Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 2nd, 2005
National Lampoon was still around? I didn’t think so. But sure enough, there is a staff, they still produce movies occasionally (the cinematic tour de force Van Wilder being among their recent contributions to cinema), and in order to satirize some of the absolute sheet on TV nowadays, came up with the Lost Reality series of discs.
With introduction from (who I’m assuming are) members of the Lampoon staff, the clips are a bit hit or miss. Some of the funnier bits are OK, and could have turned ...nto decent sketches with some polishing. For instance, “Scare Me” is basically a few kids that scare the crap out of people in various locations. The concept is OK, but using actors that see it coming takes the fun out of it. “Payback” is set up a la Punk’d, and at first seeing two parents that terrorize their 8 year old is funny, then it just goes downhill from there. Even some of the bits that you would think be funny just aren’t. Using the American Gladiator TV show from the ‘80s and putting midgets in as Gladiators dragged.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 2nd, 2005
Synopsis
The only thing I really remembered about Murder, She Wrote was that as a young American child, I used to see it being advertised after 60 Minutes and before a TV movie starring Tori Spelling or something. It would bother me even more because these ads were being announced by a semi-drunk pro football announcer, and put a damper on whatever football game I was watching. Enough with the plugs and get back to the action!
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 2nd, 2005
Synopsis
Aaron Jacob Estes’ film Mean Creek has been favorably compared to films like River’s Edge and in a sense, Lord of the Flies, for obvious reasons, and that’s not a bad thing. Written and directed by Estes, the film begins with Sam (Rory Culkin, Signs), who “borrows” a camcorder owned by George (Josh Peck, Spun), and gets beaten up for it. Sam’s brother Rocky (Trevor Morgan, The Patriot) steps in as the protective, bigger brother and does a little scheming.>
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 1st, 2005
Season Eight of MASH was most notable as the year one of the most beloved characters left the series. Radar, that down-home country boy, was perhaps the most reality based character in the run of the series. I’ve spoken to many G.I.’s who have informed me that the company clerk really runs any Army outfit. Radar had an element of innocence and sincerity that was skillfully portrayed by Gary Burghoff. Burghoff was the only cast member from the original film to reprise his role for the series. Year Eight would feature the first of a few appearances by Alan Alda’s real life father and 1950’s film star Robert Alda.
As miraculous as an 8 year run might be for any sitcom, MASH still had 3 additional seasons to go before leaving while still artistically on the ball. MASH set the stage for multiple cast changes long before Dick Wolf would claim the practice as his own invention with Law and Order. By the time the series ended, only three actors from that first episode remained: Alan Alda, Jamie Farr, and Loretta Switt. (While the character of Father Mulcahy appeared in the pilot, a different actor portrayed him.)
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 29th, 2005
In terms of concept, it seems kinda cool and avant-garde: take the old cartoon Space Ghost, hire some writers and voiceover guys to interview some guests as part of a talk show and see what happens. The result, being Space Ghost Coast to Coast eventually did turn into a cult following and captured an older (read: 18-30) demographic for the Cartoon Network.
Though Space Ghost is a superhero, in this series he has kidnapped a couple of his villains to be a part of his talk show. You have ...orak, essentially an animated praying mantis that serves as the Paul Shaffer of the show. The producer is Moltar, who looks like he should work as part of a hazardous material recovery team. And in the middle of it all, you have a 15 minute, disjointed conversation between a varying group of eclectic guests and a seemingly detached masked hero and show host. The guests over the course of the season include Jon Stewart, Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, Jimmy Cliff, Beck, Ice T, Goldie Hawn and Colin Quinn, to list very few.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 25th, 2005
Much like previous con films before it like Matchstick Men and The Grifters, Criminal tells the story of a veteran taking a young inexperienced rookie under his wing and showing him the tricks behind the money, and the con artist philosophy.
Based on the Argentinean film Nine Queens, Richard (John C. Reilly, Magnolia) spots Rodrigo (Diego Luna, The Terminal) trying to hustle drink money in a club. He hustles Rodrigo out, and discovers Rodrigo is doing this to earn m...ney for his father, who’s incurred a large gambling debt to mobsters. Richard decides to show Rodrigo how the grift works, and Rodrigo even has a few tricks for Richard. Things become interesting when Richard’s sister Valerie calls him (Maggie Gyllenhaal, Secretary) from her job at a 4 star hotel to inform him he has a visitor. Valerie is aware of Richard’s work and hates it, and him, as he is in the midst of a legal battle with her for their mother’s estate. Throughout the day, Richard and Rodrigo help Richard’s hotel friend attempt to sell a counterfeit treasury document to a wealthy investor. Along the way, we discover the lengths Richard goes to to pull off the deal, and you see just how many people want a piece of the pie. As is the case with con movies, there’s a twist at the end that we don’t see coming, but in a sense, since Reilly is such a sympathetic face, you almost don’t want it to happen that way.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 24th, 2005
White Noise borrows much from the successful cycle of modern horror films. There is a tremendous likeness to both The Ring and FearDotCom. The use of a television screen for eerie f/x and a few shocks reminds us of the former, while the torture of the kidnapped victim in industrial and dank surroundings is taken right out of the latter. White Noise has some wonderfully disturbing moments. The atmosphere is rank with just enough possibility to be truly scary at times. Michael Keaton adds that element of respectability and believability which carries a weak script much farther than it deserves. I should also point out that the cinematography is simply brilliant. Transitions are masterfully crafted into a stunning visual experience. I expected this film to disappoint and it did; however, it was not quite the disaster I was anticipating.
The idea of EVP, Electronic Voice Phenomenon, has been around since about the 1970’s. The film’s use of the television is a new fictional wrinkle that obviously makes for more compelling drama. White Noise quickly leaves the arena of the EVP world and enters a mythos of its very own. It is this diversion that creates the biggest problems I have with the film. It seems Keaton sees not only dead folks but those soon to be dead. We are never given any explanation as to how this new development occurs. Normally that’s not a problem, but the film appears to go to great lengths to make sure we understand the principles of EVP, then fails us once the story ventures into new ground. The ending is a completely unsatisfying. I don’t need to be told everything, but would like to have more answers than questions when the credits roll. It seems three really bad dead guys are pissed off, but we never find out who they are or why they’re so angry.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 23rd, 2005
Continuing in the bold tradition of centering a movie around a place or event in the African American community (see The Wash, Barbershop and Beauty Shop, to name a few), Queen Latifah has decided to run the horse into the ground, and subsequently throw it over the coals, in a film she wrote and appears in, entitled The Cookout.
The concept of the film is simple enough that everyone can identify with it; cookouts are a good time where friends and family, sane and crazy, can get t...gether over food and drinks, and have a good time. When Todd Andersen (Storm P) is drafted into the NBA, the next few days are a whirlwind of enjoying his soon to be fame, though his mother (Jenifer Lewis, Antwone Fisher) is trying to make sure he stays grounded and close to his roots. Though he does manage to buy a huge house and move into an upper class neighborhood, and everyone is afraid of the new neighbors, none more terrified than Mr. and Mrs. Crowley (Danny Glover and Farrah Fawcett). Todd decides to have a cookout with his family, some of whom are played by Frankie Faison (Red Dragon) and Tim Meadows (Ladies’ Man). Along with Todd’s family is his agent (Jonathan Silverman, Weekend at Bernie’s) and girlfriend (Meagan Good, You Got Served). During all of this, Todd tries to do what he can to balance his family with his newfound celebrity and keep his sanity, all at the same time.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 22nd, 2005
A cast that included Martin Sheen and Marlee Matlin made Hear No Evil appear promising. Sheen is too little used to be very effective, and Matlin’s acting is often overshadowed by a director too eager for use to experience her deafness. I always found that her strength was the power of her performance in spite of the handicap. This film goes to excessive lengths to remind us she is deaf, just in case we happen to miss the point. Often the soundtrack goes silent, apparently to portray the action from Matlin’s point of view. Instead, the technique is overused to the point of distraction.
The story is thin and the running time too long. The plot never really develops into anything more than a drawn-out cat and mouse game. It’s sad, but the best thing I got from the film was learning how to say asshole in sign. Too bad the director wasn’t around for me to practice my new skill.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 12th, 2005
“It’s been a long time getting from there to here.” 35 years to be exact. Enterprise is the fourth spin-off from the original 1960’s hopeful series. Rick Berman decided to set this series about 100 years before the days of Kirk and Spock. Enterprise has certainly taken a ton of heat since its debuted just 4 years ago. While much of the whining by the “get a life” fans can be delegated to the “Nitpicker’s Guides,” much of it is well deserved.
The most egregious infraction is the liberty the show has taken with established timeline of Star Trek. At times it does appear Berman has decided to insult the very fans that have made the program so enduring. The writers try too hard to make Enterprise the underdog in every fight. It sure seems like everybody else has shields and better weapons. Makes you wonder how Earth became the dominant member of the Federation. With that said, I have found this to be the most entertaining Star Trek since Picard and his crew flew their Enterprise in The Next Generation. The characters, with the notable exception of Hoshi, are the most compelling in many years. Finally there is a trinity of characters reminiscent of the Kirk, Spock, and McCoy relationships. Great effort has been made to create this chemistry with Archer, Trip, and T’Pol, the newest Vulcan. I particularly liked the nice touch of having the three often dine together while discussing the business of exploring space.
