I was hooked from beginning to end. Great horror comes from disturbing imagery and organic shocks that are created not to make you jump, but to make you go "What the f*ck did I just see?" All the other commentators gave short summaries of what the film is about, so I won't rehash what has already been said. I was telling other people about this movie days after I had seen it just because it still haunted me. I even had a bad dream after seeing it, and I am a true horror fan, not easily spooked by tripe like "The Grudge" or even "Silent Hill". What gave me the bad dreams was the unease I felt about what I would do if I were in that cell with those guys. What would my personal horror be? my subconscious took me there, and it was not pleasant. That my friends is what a good horror flick does to you! The best part of this movie is that it is subtle. It's not about Bogeymen that jump out at you,alien invasions, or tons of gore. It's the opposite. The horror you create in your own mind. The irony for the four characters is that the horror comes not from an external force that asserts it's power over them. Simply, the men ask for the one thing they desire, and they get it...but not in the way they imagined. So on the one hand, they get what they wish for from an occult book, but may ultimately wish they hadn't. Sometimes being locked in a jail cell is the best place to be!
Reviews
15 Reviews
The Wicker Man
(2006)
Neil Labute should have his member slathered in honey and laced with bees (Spolier Alert)....
2 September 2006
Everyone else who has commented negatively about this film have done excellent analysis as to why this film is so bloody awful. I wasn't going to comment, but the film just bugs me so much, and the writer/director in particular. So I must toss in my hat to join the naysayers.
I saw the original "Wicker Man" and really loved the cornucopia of music, sensuality, paganism in a modern world, and the clash of theological beliefs. This said, I am not part of the crowd that thinks remakes of great movies shouldn't be done. For example, I liked the original 1950's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", but equally enjoyed the 1978 remake. Both films can stand on their own. Another example is "The Thing". The original, as campy as it looks compared to today's standards, has a lot to be proud of in the 1982 remake with Kurt Russell (my all time favorite horror movie). So that small minority of people who like "The Wicker Man" re-make can not accuse me of dissing this piece of crap just because it's a re-make.
This film solidified for me Neil LaBute's sexism and misogynistic tendencies. It also made me wonder how executives, wanting to make a serious thriller, would green light a product that is so anti-female. There are too many scenes of Cage hitting women just because he's frustrated with them thwarting his investigation of a missing girl. would he react like this off the island in other cases where suspects aren't forthcoming? The original created a society in which men and women are equal participants in a Goddess based religion. The threat to the main character came from everyone, male and female. There was no sexual hierarchy.
The metaphor of bees, drones etc was a bit heavy handed and convenient ("The drone must die!"), especially when Cage's character has bee allergies. I kept wondering why the men on the island didn't fight back and use mere physicality to stop these women from treating them like grunts. These were not women with special supernatural powers, and half of them seemed to be pregnant, the other half old and fat, and the rest girls and thin blonde waifs, so if the men really wanted to escape they could do what most men do when they hate women. Physically dominate them. There didn't seem to be any guns or weapons beyond cutting tools to hold them if they were unhappy. But if they were content being drones, why make them unable to speak? They could be used as a threat to Cage because they will defend the community. They are drones because Neil LaBute seems to believe that a society ran by women would leave men castrated. (That movie was made already. "The Stepford Wives" anyone?) Classic symptoms from men who are afraid of what may happen if women got their sh*t together and were truly equal citizens.
The problem with the man-hating female society is that it makes uninteresting movie viewing and creates unintentional humor when Cage starts knocking women out. I belief LaBute should've left the society an egalitarian one, kept the sexuality and uninhibited lasciviousness, and pushed buttons of discomfort in regards to the children on that island. No one likes pedophiles or children to be sexually exploited. So how would a cop react if he saw lewd acts performed by adults with children around? There would be a logical mental leap that these children are abused, thus, an urgency created to save the missing child and get help for all the children. LaBute has said he created the fiancé and daughter story thread to give Cage's character an incentive to search. I don't think you need that. Any child abused will make an adult react to save them. The irony of course would be that the child Cage "saves" ultimately brings him death.
The dialogue was contrived and campy. The whole third act was hilarious. The audience I saw it with guffawed (and later booed at the end). I just thought the movie started off wrong when the letter arrived written in the fancy handwriting and all the flashbacks cutting into to show how wounded Cage is. We don't need that. Just show him arriving on the island for an investigation of a missing child. Most of us in America have seen "Law & Order" and other cop procedurals. We come into the movie as if we are Cage's partner solving a mystery.
So much potential...wasted. Neil LaBute, stick to talking head pictures for people who enjoy your male angst-ridden plays and flicks of that sort. Stay with your own company of men. Leave the thrillers for people who understand thrillers. Here is your jar of honey. I'll watch that.
I saw the original "Wicker Man" and really loved the cornucopia of music, sensuality, paganism in a modern world, and the clash of theological beliefs. This said, I am not part of the crowd that thinks remakes of great movies shouldn't be done. For example, I liked the original 1950's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", but equally enjoyed the 1978 remake. Both films can stand on their own. Another example is "The Thing". The original, as campy as it looks compared to today's standards, has a lot to be proud of in the 1982 remake with Kurt Russell (my all time favorite horror movie). So that small minority of people who like "The Wicker Man" re-make can not accuse me of dissing this piece of crap just because it's a re-make.
This film solidified for me Neil LaBute's sexism and misogynistic tendencies. It also made me wonder how executives, wanting to make a serious thriller, would green light a product that is so anti-female. There are too many scenes of Cage hitting women just because he's frustrated with them thwarting his investigation of a missing girl. would he react like this off the island in other cases where suspects aren't forthcoming? The original created a society in which men and women are equal participants in a Goddess based religion. The threat to the main character came from everyone, male and female. There was no sexual hierarchy.
The metaphor of bees, drones etc was a bit heavy handed and convenient ("The drone must die!"), especially when Cage's character has bee allergies. I kept wondering why the men on the island didn't fight back and use mere physicality to stop these women from treating them like grunts. These were not women with special supernatural powers, and half of them seemed to be pregnant, the other half old and fat, and the rest girls and thin blonde waifs, so if the men really wanted to escape they could do what most men do when they hate women. Physically dominate them. There didn't seem to be any guns or weapons beyond cutting tools to hold them if they were unhappy. But if they were content being drones, why make them unable to speak? They could be used as a threat to Cage because they will defend the community. They are drones because Neil LaBute seems to believe that a society ran by women would leave men castrated. (That movie was made already. "The Stepford Wives" anyone?) Classic symptoms from men who are afraid of what may happen if women got their sh*t together and were truly equal citizens.
The problem with the man-hating female society is that it makes uninteresting movie viewing and creates unintentional humor when Cage starts knocking women out. I belief LaBute should've left the society an egalitarian one, kept the sexuality and uninhibited lasciviousness, and pushed buttons of discomfort in regards to the children on that island. No one likes pedophiles or children to be sexually exploited. So how would a cop react if he saw lewd acts performed by adults with children around? There would be a logical mental leap that these children are abused, thus, an urgency created to save the missing child and get help for all the children. LaBute has said he created the fiancé and daughter story thread to give Cage's character an incentive to search. I don't think you need that. Any child abused will make an adult react to save them. The irony of course would be that the child Cage "saves" ultimately brings him death.
The dialogue was contrived and campy. The whole third act was hilarious. The audience I saw it with guffawed (and later booed at the end). I just thought the movie started off wrong when the letter arrived written in the fancy handwriting and all the flashbacks cutting into to show how wounded Cage is. We don't need that. Just show him arriving on the island for an investigation of a missing child. Most of us in America have seen "Law & Order" and other cop procedurals. We come into the movie as if we are Cage's partner solving a mystery.
So much potential...wasted. Neil LaBute, stick to talking head pictures for people who enjoy your male angst-ridden plays and flicks of that sort. Stay with your own company of men. Leave the thrillers for people who understand thrillers. Here is your jar of honey. I'll watch that.
Little Man
(III) (2006)
World Premiere Screening
7 July 2006
Despite the fact that the message boards for this movie are all negative from people WHO HAVE NOT SEEN THE MOVIE, I have decided that the Wayans' brothers have found a successful formula to make money. I cringed when I saw the trailer for "White Chicks" awhile back, and thought there was no way that thing would make money. I rented "White Chicks" and the movie was funny, as in stupid funny. There are scenes in there that are so outrageous that I had to replay them because they were funny in the aforementioned "stupid funny" way.
"Little Man" follows the same formula. After spoofing "hood" movies years ago, these guys take a silly premise, and surround their cartoon world with non-expensive white actors with talent, plenty of potty humor and attractive women to keep the interest of the 18-24 year-old males who enjoy this stuff.
The graphics are not great. Transposing Marlon's head onto a little person is not seamless, but fifteen minutes into the story, you accept how it looks. Their homage to "Baby Buggy Bunny" is pretty much scene by scene, but they always add a little sentimental note by having the titular bad guy (Marlon, aka Little Man)) go through a true character arc. He is a little one note with his exaggerated facial expressions, but this is a Bugs bunny world.
There are surprise cameos by well known comedic actors who also do these types of movie, but don't receive the same harsh criticisms the Wayan's get. One never hears of non-white people bagging on Adam Sandler et al, because they don't like the plot of a film, but nearly all films made by black actors are techno-lynched without being viewed. And the votes are skewered beyond belief. But I digress.
"Little Man" is a movie you see for the same reason one goes to see silly comedies. Cheap laughs, silly sight gags, and free air conditioning. I give it a 7-10 because I know it will get slammed on here, but the fact is, they will make a lot of money off the DVD. "White Chicks" made ahem....$117 million. Prepare to see more from the Wayans with that kinda dough rolling in.
"Little Man" follows the same formula. After spoofing "hood" movies years ago, these guys take a silly premise, and surround their cartoon world with non-expensive white actors with talent, plenty of potty humor and attractive women to keep the interest of the 18-24 year-old males who enjoy this stuff.
The graphics are not great. Transposing Marlon's head onto a little person is not seamless, but fifteen minutes into the story, you accept how it looks. Their homage to "Baby Buggy Bunny" is pretty much scene by scene, but they always add a little sentimental note by having the titular bad guy (Marlon, aka Little Man)) go through a true character arc. He is a little one note with his exaggerated facial expressions, but this is a Bugs bunny world.
There are surprise cameos by well known comedic actors who also do these types of movie, but don't receive the same harsh criticisms the Wayan's get. One never hears of non-white people bagging on Adam Sandler et al, because they don't like the plot of a film, but nearly all films made by black actors are techno-lynched without being viewed. And the votes are skewered beyond belief. But I digress.
"Little Man" is a movie you see for the same reason one goes to see silly comedies. Cheap laughs, silly sight gags, and free air conditioning. I give it a 7-10 because I know it will get slammed on here, but the fact is, they will make a lot of money off the DVD. "White Chicks" made ahem....$117 million. Prepare to see more from the Wayans with that kinda dough rolling in.
The Gospel
(2005)
R. Kelley shoulda played the lead....
6 January 2006
at least he could bring some realism to a story about a secular singer returning to the flock. Chppy editing, story lines left in limbo. I wish I could cut Nona Gaye and Idris out and put them in a different movie.
I commend them for getting the picture done, but it still kinda....sucked.
"The Preacher's Wife" would be a good example for Rob Hardy in terms of knowing how to use music as part of the storyline and not just random numbers popping up for no reason. T
The songs lose their power by having way to many song moments. Boris K. tried but you can't buy him being a singer.
I commend them for getting the picture done, but it still kinda....sucked.
"The Preacher's Wife" would be a good example for Rob Hardy in terms of knowing how to use music as part of the storyline and not just random numbers popping up for no reason. T
The songs lose their power by having way to many song moments. Boris K. tried but you can't buy him being a singer.
Bleeder
(1999)
A disappointment
26 December 2005
This sucked. I only watched it because "pusher" was entertaining. The only good thing about this is that filmmakers can see how a hand-held camera, and available lighting can make a film cheap and fast. Bummer.
I was amused to see how white racism is universal. As a black person from the U.S., it was interesting to hear Danish Muslims referred to as "niggers" when they looked like white folks to me. I guess all non-whites are "niggers" when you feel threatened by immigrants. Sad.
I'm not sure i would watch any of the directors other work based on this. Like I said before "Pusher" was engaging, and you were sucked into that world. Here, you just didn't care.
I was amused to see how white racism is universal. As a black person from the U.S., it was interesting to hear Danish Muslims referred to as "niggers" when they looked like white folks to me. I guess all non-whites are "niggers" when you feel threatened by immigrants. Sad.
I'm not sure i would watch any of the directors other work based on this. Like I said before "Pusher" was engaging, and you were sucked into that world. Here, you just didn't care.
The Fog
(2005)
John Carpenter should be spanked...
28 October 2005
...for allowing his classic to be butchered. This movie was so awful that it actually became funny. My co-workers and I sat through this making comments like we were Mystery Science Theater 3000. So I suppose if you watch it as if it were a comedy, and you are drunk...it would be entertaining. What a waste of money. John, I'm ashamed that you would allow this crap to come out. Boo!!!!!!
And what a waste of Selma Blair. She shoulda been the lead character, and not that whiny blonde. And do all women sleep in slinky underwear? (and in front of their kids too?) The writer did a bang up job of switching the main character in the middle of the flick. hmm, I thought the smallville guy was our view into the world? And what the hell is up with that ending?
And what a waste of Selma Blair. She shoulda been the lead character, and not that whiny blonde. And do all women sleep in slinky underwear? (and in front of their kids too?) The writer did a bang up job of switching the main character in the middle of the flick. hmm, I thought the smallville guy was our view into the world? And what the hell is up with that ending?
The Devil's Rejects
(2005)
I saw the free screening too....
2 July 2005
Warning: Spoilers
...and felt that the guy who had a problem with the movie, (although he liked the first movie) hadn't really seen a lot of depraved films. (by the way, I was the woman in the back cheering "Cannibal Holocaust", because that sh#t is wrong--lol).
Personally I think House of 1000 Corpse sucked, because it was too cartoonish, and Rob Z. admitted as much. In fact, House of 1000 C's only got interesting for me when they found all those bodies in the basement, and that demon-looking thing tied to a post. Now that should've been the movie! I really didn't like the characters reprising their roles in Devil's Rejects because they left a sour taste in my mouth from the first movie. However, unlike the victims in the 1st movie (who you don't care about), the victims in this version are so sympathetic, that you really want the Firefly family to be killed (especially Baby. I really wanted her to suffer. Strangely, I wanted Captain Spalding to repent. He seemed like he could redeem himself...but alas, sniff... it wasn't meant to be).
I told my husband (who saw it with me) that I wasn't really invested in this movie as I wanted to be, but as I thought about it later, I realized, this is actually a good movie. And that friggin' SOUNDTRACK! I have to buy that music. The 70's feel of the photography mixed with a killer soundtrack of Lynard Skynard, the Altman Brothers, et al. I'm a black woman, and that music gave a wonderful southern subtext to the action on the screen. In fact, it really made me afraid of Texas backwater rednecks. I would not want to meet those folks at a one pump gas station in the middle of nowhere. (This coming from someone who lives in the heart of South Central!) I would advise people to see this movie with an open mind. As Rob Z. said, he views it as his version of Bonnie and Clyde rather than The Texas chainsaw massacre.
SPOILER ALERT************ The scene where the woman escapes from the motel and you think she will survive, but then she gets hit by a semi-truck-- that has got to be the most realistic human road kill I have ever seen. In fact, I'm on my way now to Dark Delicacies Bookstore in Burbank. They are giving away limited supplies of free Devil's Rejects posters. God I hope it's the one with the mashed body bits on the highway. I should be ashamed of myself!LOL
Personally I think House of 1000 Corpse sucked, because it was too cartoonish, and Rob Z. admitted as much. In fact, House of 1000 C's only got interesting for me when they found all those bodies in the basement, and that demon-looking thing tied to a post. Now that should've been the movie! I really didn't like the characters reprising their roles in Devil's Rejects because they left a sour taste in my mouth from the first movie. However, unlike the victims in the 1st movie (who you don't care about), the victims in this version are so sympathetic, that you really want the Firefly family to be killed (especially Baby. I really wanted her to suffer. Strangely, I wanted Captain Spalding to repent. He seemed like he could redeem himself...but alas, sniff... it wasn't meant to be).
I told my husband (who saw it with me) that I wasn't really invested in this movie as I wanted to be, but as I thought about it later, I realized, this is actually a good movie. And that friggin' SOUNDTRACK! I have to buy that music. The 70's feel of the photography mixed with a killer soundtrack of Lynard Skynard, the Altman Brothers, et al. I'm a black woman, and that music gave a wonderful southern subtext to the action on the screen. In fact, it really made me afraid of Texas backwater rednecks. I would not want to meet those folks at a one pump gas station in the middle of nowhere. (This coming from someone who lives in the heart of South Central!) I would advise people to see this movie with an open mind. As Rob Z. said, he views it as his version of Bonnie and Clyde rather than The Texas chainsaw massacre.
SPOILER ALERT************ The scene where the woman escapes from the motel and you think she will survive, but then she gets hit by a semi-truck-- that has got to be the most realistic human road kill I have ever seen. In fact, I'm on my way now to Dark Delicacies Bookstore in Burbank. They are giving away limited supplies of free Devil's Rejects posters. God I hope it's the one with the mashed body bits on the highway. I should be ashamed of myself!LOL
Hustle & Flow
(2005)
Saw it at the Los Angeles Film festival as well....
19 June 2005
...and I enjoyed it. What saves the film from being just another badly made 'hood flick, is Terrence Howard. I am so glad Craig cast an actor and not a rapper to play the lead. Terrence brings depth of character, pathos, and sympathy to a low brow pimp with low quality product to hustle.
This movie could've turned out bad with clichéd acting and over the top performances (there were moments where I felt his strip club whore was too much), but what makes you stick with the story, is that you really feel sorry for these people and you want them to succeed. The producer Stephanie Allain was at the L.A. premiere, and said that the character wanting to have a dream of better things was the universal theme that struck her. Craig (the director) also said that the story used bits and pieces of his own life and people he has met in Memphis to craft a story that really does happen to a lot of black people trying to get into the rap game. True, the hook of the story, a pimp wanting to be a rapper, sounds really funny. Lord knows if Mike Epps or Brian Hooks (or God forbid, Snoop) had been cast in the lead, this movie would've turned booty real quick. But once again, Terrence Howard makes this story come alive. I enjoy rap, but don't find crunk and a lot of lyrics enjoyable, but I must admit, in the context of the world it comes from and the hopes that these characters have, I was one of many people (the black ones in particular) who found myself swaying and singing the lyrics to "Whoop that Trick" et al.
As for the person on this board who commented that he too was at the Los Angeles Film Festival and found the white characters "acting black" tiresome, it must be said that in the south, black speech patterns and culture get picked up by whites. Living in close proximity creates that, and I didn't feel that the white characters were playing black. There was one comment in the movie where DJ Qualls arrives and Terrenc Howards character pulls Anthony Anderson aside and and questions the white boy's skills as a beat junkie, but that was the only time his color was brought up. But it was natural, no different than guys from Metallica questioning the skills of a black dude auditioning for a guitar gig. The subtext was simply "Does this dude even listen to crunk music?" Once his skills are proved, there is no question of race anymore.
The film should do well. I will see it again with my mother. Yes my mother. She loves Terrence Howard as much as I do, and I feel the movie should have a wide audience, young and old (with parental supervision). I enjoy watching Terrence Howard work, he makes you feel everything he feels on screen, and if this thing doesn't make him blow up, I don't know what will. He is the movie. See it for yourself and decide for yourself. Cuz it's hard out here for a pimp, ya'all.
Ps. For those feminists who get their panties all twisted because of any images of female exploitation, I must comment that all the women in this film (as broke down and trashy as they are) have dreams too, and Terrence's character realizes that they deserve better and strives to help them by helping himself. There is no such thing as a good pimp (like there is no such thing as a good slave master) but what redeems Terrence is that his pimp transforms his life and all those around him for the better.
This movie could've turned out bad with clichéd acting and over the top performances (there were moments where I felt his strip club whore was too much), but what makes you stick with the story, is that you really feel sorry for these people and you want them to succeed. The producer Stephanie Allain was at the L.A. premiere, and said that the character wanting to have a dream of better things was the universal theme that struck her. Craig (the director) also said that the story used bits and pieces of his own life and people he has met in Memphis to craft a story that really does happen to a lot of black people trying to get into the rap game. True, the hook of the story, a pimp wanting to be a rapper, sounds really funny. Lord knows if Mike Epps or Brian Hooks (or God forbid, Snoop) had been cast in the lead, this movie would've turned booty real quick. But once again, Terrence Howard makes this story come alive. I enjoy rap, but don't find crunk and a lot of lyrics enjoyable, but I must admit, in the context of the world it comes from and the hopes that these characters have, I was one of many people (the black ones in particular) who found myself swaying and singing the lyrics to "Whoop that Trick" et al.
As for the person on this board who commented that he too was at the Los Angeles Film Festival and found the white characters "acting black" tiresome, it must be said that in the south, black speech patterns and culture get picked up by whites. Living in close proximity creates that, and I didn't feel that the white characters were playing black. There was one comment in the movie where DJ Qualls arrives and Terrenc Howards character pulls Anthony Anderson aside and and questions the white boy's skills as a beat junkie, but that was the only time his color was brought up. But it was natural, no different than guys from Metallica questioning the skills of a black dude auditioning for a guitar gig. The subtext was simply "Does this dude even listen to crunk music?" Once his skills are proved, there is no question of race anymore.
The film should do well. I will see it again with my mother. Yes my mother. She loves Terrence Howard as much as I do, and I feel the movie should have a wide audience, young and old (with parental supervision). I enjoy watching Terrence Howard work, he makes you feel everything he feels on screen, and if this thing doesn't make him blow up, I don't know what will. He is the movie. See it for yourself and decide for yourself. Cuz it's hard out here for a pimp, ya'all.
Ps. For those feminists who get their panties all twisted because of any images of female exploitation, I must comment that all the women in this film (as broke down and trashy as they are) have dreams too, and Terrence's character realizes that they deserve better and strives to help them by helping himself. There is no such thing as a good pimp (like there is no such thing as a good slave master) but what redeems Terrence is that his pimp transforms his life and all those around him for the better.
Crash
(I) (2004)
Wow....
7 May 2005
I read the script before the movie came out. I found it to be very tight, yet had clichés that bugged me, but there were a lot of touching moments. Then I saw the film.
If this film is not a catalyst for thought provoking conversations, then we have really, truly, lost our humanity. This is truly adult entertainment, and I am very impressed with all the actors involved, especially Ludicrous. I really respected what he brought to the screen, so maybe people shouldn't be so hard on Hip Hop artists turning to acting. Terrence Howard was riveting, as was the actor who played Daniel Perez with such compassion. It was nice to see Thandie Newton acting in a relationship with a black character. I never see her paired up with black male actors in screen "relationships". Ryan Phillipe and Matt Dillon were great..like I said, all the actors brought their "A" game to the table. The only bad part of the film is Sandra Bullock's character. She has a "Driving Miss Daisy" moment with her character where she tells the Mexican housekeeper that she's her "only Friend" when all through the movie she talks to the woman and treats her like sh*t, and there is no reaction from the housekeeper, not even a reaction shot! That rang very false and is one of the weakest links in the script and movie.
Paul Haggis and Don Cheadle (one of the producers of the film!) should be very proud of the work. I was. It gives me hope. And the next time someone cuts me off in L.A. traffic again, I won't be so quick to judge. We all have bad days.
If this film is not a catalyst for thought provoking conversations, then we have really, truly, lost our humanity. This is truly adult entertainment, and I am very impressed with all the actors involved, especially Ludicrous. I really respected what he brought to the screen, so maybe people shouldn't be so hard on Hip Hop artists turning to acting. Terrence Howard was riveting, as was the actor who played Daniel Perez with such compassion. It was nice to see Thandie Newton acting in a relationship with a black character. I never see her paired up with black male actors in screen "relationships". Ryan Phillipe and Matt Dillon were great..like I said, all the actors brought their "A" game to the table. The only bad part of the film is Sandra Bullock's character. She has a "Driving Miss Daisy" moment with her character where she tells the Mexican housekeeper that she's her "only Friend" when all through the movie she talks to the woman and treats her like sh*t, and there is no reaction from the housekeeper, not even a reaction shot! That rang very false and is one of the weakest links in the script and movie.
Paul Haggis and Don Cheadle (one of the producers of the film!) should be very proud of the work. I was. It gives me hope. And the next time someone cuts me off in L.A. traffic again, I won't be so quick to judge. We all have bad days.
House of D
(2004)
Should've been a movie of the week on TV
4 April 2005
I went in wanting to like it, but y'know a movie is in trouble when it tries too hard to be sentimental. During a screening here in L.A., I began fidgeting in my seat fifteen minutes into it thinking, "Okay, already, something has got to HAPPEN." I found myself looking at background extras to see how many black people with afros I'd see to remind the audience that this was the '70's. I love coming of age stories where I see characters showing me their world with fresh eyes, and sadly, I didn't care in this one.
Tea Leoni always annoys me in any movie she's in. Every scene with her dragged the story, and there's only so many forced "funny antics" I can watch with Robin Williams and the lead kid until I'm ready to walk out. I only stayed to see how bad it got. Of course, there were some scenes where I felt an emotional pull. This was toward the end where Erykah Badu the "Rapunzel with an afro"--to quote DD--tells the boy to run away from his problems. But the build up to that moment was too long, and by then you already knew his life turns out fine. Too bad. As soon as it was over, and DD stepped on stage for a Q&A, I turned to my partner and said, "This is not going to make money. It would better be marketed for television where a huge audience would watch it to get away from Reality TV".
It helps to be DD and have friends to connect you with folks to get this made. I'm sure there's some poor schmuck out there with a better story who will never get a chance to get a movie made. Too bad. DD told the audience that he lost funding several times, up until the moment it came to do principal photography. But believe me, he had it easier than most. At least he got in a room with someone to convince them to fund this poor thing.
Tea Leoni always annoys me in any movie she's in. Every scene with her dragged the story, and there's only so many forced "funny antics" I can watch with Robin Williams and the lead kid until I'm ready to walk out. I only stayed to see how bad it got. Of course, there were some scenes where I felt an emotional pull. This was toward the end where Erykah Badu the "Rapunzel with an afro"--to quote DD--tells the boy to run away from his problems. But the build up to that moment was too long, and by then you already knew his life turns out fine. Too bad. As soon as it was over, and DD stepped on stage for a Q&A, I turned to my partner and said, "This is not going to make money. It would better be marketed for television where a huge audience would watch it to get away from Reality TV".
It helps to be DD and have friends to connect you with folks to get this made. I'm sure there's some poor schmuck out there with a better story who will never get a chance to get a movie made. Too bad. DD told the audience that he lost funding several times, up until the moment it came to do principal photography. But believe me, he had it easier than most. At least he got in a room with someone to convince them to fund this poor thing.
Hero
(2002)
Bravo.
29 August 2004
Poetry in montage form. This is what film aspires to. I hope I can make a movie as beautiful as this one day. For the naysayers, stick to your 'Kill Bill" wanna-be-hip martial arts rip-offs. That's why they have Tarantino's name as a presenter of this film; it's for the imbeciles who are weaned on the teats of Hollywood Amero-trash. Tarantino must drag them in kicking and screaming to appreciate the images he emulates.
The great thing about this film is that it makes you realize what a wealth of history ancient cultures have. U.S. films will never have that gift of spectacle; that's why we have to set our films in the future to come close to any type of pageantry. As for the criticism about the communist aspects of the film, I think it's brave to re-vision history's bloody past. Communism is a pretty recent political system (compared to thousands of years of pre-Christian/Islamic/Judaic era Chinese history) and it's interesting to watch a film that espouses a culture of loyalty and sacrifice for the nation. It would appear that these ideals only helped this nation embrace similar communist ideology. But once again, Bravo. Too bad it had to wait two years to be shown over here.
The great thing about this film is that it makes you realize what a wealth of history ancient cultures have. U.S. films will never have that gift of spectacle; that's why we have to set our films in the future to come close to any type of pageantry. As for the criticism about the communist aspects of the film, I think it's brave to re-vision history's bloody past. Communism is a pretty recent political system (compared to thousands of years of pre-Christian/Islamic/Judaic era Chinese history) and it's interesting to watch a film that espouses a culture of loyalty and sacrifice for the nation. It would appear that these ideals only helped this nation embrace similar communist ideology. But once again, Bravo. Too bad it had to wait two years to be shown over here.
Alien vs. Predator
(2004)
Not as bad as everyone says....
18 August 2004
Let's be real folks. There is no way this movie can satisfy true Alien/Predator fans. We know everything there is to know about the two creatures, so there had to be a story that attempted character development/bonding. Just sounds like people who are true-blue fans got their feelings hurt because the movie in their heads wasn't the one on the screen. AVP is what it is. I went in not expecting a whole lot. I just wanted to see if Sanaa Lathan made it out alive. I didn't like the changes made to the Predator's facial features, but what can ya do? What would have made it more interesting? Bring in Sil from the Species franchise. Two macho aliens versus an insatiably horny alien female. As it is, AVP is entertaining only if you are not a hardcore fan. It was better than Van Helsing and all the other crap that's out there. It's time to visit the predator home planet in the next flick, which will happen because Hollywood is stupid. Besides, all this press in the states is just expensive advertisement for overseas audiences and the DVD crowd who will rent this in the next five months. Think of AVP as a family reunion; one that ended with fond memories for some and for others the horror of embarrassment from the drunken uncle in the corner who infuriates the old folks.
Fahrenheit 9/11
(2004)
This is not a pro- Democratic/ anti Republican film...
28 June 2004
This film really made the Democrats look like weak-boned idiots. The most eye-opening aspect of this film is the fact that no Senator (Democrat or Republican) signed on to debate the legitimacy of the 2000 election.
And of course, the only people to challenge the inaccuracy of the vote count in Florida were Representatives that were people of color (black women,one Asian woman, and one black man.)
It angered me that white Democratic Senators (all the US senators holding office are white) did not even sign legislation that would open the debate and make sure the integrity of Presidential elections are legitimate and fair. (If Bush really did win, that is fine. But if votes were disregarded, that is wrong. And trust me, I don't think Al Gore is good either).
Regardless of what political affiliation you are, people of color and poor whites are always going to be the fodder for powerful white people and the black people who serve them (Mammy Condi Rice and Uncle Colin Powell). To watch the big conference with all the oil companies and their ilk carving up Iraq like this was World War I European colonialism carving up Africa was sickening.
The most heartbreaking part was the juxtaposing scenes of the American mother who lost her son, and the Iraqi mother who lost five members of her family to American bombs. To hear them both call on the same God to help ease their pain will make anyone cry at what Bush has done. (He is the war President, right?) And then to see young, dumb (okay, ignorant), soldiers playing thrasher music in their tanks like they're playing a video game to pump themselves up, spliced with other images of different soldiers who have no more limbs or control over their motor functions is harrowing. Funny, we only hear about soldiers who are killed, never the thousands who are now human tripe trying to figure out how they will function in America now.
My favorite part of the film? Michael Moore trying to convince Senators to sign their kids up to fight in the war. Those bastards ran. I hope people outside this country get to see this film so that they know that not all Americans are down for this phony administration.
I will see this film two more times, dragging friends with me and will buy the DVD too. It makes you want to strive to be a better human being, regardless of what race or class or political slant you have. Most people who really hate Michael Moore and the "idea" of this film are the people who need to wake up. The best Americans are those that can love the country and still demand the best from it as they criticize it. Pro or Con, see the movie for yourself and think about how the world sees our country.
And of course, the only people to challenge the inaccuracy of the vote count in Florida were Representatives that were people of color (black women,one Asian woman, and one black man.)
It angered me that white Democratic Senators (all the US senators holding office are white) did not even sign legislation that would open the debate and make sure the integrity of Presidential elections are legitimate and fair. (If Bush really did win, that is fine. But if votes were disregarded, that is wrong. And trust me, I don't think Al Gore is good either).
Regardless of what political affiliation you are, people of color and poor whites are always going to be the fodder for powerful white people and the black people who serve them (Mammy Condi Rice and Uncle Colin Powell). To watch the big conference with all the oil companies and their ilk carving up Iraq like this was World War I European colonialism carving up Africa was sickening.
The most heartbreaking part was the juxtaposing scenes of the American mother who lost her son, and the Iraqi mother who lost five members of her family to American bombs. To hear them both call on the same God to help ease their pain will make anyone cry at what Bush has done. (He is the war President, right?) And then to see young, dumb (okay, ignorant), soldiers playing thrasher music in their tanks like they're playing a video game to pump themselves up, spliced with other images of different soldiers who have no more limbs or control over their motor functions is harrowing. Funny, we only hear about soldiers who are killed, never the thousands who are now human tripe trying to figure out how they will function in America now.
My favorite part of the film? Michael Moore trying to convince Senators to sign their kids up to fight in the war. Those bastards ran. I hope people outside this country get to see this film so that they know that not all Americans are down for this phony administration.
I will see this film two more times, dragging friends with me and will buy the DVD too. It makes you want to strive to be a better human being, regardless of what race or class or political slant you have. Most people who really hate Michael Moore and the "idea" of this film are the people who need to wake up. The best Americans are those that can love the country and still demand the best from it as they criticize it. Pro or Con, see the movie for yourself and think about how the world sees our country.
The Matrix Revolutions
(2003)
We don't need another messiah complex!
10 November 2003
As we can all agree, the first Matrix was the sh*t. Saw it in the theater about three times dragging different people with me each time. The second and third installment are a disappoinment. A bit too convoluted, zero character arcs with emotional depth etc (I only say that looking at the story-line from a screenwriter perspective),...but I can let that go because the 2nd & 3rd flicks are just franchise money-makers (everybody gets Pimped, it's America). My biggest problem is the idea that in this world, there can only be one Messiah. And everybody waits around for this candy-ass Neo to do something. My one wish would have been if the Brothers W would have at least hinted at a better philisophical stance that would intergrate the concept of "God is in you" for everyone. That way, all the people in this artificial world could be just as powerful as Neo. That would make me stamp the series as classic. People may point to Star Wars and say that the Luke Skywalker character was "Messiah-like", but I would argue that there were a lot of Jedi's around just as powerful as Luke, and he had to have the help of a lot of folks to beat the empire. But not Zion! These Mofo's have been fighting the machines since way before Neo was a constructed program, and they waste a whole movie (nay, 2!) waiting for his passive ass to sit around and think about his choices. Bitch, pick up a weapon and help people "do" something! Stop waiting for one man to save everybody. Save yourself. Of course I will probably check out the anime stories and talk to hard-core fanatics (whoops! Fans.)and get their take. But for me personally, regardless of the Gobbly-gook, and contrived philosophical slants people want to give the last installment, (oh please let it be the end for real!) waiting for the ONE to show up, and only "one", is like black people ( and I am black, so no one starts tripping cuz I'm using a black folks analogy) waiting for Martin Luther King Jr. to save them from racism in the machine that is America. Folks in Zion gotta be like Malcolm X, "Stop singing and start swinging!" The power that was in Neo was in all those characters. Their "choice" was not to use it and waste time waiting for the next Messiah to show up. To paraphrase Zora Neale Hurston, The Gods are only as powerful as "we" make them. Here's to the God in all of you! And if we are truly living in the Matrix right now, when you see Neo, kick him in the ass for me!
Civil Brand
(2002)
Not sure if this movie deserves all the praise it's getting on this site...
20 August 2003
A friend already warned me not to expect a whole lot from this movie, so I went in trying to like it. Perhaps it's because it's the director's first feature film, but mainly because of budget constraints, "Civil Brand" left a lot of gaps in credibility, and visual creativity. I know that the director comes from a television background, and a lot of shots have tight close-ups. Saves money. But I honestly felt that this picture almost slid into B-movie campiness. Let me break it down. Actors. N'Bushe Wright is the best thing in this flick. Casting a few rappers and marginal actresses hurt this piece. I love Mos Def, but he was set up as an important character, but he's underutilized. Perhaps because there was not enough cash to get this thing done, some scenes were not filmed. Less Voice over narrative would've helped. In fact, there should be no narrator. Narration separates the audience from the characters, especially when the person narrating is not integral to the plot. Next, sound design. Clifton Powell (who plays the head prison guard) is an awesome actor. He brings intensity to any scene, and can flip directions like Gene Hackman, hands down. But the choice of music (too much) overwhelmed scenes that could be more intense without telegraphic music that announces what happens next. I felt like I was viewing a silent-era film where the organ player tells you what to feel by the music cue. Reminds me of that damn zither from "The Third Man", the music over powers certain scenes that just don't need it. Make-up/hair. These women are in prison. Sistas had their hair and nails hooked up better than the women I see walking down my street! The characer "Wet" has a faded scar in one scene; a few scenes later another character is commenting on how she just got a bad scar on her face from a beating, then, minutes later (days later in movie-speak), her scars are all red a fresh, even though she had them way before the mention of any beating. Chalk it up to lack of continuity. A fake bloodshot eye lense was very obvious on the Tichina Arnold character. (I know I mispelled her name...sorry) The warden had this thick gob of gel that is used to simulate sweat, but it never moved in all the close-ups he had. Just looked like a gob of goo. Not a big deal if it's a medium shot. But Extreme Close-up? Yikes. Looks like vasoline. I tried to overlook these things, but they are important if one is trying to immerse a person in this world. It was a distraction. Especially Lisa Raye's glitter eye shadow in a few of her close ups as she's talking behind bars. Some scenes were just plain over the top, to the point where I was laughing when I should've been focused on caring for these women. I feel like the movie should be done again, and Neema Barnette given the budget and support to take her time making this picture. It was meshed together in 15 days, when clearly three more weeks probably would've solved a lot of character problems and plot holes left over. So much potential. I support independent film by any means necessary, and Neema is to be commended for actually getting a film on screen. At the same time, the idea that this is a film being lauded as one of the best "black films" and is winning awards in some festivals has me concerned about the quality of films black audiences are desperate to watch. I honestly don't know if the script was even up to task on this. Too many missed opportunities. This film shoulda been popping like the Attica Prison Riot. Instead, it comes of limp and unfulfilled. Just a major disappointment. I hesitate to recommend people to see this. It's a catch-22. If people see this, and like it, then more will be made just like it. Not Good. And if no one goes to see it, distributors and studios can point the finger and say, "See, no one wants to see films, with a dominant black cast." So, I say go see it for what it is, and hopefully it will be financially viable enough to actually get the money to do a story of this magnitude better justice. The prison industrial complex and female slave labor and assualts behind bars is no joke. We have yet to see that story.
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