Being a stand-up comedian and having his own talk show, Craig Ferguson brought a lot of hilarity to the How To Train Your Dragon press conference. When asked about doing voice-over work for this film he said, “I’m actually Scottish. So it was fairly easy for me to do that voice. It was fun. Usually my kind of signature thing is crap! So this is kind of off-brand for me.” His cast mates roar with laughter.
“I know, I know.” He quiets them down. “ I think that’s fair. I think I’m not enough in the film to ruin it. I think they judged it just right. It’s like if they put in the right spice in a dish, it’s terrific. You put in too much, and it’s terrible and inedible. They had just the right amount of me.”
Before coming to the United States and joining the cast of the Drew Carey Show, Craig Ferguson wrote and appeared in several films in the United Kingdom including The Big Tease and Saving Grace. In How To Train Your Dragon, Craig plays Gobber, the village blacksmith and master dragon fighter. He runs the Dragon Training school and befriends young Hiccup, the chief Viking’s son. But just don’t ask Craig how to train a dragon because he just might tell you. It wasn’t the answer we were expecting and it’s too naughty to put in print.
How To Train Your Dragon opens March 26th.
About Me
- Melanie Wilson
- My Reviewer's Philosophy: I believe that every film has its audience. One man’s Citizen Kane is another man’s Texas Chain Saw Massacre. My purpose is to help you spend your entertainment dollars wisely. A bad review never kept me from going to a film I wanted to see, but a good review will sometimes get me to a film I never considered. As a movie lover I want you to go to the movies. When more people go to the movies, the more movies get made. But, I also believe that if you enjoy the films you see, you naturally will be inclined to go more often. So join me in supporting our film industry by going to a movie today. Hopefully I can steer you towards a good one. See you at the movies. Melanie Wilson
Thursday, March 25, 2010
How To Train Your Dragon
It is not often that I am captivated by an animated film, but How To Train Your Dragon had me enchanted from the very beginning. The movie opens by introducing us to the Viking village of Berk and then proceeds to present all its inhabitants. The narrator is young Hiccup, voiced by Jay Baruchel (She’s Out Of My League). And he goes on to explain how Vikings have tough names to reinforce their warlike ways. You see, for seven generations they have been plagued by dragons and from a very young age Vikings are taught to hate and battle them. They are a tough people, fierce and brave, and killing a dragon is an honor and a rite of passage. But Hiccup, the son of a Viking Chief is small for his age. His father Stoick, Gerard Butler (300) is concerned for him. How can the strongest man in the village have such a featherweight son? But he has no time to worry now, snow is coming on, and if they don’t stop the dragons from stealing their food, they’ll never survive the winter. Hiccup just needs to stay out of harm’s way while the rest of the warriors go and fight the dragons.
Hiccup is a brave one though and he longs to join the fight. What he lacks in size he makes up for with ingenuity. He invents a type of cannon and actually hits a dragon that no one else has seen. The rest of the village doesn’t believe him and his peers dismiss him. When his father orders him home, Hiccup responds by sneaking out the back. He must find the dragon he shot and prove himself to the others. He must show them that he deserves to be called a Viking.
What is really unique and fun about this movie is that there are many different types of dragons. They vary is size, shape, skill, and some are more feared than others. The dragon that Hiccup hit is called a Night Fury, a dragon that no Viking has ever seen. They are lightning fast and skilled at staying out of sight. Hiccup only finds him because he is wounded and can’t fly.
When Gobber the village blacksmith (Craig Ferguson) convinces Stoick to let his son attend dragon fighting school, Hiccup becomes an expert on all things dragon. But what really sets him apart are the lessons he learns away from school. By sneaking away and studying his wounded dragon he learns more than what is in the books. It is now up to him to change the way that people think about dragons. A view that has been around for 300 years.
What I loved the most about this film was the training segments without dialogue. The animation was so beautiful and the flying segments reminded me of a boy and his horse like in the movie The Black Stallion. When America Ferrera’s Viking girl joins them, it was reminiscent of the flying scene in Superman. Soaring above the clouds was very romantic. What made it even more so was the original music by John Powell. The score in this film is delightful. And the animation is wonderfully lit giving it an distinctive look and feel. You’ll find yourself transported.
Gerard Butler has done a wonderful job alternating between a tough Viking leader and a concerned, frustrated father. It was fun when he shared scenes with Craig Ferguson and they could both let their Scottish burs fly. The Viking youths were voiced by Jonah Hill and Christopher Mintz-Plasse of Superbad fame. And Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live) and T.J. Miller (She’s Out Of My League) rounded out the cast. The Viking teenagers were fully realized personas and the laughs came from their characters and not on gimmicks. The story is very well told in a classic adventure sense.
For young children, I feel that there will be a strong attraction to see the film again and again. I can easily see them wanting to learn all about the different dragons. And as an adult, the animation is so absorbing that you won’t mind going with them or popping it in the VCR again. This really is a good looking film and the story is different and engaging. Dragons are going to be hotter than ever. This really is a wonderful film.
Rating: Must See You'll be transported; enjoy the ride
Hiccup is a brave one though and he longs to join the fight. What he lacks in size he makes up for with ingenuity. He invents a type of cannon and actually hits a dragon that no one else has seen. The rest of the village doesn’t believe him and his peers dismiss him. When his father orders him home, Hiccup responds by sneaking out the back. He must find the dragon he shot and prove himself to the others. He must show them that he deserves to be called a Viking.
What is really unique and fun about this movie is that there are many different types of dragons. They vary is size, shape, skill, and some are more feared than others. The dragon that Hiccup hit is called a Night Fury, a dragon that no Viking has ever seen. They are lightning fast and skilled at staying out of sight. Hiccup only finds him because he is wounded and can’t fly.
When Gobber the village blacksmith (Craig Ferguson) convinces Stoick to let his son attend dragon fighting school, Hiccup becomes an expert on all things dragon. But what really sets him apart are the lessons he learns away from school. By sneaking away and studying his wounded dragon he learns more than what is in the books. It is now up to him to change the way that people think about dragons. A view that has been around for 300 years.
What I loved the most about this film was the training segments without dialogue. The animation was so beautiful and the flying segments reminded me of a boy and his horse like in the movie The Black Stallion. When America Ferrera’s Viking girl joins them, it was reminiscent of the flying scene in Superman. Soaring above the clouds was very romantic. What made it even more so was the original music by John Powell. The score in this film is delightful. And the animation is wonderfully lit giving it an distinctive look and feel. You’ll find yourself transported.
Gerard Butler has done a wonderful job alternating between a tough Viking leader and a concerned, frustrated father. It was fun when he shared scenes with Craig Ferguson and they could both let their Scottish burs fly. The Viking youths were voiced by Jonah Hill and Christopher Mintz-Plasse of Superbad fame. And Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live) and T.J. Miller (She’s Out Of My League) rounded out the cast. The Viking teenagers were fully realized personas and the laughs came from their characters and not on gimmicks. The story is very well told in a classic adventure sense.
For young children, I feel that there will be a strong attraction to see the film again and again. I can easily see them wanting to learn all about the different dragons. And as an adult, the animation is so absorbing that you won’t mind going with them or popping it in the VCR again. This really is a good looking film and the story is different and engaging. Dragons are going to be hotter than ever. This really is a wonderful film.
Rating: Must See You'll be transported; enjoy the ride
America Ferrera Channels Her Inner Viking
When America Ferrera started acting in community theatre at the age of eight in the San Fernando Valley, she probably had no idea that one day she’d grow up to become a role model. When she starred in Real Women Have Curves, she struck a blow for shapely women, and when she was cast as Ugly Betty, she made it cool to be yourself. Now in How To Train Your Dragon, America is making it okay to break stereotypes. In the film, America plays a blonde, aggressive, over-achieving Viking.
When producer Bonnie Arnold (Toy Story) was asked about the unusual casting she replied, “For us, it was really about what their voice was like. If they are good actors and the voice can really belay to you who the character is, that’s what it’s all about.” When America was asked if she could identify with her Viking alter-ego she said of course. “I don’t know how Scandinavian I made her since I come from the San Fernando Valley, the 818, but that’s what was so much fun about it. She wasn’t really me, or a version of me, she was her own thing. I got to be a small part of creating her.”
When asked about competing with boys she replied, “I was always the girl, when I was younger, who played baseball with the boys. I did not play Softball. I did not want to play Softball. I wanted nothing to do with it. I wanted to play baseball, with the guys, and I wanted to be as good as them. So, I think that I definitely related to Astrid.”
America says that she was very much a tomboy as a child, but for her there was more to it. “I really believe, as a kid, that we all want to be great in some way. Wanting to be not just a Viking, but the greatest Viking in the world.”
Since Astrid does not appear in the books, America was able to help create her over a three year period. She found that working with Jay Burachel (She’s Out of His League) really helped to define her role and she is grateful that directors Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders (Milo & Stitch) wanted to expand her character. When Dreamworks first approached her she immediately said yes. Working in animation has always been a dream. But the biggest part was, “Being such a small part, of a huge result.” America is very proud of this film.
How To Train Your Dragon opens March 26th.
When producer Bonnie Arnold (Toy Story) was asked about the unusual casting she replied, “For us, it was really about what their voice was like. If they are good actors and the voice can really belay to you who the character is, that’s what it’s all about.” When America was asked if she could identify with her Viking alter-ego she said of course. “I don’t know how Scandinavian I made her since I come from the San Fernando Valley, the 818, but that’s what was so much fun about it. She wasn’t really me, or a version of me, she was her own thing. I got to be a small part of creating her.”
When asked about competing with boys she replied, “I was always the girl, when I was younger, who played baseball with the boys. I did not play Softball. I did not want to play Softball. I wanted nothing to do with it. I wanted to play baseball, with the guys, and I wanted to be as good as them. So, I think that I definitely related to Astrid.”
America says that she was very much a tomboy as a child, but for her there was more to it. “I really believe, as a kid, that we all want to be great in some way. Wanting to be not just a Viking, but the greatest Viking in the world.”
Since Astrid does not appear in the books, America was able to help create her over a three year period. She found that working with Jay Burachel (She’s Out of His League) really helped to define her role and she is grateful that directors Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders (Milo & Stitch) wanted to expand her character. When Dreamworks first approached her she immediately said yes. Working in animation has always been a dream. But the biggest part was, “Being such a small part, of a huge result.” America is very proud of this film.
How To Train Your Dragon opens March 26th.
Dragons Swoop In On Hollywood
Cressida Cowell had an excellent Christmas in 2009. Dreamworks bought the exclusive rights to all her How To Train Your Dragon books. “All eight! I think they covered everything.” When Dreamworks optioned her first book written in 2004, they started the long six year process of turning her vision into an animated action adventure. “I’ve written eight in the time it’s taken them to make one movie.” laughs Cressida.
When you see How To Train Your Dragon the film, you’ll notice some big departures from the books. But according to the author that was fine. “I very much saw it, right from the beginning, as their movie, because I’m not a movie writer. Although I was in touch throughout and I flagged up issues as we went along. I very much saw it as their movie creatively.”
When I asked the creative team about some of these big changes Dean DeBlois (Milo & Stitch) responded, “The mandate coming in was to age up the material a little bit and broaden the world and kind of take the world Cressida created and expand it for a big fantasy adventure. Part of that was creating a level of believability within this world so that we understood the stakes and the peril.”
What this means is that in the film version, Vikings kill dragons, whereas in the books, Viking children had to capture a dragon and train them instead. In the film its more of a life or death situation. The film makers thought it would be more dramatic if Hiccup, our hero, voiced by Jay Baruchel (Superbad), started as enemies with dragons. And then as he learns about Toothless, a dragon he wounds in battle, “Hiccup would be the first to cross that divide.” “Everybody has their own dragon mythology. It’s something built into mankind, creating these noble, savage, terrifying monsters. Monster stories are a part of every culture.” And as children, learning how to face our fears is very important.
Another major change from the books was adding female characters. Tuffnut, voiced by T.J. Miller (She’s Out of His League), was given a twin sister played by Kristen Wiig (Whip It). And America Ferrera (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) was brought in to play Astrid, the fiercest and most determined of the Viking teenagers. “I’m a bit embarrassed that there were no female characters in my first book,” admits Cressida, “Which I actually hadn’t noticed until my daughter pointed it out. And I mean it sounds terrible that I hadn’t even noticed, but I hadn’t. So I wrote a female character for the third book.” America Ferrera was thrilled to be such a positive addition.
When producer Bonnie Arnold (Toy Story) was asked if this film would become a series like Shrek she said, “We don’t know yet. I hope so.” But they bought all the rights just in case. Dean DeBois adds, “Now that we have Vikings on dragon back we have obviously broadened their world. So there are many adventures that these characters can get in to.”
When considering the voice cast, getting them back together for another film won’t be a problem. Gerard Butler (300) says, “The best thing was the treat that you get at the end of it, seeing it all come together. Because as much as I think that everyone in the cast is fantastic, I think the real geniuses are the guys that wrote it, the guys that directed it, and the animators that created it, because when you see it, you go wow!”
How To Train Your Dragon is an epic adventure that opens March 26th.
When you see How To Train Your Dragon the film, you’ll notice some big departures from the books. But according to the author that was fine. “I very much saw it, right from the beginning, as their movie, because I’m not a movie writer. Although I was in touch throughout and I flagged up issues as we went along. I very much saw it as their movie creatively.”
When I asked the creative team about some of these big changes Dean DeBlois (Milo & Stitch) responded, “The mandate coming in was to age up the material a little bit and broaden the world and kind of take the world Cressida created and expand it for a big fantasy adventure. Part of that was creating a level of believability within this world so that we understood the stakes and the peril.”
What this means is that in the film version, Vikings kill dragons, whereas in the books, Viking children had to capture a dragon and train them instead. In the film its more of a life or death situation. The film makers thought it would be more dramatic if Hiccup, our hero, voiced by Jay Baruchel (Superbad), started as enemies with dragons. And then as he learns about Toothless, a dragon he wounds in battle, “Hiccup would be the first to cross that divide.” “Everybody has their own dragon mythology. It’s something built into mankind, creating these noble, savage, terrifying monsters. Monster stories are a part of every culture.” And as children, learning how to face our fears is very important.
Another major change from the books was adding female characters. Tuffnut, voiced by T.J. Miller (She’s Out of His League), was given a twin sister played by Kristen Wiig (Whip It). And America Ferrera (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) was brought in to play Astrid, the fiercest and most determined of the Viking teenagers. “I’m a bit embarrassed that there were no female characters in my first book,” admits Cressida, “Which I actually hadn’t noticed until my daughter pointed it out. And I mean it sounds terrible that I hadn’t even noticed, but I hadn’t. So I wrote a female character for the third book.” America Ferrera was thrilled to be such a positive addition.
When producer Bonnie Arnold (Toy Story) was asked if this film would become a series like Shrek she said, “We don’t know yet. I hope so.” But they bought all the rights just in case. Dean DeBois adds, “Now that we have Vikings on dragon back we have obviously broadened their world. So there are many adventures that these characters can get in to.”
When considering the voice cast, getting them back together for another film won’t be a problem. Gerard Butler (300) says, “The best thing was the treat that you get at the end of it, seeing it all come together. Because as much as I think that everyone in the cast is fantastic, I think the real geniuses are the guys that wrote it, the guys that directed it, and the animators that created it, because when you see it, you go wow!”
How To Train Your Dragon is an epic adventure that opens March 26th.
The Runaways
I love Rock and Roll, but somewhere in the late seventies and early eighties it lost me. The music changed, it became angry, hard, and as an individual, it stopped speaking for me. But growing up in the middle of that time you can’t help but being familiar with Joan Jett, The Runaways, and I Love Rock And Roll, that’s why I wanted to see the film.
In the early ‘80’s I was living in Los Angeles and my best friend, who looked a lot like Cherie Currie, got a job as a paid groupie. Not wanting to go alone she dragged me along and we were actually engaged to go to clubs and make a big fuss over a New Wave band called Lip Service. I myself wasn’t getting paid, but I had never been to a club before so I saw it as a great adventure. We would be sent to various nightspots around L.A., like Madam Wongs, Gazzari’s and the Whiskey A Go Go, and when the band played we were supposed to scream, shout, and act like they were the best new group on the planet. We were hired as insurance, so when the record companies showed up to take a look at the band, they would think that they were popular with the girls. But the band was actually good, and the guys were cute. We even got to do a photo shoot chasing them around on the Sunset Strip. I don’t think they ever got anywhere and I’ve always wondered what happened to them. Are they doing music now?
It’s hard for me to believe that I’m the same age as Joan Jett. Watching The Runaways brought back a lot of memories. But truth be told, I really didn’t enjoy the film, because for me, it was too melancholy and sad. I managed to stay away from drugs and alcohol in that era, but it was all around me. However, even sober, the Sunset Strip was a lot of fun. It was my first time on my own and I was experiencing freedom. It was a heady and exciting time.
Kristen Stewart (Twilight) was genuine as Joan Jett. She really caught the Rocker vibe and showed that underneath her lost girl persona was the authentic soul of a true musician. Dakota Fanning (New Moon) was heart wrenching as Cherie Currie; a little girl with rock star dreams. Plucked from obscurity, not for her talent, but for her look. The constant pressure to abandon her childhood and become the “lost daughter of Iggy Pop and Brigitte Bardot,” took its toll. I’m amazed that she made it out the other end and is still alive today. The film The Runaways is based on her book, Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runway.
Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road) plays Kim Fowley the man who claims to have invented The Runaways. Apparently he’s still in the business walking the Sunset Strip with a cane. After my own personal experience promoting music, I believe that Michael Shannon’s portrayal is fairly accurate. For every talent found, there were a dozen people to capitalize on it. That dynamic is still going on today. Rock on!
Rating: Rent It A sober look at the first Rocker Girl band
In the early ‘80’s I was living in Los Angeles and my best friend, who looked a lot like Cherie Currie, got a job as a paid groupie. Not wanting to go alone she dragged me along and we were actually engaged to go to clubs and make a big fuss over a New Wave band called Lip Service. I myself wasn’t getting paid, but I had never been to a club before so I saw it as a great adventure. We would be sent to various nightspots around L.A., like Madam Wongs, Gazzari’s and the Whiskey A Go Go, and when the band played we were supposed to scream, shout, and act like they were the best new group on the planet. We were hired as insurance, so when the record companies showed up to take a look at the band, they would think that they were popular with the girls. But the band was actually good, and the guys were cute. We even got to do a photo shoot chasing them around on the Sunset Strip. I don’t think they ever got anywhere and I’ve always wondered what happened to them. Are they doing music now?
It’s hard for me to believe that I’m the same age as Joan Jett. Watching The Runaways brought back a lot of memories. But truth be told, I really didn’t enjoy the film, because for me, it was too melancholy and sad. I managed to stay away from drugs and alcohol in that era, but it was all around me. However, even sober, the Sunset Strip was a lot of fun. It was my first time on my own and I was experiencing freedom. It was a heady and exciting time.
Kristen Stewart (Twilight) was genuine as Joan Jett. She really caught the Rocker vibe and showed that underneath her lost girl persona was the authentic soul of a true musician. Dakota Fanning (New Moon) was heart wrenching as Cherie Currie; a little girl with rock star dreams. Plucked from obscurity, not for her talent, but for her look. The constant pressure to abandon her childhood and become the “lost daughter of Iggy Pop and Brigitte Bardot,” took its toll. I’m amazed that she made it out the other end and is still alive today. The film The Runaways is based on her book, Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runway.
Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road) plays Kim Fowley the man who claims to have invented The Runaways. Apparently he’s still in the business walking the Sunset Strip with a cane. After my own personal experience promoting music, I believe that Michael Shannon’s portrayal is fairly accurate. For every talent found, there were a dozen people to capitalize on it. That dynamic is still going on today. Rock on!
Rating: Rent It A sober look at the first Rocker Girl band
Sunday, March 21, 2010
The Green Zone
The Green Zone is a thriller. From the very first scene my body tensed with excitement and I never unclenched for the next hour and fifty-five minutes. Between the driven story telling and the fast paced editing, this political thriller kept me interested until the very end. Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy) is a master of espionage.
Matt Damon (The Bourne Supremacy) plays Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller. He is in charge of a team looking for weapons of mass destruction. When the film opens he arrives at the scene where a group of locals are looting and carrying things away. According to his intelligence, inside the building are weapons, chemical agents, and nerve toxins. He must secure the building before the locals trigger something. The Army has yet to secure the location but Miller can not wait. He risks his life and those of his men to take out a sniper and enter the building only to find it empty. This is the third time in a row and Miller is beginning to ask questions. Where is this intelligence coming from?
Back at headquarters, he draws the wrath of his superiors when he questions the intelligence source. But a local CIA operative (Brendan Gleeson - In Bruges) confirms that he is on to something. They exchange information and begin to dig into the information’s source. This flushes out Clark Poundstone (Greg Kinnear-Little Miss Sunshine) and he tries to warn them off. Matt Damon’s Miller has just put himself into the middle of a power-play. Only his integrity and good conscience will tell him the right thing to do.
I found Matt Damon totally convincing as an Army officer. He took risks, but earned the loyalty of his men. When one of his men questioned his decision, instead of ordering him into submission, he respected his view and divided the team for effectiveness. He knew that he was on to something, but he was tired of risking his team on bad intelligence. He was there to save lives.
Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone) plays the newspaper reporter who was duped into writing the articles regarding the weapons of mass destruction. As the search continues with no results, she begins to suspect that she may have been used. By contacting Miller for information, the pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together, but will it be in time? The future of an entire country is at stake.
Although this is a fictionalized account based on the book, Imperial Life In The Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green Zone, I came away from this film with a little more understanding. America was fed so many lies it will take years to understand this mess. But if you go back to the character of Freddy played by Khalid Abdalla, you’ll realize that a lot of good people live in Iraq and they are fighting for their way of life. It is up to us to right a wrong and give these people a chance. Freedom is never free.
Rating: First Run A first class political thriller
Matt Damon (The Bourne Supremacy) plays Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller. He is in charge of a team looking for weapons of mass destruction. When the film opens he arrives at the scene where a group of locals are looting and carrying things away. According to his intelligence, inside the building are weapons, chemical agents, and nerve toxins. He must secure the building before the locals trigger something. The Army has yet to secure the location but Miller can not wait. He risks his life and those of his men to take out a sniper and enter the building only to find it empty. This is the third time in a row and Miller is beginning to ask questions. Where is this intelligence coming from?
Back at headquarters, he draws the wrath of his superiors when he questions the intelligence source. But a local CIA operative (Brendan Gleeson - In Bruges) confirms that he is on to something. They exchange information and begin to dig into the information’s source. This flushes out Clark Poundstone (Greg Kinnear-Little Miss Sunshine) and he tries to warn them off. Matt Damon’s Miller has just put himself into the middle of a power-play. Only his integrity and good conscience will tell him the right thing to do.
I found Matt Damon totally convincing as an Army officer. He took risks, but earned the loyalty of his men. When one of his men questioned his decision, instead of ordering him into submission, he respected his view and divided the team for effectiveness. He knew that he was on to something, but he was tired of risking his team on bad intelligence. He was there to save lives.
Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone) plays the newspaper reporter who was duped into writing the articles regarding the weapons of mass destruction. As the search continues with no results, she begins to suspect that she may have been used. By contacting Miller for information, the pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together, but will it be in time? The future of an entire country is at stake.
Although this is a fictionalized account based on the book, Imperial Life In The Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green Zone, I came away from this film with a little more understanding. America was fed so many lies it will take years to understand this mess. But if you go back to the character of Freddy played by Khalid Abdalla, you’ll realize that a lot of good people live in Iraq and they are fighting for their way of life. It is up to us to right a wrong and give these people a chance. Freedom is never free.
Rating: First Run A first class political thriller
Friday, March 19, 2010
The Bounty Hunter
Wanted; an action comedy adventure, full of sex, adrenaline, repartee and starring two very attractive people. Unfortunately, after watching The Bounty Hunter, I’m still looking. The movie made a decent attempt at fitting the bill, but some of the notes were off. It was like listening to an orchestra and the brass section was playing over the violins, the balance just wasn’t right.
From the beginning I was questioning the chemistry between the two stars Gerard Butler (300) and Jennifer Aniston (Friends). They are both very funny people and sexy, too. But I didn’t believe their relationship until the very end. Banter between a husband and wife is a tough thing to pull off, especially after a divorce. Get too mean spirited and the audience will turn off, but if you don’t push enough buttons, the relationship feels false. It’s really a tough thing to do. Back in the 30’s Hollywood created the Thin Man series and the whole country fell in love with Nick and Nora Charles and their witty banter. Hollywood has been trying to do it again ever since.
There were elements of the film I did like, but I wanted them to go further. I liked the mystery and the solving a crime together part, but in the beginning I think Jennifer’s Nicole needed to be more manipulative. And I would have liked to to have seen Gerard’s Milo play it a little smarter. He was so quick to pick up his ex-wife’s bench warrant that he never questions why she was arrested in the first place. As an ex-cop, wouldn’t that have been his first call? Also, it took him awhile to realize the full danger of their situation. I would have expected him to be a little quicker on that. I also would have liked to have seen more sexual tension. Two bedroom scenes and no action is a big tease. If you are going to lead us on, do it with style.
Some of the supporting characters were fun but they were kept pretty much on the side lines. You could have taken out some of the characters entirely and the loss would have been barely felt. For example Jason Sudeikis (Saturday Night Live) spent the entire film as a love-struck co-worker following Nicole around and trying to get in on her story. Besides providing a few laughs, his character was of little use. He just wasn’t that important to the plot. Christine Baranski as the mom is another example. Were her scenes really necessary? What was the purpose of her character and how did it add to the story line? What did she reveal about their relationship?
As a whole, this film didn’t work for me. I love the genre, and the actors in it, but it just didn’t have the snap and sizzle. If the action is so stretched out that it gives me too much time to think, then we’re in trouble. When Nicole was in the truck of Milo’s car I couldn’t help noticing that she wasn’t sweating. If the action is so slow that I pick up on things like that, it’s time to amp it up. What this film needs is more; more action, more wit, and more Gerard Butler in less towel. I’m sure the guys are saying the same about Jennifer.
Rating: Rent It Not enough snap and sizzle
From the beginning I was questioning the chemistry between the two stars Gerard Butler (300) and Jennifer Aniston (Friends). They are both very funny people and sexy, too. But I didn’t believe their relationship until the very end. Banter between a husband and wife is a tough thing to pull off, especially after a divorce. Get too mean spirited and the audience will turn off, but if you don’t push enough buttons, the relationship feels false. It’s really a tough thing to do. Back in the 30’s Hollywood created the Thin Man series and the whole country fell in love with Nick and Nora Charles and their witty banter. Hollywood has been trying to do it again ever since.
There were elements of the film I did like, but I wanted them to go further. I liked the mystery and the solving a crime together part, but in the beginning I think Jennifer’s Nicole needed to be more manipulative. And I would have liked to to have seen Gerard’s Milo play it a little smarter. He was so quick to pick up his ex-wife’s bench warrant that he never questions why she was arrested in the first place. As an ex-cop, wouldn’t that have been his first call? Also, it took him awhile to realize the full danger of their situation. I would have expected him to be a little quicker on that. I also would have liked to have seen more sexual tension. Two bedroom scenes and no action is a big tease. If you are going to lead us on, do it with style.
Some of the supporting characters were fun but they were kept pretty much on the side lines. You could have taken out some of the characters entirely and the loss would have been barely felt. For example Jason Sudeikis (Saturday Night Live) spent the entire film as a love-struck co-worker following Nicole around and trying to get in on her story. Besides providing a few laughs, his character was of little use. He just wasn’t that important to the plot. Christine Baranski as the mom is another example. Were her scenes really necessary? What was the purpose of her character and how did it add to the story line? What did she reveal about their relationship?
As a whole, this film didn’t work for me. I love the genre, and the actors in it, but it just didn’t have the snap and sizzle. If the action is so stretched out that it gives me too much time to think, then we’re in trouble. When Nicole was in the truck of Milo’s car I couldn’t help noticing that she wasn’t sweating. If the action is so slow that I pick up on things like that, it’s time to amp it up. What this film needs is more; more action, more wit, and more Gerard Butler in less towel. I’m sure the guys are saying the same about Jennifer.
Rating: Rent It Not enough snap and sizzle
She’s Out Of My League
She’s Out Of My League is one of those movie titles that say it all. If you can get past the crude language and vulgarity, it is really a sweet film. But don’t tell the guys that. The story centers on Kirk (Jay Baruchel-Super Bad) who works at the airport with his other underachieving friends, Stainer (T.J. Miller), Jack (Mike Vogel) and Devon (Nate Torrence). One day, he makes a grand gesture and impresses a beautiful blonde girl (Alice Eve) who reciprocates by inviting him to a party. His self-esteem is so low that he can’t even wrap his mind around the idea that she may be interested in him. So he consults with his friends. They confirm that she is totally out of his league so he accepts the invitation as a thank you gesture. But when she asks him out again, he becomes confused. She keeps sending him signals, but he lets The Guy’s influence cloud his perceptions. Until he realizes his own worth, he’s never going to be able to see what she sees.
Kirk has still not recovered from his last break-up. If you remember Lindsay Sloane as Big Red from Bring It On, she is back at her bitchy best. Even after two years Kirk still wants to get back with her, but she throws it in his face. But when the beautiful Molly shows up, Marnie sees Kirk in a whole new light. Unfortunately for her, after a few dates with Molly, he sees Marnie in a new light, too.
Even though the dialogue was a little too crude for my taste, I did appreciate the memorable characters. Stainer is a legend in his own mind, Jack is a dating guru, and Devon is an incurable romantic. Molly’s friends are fun, too. Krysten Ritter plays Molly’s associate and she is brutal with men. Kim Shaw plays Molly’s little sister and Geoff Stults plays Molly’s ex-boyfriend Cam. He is a pilot and would make any guy insecure.
One of my favorite moments in the film is when Kirk brings Molly home to meet his family. Debra Jo Rupp is so thrilled that her son brought home such a beautiful girl that she jumps and claps like she’s on a game show. His father, played by Adam LeFerve, is dumbstruck. Only when he is jabbed in the ribs does his jaw snap closed. His older bully of a brother (Kyle Bornheimer) is incredulous. He is determined to make his brother look foolish as possible. And his brother’s pregnant fiancé is almost as much of a bully as he is.
For any guy who has ever been picked on, teased, or ridiculed by his friends, you are going to identify with this film. Whether the message is lost on you is another thing. Boys are clueless when it comes to girls and what they are looking for in a guy. If you learn anything it’s that your friends are just as ignorant as you are. Don’t give them too much credit.
Rating: Second Run Crude, rude, and sweet, what a combination
Kirk has still not recovered from his last break-up. If you remember Lindsay Sloane as Big Red from Bring It On, she is back at her bitchy best. Even after two years Kirk still wants to get back with her, but she throws it in his face. But when the beautiful Molly shows up, Marnie sees Kirk in a whole new light. Unfortunately for her, after a few dates with Molly, he sees Marnie in a new light, too.
Even though the dialogue was a little too crude for my taste, I did appreciate the memorable characters. Stainer is a legend in his own mind, Jack is a dating guru, and Devon is an incurable romantic. Molly’s friends are fun, too. Krysten Ritter plays Molly’s associate and she is brutal with men. Kim Shaw plays Molly’s little sister and Geoff Stults plays Molly’s ex-boyfriend Cam. He is a pilot and would make any guy insecure.
One of my favorite moments in the film is when Kirk brings Molly home to meet his family. Debra Jo Rupp is so thrilled that her son brought home such a beautiful girl that she jumps and claps like she’s on a game show. His father, played by Adam LeFerve, is dumbstruck. Only when he is jabbed in the ribs does his jaw snap closed. His older bully of a brother (Kyle Bornheimer) is incredulous. He is determined to make his brother look foolish as possible. And his brother’s pregnant fiancé is almost as much of a bully as he is.
For any guy who has ever been picked on, teased, or ridiculed by his friends, you are going to identify with this film. Whether the message is lost on you is another thing. Boys are clueless when it comes to girls and what they are looking for in a guy. If you learn anything it’s that your friends are just as ignorant as you are. Don’t give them too much credit.
Rating: Second Run Crude, rude, and sweet, what a combination
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
A Family Wedding
I love watching movies that are set in Los Angeles as a location. For me it is great fun to pick out the landmarks, recognize the streets and laugh when the geography is all wrong. But for me the part that didn’t ring true in this film was the culture clash. In Los Angeles the gap between African-American culture and Mexican-American culture is very narrow, and so are the views in A Family Wedding. Los Angeles has been mixing cultures for centuries. I think we are a little further along.
In the 70’s I experienced a culture clash that was enormous. My school was 70% Hispanic, 15% black, and fights broke out so often that they put the entire school on a staggered schedule so that no more than 30% of the campus was on a break at any given time. But I can’t imagine that forty years later that those animosities still exist. We live in a different time and our children are leading the way.
In my opinion this film should have focused more on the economic differences. This is were the real bigotry lies today and that would be an interesting subject to explore. But instead the film relies on cheap shots; loud black people, Mexican garishness, embarrassing relatives and prejudicial stereotypes. Rick Famuyiwa was mining for gold with a shallow pan, what he really needed was a shovel.
Forest Whitaker (The Last King Of Scotland) plays Brad Boyd, a popular radio host living the good life in L.A. When he confronts Carlos Mencia (Mind Of Mencia) who is towing his very expensive car, he gets frustrated and angry and says the wrong thing. Carlos as Miguel Ramirez is frustrated too. He shouldn’t be towing this car. He is actually the owner of the towing company. He is only there because his employees are calling a sick out. They’re are trying to make a point about the company’s lack of health care. This affluent Hispanic man feels that a health plan for his workers would be too expensive. He is more like Brad than he cares to admit.
Brad and Miguel get very heated and start throwing around racist remarks, but little do they know that their children are on the way. Brad’s son Marcus (Lance Gross) and Miguel’s daughter Lucia (America Ferrera) have met in college and are now engaged. They are about to surprise their families in more ways than one. Growing up in multi-cultural Los Angeles their love for each other is colorblind. But for Lucia, the real secret she wants to keep from her family is very different, and religion seems to be a bigger problem than the color of their skin.
If you stop looking at the racial humor in this film there are some very nice dramatic moments. Diana-Maria Riva plays Sonia, Miguel’s wife, and she is morning the loss of her youth. When her own daughters make fun of her and her husband finds his car sexier than his own wife, she wonders if the sacrifices she made have been worth it. On the other side is Regina King. She is Brad’s entertainment lawyer. She has been with Brad and Marcus for over twenty years, only Brad is too stupid to realize that she is in love with him. Instead, he is busy going to night clubs, taking Viagra and picking up groupies at bars. He’s blind to the woman right underneath his own nose. The woman he calls his best friend.
America Ferrera and Lance Gross are really nice and convincing as a couple, but Lucia has a problem standing up to her father. Marcus grew up with a single father who showed nothing but animosity for his ex-wife. Marcus needs to trust Lucia and know that she’ll always be there. He longs to be a part of something big and he is very attracted to Lucia’s large family.
There were many directions that this story could of gone, but I feel that it took the safe route. There are so many other levels there. As it is, it’s mildly amusing, but never once did I laugh out loud. I would have liked to have seen more of the wedding, families are crazy and we all know what humor lies there. But instead the focus seemed to be on the fathers. I found the women much more interesting. At least they weren’t afraid to tell the truth. The men were too busy posturing.
Rating: Rent It Mixing it up at a wedding can be fun
In the 70’s I experienced a culture clash that was enormous. My school was 70% Hispanic, 15% black, and fights broke out so often that they put the entire school on a staggered schedule so that no more than 30% of the campus was on a break at any given time. But I can’t imagine that forty years later that those animosities still exist. We live in a different time and our children are leading the way.
In my opinion this film should have focused more on the economic differences. This is were the real bigotry lies today and that would be an interesting subject to explore. But instead the film relies on cheap shots; loud black people, Mexican garishness, embarrassing relatives and prejudicial stereotypes. Rick Famuyiwa was mining for gold with a shallow pan, what he really needed was a shovel.
Forest Whitaker (The Last King Of Scotland) plays Brad Boyd, a popular radio host living the good life in L.A. When he confronts Carlos Mencia (Mind Of Mencia) who is towing his very expensive car, he gets frustrated and angry and says the wrong thing. Carlos as Miguel Ramirez is frustrated too. He shouldn’t be towing this car. He is actually the owner of the towing company. He is only there because his employees are calling a sick out. They’re are trying to make a point about the company’s lack of health care. This affluent Hispanic man feels that a health plan for his workers would be too expensive. He is more like Brad than he cares to admit.
Brad and Miguel get very heated and start throwing around racist remarks, but little do they know that their children are on the way. Brad’s son Marcus (Lance Gross) and Miguel’s daughter Lucia (America Ferrera) have met in college and are now engaged. They are about to surprise their families in more ways than one. Growing up in multi-cultural Los Angeles their love for each other is colorblind. But for Lucia, the real secret she wants to keep from her family is very different, and religion seems to be a bigger problem than the color of their skin.
If you stop looking at the racial humor in this film there are some very nice dramatic moments. Diana-Maria Riva plays Sonia, Miguel’s wife, and she is morning the loss of her youth. When her own daughters make fun of her and her husband finds his car sexier than his own wife, she wonders if the sacrifices she made have been worth it. On the other side is Regina King. She is Brad’s entertainment lawyer. She has been with Brad and Marcus for over twenty years, only Brad is too stupid to realize that she is in love with him. Instead, he is busy going to night clubs, taking Viagra and picking up groupies at bars. He’s blind to the woman right underneath his own nose. The woman he calls his best friend.
America Ferrera and Lance Gross are really nice and convincing as a couple, but Lucia has a problem standing up to her father. Marcus grew up with a single father who showed nothing but animosity for his ex-wife. Marcus needs to trust Lucia and know that she’ll always be there. He longs to be a part of something big and he is very attracted to Lucia’s large family.
There were many directions that this story could of gone, but I feel that it took the safe route. There are so many other levels there. As it is, it’s mildly amusing, but never once did I laugh out loud. I would have liked to have seen more of the wedding, families are crazy and we all know what humor lies there. But instead the focus seemed to be on the fathers. I found the women much more interesting. At least they weren’t afraid to tell the truth. The men were too busy posturing.
Rating: Rent It Mixing it up at a wedding can be fun
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Alice In Wonderland
In Oakland, California next to Lake Merrit lies a park for children called Children’s Fairyland. Opened in 1950 this delightful playland created life-size sets where children could become a part of their beloved nursery rhymes and stories. My favorite attraction was Alice In Wonderland’s rabbit hole. I remember the thrill of leaving the security of my parents and climbing down into a tunnel. Inside were little windows and behind the glass were tableaus depicting scenes from Alice’s story. When you reached the end of the tunnel passing various sized locked doors along the way, you are let out into a maze of playing card soldiers with the Red Queen and White Queen hovering overhead. At Children’s Fairyland, you were a part of the story.
Over the years I’ve seen many versions of Alice’s tale, but none of them satisfied me as much as the exhilarating experience of climbing down that rabbit hole. I was hoping that for once, that Tim Burton’s 3-D experience might meet the challenge. With 3-D I was hoping to recapture that authenticity. I was ready to be immersed in Wonderland.
Although I loved the visual aspect of Alice In Wonderland, I did not enjoy the film overall. I had trouble with the story line and some of the characterization choices. Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen was pitch-perfect. If the rest of the cast was up her her standard I would have been fine. But my biggest problem with the film was its lack of humor. Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter was actually sad, and an insurrectionist to boot. And I still can’t figure out what Anne Hathaway was doing with her hands.
My favorite part of the film was the costumes. The movie begins with Alice in Victorian England rebelling against the use of stockings and corsets. This ends up be a good decision for her. For once down the rabbit hole, her loose fitting chemise proves to be very adaptable as she shrinks and grows to various sizes. The creativity of the costumes is remarkable and in my opinion, the best part of the film.
I found Mia Wasikowska impeccable as Alice. Her adventurous spirit serves her well and her penchant for independent thought and ingenuity allows her to flourish in strange new worlds. Marrying her off to a rigid unimaginative Lord would have been a crime. This young lady is destined for bigger things. The book ending parts of the story showing Alice before and after her adventure were very well done. It paid homage to the original Lewis Carroll stories and provided a contrast for Wonderland, or rather Underland. I only wish that the characters were as bright and as colorful as their setting. The political undertones made the world too dark. It was like visiting someone’s house and getting caught up in a family feud. I was still glad to visit, but eager to go home.
Rating: First Run A tribute to the imagination
Over the years I’ve seen many versions of Alice’s tale, but none of them satisfied me as much as the exhilarating experience of climbing down that rabbit hole. I was hoping that for once, that Tim Burton’s 3-D experience might meet the challenge. With 3-D I was hoping to recapture that authenticity. I was ready to be immersed in Wonderland.
Although I loved the visual aspect of Alice In Wonderland, I did not enjoy the film overall. I had trouble with the story line and some of the characterization choices. Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen was pitch-perfect. If the rest of the cast was up her her standard I would have been fine. But my biggest problem with the film was its lack of humor. Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter was actually sad, and an insurrectionist to boot. And I still can’t figure out what Anne Hathaway was doing with her hands.
My favorite part of the film was the costumes. The movie begins with Alice in Victorian England rebelling against the use of stockings and corsets. This ends up be a good decision for her. For once down the rabbit hole, her loose fitting chemise proves to be very adaptable as she shrinks and grows to various sizes. The creativity of the costumes is remarkable and in my opinion, the best part of the film.
I found Mia Wasikowska impeccable as Alice. Her adventurous spirit serves her well and her penchant for independent thought and ingenuity allows her to flourish in strange new worlds. Marrying her off to a rigid unimaginative Lord would have been a crime. This young lady is destined for bigger things. The book ending parts of the story showing Alice before and after her adventure were very well done. It paid homage to the original Lewis Carroll stories and provided a contrast for Wonderland, or rather Underland. I only wish that the characters were as bright and as colorful as their setting. The political undertones made the world too dark. It was like visiting someone’s house and getting caught up in a family feud. I was still glad to visit, but eager to go home.
Rating: First Run A tribute to the imagination
Thursday, March 11, 2010
The Yellow Handkerchief
The Yellow Handkerchief is an example of everything I love about independent film. It is a personal story that is in no hurry to reveal itself. Like a campfire tale or an after dinner conversation, everyone is comfortable and content and in no rush to get anywhere. The story has time to unwind easily, giving you little pieces of the puzzle as you go along. When you finally reach the end, the conclusion is satisfying and you feel richer for the experience.
The Yellow Handkerchief begins with Brett (William Hurt of Body Heat) being released from prison. Watching him exit you see clues revealing what kind of man he is. There is no one outside to meet him, so he boards a local bus and rides it to the end of the line. Once there he sits in a small southern diner, contemplating his next step and enjoying his first cold beer. As he watches people meander around outside his window, his demeanor is calm and languid. He has a purpose, but he is in no hurry. He is savoring his beer and enjoying the view. He has all the time in the world.
On the street is a teenage girl, Kristen Stewart (Twilight) and she is having a tiff with her boyfriend. She enters the diner to place an order of fries and inside is a strange, quirky young man (Eddie Redmayne of The Other Boleyn Girl) trying to buy disposable cameras with expired film. There is something off-putting about him, but he is friendly and gregarious. He is obviously attracted to Martine and he tries to start a conversation with her, but she is in no mood. She is really upset with her boyfriend and she keeps glancing at him outside. Gordy is dejected, but goes on about his business. Then in a sudden about-face, Martine asks Gordy for a ride. She is going to show her boyfriend, she is going to show everyone. She’s getting out of this town.
When Gordy and Martine reach the river and its ferry crossing they spot Brett and recognize him from the diner. Since he is on foot they offer to give him a ride so that he doesn’t have to pay extra for the boat. But as they are crossing a hurricane hits and the three of them must take shelter and ride it out. This is the beginning of an impromptu union and a road trip to New Orleans. On this journey, our unlikely travelers begin to size each other up as they navigate through a storm-damaged Louisiana. All public transportation has been suspended so Eddie offers to get Brett to the next big town. Martine is upset that no one is looking for her so she takes the trip as well.
I really loved this movie. William Hurt is at his nuanced best and like a good novel, when you reach the end of the story you don’t want to say good-bye. Kristen Stewart is excellent as a teenager looking for love. I totally avoid anything Twilight and I’m appalled by her lack of deportment at the award show podium, but as an actress she is phenomenal and in these small Indie films she truly shines. I didn’t recognize British import Eddie Redmayne but I’ll never make that mistake again. His performance had the deftness of a tightrope walker, balancing between creepy and strange, menacing and sympathetic. He really plays an odd duck but one you grow to appreciate in time. I left out one character and that is May played by Maria Bello (The Cooler). Like the others we learn about her a little bit at a time, but May’s story is told through flashbacks. As expected, Maria Bello is fantastic in the role and the chemistry between her and William Hurt is palatable.
In a time when the market is saturated with Oscar nominated films and most new releases are spring break spectaculars, it is nice to have a quiet little film to cleanse the palate. I thoroughly enjoyed this ride through Louisiana with such an interesting, multifaceted group. I had a hard time letting them go. In my imagination I will contemplate their stories and wonder what happens to them next. This is the sign of a good film. You really don’t want it to end.
Rating:First Run A lanquid tale with enduring charcaters
The Yellow Handkerchief begins with Brett (William Hurt of Body Heat) being released from prison. Watching him exit you see clues revealing what kind of man he is. There is no one outside to meet him, so he boards a local bus and rides it to the end of the line. Once there he sits in a small southern diner, contemplating his next step and enjoying his first cold beer. As he watches people meander around outside his window, his demeanor is calm and languid. He has a purpose, but he is in no hurry. He is savoring his beer and enjoying the view. He has all the time in the world.
On the street is a teenage girl, Kristen Stewart (Twilight) and she is having a tiff with her boyfriend. She enters the diner to place an order of fries and inside is a strange, quirky young man (Eddie Redmayne of The Other Boleyn Girl) trying to buy disposable cameras with expired film. There is something off-putting about him, but he is friendly and gregarious. He is obviously attracted to Martine and he tries to start a conversation with her, but she is in no mood. She is really upset with her boyfriend and she keeps glancing at him outside. Gordy is dejected, but goes on about his business. Then in a sudden about-face, Martine asks Gordy for a ride. She is going to show her boyfriend, she is going to show everyone. She’s getting out of this town.
When Gordy and Martine reach the river and its ferry crossing they spot Brett and recognize him from the diner. Since he is on foot they offer to give him a ride so that he doesn’t have to pay extra for the boat. But as they are crossing a hurricane hits and the three of them must take shelter and ride it out. This is the beginning of an impromptu union and a road trip to New Orleans. On this journey, our unlikely travelers begin to size each other up as they navigate through a storm-damaged Louisiana. All public transportation has been suspended so Eddie offers to get Brett to the next big town. Martine is upset that no one is looking for her so she takes the trip as well.
I really loved this movie. William Hurt is at his nuanced best and like a good novel, when you reach the end of the story you don’t want to say good-bye. Kristen Stewart is excellent as a teenager looking for love. I totally avoid anything Twilight and I’m appalled by her lack of deportment at the award show podium, but as an actress she is phenomenal and in these small Indie films she truly shines. I didn’t recognize British import Eddie Redmayne but I’ll never make that mistake again. His performance had the deftness of a tightrope walker, balancing between creepy and strange, menacing and sympathetic. He really plays an odd duck but one you grow to appreciate in time. I left out one character and that is May played by Maria Bello (The Cooler). Like the others we learn about her a little bit at a time, but May’s story is told through flashbacks. As expected, Maria Bello is fantastic in the role and the chemistry between her and William Hurt is palatable.
In a time when the market is saturated with Oscar nominated films and most new releases are spring break spectaculars, it is nice to have a quiet little film to cleanse the palate. I thoroughly enjoyed this ride through Louisiana with such an interesting, multifaceted group. I had a hard time letting them go. In my imagination I will contemplate their stories and wonder what happens to them next. This is the sign of a good film. You really don’t want it to end.
Rating:First Run A lanquid tale with enduring charcaters
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The Crazies
They say that if you look at the science fiction, horror and fantasy of an era that it will tell you what that society is afraid of. If that is true, our society is concerned with being undervalued, insignificant, and we are mostly afraid of environmental pollution and big government. Basically we no longer trust each other. With the breakdown of the nuclear family, in our fantasy life we long for steadfast friends, true love, and that father figure that will always takes care of us and put us first. This may sound cerebral, but that’s what’s behind the shocks, the jumps and the scares of popular movies. A film maker must tap into our deepest fears and longings and when successful we have a cathartic moment and go away feeing a little better.
In The Crazies, there is something in the water that is making a small Iowa town sick. One of the symptoms is crazy erratic behavior. When people you’ve known all your life start attacking you, you cling to the ones you love. And when the government that is supposed to protect you, isolates you and cuts you off, then it becomes everyman for themselves. You become suspicious, paranoid and even your best friend or family member can be a threat. This film is truly a reflection of our current times.
There are so many little details that I liked in this film. We are never given any full explanations and this adds to the feeling of isolation and paranoia. We are made insignificant, told to move along, we are ignored. Common everyday things are now menacing and the people we grew up relying on are no longer trustworthy. This creates a feeling of helpless and despair, but it also triggers our survival instincts. We want to be the one that makes it. We want to be the one who survives.
The main character in this film is Timothy Olyphant who is the town sheriff. His wife, the town doctor, is played by Radha Mitchell. And his deputy is played by Joe Anderson. The three of them are at ground zero of the outbreak and like everyone else, their position in society is soon ignored and they too become collateral damage. We follow them, navigating between what is known and what is not known trying to find a way out. They are our best chance of making it, but will they? You must watch the film to find out.
Rating: First Run If you enjoy the genre, you’ll really like this film
In The Crazies, there is something in the water that is making a small Iowa town sick. One of the symptoms is crazy erratic behavior. When people you’ve known all your life start attacking you, you cling to the ones you love. And when the government that is supposed to protect you, isolates you and cuts you off, then it becomes everyman for themselves. You become suspicious, paranoid and even your best friend or family member can be a threat. This film is truly a reflection of our current times.
There are so many little details that I liked in this film. We are never given any full explanations and this adds to the feeling of isolation and paranoia. We are made insignificant, told to move along, we are ignored. Common everyday things are now menacing and the people we grew up relying on are no longer trustworthy. This creates a feeling of helpless and despair, but it also triggers our survival instincts. We want to be the one that makes it. We want to be the one who survives.
The main character in this film is Timothy Olyphant who is the town sheriff. His wife, the town doctor, is played by Radha Mitchell. And his deputy is played by Joe Anderson. The three of them are at ground zero of the outbreak and like everyone else, their position in society is soon ignored and they too become collateral damage. We follow them, navigating between what is known and what is not known trying to find a way out. They are our best chance of making it, but will they? You must watch the film to find out.
Rating: First Run If you enjoy the genre, you’ll really like this film
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