Under the Radar
Under The Radar | Song of the South
God bless my father. He has instilled in me the love of films and to appreciate the classics. That said, he managed to obtain a bootleg copy of Song of the South on DVD and I mouth wateringly needed to see it. Mainly because I don’t understand why the hell Disney is so afraid of this film and it’s release to the masses. All those kids who love the “Splash Mountain” ride at Disneyland have no f**king clue about the origin of its characters. Man up Disney, we all have demons from our past, and we shouldn’t be afraid of them. Proceed.
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 »
In the Spotlight/Under the Radar – Eric Bana
Bana and Saoirse Ronan in "Hanna"
Joe Wright’s Hanna seems to be the movie to see this weekend for several reasons, one of which is the criminally under-cast Australian actor Eric Bana. The chance to see him in what people are calling the best action sequence of 2011 has got my blood up, especially given the fact that Wright filmed it all in one long take. (His idea of rebelling against the Bourne shakycam syndrome) Having seen Bana in several action oriented roles in his decade long film career I’m sure he can handle anything that’s thrown at him. Yet, what makes him truly fascinating to watch as an actor is the way he balances this with a quiet sensitivity that sucks you into his character’s world. I’m primarily thinking of Steven Spielberg’s Munich (in which he was robbed of an Oscar nomination) but that’s ok because it led to his being the catalyst for the hit Judd Apatow movie Knocked Up…
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Under the Radar | Steven Soderbergh
I have to admit, I was saddened by Steven Soderbergh’s recent (yet coy) announcement that he would be retiring from the filmmaking business. He has four remaining films (Haywire, Contagion, Liberace, and The Man From U.N.C.L.E), but after they are released he will bow out. This is a shame; Soderbergh is a true auteur and a versatile unique voice. Best known by mass audiences for the lavishly fun Ocean’s Trilogy, Soderbergh proves that one can be both an experimental artist and a Hollywood money maker. Continue on for a list of five films by Mr. Soderbergh that aren’t talked about nearly enough. Read the rest of this entry »
Under the Radar/The Stream | Michael Mann’s “The Keep”
THEY WERE ALL DRAWN TO THE KEEP. The soldiers who brought death. The father and daughter fighting for life. The people who have always feared it. And the one man who knows its secret… THE KEEP Tonight, they will all face the evil.
For film fans there is often no greater treasure than viewing a movie you had no idea existed, or in the case of Michael Mann‘s 1983 gothic horror film The Keep, re-discovering a film that has been forgotten by it’s studio. The Keep was always the hole in Mann’s filmography that I had hoped to someday fill, although doing so would involve tracking down a crummy VHS pan and scan version of a movie that was shot in 70mm (the IMAX of it’s time). For me, any knowledge of the picture was limited to it’s IMDB page and the synopsis posted there.
Nazis guard a citadel that harbors a dangerous force that starts wreaking havoc and death upon them, forcing an uneasy alliance with a Jewish professional who can stop it.
Intriguing no? I for one love WWII stories and anytime Mann steps out of the urban landscape and into a period piece is worth seeing.
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Under the Radar | Winter’s Bone
Winter’s Bone has been receiving a lot of attention since its release, and rightly so. It is an excellent thriller that executes its story in a way that is both refreshing and unpredictable. With it’s cold desolate location, the film takes hold and doesn’t let go. Whether it’s from the gut wrenching performance of Jennifer Lawrence as the films protagonist Ree Dolly, or the blood curdling climax, Winter’s Bone will send a chill down your spine. In a good way. Read the rest of this entry »
Under the Radar | Hesher
This is a column that will focus on little known films, directors, writers, and actors. The column does not exist to tell you what to watch, but to simply help raise interest in the great art and talent that goes unseen year by year. So let’s begin. The film being spotlighted is the still unreleased Hesher. I understand that it is strange to recommend a film I have yet to see, but I mainly want to draw some attention to a film that seems to have great potential. Read the rest of this entry »
Under the Radar | The Lookout
This is a column that will focus on little known films, directors, writers, and actors. The column does not exist to tell you what to watch, but to simply help raise interest in the great art and talent that goes unseen year by year. So let’s begin. The film I will be spotlighting is Scott Frank‘s The Lookout. Read the rest of this entry »
Under the Radar | At Close Range
This is a column that will focus on little known films, directors, writers, and actors. The column does not exist to tell you what to watch, but to simply help raise interest in the great art and talent that goes unseen year by year. So let’s begin. The film I will be spotlighting is James Foley‘s At Close Range. Read the rest of this entry »
Under the Radar | River Phoenix
This is a column that will focus on little known films, directors, writers, and actors. The column does not exist to tell you what to watch, but to simply help raise interest in the great art and talent that goes unseen year by year. So let’s begin. In this edition I will be spotlighting River Phoenix.
On August 23, River Phoenix would have been forty years old with a list of film credits a mile long. Unfortunately his life had another path and although he left the world to soon, after an accidental overdoes on Halloween in 1993, he crafted a legacy of an actor whose film choices dared to be courageous. His talent showed both the brilliant actor he was and the charismatic movie star he would have become. Continue on for six films I recommend you see in honor of River Phoenix. Read the rest of this entry »
