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Cooper75
Reviews
While She Was Out (2008)
A decent little thriller with a fine performance from Basinger.
While returning from a Christmas Eve shopping trip, an abused suburban housewife (Basinger) finds herself in a fight for survival after a disagreement with a group of delinquent youths takes a violent turn.
Suffering the indignity of a straight to DVD release here in the U.K., Susan Montford's directorial debut will perhaps not be given the recognition it deserves. This is a shame, as the standard of the writing, directing and acting is very good indeed, and certainly surpasses the quality of your average straight to DVD flick.
Kim Basinger gives her best performance in some time as the downtrodden wife of an abusive husband (Craig Sheffer). While Sheffer is not really given anything more to do than be a threatening presence, it is in their brief scenes together that Basinger connects - showing painful vulnerability yet hinting at the rage that will eventually boil over in her confrontations with the youths. It's a truly great, understated performance, her transformation from victim to aggressor is seamlessly played.
Lukas Haas I initially thought was miscast, as he (along with the other three youths) just did not seem much of a threat. However, had all four youths been more physically imposing, the later scenes in which Basinger turns the tables against them would not have worked at all. The fact that these are four average men, albeit slightly unhinged, is the key to why the film works as well as it does.
Apart from a few pacing issues during the latter half of the movie and a couple of cheesy lines here and there, what we have here is a great thriller that actually leaves the viewer with something to think about when the film is over. Some may be put off by the slow - burn nature of the opening scenes, or the abrupt ending. Others by the at times brutal violence. I say give it a chance, it's certainly more deserving of your time than Saw V.
First Born (2007)
Solid.
Laura, a New York City based dancer (Shue) falls pregnant and relocates with her husband to an isolated house in the country. After the child is born, a series of mysterious events conspire to test her abilities as a new mother.
I first heard about this movie around 12 months ago when I happened across an article on the Fox news website. The author had caught a screening of First Born by chance and had raved over the movie, comparing it to 'The Others' and tipping the director Isaac Webb as a name to watch. So here we are 12 months down the line and First Born arrives direct to DVD, which usually is not a good sign. Remembering the article and the positive comments I decided to take a look for myself.
First Born was very good indeed, and after the movie ended I was left stunned for several reasons. Stunned at Shue's amazing performance. Stunned at the sheer horror of the ending. And stunned that First Look dumped this out with the WORST (and most misleading) cover art in the history of the medium. I mean, come on, upside down crosses?!! What Isaac Webb has created (and I'm heading into major spoiler territory here) is a very deliberately paced, intense, and upsetting journey into one woman's descent into madness. Or, more specifically, Postpartum Psychosis.
From reading comments here and on other sites, it appears the general consensus is that viewers have been disappointed by the lack of explanation for certain occurrences in the movie, and the fact that we are given a denouement rooted in 'reality' as opposed to a supernatural explanation. Personally, I blame the marketing. This is a film that is hamstrung by it's awful cover art, attracting viewers expecting a pulpy 'Omen' style horror who then find themselves watching a slow - burn character study / psychological thriller.
This is a movie that demands patience from the viewer. Some have criticized it's lack of answers to certain questions raised, but to my eye the answers are all there. This is a story played out entirely through the eyes of it's protagonist, and viewed in that respect it DOES make sense. We are seeing events from the perspective of a very disturbed mind.
It must be said that Shue is very, VERY good in this role. She sold every aspect of Laura's freefall into madness and was believable at every turn. I usually find her acting style too forced, somewhat 'look at me, I'M ACTING!!', but in this she WAS the character, no question.
I find it strange that some people have accused this movie of being basically a piece of crap with no redeeming features. Obviously everybody is entitled to an opinion, and it wouldn't do if we all thought the same, but to my mind this was WAY better than most direct to DVD stuff. There seemed to be real artistry involved here, from the directing, the performances and even the fantastic score by John Frizzell. Also the ending, though certainly predictable, was both brave and horrifying - qualifying as one of the most downbeat I have seen in quite a while. That in itself sets First Born apart from most theatrical movies, never mind DVD premieres.
If you like a well acted, well directed psychological thriller then look no further. Just don't go expecting a supernatural Satan baby horror, or some such. Those upside down crosses have a lot to answer for.
Gwoemul (2006)
Superb
A film that definitely lives up to the hype. If you can make it to one of the few Cinemas that are showing it in the U.K., I urge you to do so.
When a worker at a U.S. Army base in Korea disposes of a large amount of Formaldehyde down the drain, it's bad news for the residents of Seoul. Because in true monster movie style, the pollution causes something in the Han river to mutate and grow very large indeed, and of course, it's very hungry.
Opening with an absolutely breathtaking sequence in which the creature emerges from the Han river and rampages through a fleeing crowd, 'The Host' sets it's stall out early as a movie that will not play by the rules. Simultaneously a monster movie, comedy, and family drama, it is testament to the director that all these elements are pulled together into a satisfying whole. The central storyline following one man and his family's attempts to rescue his daughter who has been 'abducted' by the titular creature, gives us an unusually human angle the likes of which have never been seen in this type of movie. These people are very ordinary, they are flawed and they are frightened and you can't help but root for them as they mount their rescue attempt in the face of impossible odds. They are also very funny, the bickering between the siblings resulting in some big laughs.
As said before, the film does not play by 'the rules'& 'The Host' will surprise even the most jaded movie-goer. Some of the plot developments will definitely catch you off guard, and ***POSSIBLE SPOILER*** you may be shocked at which characters do, and do not, make it to the end credits.
As for the creature, some have said the effects bringing it to life do not compare to the likes seen in big budget Hollywood fare. This, in my opinion, is simply not true. At no point did I question it's existence, and the interaction between it and the characters / objects around it was for the most part seamless. Also it appears that the creature has been designed to display recognisable aquatic characteristics, and, while on the large side, is not in Godzilla like proportions thus adding to it's believability.
Featuring some great performances, effects, several exciting set-pieces & a pounding musical score, teamed with a script that balances humour and horror with great skill, 'The Host' is really something special. It's just a shame that, as with most subtitled films, it will not reach the world-wide audience it so deserves.
Alone in the Dark (2005)
Tara Reids' finest hour.
Got to start off by saying, and this is the God's honest truth, the girl at the video store let us have this for FREE. She said it was so bad she couldn't let us pay for it, even after it was explained that we only wanted to see it to see how bad it was.
So anyway, we watched it.
Okay, I must admit I didn't think it was THAT bad. I've certainly seen worse movies this year, (The Cave anyone?), and it was SOOOOOO much better than House Of The Dead. Captain Kirk indeed. And the much maligned text scroll that opens the movie, well it wasn't that long. And the CGI wasn't that bad. Sure it didn't make ANY sense, had no suspense, had a godawful script and crap characters but does it really deserve all the hate? Because there is a lot of hate.
Methinks Uwe Boll did such a number on House Of The Dead, it's kind of bled over to Alone In The Dark, and will continue to color peoples' perception of him forever. And Ever. Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending him at all. It takes a special kind of director to birth such a pile of ass like H O T D. Ed Wood comes to mind. But was Alone In The Dark really that bad? Although Tara Reid WAS all kinds of wrongness times infinity. Her expression after she smacked Mr Slater in the face was priceless. I think the script called for 'Angry' (Which you'd think would've been one of the first lessons earned at acting school), but what we got was 'Constipated' crossed with 'I forgot to return my Library Book'. Stunning. Also, I must mention her line delivery. It appears that English is not her first language. Either that or she was being fed her lines via a hidden device in her ear. By a six year old.
So this isn't really a review as such, which is appropriate cos' Alone In The Dark isn't really a movie as such. Yes there's noise and lights and 'dramatic' music, but that's all. Oh and a toweringly bad performance from Tara Reid (Bless). But I still didn't think it was THAT bad.
Maybe because it was free.
Leo (2002)
Worth the wait.
Leo is a film made up of two story strands, one detailing the experiences of a newly released prisoner and another tells the tragic tale of a bored 50's housewife whose life takes a downward spiral. Gradually, these two story strands weave together in a predictable fashion, but the film loses none of it's power despite this rather obvious 'twist'.
Leo had been sitting on the shelf for a couple of years untill it's recent release in the U.K. and in my opinion it's difficult to see why. From the stunning cinematography employed, to the universally excellent performances, it's a small winner all round. Obviously not a commercial film but so much rubbish is dumped into cinemas nowadays there is a lot of room for films like this.
As stated above, the film has two plotlines running together. The way in which the director takes us to one, and then the other is done cleverly and in no way detracts from the flow of the picture. The cinematography is a times breathtaking. In the scene in which the character of Steven is released from prison, the barbed wire fences behind him look almost beautiful in the sunlight's reflection. Combined with quick edits of his character running against a clear blue sky, the sequence is quite exhilirating.
The performances in Leo also deserve praise. Joseph Fiennes as Steven is excellent, watch out for the scene in which he confronts Dennis Hoppers character in the back room of a diner.
Elisabeth Shue is as good as in Leaving Las Vegas, if not better. Her descent into alcoholism from straight laced housewife is acted perfectly, her reaction to some devastating news delivered by two policemen is heartbreakingly delivered.
Even if the final revelation is painfully predictable, (though there is a quite unexpected plot point revealed late on) and some of the supporting characters are drawn in very broad strokes, Leo ultimately delivers. It's well directed, well acted, looks gorgeous and is quietly moving in it's own way. And you'll still be thinking about it as you walk away from the theater.
How many films can you say that about these days?
My Little Eye (2002)
Brutal.
5 People agree to spend 6 months living in a spooky, isolated house as part of an online 'Big Brother' style reality show. We join them with just one week to go, at which point strange parcels begin to arrive at the house, long buried secrets are revealed and nerves begin to fray.
All cliche's are present and correct, Identikit cardboard cut-out teens..check. Rambling dilapidated mansion...check. Strange noises coming from the attic...check. So far so ordinary. But what sets this particular movie apart from others of it's ilk is the ingenious way in which we observe the unfolding events. We see everything through the numerous cameras that have been placed throughout the house, they zoom and focus quite clumsily, there are quick cuts between cameras to try and get the best possible angle and sometimes it's so grainy you can't really see anything at all. The night vision shots are the best, bathing everything in an eerie green glow as the characters stumble blindly around in the darkness.
My Little Eye certainly does prove that old ideas can,in the right hands be given a fresh spin, and the Director certainly breathes new life into a tired genre. He also gives us an incredibly nihilistic final 20 minutes, it's safe to say there is definetly no happy ending here.
(Also if you like this check out Kolobos, of which My Little Eye is a superior variation.)
The Exorcist III (1990)
THAT scene.....
I can remember to this day sitting in the Cinema with my two friends at the age of 15,laughing and joking before the film began at the prospect of another so-called scary movie. About 10 Mins in and I knew this was going to be something else altogether..
This is the only film (apart from 'Ring')that truly scared me. Well terrified me actually, and like so many other comments here have mentioned, it was the scene at the nurses station that really stuck in my mind. It absolutely scared the crap out of me but was one of the most exhilarating few minutes of cinema i've ever seen.
Give this one a chance.The performances are great, the story reveals new layers on multiple viewings and the sense of foreboding inherent in the visuals and emphasised by the chilling score, is second to none. The original Excorcist movie is recognised as one of the few truly great horror movies as everyone knows, but for me this one tops it.
Jeepers Creepers (2001)
J33PER5 CR33PER5!
Having read most of the comments here beforehand, I sat down to watch Jeepers Creepers expecting a terrifying first 30 Mins slowly turn into a crappy sub-standard horror flick.
Well maybe it was a result of having seriously lowered expectations but I absolutely loved this movie.First of all the performances by the two lead actors were outstanding, never have I cared so much about a couple of Teens in a horror movie.Furthermore the level of tension was sustained right through to the last (shocking) scene with only a small amount of humour thrown in to let you off the hook. And whilst I acknowledge that the tone of the film does indeed shift from being a nail-biting mystery to more of a straight,conventional type of Horror flick at around the 30 Minute mark, the film does not lose any of it's power to terrify.
Those who criticize Jeepers Creepers for failing to give a satisfying explanation of 'The Creeper' and his motivations are,in my opinion, missing the point. What made it unnerving was the very fact that his background story is only lightly sketched out(admittedly quite clumsily)and let's face it, do we really need to know? It's all about fear of the unknown.
All in all this has got to be one of the best horror movies i've seen, and I've seen a few. Excellent acting, Direction and story combine to make this a great choice for an evening's viewing. Oh and the ending, which has been the subject of much discussion, was pretty shocking but also absolutely perfect.
Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
Best bit? The end credits.
I was really looking forward to seeing this movie as I am a huge fan of Renee Zellweger, but came away really disappointed. Firstly though,credit where it's due.The performance from Ms Zellweger was pretty spot on and her English accent was fine but where were the laughs? Sure there are a couple of amusing moments;Fireman's pole,Tarts and Vicars party but a couple of funny moments do not a good comedy make.
Also the movie seemed to be almost completely populated by stereotypes- the wacky,not as attractive best friends,the camp gay one,the lecherous Uncle,the posh dizzy aunt...the list goes on. Anyway,as I seem to be in the minority with my views I'll end here but just one more word of warning.If you do find yourself watching this movie and you do share the same views as me,just when you think it can't really get any worse, toward the end of the film your ears will be assaulted by Geri bloody Halliwell's horrific cover version of It's Raining Men.Which is reason enough in itself not to see this movie.
Oh, and in England it never snows at Christmas.
Ringu (1998)
Unnerving...
If you're a true horror fan and haven't already seen this movie then I strongly suggest you get hold of a copy now.Like other users I won't waste time filling you in on the story but just want to say turn the lights off,crank up the volume and, erm,disconnect your phone!.Trust me you do not want to recieve a phone call during this movie.Or after for that matter.
Oh,and check this out.This is actually what it says in small print on the back of the movie box;'DISTRIBUTORS WARNING: TARTAN VIDEO LTD WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY INJURIES OR FATALITIES THAT MAY OCCUR DURING OR AFTER THE VIEWING OF THIS VIDEOCASSETTE.' Sure it's just a clever way of building atmosphere for when you watch it,but ultimately it does give you one more reason to look over your shoulder as you're climbing the stairs to bed.
As if the final 10 Minutes weren't enough.....