Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 12th, 2007
Seraphim Falls was a sparsely released film released early in 2007, recently finding its way to DVD. In addition to being the first film where two Irish stars - Pierce Brosnan & Liam Neeson - share screen time together, it also marks the directorial debut of David Von Ancken who also happened to be a co-writer. After watching this movie I can definitely tell you that I am looking forward to any future projects of Von Ancken’s. But that’s aside from the point, how was this film?
Before watching this m...vie I didn’t know anything about it, and it definitely makes it more interesting this way. The movie opens with Gideon (Pierce Brosnan) sitting next to a fire in the snowy woods, the tranquility of the forest is soon interrupted by gun shots aimed for Gideon, one hitting him. He begins running and pursuing him closely is Carver (Liam Neeson) with a posse. I was perplexed at the time trying to figure out what was going on, more specifically why Carver was trying to kill Gideon. I couldn’t figure out who to cheer for, and after Gideon cleverly kills a few posse members it becomes apparent that he’s not just your average Joe which made it all the more interesting to discover their back stories. As the film progresses you learn more about the connection between these two and their motives, but I won’t spoil that. But you can expect a very entertaining movie with an intense chase that leads from mountains to desert, although there isn’t much dialogue there is a lot of intensity and enjoyment, of course there is some action as well.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 11th, 2007
Not all heist films are created equal. The Hard Easy is a poor man’s Ocean’s Whatever. Number. While that might appear more often than not a knock on the film, that would not be so in this case. Actually I rather liked the film, more for its nuances. The first thing that impressed me was the cast. This isn’t the gaggle of A listers found in the Ocean films. These are still some hard working craftsmen. Just because this isn’t as hyped or financed to the hilt doesn’t take anything away from the performances. It might...have made them work even harder.
Paul (Thomas) and Roger (Boreanaz) both have some serious money problems. Paul owes a huge gambling debt to vicious mobster Freddie (Allen). Roger is caught up in a stock scam about to explode in his face. The only way out, or so it appears, is an easy score. Seems there’s this can’t miss opportunity waiting for the right crew to come and make a good $15 million. Circumstances pull both of these misguided lads into the job. The problem is, of course, they don’t know each other. Both are working with separate crews planning the same job. So this easy score gets very hard; hence the title. When both crews show for the same diamond heist, all hell’s gonna break loose. What this film lacks in action it more than makes up for in characters. Peter Weller has some of the best lines in his over the top portrayal of Ed who leads Roger’s crew for the heist. The cigar crunching ex commando is such a stock character that it’s actually pretty funny to observe. An aging Bruce Dern puts in an almost equally rousing turn as Gene, the leader of Paul’s gang. Where most films concentrate on pulling off the job, this film mines the characters themselves for most of the running time. While it might not be gold they’re mining, it still comes up silver. Rae Allen might have the best role in the very short appearance of female mobster Freddie. I don’t know about you, but I’ll never look at a wrench quite the same way again. Her facial stuff is priceless. Gary Busey plays Vinnie, a counselo of sorts for Paul, who might just be setting him up for a fall. Vera Farmiga has the most unlikely role as Dr. Charlie. Why do all of the women in this film have guy names?
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 10th, 2007
Where was I when Miss Potter was in theatres last year? I don’t recall hearing much about it, and that’s a shame. This is one of the most charming, infectiously light-hearted films I’ve seen in long while.
It’s the story of Beatrix Potter (Renée Zellweger, Chicago), the 19th century British creator of the famous Peter Rabbit children’s stories. When we first meet Beatrix, she’s an unmarried woman in her early thirties, lugging her portfolio of paintings and a story to potential publishers. In meeting with two crusty older gents, it seems she’s not going to have any luck. They flip through her drawings of rabbits dressed in human clothes, while she insists they, the rabbits, are her friends. She must be crazy. Lucky for her, these guys have an annoying younger brother who’s insisting he be allowed into the family publishing business. They decide to give him this “bunny book” to minimize the harm he would surely do to their serious business.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on June 10th, 2007
Synopsis
One of my favorite movies of all time is Rocky Horror Picture Show. My favorite character of that movie is Dr. Frank-N-Furter who is just a sweet transvestite transexual from Transylvania. So when I got Priscilla Queen of the Desert to review which had two cross dressers and a trannie and a grand helping of humor to boot, I was hoping it would become one of my favorite movies as well. The story behind Priscilla is that Tick Belrose (drag name: Mitzi) ...(played by Hugo Weaving) got a contract to perform a show way out in the Australian desert. He convinces an old trannie named Bernadette (male name: Ralph) (played by Terence Stamp) and a rather flamboyant newcomer named Adam (drag name: Felicia) (played by Guy Pearce) to come along to be part of the act. From there, they take a faboulous journey across the desert with many hilarious stops along the way.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 8th, 2007
Tony Scott’s controversial thriller, Revenge, is based rather loosely on a 1979 novella written by Jim Harrison for Esquire Magazine. I say loosely because the source material is quite short and was necessarily expanded for a feature length film. I never saw the 1990 theatrical release of the film, but research shows it did rather poorly. What I know of the difference between this cut and the original comes from Tony Scott’s commentary, which I’ll discuss in the audio portion of this review. I do know the changes m...st be significant as extra credits were required which provide for an additional composer for new music for some additional footage. The running time is also a stunning 30 minutes or so less than the original film. I say this up front so that if you are a fan of the original your mileage may differ. That DVD was released back in 1998. The DVD cover contains a quote from Quentin Tarantino exclaiming that Revenge is Tony Scott’s masterpiece. He does not imply which version he’s talking about. Either way, that’s saying a ton when you consider Scott’s impressive portfolio.
The film begins as Michael Cochran, no relation to Zephram (I think) is retiring as a Navy pilot. He heads to Mexico to spend time with a very old friend. It is hinted that he is going there to work for him, but that situation is never really explained. Unfortunately he falls in love with his pal’s wife, Mireya (Stowe). I say unfortunately because it happens that his pal Tibby (Quinn) also happens to be a ruthless underworld kingpin with plenty of power, money, goons, and guns. Did I mention he has a lot of guns? From almost the moment Cochran enters this world he seems to be ruffling the feathers of everyone around Tibby even before he starts ruffling Mireya’s bed sheets. Now I hate to disagree with the venerable Mr. Tarantino, but doesn’t all of this look just too contrived to be a masterpiece? Call me, Quentin, and we’ll talk about it over pasta and meatballs, my treat.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 8th, 2007
Having heard exactly zilch about The Last Sin Eater before receiving my review copy, I expected it to be a low-budget horror flick. Boy, was I wrong. This film is based on a bestselling novel by Francine Rivers, a popular writer of Christian-themed fiction. Produced under the 20th Century Fox FoxFaith brand, it’s intended for an Evangelical Christian audience.
The story is set in 1850’s Appalachia, where a group of early Irish settlers have made their home. When the grandmother of 10-year-old ...adi (Liana Liberato) dies, Cadi loses the only person who loved her no matter what sins she’d committed, for even her own mother seems to blame her for a recent family tragedy. At her grandmother’s funeral, during a mysterious ritual, Cadi sees the Sin Eater (Peter Wingfield, Holby City), a disturbing man who symbolically eats the sins of the recently departed, taking them upon himself to allow the dead to rest in peace.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on June 7th, 2007
Synopsis
When all his cowhands desert him to take part in a gold rush, John Wayne is left with no alternative but hire a group of schoolboys, between the ages of 9 and 15, to work for him on a long and dangerous cattle drive. Along with all the usual hazards of such a journey, they are also being stalked by Bruce Dern and his band of rustlers.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 7th, 2007
Pacino and Depp in a mob drama about an undercover fed and his unknowing Mafioso mentor? Fuggedaboudit.
Donnie Brasco is based on the true story of F.B.I. agent Joe Pistone (Johnny Depp, Blow), who spent six successful years undercover in the New York Mafia, as one Donnie Brasco. The film opens with Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino, Heat), an aging made man, connecting with Donnie about a diamond ring. Donnie’s cover is he’s in the jewelry “business”, and Lefty wants to unload a ring some guy ...ave him as payment for a debt. When Donnie insists the ring’s a fake, Lefty goes back to see the guy, bringing Donnie along. The guy still claims it’s the real deal, but Donnie asks for a minute to “talk to him.” Permission from Lefty granted, Donnie smacks the guy around, threatens murder and makes the guy give up the keys to his Porsche.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 6th, 2007
The opening credits are a frantic run of images that is pretty hard to actually watch. The segment is made worse by the constantly changing images and strobe light f/x. At first you get the idea you’re in for just another horror film made in the modern deluge of images style. Fortunately this is not a portent of things to come. With a little patience, you’re safely beyond these trappings and find yourself in a rather good film. If you’re able to follow this montage, you’ll be introduced to the bloody history of Gus...ave, a 25 foot crocodile. You’ll discover this killer is claiming a mounting number of human victims, most recently an acclaimed UN naturalist. Once the film actually begins, it will be some time before you are introduced directly to Gustave.
Three American journalists are sent to the heart of Africa on a mission to find and actually capture Gustave. The journey is no less treacherous than Gustave himself. A local dictator intent on genocide now calls himself Little Gustave, after the killer croc, and his hit squads don’t take too kindly to boats entering his domain. Some machine gun fire welcomes our intrepid Americans into the jungles. The reptile is worshipped as a god by many of the locals, as evidenced by a ritual the travelers must participate in to gain their trust. Top this off with a guide who has revenge on his mind and intends to go Ahab on Gustave. Before long we find that peril comes in many sizes on this trip.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 6th, 2007
I should have known I was in trouble from the opening credits. The graphics are accompanied by some really cheap sounding synthesizer music. It sounds like they sprung for the $39 Casio. Beyond the crappy sound, the melody, if you can call it that, didn’t fit the western I was unfortunately about to see. Let’s keep this simple, shall we? If you pick this baby up at your local video store, I’m going to advise you to put it down and back away from the shelf. Now you owe me. I gave you back 2 hours of your life you we...e about to piss away on one of the worst films ever released in any format. This is extremely low budget nonsense all the way around. The acting is the absolute worst I’ve ever seen. Even George Kennedy is obviously only there for the paycheck, which couldn’t have been that much. George’s life must really suck these days for him to allow himself to be a part of this farce, even if it was only for five minutes. I think he just passed Conrad Brooks on the “do anything for a screen credit and a few nickels” circuit. He fumbles through his scene in a performance I hope he’d rather forget. If you’re looking for corny lines, bad acting, and incredibly poor editing, this is the film for you. Perhaps it should be required viewing at all film schools as an example of how not to make a film. If you just think I’m full of crap, I dare ya to sit through all 118 minutes of this film. I double dog dare ya.
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