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Reviews
American Stag (2006)
History of stag films - pretty cool
Writer-Director, Benjamin Meade presented this movie at the Kansas Internation Film Festival on Sep 20, 2006 in Kansas City. He had a Q&A afterward.
This movie really isn't an explicit or hardcore exploration of stag films but actually a very interesting movie tracking the history of the stag films. While lots of 1 minute or so clips of the stag films were shown nothing explicit. There were several film historians who covered when stag film first appeared, who filmed them and how they were distributed. There were a couple of guys that actually drove around showing the films to stag parties back in the 30s and 40s. Several of their stories were absolutely wild (like how to avoid the law during the parties).
The celebrity guests such as Tommy Chong and Adam Carolla talked about their first experience watching the films which was pretty cool.
All in all not sleazy at all. While lots of clips were shown nothing explicit. The films of actually stag parties (with the beer drinking, smoking and the little super-8 projector grinding away) were great.
Good film off the beaten track. Find it and rent it.
Death of a Saleswoman (2006)
A good low-budget Donna Reed black comedy
Death of a Saleswoman played at the Kansas International Film Festival on Sep 18, 2006 in Kansas City. The writer-director, Donna Wheeler was in attendance and gave a Q&A after the film.
Death of a Saleswoman is about the murder (and over six thousand dollars worth of plastic storage ware stolen from her trunk) of Agatha Ruby, the top seller and regional sales manager of plastic storage (not Tupperware).
The movie is a Donna Reed black comedy of obsession and envy in a small town. One really nice aspect of the film was nearly every single person in the small town was a suspect (one of my favorite scenes was the last one where the town population was carefully changed from 200 to 199).
The cast was very good for a ultra-low budget film. Several actors I've seen on network television (Friends, ER, Law & Order).
The Director, Donna Wheeler mentioned all of the flashbacks were shot in B&W while everything else was in color. The photography wasn't really that great and the lighting was a problem but you have to expect things like that with low-budget films (think of all the low-grade horror films you've seen). I think the lead (the murder victim) Melissa Papp has a future in movies. She is extremely pretty and has IT (whatever IT is). Her personality really shines through and her face can really show what her character is feeling. I'm going to look for other stuff she's been in.
Who actually did it doesn't matter so don't spend time in the movie trying to figure out who killed her and stole all of the plastic ware. Just enjoy all of the twisted motivations in this small town and the outsider cops trying to piece everything together.
No it's not a great film but I liked it. Well worth a rental if it every hits NetFlixs.
Her Minor Thing (2005)
Real Nice Chick Flick
Her Minor Thing played at the Kansas International Film Festival Sept 18, 2006 in Kansas City. I found it a marvelous little independent film. I think the Romantic Comedy is my favorite type of movie and this movie really fills the bill. I'm hard pressed to think of a movie with a prettier cast, with Supermodel Estella Warren, Michael Weatherly (of NCIS) and Ivana Milicevic (from the Reese Witherspoon flick, Just Like Heaven).
The basic setup is Estella is a computer programmer for the fire department who is also 26 virgin dating Michael Weatherly. Michael is a TV reporter who shares the fact Estalla is a virgin during an accidental live newscast. Estalla's life is turned upside down and everyone wants to know the why. Mix in a couple of $6,000 cruise tickets to Rio and all of the pervy voice messages she gets throughout the movie and you really get something.
Estella Warren is one of the most beautiful supermodels in the world and she can actually act (especially in a bikini!). The movie covers some pretty important themes (love isn't sex, stand up for yourself without hurting other people and you can't have true love without honesty). Michael Weatherly plays someone very pretty with a nice smile, knows it and really isn't very bright.
The movie was filmed on location in Sacramento, California and it was really nice to see something different than the standard Los Angles locations we've all seen a thousand times before.
All in All an excellent independent film without foul language or violence. Not really any villains in the movie, just people acting according to the nature. And it is twisted to leave the guy sobbing on the couch instead of the girl. Check it out (and the midget porn line is the funniest thing in the movie).
Forbidden Planet (1956)
Classic Science Fiction
Forbidden Planet is one of the great Sci Fi movies of all time. The test of a movie is whether or not you enjoyed it; and I enjoyed Forbidden Planet quite a bit. It's hard to explain the attraction. The space ship looks like a pair of dinner plates, the special effects are usually fairly cheesy (except when the ID Monster is attacked in the force field - very cool) and the action sequences are well lame.
All that being said the movie does have several great things working for it. Robby the Robot - very very cool. Anne Francis as Altaira (even Ally McBeal didn't have shorter skirts). Walter Pigeon as Morbius (maybe the best of the mad scientists). Most of all it has was all great science fiction needs - the big idea. The idea that no matter our technology we are still human with darkness at the heart of our soul.
Space travel, alien civilizations, monsters have all been done to death, even in 1956 but put them all together the sum is much more than it's parts.
BTW Anne Francis doesn't look at all like her Marilyn Monroe knockoff on Gilligan's Island 10 years later. In Forbidden Planet she is stunningly attractive and I can't figure out why she didn't have a more successful career. That being said if I was to be marooned on Altair 4 I really couldn't chose between Anne Francis and Robbie the Robot. Both would be very nice. Very very nice.
If you get a chance see it in a theater. It's not the same on TV.
First Descent (2005)
Great Documentary on Snowboarding
I never thought much about the attraction of snowboarding over skiing until I seen this documentary. Now I understand. The film is an exploration of the creation and history of snowboarding and it's explosion into popular culture. The basic setup is a trip to Alaska by three young snowboarders to "conquer" the mountains. The footage of these snowboarders down these mountains is absolutely incredible.
While I naturally enjoyed meeting the snowboarders and getting to know them a little I loved the older footage. You probably thought snowboarding grew out of the Southern California Surfer screen but you would be wrong. It actually grew out of the skateboard craze of the late 70's. If you every watch a skateboard competition some of the same moves are used in snowboarding.
Since there is no plot this documentary is all about attitude so casting (or selection) was critical for the young snowboarders and the film certainly picked right. Two of the young snowboarders, Shaun White and Hannah Teter won Olympic Gold Medals at Torino in 2006 (in addition to being enormously appealing). None of them seem to have a bit of fear; no matter how hairy the run down the mountain.
I love films that present something I have never seen before and seeing these guys get dropped off at the top of the mountain and go down for miles is unbelievable. Quite a film - See it. and my highest recommendation.
End of the Spear (2005)
A life worth living
A true story. In 1956 five missionaries to the Waodani tribe in Ecuador were killed. Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Pete Fleming, Ed McCully and Roger Younderian were speared after one of the tribesman lied about them killing and eating a tribeswomen who left years earlier. The wives of the slain missionaries decide to life among the tribesman and help them with medical care, planting crops and sharing their faith. Mincayani is one of the leaders who helped spear their husbands and is baffled why the wives don't kill the tribe in the old cycle of vengeance and death.
The first part of the movie is how the Waodani live in the jungle; especially the violence and death of constant war. You get a real sense of how the Waodani live, love and what they believe. I can't express the horror of how they treat their enemies (they think nothing of spearing infants). The last hour takes place in the early 1970's when Nate Saint's son Steve comes to visit the Waodani and Micayani befriends him.
The climax of the movie is when Micayani acknowledger his guilt and gives Steve a spear to kill him. Steve realizes that even a Christian can have the same feelings of rage and hate as a stone-age tribesman.
Steve tells Micayani that he didn't take his father's life, he gave it up. Simply an outstanding story of five remarkable men, their even more remarkable wives and the true meaning of laying down your life to save it. Elisabeth Elliot wrote an account in 1961, "Through Getes of Splendor" that you should definitely read.
Imagine Me & You (2005)
Meet Cute
Imagine Me & You is a rather harmless romantic comedy with a great great cast. The setup has been covered to death but Piper Perabo and Lena Headey lock eyes during Piper's march down the wedding aisle and everything else in the movie plays out. I especially liked Matthew Goode's performance. The third wheel in a romantic comedy is always the most difficult but he pulls it off pretty well. Since all of this is in the trailer I'm not sharing a spoiler but when he breaks up with Piper he wants her to be happy, just happy with him you can sense his heart breaking. To paraphrase from the book "Love Monkey" sometimes the dealer looks at you and says, "You lost. Try your luck at a different table".
One thing, Imagine Me & You really isn't funny enough to be a comedy or serious enough to be a drama. It is a light fluffy slice of life about one woman's search for love. The problem with being true to yourself is the damage your search causes to the people you love.
I very much enjoyed this movie and hope you see it.
BTW The babe factor is extremely high with Piper and Lena but there is less objectionable material (other than content) than you would find on a PAX TV show. How can you have two drop dead chicks in a romance and not have a single bit of nudity? Hey maybe this was a tragedy?
The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
Brand new print of the classic film with the great Alloy Orchestra
The Phantom of the Opera (1925) with the Alloy Orchestra played the Kansas Film Festival on 09/11/05. Lon Chaney's great performance in the silent film is one of the great triumphs in movie history. When he is unmasked the whole audience jumped. Truly terrifying. The silent film was scored and performed by the Alloy Orchestra. They actually bought and restored the definitive print of the phantom. I've never seen the film in a theater and I was shocked about how good it was. In 1925 it was one of the most expensive film every made. In fact some of the film is in color. At the ball the Phantom's red cape is the color of blood. Scary. If you haven't heard the Alloy Orchestra you can't really consider yourself a movie buff so track them down and attend one of their silent films. Its really something special.
Jesus, Mary and Joey (2005)
Steller cast in a wonderful romantic comedy
Jesus, Mary and Joey played at the Kansas Film Festival on 09/11/05. I guess this film has been sitting on the shelf for a while but it was delightful. Steller cast which includes Jennifer Esposito, Charles Durning, Tess Harper, Olympia Dukakis, Dan Lauria, Jason Gedrick, Stacy Keach and others. A wonderful Romantic comedy with a close knit Italian-American family, the Vitellos youngest son Joey falling in love with a fundamentalist WASP-y girl Mary played by Marley Shelton (nice to see her again). This is a religious romantic comedy that asks questions about faith, hope and love. Joey meets Mary and starts questioning his Catholic faith. Mary who went though a serious illness when she was younger starts questioning her religion (not her faith). Her father played by Stacey Keach puts the "fun" in fundamental but isn't all that helpful. I usually don't like films about religion but this is something special. Both Mary and Joey learn that faith and love matter, not dogma. And the course of true love (both with each other and God) never runs smooth. Wonderful film and the photography is beautiful. See it and you'll have good Karma.
Razor Eaters (2003)
A Great Ultra-Violent Aussie film
"Robert Kennedy said: 'Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves.' Well, congratulations, Australia, you've earned us." Razor Eaters. Shannon Young's Razor Eaters played at the Kansas Film Festival on 09/09/05. I didn't know much about it going in but I was blown away. Shannon Young and the detective, Paul Moder were in attendance and the Q&A was terrific. As an ultra violent low budget feature from Austrilia the story was terrific. Basically 5 criminals decide to take anarchistic vengeance upon society. They rampage throughout Melbourne videotaping their crimes and taunting the cops. Interesting twist; they decide to pay back criminals (except for the occasional football player , an advertising executive, a Parking Clerk and a Chinese girl). Regardless they swore to kill one drug dealer per day until the cops catch them. The movie gave a very plausible account of how they became anti-heroes. In fact in one scene they order T-shirts and then beat the guy when he tries to get paid. Afterwards he is proud to be beaten by the Razor Eaters and makes money by selling T-shirts (of course such a thing couldn't happen in America - why you would need to be a washed-up singer and sleep with 8 year old boys to get that kind of fame). A couple of final points. The Detective is a very interesting character. He is not a very good cop, not a lot of friends on the force, under suspicion for a "questionable" shooting. But he does track them down and well, enough said.
Razor Eaters is a great ultra-violent film. See it. BTW - The gang is called Razor Eaters for two reasons. The first is they are named after a true life monster who used to make some of his 19 victims eat razor blades. The second; the initials of all five members first names.
5x2 (2004)
Marriage - When bad things happen to good people
Francois Ozon's 5x2 played at the Kansas Film Festival on 09/13/05. The director of Swimming Pool (which is a much better movie) has crafted a bittersweet tale of a marriage (along with a couple of lives) gone sour. From the opening scene where the couple signing divorce papers followed immediately by divorced-make-up-sex turning to rape the story is quite a ride. The movie reminds me of Irreversible with its non-linear storytelling device that no one can figure out but with a brutal rape sequence that everyone remembers. 5x2 plays like that for me; I couldn't figure out the sequence of who did what when but perhaps that wasn't so important. I got the impression of Marion and Gillis' story where they remember the big events and argue of over the where and when of the small things. There might be a French cultural component to these kinds of movies. In American films the couple will find love triumphant but in France some wounds are too deep. I can't say enough about the two leads, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi and Stéphane Freiss. She is a very well known French star and he has been in a ton of movies also. Valeria is in her late 30's but has a Catherine Deneuve quality of timeless beauty (also she gets naked - very naked). This isn't a pleasant film but everyone's life seems to be touched by divorce. Maybe your story turns out better than theirs. I'm getting the DVD so maybe I can figure out the when. Anyway Valeria is a true stunner I want to see again.
History Lessons (2000)
Lesbian documentary
Barbara Hammer's History Lessons documentary played at the Kansas Film Festival on 09/10/05. The film is a documentary about Lesbians and their place in America. Ms. Hammer weaves a World War II documentary on female fighter pilots, newsreel footage of Eleanor Roosevelt and a heaping helping of 3 minute 8MM old Lesbian porn loops into a montage of images and stories about their place in our world; what's changed and what hasn't. Ms. Hammer had a Q&A after the film about how she picked the archival footage, how she managed to track down the old 8mm porn loops (extremely funny about buying porn loops in bulk - if you'll pardon the pun) and scanning the film loops to see which frames are most worn (which means they were played most) and inserting them into the movie. Plenty of nudity, lesbians everywhere and some really cool 1960's drive-in visual effects. Some of the old 20's porn is absolutely fascinating while the 60's porn with the girls with glasses, long straight hair and bell bottoms still is very hot. The film isn't a Stonewall outrage but a fun and playful exploration of a much more innocent time. Come on guys see the flick - its really good.
Derailroaded (2005)
Wild Man Fischer, a life wasted
Derailroaded played at the Kansas Film Festival on 09/10/05 and I got a ticket. The documentary is of Wild Man Fischer, a Rock singer from the 1960's. I never heard of him but Frank Zappa produced one of his albums and he was the initial pitchman for Rhino records and recorded the Rhino radio jingle. Wild Man Fischer suffers from paranoid schizophrenia which has profoundly impacted his life and career. In some of the concern footage from the early 60's you see him jamming with Frank Zappa (very nice to see him again) and see glimpses of what might have been. For years Dr. Demento was a big fan. In fact he played once at Giants stadium with Zappa, Janice Joplin, The Byrds and Hendrix so he wasn't a hack. If you have never been around true mental illness this film is an eye-opener. Mental illness isn't funny; in fact it is extremely scary. Fascinating movie. Two things stand out for me. The first is Billy Mummy (the kid from "Lost in Space") turned out pretty well. In fact he seemed to have his stuff together. He might be Wild Man's only friend. The second was the Dr. Demento puppet show where Frank Zappa finds out how crazy Wild Man really is and breaks it off. The family interviews are touching and tragic. His family has pretty much stuck by Wild Man all these years and seem to truly care about his welfare. From the Aunt dying of cancer who gives him a place to live to his brother dropping off groceries. A wonderful glimpse into the birth of Rock and Roll and a life completely out of control. See it.
Sunnyvale (2005)
Geek Heaven!
I saw Sunnyvale at the Kansas Film Festival on 9/13/05. This ultra-low budget comedy by Writer-director James Ricardo is one of the funniest films I have every seen. The basic premise is an unemployed, porn-addicted, food-obsessed loser has a very hot chick show up at his door to drop off some pot. Naturally she went to the wrong address but she keeps coming back because; well he is such a loser, knows it and accepts it. He just wants to be left alone (remember the porn?) but all throughout history girls like her have guys like him doing pretty much whatever she wants. She decides to "improve" him and try to get him a girlfriend from "Lowered Expectations" on the internet. My favorite was the Dog Lady. Her dog ran away which was such a shame after all the time she spent training him (if you know what I mean...). OK well eventually he is sleeping with three women and he can't figure out why. But as the Pot lady says, "You have no idea how low the standards are for girls out there". 'Enuf said; point taken. The writing is viciously funny. The babes are EXTREMELY hot. And the whole film is seriously twisted. I laughed my ass off. And yes I always suspected that more Republicians than Democrats are swingers.
At Last (2005)
True love sometimes works out
I saw "At Last" at the Kansas Film Festival on 09/11/05. Tom Anton and his wife, co-writer Sandi Russell were at the film and did a Q&A afterward. Absolutely great film. It tells the true life story of Tom and Sandi's 25 year gap between falling in love and getting married. The story is set in New Orlenes, before the flood and that made the film's message even more powerful. Maybe Tom and Sandi's story of loss, struggles, hope and redemption can be New Orlenes' as well. Their story about how they finally ended up together isn't a spoiler at all. This really isn't a religious film but the story of how they finally came together after living in different states, married to different people gives me a sense of faith.
I think everyone wants a "Do over" but life, unlike shooting baskets doesn't work like that. When it happened to Tom and Sandi maybe I could get one. In the Q&A after the film Sandi talked about the title, At Last. She said it was about the Balance being restored. About being with who you were meant to be with. Unbelievable story and a great movie. Don't miss it. In times like these we need hope and some sense that things are going to work out for the best. Finally at the Q&A Tom and Sandi did say some of the details in the film were true. They drove the exact same model of car and their first born did have the same name, Catherine. I'm happy for them and if you see the film I'll be happy for you.
G (2002)
The Hip-hop Great Gatsby
G, The Hip-hop Great Gatsby opened the Kansas Film Festival and I got a ticket. I'm not at all a fan of Hip-hop (although Hustle and Flow was terrific!). Regardless "G" is great! Keep in mind the question the Journalist (narriator) asks everyone, "Does Hip-hop have heart?". He finally gets an answer with the last line of the movie. Richard T. Jones was mesmerizing as a "Puffy" Rap Mougel slumming in the Hamptons. If your definition of evil is selfishness carried to its logical conclusion then Blair Underwood played a true monster. Great acting job since he is such a sweet person. The movie is a bit uneven in some of the pacing and the reason why the female lead, Sky does what she does is puzzling but an extremely good-looking cast and a great soundtrack make this a movie to watch for. Writer-director Christopher Scott Cherot was at the film and gave a 30 minute Q&A on what he went through to raise the money and get the film made is so good that I hope he will repeat it on the DVD. You can tell when a studio has over-processed a film more than Spam and this is Cherot's film from star to finish. Even if you don't like Hip-Hop see it.
Van Helsing (2004)
Boring....
Van Helsing is an example of the worst kind of Hollywood Popcorn movies; it's violent, no sex, filled with CGI effects and no plot (or too much plot that doesn't go anywhere). This very much reminds me of Underworld (also starring Kate Beckinsdale)- a pure set design piece. Van Helsing is a mysterious hunter of supernatural villains (all of the standard 19th Century English Monsters) working for Rome (the Church). After dispatching a very phony CGI villain in Paris he get sent to Transylvania to kill Count Dracula. I'm so disappointed. I adore the actors and the set design but the CGI is extremely fake and the plot might make sense to the MTV generation (as long as they are on a sugar-induced frenzy). Pointless violence is boring however lots to like but it's a missed opportunity. Don't spend your hard-earned money, wait for the DVD. Josie Maran as one of Dracula's wives is a real looker.
Battlefield Earth (2000)
Be afraid, be very afraid
Battlefield Earth is from a terrific Sci-Fi book by L. Ron Hubbard. The book deserves to be in the top rung of the greatest Science Fiction novels of all time. However Battlefield Earth (the movie) might be one of the worst movies I have ever seen. The movie is filmed in very dark blues that give the film a gloomy washed-out look and feel. The pacing is very bad and John Travolta's performance as Teal is humilating.
The basic story takes place in 3000 A.D. The human race is nearly exterminated back in the 20th Century by a cruel race called Psychlos. The security chief Teal (John Travolta) captures a human, Jonnie Goodboy Tyler (Barry Pepper - much better as the Southern Baptist sniper in "Saving Private Ryan") to have him dig gold.
Jonnie enlists the help of some Scots and decides to kill all the Psychlos and free the planet. Well good enough.
The worst thing is the way the movie mishandles the Action/Adventure sceens. In the book there are several great action sceens that should be slamdunks but somehow the movie is more a set design piece than trusting the narrative.
For example, somehow they messed up one of the key sceens in the movie where Jonnie substitues gold-filled coffins teleporting back to Psychlo with Nuclear weapons.
All in all simply a dreadful movie. In fact I was hoping the Psychlos would win so there wouldn't be a sequel. However since the movie tanked at the box office I don't think a sequel is in the cards.
Regardless I want my money back.
Saved! (2004)
Saved is pretty good but a near miss
Saved didn't quite hit the mark. The basic story is set in a Christian High School where Jena Malone tries to "cure" her boyfriend of his "gayness" by sleeping with him. Well the boyfriend gets shipped off to Mercy House and Jena is left in the family way. She tries to keep it a secret from her Mom and the school (lest she is cast out) but some secrets have a way of coming out. Mom finds out, Her best friend (Mandy Moore) kicks her out the the inner circle where she finds new friends with the outsiders.
Saved isn't anti-Christian at all and it's much more a gentle comedy than I expected. As a Christian (but not the scary kind) I found some of the situations hit a bit too close to home. However all of the kids in the movie are looking for something more than what they have and some of them find the true message of Christianity.
The movie misses the mark a bit by not being pointed enough. There really isn't a super-villain in the movie; just some kids who do mean things from good motives. I think the movie is worth your $8.00. If nothing else to see Mandy Moore at the dawn of her career. She is terrific and with good projects she will be an A-list actress in three years.
Van Helsing (2004)
Boring....
Van Helsing is an example of the worst kind of Hollywood Popcorn movies; it's violent, no sex, filled with CGI effects and no plot (or too much plot that doesn't go anywhere). This very much reminds me of Underworld (also starring Kate Beckinsdale)- a pure set design piece. Van Helsing is a mysterious hunter of supernatural villains (all of the standard 19th Century English Monsters) working for Rome (the Church). After dispatching a very phony CGI villain in Paris he get sent to Transylvania to kill Count Dracula. I'm so disappointed. I adore the actors and the set design but the CGI is extremely fake and the plot might make sense to the MTV generation (as long as they are on a sugar-induced frenzy). Pointless violence is boring however lots to like but it's a missed opportunity. Don't spend your hard-earned money, wait for the DVD. Josie Maran as one of Dracula's wives is a real looker.
Passion's Obsession (2000)
If this what you're look for you can't go wrong
For a Skinamax type of film, not too bad. You get to see plenty of C.C. Costigan (but not all if you know what I mean, Vern). C.C. Costigan and Regina Russell run a small detective agency hired by Samantha Phillips to find a missing actor. The kidnapping plot actually is done fairly well. Some of the girls have a bit of mileage but are quite attractive (for all you lonely solitary men whose apartment may or may not contain a chicken). The plot I would rate 8/10, cast (girls) 6/10, sex 6/10 and overall production values 8/10. The film seems a bit choppy but for soft-core I would give it an overall rating of 7/10. This might be the kind of movie to watch with your girlfriend without her throwing you out and burning all your stuff in the street. Good strong female leads with some nice romance. One last note, Miss Costigan is quite attractive and I hope she continues her film career.
L.A. Confidential (1997)
The Last Great American Film
If not for a film about a ship hitting an iceberg and going down L.A. Confidential would have been a sure-fire Academy Award Best Picture winner. The best part of the movie is Kim Basinger winning a Best Supporting Actress for her role as a Veronica Lake lookalike hooker and Russell Crowe as a fearsome cop who finds a surprising capacity for love.
The genius of the film is the three inter-related stories (hookers cut to resemble movie stars, missing heroin and a murder investigation) in LA of the early 1950's. Cops, hookers, corrupt politicians and gangsters all touch each others lives and in the tabloid press in surprising ways.
The acting is terrific with James Cromwell, Kevin Spacey, Guy Pierce and Danny DeVito all selling their souls for ambition - and the price to be paid; deserved or not. The costumes and set design are first rate. If you like film noir, or just love well-crafted movies you'll have to look hard to find a better film.