Night of the Living Deb (2015)

Title: Night of the Living Deb

Director: Kyle Rankin

Year: 2014

Country: United States

Language: English

Studio: Cocksure


[Preface: It's not normally my thing to review silly films like this, but for some reason, I just felt like it.]


There once was a time when films about zombies or the apocalypse were considered fresh and interesting. However, about 1/9th into the 21st century, this is no longer the case. Occasionally, a film comes around and manages to pull off something creative and original, allowing filmgoers to remember why the genres were so appealing to begin with. Plot spoiler, this is not one of those films. What it is, however, is a mashup of romance, comedy, awkward situational humor, zombies, apocalypse, and temporal events -- put together nicely with some decent, underutilized actors.

Maria Thayer stars alongside Michael Cassidy in this quirky little production, with a little bit of help from one-note bit actors like Chris Marquette, who essentially reprises his role of Eli from The Girl Next Door (the Elisha Cuthbert vehicle, not the Jack Ketchum horror flick). Putting it bluntly, the first fifteen minutes of this film are absolutely painful to watch -- Thayer's titular character Deb is quite possibly the most annoying person on the planet, the dialogue is ridiculous, and it's just overall a pretty substantial pile of awkwardness. If you're one of those people who likes feeling embarrassed for the characters on screen, then you'll more than likely get a kick out of this -- but if you aren't, it's going to be the cinematic equivalent of nails on a chalkboard.

However, once you get past the painstaking set-up for the film, things start to seamlessly transition into tolerable territory. Once Deb (Maria Thayer) starts to show enough depth and humanity to match Ryan's (Michael Cassidy) character, everything from the comedic elements to the potential romantic elements begin to mesh much more organically.

There's not a whole lot to say about the plot. It's pretty much exactly what you would get if you combined Shaun of the Dead and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Whereas the former is a masterpiece of the genre, and the latter is an entertaining foray into post-30 Rock television, this film doesn't fare as well. It's not going to become a cult classic or gain any type of real following or appreciation. Instead, it's the type of film that someone will stumble across on Netflix and throw on in the background while they're doing something else.

Is it worth watching? Sure. Is it funny? Occasionally, in a Apatow-meets-Fey kind of way. The ending seems a bit thrown together and could have benefited from the input of a focus group, or even a team of screenwriters who actually put thought into how they think a story should end.

Acting: 60
Directing: 70
Writing: 65
Plot: 75
Casting: 80
Cinematography: N/A
-------------------
Total Score: 350 out of 500 or 70%
Overall Grade: C
Star Rating: *** out of possible ***** (3/5)

Spotlight (2015)

Title: Spotlight

Director: Tom McCarthy

Year: 2015

Country: USA

Language: English

Studio: Open Road

It's been a long time -- too long, actually -- since a film solely about investigative journalism made an impact on the big screen. There have been a few in recent years that came close, but only used journalism as a platform for another type of film: State of Play, a solid political thriller, and Good Night and Good Luck, an intriguing biographical drama that deserved its accolades for how it artfully and thoughtfully captured Edward R. Murrow's captivating on-screen persona. You could make an argument for 2000's Erin Brockovich, but that film focused as much -- if not more -- on the title character than it did on the ugly truth behind what went on in Hinkley, California. But really, not since 1976's All the President's Men has a film really captured what it's like to really dig for the truth in a meaningful and enthralling way.

Spotlight attempts to change that, and it succeeds at every gripping turn. This star-studded film takes the horrific and nauseating topic of pedophilia in the Catholic Church and makes it utterly fascinating, much like Doubt managed to do in 2008 with similarly brilliant casting.

The cast -- consisting of Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Stanley Tucci, Billy Crudup, and a comeback-solidifying performance from Liev Schreiber -- is just one of the many things that make this film so successful. The direction and screenwriting efforts of Tom McCarthy are so stellar that it's hard to believe he was the brains behind the awful-in-every-way atrocity that was The Cobbler with Adam Sandler. The pacing is deliberate and perfect, with every shot and cut necessarily building toward the big payoff, which manages to still be suspenseful even though most viewers already know a good majority of the story.

Additionally, what makes this film work so well is that we know so little about the characters other than the obvious facts that they are so wrapped up in their jobs that they have little time for a personal life. Much like Law and Order, only glimpses of what goes on outside the job are ever seen, and they're only there to reinforce how important uncovering the truth was to every single person involved. It ruined Mark Ruffalo's marriage, prevented Rachel McAdams from doing anything else besides bringing her devout Catholic grandmother to church, brings Liev Schreiber from city to city with no personal attachments, and provides a backdrop for Michael Keaton's back-and-forth guilt trips over what he's oppressed for so long and what he knows needs to be uncovered.

Going over the plot is unnecessary; all the viewer needs to know is the general premise. Anything else just detracts from the experience of everything Spotlight has to offer, and subsequently delivers. You'll leave the theater, feeling exhilarated and disgusted; satisfied and repulsed; reassured and disquieted. This film does what Argo couldn't; it stretches a story that couldn't plausibly sustain an entire feature -- without needless drama -- into something that you absolutely don't want to ever end.

Acting: 95
Directing: 96
Writing: 92
Plot: 90
Casting: 100
Cinematography: 80
-------------------
Total Score: 558 out of 600 or 93%
Overall Grade: A-
Star Rating: ****+ out of possible *****

The Criterion Collection #485 - The Last Days of Disco

The Last Days of Disco (1998)

Whit Stillman

• United States / 113 Minutes / 1.78:1 / English
• 1 Disc Release with Commentary, Trailer, Deleted Scenes, Interviews
• 
  
• The third part of Stillman's so-called "yuppie" trilogy (the first two being Metropolitan [also available on Criterion] and Barcelona), The Last Days of Disco is a film about the end of an era. Although the film essentially deals with the death rattle of disco, it also extensively focuses on the importance of self. While it's filled with snappy dialogue that's entertaining, intelligent, and intriguing, there's a sense of accessibility with the characters -- a sense that the viewer could occupy, or have occupied, the facade of one of these people at one point in their lives. Each of the main characters are going through a period of realization and questioning, although not always on the same level or at the same pace. Nevertheless, it's an interesting film that most people can relate to, regardless of whether they were around the early 1980s themselves.

While the film has an interesting premise, there's much to be said about its execution. Stillman wrote the screenplay as well as directed the film, and he could have benefited from some outside intervention in the process. There are loopholes galore in the story line itself, and while it's not really that difficult of a narrative to follow, it jumps around awkwardly and leaves several things unfinished and unresolved. The dialogue at times is too chic and tries too hard to be intellectual, but that's to be expected in a film about former Harvard socialites attempting to live out the glamour lifestyle of Manhattan as twentysomethings. Some of the characters are impossible to like, which normally wouldn't be a problem, but it's clear that Stillman wanted them to have some admirable characteristics. There are also some flaws in the film's resolution, which contains an ending that seems too trite for a film of this caliber.

But as a whole, regardless of the flaws of the film, it's still an enjoyable experience. Although it runs at just shy of two hours, it's not one of those pieces that you can't wait to end. It's consistently intriguing and mostly rewarding, and it's fun to watch the shenanigans and hardships some of the characters do end up enduring. Chloe Sevigny plays her part as Alice wonderfully just as she does with every girl she's ever portrayed on screen, and it's fun to watch television stars like Robert Leonard (House) and Jennifer Beals (The Chicago Code) in earlier movie roles. Kate Beckinsale shows some surprising acting chops considering her choices in roles after this film, and Christopher Eigman shows why he was one of the best and most under-appreciated/under-utilized actors of the 1990s. It's also a shame that Tara Subkoff had such a minor role in this film, as her character Holly is one of the most endearing roles this film has to offer.

All in all, The Last Days of Disco is a good film, but it could have been so much better. It basically could have been the Reality Bites of the Disco generation, but it got caught up too much in the rhetoric to really make much of an impact. Boogie Nights is a far better examination of the disco period, even though it focused much less on the music and much more on the pornography -- and that's saying something. It's a shame that Stillman hasn't done anything since this film's release (until this year), because he does have considerable talent, but it's kind of that Quentin Tarantino talent where you're not really sure what you're going to get with each film because it's all over the place. Still, if you're a film buff, you probably should see this at some point.

Movie Rating: ***+ (3.5/5)

[Interesting dialog, excellent casting, good acting, good editing, thought-provoking storyline]

DVD Rating: ****+ (4.5/5)

[Great presentation, interesting commentary]

The Criterion Collection #486 - Homicide

Homicide (1991)

David Mamet

• United States / 101 Minutes / 1.85:1 / English
• 1 Disc Release with Commentary, Featurette, Gag Reel
• 
  
• Fans of Mamet know what to expect when viewing his films. The dialog is too smart, too fast, and too witty to be as realistic as it's intended to be. The characters are played to perfection by a group of actors that seem to pop up in nearly every one of his films. The plot is always a clever twist on an otherwise conventional story, zigging when you expect it to zag and often leading to intense debate and discussion.
• 
  
• Homicide, Mamet's third directorial effort, is no exception. Featuring Joe Mantegna as detective Bobby Gold, William H. Macy as his partner Tim Sullivan, Rebecca Pidgeon as Miss Klein, and Ving Rhames as Randolph, it starts off as a regular late 80s/early 90s cop movie. Complete with racial tensions, a bunch of witty banter, and detectives who clearly lack social lives, Homicide seems like it could be an episode of Law & Order. But as the film hits the halfway mark, Mamet throws a series of twists and turns that make the viewer realize they're in for something special.
• 
  
• To go into detail regarding these twists and turns would put a damper on the viewing pleasure that accompanies a movie such as this, so let's keep it vague: Bobby Gold, on his way to catch the bad guy that would get him the promotion he's always wanted, stops at a crime scene to help some fellow rookie officers get out of a jam. Upon doing so, he stumbles on a murder scene, and despite his best efforts to pawn the case off on another detective, he gets stuck holding the bag and has to take the case. At first, he doesn't take the assignment seriously and makes it extremely clear he'd rather be working on the case that would have advanced his career. But as he begins investigating and interviewing witnesses, he realizes that there's a lot more going on than meets the eye. Delving deeper causes Bobby to begin questioning not only his morality, but his heritage and his loyalty.
• 
  
• It's been said that Homicide is a film about belonging. However, it can best be described as a film about not belonging. Bobby Gold is a conflicted individual, and during the course of the film, it becomes clear that he's been repressing some serious emotion throughout the course of his life. He thinks he knows who he is and what he wants, but over time those thoughts and feelings get railroaded by the things he discovers about himself, and he becomes caught in a web that he can't seem to get himself out of. All of these trials and tribulations come to a head during the climax of the film, leaving the audience stunned and confused.
• 
  
• Mamet throws in some very David Lynch-like interactions between the characters, as well as some confusing "did this actually happen?" events. While these are a few of the main reasons that the film is so effective and distinguished, it's bound to spark debate and have viewers immediately flocking toward Google and looking up editorials and explanations regarding the film's subtle shockers. In the end, whether or not you love Homicide depends on how you feel about Mamet's style in general: typically, if you're an average movie-goer who tends to go for the real over the surreal, you'll probably find fault in this film. However, if you find yourself enjoying more intelligent and thought-provoking material, this will end up being a film you turn to again and again. It's something you'll constantly bring up in discussion and recommend to your friends.
• 
  
• Movie Rating: **** (4/5)
• [Excellent dialog, great acting, brilliant editing, thought-provoking storyline]
• DVD Rating: ****+ (4.5/5)
• [Great presentation, interesting commentary, excellent booklet, bonus documentary]

A Lofty Goal: Reviewing the Criterion Collection

As most everyone knows (and whomever doesn't know can easily decipher by the large Criterion section on my movie list), I'm a huge fan of the films in this series. Not only am I in awe of their cinematic qualities, but also how they are presented, packaged, and cherry-picked from a long line of worthy films by great directors. Because of this, I've decided that it is my goal to review each and every movie in the series on this blog. Of course, given that there are hundreds and hundreds of them, this will more than likely take the rest of my life to do so. But hey, we all need a hobby, right?

Complete DVD and Ratings List (Updated)

Some people were asking what movies I owned, so I figured I'd upload this list I've been keeping. All of the ratings assigned to each DVD are out of 5 stars.

Up-to-date as of 1/22/2011

Ratings are on a 5-star scale

REGULAR DVD

===========

007: casino royale [****]

007: die another day [**+]

007: dr. no [****]

007: from russia with love [***+]

007: goldeneye [****]

007: licence to kill [**+]

007: live and let die [***]

007: man with the golden gun [***]

007: octopussy [***+]

007: on her majesty's secret service [****]

007: quantum of solace [***]

007: the spy who loved me [***+]

007: tomorrow never dies [***]

007: a view to a kill [***]

007: the world is not enough [***+]

007: you only live twice [***+]

2 days in paris [n/a]

8 mile [****]

10 things i hate about you [***]

12 monkeys [***+]

21 grams [****]

25th hour [***+]

3:10 to yuma (2007) [***+]

40 year old virgin [****]

54 [**+]

101 dalmations [****]

about schmidt [****]

the abyss [****]

ace venture: when nature calls [**+]

the age of innocence [****]

a.i. [****]

ali [***+]

alien [*****]

aliens [*****]

alien 3 [**+]

alien: resurrection [**+]

almost famous [****+]

altered states [****]

american beauty [****+]

an american crime [***]

an education [****]

american history x [****]

american outlaws [**]

american pie [***]

american psycho [****]

american splendor [****+]

an evening with kevin smith [***+]

analyze this [***]

animal house [*****]

annie hall [*****]

antitrust [**+]

arlington road [**+]

army of darkness [***+]

atonement [***+]

avatar [***+]

the aviator [****+]

badlands [*****]

the ballad of jack and rose [****]

barbarella [**+]

barton fink [****+]

the basketball diaries [***]

batman [****+]

batman begins [****]

batman returns [****]

batteries not included [***]

the beach [***]

a beautiful mind [****+]

beavis and butthead do america [***]

becoming jane [***]

bedazzled (re-make) [**+]

before sunrise [****+]

before sunset [****+]

behind the mask [****]

the believer [****+]

ben-hur (3-disc/all versions) [*****]

bend it like beckham [***+]

big fish [****]

bio-dome [**]

the birds [*****]

black hawk down [****]

black sheep (1996) [**]

blade [****]

blade II [***]

blazing saddles [*****]

blonde (tv miniseries) [**+]

blood simple. [*****]

blue velvet [*****]

body heat [*****]

boogie nights [*****]

the boondock saints [**]

borat [****]

bottle rocket [****]

bound [****]

bourne identity [****]

bourne supremacy [****]

bourne ultimatum [****]

bowling for columbine [****+]

bram stoker's dracula [***]

braveheart [****]

breach [***+]

breakfast at tiffany's [*****]

breaking the waves [****+]

brick [****]

broadway danny rose [*****]

broken flowers [****]

the brood [****]

bubble [****]

buffalo 66 [****]

buffy the vampire slayer [**+]

bullitt [*****]

burn after reading [***+]

but i'm a cheerleader [****]

caligula [***]

candyman [***]

cannibal holocaust [***]

cape fear [***+]

capote [****]

capturing the friedmans [****]

carrie (1976) [*****]

casablanca [*****]

casino [****]

cassandra's dream [**+]

cb4 [**]

the cell [***]

the center of the world [***]

charlie wilson's war [***+]

children of men [****]

choke [***]

citizen kane [*****]

claire dolan [****]

clash by night [****]

clerks [****]

clerks II [***]

close encounters of the third kind [****+]

closer [****]

cloverfield [***+]

club dread [***]

code 46 [***+]

cold mountain [****]

confessions of an american girl [***+]

constant gardener [****]

control [****]

the cook, the wife, the thief, and her lover [****+]

the count of monte cristo [****]

crash (1996) [****]

crazy heart [****]

crimes and misdemeanors [*****]

cruel intentions [***+]

the crying game [****]

cube [****]

the dangerous lives of altar boys [***+]

darjeeling limited [****]

dark city [****]

the dark knight [****+]

darkman [**+]

darkness [**+]

dark water [***]

dark waters (aka dead waters) [****]

days of wine and roses [****+]

dead calm [***]

dead man [****+]

death proof [****]

the deer hunter [*****]

definitely maybe [***+]

deliverance [*****]

the departed [****+]

the devil wears prada [***+]

dickie roberts: former child star [**]

diner [*****]

dogma [****]

dogville [****]

domino [**+]

donnie brasco [****]

donnie darko [****]

don't be a menace to south central [***+]

the doom generation [**+]

the doors [**]

the dreamers [***]

the dresden dolls [n/a]

drugstore cowboy [****+]

dune [****]

eastern promises [****]

ed wood [*****]

edmond [****]

election [****]

elegy [****]

elephant [****]

the elephant man [****]

emmet otter's jugband christmas [n/a]

the emperor's club [***]

entrapment [**+]

eternal sunshine of the spotless mind [****+]

e.t. [*****]

eurotrip [***]

evil dead [*****]

existenz [***+]

exotica [****]

the express [****]

eyes wide shut [****]

family guy: blue harvest [n/a]

fahrenheit 451 [**+]

far from heaven [****]

fargo [*****]

fight club [****]

fire in the sky [**]

the fisher king [****]

flags of our fathers [****]

the fog (2005) [**]

for your consideration [***+]

forbidden hollywood: volume 2 (babyface / red-headed woman / waterloo bridge)

forgetting sarah marshall [***+]

forrest gump [****]

the fountainhead [****]

frailty [****]

freeway [****]

friends with money [***+]

friday night lights [***+]

from hell [***]

full metal jacket [****]

funny games (2008) [**+]

funny people [****]

fur [**]

gangs of new york [****]

garden state [****]

gattaca [***+]

ghost world [****]

gia [***]

girl interrupted [***]

the girl next door [**+]

the gits [n/a]

gladiator [****]

glengary glenross [****+]

glory [****]

tbe godfather [*****]

the godfather II [*****]

the godfather III [***+]

gone baby gone [****]

gone in 60 seconds (1974) [**]

gone in 60 seconds (2000) [**]

gone with the wind [*****]

goodfellas [*****]

the good girl [****]

good night and good luck [n/a]

the good shepherd [***]

good will hunting [****+]

goonies [****]

gracie's choice (tv movie) [n/a]

grand hotel [*****]

the green mile [***+]

gremlins [****]

a guy thing [**]

happy gilmore [***+]

hard candy [***+]

half baked [***+]

harold and kumar go to white castle [***+]

harold and kumar: escape from guantanamo bay [***+]

havoc [**+]

heavenly creatures [****+]

heaven's gate [***+]

heavy metal [***]

hellboy [***+]

hellraiser [****]

henry and june [****]

high art [****]

the history boys [***]

the hitchcock collection: blackmail [n/a]

the hitchcock collection: number 17 [n/a]

the hitchcock collection: murder [n/a]

the hitchcock collection: the lady vanishes [*****]

the hitchcock collection: jamaica inn

the hitchcock collection: the 39 steps [*****]

the hitchcock collection: the farmer's wife [**+]

the hitchcock collection: easy virtue [**+]

the hitchcock collection: the skin game [**+]

the hitchcock collection: secret agent [n/a]

the hitchcock collection: sabotage [****]

the hitchcock collection: the man who knew too much [*****]

the hitchcock collection: young and innocent [n/a]

the holiday [***]

hollywoodland [****]

hoosiers [****]

hot fuzz [****]

hotel rwanda [****]

the hours [****]

the house of sand and fog [****]

i am legend [***]

the ice storm [****+]

the illusionist [****]

inception [****]

the incredibles [****]

identity [***+]

the imaginarium of doctor parnissus [n/a]

indiana jones and the raiders of the lost ark [****+]

indiana jones and the temple of doom [***+]

indiana jones and the last crusade [****]

in good company [***]

in her shoes [**+]

in the bedroom [****+]

interview with the vampire [***+]

invincible [***]

irma la douce [****+]

it [****]

the jacket [***]

jawbreaker [***]

jay and silent bob strike back [***]

jersey girl [**+]

joe dirt [**+]

johnny belinda [****]

josie and the pussycats [**]

juno [****+]

just like heaven [**+]

kids [***+]

kill cruise [**]

killer klowns from outer space [***]

king arthur [**]

king of california [****]

king kong (2005) [****]

kingdom of heaven [***]

kinsey [****]

kissing jessica stein [***+]

knocked up [****]

kundun [****]

l.a. confidential [****]

la vie en rose [****]

ladies and gentlemen, the fabulous stains [***]

lars and the real girl [****]

the last kiss [***]

the last king of scotland [****+]

the last of the mohicans [****+]

the last picture show [*****]

the last seduction [****+]

legend [***+]

letters to iwo jima [****]

lewis and clark and george [***]

liar liar [***]

liberty heights [***+]

the life of david gale [***]

the limey [****]

little children [****]

the little girl who lives down the lane [***+]

the little shop of horrors (1960) [***]

logan's run [****]

lord of the rings: fellowship of the ring [****+]

lord of the rings: the two towers [****+]

lord of the rings: return of the king [*****]

lost and delirious [****]

lost highway [****]

lost in translation [****+]

the lost room [***]

made / swingers [***]

the magnificent ambersons [*****]

mallrats [**+]

the man who wasn't there [****]

margot at the wedding [****]

marie antoinette [***]

marilyn monroe: the final days [n/a]

match point [****]

matchstick men [****]

the matrix [*****]

the matrix reloaded [***]

the matrix revolutions [***]

mean girls [***+]

melinda and melinda [***+]

metropolis (1927) [*****] / things to come (1936) [****]

midnight express [****]

midnight in the garden of good and evil [***]

a mighty wind [****]

miller's crossing [****+]

minority report [****]

miranda [***]

monster [****]

monster squad [****]

monsters inc. [****]

mothman prophecies [**]

mr and mrs smith (2005) [***]

mrs. parker and the vicious circle [****]

mulholland drive [*****]

mulholland falls [****]

music from another room [***]

my coustin vinny [****+]

mystic river [****+]

national treasure [***]

the natural [****+]

near dark [****]

new jack city [***]

nick and norah's infinite playlist [***]

the ninth gate [***]

no country for old men [****+]

northfork [***]

not another teen movie [***]

the notebook [***+]

notes on a scandal [****]

"o" [***]

o brother, where art thou? [****]

ocean's eleven (re-make) [****]

ocean's twelve [**+]

of human bondage [****]/ blood on the sun [***]

office space [****]

old school [****]

omega man [****]

once upon a time in america [*****]

one flew over the cuckoo's nest [*****]

open range [***]

the opposite of sex [***]

the other boelyn girl [**+]

the other sister [****]

the others [***+]

our very own [***]

out of the past [*****]

the painted veil [****]

the panic in needle park [****+]

panic room [****]

the parallax view [****]

paris, texas [*****]

the patriot [****]

pcu [****]

the perfect score [**]

permanent midnight [***]

phantasm [****]

phenomena [****]

pi [****]

the piano [*****]

the pianist [*****]

pieces [***]

planet terror [***+]

planet of the apes (2001) [***] / quest for fire [***]

population 436 [**]

porky's [***]

pretty persuasion [****]

the prince and me [***]

the princess bride [*****]

private parts [***+]

psycho [*****]

psycho beach party [****]

puddle cruiser [**+]

pulp fiction [*****]

punch drunk love [****]

the purple rose of cairo [*****]

puzzlehead [****]

the quiet [***]

the quiet earth [****]

quills [****]

rachel getting married [****]

radioland murders [***]

raging bull [****]

raising arizona [*****]

ratatouille [****]

ravenous [****]

ray [****+]

re-animator [****]

the reader [****]

reality bites [***]

rear window [*****]

red dawn [***]

red eye [***+]

reefer madness: the movie musical [***]

remember the titans [****]

repulsion [****+]

requiem for a dream [****]

reservoir dogs [*****]

resident evil [***]

resident evil: apocalypse [***]

resident evil: extinction [***]

robin hood (2010) [n/a]

rollerball (1975) [****]

ronin [***+]

rounders [****]

the rules of attraction [***]

the running man [***]

saturday night and sunday morning [****]

saved! [***+]

saving private ryan [*****]

scarface (1983) [***+]

schindler's list [*****]

the science of sleep [****]

school of rock [***+]

secretary [****]

seven [****]

the seven year itch [*****]

shape of things [***]

shaun of the dead [****]

shawshank redemption [****+]

she's the man [***]

shoot em up [***]

shooter [***]

short circuit [***+]

shutter island [****]

sid and nancy [****]

sideways [****]

the silence of the lambs [****+]

simple men [****]

the simpsons movie [****]

single white female [****]

the skeleton key [***]

the slaughter rule [***]

slaughterhouse five [****]

sleepers [**+]

slither [***]

smart people [***]

solaris (2002) [***]

some like it hot [*****]

the sorcerer [***]

south park: bigger, longer, uncut [****]

spaceballs [****]

spanglish [****]

spider [****]

spider-man [****]

spider-man 2 [****+]

spider-man 3 [***]

the squid and the whale [****]

star trek: the movie [***]

star trek II: the wrath of khan [*****]

star trek III: the search for spock [**+]

star trek IV: the voyage home [****+]

star trek V: the final frontier [***]

star trek VI: the undiscovered country [****+]

star wars ep I: the phantom menace [**]

star wars ep II: attack of the clones [***+]

star wars ep III: the revenge of the sith [****]

star wars ep IV: a new hope [*****]

star wars ep V: empire strikes back [*****]

star wars ep VI: return of the jedi [****]

stay [**+]

step brothers [***]

the straight story [****]

stranger than fiction [****]

suicide kings [***]

superbad [****]

superman returns [***]

swimming pool [****+]

sylvia [***+]

syriana [****]

tank girl [***]

taxi driver [*****]

team america: world police [***+]

the temptations (tv miniseries) [***]

the terminal [****]

the terminator [*****]

terminator 2: judgment day [*****]

terminator 3: rise of the machines [***+]

tess [****]

tetro [****]

thank you for smoking [****]

there will be blood [****]

the thin red line [****+]

the thirteenth floor [***]

this is spinal tap [*****]

300 [***]

time to kill [***]

tin men [***+]

titanic [*****]

to die for [****]

tommy boy [***]

total recall [***+]

the tracey fragments [**]

tragedy at the munich games [n/a]

training day [***+]

transformers [***+]

trees lounge [****]

tristan and isolde [***]

tron [***]

tropic thunder [****]

troy [***]

true romance [****]

twilight zone: the movie [***]

the unbearable lightness of being [****]

unbreakable [****]

unfaithful [****]

the untouchables [*****]

u-turn [***]

vanishing point [****]

v for vendetta [***]

valley of the dolls [**+]

van wilder [***]

vanilla sky [***]

venus [****]

veronica guerin [***]

vertigo [*****]

vicky cristina barcelona [****+]

the virgin suicides [****]

w. [****]

waking life [****]

walk the line [****]

war of the worlds (2005) [***+]

waitress [***]

the waterboy [***]

we own the night [***]

we were soldiers [**+]

wedding crashers [***+]

the wedding singer [***]

wet hot american summer [****]

what we do is secret [***]

who the fuck is jackson pollock? [n/a]

the wicker man (1973) [****]

wild at heart [****]

willow [***]

wisconsin death trip [n/a]

witness for the prosecution [*****]

the wizard of oz [*****]

wonder boys [****]

wonderland [***]

the wrestler [****+]

xx/xy [***]

yellow [**]

z channel: a magnificent obsession [n/a]

zack and miri make a porno [***]

zoolander [***]

FOREIGN

=======

71 fragments of a chronology of chance [***]

aimee and jaguar [****]

alila [****]

amour de femme [****]

angel-a [****]

benny's video [***]

the bitter tears of petra von kant [****]

the black book [****+]

brotherhood of the wolf [***]

cache (hidden) [****]

the castle [****]

city of god [****]

city of men [****]

the city of lost children [****]

code unknown [****]

the conformist [*****]

crouching tiger, hidden dragon [****]

delicatessen [****]

the devil's backbone [****]

the diving bell and the butterfly [****]

don juan (or if don juan was a woman) [**]

downfall [****]

the edukators [****]

funny games [****]

hero [****]

ichi the killer [****]

inside [****]

intimate strangers [****]

la dolce vita [*****]

the lives of others [****]

next door [****]

noi the albino [****+]

open your eyes [****]

the orphanage [****]

pan's labyrinth [****+]

paradise now [****]

the piano teacher [*****]

run lola run [****]

the seventh continent [****]

tell no one [****]

36 fillette [***]

volver [****]

weekend [****+]

the white ribbon [****]

CRITERION COLLECTION

====================

2 or 3 things i know about her [***+]

alphaville [*****]

and god created woman [*****]

antichrist [n/a]

army of shadows [*****]

bad timing [*****]

band of outsiders [*****]

before the rain [*****]

bigger than life [n/a]

brazil [*****]

breathless [*****]

chasing amy [****]

clean, shaven [*****]

the complete mr. arkadin: confidential report [****]

cria cuervos [****]

cronos [****]

crumb [n/a]

the curious case of benjamin button [****]

days of heaven [****]

dazed and confused [*****]

dead ringers [****]

dillinger is dead [n/a]

down by law [*****]

el norte [****]

empire of passion [n/a]

europa [****]

everlasting moments [n/a]

eyes without a face [****]

the fallen idol [*****]

fear and loathing in las vegas [****]

the fireman's ball [****]

the friends of eddie coyle [n/a]

gomorrah [n/a]

hard boiled [****]

the hit [****]

homicide [****]

house of games [*****]

howards end [*****]

jubilee [****]

kicking and screaming [****]

knife in the water [*****]

la haine [****]

the last emperor [*****]

the leopard [*****]

lola [****]

lord of the flies [***]

m [*****]

mala noche [****]

man bites dog [****]

the man who fell to earth [****]

the marriage of maria braun [*****]

masculin/feminin [****]

missing [****+]

modern times [*****]

mona lisa [****]

my own private idaho [*****]

naked [*****]

the naked kiss [****]

naked lunch [*****]

night on earth [****]

the night porter [****]

pierrot le fou [*****]

pickup on south street [****]

picnic at hanging rock [*****]

revanche [n/a]

robinson crusoe on mars [****]

the rock [****]

robocop [****]

the royal tenenbaums [****+]

salo or the 120 days of sodom [****]

the seventh seal [*****]

shock corridor [****]

short cuts [****]

sisters [****]

smiles on a summer night [*****]

stranger than paradise [*****]

sweet movie [***]

three women [****]

the third man [*****]

tout va bien [****]

two lane blacktop [****]

under the volcano [****]

vampyr [*****]

the vanishing [****]

the virgin spring [*****]

vivre sa vie [****]

wild strawberries [*****]

variety lights [****]

veronika voss [****]

videodrome [****+]

when a woman ascends the stairs [****]

wings of desire [****]

withnail & i [****]

HIGH DEFINITION

===============

2001: a space oddysey [*****]

american gangster [****]

the assassination of jesse james by the coward robert ford [****]

black snake moan [****]

blade runner [*****]

the bourne identity [****]

a clockwork orange [*****]

elizabeth [****]

elizabeth: the golden age [***]

goodfellas [*****]

the shining [*****]

sleepy hollow [****]

300 [***]

unforgiven [*****]

TELEVISION

==========

30 rock: season 1

30 rock: season 2

30 rock: season 3

30 rock: season 4

angels in america: the complete miniseries

band of brothers: the complete miniseries

the black donnellys: the complete series

bones: season 1

dark angel: season 1

dark angel: season 2

dark shadows - the original series: collection 1

dark shadows - the revival: the complete series

dead like me: season 1

dead like me: season 2

degrassi - the next generation: season 2

degrassi - the next generation: season 3

degrassi - the next generation: season 4

dexter: season 1

dexter: season 2

dexter: season 3

dexter: season 4

earth 2: the complete series

family guy: volume 1, seasons 1&2

family guy: volume 4, season 5

firefly: the complete series

freaks and geeks: the complete series

gilmore girls: season 1

gilmore girls: season 2

gilmore girls: season 3

gilmore girls: season 4

gilmore girls: season 5

gilmore girls: season 6

gilmore girls: season 7

grey's anatomy: season 1

house: season 1

house: season 2

house: season 3

house: season 4

house: season 5

how i met your mother: season 1

how i met your mother: season 2

how i met your mother: season 3

how i met your mother: season 4

how i met your mother: season 5

invasion: the complete series

jericho: season 1

kids in the hall: season 1

life as we know it: the complete series

lost: season 1

lost: season 2

lost: season 3

lost: season 4

lost: season 5

lost: season 6

mad men: season 1 [BR]

mad men: season 2 [BR]

mad men: season 3 [BR]

millennium: season 1

my name is earl: season 1

my name is earl: season 2

the o.c: season 1

the o.c: season 2

the o.c: season 3

the o.c: season 4

one tree hill: season 1

one tree hill: season 2

one tree hill: season 3

one tree hill: season 4

one tree hill: season 5

one tree hill: season 6

point pleasant: the complete series

poltergeist - the lecacy: the complete series

prison break: season 1

prison break: season 2

prison break: season 3

prison break: season 4

roswell: season 1

roswell: season 2

roswell: season 3

scrubs: season 1

scrubs: season 2

scrubs: season 3

scrubs: season 4

scrubs: season 5

scrubs: season 6

scrubs: season 7

scrubs: season 8

scrubs: season 9

the simpsons: season 1

the simpsons: season 2

the simpsons: season 3

the simpsons: season 4

the simpsons: season 5

the simpsons: season 6

the simpsons: season 7

the simpsons: season 8

the simpsons: season 9

the simpsons: season 10

smallville: season 1

smallville: season 2

smallville: season 3

smallville: season 4

smallville: season 5

smallville: season 6

smallville: season 7

smallville: season 8

smallville: season 9

the smurfs: season 1, volume 1

the sopranos: season 1

the sopranos: season 2

the sopranos: season 3

south park: season 1

south park: season 2

south park: season 3

south park: season 4

south park: season 5

south park: season 6

south park: season 7

south park: season 8

south park: season 9

south park: season 10

south park: season 11

south park: season 12

south park: season 13

spartacus: season 1

star trek - the original series: season 1

star trek collection: time travel

torchwood: season 1

veronica mars: season 1

veronica mars: season 2

veronica mars: season 3

the war at home: season 1

weeds: season 1 [BR]

weeds: season 2 [BR]

weeds: season 3 [BR]

weeds: season 4 [BR]

weeds: season 5 [BR]

without a trace: season 1

the x-files: season 1

the x-files: season 2

the x-files: season 3

Enter the Void

Title: Enter the Void

Director: Gaspar Noe

Year: 2009 (2010 USA)

Country: France

Language: English/Japanese

Studio: IFC Films

Rating: ** (2/5)

If you're one of the many people that take film critics' reviews as gospel, chances are you've already seen this movie or plan on seeing it. Enter the Void has been hyped as "The Fountain meets Trainspotting" and "Altered States for the pill generation" -- both of which suggest that this film couldn't possibly be anything but astonishing. However, despite a clever idea and some excellent special effects, having to sit through this film is the equivalent of being forced to bludgeon yourself in the face with rocks while at the same time giving yourself an icepick lobotomy and having to soil yourself in front of the person you find most attractive in the entire world. In other words, it's absolutely torturous.

Basically, the plot is this: Oscar (Nathaniel Brown) is a 20-something American living in a seedy part of Tokyo. He has no real family, as his parents were killed when he was a young boy. But he does have a sister with whom he has a close relationship, so he works as a drug dealer to make enough money to bring her over from the States so they can be reunited. Oscar is a bad influence, although he never seems to have any malice or ill will -- he just happens to mess up everyone's life around him. He gets his innocent younger sister into drugs upon her arrival, and she soon ends up working as an exotic dancer. Oscar then manages to have an affair with his friend/customer's mother, and when Victor (Olly Alexander) finds out about it, he sets Oscar up to be busted in a club called The Void. Only this drug bust ends up with Oscar being ruthlessly killed by Japanese police while he attempts to flush his stash down a toilet. Upon Oscar's death, his soul leaves his body and flies around Tokyo in a really annoying fashion and shows the reactions and events after his passing, as well as the events in his past that all led up to his demise.

That all sounds well and good, but there's a lot of crazy stuff going on in this movie that manage to screw up a perfect idea for a film. For starters, the opening sequence of Enter the Void is filled with annoying first-person shaky cam straight out of The Bourne Ultimatum, and the initial drug sequence is so seizure-inducing and uncomfortable to watch it makes the music video for "Smack My Bitch Up" by Prodigy look like something you'd want to watch with your grandparents. Queue up some absolutely atrocious acting from Paz De La Huerta and you've got yourself one bad first impression.

The middle part of the film is actually really entertaining and intriguing, but the director throws some of his sick and twisted fetishes in that shock the audience but do little else (much like he did with Irreversible and that 20 minute rape scene). There's a whole lot of incest innuendo going on here, mostly between Oscar and Linda, but also in flashbacks that involve Oscar and his mother. That kinda stuff isn't going to win over any fans, but it's actually the most tolerable subplot of the entire movie. Aside from a little brother-sister love, there's an abortion being performed with a big metal rod and a vacuum (they actually leave the fetus on a metal tray in the operating room), a ton of weird kinky sex, a childbirth where Paz actually sounds like she's having an orgasm rather than giving birth, some gay elevator blowjobs, closeups of penises thrusting and then ejaculating inside a vagina, and a whole bunch else.

There's so much that's awful and wrong about this movie that it would take a book to list everything. Though, one more thing must be said: this thing drags. Every time the viewer thinks it's about to end, it goes on for another 45 minutes. The ending of this movie could have been done in about 2 1/2 minutes and it would have been pretty awesome, but the last hour is a grueling, repetitive, and pointless journey that mostly consists of the spirit flying around all over the place and occasionally hearing some relevant dialog.

Gasper Noe can't be faulted for his lofty ambitions, but he can be faulted for screwing up a novel premise for a film by overindulging in every possible "creative" whim that he's ever had. This is one film that is in some serious need of editing, different actors, and a really big rewrite. Normally it's easy to see why so many critics all unanimously shower a film with praise, but honestly, you would have to be on the drugs that they take in this movie to think it's as good as everyone says it is. It's the first time in a long time that an "Oscar-worthy" film stunk as bad as this one does. If you're going to see it despite reading this, make sure you don't take a date with you, especially if you ever expect to have sex again. It's like Closer and Blue Valentine, only 300 times worse. This is a giant waste of time.