Finally, revisited some favs that I love: In Time, an underrated Sci-Fi jaunt starring JT that literally wears its' theme on its' sleeve. Legend of the 1900, where Tim Roth is at his utter best as a storied music prodigy born at sea, never to set foot on land--Snob'd, as usual, by the Academy voters. Unthinkable, a dope psychological Horror that doesn't fake the "Monster funk" by promising you this, and delivering that; it stays focused and true in its' terrifying honesty that we are all the monster(s) we fear. And lastly, TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE. God, I can watch this movie over and over and over. And I don't even like baseball. But, it's not really about baseball. Obviously. DISHONORABLE MENTION: The Outsider. What a piece of pseudo-cerebral white-washed shit. It's like 2 hrs plus of all the things you never knew about the Yakuza and still don't care about. This film doesn't know what it is or what it wants to be. You wanna see a white Yakuza movie? Watch Viggo Mortensen kill it in AMERICAN YAKUZA. You want to see a white boy take on the spirit of bushido? Watch Tom Cruise surprisingly kill it in THE LAST SAMURAI. You want to see a super talented white boy play a Japanese Pinochio because he doesn't understand what the director's intentions are? Watch this botched snore fest that falters between novel and painting, forgetting that it's cinema.
Revisiting Jurassic Park and all the glory that is Dr. Alan Grant and Dr. Ian Malcolm - all 3 original films still hold up - fresh, action-packed and entertaining. LIFE FINDS A WAY. Demolition Man was on TV - in a world without guns, it'd look like San Angeles. A utopian future could never really happen, there's always gonna be the Edgar Friendly's of the world.
Rock Star - Since I began managing the rock band, Skinharvest, this now resonates more than ever. Mark Wahlberg is a tribute band frontman who gets a shot to join the band he's been obsessed with for years...Steel Dragon. Watch how the fame and freedom change him, and not for the better. The Shining - If this doesn't scare the crap out of you, then I don't know what will. Kubrick was a master of scare tactics. The Shining has my favorite scene/dialogue: "Wendy...I'm not going to hurt you. You didn't let me finish...I said...I'm not going to hurt you. I'm just going to bash your brains in. I'm going to bash them right the fuck in!" Prodigy--I screened this recently, and I was blown away. It's more of a thriller/suspense film, but the horrific trait is that the focus is on a 9 year old girl with zero remorse, emotion or human subconscious of her abilities to kill at will. This is fabulous. Plus, I get to interview Richard Neil (plays Fonda, the child psychologist) who is a broken man himself.
My bottom 5 films from this month that nearly brought me ever slighter to walking into the middle of the street while asking to be slaughtered as follows. 5 Fingers Of Death 1972 - Martial Arts film that almost put me to sleep twice in one viewing. A 1970s Kung Fu is not supposed to put you to sleep. Lycan 2017 - Werewolf film? Mission to Mars 2000 - didn’t care for it when I received “FREE” promotional theatre screening tickets on opening. Still don’t care for it nearly 20 years later. Bangkok Dangerous 2008 - Nick Cage as an ASSASSIN? any questions? Keep Watching 2017 - I just wasn’t feeling it , worth a rewatch in the future, although I will more than likely rewatch all the films in my bottom 5, eventually even Mission to Mars may grow on me, who knows?
When Marnie was there: a nice slow ghost mystery which has a decent meloncholy aire to it. a nice uncomplicated 'traditional' ghost story which does have heart-tugging moments. very good animation style, the usual high standard for Studio Ghibli. recommendation: three and a half thumbs up out of five The Wind Rises: this...is a true gem; very deep philosophical and metaphysical tones and plots, really complex character arcs with hard, some times bald real-world stakes. this is taken from the biography of two real-life Japanese aeronautical engineers pre-World War Two, who saw their love of planes and flying become instruments of war. super damn flick. recommendation: five thumbs up out of five Porco Rosso: this is a damn fun, strangely touching rollicking, humorous high-adventure in the vein of Indiana Jones...except with steampunk elements as well as magical-realism aspects. recommendation: four and a half thumbs up out of five
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