killer might be. Ultimately there’s enough here for the average fan of slice-n-dice slasher films to enjoy, and even a few paid tributes to Rosman’s original film.

If for nothing else, we can at least rejoice that the film is rated R. Summit Entertainment didn’t succumb to the recent pattern of horror films that go for a lower PG-13 rating, exchanging brutality for money. I’m not sure if Hendler really explored the R rating to its full capacity, but it’s certainly more than what you’d bargain for.

The absurdly entertaining Sorority Row truly marks the arrival of another one of those rare but existent mainstream slasher films that truly is a good bad movie. For once we have characters that are able to remark at their own stupidity, some of which are self-conscious of their terrible decisions and shortcomings. When you find out the motive for all these murders, well let me just say it’ll leave you laughing, but in a good way.

And really, this self-aware and intentional nature is the only thing that lets Sorority Row not make you want to close your eyes and cover your ears as you try and hide from the latest stink of mainstream horror.

The Replanning of Plan 9

2009-09-10T00:39:00.005-04:00

People find it easy to say that Edward D. Wood is the worst director of all time. While this is completely wrong, it's easy to see why such an assumption can and has been made time and time again.

Amusingly detailed in what I find to be Tim Burton's best film, Ed Wood, and in Wood's actual films, are the absurdities and absolutely painful choices made by Wood. Constantly strapped by a lack of funds or threatened by the scowl of a producer, Wood resorted to cheap tricks and went on with his business quickly. Spacecrafts held by obvious string and cardboard tombstones were just a few of the ways Wood went about with his craft. Continuity was not his friend.

But what Wood lacked in apparent talent and skill, he made up for in spirit. It was clear that Wood loved what he did, albeit in a somewhat delusional way. Failure after failure hardly dampened his spirits for attempting to make his horror or science fiction masterpiece again and again. It is for this, his guerrilla warfare and anything goes attitude that allows me to give Wood the absolute respect as a person as he deserves.

Every time I see the words "worst film ever" attached to Plan 9 From Outer Space, I cringe. Have the people spewing this claim seen any of the countless horror films from our generations, or the spoof comedies those two dolts have been passing off as comedy? I know some of them have, because those films make too much money for their own good.

Wood's creative Plan 9 falls short of being a good film, but to this day retains an admirable feeling that gives it the cult status that will only continue to grow as new generations discover Wood's material. Still, Wood's most popular film is a lovable and enjoyable film. Wood wasn't brilliant, but he had some ideas inside that head of his that can't be ignored. These films were his brain-children. Terribly disfigured, malformed and awkward children, but his nonetheless. No, Wood wouldn't go on to be the next Orson Welles, acting, writing and directing his own films, but he is still far from the worst to ever sit behind a camera.

Now what's the reaction when a remake (or reimagining) of Plan 9 is announced? Both sides have legitimate points. Those supporting the remake might make it aware that if someone can get Wood's story into the right hands, it might make for a great and campy b-movie. Those against the remaking of a film heralded as the worst film ever by people such as author Michael Medved might say the unique charm of Wood's original might be tarnished or skewed by an updated version being released to the masses.

Whatever your view is, it'll have to wait, because the remake has been gone ahead with, and the first trailer for the film has been released. View the trailer here, and join me right after with my thoughts.

Immediate reaction? This could be good. The film seems to retain that high level of camp but still might be able to combine a level of sped up terror, a sort of touch of our generation's style of horror filmmaking. From the looks of this debut trailer, the film also might have a nice apocalyptic feel, lending to the film an unnerving touch.

What remains to be seen is which direction the filmmakers actually decided to go. In the campy vein of Slither or more serious like 28 Days Later? As hard as it may be, I would hope for a combination of the two. That could be a serious match made in heaven if pulled off right. But with the chances that the acting will bite the big one, the film will most likely lean camp.

A lot is up in the air here though. Director John Johnson has never made anything worth mentioning, but in a weird way that might make him the perfect candidate to remake an Ed Wood film. Still, with a first trailer as intriguing as this one, I'll give Johnson a chance.

We normally see remakes of great films; classics that touched the hearts and minds of most of its viewers or cult classics that are held in a special place by its dedicated fans. This time its a bit different and to me, mostly welcome. I still cringe when I hear about a new remake, but I think it's about time to try and welcome them any way I can by giving them a chance for whatever reason possible.

DVD Picks of the Week: September 8th, 2009

2009-09-09T02:23:00.004-04:00

Lots of great material to look out for this week in the form of brand new films, older titles debuting on Blu-ray and a few treats from the Criterion Collection.

Crank 2: High Voltage [DVD][Blu-ray]

The second installment of the high-adrenaline and energetic Crank series is easily one of the highlights for this week. The film was some of the most fun I've had in theaters this year. It goes one step further than the first film does, and with great results. Jason Statham may be type-casted to hell and back, but he does it well. Directors Neveldine/Taylor didn't strike box office gold with Gamer, but this release should reward them financially.

Creepshow [Blu-ray]

I'm kind of embarrassed to say that I wasn't aware that this macabre classic was being released on Blu-ray. Creepshow was a teaming of two of the greatest talents in the horror genre in the 1970s/1980s, director George A. Romero and writer (and actor here) Stephen King. Creepshow plays on the old E.C. comics of the 1950s and tells five tales of supreme macabre terror to life. All five are a good time, with actors like Ed Harris, Ted Danson and Leslie Nielsen making appearances. Creepshow truly is horror fan heaven with its ghoulish tales and results as one of the most creative genre titles of the 1980s. And for those that are still with DVD, they reissued the title in a keepcase! The film was previously only available in one of those ugly looking snap cases. Good news for OCD people all across America!

Parks & Recreation [Season One]
The Office [Season Five]

I'm grouping these two together, not because they are on the same level, but because they are quite similar. Parks & Recreation is a sort of spin-off of The Office, lending itself to the same mockumentary style. Parks survived its first season, and with great success. Aziz Ansari made himself into a dependable character on the show, and one of the main reasons to watch. Now, I may be biased, as I work for my town's parks and rec office during the summers -- and I have done so for the last five summers -- but this perfectly captures some of the foolhardy and large than life beliefs some of the higher level employees actually have. On to The Office, one of the more popular shows on television. I enjoyed the latest season enough to recommend it. Not the greatest, but it sure had its moments. Some great writing going on with that show.

Homicide [Criterion Collection DVD]

It seems almost ritualistic that every time a Criterion release drops I have to talk about it. If only you would just watch a few of these great films and you'd understand why I get so giddy at seeing what they have in store on these special Tuesdays. One of this week's most interesting releases from Criterion is David Mamet's Homicide. Briefly, the film details a Jewish homicide detective who investigates a seemingly minor murder and falls in with a Zionist group as a result. The film stars most notably William H. Macy. Mamet already is on the Criterion Collection's roster with House of Games, and Homicide looks just as appetizing. Check out the short trailer below.

That Hamilton Woman [Criterion Collection DVD]

I don't know much of anything about where this film came from, what it's about or why you should see it. I don't know who Alexander Korda is and why I should watch one of his films either. But I'm sure ready to find out why. I know Laurence Olivier makes for good cinema, so that's a start. Beautiful UK cinema in the 1940s was really overlooked, we Americans were busy with our brooding and ambiguous antiheroes of the noir genre. Anyways, Criterion describes this films plot to be the following: "Set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars of the late eighteenth century, That Hamilton Woman is a gripping account of the scandalous adulterous affair between the British Royal Navy officer Lord Horatio Nelson and the renowned beauty Emma, Lady Hamilton, the wife of a British ambassador." I'm sold.

The Human Condition [Criterion Collection DVD]

Here's Criterion's big release of the week. It's a 4-disc set of Masaki Kobayashi's three part, nine-and-a-half-hour epic titled The Human Condition, what Criterion calls one of the most staggering achievements in Japanese cinema. What a bold statement, with such greats like Akira Kurosawa roaming the countryside. The epic film tells of the journey of the well-intentioned yet naive Kaji from labor camp supervisor to Imperial Army soldier to Soviet POW. Sounds as riveting as they say it is. Only trouble here might be finding time to dedicate to such a lengthy adventure. Sure seems like it'd be worth it.

Requiem for a Dream [Blu-ray]

I figured I owed it to everyone with a Blu-ray player to at least make mention of this release. Requiem for a Dream is the film that made director Darren Aronofsky important. Sure, Pi was great, but this one his name around like nothing else good. It's a startling film for all first time users, a deeply disheartening story lies at the root of it. And this is indeed the unrated version of the film, giving you more than you've ever asked for.

What else comes out this week: Criminal Minds: The Complete Fourth Season, Fringe: The Complete First Season, Freddy vs. Jason [Blu-ray], The New World (The Extended Cut) [Blu-ray], Harper's Island: The DVD Edition, The Postman [Blu-ray], Silverado [Blu-ray], Sphere [Blu-ray], Dead Calm [Blu-ray], The Quick and the Dead [Blu-ray], Friday [Blu-ray], Universal Horror: Classic Movie Archive, Over the Top [Blu-ray], Menace II Society [Blu-ray], Halloween Triple Pack, From Dusk Till Dawn Triple Pack, Scream Triple Pack.

What to stay away from: This abscess of a film: Dance Flick. I must have seen the trailer for that film a half a dozen times before good films in the theater before it came out. Way too many times to see a promotion for something like that.

As you can tell, this was a really deep week, full of quality. This is one of the few times where there literally is something for everyone to get at. I probably even left a few quality items out, so be sure to look extra hard. See you all next week!

Album review: Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey - One Day in Brooklyn

2009-09-08T17:28:00.003-04:00

This new getup seems to be working like a charm. Ever since Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey made the lineup change gathering the likes of Chris Combs, Matt Hayes and Josh Raymer, the odyssey has been flying at new heights. Original founding member Brian Haas called it gradual, but the new sound is anything but that.

One Day in Brooklyn is another output of the group’s recent machine-like push through 2009. They already released one album for free and have been touring nonstop like madmen. They’ve even got a few gigs opening up for Mike Gordon of Phish.

This latest EP is both a debut of two new original compositions and another ode to their hometown inspirations. The twangy Tulsa, Oklahoma sound of Chris Combs’ lap steel makes for an eerie and recognizable addition to the methodical and energetic piano playing of veteran Haas.

The group’s six track offering pays tribute with unique renditions of The Beatles’ “Julia”, Thelonious Monk’s “Four In One” and Abdullah Ibrahim’s “Imam”. Haas also constructed a medley of two Rahsaan Roland Kirk compositions “A Laugh For Rory” and “Black & Crazy Blues”, which was dedicated to legendary jazz producer Joel Dorn. JFJO breathes a new kind of soulful energy to each rendition and in a way only they can, puts their own touch on the classic tracks that nearly make it their own.

But perhaps the most exciting items on the track are the two impressive original recordings. “Drethoven”, which Haas describes as a combination of their two favorite composers, Dr. Dre and Beethoven, is an absolutely killer sounding feast that completely hooks onto your ears and steals you for all seven minutes.

The evolving Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey seems to be heading off to regions unknown with their fused blending of conventional jazz and avant-garde style. See this band live just once, and you’ll realize their limitless potential for exploring your mind.

Album review: Phish - Joy

2009-09-07T21:45:00.004-04:00

Not that they aren’t important, but Phish’s fourteen studio albums aren’t what fans love most about the band. The typical Phish “phan” (including myself) will let you know that to get the best impression of the legendary jam band from Vermont you must listen to one of their many live shows.

This doesn’t render any of their albums irrelevant, but they certainly aren’t what made this band what they are today. I don’t even find myself going back to their studio recordings, instead it’s straight onto a live show for me.

The release of the band’s latest offering, Joy, has almost been done in a backwards fashion. Where artists typically tour following a release of an album, Phish has chosen differently. The sounds of Joy have already been heard throughout venues across the country, starting back in March in the first of the band’s many shows this their third installment.

In typical Phish fashion, they turned 6 minute tracks from the latest record into fifteen minute jammed out and blistering musical odysseys all summer long. And that, to me, is what the Phish studio albums are all about. The studio recordings set in stone what the band is able to build upon for its spectacular live shows.

Their first album in five years, Joy is a definite change of pace that has seemed to be welcomed by different parts of the fan base. The album has to do with a few subjects, including lead guitarist and singer Trey Anastasio and his own battles with drugs and the death of his sister, Kristy Manning, to breast cancer. No, Joy isn’t part of the beloved Gamehendge universe Anastasio created in which Colonel Forbin enters the land to get the Helping Friendly Book back from the evil dictator Wilson, but so what, it’s still quality stuff.

“We want you to be happy, don’t live inside the gloom,” sings Anastasio on the track “Joy”, dedicated to his sister. And really, that is the one resonating theme of the entire album. It makes you happy. The sounds of this album straight groove, from “Sugar Shack”, where bassist Mike Gordon gets the vocal duties and turns in a downright funky turn with his bass, to the upbeat “Backwards Down the Number Line” where Anastasio sings joyfully “Happy happy oh my friend, blow out candles once again, leave the presents all inside”. Anastasio clearly poured a lot of his own emotion into this recording and it shows.

What Joy does prove is that Phish still has a lot left to offer its diehard fans. All four members still have it and Anastasio can still pick those tricky solos live. The creativity and excitement has returned and they’ve got the energy to record together. This hopefully means they have the energy to stay together for a long time.

No Champion, 'Gamer' Receives Average Final Score

2009-09-05T14:12:00.003-04:00

No one will argue that there aren’t thousands of great ideas sizzling inside the brains of Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, the masterminds behind the Crank series.

Gamer, the duo’s third directorial feature, and first one outside of the Crank series, is the first attempt by the two to bring their staple brand of dizzying and most of the time implausible style of action together with some semblance of a plot other than the life or death situation faced by Jason Statham in both Crank films.

Set in the future, say the year 2034, in a world where mind-control technology is the number one form of escapism, Gamer focuses on a new type of video game called “Slayers”, which allows death row inmates their chance to receive a pardon. Kable (Gerard Butler) is only a few battles away from the unprecedented release, but the brains behind the technology, Ken Castle (Michael C. Hall), has other things in mind.

Up until this point the Neveldine/Taylor combination has made a name for itself on original ideas and a highly unique way of presenting them. Crank, as outlandish and absurd as it may be, has given us some of the more refreshing action cinema to come out in the last few years.

The one true problem with Gamer is that while there are a few of those original ideas to be found, the whole thing just leaves you feeling slightly unimpressed. The futuristic vision of the next level of video games and game shows concepts have been done many times before, it’s a true and tried genre. Perhaps most memorably with The Running Man, in which convicted criminals also must escape death, and David Cronenberg’s eXistenZ, in which a virtual video game world is entered through a bio-organic device. Whichever film you decide to reference, parallels can be greatly drawn, and Gamer hardly improves on them.

But I suppose it’s true that one of these types of films hasn’t been made lately, so the fresh and scathing satirizing from Neveldine/Taylor is very welcome. A tongue-in-cheek look at the obsessions and negative impact of technology like these comes in the form of an even more advanced version of popular websites like Second Life and console applications like Playstation 3’s Home. This gives the film its only break from the rest of the film’s more serious tone and super dark photography, as it seems like the rest of the world lives under an umbrella, and they only battle when it’s cloudy out.

And ah yes, that plot Neveldine and Taylor have been working on. It’s not that good. Okay well let me put it this way, it doesn’t really add much. Kable’s hopeful attempt to win the battles, get out of prison, find solace in revenge and return to his wife and daughter is hardly impacting and a rather conventional motive.

That action is another thing though. It’s good, not great and chock full of a huge body count, but with the way Neveldine/Taylor direct their films you sometimes can’t get a full spectrum of what exactly is going on. Yeah you see shattering explosions, guns shooting, people dying and blood splashing but it’s mostly done so in a frantic frenzy.

It’s all so gritty, depraved and brutal but yeah, I’ll admit it, also enjoyable. How many times can Gerard Butler kill an inmate is the real question of Gamer. Everything moves fast as light and makes for action sequences, while intentionally disorientating, loads of fun.

Much like the plot, the characters are kind of a bore. Butler’s Kable is just a brooding hulk of a man bent on revenge and the way Ludacris says the word game reminds me only of Allen Iverson’s classic press conference years back. Thankfully Michael C. Hall, best known for his role on Dexter, is the saving grace, breathing some hilarious life into his role as the disgustingly rich and popular brains behind “Slayers”, Ken Castle, a slithering snake of an evil man.

Regretfully, Gamer is stuck somewhere in cinema purgatory. It’s not quite equal to the piece of gum I stepped on along my way into the theater, and it certainly doesn’t exude a top of the line futuristic thriller vibe. The action is bloody and the presentation is gritty but the few developing ideas about society that Neveldine/Taylor had are never able to help the film out when all that other stuff is top priority.

A Nice Tribute, But 'Smash Cut' Nothing Smashing

2009-09-04T23:07:00.006-04:00

When I first heard that Lee Demarbe, director of Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter, was teaming up with one of my cult film acting heroes, David Hess, and porn star Sasha Grey, I was as intrigued as any man could be over the gathering of such an odd cast.

Hess, now older, is immortalized in the exploitation hall of fame for psychotic performances of the 1970s and 1980s in films such as the original The Last House on the Left, Hitch-Hike and The House on the Edge of the Park.

Grey, well we know what she does for a living. But that’s not to knock the actresses and her attempt to transition to film. Smash Cut is officially her first film, not The Girlfriend Experience, even though it was released first.

And to complete the round-up, Demarbe really hasn’t made a relevant film since his 2001 Jesus kicks ass film that made some cult status impact. Titles such as The Dead Sleep Easy and Vampiro: Angel, Devil, Hero have taken up Demarbe’s time since then.

But alas we get to Smash Cut, Demarbe’s schlocky b-movie about a crazed director named Able Whitman (Hess) who after receiving terrible reviews on his latest films goes on a mad killing spree of those around him. When one of the victim’s sisters, April Carson (Grey), hires an infamous private detective named Isaac Beaumonde (Jesse Buck), Whitman finds himself trying to cover up the tracks.

Now your immediate reaction to Smash Cut really depends on your personal view of the genre. If you like the legendary filmmaker Herschell Gordon Lewis this crazed-out, schlocky and at times darkly humorous film might strike a few chords with you. On the other hand, if you prefer good acting, a developed storyline and anything that resembles high production values, well, let’s just say you’ll find this to be a stinker.

Without a veteran name like David Hess’ this film would find no audience. I know he’s the only reason I watched it, and others would probably admit to the same thing. While older, Hess can still play the maniacal performance well. The problem here is that he doesn’t have a talented genius like Wes Craven or a madman as crazy as Ruggero Deodato around him to help create a truly psychotic film that leaves a wallop of an impression on its viewers.

Instead, Demarbe’s dedication is to filmmaker Lewis, whose line of films includes a whole array of titles very similar in content to this one. Wooden acting, cheap plot devices and lots of silly deaths and special effects that wouldn’t fool most people. And yet, Smash Cut tends to entertain on certain levels. It has the feel of the old films it dedicated itself to. Most of what Demarbe’s doing has to be taken with your tongue in cheek.

Smash Cut really isn’t anything to become passionate over. Fans of Hess should appreciate his performance, even if it won’t be remembered as one of his bests ever. This film isn’t good, it’s hardly even average, but whatever it is, it surely isn’t terrible. Demarbe’s passion for the genre shows, he just can’t pull it all together like some others are able to.

DVD Picks of the Week: September 1st, 2009

2009-09-01T23:51:00.004-04:00

So what's it gonna be, September? You're riddled with great album releases (at least I think so), now how about some good DVDs? Is the first day of the new month a good one for fans of DVD and Blu-ray? Well...sort of.

State of Play [DVD][Blu-ray]

Yeah, I picked a film I haven't seen yet to be first, so you can probably tell nothing blew me out of the water right away. State of Play is an American adaptation of a British television show, and supposedly a pretty good one at that. It sort of flew under the radar earlier this year despite its strong pedigree of Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Helen Mirren, Jeff Daniels and Rachel McAdams. Not to mention director Kevin Macdonald has already made a few critically acclaimed films including Touching the Void and The Last King of Scotland. Anyways, if you missed this little guy in theaters, which you might have, now's your chance to catch up.

TCM Greatest Classic Films Collections
[Murder Mysteries][Science Fiction][Horror]

You might remember some of these from a few months back. Turner Classic Movies via Turner Home Entertainment has been reissue some of the greatest titles available in their collection in cheaper, affordable four packs. What comes from all this are some great values. You can grab some absolute classics from some of cinema's greatest talents for $5 a piece from Amazon. For example, the "Murder Mysteries" collection offers a few Humphrey Bogart titles including The Maltese Falcon along with a classic Alfred Hitchcock title, Dial M for Murder. The "Science Fiction" set includes Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, a favorite film among many critics. You can see what you're getting here. Even the "Horror" set turns in with some showstoppers, including the controversial Freaks and the original The Haunting, what I find as one of the greatest black and white horror films ever made. In the end, if you're looking to jump start your DVD collection with some serious winners, you could do a lot worse than these TCM collections. If you're OCD like me and prefer to have the individual keep cases for each title, well, don't buy these.

The Evil That Men Do [DVD]

You know, the end of Charles Bronson's career was pretty strange. He did a bunch of gritty revenge action flicks, most of which were pretty poor. And then he did The Indian Runner, and turned in a surprisingly good and heartfelt supporting performance. And I know a lot of other relevant things came out this week that might be more worthy, but I felt like paying some respect to Mr. Bronson, one of the theater's staple tough guys. This one was directed by J. Lee Thompson, who most successfully directed the ultra popular Cape Fear in 1962. The plot here, well, it's like a lot of other films plots. Especially today with all these "guy takes law into his own hands", something that was kind of built on Bronson's ultra-hard ass Death Wish and Michael Douglas' terrific and demonic performance in Falling Down. Anyways, The Evil That Men Do (attractive title, I know) is about a professional killer that comes out ot retirement to investigate and avenge the brutal murder of an old friend. This movie might be pure crap, I don't know, but look at that sweet ass cover art. Scratch that, this movie ain't crap, check out the trailer below for proof. This is pure classic brutal Bronson beat the fuck out of the bad guy stuff.

What else comes out this week: Supernatural: The Complete Fourth Season, Heroes - Season Three, Gladiator [Blu-ray], Braveheart [Blu-ray], Desperate Housewives: The Complete Fifth Season, Disney Nature Earth, M*A*S*H [Blu-ray], Sugar, Monster [Blu-ray].

What to stay away from: Oh, I don't know. I guess I'll pick this:

Shaun the Sheep: Little Sheep of Horrors. Hate the fucking puns.

See yaaaa.

Wrap Up of Films Watched in August of 2009

2009-09-01T23:16:00.003-04:00

So long summer, hello school. That seems to be the common theme of discussion in my age group so I'll stick to it too. Classes have started and I really can't believe it's already September. Time is even more amazing when you're keeping track of things like I have been with my films watched list.

August turned out to be a real solid month, with tons of new discoveries and a few nice repeats. In total, I viewed 25 films bringing my total on the year to 209 films. Anyways, on with the list. As always, * denotes a first time viewing and all links lead to IMDB pages for the specific film.

185. 8/1 – Near Dark*
186. 8/1 – Two-Lane Blacktop*
187. 8/1 – Coraline*
188. 8/2 – The Unbearable Lightness of Being*
189. 8/3 – Last Year at Marienbad*
190. 8/3 – Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai*
191. 8/4 – The Squid and the Whale*
192. 8/4 – Funny People*
193. 8/8 – Adventureland
194. 8/9 – Mystery Train*
195. 8/9 – Autumn Sonata*
196. 8/15 – Youth of the Beast*
197. 8/16 – Coffee and Cigarettes*
198. 8/16 – The Inglorious Bastards
199. 8/17 – In the Loop
200. 8/17 – The Big Empty*
201. 8/18 – Alien Trespass*
202. 8/18 – Step Brothers*
203. 8/21 – Romeo is Bleeding*
204. 8/25 – District 9*
205. 8/26 – The Indian Runner*
206. 8/28 – Bruno*
207. 8/29 – Inglourious Basterds*
208. 8/29 – Antichrist*
209. 8/31 – The Cranes are Flying*

Best Film (New Viewing): Autumn Sonata
Yes, I picked the film from my favorite director. No, it wasn't an easy decision. Day by day it seems like films were either topping previous bests or coming very close, right up until the last day of August with the groundbreaking The Cranes are Flying. Still, Bergman paints portraits of the human condition better than anyone, and Autumn Sonata is another example of that. The film features some great performances, especially from Ingrid Bergman (in her only piece of work with the director Bergman) and Liv Ullmann.
Runners-up: The Unbearable Lightness of Being, The Cranes are Flying, Inglourious Basterds, Antichrist, Last Year at Marienbad, District 9.

Best Film (Repeated Viewing): In the Loop
Yes, the best film that was a repeated view was last months best new viewing. This shouldn't be a shocker, really, as In the Loop still stands as one of the best and most clever films of 2009. Do yourself a favor and don't let this film slip by your radar. I've already said so much on this film, that I'll leave it at that.
Runners-up: Adventureland.

Worst Film (Any Viewing): Step Brothers
Not a bad film, and still funny at times, Step Brothers is inevitably just another morphed version of the typical humor we've come to expect. Nothing about the film struck me enough to really think it'd be worth watching again. Again, there are comedies less funny than this one, but you can do so much better.
Runners-up: None.

Most Surprising Film: Youth of the Beast
Such a stylish blend of the American film noir and Japanese yakuza films. I didn't know what to get out of this, but it turned out to be a lot. A visionary effort with striking and revolutionary imagery, this film has been a favorite of many of America's favorite directors.
Runners-up: Mystery Train, The Indian Runner.

Most Underrated Film: Romeo is Bleeding
One of the most underrated films of the last 15 years or so. It's like a painful and bloody train wreck of a story you just can't look away from. Gary Oldman is absolutely terrific and the visual flair conceived is downright nightmarish at times.
Runners-up: Last Year at Marienbad, The Indian Runner, Ghost Dog.

Free Music From a Great Band

2009-08-31T17:17:00.004-04:00

Yeah, this blog is film first, everything else second, but that isn't going to stop me from using it to promote a great band that gives away all its albums for absolutely nothing.

As a fan of music, Madame Blavatsky Overdrive is one of my most proud discoveries of super talent hidden among everything else. The band features Adam Gates, a man most often associated with the likes of Les Claypool. He played a huge role in Claypool's first film, Electric Apricot, and has been a long time collaborator with the legendary bass player under the moniker Bob C. Cock.

MBO is really a combination of everything that is right with music. A blending of respect for the past but rejuvenated by a sense of energy and wisdom. Gates previous band, The Spent Poets, works on a similar level.

MBO's first album, the blistering and refreshing Idiot Jones Will Have His Day, was released back in late 2006 and for free on their website. Their long awaited resurgence was brought on with the first release of a cycle of five EPs that have been recorded by the band. With

Hidden Masters Under Dead Suns in early July, Immanentize The Eschaton in early August and now Waking The Blind Idiot God, the band has delivered to its fans more great free music.

What more can you ask for? Do yourself a huge favor and give this band a listen.

Disturbingly Brilliant, 'Antichrist' is von Trier’s Painful and Personal Effort

2009-08-30T02:14:00.004-04:00

The opening prologue of the extremely controversial Lars von Trier film Antichrist opens nearly in stasis, a beautifully intimate and intense black and white slow motion shot of sexual freedom between the only two actors in the film, Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg. The extremely sexually explicit film quickly morphs into a tale of despair and grief after the loss of their only child, all of which takes place in the same stylish opening scene.

A lot has been made about the Danish filmmaker von Trier and his most line-crossing film yet, Antichrist. The film received cheers and jeers at the Cannes Film Festival, and even caused at least four people to pass out. He even was said to have suffered through stints of depression during the making of the film that almost jeopardized the production, and this personal level shows inside the film.

Perhaps von Trier’s most painstaking work of art, watching Antichrist is an ordeal for its audience. A lot can be made about whether or not the level of violence is okay and if the claimed mistreatment of women and misogyny portrayed is something better left unseen. Chapter by chapter, von Trier outdoes himself in the explicit detail of the film’s graphic moments. There are sexually exploitative scenes worthy of an NC-17 rating due to the abuse of sexual organs, not to mention the complete mental instability and breakdown of the film’s two characters as they stay secluded in the woods, facing fears and trying to save a marriage hurt by the accidental loss of their young son.

But I did love and appreciate this film, believe me. And not because I’m gung-ho on the amount of violence or could actually relate to any of the psychological pains the character faced, or even enjoyed watching them have to try to overcome them. The honest truth is that this is a very well made film. Position on the level of violence you can tolerate aside, I find it hard to ignore the level of emotional impact the events bring forward. The entire film is spent with two characters, and you are extremely invested in them emotionally because of this and a strong script. Whether you like them or not, you’re sharing something with them, and you feel it. With wow-factor in tact, the film is a literal edge of your seat horror film, if you want to call it that.

The core of Antichrist is this really simple but obviously complex interaction between a husband and a wife in the midst of a troubled marriage based on distance relations and now a grave accident with the loss of a child. Fear and biblical meaning surround the characters, and von Trier’s ideas about what scares us are unrelenting.

Responsible for carrying all the on screen weight in the film between husband and wife are Dafoe and Gainsbourg, who together make for a remarkable duo performance. Gainsbourg especially gave an outstanding performance of complete mental breakdown, a downright scary portrayal. Not knowing how the Academy will react to a film as grotesquely displaying as Antichrist, it will remain to see if Gainsbourg gains any kind of respect during award season.

Controversial subjects are best discussed after letting them sizzle in your brain. When it comes down to it for me, Antichrist was an extremely moving and intense film. Much like von Trier’s Breaking the Waves, another solemn study in marriage relationship, Antichrist is absolutely riveting, just for different reasons.

Perhaps the most original genre-bending psychological thriller and horror film of the year, Antichrist carries much weight by its side with emotionally invested characters coupled with scenes of intimidating, blunt and even at times pure strange imagery. Not for everyone, but those who are intrigued should find themselves jarred in one way or another as Antichrist is one of the most impacting and jolting films to come out in years as it contains enough pain to help it find its way onto many infamous shortlists of the most disturbing films ever made.

A Thing of the Past, 'Inglourious Basterds' Is an Example of Marvelous Storytelling

2009-08-29T20:21:00.003-04:00

The long time coming World War II project of Quentin Tarantino finally arrived, and in world class form at that. Tarantino had been working on the ever-evolving script of influenced ideas for nearly a decade. What began a spaghetti western in the vein of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly turned into an Italian exploitation war film influenced adventure styled after The Dirty Dozen.

Finally, what became of Tarantino’s self-described “bunch-of-guys-on-a-mission” film turned into a tale of a brooding squad of Jewish Americans set on scalping Germans interlaced over the course of five chapters with a French side plot of a former Jewish hideaway and her plan to pay the Nazi regime back for past inflicted pains. Inglourious Basterds is seemingly all about the brutality, revenge and racism of the battleground in German occupied France, and looks at the barbarism from all points of view.

There’s always a lot to cover when talking about a Tarantino written and directed film. As a filmmaker he puts so much into his films, especially on personal levels. His entire filmography is almost a showcase for his affection of all different types of the world’s cinema. From noir-bled stories to an expansion on the blaxploitation genre, Tarantino is one of the modern artists that have been able to translate the blood, guts and viscera of past genres to today’s filmmaking, a key ability that helps translates this arduous script come to life.

Because of this, Inglourious Basterds breathes a few fresh breaths right from the beginning with the old styled title credits and the name of the first chapter, “Once Upon a Time in Nazi-Occupied France”, something you might find as the name of a Sergio Leone directed and Terence Hill acted spaghetti western. In fact the name of the film is inspired by the English title of Enzo G. Castellari’s classic war exploitation film The Inglorious Bastards, which also deals with a group of roughneck American soldiers during World War II.

This whole theme carries into the entire film, from the type of music to the violence to the characters named after famous actors and filmmakers. It’s strange to say that something that reminds me of films from the 1960’s and 1970’s is original and something I’m glad to see, but after mucking through far too many spiritless titles every week, this nod to another decade is something I welcome. Inglourious Basterds certainly seems to contain a whole lot of a respect for a whole lot of people.

But of course the most respect here should be given to Tarantino for finally making his back-pocket script actually a possibility. Like any film from the director, there’s plenty of dialogue. Of course, it’s all excellent dialogue, the kind only Tarantino and a select few others can really brings forth into their films. It’s the kind of wordplay, both completely serious at times and absurdly funny at others, that explores characters with good insight and holds an audience in its seats by building tension.

The real motivating engine of the film is the way everything unravels. Inglourious Basterds is seriously good storytelling at its finest. Even at 153 minutes the film has a conjoined feel where all the pieces fit together. The films multiple yet interlacing storylines are told through the course of five different chapters, all a bit different from one another, yet each acting to build the next one.

Not really a true ensemble cast, but still deserving of equally divided credit, the actors in Inglourious Basterds all pulled together and contributed to some truly remarkable performances. The film is stolen by Christoph Waltz as SS officer Hans Landa. The Austrian actor should be looking at some notice from the Academy come Oscar season with his truly evil, commanding and thoroughly entertaining portrayal of "The Jew Hunter".

Brad Pitt has really done a good job as of late turning in nice character performances. His silly role in the Coen Brother’s Burn After Reading led to a much more serious turn in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and finally into this serious yet darkly funny character Lt. Aldo Raine, a man subtitled “Aldo the Apache” for his love of scalping Nazis. With his quick-speak and impeccable Hillbilly-fashioned southern drawl, Pitt seems to be building onto a nice acting career sometimes overshadowed by his crowd-drawing name and good looks.

The rest of the performances, some a bit smaller in scale, impress just as well. Never was I huge Eli Roth fan, and on paper I could never see him pulling off a character nicknamed “The Jew Bear”, but he did it. German actor Til Schweiger might have given the most badass performance as quiet psychopath Hugo Stiglitz and other main protagonist Shosanna is wonderfully played by the gleaming Mélanie Laurent. Also of note is Mike Myers’ revitalizing performance, somewhat similar to the way Tom Cruise had a surprising and successful appearance in 2008’s Tropic Thunder.

This bastard child of multiple genres is a triumph for Quentin Tarantino. Inglourious Basterds is spaghetti western built with World War II mythos and an unrestrained, anything goes battlefield being trudged through by memorable characters full of arching dialogue and subtly dark humor. I’m not ready to say Inglourious Basterds is Tarantino’s best film, but it certainly is one of his most remarkable pieces of art, a true ode to many things past. Perhaps Tarantino was speaking directly through Pitt’s character when Aldo Raine speaks the line “I think this might just be my masterpiece.”

Life after 'Halo' Spells Masterpiece for Blomkamp with 'District 9'

2009-08-26T17:40:00.005-04:00

What a thrill it must have been for Neill Blomkamp. The South African native was named director of the Peter Jackson produced Halo film project back in 2007. Can a first feature film get more daunting? Unfortunately for Blomkamp, the project never happened. The Halo film was dead and according to Microsoft is still sitting on the shelves.

But as Jackson said himself, the day Halo died is the day District 9 was born. Jackson decided to give Blomkamp the directorial shot they owed him, and that shot turned out to be a feature length version of Blomkamp’s own short film Alive in Joburg.

In documentary-like fashion, District 9 follows Wikus van de Merwe (Sharlto Copley), a MNU bureaucrat assigned to evict and move the residing and stranded alien species to a new refugee camp in Johannesburg, South Africa. After being exposed to a less-than-desirable alien substance, Wilkus attempts to survive on the run from the very MNU agency he worked for as he tries to help the aliens flee from the planet.

All I have to say for the time being is forget Halo. Who needs a highly revered set of characters and stories when you have the pure genius and originality of Neill Blomkamp at the helm? District 9 is an extraordinary feature film debut for director/writer Blomkamp and the kind of science fiction film some filmmakers would dream to make. It breathes heavy with originality but doesn’t shy away from borrowing things from the classics, like the ongoing metamorphosis transformation of Wilkus being strikingly similar in ferocity to that of Seth Brundle’s excruciating change to fly in David Cronenberg’s The Fly. District 9 is a science fiction classic all by itself, and Blomkamp didn’t need the backing of a popular videogame to do so. In a perfect Hollywood, more District 9’s and less Halo’s would be made.

An outstanding aspect of District 9 is the absolute emotional honesty poured into the film. Blomkamp had first hand experience of apartheid in South Africa while growing up. Say what you will about the message seeping through the film’s pores, but Blomkamp’s vision of truth and honesty is evident and isn’t something you will find in most films of this kind. District 9 is truly a gritty breeding ground for degradation and pain, and the emotion is found from all parties whether it is human or alien. Both sides are given a fair shake at being good and evil, and the balance plays out well for the emotional tenacity of the film, a dimension some science fiction films about alien invaders don’t carry at all.

The true naturalistic cinéma vérité style of Blomkamp is executed as perfect as it has ever been done inside the science fiction/horror genres. Where other films come off as being unnatural and fake, Blomkamp’s direction and editing of the whole entire process is nearly perfect, making it truly feel as though the agents and people of Johanesburg are actually socializing and interacting with an alien species. Strange, I know, but this film looks great, proving a smallish budget of $30 million can bring great success at the hands of someone like Blomkamp.

One for the ages, District 9 is the best film I’ve seen all summer, and should serve as a blueprint for how to do the genre right in the 21st century. From a script that actually makes you care about its beings to great visual execution at a small price, Blomkamp proves you can make an engaging and heart-pounding masterpiece without the big names or the excessive wad of cash. Can someone please screen this film over and over again in front of all the executives in Hollywood? And please make them take notes.

DVD Picks of the Week: August 25th, 2009

2009-08-26T02:00:00.004-04:00

August is coming to a close and school is starting up, so check out a few ways you can spend your last week of total freedom. That is, if you have enough money left over after buying all those books you probably will never use.

Adventureland [DVD][Blu-ray]

Some weeks I struggle deciding which film to feature first, but I had no trouble spotting Adventureland number one today. The film came out back in April but still reigns as one of the best films I've seen all year, after titles like In the Loop, The Hurt Locker and District 9 (*Note: I haven't seen Inglourious Basterds yet). Greg Mottola's self-reflective 1980's time piece plays more like Dazed and Confused for a different generation and less like Superbad, the way it was falsely advertised as, since Mottola directed both films. All for the better, I say. The film is extremely rewatchable, charming and enjoyable. It also let Kristen Stewart give a genuinely good and emotional performance outside of her Twilight spotlight. Give Adventureland a chance.

The Last Days of Disco [Criterion DVD]

By now you should know that I never let a Criterion Collection release slip past me. And why should I? With all I have to owe to the company for helping me expand my film library and knowledge with their additions to their ever-increasing collection of previously hard to find classics and under-the-radar gems, I can't afford to let a title slip by me. This week they released The Last Days of Disco, a film by Whit Stillman. Made in the late 1990's, the film focuses on highly educated young people living in Manhattan, just like in Stillman's previous film Metropolitan. The comedy-drama has performances from Chloë Sevigny and Kate Beckinsale.

Eclipse Series 17: Nikkatsu Noir [Criterion DVD]

Criterion's sister project falls under the moniker "Eclipse Series" and is the company's attempt at bundling important films by important artists at a cheaper price. Of course, this comes sans extras, something that many Criterion fanatics crave. But still, this lowers the price, and makes for an affordable package for all those interested. The series began with a collection of early Ingmar Bergman films and has stayed strong and popular ever since. Up this time around is a selection of film noir from the Nikkatsui film production company in Japan, the oldest film studio in the country. These titles all came out in the 1950's and 1960's, so the influence from American film noir can be found in heavy coats. I haven't seen any of the titles yet, but I already have a few ready to go on the trusty Netflix queue. I'm most interested in seeing how the Japanese translate the typical American film noir mythos into their own yakuza-blended spellbinders. Keep on reading the blog and I'm sure you'll find out what I thought.

Red Velvet [Amazon.com Exclusive]

I saw a trailer for this film months ago. It actually might have been over a year ago. Regardless, the film looked so intriguingly original and so downright strange that my interest was invested in the title. The film really had no release information as it was pretty low on the food chain. Just now I've discovered that the title is being released via Amazon's DVD-R service, in which they do a legal burning of the film, in good quality and complete with artwork, after you order it. Now I'm not sure if I'm sold on spending $14 for a DVD-R of a film I've never seen before (and one that has hardly been reviewed at that), but damn do I ever want to see this film. Check out the trailer below and tell me, as a fan of original horror you have the same urge.

What else comes out this week: Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles- Criterion Collection, House, M.D. - Season Five, NCIS: The Complete Sixth Season, Smallville: The Complete Eighth Season, One Tree Hill: The Complete Sixth Season, Scrubs: The Complete Eighth Season, Californication : The Complete Second Season, Duplicity, Sunshine Cleaning, Lie to Me: Season One, Fighting, The Informers, Wanted Dead or Alive: The Complete Series, The Complete Billy Jack Collection, Children of the Corn [Blu-ray], Rudo Y Cursi, Goodbye Solo.

What to stay away from: Fighting. There were a lot of stupid films released this week. I've heard terrible things about The Informers but can anything really stop a god damn film starring Channing Tatum about fighting simply named Fighting? If only all studios were this clever. Too bad Fast and Furious wasn't simply called Illegal Street Racing. Maybe the world would be a better place.

Catch you later.

DVD Picks of the Week: August 18th, 2009

2009-08-21T23:13:00.004-04:00

Another week, some more great titles to look out for. Let's cut to the chase.

The Last House on the Left [DVD][Blu-ray]

As far as remakes go, this new version of The Last House on the Left is simply solid. Fans of the Wes Craven classic might be disappointed by the fact that this more modern telling of the classic revenge story is actually downgraded in ferocity. Still, on it's own the film is worth watching, as it features some compelling photography and a nice villainous turn by Garret Dillahunt as classic bad guy Krug. Try not to compare what you see here to the exploitative offering from Craven, because you won't get very far.

Playtime [Criterion Blu-ray]

Admittedly, I have yet to see Jacques Tati's Playtime just yet. Tati's films have been described as "gloriously choreographed and nearly wordless", making me strongly interested in what's in store for me as a brand new viewer. Criterion's offerings for this week include a few films reissued on Blu-ray. with Playtime being the first of the selection.

Kagemusha [Criterion Blu-ray]

I love Akira Kurosawa, I swear. I even own this film on the older standard Criterion release. I just haven't watched it. I bought it for $3 used from some insane sale a year ago, so give me a break on that one. I'd buy any Criterion for $3. This Blu-ray upgrade makes me think it's time for me to give Kagemusha the viewing it might deserve. Kurosawa is without a doubt one of the greatest of all time and classics such as Rashomon, Seven Samurai and High and Low can't be forgotten.

What else comes out this week: Dexter: The Complete Third Season, Hannah Montana The Movie, Sons of Anarchy: Season One, The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth Season, Icons of Sci-Fi: Toho Collection, The Last Starfighter [Blu-ray], Tyson, Husbands (Extended Cut), Inglorious Bastards 2: Hell Heroes.

What to stay away from: I'm going to choose the Hardbodies Collection. I've decided these 1980's sex comedies are too cheesy. Yes even for me.

So long.