Archive Review: Touch of Evil (1958) - 4/5 Stars

With all the cop drama TV shows and films that have come out over the years and the corruption thrillers, revisiting an old noir thriller such as "Touch of Evil" about cops taking justice into their own hands can be unexciting. There's very little that those of a younger generation haven't seen before, so what separates "Touch of Evil" from the pack? Good film-making. In the long tracking shot that consumes the opening scene, you understand right away that Orson Welles is serious about his finest directorial effort, and that no matter how un-thrilling the story might be, that this what good movies look like.

I watched the 1998 re-release featuring scenes that the studio cut that Welles wanted to keep in, always the best way to watch a classic in a time where this was even more common practice than it is today. Welles' style is reminiscent of Hitchcock, only choosing close-ups in critical scenes so that they have a big dramatic impact. I can only speculate, but I wouldn't be surprised if "Touch of Evil" got actress Janet Leigh her unforgettable role in "Psycho" two years later.

"Touch of Evil" stars Charlton Heston fresh off the heels of "The Ten Commandments" as Mike Vargas, a (unconvincing) Mexican narcotics official that's wanted dead by a Mexican narcotics dealer gets caught playing a role in a murder investigation when a car explodes when he and his wife Susie (Leigh) are on Honeymoon in a Mexican border town. The infamous local police captain Hank Quinlan (an almost unrecognizably overweight Welles) suspects a Mexican national and soon Vargas is on to Quinlan, accusing him of planting evidence. Meanwhile, Susie is kidnapped by the dealer's nephews to be used as a bargaining chip.

Not just directing and writing, but from an acting standpoint, this is Welles' film too. Not only does Quinlan take up much of the screen, but his old crooked persona makes him easily the most interesting character. He's a cop struggling between right and wrong, operating on a false sense of justice. It's not highly original, but Quinlan is our main draw to the story. It's certainly not Heston pretending to be Mexican.

Quick pacing and suspenseful, shadowy direction is the real signature Welles leaves on the film. There's no particular emotional investment in the story or characters, just intrigue in knowing when everything is going to finally get nasty and dangerous instead of the continuous verbal accusations. Welles does deliver and brings the film to a thrilling climax that confirms our suspicions of what was really the most important part of his film.

4/5 Stars

"Touch of Evil" (1958)

Directed by: Orson Welles

Written by: Orson Welles, Whit Masterson (novel), Paul Monash and Franklin Coen (original screenplay)

Starring: Charleton Heston, Janet Leigh, Orson Welles

Fall Movie Preview: The Best of the Rest

The only problem with a top 10 list of movies to see is that it only has room for 10 movies. Naturally, there are some films coming out this fall that might be top-10 worthy and didn’t make my list, so I honor the potential of these films now in my Honorable Mention/Best of the Rest category.

 

“Jennifer’s Body” (Sept. 18)

The combination of Hollywood’s hottest actress, Megan Fox, and Diablo Cody’s first follow-up to her Oscar-winning comedy “Juno” would normally be a sure hit, but B-movie style teenage horror flick isn’t exactly what any of us had in mind. Whether that’s still enough to sucker every teenager on the planet into theaters the weekend of Sept. 18, however, remains to be seen – but the odds are favorable. Fox stars as the hot high school cheerleader who’s actually possessed by a demon and devours the boys she seduces. Amanda Seyfried co-stars as the dorky best friend whose crush (Adam Brody) is next on Jennifer’s list. “Jennifer’s Body” is one of those movies that could either be a steamy pile of teenage hormones mixed with blood or a hilarious horror comedy with impressive high school satire undertones. It’s too early to tell by the trailer, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.

 “Capitalism: A Love Story”  (Oct. 2)

Michael Moore is about as touchy of a subject as it gets between fans of film, but there’s no denying the documentary filmmaker’s reach and impact, which extends greater than anyone who has ever worked in the genre before. His comedic style and unforgiving attitude definitely push a lot of buttons and now he’s approaching the sorest subject ever: the U.S. economy. Moore’s move from the specific – gun control, 9/11, health care – to the broad and sensitive issue of the economy has got to be one of his gutsiest and will likely generate mixed criticism in mass quantities.

 

“New York, I Love You” (Oct. 16 limited)

The first collection of short films on love that surrounded a city was “Paris, Je’Taime” and what better way to build on that concept than move to New York City. “Paris Je’Taime” was an international success and was a nice movie for those who love short film and the vignette concept. It’s hard to imagine “New York, I Love You” won’t feel the exact same way. The cast is at least 20 good actors deep and the directors of the shorts are of diverse cultural backgrounds with Natalie Portman, Brett Ratner and the previously mentioned Mira Nair as the big names involved.

“Amelia” (Oct. 23)

For those looking to get their Oscar fix early, Hilary Swank as Amelia Earhart should be the first target on your list. Director Mira Nair of the much-praised “The Namesake” is in charge and the film co-stars Richard Gere and Ewan McGregor. Although the film might not get anything more than a nomination for Swank, the odds say this should be a decent film in a month cluttered with entertainment-based movies.

“Gentleman Broncos ” (Oct. 30)

Filmmaker Jared Hess is in a tough spot. He’s riding one hit, “Napoleon Dynamite,” and one flop “Nacho Libre.” Now he’s releasing “Gentleman Broncos” which looks like it’ll fit somewhere in between. Young actor Michael Angarano (“Snow Angels” and  “The Forbidden Kingdom”) stars along with “Flight of the Conchords” comedian Jemaine Clement in a film about a famous sci-fi/fantasy writer (Clement) who steals a teenager’s (Angarano) story idea in order to resuscitate his career. The film contains enactments of the bizarre story that Sam Rockwell stars in, which is amusing in itself.

“The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day” (Oct. 30)

The sequel fans of the cult classic have waited for for ten years now is suddenly dropping Halloween weekend and being as highly anticipated as this movie is, that’s enough for it to make the list of honorable mentions. Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flanery and Billy Connolly are back as the Irish-Catholic vigilantes and creator Troy Duffy appears to have pumped it full of more operatic slow-mo action for the die-hard fans whose dorm rooms are in need of a new “Boondock Saints” poster. It’s hard to say whether this will trump the original but it will almost certainly be worth finding out.

 

 “A Christmas Carol”  (Nov. 6)

I never saw Robert Zemeckis’ animated “Beowulf” or the many times holiday re-released “The Polar Express,” but something looks promising about his attempt to give the classic “A Christmas Carol” the realistic animation treatment. The supernatural element of the story plays well into the hands of this media and the animation looks distinctly grittier and more intense. Plus, the voice talents of Jim Carrey would seem to lend themselves well to Ebenezer Scrooge. It’ll take raving reviews to get me into the theater to see it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this film gets that fair share of praise.

 

 

Archive Review: Gran Torino (2008) - 3.5/5 Stars

"Gran Torino" has to be the only good politically incorrect film to ever be made. Clint Eastwood's character Walt Kowalski is a crotchety and ignorant old Korean War vet whose vocabulary is a thesaurus of racial slurs. He's basically a racist Dirty Harry in his 70s-80s and the script hits us over the head with his unabashed insensitivity and cold-heartedness to the point where "Gran Torino" is half comedy. But then, as only a masterful director such as Eastwood can do, "Gran Torino" becomes one of those classic unlikely relationship films between a widower and his teenage Asian-American neighbor. It's a film with a great premise but an off-kilter script that Eastwood salvages into something poetic.

There's no question Eastwood liked the potential he saw in rookie writers Nick Schenk and David Johannson's script for himself as an actor and a director. It is the perfect cap to his illustrious acting career, combining his great character acting in westerns and the Dirty Harry movies with his more dramatic pictures of the last 15 or so years. It's an unrefined story, but contains a lot of great storytelling potential.

Taking place in an old Michigan neighborhood that has since become overrun with Hmong (Southeast Asian) immigrants, "Gran Torino" is about the widower Walt and the teenage Hmong boy next door, an introvert who is peer pressured to join his cousin's gang. When the boy, Thao, tries to steal Walt's 1972 Gran Torino and Walt unintentionally saves Thao from gang trouble, Walt, Thao and Thao's family become entangled, more so than Walt would like.

Walt sort of mentors Thao in an inappropriate and grouchy way and he boldly confronts various gangs posing dangers to Thao and his sister Sue despite doing something each time to counter his act of "kindness" with a demeaning or ignorant comment. The script meddles with stereotypes a bit too much in this way, trying to use other characters' dialogue to battle the extremism of Eastwood's character. Sue, for example, gets hit on in one scene by three black guys who trash her white friend who calls them "bros" and to defend herself she starts calling them out on their stereotypical "pick on the Asian girl" behavior. Basically, "Gran Torino" gets a bit in over its head in trying to present an accurate racial palette.

At the same time, diversity themes are part of the film's strength. No major film has focused on Hmong Americans before, and considering the prejudices Walt brings with him from the Korean War, they're an ideal focus for the story. The major differences between Walt's lifestyle and theirs is part of what keeps "Gran Torino" interesting.

There's no question that Eastwood know what he's doing. He has an uncanny ability to keep the audience guessing what's coming but the story never goes where you expect it to. It's both engaging and surprising and his techniques speak as much truth if not more than the script.

The only other thing hurting "Gran Torino" is its lack of an experienced supporting cast. Although Hmong actors needed to play Hmong characters, Walt's sons and the Catholic priest that pesters Walt to confess his sins are weak. Eastwood dominates the scenes he's in and if he's not in a scene, the film lacks power and authenticity. Walt might be a flagrant hater of all peoples not white and American, but he's at least convincingly so where the other actors aren't.

So despite its twisted and questionably inadvertent sense of humor, "Gran Torino" is a triumph of veteran film-making and a dominating lead actor over amateur storytelling and a weak overall cast. The film takes refuge in its quiet but lovable teenage protagonist and the relationship he develops with a foul-mouthed old man and how both help each other in the end. We expect Walt to turn into a softie when he takes Thao under his wing, but he never caves completely, and that's admirable, even if it would be nice for him to take a break from the pejorative comments so that the laughs would be a bit more guilt-free.

3.5/5 Stars

"Gran Torino" (2008)
Directed by: Clint Eastwood

Written by: Nick Schenk, David Johannson

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Christopher Carley

Fall Movie Preview: 10 Films Worth Seeing Pt. 2

Tuesday I posted the first half of my ten movies to see this fall. If you missed it, you should check that out by clicking the link. These five films I think have the most promise to deliver the goods at theaters this fall. My guess is you won’t be disappointed by any of them.

I will still put out a list of honorable mentions tomorrow – movies I was cautious about putting on the list but could turn out to be totally worth it. If you’re looking for “Boondock Saints II” for example, the short notice of hearing that was in the fall schedule forced me to move it to my HM list. Once again, links to each trailer on YouTube are at the end of each preview.

 

 

5.  “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire”  (Nov. 6 limited)

“Precious” won’t likely make a splash until closer to December, but it comes out in limited release way before Thanksgiving, and as the only surefire Oscar contender to pick from in my Fall Preview time frame, it had to find a place on this list of otherwise pure entertainment movies. “Precious” is the story of an illiterate and obese black teenager living in Harlem who is pregnant with her second child, trying to turn her life around at an alternative school.

The film, directed by Lee Daniels (a producer on Halle Berry award-winner “Monster’s Ball”) made quite the impression at Sundance, where it won the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award. Mo’Nique, who stars as the abusive mother, won the Special Jury Prize for her performance and is already the favorite for an Oscar. Early buzz on the film is that it’s a tough movie and incredibly harsh on its protagonist, which is a risk that appears to have worked. (View Trailer)

 

 

 4. “Youth in Revolt”  (Oct. 30)

You’re probably sick of Michael Cera, and I must admit I am too, but after seeing the trailer for “Youth in Revolt,” I’m going to hold off blasting the seemingly one-dimensional actor for at least one more film. Based on the novel by C.D Payne, “Youth in Revolt” is about Nick Twisp, a teenager (originally 14, but not even Cera can pull that off) living in a broken home trailer park who creates a rebellious alternate personality for himself in order to get Sheeni Saunders, the girl of his dreams.

I give Cera the pass because his alternate personality is a blue-eyed mustached maniac named Francois Dillinger. Cera is surrounded by a variety of comedians: Steve Buscemi, Justin Long, Zach Galifianakis and Ray Liotta, and in a good move to bring in a fresh face, the film introduces Portia Doubleday (frickin’ awesome name) as Sheeni. The book was adapted for the screen by Gustin Nash, who wrote indie teen comedy “Charlie Bartlett.” (View Trailer)

 

 

3.  “9” (Sept. 9)

Teenage-oriented CGI didn’t work too well for the last Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, but after seeing the trailer (set awesomely to some Coheed & Cambria) and reading up a bit on “9,” I’m sold, although this is my riskiest pick especially so high on the list. Based on his Oscar-nominated short film from 2005, rookie filmmaker Shane Acker tells the story of a post-apocalyptic human-less world full of strange creatures made of recycled materials called Stitchpunks who team up to fight a synthetic brain that human scientists created, which of course turned on them. 9 refers to the name of the Stitchpunk destined to save everyone voiced by Elijah Wood.

Acker gets huge endorsements from producers Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov (“Wanted”) to tell this highly original concept story. At only 75 minutes long, perhaps it is better off to wait for the DVD, but I feel inclined to lobby for such creative thinking especially when its supported by such outside-the-box directors/producers. Of course, "9" is arriving in theaters on 9.09.09 (View Trailer)

 

 

2.  “The Box ” (Nov. 6)

Finally, “Donnie Darko” creator Richard Kelly returns to the realm of paranormal sci-fi family drama with “The Box.” Kelly has been way overdue after no one took a liking to 2006’s “Southland Tales” (maybe because it starred The Rock and Sean William Scott), and “The Box,” based on a short story and a “Twilight Zone” episode looks to put Kelly back on the map with its strong November release date.

James Marsden and Cameron Diaz star as a couple that finds a box on their doorstep with a button inside. A creepy Frank Langella tells them instant wealth comes with pressing the button but warns there are consequences. The trailer doesn’t reveal if they push the button, but you damn well know they push it. As for what happens to them? We’ll have to see it and it looks like the answer will be worth knowing. I’m a fan of anything tied to “The Twilight Zone” since that show created some of the most gripping and thrilling social commentary ever seen on television. Combine that with the genius behind “Darko” and the expectations are high. (View Trailer)

 

 1. “Where the Wild Things Are” (Oct. 16)

That’s right, the film version of this classic children’s book hits the top of my list. The indie-music filled trailer with beautiful images of innocence and wonder and some impressive costume/make-up/CGI combo work on the wild things has me convinced that this will be a true family film with something for everyone. Spike Jonze (“Adaptation”) has the visual creativity to make a fantasy movie and his expansion of the book appears to really hit at some warm-hearted family themes. The risk not to aim this film directly at kids will probably pay off despite the studio thinking it’s too daring to be released closer to the holidays. It looks like Jonze really nailed this one and I can’t wait to see how his entire vision shakes out. (View Trailer)

 

Check out the honorable mentions tomorrow.

Long-awaited "Boondock Saints" sequel arrives in October

It's been 10 years since this random dude name Troy Duffy made a crime thriller that no one saw about two devout Irish Catholic brothers that turn vigilantes called "Boondock Saints." Then some teenager discovered it on DVD and ever since it became a focal point of millions of sleepovers and teenage male bonding nights across the United States. At some point in the decade since, every person who saw that movie heard about Duffy's plans for a sequel either themselves or from a friend.

Well, it's finally here and dropping sooner than anyone expected. "Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day" will be released in theaters on October 30. That's right, just before Halloween. Fuck "Saw VI," it's All Saints Day. (Well, technically November 1 is) The best coverage of the news (and the trailer) I found was on Rope of Silicon here.

Regardless your opinion of the trailer or whether there needed to be a sequel, this news is a relief. I am of the many former teenagers that made the original a cult classic and have heard of the sequel being in the works for ages, so it's nice to know it's finally happening. 

As for the quality of the movie, the trailer has some promise. The slow-mo artsy gun sequences are definitely back and the sense of humor looks mostly intact. One thing this movie doesn't have is Willam Defoe and he was a huge part of what made the original so good. Can't speak to the premise, but the original was built on its scenes anyway, so as long as Duffy pumped this movie up with creativity it shouldn't disappoint too badly.

Fall Movie Preview: Which Movies Not to See

I like to think that regardless of whether I know a good movie or not, I at least know what will suck or not be worth your time in the theaters. I’ve found a few coming out this fall and I have my reasons for marking them with a red flag, blacklisting them, badmouthing them, etc.

Some of them might have potential to be a worthwhile rental/on-demand/illegal download – whichever your prefer – but these movies are not worth your time in theaters considering the list of good movies (see the good movie list here) that will actually stimulate you in new and familiar ways to the point of being worth an Alexander Hamilton.

For this list, I’m not even ranking them, putting in release dates or attaching pictures as that’s all immaterial seeing as you won’t want to see them after you read this anyway. Okay, maybe this one picture as a sign of warning:

 

 

  “2012”

If you fall for “From the Director of “Independence Day”” in the trailer for “2012” and go see this movie, I have nothing to say to you. “Independence Day” came out over ten years ago and it’s still being used to get people to see Roland Emmerich’s bad disaster movies. “Godzilla,” “The Day After Tomorrow” and “10,000 B.C.” make up his credentials. Were any of those worth seeing in the theaters? You can make a case for “Day After Tomorrow” being a good DVD film, but that’s it. The trailer for “2012” looks like slap-happy CGI artists wanting to recreate all the world’s landmarks digitally and then destroying them with tidal waves or earthquakes or whatever stuff we already saw in “Day After Tomorrow.” I seriously doubt there’s intriguing Mayan apocalypse lore in this movie to make it worth it. I guess if nothing gets you going like seeing big buildings go boom, you should see it, but I have no pity for the person who sees this movie.

 

“Love Happens”

Has Jennifer Anniston even made a good romantic comedy lately? I’ll give a bit of credit to “Marley & Me” though I didn’t see it, but not to “He’s Just Not That Into You,” “Management” or “The Break-Up.” And as much as I like Aaron Eckhart, he hasn’t exactly been a romantic comedy success in either “Bill” or “No Reservations,” so my inclination is to warn you to stay away despite your cries of “but it’s Jennifer Anniston!” and “It’s the guy from “The Dark Knight!”” And just because it takes place in Seattle doesn’t make it an instant romance classic either. All I can tell you is unless you liked Kevin Costner’s movie “Dragonfly” (it was written by the same pair), you don’t have to let love happen at the movies this fall.

 

 

 “Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant”

Strike one: It’s not a sequel and there’s a colon in the title. That alone should turn you away. It’s like the studio’s afraid it won’t draw if the word vampire doesn’t make it in the title. If there’s any movie that screams tasteless garbage this fall, it’s probably this one. Selma Hayek has a beard, as well. And if I have to even read about another movie about a teenager who must leave his normal life behind and become something he’s “destined” to be, let alone a vampire, I’ll bite the head off a bat. I liked Paul Weitz’s drama “In Good Company,” but he should leave the vampire movies to his brother, “Twilight: New Moon” director Chris Weitz.

 

 

 “Surrogates”

I’m never one to write off a science-fiction movie starring Bruce Willis, so I might be wrong on calling “Surrogates” a recycled piece of junk, but I’m going with my gut here.  Dropping at the end of this month, “Surrogates” is another futuristic detective movie like “I, Robot.” The premise is that in the future humans don’t do squat and instead live life through a surrogate, or a robot copy of themselves. Of course surrogates can’t murder but somehow they do, they always do. Damn robots. Anyway, if the director/writer was right I could give “Surrogates” some credit, but it’s “T3: Rise of the Machines” director Jonathan Mostow and the writers behind “T3,” “Terminator Salvation” and “Catwoman.” Yikes. If the premise gets you giggly, save it for DVD. It might even make it out by Christmas.

 

 

 “Couples Retreat”

I’m going to label the star-studded “Couples Retreat” rental-only material as well. I’m warning you though: when this film comes out in early October, someone will ask you on that Friday if you want to see “Couples Retreat.” You’ll say, “what’s it about?” They’ll say “it’s a comedy about marriage counseling with Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman and Charlotte from “Sex and the City” and a bunch of other people” and you’ll say “cool.” This person is doing you a disservice. Name the last time you laughed at a Vince Vaughn movie? This is just a Hawaiian spin on last year’s “Four Christmases,” an alluring formula movie mixing “Along Came Polly” with “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” or something like that. If you go, you’ll say “it was funny” to your friends or co-workers on Monday but you’ll secretly wish you didn’t pay 10 dollars. Don’t thank me now, thank me later when you don’t see this movie and get a decent kick out of it next spring on DVD.

 

 

Downey Jr. convinces Favreau to play "Cowboys & Aliens"

Since we don't have any "Batman 3" news to watch for obsessively, the next step down the totem pole of "people whose every move we follow" is Robert Downey Jr., especially when he's in collaboration with his Iron Man franchise director Jon Favreau. The two will be working together on "Cowboys & Aliens," a  graphic novel adaptation that Downey Jr. has been attached to for quite some time now.

Considering the original "Iron Man" script writers -- Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby -- originally took to writing the script about a Cowboys and Native Americans dispute in the 1880's Wild West that gets interrupted by a UFO, it's not surprising Favreau was roped in. Now, the script is in the hands of gold mine writers Robert Orci and Alex Kurtzman ("Transformers" and "Star Trek") and the movie has LOST producer Damon Lindelof on board, so you can bet all systems are go to get this thing filming next year and in theaters for a summer release in 2011.

The news was first made available from The Hollywood Reporter, but you can get the more geek-friendly version which includes the "Cowboys & Aliens" premise along with a link to the complete graphic novel her at Cinematical

In other Downey Jr./Favreau news, Marvel and Paramount -- creator and distributor of "Iron Man 2" -- are allegedly fishing for estimates on what it would take to turn the highly anticipated sequel into 100 percent 3D. After all, if "Avatar" works out even in the slightest in 3D this winter, following that up with the first summer blockbuster ever in 3D in a movie that's more of a surefire hit than "Avatar" sounds like a pretty smart idea.

New on DVD: "Adventureland" - 4.5/5 Stars

The first thing to know about "Adventureland" is that although it was directed and written by Greg Mottola ("Superbad") and it has Bill Hader in it, it is in know way in the mainstream vein of Judd Apatow-brand comedies. It's not outrageously dirty or over-the-top hysterical ever. It prides itself on humor through character and the natural awkwardness of life. Taking place at a theme park in Pittsburgh in the 80s, it's a modern-spirited but definite period comedy.

Period comedies seem to always revolve around coming-of-age stories. There seems to be a natural connection between the nostalgia of an era and reflecting on personal choices and the pivotal moments of growing up. "Adventureland" is an 80s period comedy, but it's not necessarily a coming-of-age story. The protagonist is James (Jesse Eisenberg), a recent college grad, who while inexperienced in the ways of romance, at least knows who he is and what he wants from life in the long term. He's not growing up, but he's facing some harsh realities after his dad gets demoted and he can no longer afford that summer trip of a lifetime to Europe with his best friend.

His only option is a summer job working at Adventureland, where he meets his colorful and strange employers (Saturday Night Live's Hader and Kristen Wiig), a new dork friend named Joel (Martin Starr, who has played minor roles in bigger comedies) and of course the laid back but emotionally distressed girl of his dreams ("Twilight" phenom Kristen Stewart). So what looks like a bum summer turns into a chance for James, a nerdy, awkward virgin, to reevaluate things.

Mottola clearly was meant to direct this kind of a film. "Superbad" was a springboard for him to make something a bit more natural. "Adventureland" doesn't complete veer around summer romance clichés, but it has a distinctly more natural, less contrived sense of humor than "Superbad." It never resorts to male genital jokes, for one. Eisenberg and Stewart give very identifiable performances. They're scarily real rather than overly cliché. It's a bit tough to believe that a college graduate could be so stupid about handling girls, but his charm wins you over. A lot like Michael Cera of "Superbad," Eisenberg will either win you over or irritate you. Stewart was a phenomenal choice for Emily, whose family troubles have pushed her into a romance with a married man (Ryan Reynolds). She just has the look and plays the part of a naturally beautiful girl who really wrestles with who she is. Her character is probably written best in what is in general an awesome script.

Like other period comedies, "Adventureland" celebrates music and house parties and relishes in amusing outfit choices. Having been so bogged down with modern young adult comedy, "Adventureland" is really the first film since "Dazed and Confused" in the 90s to go back in time. Since the 80s are back in style again in many ways, the 'historical' element makes it kind of refreshing and unique despite some stylistic choices both directorially and comically that are clearly reminiscent of today's movies.

This is a surprisingly good movie if you don't expect "Superbad 2." It's much more real and even has a bigger heart. It's about being at a crossroads and trying to make the most of a situation while figuring out exactly where you're going. In hard times like today, it's a way of looking forward positively by enjoying a re-imagining of the past.

4.5/5 Stars

"Adventureland" (2009)

Directed by: Greg Mottola

Written by: Greg Mottola

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig

Fall Movie Preview: 10 Films Worth Seeing Pt. 1

Having just put this year’s summer at the movies to rest with my final summer superlatives, it’s time to look forward instead of back. It’s fall movie preview time.

The fall movie season (what I’m considering September through the Friday before Thanksgiving) is a tricky one. It’s a mixture of early Oscar candidates, good movies that didn’t think they could compete commercially over the summer and flat out crap that studios thought would make good summer movies but now they need to just dump somewhere.

What does all this mean? It means you need help, someone who can sift through the two and a half months of new releases and figure out what should be good, what should be bad and which movies disguised as one are really the other. That’s a hard job. Most news sources aren’t up to the challenge of maybe being wrong or have advertising revenue keeping them from speaking up. I, on the other hand, make no money doing this (until I get me some Google ads) so I can say whatever I want, and what I want to say is I have a list of 10 movies that I think will earn their money’s worth at the movies this fall. I have five additional honorable mentions and then five movies you should avoid like the plague.

For starters, here is the first half of my Top 10 fall movies list. My criteria are trailers, filmmaker’s track record, cast and overall premise. Click "View Trailer" to watch each movie's trailer on YouTube.

 

 

10. “Zombieland” (Oct. 2)

“Zombieland” is exactly how it sounds: zombie action comedy. Think an Americanized version of British comedy “Shaun of the Dead.” Director Ruben Fleischer is new and so are the film’s writers, so I’m taking a flyer with this No. 10 spot on “Zombieland” based on the trailer. From what I’ve seen, Fleischer looks to have a little Zak Snyder in him with quick slow-mo action, but more than that is the cast. Woody Harrelson stars as the main zombie killer and Jesse Eisenberg (who apparently enjoys films with titles ending in “land” after starring in “Adventureland” this past spring) is far from the typical good-looking kid you’d expect in this kind of film. Then there are the gorgeous young actresses Amber Heard (“Pineapple Express”) and Emma Stone (“Superbad”), both of whom are budding stars. With all that underrated talent, “Zombieland” should be better than expected and compete hard the first weekend of October. (View Trailer)

 

 

9.  “A Serious Man” (Oct. 2)

This comedy receives a top 10 place for two reasons: the Coen brothers. With their last two films being fantastic (“No Country for Old Men” and last fall’s comedy “Burn After Reading”), the Coen brothers are on a roll and they deserve more hype for “A Serious Man” despite its complete lack of stars. Maybe I’m overestimating the film when it could be nothing more than a top-grade DVD rental, but it’s hard to go wrong recommending a Coen brothers movie. “A Serious Man” is a ‘60s period black comedy about a suburban Jewish man who’s having what looks like a mid-life crisis. The main character is getting shoved into a wall repeatedly throughout the trailer, so I can’t imagine this is anything but funny. (View Trailer)

 

 

 8. “Extract” (Sept. 4)

The first promising movie of the fall opens this Friday and marks the return of “Office Space” and “Beavis and Butt-head” creator Mike Judge to the world of blue-collar comedy. Everyone’s beloved comedian Jason Bateman stars as the owner of a food extract plant whose having some problems at work and in his personal life. For the many “Office Space” fans, this premise is more promising than Judge’s last flop “Idiocracy.” It has a solid and diverse cast of stars including frequent Bateman collaborator J.K. Simmons, Ben Affleck as a shaggy-haired friend, SNL star Kristen Wiig and Mila Kunis making her first return to comedy after her impressive performance in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” (View Trailer)

 

 

7.  “The Road” (Oct. 16)

After being pushed back about a year, the adaptation of “No Country for Old Men” author Cormac McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic best seller “The Road” is set to land in mid-October. I read the book recently and I think the movie should be good because the book is un-filmable. Filmable books make for movies that might disappoint or toy with the line of staying loyal to the source, but for “The Road” to be any good, it would have to deviate from the source, so no expectations means no “it wasn’t better than the book” disappointment, theoretically. Viggo Mortensen is an excellent choice for the father in this story of a father and son trying to stay alive and find refuge along the east coast in a burning America where it’s every man for himself. Charlize Theron also stars as the wife who was scarcely in the book and Guy Pearce and Robert Duvall play small but critical parts. Relatively inexperienced John Hillcoat (“The Proposition”) directs. The trailer is a bit more action-oriented, which is an interesting prospect. Whether you see it or not, the book is worth a read. (View Trailer)

 

  

 6. “The Informant!” (Sept. 18)

Steven Soderbergh hasn’t had a hit lately if it hasn’t started with “Ocean’s,” but that looks like it could change as he takes on a more traditional smart comedy in “The Informant!” starring Matt Damon as the vice president of a business under federal investigation who agrees enthusiastically to be an informant but still thinks he can keep his job and nothing will happen.  Soderbergh, who’s last film “The Girlfriend Experience” was intriguing but didn’t draw much of an audience as did his two-part Che biography, but “The Informant!” has the feel of another “Burn After Reading” and Matt Damon doing comedy is always a treat. The R-rated comedy hits theaters in mid-September. (View Trailer)

 Part 2 coming on Thursday.

 

 

 

New on DVD: "State of Play" - 4/5 Stars

Most investigative thrillers focus on detectives digging around for the answers, but "State of Play" opts to center around the desperate, miserable and dying newspaper industry. Simply put, the forces and pressures motivating a reporter are not like that on a detective, which makes for a much more unique plot with characters an audience can view as more like themselves. A detective who figures out whodunit is doing his/her job -- a journalist who puts the pieces together is a small-time hero.

Russell Crowe stars in one of his more unique roles as a seasoned investigative reporter named Cal McAffrey. Crowe somehow more easily portrays Americans than any Australian or British actor working in Hollywood and he brings a light-hearted spirit to his serious role. His character finds himself in a dangerous place when his personal friendships with a congressman and his wife (Ben Affleck, Robin Wright Penn) come at odds with his job when news breaks that the congressman was having an affair with a girl who recently died in a DC subway accident. McAffrey first tries to protect his friend, but when he sees trends leading to conspiracy, his professional instincts kick in.

"Play" brags a diverse but killer cast. Crowe is the dependable star vehicle, Affleck the ultra- popular movie star who has been scarce lately and Rachel McAdams makes a triumphant return to the screen after a couple years off as a young blogger who assists Crowe. Also appearing in the film are Helen Mirren as the editor, Jeff Daniels as another politician and even Jason Bateman makes a cameo. All of them are talented and have proved so in many different genres, but never have they been together to make a thriller.

It's also the first experiment in the genre for the director, Kevin Macdonald ("The Last King of Scotland.") Macdonald keeps this film fast and exciting, generally refusing to use a tripod but not distracting us with shaky camera-work either. He mixes in a lot of close detail shots with scene setters that tell the story at a provocative angle. There are a lot of typical thriller movie conventions used, but he makes it his own. He's a director certainly worth keeping an eye on. 

Credit must also go to an incredibly well-assembled writing team. Although based on a BBC miniseries of the same name, "State of Play" boasts "Michael Clayton" creator and penner of the Bourne series Tony Gilroy for the drama and action, "Shattered Glass" creator Billy Ray for the journalism expertise and Matthew Michael Carnahan ("Lions for Lambs," "The Kindgom,") for the political/military end. It's amazing to see how that all plays together so nicely with so many reputable writers. Some of the twists might be more on the extreme side, but it's mostly convincing and exciting the whole way through.

"State of Play" hooks you and keeps you guessing. It tries to keep the characters intimate and worth caring about while also making sure the story picks up velocity. Subplots occasionally get in the way (McAffrey's personal connection to Wright Penn's character among them) but you become pretty easily invested in what's going on and are frightened when what seemed like a nice mystery suddenly gets serious. This is a thriller that is smart and quick and never blows itself out of proportion. It holds its ground and it does so with much talent.

Lastly, the film questions the necessary extent of hard-nosed reporting, but also revels in its necessity. Watergate is alluded to as a building where a couple key companies are located. The connection is purposeful -- we're supposed to see the scandal as a fictional modern re- creation of Watergate in terms of how it's reported and uncovered. While films like "All the King's Men" glorified the work of journalists, "Play" is too stubborn to give them full credit, bringing into the discussion the idea of selling papers and not waiting too long to get all the facts or how the Internet/blogosphere twists the news in different ways. It might not be at the front of your mind while enjoying the film, but it sets it above the overdone detective thriller.

4/5 Stars

"State of Play" (2009)

Directed by: Kevin Macdonald

Written by: Matthew Michael Carnahan, Tony Gilroy, Billy Ray

Starring; Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren