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Yogi8
Reviews
The Innkeepers (2011)
just plain bad
don't watch this if you enjoy good horror, or even bad horror.
i was quite excited to see the trailer and to think that this little gem could have slipped by my horror consuming eyes and i was eager to watch the innkeepers.
what an utter disappointment!
the trailer is a proficient edit of the entire movie - just watch that. there is nothing more in the movie except really boring time wasters.
the trailer shows the 2 scary shots in the film and none of the long, laborious, boring filler it takes to get to those 2 seconds of film. (and i am serious about the 2 exciting seconds of the film - perhaps less than 2s.)
innkeepers is not as good as some silly paranormal shows on TV that try to hook you in with scary music and sound effects but really have nothing to show you. the characters are about as fascinating as watching paint dry - i felt for the female lead as she tried to put some 'perk' into the bad material.
even up to the last minutes i was hoping for some twist revealing the cast were all dead or some of the guests were ghosts or anything, anything! to redeem the movie! alas no, the ending was as flat as the rest of the movie.
in fact, i'm bored now just writing about it, but hopefully i will save you some time with this review.
save your time and money and watch anything other than this film tonight.
Rare Exports (2010)
Rare Exports ties for 2nd place on my Christmas film list.
A Christmas Story is still number one but this is a great third placer. Possibly just because it's such a great twist on Santa, but also because I get so tired of the usual heartwarming run-of-the-mill productions.
This one is as wickedly fun as the Grinch and I haven't enjoyed any film - Holiday or not - so much in a long time. Just scary enough that the (older) kids can watch but maybe not the youngsters who still believe in Santa or they may not sleep tight on Christmas Eve.
Kudos to Jalmari Helander who wrote & directed the film. It's great to see a new take on the legend of Santa Clause!
Can't wait to see more from him.
The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
clean on the nose, playful on the eyes with a slight disagreeable aftertaste of camera discharge
loved watching this film. easy flowing, sufficient intrigue, twists, and good script. good fun to watch.
Matt McConaughey is perfect for the part. one might discount him as a piece of fluff, but i've always enjoyed his performances (even with his shirt on;) he's one talented actor and this is a good part for him.
the film has a definite noir feel - the main character is wrapped up in something he didn't want, or foresee - trapped in a plot that he has to see to the end. pretty darn enjoyable.
the reviews that admonish Matt McConaughey and praise Tormei and Bill Macy are simply wrong. the latter are top-notch actors but they have small parts that could have been played by many-a-dozen actor without changing the quality of the film. McConaughey carries it no doubt.
the big and only beef i have with this film is the insane indulgent character-killing, pace-stopping, superfluous camera-work!!! it may not be as bad as some film/TV but it is still offensively present.
industry: can we all just agree that this shake-y frantic cam has got to go! (or at least be used with taste and discretion?)
every time there is an unwarranted jump cut, jerky p.o.v. nervous search of messy office desk and skewed files (that are, i assume, designed to make me as anxious and dumbfounded as the character because, i assume, the director thinks the actor cannot convey those emotions via acting adequately) i become an observer, propelled out of the story and forced to acknowledge that I am watching a film made by slick people who want me to be aware of their amazing filmmaking talents - something they value above the critical timing and telling of the actual story.
please industry, less is more. we just want to enjoy a film, not have to shower after it.
Trust (2010)
downright awful after school special
I can only describe this movie as a bland and tedious waste of time.
The only emotion I felt for the characters was pity for Clive Owen and Katherine Keener for having to go through the motions of making this film. What a waste of time and talent. I have never seen a bad performance from Keener and was attracted to the movie because she and CO were in it. Unfortunately their talents could not cut through the abysmal direction from David Schwimmer and the plodding script.
I haven't seen the young actor that plays the daughter in anything before and it would be unfair to judge her abilities based solely on this film but she comes off as empty, slightly irritating, ranting, one dimensional girl and I could not muster up one iota of sympathy for her. Her swings from victim to complicit partner could have been exploited by a much better script and direction and acting, but as it is the character seems a better fit for an after school special than a feature film. I suspect the filmmakers were looking for an Ellen Page, but they certainly did not get one. Page would have brought layers of complexity to this character but like Keener and Wilson, they would have been lost in this inept piece.
If you are looking for an after school special to alert you to a potential threat, and to be playing in the background while you have a nap I would recommend TRUST, but if you are wanting a sassy Keener role or a bit of savory Clive Owen look elsewhere - you will be disappointed!
David S. - please stick to acting.
Bread Crumbs (2011)
Really boring, badly made film
I normally love cheesy horror but this film was just plain bad, and not bad enough to make good watching. The characters are bland, undeveloped, and the acting is terrible. The plot is slightly different than other horrors, but not interesting enough to make it worth watching for that reason alone, and the filmmakers don't provide any other reason. The pace plods on like a metronome ticking and there are no memorable moments, shocks or build ups that are so integral to the genre.
Skip this one if you're a fan of good horror, with or without cheese, because this one is just plain bland.