My Little Eye -A Review

Five hot young people answer an ad and agree to live in a house in the middle of nowhere for six months while their every move is filmed. If they follow the rules and make it to the end they get a million dollars each. If even ONE of them leaves before the term is up they all lose. Think Big Brother-ish.
Thats the premise.
I liked the fact that they get to it quickly. As quickly as I was able to explain it is how quickly the movie got going.

This scary movie was made in 2002, and I can't say I ever heard of it. It rates an impressive (for a horror flick) rating of 50% on Rottentomatoes.com, but that's based on 14 reviews, with no Cream Of The Crop nods. Hmm. Fair enough. I gave it a chance.

The creepiness factor is pretty high, with lots of night-vision shots and random power failures and such. Director Marc Evans (some previous credits, but none I recognize) effectively amps up the suspense to the point where I HAD to keep watching, but ultimately fails to give me any real frights beyond the superficial gasp at some benign "Oh, it's you" moments.
Not to say it isn't a good fright flick; it is. It'll do the job if you're jonesing and Blockbuster is all out of Saw or Haute Tension, but I have to say that throughout the final act I was correctly predicting all the 'twists' without at least being impressed by how they were executed. I mean, sometimes you know how it's gonna end but at least you can be surprised by the inventiveness with which they pull it off. Not this time.
Oh well. I only paid 3.99$ for it on digital cable, as opposed to the poor suckers who spent 12$ at the theatre (if there were any!).

This is one of those movies that hopefully serves as a lesson to other horror-meisters; use what they did right and avoid the many mistakes.

Two things were good about My Little Eye; Kris Lemche (eXistenZ, Ginger Snaps), and Laura Regan (Unbreakable, Hollowman 2). They play Rex and Emma, two of the five hotties in the house. Tho the material wasn't great their performances were pretty damn good, considering they were surrounded by three other dull actors and a well-intentioned but ultimately over-matched director. I'm going on gut instinct here, cos when I think of the movie nothing stirs my memory except those two. Bad sign for the flick, but good read for the actors. Hey, it's all about who knows you!

Anyway, if you're ambivalent after reading this and you're curious enough to see it, let me know what you think. Like I said, it isn't horrible, but I hesitate to recommend it cos I just don't think it's anything special. Sure, it's different, but not special.
And I only want you lot to be exposed to the special things in life!

laters

Marie Antoinette

REMINDER***

In case y'all haven't heard, Sophia Coppolla's new film comes out this Friday (20th) and I suggest you see it. Why?! Uhm, D'UH!! Did you see the Virgin Suicides?!?! Or Lost In Translation?!?! Need I say more?!

Sophia Coppolla is the next great hope for film in North America. I'm hitching my wagon to her star (?) cos I think she's one of the few directors to come along with an actual point of view to impart through her films.

See Marie Antoinette. I'm confident you won't be disappointed.
Needless to say if you don't you'll be able to read a review here next Saturday. Oh I'll be there opening night if it kills me.
And despite my 12 months of anticipation I'll be honest in my appraisal. I don't like bad movies, so I'll tell you if I don't like it.
But see it and tell me what you think.

Lets compare notes!

NEW** The Queen - A Review

Well kids, a special treat! The review of a film still in theatres, and just barely starting as well! Although I think the others are worth another look either because they've been passed by or forgotten. However,
The Queen, starring Helen Mirren and Michael Sheen, is a perfect example of what happens when writers and directors with brains and wit combine with actors possessed of the most well-honed talent. It's hard to imagine what the result would have been if one aspect of this picture didn't work. The acting seems dependant not just on the talent but the steady-handed direction, which feels dictated by the material, which relies on the talent to pull it off, which needs a strong director... and on and on...
Stephen Frears (Dangerous Liasons, Dirty Pretty Things) taps into the spirit of his subject, respecting her public persona and reconciling her with the private woman without trying to draw a big thick line, which would've been an easy way in. Instead he shows Queen Elizabeth II as a woman so steeped in tradition and so loyal to her faith that the true dichotomy lies neither in the monarch the world sees nor in the private woman her ever persent staff and family sees; rather it is in her rare moments alone that we get to see both her strength and vulnerability and how the two make her such a formidable character.
But it would be easy to think we suddenly know this woman so intimately. In fact it's Helen Mirren's remarkable transformation both physically and emotionally that makes it feel like we've walked away with a glimpse into the Queen's private life. Mirren walks the walk with conviction. She's witty without resorting to parody, emotional without being maudlin, and supremely royal without once having to imitate that cup-handed wave.

Michael Sheen (Wilde, Kingdom of Heaven) is equally well cast as Prime Minister Tony Blair not only in his portrayal but, like Mirren, his uncanny resemblance.
Sheen's Blair is positioned as the brash young upstart to Mirren's staid and stoic Queen, and the two, though they share minimal screentime, complement each other brilliantly. Early scenes depict Blair's first meeting with the Queen in chambers during which he flubs official protocol and attempts to kiss the royal's non-existent ring. With the slightest look the audience erupted into laughter as it's clear Her Majesty is amused. Back in the waiting room wife Cherie is clearly not impressed with all the pomp her husband is receiving.

The difference between the monarchy and the Prime minister is further illustrated at home with the Blairs, where they cook and clean for themselves, "fish fingers are ready, Tony!", as opposed to the royal residence where an entire battallion of chefs must be cleared from the royal kitchen so her majesty can take a phonecall.

The humour of the picture is it's greatest strength -if you can choose one. What's most interesting tho is how the film is liberally interspersed with actual news footage of Lady Diana (the main topic but NOT the most important theme) and how it fits in to the reality of the situation behind the scenes. Many laughs come from seeing the formalities associated with being in "the presence", as the Queen's secretary describes it in a scene to Mr. Blair.

Truth and fiction don't just collide here, they fight constantly. Fortunately for us, the audience, we don't see or hear it. Our memories of the media from the time seem to gel nicely with the story while allowing us to get a new and better perspective on the matter. We know she hated Diana, we know Philip is pussy-whipped, and we know Charles (ably played by Alex Jennings) was/is a milquetoast. The rest is fiction based in likely fact, and if it has no basis in actual truth it still manages to do what you'd want if someone made a movie of your life; it humanizes, it tries to see beyond the obvious, and it doesn't take any pot-shots. And without settling to simply satisfy it also entertains.

Helen Mirren WILL get an Oscar nomination. What would be exciting is if Michael Sheen got some props! -Seriously, see Wilde! Great film!!
NOT that the Oscars are the be all end all, but if it raises his profile, good for us!

Okay, I'm done.
I hope you'll see it and tell me what you thought.
Come back and comment here and tell me your feelings.

United 93 -A Review

How long should you wait to make jokes about a tragedy? I remember South Park asked this question about AIDS and came up with a figure of... 7 years? I surfed the episode briefly but didn't find the script and therefore couldn't say exactly when you should be able to laugh at AIDS victims according to South Park, BUT, if you're a normal human being you'll do what any good person would do in the face of a huge, devestating tragedy; you imagine how much you can get for the movie rights.
In the case of United 93 people would likely be tempted to think that some movie corporation found a foolproof way to make a buck of 9/11; be faithful to the government report and anyone who questions your motives is a terrorist.
Well, if you wanna get technical, this movie plays by the rules. I read the 9/11 Commission Report (it's on my bookshelf if you wanna quiz me) and although the film begins with an expected disclaimer about artistic license it pretty much plays out the events of that doomed flight in horrifying detail right down to the view of that field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The entire flight from boarding to crash is documented with almost clinical detail and in a break from traditional disaster flicks this one is tense and frightening because it's 100% true.
Pieced together from flight records and eye-witness accounts taken from phone calls made to family, this is about as close as you can come to the experience of being on a hijacked plane. The question is... do you want to know what that feels like?
Of course it's only a movie, but it's effectiveness isn't in the realistic portrayal of the circumstances on that plane, nor the marked difference from the typical movie portrayal of hijackings as played out in blockbusters on the summer screen which end with a hero saving passengers and crew.
This movie plays out in terrible reality.
Riveting, horrible, cringe-inducing reality. And although this pic doesn't delve into the question of GW's role in the affair, you will notice it makes reference once or twice to an absence of ultimate authority.
The acting is wonderful. These actors -I assume- didn't need much off-screen motivation; they lived and made me live every moment.
I don't recomend you see this movie for any reason other than it's incredibly well done. If you don't want to be back in that headspace of 9/11 craziness then go home.
But if you want a realistic, non-judgemental perspective to the story that might -no, WILL- frighten the shit outta you, then see United 93. I'll admit it... I cried... not for anything other than it made me feel that the reality of this world is way more fucked up than I am comfortable to know.
But see Untited 93 and tell me what you think.


United Airlines Boeing 757-222, flight 93 lifted off from Newark International Airport at 8:42am, September 11th, 2001, despite a scheduled departure of 8:00am. It had 182 seats but was carrying only 37 passengers, including Mark Bingham, who I only mention because he assisted in the attempted overthrow of the hijackers and happened to be gay. He is survived by his partner Paul Holm.

Banieuel 13: la review

District 13 as it's better known to english speaking audiences. Or maybe not, cos as a subtitled french flick it may have been overlooked.
Well, action films are very slowly improving thanks to people like Jackie Chan (so September 10th!), and Tony Jaa (retiring already?! Call him September 12th!). But it's those crazy french that are paving the way for action/adventure cinema.
Look no further than Luc Besson (The Fifth Element) to write and produce a crazy-ass kick-flick with brains!
Directed by Pierre Morel (The Transporter), District 13 takes place in futuristic Paris when crime has gotten out of control and ghettos are fenced off from the general population to fend for themselves. Schools are a memory to these residents, and police are overwhelmed. Enter Leito (David Belle), a street tough who believes that justice applies to everyone, even the scum. Now there's a novel idea.
Leito is soon joined by Damien (Cyril Raffaelli), a cop on a mission. They partner up to save the forgotten district from itself and, mmmm, for dramatic effect, a nuclear bomb.

Solely as an action flick this kicks ass! The choreography rivals anything the Bolshoi could ever dream of and the stuntwork is mind-boggling. Afficionados of the urban sport Parkour will see the father of the sport demonstrating in jaw-dropping detail his inspiration. Actor David Belle (Leito) is the father of Parkour, a discipline which involves using urban settings to perform a series of impossible looking acrobatic feats, featured recently for Canadians in a Rogers Wireless television ad featuring a group of young adults running to meet one another via parkour on a rooftop, with a slogan "Tippin' on the brink". Anyway, it's cool shit. Very acrobatic and in the spirit of great, fast-paced action films.

The story here is smart, tho leaves some character development to be desired... I mean, the relationship with the sister and the bonding of the main characters may be thin... but all in all it's a good hour-and-a-half. You'll be close to the edge of yer seat, and if you care about hot guys you'll be glued to it!

See this film if you like a good action flick with lots of kicking and bullets. See it if you like an action movie with a brain. I like those things so I enjoyed it. I bummed it off satellite but I'll buy it on DVD cos I know I'll watch it again.

Those are my best recommendations, kids! I don't have a star rating system yet, so just see the damn thing and thank me later.