The Movie: Tape (2001) R
Three high school friends (Ethan Hawke, Robert Sean Leonard and Uma Thurman) reunite for the first time in 10 years in a motel room. Here they play out an unresolved dramatic event from their final days in high school . Each character reveals his or her true feelings and motivation. behind the high school episode. The film also exposes how different men and women view the same event.
What I liked:The ensemble acting was outstanding. The three actors worked together flawlessly. I loved the soundtrack, I'm Sorry sung by Brenda Lee. This is a well-wort- you-time flick.
What I disliked: A bit too talky for me. It was written for the stage and I would think perform best there.
The Movie:Hangman's Curse -2003) PG-13
A horror lurks at Rogers High School and a family of investigators attempt to discover the deadly power that's killing off students one by one. Nate and Sarah Springfield and their two teenage kids go undercover to find the unspeakable evil.
What I liked: The only thing I liked in this movie was the well trained tarantula spiders. Spider freak me out and this movies had hundreds if not thousands. The Special Spider Feature offered on the DVD is more exciting than the movie!
What I disliked: I disliked just about everything in this movie, but I especially disliked the character of the "mad" scientist (who is actually the author of the book from which the movie was taken). His acting was soooo bad i was embarrassed for the poor fellow. Unless your into these adolescent type horror movies save your money.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Saw IV & Prayer for the Dying - 2 Movies
The Movie: Saw IV - (2007) UR
The movie begins with Jeff searching for his missing daughter. A videotape from the dead serial killer Jigsaw is Jeff's only lead in his frantic search. The film jumps back and forth in time throughout the entire Saw series and ties up some bloody loose ends left over from the previous films.
What I liked: I enjoyed the technical effects by both the movie people and Jigsaw himself!
What I disliked: Hopping back and forth got a bit confusing for an old mind.
The Movie: Prayer for the Dying - (1987) R
Mickey Rourke a young IRA terrorist who is tired of violence after accidentally blowing up a school bus full of children. Now useless to his cause, he's being pursued by both the British and the IRA. Alan Bates a sadistic mobster offers Rourke a way out. He'll need to commit just one more murder. Bob Hoskins in the unlikely role of a priest witnesses the killing, and Rourke uses the Catholic confessional as a way of silencing the priest.
What I liked: Mickey Rourke's performance is sterling.
What I disliked: It's sometimes, in fact often, hard to follow the Irish dialect.
The movie begins with Jeff searching for his missing daughter. A videotape from the dead serial killer Jigsaw is Jeff's only lead in his frantic search. The film jumps back and forth in time throughout the entire Saw series and ties up some bloody loose ends left over from the previous films.
What I liked: I enjoyed the technical effects by both the movie people and Jigsaw himself!
What I disliked: Hopping back and forth got a bit confusing for an old mind.
The Movie: Prayer for the Dying - (1987) R
Mickey Rourke a young IRA terrorist who is tired of violence after accidentally blowing up a school bus full of children. Now useless to his cause, he's being pursued by both the British and the IRA. Alan Bates a sadistic mobster offers Rourke a way out. He'll need to commit just one more murder. Bob Hoskins in the unlikely role of a priest witnesses the killing, and Rourke uses the Catholic confessional as a way of silencing the priest.
What I liked: Mickey Rourke's performance is sterling.
What I disliked: It's sometimes, in fact often, hard to follow the Irish dialect.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Two Movie Versions Of Funny Games
I spent the evening viewing the movies Funny Games (1998) and Funny Games (2007). It was interesting to compare these two movies directed by the same German director, Michael Haneke. The 1998 version was in German while the 2007 version was in English.
The story involves a married couple and their son who are spending their vacation at their lakeside home. What begins as a peaceful day is interrupted by a pair of sadistic young men who enjoy playing funny, scary games of violence.
In the German version the wife and husband are played by Susanne Lothar and Ulrich Muhe.
In the English version the wife and husband are played by Naomi Watts and Tim Roth.
The dialog and action was almost identical throughout both movies. One major difference was that Naomi Watts remained in her underware after being forced to undress. In the German version Susanne Lothar is also forced to undress, but is later allowed to put on all of her clothes.
I felt the acting was equally good in both versions, however, the sadistic young men in the English version were to me more frightening.
I give both movies 3 out of 5 stars.
The story involves a married couple and their son who are spending their vacation at their lakeside home. What begins as a peaceful day is interrupted by a pair of sadistic young men who enjoy playing funny, scary games of violence.
In the German version the wife and husband are played by Susanne Lothar and Ulrich Muhe.
In the English version the wife and husband are played by Naomi Watts and Tim Roth.
The dialog and action was almost identical throughout both movies. One major difference was that Naomi Watts remained in her underware after being forced to undress. In the German version Susanne Lothar is also forced to undress, but is later allowed to put on all of her clothes.
I felt the acting was equally good in both versions, however, the sadistic young men in the English version were to me more frightening.
I give both movies 3 out of 5 stars.
Monday, February 16, 2009
The Virgin Spring: An Igmar Bergman Movie
The Virgin Spring: An Ingmar Bergman's 1960 film with Max von Sydow.
BACKGROUND:
I chose to feature this film because, like Ang Lee, it was the first art film I'd seen. I became a fan of Bergman and von Sydow and even today 49 years later with all the innovations in film The Virgin Spring is still a magnificent piece of film making.
Not so for Bergman: "A film which was one of my shadiest, it seems to me just now, was The Virgin Spring.
— Ingmar Bergman, Bergman on Bergman
According to Wikipedia the story is based on a 13th century Swedish ballad named "Töres dotter i Wänge" and which was adapted by screenwriter Ulla Isaksson. It is one of the few films Bergman directed but did not write
THE STORY:
Set in medieval Sweden, this story of rape was directed by the great Ingmar Bergman and earned an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. While to delivering candles to a church, the virginal daughter (Birgitta Pettersson) of feudal landowner Töre (Max von Sydow) is brutally raped and murdered. As fate would have it, however, the killers unknowingly seek food and shelter at the girl's home. The grief-stricken Töre learns the truth about his visitors and takes his revenge.
My TAKE:
Beautifully filmed, outstanding ensemble performances and brilliantly conceived and directed.
CONCLUSION:
The film is in black and white and runs 1 hour 29 minutes.
It goes without saying I love the film and give a top 5 star rating.
Go get it!
BACKGROUND:
I chose to feature this film because, like Ang Lee, it was the first art film I'd seen. I became a fan of Bergman and von Sydow and even today 49 years later with all the innovations in film The Virgin Spring is still a magnificent piece of film making.
Not so for Bergman: "A film which was one of my shadiest, it seems to me just now, was The Virgin Spring.
— Ingmar Bergman, Bergman on Bergman
According to Wikipedia the story is based on a 13th century Swedish ballad named "Töres dotter i Wänge" and which was adapted by screenwriter Ulla Isaksson. It is one of the few films Bergman directed but did not write
THE STORY:
Set in medieval Sweden, this story of rape was directed by the great Ingmar Bergman and earned an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. While to delivering candles to a church, the virginal daughter (Birgitta Pettersson) of feudal landowner Töre (Max von Sydow) is brutally raped and murdered. As fate would have it, however, the killers unknowingly seek food and shelter at the girl's home. The grief-stricken Töre learns the truth about his visitors and takes his revenge.
My TAKE:
Beautifully filmed, outstanding ensemble performances and brilliantly conceived and directed.
CONCLUSION:
The film is in black and white and runs 1 hour 29 minutes.
It goes without saying I love the film and give a top 5 star rating.
Go get it!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Brigham City: The Movie
BACKGROUND:
Brigham City is a murder mystery filmed in 2001. It was written, directed by and features Richard Dutcher. Mr Dutcher is also the creator of
God's Army. In addition to Richard Dutcher, the film stars Wilford Brimley and Matthew Brown.
THE STORY:
The story takes place in the small Utah town of Brigham City. Although there is a Brigham City located to the North of Salt Lake City, the "Brigham City" referred to in this film is fictitious. According to Wikipedia the movie was filmed in Mapleton, Utah. The in-movie descriptions of geography and population are fictional.
This sleepy little Utah town is jolted to its core when the local sheriff who is also the Mormon Bishop discovers a California woman dead near her car. The sheriff calls in the FBI from their closest office, Provo, Utah. He does this both because he has no experience in murder investigations and because he wants to keep the murder's influence out of his town. The sheriff points out that there has never been a murder reported in this town.
As the murders pile up, however, the sheriff turns for help from his young deputy, his trusty secretary, and a retired sheriff (Wilford Brimley), the sheriff leads the investigation, fearing that the perpetrator may be a Brigham citizen. Suspicion runs rampant and before the killer is finally exposed there is irreparable damage to several citizens.
The story blends together belief in Mormonism with the troubles that the town is facing. It's an idyllic town, a paradise, in the words of the retired sheriff (Wilford Brimley) "Nothing attracts a Serpent like paradise".
My TAKE:
This flick is an unusual mixture of mystery, murder and Mormonism.
The acting is outstandingt and most believable. in the words of one reviewer, Steve Rhodes, "...the film is filled with actors who deliver such flawless performances that you have to keep reminding yourself that they're just acting."
CONCLUSION:
Well worth your time and money.
Netflex rates this a 4 Star, PG-13.
Here's a link with more information:
Brigham City The Movie
Brigham City is a murder mystery filmed in 2001. It was written, directed by and features Richard Dutcher. Mr Dutcher is also the creator of
God's Army. In addition to Richard Dutcher, the film stars Wilford Brimley and Matthew Brown.
THE STORY:
The story takes place in the small Utah town of Brigham City. Although there is a Brigham City located to the North of Salt Lake City, the "Brigham City" referred to in this film is fictitious. According to Wikipedia the movie was filmed in Mapleton, Utah. The in-movie descriptions of geography and population are fictional.
This sleepy little Utah town is jolted to its core when the local sheriff who is also the Mormon Bishop discovers a California woman dead near her car. The sheriff calls in the FBI from their closest office, Provo, Utah. He does this both because he has no experience in murder investigations and because he wants to keep the murder's influence out of his town. The sheriff points out that there has never been a murder reported in this town.
As the murders pile up, however, the sheriff turns for help from his young deputy, his trusty secretary, and a retired sheriff (Wilford Brimley), the sheriff leads the investigation, fearing that the perpetrator may be a Brigham citizen. Suspicion runs rampant and before the killer is finally exposed there is irreparable damage to several citizens.
The story blends together belief in Mormonism with the troubles that the town is facing. It's an idyllic town, a paradise, in the words of the retired sheriff (Wilford Brimley) "Nothing attracts a Serpent like paradise".
My TAKE:
This flick is an unusual mixture of mystery, murder and Mormonism.
The acting is outstandingt and most believable. in the words of one reviewer, Steve Rhodes, "...the film is filled with actors who deliver such flawless performances that you have to keep reminding yourself that they're just acting."
CONCLUSION:
Well worth your time and money.
Netflex rates this a 4 Star, PG-13.
Here's a link with more information:
Brigham City The Movie
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