Movie Review Sunday

The Innkeepers – 2011 (R)

Netflix says: In this eerie ghost story, a venerable inn closes after a century in business and the two remaining employees are determined to uncover the truth about longtime rumors that the majestic mansion is haunted -- but will they survive their explorations?

Matt says: “The Innkeepers” does something that most horror movies these days never do… establish believable, likeable characters. In fact, most of the movie is the interaction between the two hipster-esque main characters… and there is magic between them when they are on screen together. One is a ghost-obsessed nerd with a half-assed blog, the other is a quirky female who loves his enthusiasm and is nerdy enough herself that she gets wrapped up in the legend. The “ghost story” portion takes a back seat until the third act, and even then it’s unremarkable. There was a lot of potential to this film and I am looking forward to what writer/director/editor Ti West can do with a little more budget and a refined storyline. I was equally as impressed and unimpressed with his “The House of the Devil” and he has definitely improved. As is, “The Innkeepers” is an excellent comedy/drama/love story with shades of horror. In fact, the ghost story wasn’t even necessary as the whole thing was not scary, had no direction, and resorted to jump-scares to frighten. I would have rather it had been romantic comedy about two people who work together and are just too unsure about themselves to be able to cross the line from friendship to lovers. As a horror movie, “The Innkeepers” fails. As a quirky rom-com, it is one of the best I’ve seen in a while. 3 stars.

Contagion – 2011 (PG-13)

Netflix says: Steven Soderbergh steers big stars through this big-screen disaster-thriller about a global team of doctors tasked with tamping down a deadly outbreak of infectious disease before it annihilates mankind.

Matt says: Star-studded disaster films are nothing new, having their heyday in the ‘70s and popping up their ugly heads every once in a while since then. “Contagion” is another one of those films that follows a disaster from the beginning to the breaking point. What makes it stand out from films such as “The Poseidon Adventure” or “The Towering Inferno”, is that it’s an extremely realistic look at an outbreak of a deadly virus that could potentially cause the deaths of a large portion of the human population. Think a slow, in depth beginning of Stephen King’s “The Stand”. It’s a frightening concept, but also an overly ambitious one to put to a film. In a project like this, in order to capture the scale, things need to be less personal and focus solely on events. But, that takes the drama and emotion from the film… and who wants to watch a movie in which you can’t really empathize with any character? So, the move picks a handful of players in the drama to focus on, which in turn takes away from the scale. It’s a Catch-22 that never pans out. Even the central messages of the politics, red tape, and nasty human nature behind a global disaster feel small. The movie is well made in all aspects, but it never fully accomplishes its task. Like I said, it’s scary to think of, but maybe a novel or mini-series would make a stronger impact. 3 stars.

Safe – 2012 (R)

Netflix says: A onetime secret agent comes to the aid of a 12-year-old girl held captive by ruthless Triad gangsters. Before the rescue is over, the pair will go up against not only her abductors, but also the Russian Mafia and a bunch of corrupt New York cops.

Matt says: Jason Statham is good at being a bad-ass and his movies are consistently entertaining. But, as we become more and more accustom to the flow of his films, the more immortal he becomes in them. He went from a realistic action star (Bruce Wills in “Die Hard”), to an over-the top cartoon (the “Crank” films), to an action hero that practically sleep-walks through his fights (my friend likened it to the later straight-to-DVD films of Steven Segal). In “Safe” his plays the “man on the edge” who is brought back from suicide by the panicked look of an 11 year old Chinese girl. The girl has something that the Russian and Chinese mafias want, as well as the NYPD, and Statham sees protecting her as redemption for past indiscretions. It was fun seeing a NY film that was filmed on location… often I will see film that supposedly taking place in NY, but they get everything all wrong. The film is pretty A-typical for the genre, but it was enjoyable. There are better Statham films out there, and I have a feeling this one will silently slip away into the obscurity in their shadows, but it was still a decent watch. 3 stars.

Devil – 2010 (PG-13)

Netflix says: In this edgy thriller, Det. Bowden (Chris Messina) must not only save five people trapped in an elevator -- a mechanic (Logan Marshall-Green), a young woman (Bojana Novakovic), an old woman (Jenny O'Hara), a guard (Bokeem Woodbine) and a salesman (Geoffrey Arend) -- but he must act fast because the devil is among them. Drew Dowdle and John Erick Dowdle direct M. Night Shyamalan's story, which explores the notion that there are no coincidences.

Matt says: Oh, poor M. Night Shyamalan. By the time he came up with the plan to make a series of movies based on ideas he pitched out, but helmed by up-and-coming writers and directors to give them the opportunity to have a start in Hollywood, he was already a big fucking joke. The audience actually cracked up when Shyamalan's name came on the screen during the initial trailer for “Devil”. Since he was only the one who came up with the concept, but had no other involvement, it hurt even worse for everyone who actually worked on the film. I still was curious about this as the trailer did look somewhat creepy (keep in mind that this is coming from someone who actually enjoyed “The Village”… but after finding out the spoilers behind “The Happening” I pretty much gave up on Shyamalan as a whole). “Devil” is ok. It’s tense and is an effective “who-done-it”. Yet, it’s all also rather generic. There’s a review on Netflix that says “if there’s nothing better to watch, check it out”. I agree. The “twist” was forced and unsatisfactory and the very ending of the movie is groan-inducing. Yet, the hour and 10 mins up to that point kept me engaged. 2 1/2 stars.

Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie – 2012 (R)

Netflix says: All-star cameos spice up the comedy chaos in the movie debut of "Adult Swim" favorites Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, who portray two numbskulls revamping a decrepit mall to repay the billion dollars they wasted while preparing their first film.

Matt says: I will sing the praises of “Tim and Eric’s Awesome Show: Great Job!” until the day I die. The eleven minute long Adult Swim show is an encapsulated mind trip through old UHF programs, surreal set pieces, and a troupe of freaks that rival those of Tod Browning’s film. Unfortunately the transition to film is more rocky than other comedy troupe’s ventures. Part of the joy of Tim and Eric is their short-but-sweet homages to a viral age birthed from public access television (it’s not all singing, but those are some of my favorite clips). When lengthened to an hour and a half, all the “all-star cameos” can’t even save it from succumbing to a joke stretched too far. There is a lot to like about this movie… hell, it’s Tim and Eric! But it also overstays its welcome repeatedly throughout the viewing. I was disappointed that it didn’t live up to the show, but I also half expected it not to. Something like “Tim and Eric’s Awesome Show: Great Job!” isn’t meant for the big screen. Fortunately, though, they have been producing John C. Reilly in a spin off of their show called “Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule” on Adult Swim, which is worth watching more than this. That they also stoop to multiple potty jokes just reinforces my disinterest in the movie. It’s a shame, because I really like them. But, I am going to have to say that even fans of the show should skip this one. 2 1/2 stars. (Just for fun… The most well received review for this on Netflix is a five star review that says this: “Excellent documentary on the manufacture of modern sponge. From inception to distribution through global sales channels, an otherwise mundane topic is covered in sufficient detail to keep any sponge aficionado suitably engaged. 7.3/4.882-Q-alpha.” That review brought me more chuckles than the movie itself.)

The Avengers – 2012 (PG-13)

Netflix says: An all-star lineup of superheroes -- including Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk and Captain America -- team up to save the world from certain doom. Working under the authority of S.H.I.E.L.D., can our heroes keep the planet at peace?

Matt says: Wow! Wowee wow wow wow! I went into “The Avengers” with high hopes (I had read several reviews that gushed over the film), but I still needed to see it for myself before judging… I have been burned before. Walking out after the meaty 2:20 run time, I not only felt that it was more than worth the seventeen dollar NYC ticket price for a 3D film, but that I was involved in the events of the film in some way. Yes, I got totally absorbed into the film. I have said before that Joss Whedon is the ultimate fan-boy, and it still holds true here. I have never seen a movie that fully captures the experience of a thirteen year old reading a comic book as I did with this film… and that’s a good, good thing. I remember laying on my bed with the latest X-Men or Fantastic Four comic in the mid-80s, being totally and fully engrossed in the 2 dimensional story-line and melodrama of the cheap pulp. There was macho bravado, poor attempts at humor (that actually work), women in skin tight outfits, and other pubescent trappings. Yet, there was also life lessons and chivalry beneath the soap opera story-lines. It may not be high art, but it is highly entertaining. Whedon not only made an excellent super hero film, but he also did it so perfectly that it actually is a comic book come alive. And, don’t get me started on the cast’s dynamic chemistry or that the film is significantly enhanced by viewings of the character’s solo films. “The Avengers” feels like the culmination of a four year/four film build-up… they didn’t know what they were going to do at the time, but Whedon solved that problem with experience and grace. Don’t expect a life changing or deep film here, but do expect a fucking great time. The Hulk stole the show (with Downey Jr.’s Iron Man taking a close second), but everyone did their parts to make this a total and utter blast. The 3D may have been done in post, and it was a little dark because of it, but it didn’t make the film any less entertaining. I recommend seeing this on the big screen as it’s the epitome of a perfect summer blockbuster. 5 stars.

You Only Live Twice – 1967 (PG)

Netflix says: After American and Soviet spaceships disappear, the two countries trade blame for the incidents -- and as the nations edge toward war, James Bond is tasked with getting to the bottom of another international mystery.

Matt says: “You Only Live Twice” was the only James Bond book that I ever read. I just saw it discounted at The Strand and thought “What the hell?”. I enjoyed how pulpy it was and picking out all the flaws Fleming made with the Japanese language. I had never seen the movie and honestly didn’t know it existed. When I found out there was a movie I thought “What the hell?” and rented it. It’s vastly different than the book, but it is also the basis of many, many parodies, from Austin Powers to The Simpsons to much more. The only thing retained from the novel is that it takes place in Japan, it has Blofeld as the enemy, and that at one point James becomes Japanese in order to go under cover. Yes, in both, he has his skin died with lemon, hair changed black with a bowl cut, and eyes slanted. It’s pretty offensive and unnecessary, but it makes for some fine retro stereotype racism. I’ll tell you, the set pieces in this were very impressive, the action on par with earlier Bond flicks, and they actually have Japanese people speaking true Japanese. Connery kind of sleep walks through it, but he still emits macho goodness. The plot could’ve been more mysterious, it could’ve had more gadgets, and it all is a little far fetched (but isn’t that what a Bond movie is all about?). I enjoyed it on a cheesy level as it’s not close to being the best Bond film… yet, it’s not close to the worst ones either. 3 1/2 stars.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol – 2011 (PG-13)

Netflix says: Super-agent Ethan Hunt dangles from skyscrapers and otherwise takes daring to new heights on another operation from the Impossible Missions Force. Helping Hunt get the job done is droll fellow IMF agent Luther Stickel.

Matt says: MI:GP is the forth entry into the Mission Impossible movies and, while I’ve seen all three, it was the only one I actually paid full attention to since the first (I had the others on as background noise while doing something else). Just like from what I saw of the other three, it’s a typical spy actioner with tense spy moments, chase scenes, outrageous stunts, and lots of guns a-blazing. Everything is tightly made and it definitely has its thrills. Most impressively is Cruise, who again does all of his own stunts (including hanging outside of the tallest building in the world in Dubai). MI:GP keeps its end of the summer blockbuster bargain, offing an engineered script straight from “How to write and action movie”. The only thing that was missing was the romantic/sexual tension aspect, but they replaced it with a tough-as-nails female, so it doesn’t feel all that lacking. It’s a very generic experience, but a fun one. 3 1/2 stars.

Angel Blade – 2002 (R)

Netflix says: Martial artist David Heavener -- who also wrote, directed and produced this indie thriller -- stars as an ex-cop who's lured back to the force when pregnant teen prostitutes start turning up dead. Margot Kidder makes a brief appearance as a lingerie shop owner in this dark tale set in Las Vegas, while Amanda Righetti (from "The O.C.") makes her film debut as a model who pulls Heavener deeper and deeper into the world of underground sex.

Matt says: Oh, David Heavener, can you do no good? As you can tell from my recent reviews, I’ve been on a Heavener kick lately. It’s mostly due to my co-workers enjoying his movies as well. Someone will bring one in and we’ll all share the cheese and unintentional comedy that is a David Heavener presentation. After “Lethal Ninja” having only Heavener as an actor, “Angel Blade” takes you back to a full blown Heavener production. And what a production it is! The self proclaimed creator of the “God formula” to making films brings us a tit filled mess that is as much fun to watch as his earlier films. I swear, I expected it to either be just plain bad or too polished due to being made 14 years later than “Outlaw Force”. Nope! It actually feels like it was made in the late 80s, and it couldn’t be any better for it. It’s chock full of bad dialog, a transparent plot, Heavener wrestling a large black man in leopard print speedos, a washed up Margot Kidder on the verge of her breakdown, a young, stunning Amanda Righetti baring her perfect body multiple times, and a scene with Righetti and Heavener that ends with one of them getting a brush handle shoved into their ass (yeah, it’s Heavener). All that and a soundtrack by Heavener just as appropriate as his other original songs for his other films. I don’t need to say much more as you should know what kind of movie it is by now. So far Heavener’s 3 for 3 on the 1 1/2 star quality films that gave me 4 stars of entertainment and it only makes me want to see more of them.

The Cabin in the Woods (Spoiler-rific review) – 2012 (R)

Netflix says: In this twisted thriller from Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard, five friends arrive at a secluded cabin with clear instructions for their anticipated mountain getaway. But when the rigid rules are broken, punishment is swift -- and everyone will pay. Kristen Connolly, Jesse Williams, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Chris Hemsworth and Brian J. White star with Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford in this surprising spin on a classic horror setup.

Matt says: Ok, so you may have seen my first review for this. Well, after much discussion, the idea wheels started turning. Credit for this comes from a post on a Longhorn message board a friend of mine reads. He relayed the information to me which I am now going to expand on. This is a review for those who have seen the movie, so DO NOT read it unless you want the film ruined for you. Read this after seeing it for an interesting take on the ideas expressed (and a more likely meaning behind it than my first review).

Cabin in the Woods is as much a fuck you to Hollywood and modern horror films as it is an homage to the genre of the past. The original idea the message board person came up with was this: The “agency” is Hollywood and the audience are the old gods, being fed entertainment to appease their appetites. The cabin teens gradually morph into their stereotypes as so many characters in modern horror are. All the monsters are the bulk of ideas that Hollywood has and whatever is popular is chosen (it happens to be zombies/the undead these days). The Hollywood executive that picks the next thing wins the bet. Japan has been leading in originality, but even they are losing their audience now. Its similarities to “Scream” are looks back at the last original modern horror film. In hindsight, these ideas opened some interesting thoughts of my own.

Maybe the audience isn’t the gods, but the teens themselves. We’re free to pick what’s cool next, but Hollywood is then going to take what we picked and beat it into us until it kills us. And, as the creature-of-the-week is forced upon us, we just get stupider and feed into the bullshit. The gods are originality (the earliest original modern horror monsters were Lovecraft’s old gods). If we stop watching the mass produced horror, don’t follow what Hollywood expects from us, and flush the reused monsters, the creative old gods can be released. Even the "Pinhead” creature, that was once original, seems sad that he is caged and recycled over and over again. There’s the one Hollywood producer that wants to shake things up a bit and use a monster that may not be popular (the amusing mermen in the film), but he ends up getting shot down… and if he pushes an unpopular idea enough, it will wreck his career.

There’s much more subtleties to pick up on, but I honestly will need to see the movie again to see. I was enamored in my first viewing and knew I was seeing something special, but the “what’s the big secret?” prevented me from seeing the bigger picture (another intentional middle finger by the filmmakers that I bought in to?). Whatever the true symbolism, a movie that can spark ideas like this make it an even better film. I originally gave it 4 1/2 stars, but after fertilizing these ideas, it gets 5 stars. So, keep all this in mind and go see it again… and this time bring someone who hasn’t seen it.