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Reviews
Proof of Life (2000)
not as bad as all that...
As a former Russell Crowe fan who now finds him nearly intolerable I resolved to hate Proof of Life. Despite myself, I just couldn't. Even the silly, aborted love story between Crowe and Ryan (which may have sizzled offscreen, but plays out as a dud within the context of the film) couldn't quite put me off from this movie. Perhaps it was the excellent location work and stunning cinematography, or the compelling and interesting subject matter. Maybe it was David Morse, as a quintessential WASP in a WASP-less world. Maybe I'm getting soft in my old age. Whatever it was, I found myself enjoying the movie, even going back to watch it a second time. The script is stilted and artificial at times, but Crowe, Ryan, and co. play it out to the best of their considerable abilities and somehow it all works out in the end. Congrats to a great crew for making a potentially crappy film watchable for a change, instead of doing things the other way around as Hollywood usually does.
Chillicothe (1999)
A promising first effort
Chillicothe comes across as the product of a young filmmaker with too many good ideas who wants to spend them all at once-- the result is an interesting but uneven new chapter in the slacker canon, a kind of bildungsroman that has its own voice while borrowing heavily from those who have come before (Kevin Smith, Richard Linklater, et al).
I must admit, however, Chillicothe is charming, buoyed by a likeable cast, excellent production values (for an independent film), and a clever script from writer/director Todd Edwards, who also plays one of the film's central characters. "Write what you know," many English teachers have admonished me, and Edwards has taken this advice to heart, crafting a coming-of-age story for the post-university set that's as sharp and real as it could be. Edwards shows himself to have a keen eye for comic pacing and dramatic irony, but unfortunately he seems to need a little help with organization and pacing, because the film suffers from editing that could only be called schizophrenic. One moment, it looks like a typical Gen X comedy, the next it might be more like a music video or documentary. It seems almost like Edwards is using the film as a demo reel to sell his ability to a major studio, which is fine I suppose but his vision suffers because of it.
Poor organization aside, I can heartily recommend this movie to friends and stangers alike who can't get enough slackin', and anybody else looking for a sharp, mildly edgy laugh. Good job, Todd.
The Incredible Torture Show (1976)
ugh
You gotta hand it to a movie that makes you feel like you need a shower.
I'll never watch it again. It made me want to vomit. This film goes too far, even for a Troma release. It is a travesty, an affront to sanity, and NOT in a good way. I dunno, maybe some ideas shouldn't be expressed. I hope the writer and director of this film are securely locked away somewhere.
Heck, they're probably my kids' PE teachers now.
Welcome Home Brother Charles (1975)
Absolutely the most hysterical...
This film is a gem! Everything within Brother Charles (or Soul Vengeance as I saw it) adds to its effect-- jittery camerawork, sound so murky that most dialogue can't be understood, some really out there dancing and of course, weird action. And boy do I mean weird. Fanakaa obviously was trying for some kind of visual metaphor in this film, but its comic effect overshadows any pretense of seriousness the film may or may not contain. Fans of the genre MUST NOT miss out on this one.