Author Archive

Rental Review | Somewhere

It took me sometime to really put into thoughts (let alone words) how I truly felt about Sofia Coppola’s Somewhere. It is a film that revels in the mundane; the moments of life that bore us, or (if you look closely) move us. The plot of the film is simple. Movie star Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) goes about his daily routine with little interest or affection in his lifestyle. He walks aloof at the Chateau Marmont, drifts in and out of parties, does PR work (poorly), and has the loneliest makeup test known to man. When his daughter Cleo (Elle Fanning) is dropped into his care he is able to make sense of his life and accept responsibility for his actions. There are some really fantastic elements to Coppola’s film such as: Dorff and Fanning who are understated and remarkable, Coppola and her director of photography Harris Savides’s eye for composition, and the setting and tone of the piece. Much of the tone of the film is done without dialogue and it features only select music from Phoenix and The Strokes that adds meaning and gravitas to the film. My favorite aspect of the film is the setting, the Chateau Marmont Hotel. I have always wanted to see a film set there, and Somewhere captures a certain essence of disconnection that could only come from that specific location. The most interesting gamble, and at first what I thought would be a problem, is hoping the audience will care for a movie star who is bored and unsatisfied. Why care? I think the answer is obvious. He is a human being. He has doubts, struggles, and insecurities, just like us. Overall, Somewhere is a unique viewing experience and I believe if you are a fan of Coppola’s previous work (The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation, and Marie Antoinette) then you will connect with at least some aspects of Somewhere.

The Stream | The Accidental Tourist

My senior year of high school, I discovered Lawrence Kasdan’s film The Accidental Tourist and loved it immediately. Considering that was eight years ago, I decided it was time to revisit the film. Upon re-watching it I realized that not only did it hold up, but it was even more poignant and rewarding than before. The understated and brilliant, William Hurt plays Macon, a travel writer whose books tell how to travel without leaving your comfort zone. After the sudden and tragic death of his child, he and his wife (Kathleen Turner) drift apart and he finds himself struggling to get back into the groove of life. However, he soon meets Muriel (Geena Davis) who dares him to break out of his mundane safe life and take a chance. Letting go and starting over are themes that have been around forever, but Kasdan breathes life into his piece by introducing unique characters whose quirks and oddities show flawed human beings. With every line of dialogue and character action, the audience is presented with individuals who struggle with who they are and show their ability to change. This alone marks The Accidental Tourist as a well crafted ensemble character piece, and certainly worth your time. Highly recommended and available on Netflix watch instantly.

Trailer Exam | The Descendants

Some time ago I wrote an article expressing my love for the work of Alexander Payne and showcasing a clip from his newest film, The Descendants. Well, it turns out the clip is actually lifted directly from the trailer that debuted today. If you weren’t already sold based on the talent involved, this trailer should really do the trick. On display is Alexander Payne’s usual wry intelligent humor and his meditation on our place in this world. The film stars George Clooney as a dad who considers himself “the understudy” parent, who is forced to raise his daughters alone after his wife is injured. He then learns a secret kept from him, that changes everything. Simply put, it looks fantastic. Check it out below.

“Your Nightmare’s Only Getting Worse” | Rental Review of I Saw the Devil

Director Jee-Woon Kim creates something of a multiple genre masterpiece with his 2010 film, I Saw the Devil. It is a film that shifts tone so much, it takes a certain amount of true craftsmanship to maintain a cohesiveness. Up front, this is not a film for the masses. Within this film is both manic blood curdling violence and the emotional exploration of the nature of loss and vengeance. It’s also a brutal roller coaster of the senses (I should be quoted on the DVD cover with that line), and I recommend it. Read the rest of this entry »

Under the Radar | Monsters

Following article is not a review, but more of a stance on why I believe Monsters is an underrated film. It does contain minor spoilers for the film, so if you would like to read a spoiler free review be sure to check out Mr. Edens’ review here. Otherwise, by all means, continue on.

Last year a small independent film called Monsters made its way on to my top ten films of 2010. It starred no “names” and was shot with no more than a crew of six people. There was no shooting script and only a loose outline was used as a guideline for the actors to understand the scene. Some were mislead. After all a film with the ambiguous, yet straightforward, title Monsters, yields certain expectations. However, director Gareth Edwards abandoned the traditional monster disaster movie extravaganza in favor of a somber character piece. With Andrew (Scoot McNairy) and Sam (Whitney Able) taking center frame, we are able to see a road film romance used as a parable for all humanity. Read the rest of this entry »

Film Clip | The Descendants

I am a huge fan of the work of Alexander Payne, plain and simple. Over the course of four films he has created a beautiful, dark, funny, and sardonic look at America. He is a master and his voice is original, while also paying homage to masters such as Federico Fellini and Hal Ashby. Unfortunately, Payne has been missing from the theaters since his 2004 masterpiece Sideways. He directed a segment of the 2006 film, Paris, Je t’aime, as well as the pilot for the HBO series Hung (which I highly recommend), but I still longed for his next project. Lucky for me (and fellow film fans), his newest film The Descendants, starring George Clooney, hits theaters December 16th. A trailer has yet to surface, but a humorous clip from the film has popped up. The clip shows next to nothing, but does offer Payne’s signature style and a good laugh. To check it out, click here.

Synopsis via IMDB

A land baron tries to re-connect with his two daughters after his wife suffers a boating accident.

Double Feature | Eraserhead and Blue Velvet

As of late I have been diving into David Lynch and Mark Frost’s 1990 series, Twin Peaks.  Soaked in vibrant characters, haunting imagery, and an idiosyncratic sense of humor, Twin Peaks is the type of storytelling that only works because of David Lynch’s unique take on the world around him. Having your mind filled with “Lynchian” imagery can be both exhilarating and trying. Picking apart his imagery and themes can also be a rewarding experience. In the following article I will be recommending two films from Lynch, his directorial debut Eraserhead and (my personal favorite) the neo-noir Blue Velvet. Read the rest of this entry »

The Stream | Lumet, Anderson, and Maddin

The Stream is back once again, and in this edition I discuss three very different films from three very different filmmakers. The late cinematic great Sidney Lumet, brooding genre filmmaker Brad Anderson, and experimental auteur Guy Maddin are all featured. Remember all films presented here are on Netflix watch instantly and I recommend checking them out. Read the rest of this entry »

RIP Sidney Lumet 1924-2011

Yesterday the New York Times announced the sad news that filmmaker and Hollywood legend, Sidney Lumet, died at the age of 86. The cause of his death was lymphoma, and I feel that all film fans can agree this is a tragic loss. Lumet is responsible for some of the greatest films of all time, such as: 12 Angry Men, The Fugitive Kind, SerpicoDog Day Afternoon, Network, The Verdict, Before the Devil Knows Your Dead, and countless others. Sidney Lumet was a one of a kind filmmaker and will be greatly missed.

Via nytimes.

Agent Mulder Was His Idea! | Review of Paul

As I sat down for Paul, I begin to think about the niche sub-genre of film geek road movies. Fanboys, Kyle Newman’s 2008 tribute to all things located in a galaxy far away came to mind. Kevin Smith’s übergeek comedy, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and (a film I have not seen, but Mr. Will has) Free Enterprise both fit nicely into this category. Then I started thinking about where those movies fail. Is it the enclosed nature of the stories? After all, you do have to be familiar with (if not a full blown fan) of geek culture as pertaining to film. Is it the talent involved? Jay and Silent Bob was loaded with stars in roles, but they only seemed to have taken the job to cut up. So my hopes were high for Paul. A broader take on this type of material couldn’t hurt, and the film is directed by Greg Mottola (Adventureland, a recent favorite of mine) and stars two of the funniest men around, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Read the rest of this entry »