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imaginary-life
Some random favourite films of (not that) old are: Videodrome, Angel Heart, Radio Days, Sideways, The Prestige, Stardust Memories, The International, and Female Trouble
Recently: Whatever Works, Le Concert, My Week With Marilyn, Warm Bodies, Fast and Furious 6, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Edge Of Tomorrow, The Maze Runner, and Mommy
Superhero movies are too overblown, mainly The X-Men is the only one I follow, and recently Captain America.
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Hereditary (2018)
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I have hesitated to watch this until it was rentable. the hype from Sundance and reviewers putting it in their Top Ten Horror Films Of All Time! intrigued me long enough that I made sure not to read any spoiler reviews until I had a chance to see it without knowing too much other than what the trailer shows. The trailer is serious false advertisement though as it shows all the disturbing effects scenes all in one short ad like a greatest hits reel. So here I am for the first time in awhile since shredding the ridiculously hyped Black Swan years ago. One reviewer points out what I also assumed this film was about. A satanic cult story like in the 70s. He describes exactly what the ending was about, but somehow even this doesn't improve the film"s standing at all. I feel it somewhat weakens it in fact. Look up the review that mentions the demon Paimon.
I like Toni Collette, but she did a much better job at being a terrified mother in Krampus, and that film may have been more a silly fun horror, but was in fact more frightening than this drama here. I really wanted to enjoy this with all my might, but as the scenes shown in the trailer unfolded once aver 20 minutes it all seemed out of context with the story that was eventually being told here. There is one shocking scene in which a character you thought was important to the dramaturgy indeed ends up dying. However the aftermath of that revelation is completely lacking in explanation and leads only to disinterest in the eventual outcome. I wouldn't give it a zero as it is well filmed, and manages to build a certain level of dread throughout the first half. Of course it is also vague enough that you can make up your own explanation about what it all means by the end, and I applaud that effort. Unfortunately I didn't care to even pursue any further analysis at the conclusion other than wondering what the filmmakers thought they were doing. There is a similarity to the equally hyped and slow moving The Witch, but I feel that that film actually has a perfect ending, and holds the sense of dread consistently from beginning to end. Like Hereditary it also had many of the scare highlights in the trailer but the payoff of seeing those scenes in the movie was much more consistent
within the context, and the overall story being told, instead of being greatest hits, they were just ingredients.
Sorry, this was long winded, and there's enough reviews on here, but I figure one more opinion from a film fan who loves suspenseful and supernatural horror could't hurt. In the end we are always hoping for more surprises to come in this genre and I appreciate newcomers giving this style of filmmaking new life. So 3 stars for the creepy clucking kid, and the random banging head on desk at school for no reason other than it looks good.
The VVitch: A New-England Folktale (2015)
Blair Witch Prequel?
This is my first return to IMDb reviews in a while. I am doing my review on account of the message board thread entitled A Slow Burn Into Nothingness. That could be considered good or bad depending on the interpreter. I called my review Blair Witch Prequel? because it could almost work as such. Two films of a different camera style ultimately achieving the same goal. Minimalist entertainment through symbols and suspense. The end result is also equivalent. you've heard the hype, now see the movie! Either you love it at the end or you feel duped. Both films have that kind of story that make you wonder whether what you are seeing has any supernatural elements or if the people are just going mad of their own accord. I find myself hard pressed to say whether or not I truly liked either film. Each one has a quality and level of talent that I respect. The Witch probably more so. However the buck stops with the expectation factor, and what the audience wants from a so called Horror Movie. Both of these films fall somewhat flat in the scares department. In terms of disturbing imagery The Witch does a great job, but somehow it lacks purpose. Even old ghost stories of the early 1900s seem to have some particular point to them. I'll admit, I felt in terms of what this film offers in terms of cinematography, style, music, and acting it is damn near perfect. What's missing is the ability to care for the characters. Even the annoying kids of The Blair Witch Project managed to make me worry about them.
So I'm writing this in agreement to those who were disappointed by this movie, and at the same time defending it to those who outright hate it. It ending up making me think about it a little longer, and I certainly appreciated the quality of the atmosphere, and imagery, Therefore I retain A great feeling of respect, yet remain wishing it could've somehow been "more".
I have decided it would make sense as a good prequel to The Blair Witch Project, but in the end you'd have a double bill to provide that slow burn into Nothingness, and I'm not sure that's a good thing unless that's what you are looking for in a film. I myself prefer a little more intensity either in urgency of dialogue or in connection to the sequence of events unfolding. This film covers all the marks, but somehow lacks any emotional appeal.
I guess in terms of more recent Horror, only The Conjuring will remain at the top of my list awhile longer.. Even though it started out better than it finished, it's the first modern horror film that left me invigorated and excited about it afterwards. Kudos to The Witch for trying, and being unique enough to stand out above the crowd. Next time more cowbell!
Whiplash (2014)
Amazing! Hardcore Jazz Story
I was not sure I wanted to watch this after reading the reviews about the abusive teacher, but after seeing the trailer I must admit I laughed despite myself at the cruel commentary to the student in that short example. Certainly there's more to come if you decide to see the film, but it isn't the main issue. I have in fact experienced teaching that comes pretty close in my junior high days, so it's not all that fictional. If you do decide to watch "Whiplash" I can only say it was intensely amazing from start to finish. Starts, and ends on a Jazzcore drum-roll, and knocks you around emotionally for the whole 2 hours and 20 minutes time. Many will take offense at the actions of the not necessarily likable characters, but it's the music and the feeling of passion that will remain with you by the time the credits roll. I think it is not intended to make a statement on the kind of people you see portrayed in the movie, it's more about asking questions about ambition in life. What motivates you to do certain things? If you just sit back and let the story flow, you will just realize that this is a movie like no other. Sure at it's core it has Faustian overtones, and classic themes of struggling for success against all odds, but never has it been visually and musically so well presented as in this movie. Even the title is perfect. "Whiplash" truly is a performance of a lifetime for all involved, and I am happy to have been able to experience it. "Beat Out That Rhythm On A Drum" has taken on new meaning after witnessing this stunning cinematic masterpiece.
American Sniper (2014)
Fake war, real life enemies?
I read tons of reviews for and against this film before finally watching it myself. Let me start off by saying I would consider myself liberal, who is against capital punishment, and for gun control. However I am equally against torture, government secrecy, and immunity from punishment for starting unprecedential war. I am also for freedom of speech, and advocate a presidential pardon for Chelsea Manning, Assange, and Snowden and any whistle-blowers that help keep government on it's toes. Regardless, and despite the fact that I'm not even a fan of Bradley Cooper, "American Sniper" is a great film! Personally I don't feel this film is about any particular issue. Lack of evidence for weapons of mass destruction etc. is irrelevant in this story.
This is a movie about one man's story, and some of what he experienced. He is neither the good or the bad guy, and even the "enemy" is not only "bad". I am truly amazed how many people on the left or the right are using this guy's story as some kind of political angle. Sure there is some "American Pride" behind the intentions of Chris Kyle going into battle, but those who think he's a hero because he was protecting US citizens are sadly mistaken. He was nothing more than an honorable man doing his job, and protecting fellow soldiers as best he could in a dirty war that costs thousands of lives where both sides believe they are in the right. It's not even about religion, and it's not even about murder, although eliminating threat to his fellow man was his job, and he was good at it, and took pride in it, as anyone who is good with their skills would be. Whether they are an actor, lawyer, doctor, musician, architect, what have you. Some people also tend to get a little arrogant if they let their accolades go to their head. From what I've read about Mr. Kyle that may have been the case, but I think he also turned towards being a positive role model, and was probably a fairly sane individual despite all he'd experienced.
That's all this film is about, it's called "American Sniper" because that's what this guy was which is just as "American" as an American Psycho or America's Top Model.
Clint Eastwood's film is not propaganda. It is a story well told, and filmed in a way that takes the audience on a partial journey into the world and life of this man. Now that I have finally seen it, I think that Million Dollar Baby, and Gran Torino can take second and third place behind this new top film in Clint's directing highlights. "Flags Of Our Fathers" was also not "pro-war", and neither is this movie.
If anything it's a great thing that many people of different walks of like are seeing a film like this, and it is opening the eyes of the average world citizen as to what is going on "over there" as we tend to try and shut out all the deaths caused by war in our daily lives.
There are many bold statements made in subtle ways in this movie such as Chris' frustration about "going to a shopping mall, while soldiers are dying, and horrible things are happening in another part of the world" as he states just before his wife gives birth.
Pause for thought, and discuss what this means to you as an average citizen going about your daily routine, free from fear, free to go shopping without getting bombed.
In the end this is not a movie for the Republicans, Democrats, Lefties, or Nazis. It is a movie for anyone who wants to have a better understanding what soldiers do, and what we in the Western Society are doing to ourselves when we argue about who is allowed to do what in a "free" society. This film does not glorify war, or killing other human beings whether Chris considers them "savages" is not the point.
The fact that Chris was killed by another soldier while planning to help with therapeutic training is not poetic justice, it only adds to the tragedy of what happens when a human mind is broken, and we callously avoid doing something about this problem. Especially when we think having a gun is the solution.
Sometimes I wonder if the people who see this as propaganda have even watched the movie, or only read the title, viewed the trailer, and gone straight to IMDb to condemn it. And for those who cheer on the killing in the film, I can only feel sorrow.
Realize that Clint Eastwood has a pattern for making contemplative melancholy films including even the one about J. Edgar Hoover, then you know this is not a movie to rally together and sing "We Are The Champions" to. 'Nuff said.
The Paperboy (2012)
Crime and Pornography of boredom
First of all, I really liked "Precious". I was blown away at first viewing. Finally something new in cinema. A journey of hope through some of the darkest places, some of them cliché, but otherwise presented in the rawest fashion, and carried throughout by the lead actress Gabourey Sidibe. Why Mo'Nique won an Oscar instead is beyond me.
It made me curious about Lee Daniels, so much so that I went back through his film history, and found myself convinced that "Precious" was apparently a fluke. So far.
Then the hype about "The Paperboy" started up and trailers and promos mainly focused on the fact that Nicole Kidman urinates on Zac Efron in one scene (but it's OK, she had to save his life!). I figured, well that sounds like a sleazy way to get someone interested in his film. Aside from the fact that many photos either presented Kidman looking the full cliché of a blonde sexpot bimbo, and a convoluted crime story involving John Cusack, and Matthew McConaughey as an oddly tortured lawyer, I still wasn't convinced, and so I patiently waiting as reviews came in.
After reading that it pretty much flopped, and most dismissed it as a waste of time, I nearly forgot about it until this year when I noticed it was available on iTunes. Still hesitant, but after reading a few positive reviews here on IMDb, and some on the DVD release at Amazon, I finally made the plunge.
First of all, despite all the well established actors characters in the film, my heart goes out to Zac Efron who somehow makes an extremely unthankful character role into the dominant emotional tie throughout the movie. Nicole Kidman actually disappointed me. She seemed like she was in an acting class for bimbos. She is in fact much too "larger than life" to do this gritty role, or perhaps the lack of direction is at fault. Often she seems confused about whether she should be playing dumb, or sincere in what she's doing. I started to feel sorry for her, especially in the simulated sex scene in the visiting room. An Academy Award winning actress doing fake porn! Was that meant to one up on Meg Ryan's fake orgasm in "When Harry Met Sally"? It was well done, but also unessential to the story, and somewhat embarrassing to watch.
Overall you could tell that Lee Daniels must know a thing or two about Gay Porn. The amount of time Zac Efron is seen in his tightie whities, including a dance in the rain is like a study of male anatomy in its youthful prime. Somewhere between the gratuitous scene of Zac going swimming, and then getting peed on by Nicole, and the later dance in the rain, we forget that there's supposed to be a crime investigation going on!
Therefore, out of the blue comes a a semi-twist, and a whole bunch of unexpected action in the last quarter just to wake you up from your wet dreams (of either or all sexual persuasions). I really hoped for better. I cannot give this a lower rating than 5 though, as somehow it managed to keep my hand off the fast forward button just by being odd, and convincing me that every scene had some importance to the plot (not!).
Macy Gray was quite touching in her acting scenes, her narration was less so, but perhaps necessary for gluing the coherence to this broken mess. John Cusack was fantastic in his role even if it was off-putting to see him play such a sleazy character. Again, like Kidman he had the least direction, and or motivation to act the way he did, so they both had to struggle to convince us with the point of their roles. McConaughey was good, but basically on a par with his role in The Lincoln Lawyer. The plot twist with his character didn't add or take away anything from the story at all, and he seemed lost after that.
All that did was up the ante for Zac's performance, and I have only fast forwarded through "17 Again", so this is the first time I've seen this guy act in an adult role. Hopefully this film promotes his talent as I felt that he took this basically useless character and made it the emphatic title role it needed to be. Certainly not a total failure as "The Paperboy" makes a good film for a lazy hot summer evening viewing with a little shock tactic to keep you awake. If anyone would rather watch a similar looking guy to Zac just doing porn, look up Brent Corrigan. Otherwise you may still enjoy the crime and pornography of boredom and unfulfillment that is "The Paperboy". As for Lee Daniels, I guess it's up to "The Butler" to prove to us that "Precious" wasn't a fluke.
My Soul to Take (2010)
Do your dreams and nightmares make sense?
I bought the DVD just to see what else was shot. The alternative opening doesn't add anything, except for reminding us all a little more of "Nightmare On Elm Street". The alternative endings are so short, they almost blend into one another. Like about 30 seconds difference, and I have to admit, I already forgot what the difference was, but certainly not better than the actual film end. You don't gain any insights that you wouldn't already have. This film is weird in that it's somehow pretty good, not so good, and has short moments of amazing all in 90 minutes, but leaves the impression of a fantastic mess of great ideas somehow not quite flowing together. I guess it's hard to sell a dreamlike film without explaining things logically these days. I would say I have a strong affection for this effort as I have been waiting a long time for a horror film of this quality, and despite it's flaws, I feel it lives up to the idea of what a disjointed nightmare might look like if it were to be filmed. Even the attempt to maintain a plausible story within a highly improbable scenario. I'm not sure why this wasn't more successful. I guess it was just too much burden for a horror film to be so metaphysical, and still come up with the "monster", and the "kills". I found the scenes without the "bad guy" to be much more frightening than when he showed up at all.
This was actually less silly than "The Serpent And The Rainbow", which I loved the first 3 quarters of. Most of Craven's films have trouble with the last act if you think about it, even "Nightmare On Elm Street", so I feel it's unfair to name this the bottom of the barrel. For my taste, that would be "The People Under The Stairs" which I truly abhor. Yet, you will find people praising its merits as well.
Give "My Soul To Take" a chance, it's the missing link to 80s style Horror we've been missing since "Nightmare On Elm Street" rocked the world with it's cracked originality. And in fact this one here is of a much more somber tone for our worried times.
Soul Men (2008)
Sweet Memories
It was a straightforward almost Blue Brothers film, but who cares? It has music, honesty, and is truly a reminder of the sad loss of Bernie Mac.
Many of the so called clichés are actually representative of so much that truly happens in life. This may not be the most important film in the world, but it's heart is in the right place. And it sings a certain song of life, friendship and forgiveness.
That's all that it needs to provide. I am surprised that it received so much negativity on some pages. Just sit back and enjoy. If only the music business had so much respect for past legends. Sometimes it happens, and this also goes to show that some musicians really live from retaining their audience, as it is all they have that sustains them.
Psyche: Imaginary Life (2006)
Fascinating life of a legendary indie music duo
Psyche, began as a joint project of two brothers: Stephen, the shy programmer, stoically standing behind his Korg, and Darrin, the flamboyant cover boy with a penchant for melancholy. Throughout the '80s, these two Canadian brothers forged ahead in the relatively uncharted territory of electronic music; their journey is captured for the first time on their career-retrospective DVD, "Imaginary Life". Showcasing Psyche experimenting with everything from the kaleidoscope visuals of "Maggots" to the 1930s horror film-inspired "I'm a Gentleman". With gorgeously shot black and white dissolves "Eternal" finds Psyche at their creative zenith, as a band who has finally come into their own in the video medium. "Misery" is the first song/ video without Stephen and doesn't feature a centrally placed Darrin, instead going with a more socio-political bent. The remainder of "Imaginary Life" is a series of live footage from 1989 through the present that goes from the home-movie intimacy of "Prisoner of Desire", to 1996's "Love is a Winter", which displays the band's maturing lyrics and stage presence, not to mention Darrin's more-than-passing similarity to Marc Almond. What is striking about this collection is how in their twenty-plus year history, Psyche has remained almost identical to their original construction. Devoid of the elaborate guitars of the Cure, the highly stylized look of Depeche Mode or the theatrics of Erasure, Psyche relies on being a lyrically centered electronic band. Their refusal to resort to clichéd imagery, may help explain why Psyche never enjoyed the commercial success in the US as that of their peers. Imaginary Life gives a alluring glimpse into the DIY spirit that began with two brothers, who went on to become one of synth-pop's most durable bands.