I was traveling in New Zealand recently and during my stay in Christchurch I sat down with a bunch of strangers in our hostel common room and watched Heavenly Creatures for the first time. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't uncomfortable, but the best films are ones that push the boundaries of your comfort zone. Jackson created a very edgy film here, one that shows the cruelty of the world in the eyes of young women when they feel like they're in a no win situation. The audience moves in and out of the fantasy world they create with startling ease, evidence of Jackson's deft handling. Their desperation is a result of the alienation that all young people feel at one time. When they meet each other, they find an escape. The relationship becomes too intense for their parents to handle and they make an attempt to separate them, believing that lesbianism is a form of psychosis. The murder of Pauline's mother is never justified, but we can't really hate the two girls either, well at least not Kate Winslet's character. There's so much that can be said here, but the most compelling thing is that these events really happened. Heavenly Creatures is based on one of New Zealand's most sensationalized murders. The lead actresses give fine performances and Jackson proves that he can do strange and wonderful things with any material he is given.
Reviews
6 Reviews
Step Brothers
(2008)
Not worth your time
27 May 2009
This movie fails in to achieve the one objective that every comedy has: to be funny.
40 something guys that act like 12 year olds, there's an original idea. What's worse is that I have to watch Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly doing it. Ferrell only has the potential to be funny in 2 minute increments when he does films like this. The gags just get old too fast. I know Reilly is a good actor. He proved it with his roles in films like Chicago and The Hours. So why does he have to participate in films like this? The premise is dull and pointless, the script is unnecessarily vulgar, and the characters are beyond irritating. It's irrepressibly juvenile in the worst way.
I understand that some people like this kind of comedy, and that's great. To each their own. It's great for you guys, because there's so much of it around now. It falls along the same lines as Old School, Anchorman, and Dodgeball, this brand of comedy that seems to have the film industry in a strangle hold. What I'm saying is that we need something different. There's just too much of this kind of film. So until someone comes up with something different, I'm sticking to oldies.
40 something guys that act like 12 year olds, there's an original idea. What's worse is that I have to watch Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly doing it. Ferrell only has the potential to be funny in 2 minute increments when he does films like this. The gags just get old too fast. I know Reilly is a good actor. He proved it with his roles in films like Chicago and The Hours. So why does he have to participate in films like this? The premise is dull and pointless, the script is unnecessarily vulgar, and the characters are beyond irritating. It's irrepressibly juvenile in the worst way.
I understand that some people like this kind of comedy, and that's great. To each their own. It's great for you guys, because there's so much of it around now. It falls along the same lines as Old School, Anchorman, and Dodgeball, this brand of comedy that seems to have the film industry in a strangle hold. What I'm saying is that we need something different. There's just too much of this kind of film. So until someone comes up with something different, I'm sticking to oldies.
Legend
(1985)
A beautiful film
27 May 2009
Just to clarify here, I'm talking about the director's cut, not the original American release. I'm not going to get in to the whole argument over which is better.
This film contains some of the most stunning imagery I've ever seen. Some of the shots are art pieces in their own right and are capable of standing apart from the film. An example is the shot following Darkness' entrance through the mirror, when he bends down and his cloak twists out behind him. Pure magic.
Ridley Scott and his crew built an entire indoor forest complete with real birds to make this film come to life. He puts an extraordinary amount of thought and planning behind the visual design and each of his shots which is the reason they look so amazing. The design of Darkness' character, especially the prosthetics and make up, is truly great. Poor Tim Curry must've sat in that make up chair for hours!
Don't get me wrong, the film has flaws. The script isn't perfect and comes across a little cheesy in parts. However there are also some great moments (the scene between Lily and Darkness in his lair comes to mind). The design is definitely the strong point of the film though, and who can resist a film so dedicated to exploring the struggle between good and evil, with a few unicorns mixed in to keep the kiddies happy of course. Basically, it's pure fantasy in it's most self indulgent form.
This film contains some of the most stunning imagery I've ever seen. Some of the shots are art pieces in their own right and are capable of standing apart from the film. An example is the shot following Darkness' entrance through the mirror, when he bends down and his cloak twists out behind him. Pure magic.
Ridley Scott and his crew built an entire indoor forest complete with real birds to make this film come to life. He puts an extraordinary amount of thought and planning behind the visual design and each of his shots which is the reason they look so amazing. The design of Darkness' character, especially the prosthetics and make up, is truly great. Poor Tim Curry must've sat in that make up chair for hours!
Don't get me wrong, the film has flaws. The script isn't perfect and comes across a little cheesy in parts. However there are also some great moments (the scene between Lily and Darkness in his lair comes to mind). The design is definitely the strong point of the film though, and who can resist a film so dedicated to exploring the struggle between good and evil, with a few unicorns mixed in to keep the kiddies happy of course. Basically, it's pure fantasy in it's most self indulgent form.
Halloween
(1978)
The original
27 May 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I'll be the first to admit that I don't like slasher films. They are all so similar and unoriginal, and also spawn hoards of ridiculous sequels that will spatter the audience with meaningless gore.
However....
Halloween is the original modern slasher film, and it is unbelievably scary. What makes it scary is inevitability. The shots are designed to make the audience feel Myers' presence even though we can't see him. We are also intimately acquainted with Myers after the opening sequence of the film, a long tracking shot of Myers' first murder from his perspective. Just the sound of his breathing alone is enough for the audience to understand his relentlessness and insanity. We know he will always be there, just out of frame. One of the creepiest things about this film is how much of it takes place from his visual perspective. He is a voyeur, and it puts us in a very uncomfortable place when we share his vision.
Personally, I think one of the scariest moments in the film is when Jamie's character sees him on the sidewalk DURING THE DAY. He's there and then gone, and she thinks she imagined it. The fact that he's not hindered by the openness of operating in sunlight is another testament to his relentless nature. There are other moments similar to this one throughout the film which are used to ratchet up the tension. The murders themselves are proceeded by well placed small details that clue the audience in, but the characters never notice, leaving us held in suspense.
This is a well crafted film made with almost no money, proof that a person with intelligence can make a good movie without a huge budget. There are a large number of films that try to imitate the style and success of Carpenter's Halloween, but they don't come close.
However....
Halloween is the original modern slasher film, and it is unbelievably scary. What makes it scary is inevitability. The shots are designed to make the audience feel Myers' presence even though we can't see him. We are also intimately acquainted with Myers after the opening sequence of the film, a long tracking shot of Myers' first murder from his perspective. Just the sound of his breathing alone is enough for the audience to understand his relentlessness and insanity. We know he will always be there, just out of frame. One of the creepiest things about this film is how much of it takes place from his visual perspective. He is a voyeur, and it puts us in a very uncomfortable place when we share his vision.
Personally, I think one of the scariest moments in the film is when Jamie's character sees him on the sidewalk DURING THE DAY. He's there and then gone, and she thinks she imagined it. The fact that he's not hindered by the openness of operating in sunlight is another testament to his relentless nature. There are other moments similar to this one throughout the film which are used to ratchet up the tension. The murders themselves are proceeded by well placed small details that clue the audience in, but the characters never notice, leaving us held in suspense.
This is a well crafted film made with almost no money, proof that a person with intelligence can make a good movie without a huge budget. There are a large number of films that try to imitate the style and success of Carpenter's Halloween, but they don't come close.
Signs
(2002)
Pure Genius
27 May 2009
Warning: Spoilers
When this film came out I was stunned by the negative reviews it received. I thought people would have had enough time to figure it out. M. Night Shyamalan's films are never entirely about the "scare factor." There's always another layer, another discussion taking place. This movie is about a man who's lost his faith. It's not about an alien invasion at all. The invasion provides an interesting background, an extraordinary environment of stress and fear that drives the characters. The title Signs is a dual reference to the crop circle and the divine markers that lead Graham back to his faith, allowing him to save his family.
The other thing that was overlooked was Shyamalan's superb sense of art. Everything has been carefully crafted, every shot perfectly framed for his purposes. He knows how to manipulate an audience through his choice of camera angles and editing patterns. After all, what's most frightening is what you can't see. What sells the danger is the position and movement of the camera, the sequence of shots, the sound, and the actors' reactions. The other amazing thing is the film's sense of extreme isolation. Almost the entire film takes place at the farm, which places a lot of responsibility on both the actors and the director to keep things fresh and innovative.
This film is so underrated, but it does require the patience to think about what you're watching. Pay attention and you'll enjoy it too!
The other thing that was overlooked was Shyamalan's superb sense of art. Everything has been carefully crafted, every shot perfectly framed for his purposes. He knows how to manipulate an audience through his choice of camera angles and editing patterns. After all, what's most frightening is what you can't see. What sells the danger is the position and movement of the camera, the sequence of shots, the sound, and the actors' reactions. The other amazing thing is the film's sense of extreme isolation. Almost the entire film takes place at the farm, which places a lot of responsibility on both the actors and the director to keep things fresh and innovative.
This film is so underrated, but it does require the patience to think about what you're watching. Pay attention and you'll enjoy it too!
Hindsight
(I) (2008)
Thrills and a hidden social commentary...
27 May 2009
Dina and Ronnie are a couple that live a carefree life taking what they want from others. They don't pay their rent, they steal cars, and don't seem to care about the consequences. All of their fun comes to a screeching halt when Dina discovers that she is pregnant. They have no way to provide for a child, so they decide to sell their baby to a desperate couple they find online. Paul and Maria live the perfect suburban lifestyle with a brand new model home and expensive cars, but what they really want has always been denied to them. They cannot have children. The action begins when the couples meet for the first time. Immediately it becomes clear that nothing is what it appears to be. Tension builds as ulterior motives are uncovered on both sides of the deal, and what was supposed to be an easy con for Ronnie and Dina spins violently out of control.
The film opens with Dina hitching a ride with Peter, and she recounts her tale through a series of flashbacks. It's a interesting choice for a thriller. If not handled carefully this kind of narrative structure can ruin the momentum of a film, especially one that relies on thrills. However, this film has something more to offer. The best kind of horror film is the one that focuses on social issues or stigmas and turns them around to show us what we are really afraid of. Hindsight is about choice and the consequences of materialism. How much is one baby worth? Or that boat in Florida? How far will you go to get what you want? And why do you want it in the first place? That last question is the most important. It all comes back to morality, and, of course, a nice little twist ending to tie things off.
Technically the film is sound. It has some great thrills, built up by creative use of sound and lighting design. The actors deliver well enough and the plot has enough turns to keep people guessing. There's enough gore to keep the spatter crowd entertained, and some depth for those of us who like to look in to film a little more deeply. All in all, definitely worth your time.
The film opens with Dina hitching a ride with Peter, and she recounts her tale through a series of flashbacks. It's a interesting choice for a thriller. If not handled carefully this kind of narrative structure can ruin the momentum of a film, especially one that relies on thrills. However, this film has something more to offer. The best kind of horror film is the one that focuses on social issues or stigmas and turns them around to show us what we are really afraid of. Hindsight is about choice and the consequences of materialism. How much is one baby worth? Or that boat in Florida? How far will you go to get what you want? And why do you want it in the first place? That last question is the most important. It all comes back to morality, and, of course, a nice little twist ending to tie things off.
Technically the film is sound. It has some great thrills, built up by creative use of sound and lighting design. The actors deliver well enough and the plot has enough turns to keep people guessing. There's enough gore to keep the spatter crowd entertained, and some depth for those of us who like to look in to film a little more deeply. All in all, definitely worth your time.
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