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Reviews
Into the Wild (2007)
Breathing air into Krakauer's pages!
After a summer of terrible movie experiences, Into the Wild gave a large theater full of Santa Barbarians a pleasant surprise! After reading Krakauers first two books, it was hard to expect the translation would come through as vividly and honestly as seen tonight. One of the most poignant roles was that of Franz, played by Hal Holbrook- who deserves a nod, solely on the basis that he made me cry. This film should touch a nerve in everyone, especially those of us who escaped dis-functional family homes. Really who could blame Christopher? Bravo to the real Chris and bravo x 10 to his on screen actor- Emile Hirsch. The soundtrack was also perfectly tied to the film. Tonight my friend and I needed a reality check, feeling out of balance and unfocused...this film will certainly put your life back in perspective and may even plant the seed of escapism in your minds, as it did ours. Sean Penn- Oscar is written in the stars- again!
Halloween (2007)
If you "re-deux" then RE-DEUX!!!!
to much blood and guts leaves little to the imagination. The film set lighting seemed too dark- literally. The film infers to be set in the original time frame...clothes and speak seemed "like then." There were little anachronistic bits that made this film fall apart. A cell phone shows up, modern cars here and there. I think the little things needed more attention to put us back in the first films stage. So many things were overlooked. Exceptional parts to notice are how well the back-story was played out. I do think that the additional murders were not necessary it the childhood scenes of Myers. Only his older sister was killed...why all the others. why rob, why!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What do you all think?
Summercamp! (2006)
a yummy bite from the past
I remember camp. A time before I realized that it was a way for our parents to get rid of us for a week or more. I found this such a wonderful way to spend a rainy afternoon at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. To revisit a time when things were more simple than they are now- I guess I should say, revisit a time in my memory when things where not so important...made me want to go to camp, fish and swim...before my body became something I cringed at in a bikini. I found myself wishing for a fun filled week with no worries, mosquito bites and smores... I thank the filmmakers for making me miss my youth for the first time is a very long time.
The Wicker Man (2006)
modernized thus lost in translation
I have to agree with most people. Somehow the remake lost what made the original fantastic. Cage did not live up to Woodwards character. The back-story interrupted what could have been a sure Oscar front-runner. However, The female characters by far surpassed Cages performance. The female leads actually made up for his lack of substance. Ellen Burstyn was remarkable. Ellen breathed life into the pagan aspect of the film. Bravos should go to Ellen. Surely she will deserve a nod. I did enjoy the retention of the "wicker" icon. Also noteworthy was the timeliness with the Burning Man festival, held the same as the opening weekend. It would be wonderful to see what was edited out. Perhaps that might explain the gaps in the new version that fell to the cutting room floor.
United 93 (2006)
Documentary with a history lesson
I could not get comfortable in my seat. I sat in the rear of the theater, a few fidgety like myself. The film did not make me cry,( as I had initially anticipated. I just became angry. It was sad, but more than that it showed how unorganized and chaotic that day was. The most interesting aspect was that names were not used, as far as when each passenger, gov. employee, etc... addressed each other, just delivering lines, I guess like that day, making perfect sense and less script like. I think in that sense, it felt very real and put the observer within action. It was loud towards the end, I cannot even fathom what they went through, but incredible that passengers had the information that they did and made the decisions to fight back. I found myself wishing I had been part of that team that charged the door. One of the better films I have seen recently.
The Hamiltons (2006)
One Award Winner at the SBIFF!!!!!!!!!!!
I was most surprised by this film in so many ways. It is not often that an indie can surpass expectations of viewers, at least the ones in my row of the screening. A constant bundle of surprises right up until the end-which a little re-working could help tremendously. But for the most part, the attempt at a Coen-esquire thriller and the comedy of Tarentino made everyone (who got the jokes) laugh out loud. Moreoever, scream at the gore so simply done like those films we fondly remember from our late 70's and early 80's childhood. The idea that we live next door to people just like this is actually quite self reflexive, aren't we the blood suckers after all is said and done?
The Legend of Lucy Keyes (2006)
Outstanding
Just went to the screening at the Santa Barbara Film festival. Mr.Stimpson has provided a wonderful thriller that had the entire theater hiding behind their hands in terror!!! Loved the true story addition to a supernatural legend! Bravo!!! It will be worth every penny when it finally comes to the general public. There was also a great Q and A with director Stimpson the audience took part in... Lots of UCSB film school students it seemed. Very appropriate for a Halloween release. I did wish, however, that more was answered about the historical treatment of the movie, much was left to the imagination for something that was "claimed" to have a truthful subtext. Did remind me a little of some recent east coast locale flicks that were psycho-thriller....so saw many things a-comin before they happened. Many cliché's that could have been omitted. Other than that...super cool!!!!!
King Kong (2005)
Oscar possible on sheer effects
This movie has surpassed Jackson's abilities in the imagination forum. I see an Oscar possibility based purely on the special effects criteria, but not on the acting of Watts or Black. Film could have found better actors, even a better set of lines for the Ann character. What about the thought of Reese Witherspoon, Gweneth Paltrow? The Jack character could have been more successful with someone like Donald Trump, or better yet, Richard Dreyfus. The native influence could have been further explored, as would the involvement of Conrad's, Heart of Darkness. It seems that there was more subtext on the intellectual level that could have been developed further.