This is a very interesting little film. It sort of looks like a standard horror film but then it zigs into a very odd slice of americana during a rather intense time for us. The year is 1973 and a young boy is sent to live in the country with his grandparents. Things are a little stressful at home specially since Daddy pointed the gun at Mommy's head. They are trying a trial seperation before there is need of a trial. Each has found their own bar and bottle to crawl into. The grandparents are caring but are also rather odd, specially grandma played with crankypants joy by Cloris Leachman. So the kid is left basically by himself to try to figure things out like whether he should worry about finding Charles Manson under his bed, or what to do about the dead body he discovered in the cornfields.
This is certainly an actor's film with Cloris taking the lead, but the young boy (Joshua Ormond) does pretty well conveying a child's view of a rather weird and twisted world. Sometimes there are fun moments like I love the overly dramatic music that plays when he pretends to be Godzilla. Other times he encounters situations where you wish there a monster with a zipper running down its back. Trust me a visit to Aunt Grace is not something you will ever forget.
Definitely worth a view for film viewers who are in it for more than money shots or two hundred fifty million dollar budgets.
STRANGE SPANNERS being an accounting of strangeness of the warp and woof of my mind For those of you new here, think of this as 1/2 "Night Gallery" Our Motto: Nos somnium quisnam es futurus fatum quod insolitus tutus vos!
Showing posts with label Thriller. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thriller. Show all posts
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
The Aggression Scale
You have to love when a film literally starts with a bang. In this case it the gunshot blast that throws some poor nameless woman back twenty feet from her front door. This is then followed by a rather happy camper of a gangster armed with shotgun and Polaroid camera (they still make film for those?)
The plot is then later given in broad strokes. Ray Wise is some gangster who's about to take it on the lamb. Trouble is, while in jail someone made off with his secret stash. Our happy gangster job is simple, he has 48 hours to find the money and kill everyone involved down to their pets. He's told to make it nasty and hard so the message will be loud and clear.
Well, as the gangsters start blowing away folks left and right we cut to a family moving into a huge new house. Hmmm, wonder how they bought it. The family's kids are not happy. The older sister hates the country and doesn't like her new step brother. Step brother is creepy and doesn't say a word, but does take his medicine like his daddy asks him to.
Well these two forces meet and a blood bath ensues. Surprisingly it's not all one sided. See the kid is not just creepy, he's lethally creepy. Daddy used part of the money he stole to free sonny boy from the ye olde loony bin where he scored 995 out 1000 on the aggression scale. The kid is a walking encyclopedia of booby traps and likes using "sister" as bait.
The film is a decent low budget thriller. I always like Ray Wise, but he's in the film for like a nanosecond. The other actors are ok. The film does has some slow spots, but creepy kid certainly keeps things interesting.
The plot is then later given in broad strokes. Ray Wise is some gangster who's about to take it on the lamb. Trouble is, while in jail someone made off with his secret stash. Our happy gangster job is simple, he has 48 hours to find the money and kill everyone involved down to their pets. He's told to make it nasty and hard so the message will be loud and clear.
Well, as the gangsters start blowing away folks left and right we cut to a family moving into a huge new house. Hmmm, wonder how they bought it. The family's kids are not happy. The older sister hates the country and doesn't like her new step brother. Step brother is creepy and doesn't say a word, but does take his medicine like his daddy asks him to.
Well these two forces meet and a blood bath ensues. Surprisingly it's not all one sided. See the kid is not just creepy, he's lethally creepy. Daddy used part of the money he stole to free sonny boy from the ye olde loony bin where he scored 995 out 1000 on the aggression scale. The kid is a walking encyclopedia of booby traps and likes using "sister" as bait.
The film is a decent low budget thriller. I always like Ray Wise, but he's in the film for like a nanosecond. The other actors are ok. The film does has some slow spots, but creepy kid certainly keeps things interesting.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Reamde by Neal Stephenson
"Reamde"
When I first saw that letter spew I read it as "Read Me." Then I saw "Remade," and even "Reamed." All these interpretation work in this novel by Neal Stephenson. It starts off as a techno thriller but that is somewhat of a red herring as half way through the novel a twist of fate totally changes up the game.
The novel starts in the Midwest at a family reunion. Richard Forthrast, both a legend and a black sheep of the family, is there most to avoid new rumors sprouting up. It's not that he doesn't enjoy his extended family, he's extremely proud of them and fond of many of them like Zula who an adopted refugee who has made good. It's just he's a busy man and he has things to do.
Those things involve his latest business venture which is T'Rain, an online game. The thing that makes T'Rain special is that it was made to create a virtual economy that can be translated to real world money. Most folks who play are happy enough to go around slaying this and that and building castles. But there's a core group, mostly Chinese teens, who are busy mining gold and making stuff and selling it and then converting it to real world currency in a very hard to trace fashion.
Things aren't going hunky dory in the world of T'Rain though. There's an at first subtle revolution going on having to do with color choices and the works of the two fantasy authors who helped create the world of T'Rain. This keeps Richard busy even at his ski lodge that was once on his route as a marijuana smuggler between Canada and the good ol' USA. It keeps him so busy that he doesn't even notice the real problems that are occurring both in T'Rain and the real world.
See, like in "Field of Dreams," if you build it they will come. In this case if you build what amounts to a hard to trace money laundering system someone who needs money laundered will use it. In this case it is a player known at first only as "The Troll." The Troll released the Reamde virus. The virus encrypts all the files on the infected computer and then tells the victim to deposit one thousand gold pieces in an isolated area of T'Rain to get the files back. Since this virus infects millions of machines the money starts rolling in. The Troll thinks he'll just need to sit back and watch folks literally shower him with gold.
Unfortunately things don't go as plan. In the game world, other players notice things like nearly a million people dumping gold in some wasteland. Soon the place looks like a cross between Scrooge McDuck's vault and Bosnia as thieves and thieves for thieves and the Troll's own men trying to foil the thieves fight in the hills. In the real world things get a bit more serious. Zula's boyfriend has been doing some things with a minor arm of the Russian Mafia. Unfortunately, he accidentally infected them with Reamde and all their files are now useless. Now a bunch of Russian Mobsters kidnap Zula and him and basically force them to help find the Troll.
So this is all very hackerish. Neal does a good job of helping readers get through the techness of it all. At the half way point though everything changes. Zula in a fit of compassion misleads the Russians so they don't kill the Troll. Unfortunately, it wasn't an empty room to which she leads them. It is a room full of Al Queada terrorists making bombs. Suffice it say its an explosive situation and soon all the players are scattered to the four winds and into new dilemmas.
The second half of the novel is a smart and savvy set of moves and counter moves as folks try to escape. Some are trying to escape from terrorists. Others from the Chinese government. Eventually it all boils down to a big show down along the Canadian border where Richard's knowledge comes into play.
This was a very enjoyable and exciting novel and I always learn something new when reading a Neal Stephenson book. He's like a jedi/bill nye/asimov type and his font of knowledge is vast indeed. I also have to give it extra points when they traveled through Eastern Washington my old stomping grounds. So I just found this a great read.
When I first saw that letter spew I read it as "Read Me." Then I saw "Remade," and even "Reamed." All these interpretation work in this novel by Neal Stephenson. It starts off as a techno thriller but that is somewhat of a red herring as half way through the novel a twist of fate totally changes up the game.
The novel starts in the Midwest at a family reunion. Richard Forthrast, both a legend and a black sheep of the family, is there most to avoid new rumors sprouting up. It's not that he doesn't enjoy his extended family, he's extremely proud of them and fond of many of them like Zula who an adopted refugee who has made good. It's just he's a busy man and he has things to do.
Those things involve his latest business venture which is T'Rain, an online game. The thing that makes T'Rain special is that it was made to create a virtual economy that can be translated to real world money. Most folks who play are happy enough to go around slaying this and that and building castles. But there's a core group, mostly Chinese teens, who are busy mining gold and making stuff and selling it and then converting it to real world currency in a very hard to trace fashion.
Things aren't going hunky dory in the world of T'Rain though. There's an at first subtle revolution going on having to do with color choices and the works of the two fantasy authors who helped create the world of T'Rain. This keeps Richard busy even at his ski lodge that was once on his route as a marijuana smuggler between Canada and the good ol' USA. It keeps him so busy that he doesn't even notice the real problems that are occurring both in T'Rain and the real world.
See, like in "Field of Dreams," if you build it they will come. In this case if you build what amounts to a hard to trace money laundering system someone who needs money laundered will use it. In this case it is a player known at first only as "The Troll." The Troll released the Reamde virus. The virus encrypts all the files on the infected computer and then tells the victim to deposit one thousand gold pieces in an isolated area of T'Rain to get the files back. Since this virus infects millions of machines the money starts rolling in. The Troll thinks he'll just need to sit back and watch folks literally shower him with gold.
Unfortunately things don't go as plan. In the game world, other players notice things like nearly a million people dumping gold in some wasteland. Soon the place looks like a cross between Scrooge McDuck's vault and Bosnia as thieves and thieves for thieves and the Troll's own men trying to foil the thieves fight in the hills. In the real world things get a bit more serious. Zula's boyfriend has been doing some things with a minor arm of the Russian Mafia. Unfortunately, he accidentally infected them with Reamde and all their files are now useless. Now a bunch of Russian Mobsters kidnap Zula and him and basically force them to help find the Troll.
So this is all very hackerish. Neal does a good job of helping readers get through the techness of it all. At the half way point though everything changes. Zula in a fit of compassion misleads the Russians so they don't kill the Troll. Unfortunately, it wasn't an empty room to which she leads them. It is a room full of Al Queada terrorists making bombs. Suffice it say its an explosive situation and soon all the players are scattered to the four winds and into new dilemmas.
The second half of the novel is a smart and savvy set of moves and counter moves as folks try to escape. Some are trying to escape from terrorists. Others from the Chinese government. Eventually it all boils down to a big show down along the Canadian border where Richard's knowledge comes into play.
This was a very enjoyable and exciting novel and I always learn something new when reading a Neal Stephenson book. He's like a jedi/bill nye/asimov type and his font of knowledge is vast indeed. I also have to give it extra points when they traveled through Eastern Washington my old stomping grounds. So I just found this a great read.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Lucky
"Lucky" is one of those quirky little films. You know, the type that show up at small film festivals. That's not a bad thing, but you should know what you are getting into. Like "The Perfect Host," those could have easily been a stage play. It's very dialogue heavy and fairly set bound. Again, not bad things but it does give you the feel for this film.
The plot is that a rather odd man wins the lottery. He's very much a mother dominated figure and not very social. Well, a quirky single girl who just got fired decides that he's marriage material. Well at least his check is. It seems the perfect plan, soon her and her uncooperative parrot will be rolling in money.
The problems is that first lottery money generally comes out in drips and they have over spent themselves to the point where buying food becomes an issue. Worse, our quirky, eccentric, and rather unethical heroine discovers that hubby is a serial killer and there are several girls already planted into the ground. She now is fending off a police detective and neighbors as she tries to keep her husband's secret. At least till the next check comes in.
Over all a fun little film. I liked it but wasn't overwhelmed by it. I guess there's no sin in merely being whelmed.
The plot is that a rather odd man wins the lottery. He's very much a mother dominated figure and not very social. Well, a quirky single girl who just got fired decides that he's marriage material. Well at least his check is. It seems the perfect plan, soon her and her uncooperative parrot will be rolling in money.
The problems is that first lottery money generally comes out in drips and they have over spent themselves to the point where buying food becomes an issue. Worse, our quirky, eccentric, and rather unethical heroine discovers that hubby is a serial killer and there are several girls already planted into the ground. She now is fending off a police detective and neighbors as she tries to keep her husband's secret. At least till the next check comes in.
Over all a fun little film. I liked it but wasn't overwhelmed by it. I guess there's no sin in merely being whelmed.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Cold Fish
This is an interesting little crime drama from Japan. A horribly polite, nice, Japanese man and his wife are having problems. He wants relationships and she doesn't. Also his daughter is doing a little five finger discounting so as to rebel against her step mother and dad. She gets caught and should be sent to the cops but they are saved when another dealer of tropical fish gets into things.
This old fella is everything our hero is not. He's out going, cheerful, and loud. He has a faux charmingness. He's not really charming but he's so in your face that he melts the usual Japanese politeness like blowtorch to ice cubes. Soon enough he has the daughter working for him, and has seduced/rape our hero's wife. He then forcibly makes our hero his partner in a rather suspicious scheme involving fish breeding.
Then he kills someone in front of his eyes.
He tells our hero this is his 58th kill and not to worry. He has a system. He makes the hero part of the process threatening the life of his wife and daughter. Our meek little hero is now a criminal and doesn't know what to do. Things get even worse as cops and other crooks get involved. Can our hero man up?
This is a good little crime thriller. It's certainly a change of pace and reminds me of some of the Cohen brother's work like "Blood Simple." I was put off by the casual mistreatment of women. Why this is worse than the equally casual murder I really can't say except that it is such a constant in Japanese cinema that it just automatically puts me off.
This old fella is everything our hero is not. He's out going, cheerful, and loud. He has a faux charmingness. He's not really charming but he's so in your face that he melts the usual Japanese politeness like blowtorch to ice cubes. Soon enough he has the daughter working for him, and has seduced/rape our hero's wife. He then forcibly makes our hero his partner in a rather suspicious scheme involving fish breeding.
Then he kills someone in front of his eyes.
He tells our hero this is his 58th kill and not to worry. He has a system. He makes the hero part of the process threatening the life of his wife and daughter. Our meek little hero is now a criminal and doesn't know what to do. Things get even worse as cops and other crooks get involved. Can our hero man up?
This is a good little crime thriller. It's certainly a change of pace and reminds me of some of the Cohen brother's work like "Blood Simple." I was put off by the casual mistreatment of women. Why this is worse than the equally casual murder I really can't say except that it is such a constant in Japanese cinema that it just automatically puts me off.
Friday, September 23, 2011
The Perfect Host
Some films play like plays. They are very character driven, practically claustrophobic affairs. They are often a test of wills between two characters. As good as they are as films, I can just as easily imagine such a film as some off broadway play. These are the films that truly belong to the actors.
"The Perfect Host," is a good example of such a film. Here we have Clayne Crawford playing a robber. He sort of reminds me of a young Ray liotta except without the bouts of overacting. Anyway, he's just made a major robbery but he's been wounded and he's being pursued. So he needs to go to ground fast. A brief look at some mail gives him enough information that he bluffs his way into nerdy Warwick's house.
Warwick, played by David Hyde Pierce to perfection, says he's planning a dinner but invites his new guest to stay anyway. Now the game of cat and mouse begins and like the very best games the mouse thinks he's the cat at first. It's not a big twist that Warwick is not what he first seems, the twists come in just how big a nut he really is. Now the robber wishes he gave himself to police and there's a countdown that something very bad is going to happen to come morning.
To say anything more would be a crime. This is a good thriller with lots of snap. It's almost as if David Hyde Pierce was too influenced by his middle name. Definitely worth a watch if you want something with more brains than a Transformers blow me up.
"The Perfect Host," is a good example of such a film. Here we have Clayne Crawford playing a robber. He sort of reminds me of a young Ray liotta except without the bouts of overacting. Anyway, he's just made a major robbery but he's been wounded and he's being pursued. So he needs to go to ground fast. A brief look at some mail gives him enough information that he bluffs his way into nerdy Warwick's house.
Warwick, played by David Hyde Pierce to perfection, says he's planning a dinner but invites his new guest to stay anyway. Now the game of cat and mouse begins and like the very best games the mouse thinks he's the cat at first. It's not a big twist that Warwick is not what he first seems, the twists come in just how big a nut he really is. Now the robber wishes he gave himself to police and there's a countdown that something very bad is going to happen to come morning.
To say anything more would be a crime. This is a good thriller with lots of snap. It's almost as if David Hyde Pierce was too influenced by his middle name. Definitely worth a watch if you want something with more brains than a Transformers blow me up.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Breaking Bad is Back!
Well, it took them long enough. Now I have a reason to stay up late on Sunday nights. Judging from last night episode it should be another stellar season of dark suspense and humor. My cup of poison.
Our heroes wind up in their lab waiting for their boss Gus. As a counterpoint to their plan to kill Gale to save Walter, Gus' thug Victor starts cooking. This annoys Walter more than anything and he can't help but comment on how sloppy Victor is. When Gus comes the begging starts. It's not a spoiler to say someone ends up dead. What makes it a great scene is how the suspense is milked to its upmost as our very clean Gus changes into a hazmat suit for a bit of wet work. In the end, a message was delivered to Walt that will form the kernal of the season.
What Gus said was, "Get back to work."
What Gus meant was, "I may not be able to kill you, but I can make you wish for death."
Can't wait to see what happens!!
Our heroes wind up in their lab waiting for their boss Gus. As a counterpoint to their plan to kill Gale to save Walter, Gus' thug Victor starts cooking. This annoys Walter more than anything and he can't help but comment on how sloppy Victor is. When Gus comes the begging starts. It's not a spoiler to say someone ends up dead. What makes it a great scene is how the suspense is milked to its upmost as our very clean Gus changes into a hazmat suit for a bit of wet work. In the end, a message was delivered to Walt that will form the kernal of the season.
What Gus said was, "Get back to work."
What Gus meant was, "I may not be able to kill you, but I can make you wish for death."
Can't wait to see what happens!!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
The Big Bang
IRS records used to make some interesting quirky music, and as IRS films they also made some interesting quirky movies. Well I don't think IRS is around anymore, but every now and then something will pop up that reminds of films like "The Blue Iguana," or "Motorama." Certainly, "The Big Bang" would have felt right at home in the IRS line up.
The film begins on a noirish note. Private detective Ned Cruz (Antonio Banderas) is temporarily blind, beaten all to crap and is being interrogated by three very irate cops. Seems there are a lot of dead bodies and Ned's in the hot seat. It wouldn't be the first time. He's the type of private detective where a case can in with a flying, flaming albino dwarf.
His current case he took reluctantly. Seems an ex boxer, ex con, permanent mountain (played by pro wrestler Robert Maillet) has lost his girlfriend and wants her found. Since this guy is both ultra strong and stupid (he's the type who'd take a dive in fight AFTER he killed his opponent), Ned felt obligated to take the case.
So it starts as a standard private eye story, but then things go wonky. It starts when he is talking to Snoop Dog who's playing a cat named Puss making porno in a place called Schordinger's warehouse. As he describes the plot of latest opus, you realize he has created the first quantum physics porno. That might have been isolated weirdness, but then we wind up at Planck's Constant Diner. Suddenly, it's clear that physics is somehow bound up in this case.
Indeed, Sam Elliot soon becomes part of the plot as a crazed industrialist who's seeking the God particle. He's built an "off the shelf" collider and in a few days is going to set it off even it means the risk of creating a black hole. So, what's the connection between physics and missing persons? Why are people ending up dead after Ned talks with them? Who is the mysterious missing girlfriend? What does thirty million dollars in diamonds have to do with it? These questions and more, our stalwart detective seeks the answers to.
This is a good film. Not only well written and shot, but it has a cast that just boggles the mind. Sam Elliot usually plays salt of the earth types, so it's interesting to see him play a character who's nasty and crazy. He keeps tilting his head as if he's listening to what the Earth has to say. Antonio has a nice understated performance that works well with his private eye character. Robert Maillet is just a force of nature. I won't rate him as an actor (I don't want to get hurt!) but he's one of those screen presences that just overwhelms everyone else in the scene. A lot of big guys sort of look like the gentle giant type, but not Robert. I'm convinced that if he hit me, my brother in seattle would feel it.
Definitely worth a watch if you are willing to entertain some odd thoughts!
The film begins on a noirish note. Private detective Ned Cruz (Antonio Banderas) is temporarily blind, beaten all to crap and is being interrogated by three very irate cops. Seems there are a lot of dead bodies and Ned's in the hot seat. It wouldn't be the first time. He's the type of private detective where a case can in with a flying, flaming albino dwarf.
His current case he took reluctantly. Seems an ex boxer, ex con, permanent mountain (played by pro wrestler Robert Maillet) has lost his girlfriend and wants her found. Since this guy is both ultra strong and stupid (he's the type who'd take a dive in fight AFTER he killed his opponent), Ned felt obligated to take the case.
So it starts as a standard private eye story, but then things go wonky. It starts when he is talking to Snoop Dog who's playing a cat named Puss making porno in a place called Schordinger's warehouse. As he describes the plot of latest opus, you realize he has created the first quantum physics porno. That might have been isolated weirdness, but then we wind up at Planck's Constant Diner. Suddenly, it's clear that physics is somehow bound up in this case.
Indeed, Sam Elliot soon becomes part of the plot as a crazed industrialist who's seeking the God particle. He's built an "off the shelf" collider and in a few days is going to set it off even it means the risk of creating a black hole. So, what's the connection between physics and missing persons? Why are people ending up dead after Ned talks with them? Who is the mysterious missing girlfriend? What does thirty million dollars in diamonds have to do with it? These questions and more, our stalwart detective seeks the answers to.
This is a good film. Not only well written and shot, but it has a cast that just boggles the mind. Sam Elliot usually plays salt of the earth types, so it's interesting to see him play a character who's nasty and crazy. He keeps tilting his head as if he's listening to what the Earth has to say. Antonio has a nice understated performance that works well with his private eye character. Robert Maillet is just a force of nature. I won't rate him as an actor (I don't want to get hurt!) but he's one of those screen presences that just overwhelms everyone else in the scene. A lot of big guys sort of look like the gentle giant type, but not Robert. I'm convinced that if he hit me, my brother in seattle would feel it.
Definitely worth a watch if you are willing to entertain some odd thoughts!
Monday, May 23, 2011
I Saw the Devil
This Korean thriller starts strong. A woman is stranded on a snowy road then assaulted by a stranger. The stranger then brutally kills her even though she pleads that she is pregnant. Her husband, who is in the Korean version of the Secret Service, of course doesn't take this well. So he decides the world need some hot vengeance.
Now he starts off pretty right if you are going to go the crazed vigilante route. He doesn't know who killed her, so he gets a list of likely suspects and then gives them hell as he crosses them off. Since these suspects are all sleezoids the audience isn't too upset that he goes all Bronson on them. Though certainly any male had an uncomfortable feeling when he took a wrench to a fellow's jewels.
It's when he finds the guy finally that his plan goes off the rails. In one of the most epically stupid ideas I've beheld in film, he tortures the guy and then LET'S HIM GO. Why? So he can capture him and torture him again. I think we can all see the problem with this plan. This is just thoughtlessly stupid and crazy. Admittedly, it leads to some intense action like one scene where the stranger carjacks a taxi by repeatedly stabbing the driver as he is barrelling along an icy road (he's not all that rational either, but then he is the psycho killer here). Still I just can't buy this. It's good in places, too bloody in others, and just a thick slice of dumb all over.
Now he starts off pretty right if you are going to go the crazed vigilante route. He doesn't know who killed her, so he gets a list of likely suspects and then gives them hell as he crosses them off. Since these suspects are all sleezoids the audience isn't too upset that he goes all Bronson on them. Though certainly any male had an uncomfortable feeling when he took a wrench to a fellow's jewels.
It's when he finds the guy finally that his plan goes off the rails. In one of the most epically stupid ideas I've beheld in film, he tortures the guy and then LET'S HIM GO. Why? So he can capture him and torture him again. I think we can all see the problem with this plan. This is just thoughtlessly stupid and crazy. Admittedly, it leads to some intense action like one scene where the stranger carjacks a taxi by repeatedly stabbing the driver as he is barrelling along an icy road (he's not all that rational either, but then he is the psycho killer here). Still I just can't buy this. It's good in places, too bloody in others, and just a thick slice of dumb all over.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The Resident
WOW! The return of Hammer Horror. A film with Christopher Lee! What can go wrong? Well, actually nothing so much as went wrong, just my expectations were a tad high. Hammer was the british studio responsible for some of the best horror films ever made. So we should welcome the return of the name and hope it can live up to its glorious blood red past.
This film has a pretty resident trying to find a place to stay in New York. Well, she finds the perfect place. The owner and manager seem ok at first, the only hint of hinkey is that Christopher Lee is grandpa. Well of course he's not ok, he's like super stalker and then some. It doesn't take long before he's sucking on her fingers from under the bed while she's asleep. He's also using the crawlspaces in the walls to keep tabs on her and sneak into her apartment. This. Cannot. End. Well.
See, this isn't a bad film at all. It is really nice photographed. It has some nice scenes of tension, and other scenes like the finger sucking that just make you squirm. Christopher Lee doesn't do much, but like any potent spice he always adds to the stew. The trouble is, when all is said and done, this film could play on the Life Time Network as is. Nothing wrong with that, but baby that's not Hammer. Still it leaves me feeling rather optimistic. I will look out for the new Hammer name.
This film has a pretty resident trying to find a place to stay in New York. Well, she finds the perfect place. The owner and manager seem ok at first, the only hint of hinkey is that Christopher Lee is grandpa. Well of course he's not ok, he's like super stalker and then some. It doesn't take long before he's sucking on her fingers from under the bed while she's asleep. He's also using the crawlspaces in the walls to keep tabs on her and sneak into her apartment. This. Cannot. End. Well.
See, this isn't a bad film at all. It is really nice photographed. It has some nice scenes of tension, and other scenes like the finger sucking that just make you squirm. Christopher Lee doesn't do much, but like any potent spice he always adds to the stew. The trouble is, when all is said and done, this film could play on the Life Time Network as is. Nothing wrong with that, but baby that's not Hammer. Still it leaves me feeling rather optimistic. I will look out for the new Hammer name.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Buried
Ryan Reynolds is generally not in anyone's top ten of actors, at least for acting. His reputation is more of smart ass pretty boy. Nothing wrong with that, but it's obvious that Ryan wanted more which explains Buried.
In this film he plays Paul, Paul in a box. Seems that Paul got ambushed in Iraq and has woke up in a coffin like box with only a lighter and a cell phone. Desperately, he starts making calls to try to get out. It's almost a black comedy as he's put on hold or told that he's being rude. Meanwhile, his kidnappers call him and make demands. They want him to make a ransome video using his phones. The folks Paul is trying to call caution that doing so would be bad for PR.
This is definitely a one man show and Ryan rises to it. His fear and frustration is perfectly done. It gives me a lot more faith that he can carry off a major film like Green Lantern. Certainly worth a watch if you aren't claustrophobic.
In this film he plays Paul, Paul in a box. Seems that Paul got ambushed in Iraq and has woke up in a coffin like box with only a lighter and a cell phone. Desperately, he starts making calls to try to get out. It's almost a black comedy as he's put on hold or told that he's being rude. Meanwhile, his kidnappers call him and make demands. They want him to make a ransome video using his phones. The folks Paul is trying to call caution that doing so would be bad for PR.
This is definitely a one man show and Ryan rises to it. His fear and frustration is perfectly done. It gives me a lot more faith that he can carry off a major film like Green Lantern. Certainly worth a watch if you aren't claustrophobic.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Backyard
Backyard is a harrowing piece of film based roughly on the real life disappearance and murders of women just over the border in Mexico. The sheer number is staggering and stuns the imagination. What is even more stunning is the society of corruption that allows it to continue. I think this is an important film to watch, but please watch the spanish version and not the subbed version. Otherwise the poor voice work will grate and tear you away from an otherwise gripping tale!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Pleasures of the Flesh
Thrillers tend to be twisted affairs. People's passions turning in upon themselves bitting like maddened snakes. It often creates a sense of tragedy watching people following down a road that at best will lead to hell. "Pleasures of the Flesh," a 1965 japanese film directed by Nagisa Oshima certainly follows this design and one ups it. This is less "O. Henry," and more "Oh this cannot be any good whatsoever."
It begins with a long bit of narration, but don't let that put you off because really it sets it all up so very nicely. Our "hero," played by Katsuo Nakamura, is obsessed and in love with Shoko. He has known Shoko for years now being her tutor when she was in high school. He would do anything for her. Shoko, though, doesn't know his depth of feelings and wound up marrying another man. This stings a lot for our hero because of what he did for Shoko that she doesn't know.
He has killed for her.
Oh he deserved it. He was a child molester who came back to black mail the family. Our hero offed him when he wouldn't back off. Now though, he was seen doing it. But the person who saw him was also a crook and comes up with an interesting use for him. He gives him 30 million yen because the crook is about to go to prison. The deal is simple, don't touch the suitcase full of money while the crook is in jail, or else the crook will drop a dime on who killed the child molester.
Unfortunately, after watching Shoko getting married, our hero no longer cares about living. Knowing that the crook still has a year left in jail, he decides to spend all the money then kill himself. He's doing this as a grand gesture, though really a card might have been better. He starts paying a series of women a million yen a month to sleep with him. This doesn't work out so well and he gets involved with even more shadey Yakuza type. At the end, Shoko comes to him having heard he has lots of money. Unfortunately, he had already spent that money on his big grand gesture.
Let's just say the meeting doesn't go well.
Pleasures of the flesh is a noirish film that almost reaches an operatic level of self pity and excess. Fair to say, I liked it.
It begins with a long bit of narration, but don't let that put you off because really it sets it all up so very nicely. Our "hero," played by Katsuo Nakamura, is obsessed and in love with Shoko. He has known Shoko for years now being her tutor when she was in high school. He would do anything for her. Shoko, though, doesn't know his depth of feelings and wound up marrying another man. This stings a lot for our hero because of what he did for Shoko that she doesn't know.
He has killed for her.
Oh he deserved it. He was a child molester who came back to black mail the family. Our hero offed him when he wouldn't back off. Now though, he was seen doing it. But the person who saw him was also a crook and comes up with an interesting use for him. He gives him 30 million yen because the crook is about to go to prison. The deal is simple, don't touch the suitcase full of money while the crook is in jail, or else the crook will drop a dime on who killed the child molester.
Unfortunately, after watching Shoko getting married, our hero no longer cares about living. Knowing that the crook still has a year left in jail, he decides to spend all the money then kill himself. He's doing this as a grand gesture, though really a card might have been better. He starts paying a series of women a million yen a month to sleep with him. This doesn't work out so well and he gets involved with even more shadey Yakuza type. At the end, Shoko comes to him having heard he has lots of money. Unfortunately, he had already spent that money on his big grand gesture.
Let's just say the meeting doesn't go well.
Pleasures of the flesh is a noirish film that almost reaches an operatic level of self pity and excess. Fair to say, I liked it.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Frozen
Well first there was "Open Waters," and then there was "Thirst," so why not round up with a trilogy of people having to survive an over abundance of nature. "Frozen," is in some ways better than "Thirst," but not quite as good as "Open Waters," but over all it's a good film and manages to keep suspense and interest up in one of the crampest sets imaginable.
Unlike "Thirst," our heroes are not incredible doofusses (doofussi?). It's not like they were planning on going into the deep mountains with nothing but a wind breaker and semaphor flags. No, our three young people are just doing a little snow boarding and not even the extreme stuff. What happens is just a combination of bad luck. They scalp tickets onto the chair lift, and the chair lift operator is called away, and the upshot is they are now stuck for what could be a week 50 feet off the ground in blizzard weather.
First, of course there is denial. Of course, someone one will figure out there's just been a little mistake. We'll all laugh about this later. Then comes the annoying problems which suddenly gain new importance like how am I going to pee?
Then comes the frost bite.
Then comes the deep dark fear.
Then that fifty feet doesn't look so far at all. I bet I can jump down and then go get help. I mean, it's snow right? Snow's soft. Fifty feet. Not so bad.
Very nasty little film in that it combines the fear of being isolated, with both heights AND claustophobia. The actors do a nice role and really they have to. They are carrying the film here all the way. If it is not as good as Open Water it is just because the older couple in that film had more interesting relationship issues that come to fore in their harrowing experience.
Definitely worth a watch, but have a blanket handy.
You might get a chill.
Unlike "Thirst," our heroes are not incredible doofusses (doofussi?). It's not like they were planning on going into the deep mountains with nothing but a wind breaker and semaphor flags. No, our three young people are just doing a little snow boarding and not even the extreme stuff. What happens is just a combination of bad luck. They scalp tickets onto the chair lift, and the chair lift operator is called away, and the upshot is they are now stuck for what could be a week 50 feet off the ground in blizzard weather.
First, of course there is denial. Of course, someone one will figure out there's just been a little mistake. We'll all laugh about this later. Then comes the annoying problems which suddenly gain new importance like how am I going to pee?
Then comes the frost bite.
Then comes the deep dark fear.
Then that fifty feet doesn't look so far at all. I bet I can jump down and then go get help. I mean, it's snow right? Snow's soft. Fifty feet. Not so bad.
Very nasty little film in that it combines the fear of being isolated, with both heights AND claustophobia. The actors do a nice role and really they have to. They are carrying the film here all the way. If it is not as good as Open Water it is just because the older couple in that film had more interesting relationship issues that come to fore in their harrowing experience.
Definitely worth a watch, but have a blanket handy.
You might get a chill.
Friday, September 24, 2010
The Experiment
Psychologists are curious people. They want to know what makes us tick. That means they sometimes come up with an experiment or two. They ask people their favorite colour, or which stick is longer, or sometimes they'll ask you to shock someone. Yes, psychologists are curious people and sometimes their experiments go to the edge of sadism, and put their toe on the otherside.
Then jump.
Which brings us to "The Experiment," loosely based on a real experiment. The experiment is simple, a bunch of normal people are divided into two groups. Convicts who will be treated as prisoners with no civil rights, and guards who will instill order and disciplin. If the rules the guards have been given are not followed, then the experiment ends early and no one gets paid. If there is physical violence the experiment will end and no one gets paid. Within that wide context the guards are free to do whatever they want to keep order.
It's truly scary to see how quickly people lose their identities. They quickly forget they are just a bunch of guys doing an experiment and really become convicts and guards. It's scary because this is exactly how quick it happened in the original experiments. One con, number 77, tries to look after the other cons and keep their dignity. The head guard realizes that dignity is exactly the thing that they are free to rob from the cons. As the stakes get higher the guards humiliate and degrade their charges, pushing harder and harder. It is only a matter of time before everything explodes. The only question is will those in charge of the experiment end it before then, or is the explosion the event they want to observe?
The film is both well shot and acted. It is certainly better to watch this fiction of a the real experiment than the experiment itself. There are somethings people shouldn't really see. Luckily this film is something you should see.
Then jump.
Which brings us to "The Experiment," loosely based on a real experiment. The experiment is simple, a bunch of normal people are divided into two groups. Convicts who will be treated as prisoners with no civil rights, and guards who will instill order and disciplin. If the rules the guards have been given are not followed, then the experiment ends early and no one gets paid. If there is physical violence the experiment will end and no one gets paid. Within that wide context the guards are free to do whatever they want to keep order.
It's truly scary to see how quickly people lose their identities. They quickly forget they are just a bunch of guys doing an experiment and really become convicts and guards. It's scary because this is exactly how quick it happened in the original experiments. One con, number 77, tries to look after the other cons and keep their dignity. The head guard realizes that dignity is exactly the thing that they are free to rob from the cons. As the stakes get higher the guards humiliate and degrade their charges, pushing harder and harder. It is only a matter of time before everything explodes. The only question is will those in charge of the experiment end it before then, or is the explosion the event they want to observe?
The film is both well shot and acted. It is certainly better to watch this fiction of a the real experiment than the experiment itself. There are somethings people shouldn't really see. Luckily this film is something you should see.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Thriller part 2
Still watching "Thriller" and enjoying it immensely. I love some of the back stories on Boris Karloff. Everyone (Bela lugosi excepted) seem to have nothing but love for the man. He was the type that every dog's tail would wag for. He was also a logger early on, and that always is good to me cause my dad was a logger.
The stand out episode this day was Masquerade with Elizabeth "Bewitched" Montgomery and Tom "newhart" Posten. They make a great daffy couple as they explore a "haunted" mansion in "Masquerade." It is the perfect Thriller show. Old mansion, crazy people, nice little twist at the end. Certainly makes you wish for more episodes. Oddly, rumor is that the show wasn't killed by ratings but because it offended Alfred Hitchcock who's own show was being produced by the same company. Being Hollywood, I wouldn't neccessarily believe the story but I don't see any real positive evidence for it.
The stand out episode this day was Masquerade with Elizabeth "Bewitched" Montgomery and Tom "newhart" Posten. They make a great daffy couple as they explore a "haunted" mansion in "Masquerade." It is the perfect Thriller show. Old mansion, crazy people, nice little twist at the end. Certainly makes you wish for more episodes. Oddly, rumor is that the show wasn't killed by ratings but because it offended Alfred Hitchcock who's own show was being produced by the same company. Being Hollywood, I wouldn't neccessarily believe the story but I don't see any real positive evidence for it.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Cruel Gun Story
Nikkatsu was a studio in Japan in the fifties and sixties that produced garbage. A lot of it was "pink" which was japanese soft porn. A lot of it was yakuza and yakuza in prison pictures. As I said garbage, but there's a funny thing that can happen when no one is expecting anything good. That lack of interference can allow some young film makers to bud. So like a rose on a midden heap from Nikkatsu there are a few thorny gems.
"Cruel Gun Story," (Kenju zankoku monogatari) is one of these. It's a classic noir type film. Our hero is hard bitten but has a good heart and a good reason why he's a criminal. He lost his family in Manchuria save for his sister who is now paralyzed. For her he would do anything, and the crime bosses know that. They get him to plan and execute a daring theft of over 120 million yet. Unfortunately, the guys they set him up with aren't all trust worthy, and when you come to it is a crime boss a trustworthy person? There are crosses both double and triple, and a lot of blood will be spilled.
Some critics say this film is very anti western. They point that at the end it is set in an abandoned US military area and there are always US jets flying over head as if watching what is below. They point out how the film itself is a knowning pastiche of american noir films. Could be, could be, I say though just enjoy the film for what it is. A good violent heist film!
"Cruel Gun Story," (Kenju zankoku monogatari) is one of these. It's a classic noir type film. Our hero is hard bitten but has a good heart and a good reason why he's a criminal. He lost his family in Manchuria save for his sister who is now paralyzed. For her he would do anything, and the crime bosses know that. They get him to plan and execute a daring theft of over 120 million yet. Unfortunately, the guys they set him up with aren't all trust worthy, and when you come to it is a crime boss a trustworthy person? There are crosses both double and triple, and a lot of blood will be spilled.
Some critics say this film is very anti western. They point that at the end it is set in an abandoned US military area and there are always US jets flying over head as if watching what is below. They point out how the film itself is a knowning pastiche of american noir films. Could be, could be, I say though just enjoy the film for what it is. A good violent heist film!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Red Riding Trilogy
A trilogy of films set in North England in 1974, 1980, and 1984. They broadly are based on the Yorkshire ripper cases but then take that thread and run with it. These are dark raw films that are very noirish as corruption beats like black blood for these films. I really can't write more about it without having to get out the neon "Spoilers alert" sign. I love the feel of these films. I love the beaten down horrible architecture of these dying streets of britain. Definitely watch. I love the quote in the first film as one policeman says "THIS IS THE NORTH, WE DO WHAT WE WANT!!!"
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Harry Brown
Michael Caine can kill me any time. First because you can tell he really didn't want to kill me. We are just all victims of circumstance, mate, nothing personal. And secondly, he would cooly inform me as I was dying that "You Sir, did not maintain your weapon." See, I'd not only be killed but get a valuable gun safety tip.
Harry Brown is about an older gentleman who saw time in war and wants to put that all behind him. But, like in the Godfather films, they just keep dragging him back. In this case it is because of young punks running around thinking they own the streets. Well they don't and after a friend of Harry gets off'd it's time to show them what an old war dog knows. Before you know it the cops are investigating as well, but they more want to keep to their preconceived ideas on what is going on.
This is a good taunt little thriller that is lean and mean. Of course the star of the show is Mr. Caine is is as wonderful as always. Not to gush, but I'd watch him read the phone book. He's lucky he's a brit or I'd petition he run for the presidency. We've already had one actor, why not now a good one?
Any hoo, definitely give it a watch and this would be a good double feature with grand torino!!!!!
Harry Brown is about an older gentleman who saw time in war and wants to put that all behind him. But, like in the Godfather films, they just keep dragging him back. In this case it is because of young punks running around thinking they own the streets. Well they don't and after a friend of Harry gets off'd it's time to show them what an old war dog knows. Before you know it the cops are investigating as well, but they more want to keep to their preconceived ideas on what is going on.
This is a good taunt little thriller that is lean and mean. Of course the star of the show is Mr. Caine is is as wonderful as always. Not to gush, but I'd watch him read the phone book. He's lucky he's a brit or I'd petition he run for the presidency. We've already had one actor, why not now a good one?
Any hoo, definitely give it a watch and this would be a good double feature with grand torino!!!!!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Cash
"Cash" is a fun little film. Money falls from the sky in a suitcase on some guys car. Of course he should turn it in. Of course he shouldn't spend it. He keeps it, he spends it. He and his wife are finally feeling a bit of good luck.
Then the guy who has been given the job of getting the money back shows up. He's polite enough, but very insistent. Not only does he want the money they haven't spent yet back, but he wants them to pay the balance of what they did spend. Of course they don't have it, but it's wonderful what a motivational talk from a guy with a gun can do.
A cute, small, dark tale of why it is always better to listen to the angel on your shoulder.
Then the guy who has been given the job of getting the money back shows up. He's polite enough, but very insistent. Not only does he want the money they haven't spent yet back, but he wants them to pay the balance of what they did spend. Of course they don't have it, but it's wonderful what a motivational talk from a guy with a gun can do.
A cute, small, dark tale of why it is always better to listen to the angel on your shoulder.
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