Welcome back gang. I'm back at it yet again with a new, different batch of films this week. Sadly though, there are two duds within. But that's fine as theres two great films at play and a smart sci fi flick. So strap in and give it a whirl. Enjoy and share if you don't mind. Thanks again.
2010: The Year We Make Contact (November 9th, 2014)
Director: Peter Hyams
Starring: Roy Scheider, Helen Mirren, John Lithgow, and Bob Balaban
Hold onto your butts, because I have something to share for the purposes of this post. I can't stand 2001: A Space Odyssey. It a technical marvel, a masterpiece in that respect that still holds up today. But there's nothing else to it, a story hidden in there with long and boring silent intervals and no soul at all. The only reason I decided to watch this sequel was because it was being compared to Interstellar a lot, a movie I really enjoyed. Roy Schieder being in it didn't hurt. So it is with some surprise that I quite enjoyed this movie. It isn't the game changer in any way that the original was. And not being directed by Kubrick, it lacks some precision and artful compositions. But it adds a story that isn't buried underneath the surface. There are actual humans in the movie and not just cyphers to make a thematic point. It is still very much apart of the world of the last, feeling worthy. And like the last one, it has a pretty trippy ending. Not as trippy because it makes sense without putting a puzzle together or having to read a book. I'd recommend this for those interested in brainer than usual sci fi and/or those who dug Interstellar. Again, not a game changer but worthy nonetheless.
Rating: 8/10
John Carter (November 11th, 2014)
Director: Andrew Stanton
Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Dominic West, and Willem Dafoe
This managed to somehow be very disappointing and not disappointing at all. The movie bombed at the box office and reviews were pretty bad. But then there was a contingent online that said the movie was actually pretty solid. So I decided to give it a shot and I gotta agree with the initial response. This isn't a good movie. It isn't awful by any means. Its well made and the acting isn't atrocious. There's just a lack of energy or drama in any second of it. The acting is also pretty bland, giving no real weight to anything they are given to do. The script is pretty mediocre. It does a lot of telling and not showing. We're told that West is the bad guy, but I don't really see how aside from the constant lines about him being bad. The titular character is unbelievably bland. He's supposed to be this grizzled war vet, a bad ass who want to be left alone. But Kitsch, who has been good in stuff, is just miscast. He's way too young/young looking to bring the weight needed to the role. Maybe the biggest sin this commits is being a gigantic blockbuster with pretty mediocre action. I'd go so far as to say it's bad. It all really boils down to Kitsch jumping high and landing, then jumping again. It's kinda wild how repetitious it is for being so boring. And for the craftsmanship at work technically, it's all way too clean to really make an impression. There's nothing really here worth singling out. If it's on late at night and literally nothing is on the 1000 channels available, give it a shot I guess. Otherwise, not worth it.
Rating: 6/10
All That Jazz (November 12th, 2014)
Director: Bob Fosse
Starring: Roy Schieder, Jessica Lange, Ann Reinking, and Leland Palmer
This movie has cemented an opinion I've had for a while now. Roy Schieder is the most under rated actor of the 70s. He had consistently done great work throughout the decade and was essentially gifted with the best role he'd have. It was a role that one wouldn't think of him to play. But he knocked it the fuck out of the park, playing one of the richest characters of the decade. Joe Gideon is a train wreck of a man. A film and stage director/dance choreographer who is a perfectionist as well as a drug user and serial philanderer, he is constantly courting death. And it seems like he wants to. The movie is a gorgeous look at this mans life, complete with show stopping dance numbers and immaculate choreography. Fosse directs the hell out of this movie, a semi autobiographical piece that is Fosse basically admitting he's a gigantic piece of shit. It's really remarkable. He pulls no punches at revealing the broken soul of the man and Schieder is more than up to the task. This is a rich film that is one of the highlights of the legendary 70s. Pick this up and bask in Schieders performance, if not also Fosses honest and visionary directing/writing.
Rating: 9/10
The Midnight Meat Train (November 15th, 2014)
Director: Ryuhei Kitamura
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Leslie Bibb, Roger Bart, and Vinnie Jones
I don't think Clive Barker stories should be made into movies. Aside from Hellraiser, none of his stuff seems to really work on screen. And even then, Hellraiser could be argued that it too barely works. It seems like either the stuff he's writing doesn't translate to the screen well due to his writing style, or the movie is hastily made with a mediocre script. I might go with the latter. For this movie seems to have been thrown together in a hurry just to get a movie going for Kitamura to visually show off. The story appears to be Cooper investigating killer Jones, taking photos and uncovering the crimes. But then monsters show up at the end and it's just ridiculous. Also, Cooper is getting brainwashed for some fucking reason, because script. The script could have been overcome, like with Nightbreed in a way, but Kitamura is more concerned with showing off some annoying visual flair and some horrendous CGI blood. It doesn't help, it's just distracting. This movie could have been a decent little flick if it just stuck to a human story and not involving the supernatural, but it falls apart. Not comically bad, just boring. Don't even bother.
Rating: 5/10
The Hidden Fortress (November 15th, 2014)
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Starring: Toshiro Mifune, Misa Uehara, Minoru Chiaki, and Kamatari Fujiwara
There's two reasons why this movie is special, aside from being another damn good Kurosawa movie. 1. It is Kurosawas first movie shot in widescreen, giving it even more of a visual florish than he usually employs. 2. It is one of the movies to inspire Lucas in the making of Star Wars. His main inspiration was in having the movie seen through the eyes of two comic relief sidekicks. The two here are peasants trying to get home across enemy territory after a war and are unwittingly brought into a plan hatched by Mifune to bring the thought dead princess of the losing side back to friendly territory. It's a very solid story, one that allows some tension to grow throughout the proceedings as the group makes its way across the land. Visually the movie is striking and the performances are all good across the board, not surprising from Mifune. There's only two problems I have with the movie and they are related in a way. For one, the movie runs a little too long. That is due to issue 2, that the two peasants are almost too stupid to believe. The movie spends alot of time in the beginning with them, trying to build them up as characters. Which is fine in theory, but these two are almost cartoonishly dumb. It takes a bit away from the movie but not enough to ruin it at all. It's still a great time and well worth the trip.
Rating: 9/10
Top Movies
1. All That Jazz
2. The Hidden Fortress
3. 2010: The Year We Make Contact
4. John Carter
5. The Midnight Meat Train
Top 5 Moments
1. The End Dance Number - All That Jazz
2. The Spear Duel - The Hidden Fortress
3. Dave Appears - 2010
4. The End Escape - The Hidden Fortress
5. Joes Loved Ones Put On A Number For Him - All That Jazz
Top 5 Performances
1. Roy Schieder - All That Jazz
2. Toshiro Mifune - The Hidden Fortress
3. John Lithgow - 2010
4. Helen Mirren - 2010
5. Roy Schieder - 2010
John Carter (November 11th, 2014)
Director: Andrew Stanton
Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Dominic West, and Willem Dafoe
This managed to somehow be very disappointing and not disappointing at all. The movie bombed at the box office and reviews were pretty bad. But then there was a contingent online that said the movie was actually pretty solid. So I decided to give it a shot and I gotta agree with the initial response. This isn't a good movie. It isn't awful by any means. Its well made and the acting isn't atrocious. There's just a lack of energy or drama in any second of it. The acting is also pretty bland, giving no real weight to anything they are given to do. The script is pretty mediocre. It does a lot of telling and not showing. We're told that West is the bad guy, but I don't really see how aside from the constant lines about him being bad. The titular character is unbelievably bland. He's supposed to be this grizzled war vet, a bad ass who want to be left alone. But Kitsch, who has been good in stuff, is just miscast. He's way too young/young looking to bring the weight needed to the role. Maybe the biggest sin this commits is being a gigantic blockbuster with pretty mediocre action. I'd go so far as to say it's bad. It all really boils down to Kitsch jumping high and landing, then jumping again. It's kinda wild how repetitious it is for being so boring. And for the craftsmanship at work technically, it's all way too clean to really make an impression. There's nothing really here worth singling out. If it's on late at night and literally nothing is on the 1000 channels available, give it a shot I guess. Otherwise, not worth it.
All That Jazz (November 12th, 2014)
Director: Bob Fosse
Starring: Roy Schieder, Jessica Lange, Ann Reinking, and Leland Palmer
This movie has cemented an opinion I've had for a while now. Roy Schieder is the most under rated actor of the 70s. He had consistently done great work throughout the decade and was essentially gifted with the best role he'd have. It was a role that one wouldn't think of him to play. But he knocked it the fuck out of the park, playing one of the richest characters of the decade. Joe Gideon is a train wreck of a man. A film and stage director/dance choreographer who is a perfectionist as well as a drug user and serial philanderer, he is constantly courting death. And it seems like he wants to. The movie is a gorgeous look at this mans life, complete with show stopping dance numbers and immaculate choreography. Fosse directs the hell out of this movie, a semi autobiographical piece that is Fosse basically admitting he's a gigantic piece of shit. It's really remarkable. He pulls no punches at revealing the broken soul of the man and Schieder is more than up to the task. This is a rich film that is one of the highlights of the legendary 70s. Pick this up and bask in Schieders performance, if not also Fosses honest and visionary directing/writing.
The Midnight Meat Train (November 15th, 2014)
Director: Ryuhei Kitamura
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Leslie Bibb, Roger Bart, and Vinnie Jones
I don't think Clive Barker stories should be made into movies. Aside from Hellraiser, none of his stuff seems to really work on screen. And even then, Hellraiser could be argued that it too barely works. It seems like either the stuff he's writing doesn't translate to the screen well due to his writing style, or the movie is hastily made with a mediocre script. I might go with the latter. For this movie seems to have been thrown together in a hurry just to get a movie going for Kitamura to visually show off. The story appears to be Cooper investigating killer Jones, taking photos and uncovering the crimes. But then monsters show up at the end and it's just ridiculous. Also, Cooper is getting brainwashed for some fucking reason, because script. The script could have been overcome, like with Nightbreed in a way, but Kitamura is more concerned with showing off some annoying visual flair and some horrendous CGI blood. It doesn't help, it's just distracting. This movie could have been a decent little flick if it just stuck to a human story and not involving the supernatural, but it falls apart. Not comically bad, just boring. Don't even bother.
The Hidden Fortress (November 15th, 2014)
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Starring: Toshiro Mifune, Misa Uehara, Minoru Chiaki, and Kamatari Fujiwara
There's two reasons why this movie is special, aside from being another damn good Kurosawa movie. 1. It is Kurosawas first movie shot in widescreen, giving it even more of a visual florish than he usually employs. 2. It is one of the movies to inspire Lucas in the making of Star Wars. His main inspiration was in having the movie seen through the eyes of two comic relief sidekicks. The two here are peasants trying to get home across enemy territory after a war and are unwittingly brought into a plan hatched by Mifune to bring the thought dead princess of the losing side back to friendly territory. It's a very solid story, one that allows some tension to grow throughout the proceedings as the group makes its way across the land. Visually the movie is striking and the performances are all good across the board, not surprising from Mifune. There's only two problems I have with the movie and they are related in a way. For one, the movie runs a little too long. That is due to issue 2, that the two peasants are almost too stupid to believe. The movie spends alot of time in the beginning with them, trying to build them up as characters. Which is fine in theory, but these two are almost cartoonishly dumb. It takes a bit away from the movie but not enough to ruin it at all. It's still a great time and well worth the trip.
Top Movies
1. All That Jazz
2. The Hidden Fortress
3. 2010: The Year We Make Contact
4. John Carter
5. The Midnight Meat Train
Top 5 Moments
1. The End Dance Number - All That Jazz
2. The Spear Duel - The Hidden Fortress
3. Dave Appears - 2010
4. The End Escape - The Hidden Fortress
5. Joes Loved Ones Put On A Number For Him - All That Jazz
Top 5 Performances
1. Roy Schieder - All That Jazz
2. Toshiro Mifune - The Hidden Fortress
3. John Lithgow - 2010
4. Helen Mirren - 2010
5. Roy Schieder - 2010
- Tom Lorenzo
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