489) Rampart (2011)

489) Rampart (2011) Dir: Oren Moverman Date Released: November 23, 2011 Date Seen: December 2, 2011 Rating: 2/5

Rampart made understand some of the complaints regarding Oren Moverman's direction of The Messenger. Namely: he's a much better screenwriter than he is a director. The natural lighting and hand-held photography in Rampart eventually wore on my lat nerve and really took me out of the film. It just clashed with the film's stylized dialogue, co-written by James Ellroy, too much. It distracted me and at times, really reminded me that Moverman's head is in two spaces at once while directing this film: Rampart is pulp but it's realistic pulp. I found that hard to swallow. Perhaps I'll like it more the second time around (might be reviewing it for next week but dunno just yet).

Bad Idea Podcast #9: Attack of the Puppet People

488) Attack of the Puppet People (1958) Dir: Bert I. Gordon Date Released: April 1958 Date Seen: December 1, 2011 Rating: 1.75/5

490) Attack of the Beast Creatures (1985) Dir: Michael Stanley Date Released: ??? Date Seen: December 3, 2011 Rating: 1.5/5

491) The Eiger Sanction (1975) Dir: Clint Eastwood Date Released: May 21, 1975 Date Seen: December 3, 2011 Rating: 2.25/5

492) Doll Graveyard (2005) Dir: Charles Band Date Released: (DVD): October 11, 2005 Date Seen: December 4, 2011 Rating: 0.75/5

493) Black Devil Doll from Hell (1984) Dir: Chester Novell Turner Date Released (DTV): XX 1984 Date Seen: December 4, 2011 Rating: 4.25/5

Oh yes, there will be creepy puppets. Listen to the ninth Bad Idea Podcast for yourself and find out whyyyyyyy.

487) Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

487) Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) Dir: Tomas Alfredson Date Released: December 9, 2011 Date Seen: December 1, 2011 Rating: 3.75/5

Great in parts but weak in others. See my piece for Capital New York.

RV!: Possession (1981)

RV!: Possession (1981) Dir: Andrzej Zulawski Date Released: October 14, 1983 Date Seen: November 30, 2011 Rating: 4.25/5

Want to get sick? Watch this movie. Or just catch some vicarious viral action from my appreciation for Capital New York.

486) Redline (2009)

486) Redline (2009) Dir: Takeshi Koike Date Released: December 2, 2011 Date Seen: November 28, 2011 Rating: 3/5

Pretty shiny but stupid-wupid, too. See my review Capital New York.

Stop! Clouzot Time.

484) The Murderer Lives at Number 21 (1942) Dir: Henri-Georges Clouzot Date Released: August 16, 1947 Date Seen: November 28, 2011 Rating: 3.5/5

485) Le Corbeau (1943) Dir: Henri-Georges Clouzot Date Released: February 23, 1948 Date Seen: November 28, 2011 Rating: 3.75/5

RV!: The Wages of Fear (1953) Dir: Henri-Georges Clouzot Date Released: February 16, 1955 Date Seen: December 3, 2011 Rating: 4.75/5

494) Diabolique (1955) Dir: Henri-Georges Clouzot Date Released: November 21, 1955 Date Seen: December 4, 2011 Rating: 4.5/5

Hamina hamina hamina....see my piece for the L Magazine.

A Half-Assed Attempt at Year-End Ketchup

481) Raw Faith (2010) Dir: William Peter Wiedensmith Date Released: June 24, 2011 Date Seen: November 27, 2011 Rating: 3.25/5

482) El Sicario, Room 164 (2010) Dir: Gianfranco Rosi December 28, 2011 Date Seen: November 27, 2011 Rating: 3.75/5

483) A Useful Life (2010) Dir: Federico Veiroj Date Released: January 14, 2011 Date Seen: November 27, 2011 Rating: 4.25/5

I forget which "Best of 2011" poll I watched these three films for...I think Slant Magazine. Yeah, that musta been it. In any case:

Raw Faith: A surprisingly stirring documentary portrait about an inspiring priest whose sermons actually are moving and thoughtful. Only really falters when it tries to force the priest's winter-winter love affair  into seeming more important than it probably is (ie: the fulfillment of her long-unfulfilled desire for companionship). Still, mostly interesting, which is more than I thought it would be.

El Sicario, Room 164: Gianfranco Rosi doesn't always have control enough over his interview with El Sicario's veiled hitman subject. But the killer's story is inherently gripping. So it's very easy to just sit back and be led around by an unreliable narrator. 

A Useful Life: This one totally blew me away. Melancholic and angry, this movie is very much about the feelings of powerlessness that surround a marginalized film curator/historian in Uraguay. I feel that the film's concern with the disappearance of film history and film culture is premature. But this movie is sad, moving and very tender. And so short! Really blew me away.

480) Gone with the Wind (1939)

480) Gone with the Wind (1939) Dir: Victor Fleming, George Cukor and Sam Wood Date Released: December 15, 1939 Date Seen: November 26, 2011 Rating: 4.5/5

Oh, so that's what all the hubbub's about, huh? Pretty absorbing throughout, as advertised. The costumes and the cinematography are especially great. And holy shit, Clark Gable! And pretty pretty, sexy pexy Vivien Leigh, guh...

 I still have a very soft spot for Duel in the Sun, mega-producer David O. Selznick's attempt to capture lightning in a bottle twice and recreate Gone with the Wind's success. But Gone with the Wind is pretty much in a league of its own, yas. Don't know why but as I write this, I have a sudden urge to watch Song of the South...anyone got a copy and/or is willing to burn it for me? Huh? Anyone, anyone?

479) Pariah (2011) and RV!: Pariah (2011)

479) Pariah (2011) Dir: Dee Rees Date Released: December 28, 2011 Date Seen: November 25, 2011 Rating: 3.25/5

RV!: Pariah (2011) Dir: Dee Rees Date Released: December 28, 2011 Date Seen: December 26, 2011 Rating: 2.25/5

What a difference a month's perspective makes. See my review for Capital New York.

478) The Myth of the American Sleepover (2010)

478) The Myth of the American Sleepover (2010) Dir: David Robert Mitchell Date Released: July 22, 2011 Date Seen: November 25, 2011 Rating: 3.25/5

Lots of dead air in this sometimes sweet and nostalgic remembrance of high school's more tender moments. Still, the only scene that really moved me was the one with the water slide. Everything else was fine but instantly forgettable. Another example of a film succumbing to the condition it attempts to describe, I suppose. Still, kinda dug it.

476) The Muppets (2011)

476) The Muppets (2011) Dir: James Bobin Date Released: November 23, 2011 Date Seen: November 24, 2011 Rating: 2.75/5

Big ol' meh. See my review for Capital New York.

RV!: Alien (1979) and 477) The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943)

RV!: Alien (1979) Dir: Ridley Scott Date Released: May 25, 1979 Date Seen: November 23, 2011 Rating: 4.5/5

477) The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943) Dir: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger Date Released: May 4, 1945 Date Seen: November 25, 2011 Rating: 4.5/5

This past Thanksgiving, it was: Aliens vs. the Brits! For Capital New York!

475) Level Up (2011)

475) Level Up (2011) Dir: Peter Lauer Date Released (TV): November 23, 2011 Date Seen: November 23, 2011 Rating: 1.75/5

Pretty much what you'd expect and unfortunately nothing more. See my review for the AV Club.

RV!: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and RV!: Jurassic Park (1993)

RV!: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) Dir: Steven Spielberg Date Released: May 23, 1984 Date Seen: November 21, 2011 Rating: 4.25/5

RV!: Jurassic Park (1993) Dir: Steven Spielberg Date Released: June 11, 1993 Date Seen: November 21, 2011 Rating: 3.75/5

Research for the script I wrote for Chapter 2 of "Magic and Light," the video essay series Matt Seitz and Ali Arikan produced on Spielberg's films over at Press Play. Chapter 2 is called, "Blood and Pulp." Enjoyeee.

474) R (2010)

474) R (2010) Dir: Tobias Lindholm and Michael Noer Date Released: June 17, 2011 Date Seen: November 20, 2011 Rating: 3/5

In spite of its clumsy, sub-Oz style prison drama, I was with this flick right up until it became apparent that there wasn't a worthwhile take-away to be had. Great atmosphere but bland main character. Still, not a bad way to start catching up with the films of 2011 I was interested in but had previously missed.

473) Salem Falls (2011)

473) Salem Falls (2011) Dir: Bradley Walsh Date Released (TV): November 19, 2011 Date Seen: November 19, 2011 Rating: 1.5/5

Die, made-for-Tv movie, die, die! See my piece on this Lifetime Event for the AV Club. And then join the chorus: die, die, die!

RV!: Bellflower (2011)

RV!: Bellflower (2011) Dir: Evan Glodell Date Released: August 5, 2011 Date Seen: November 17, 2011 Rating: 4/5

I originally saw this at a marketplace screening at Cannes and never got around to writing about it. But I made time to do so when it came out on DVD/Blu-Ray. So here, at The House Next Door, is my appreciation on a film that apparently rubs people the wrong way, or something.

RV!: Short Circuit (1986)

RV!: Short Circuit (1986) Dir: John Badham Date Released: May 9, 1986 Date Seen: November 17, 2011 Rating: 1.25/5

Ridiculous! I guess it's a good thing I saw this originally when I was too little to care about how BAD it is. But hey, now I appreciate it for that same badness. See my piece about it at the L Magazine.

471) That Day, on the Beach (1983) and 472) Taipei Story (1985)

471) That Day, on the Beach (1983) Dir: Edward Yang Date Released (DTV): June 15, 1998 Date Seen: November 14, 2011 Rating: 4/5

472) Taipei Story (1985) Dir: Edward Yang Not Yet Released Date Seen: November 14, 2011 Rating: 3.75/5

Also watched the vast bulk of A Confucian Confusion (damn screener crapped out in the end!) and rewatched a half or so of Yi Yi for this piece I wrote about Yang for Slant Magazine. Do check it out.

470) J. Edgar (2011)

470) J. Edgar (2011) Dir: Clint Eastwood Date Released: November 11, 2011 Date Seen: November 12, 2011 Rating: 3.75/5

I wish this had caught on with Oscar voters. Because I'd like to see a film that's this challenging and, in some places, rather stiff, get recognized instead of The Artist, which is a very consistent and entertaining but also totally unambitious. The scope of J. Edgar is incredible and, save perhaps for the way the Clive subplot develops, the film is a generally fascinating and thoroughly opinionated take on who Hoover (Leonardo Dicaprio) was.

Psychotic, basically. He was psychotic. 

But what a psychotic! Just as in Hereafter, one of J. Edgar's best scenes is a very kinky moment of abortive romance. The game that Hoover and the girl that would become his secretary play in the Library of Congress is one of my favorite scenes of last year. Of all the recent (live-action) Oscar bait films that I've seen, this is the one I probably want to rewatch the most. 

Also: dig the use of Zipatone in this poster. Though I thought they stopped producing real Zipatone. Is that not true? I could be totally wrong...I always leave room for that eventuality.

469) Immortals (2011) and 471) Happy Feet Two (2011)

469) Immortals (2011) Dir: Tarsem Singh Date Released: November 11, 2011 Date Seen: November 10, 2011 Rating: 4/5

471) Happy Feet Two (2011) Dir: George Miller Date Released: November 18, 2011 Date Seen: November 13, 2011 Rating: 2.75/5

My last review blast for Nomad Wide Screen. The following weeks were a very bad time for me. But at least the work didn't suffer too much for it, I hope. Check these reviews and one of my two previously-linked-to pieces on The Descendants. And for those of you that paid the measly amount to read Wide Screen: thanks. It's appreciated.

468) Elite Squad: The Enemy Within (2010)

468) Elite Squad: The Enemy Within (2010) Dir: Jose Padilha Date Released: November 11, 2011 Date Seen: November 9, 2011 Rating: 2.5/5

Meh; prefer the messier but more robust, shall we say, first installment. See my piece for Capital New York.

RV!: Highway Patrolman (1991)

RV!: Highway Patrolman (1991) Dir: Alex Cox Date Released: November 18, 1993 Date Seen: November 8, 2011 Rating: 4.25/5

I'm not sure but this could be my last piece (to present) for Fandor. In any case, check it out; it's on the Cox and the ethics of Highway Patrolman. Love the Bresson comparison on this poster, by the way.

467) Pathology (2008)

467) Pathology (2008) Dir: Marc Scholermann Date Released: April 18, 2008 Date Seen: November 8, 2011 Rating: 3/5

I wanted to like this dim bulb thriller a lot more than I did. The acting was pretty abysmal (Milo Ventimiglia is especially bad, making his turn in The Divide look like a Brando-level leap in quality). And while I liked what the filmmakers were striving for, Pathology just isn't crazy enough for my liking. 

Needs more crazy, basically. 

I mean, look, if it can't be imaginative or genuinely thoughtful, crazy will do. This is after all, unofficially, a Neveldine/Taylor joint (though it's not their original script, they are the official screenwriters). So bountiful energy matters, in this case. And Pathology is unfortunately too low-key to be worth much. Still, I appreciate the effort. And liked the scene where the bad guy blows up. And some of the sub-Se7en death scenes. But eh.

466) 13 (2010)

466) 13 (2010) Dir: Gela Babluani Date Released (DVD): November 8, 2011 Date Seen: November 7, 2011 Rating: 3.75/5

Hee hee hee. Oh yes. See my review for Press Play.

465) The Woods (2006)

465) The Woods (2006) Dir: Lucky McKee Date Released (DVD): October 3, 2006 Date Seen: November 6, 2011 Rating: 3.75/5

I was surprised at how much I liked The Woods. By the time I saw it, I'd gotten into the McKee state of mind. So I found The Woods to be the most consistently entertaining and retrained feature I'd seen by him. At the same time, restraint is a double-edged sword when you're dealing with a filmmaker like McKee, whose films make him seem like a punk feminist or something. Don't you want him frothing at the mouth and not strait-jacketed and polite? I guess I'll take the strait jacket.

Still, while The Woods falls apart in the end (only once they have to start delving into the mythology of the school), I was pretty entertained for the most part. Bruce Campbell's over-glorified cameo is a hoot. The girls are pretty good, too. Apart from some troubled production history, I don't see why this has such a bad reputation...and I'm glad I don't care enough to find out. Because I rather like this one.

464) Hercules in New York (1969)

464) Hercules in New York (1969) Dir: Arthur Allan Seidelman Date Released: February 25, 1970 Date Seen: November 5, 2011 Rating: 0.5/5

Uniquely tacky. The kind of film that requires you to be drunk and deeply depressed to enjoy. And lo, this was the day where I had something of an emotional breakdown. So bam! I was in the zone. Many thanks to super-friend Steve Carlson for puzzling over this thing with me. Because whoa, man, was that a flying Hasidic rabbi...oh, wait, no, it's just Zeus hovering outside a passenger airplane window. Yeah, ok, carry on.

463) Night of the Demon (1957)

463) Night of the Demon (1957) Dir: Jacques Tourneur Date Released: November 5, 2011 Date Seen: November 5, 2011 Rating: 3.75/5

Wow, this one's spooky! Wouldn't expect less from Tourneur but yeah, got into this in a big way. Dialogue left something to be desired at times but that's probably because there were so many cooks in this film's kitchen (the fight to keep the director and screenwriter's original ending was famously fierce). Still: impressive. 

Also: this was during the period in Dana Andrews's life when he was struggling with alcoholism. So while he was struggling to get the film's producer to heed Demon's screenwriter and director and let them keep the original ending, he was fighting his own, well, demons. Andrews died from complications caused by his alcoholism. But here, he gives a heckuva performance. 

462) Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)

462) Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988) Dir: Tony Randel Date Released: December 23, 1988 Date Seen: November 5, 2011 Rating: 2/5

Now I've seen Hellraisers 1-5. It's official: this film franchise was NEVER good. Rarely so ridiculous that I could at least groove on its desperate need to shock and gross out. And this is supposed to be one of the good ones! 

461) Jungle Fever (1991)

461) Jungle Fever (1991) Dir: Spike Lee Date Released: June 7, 1991 Date Seen: November 3, 2011 Rating: 4.25/5

So, so good. Was not expecting to like this so much. See my piece for the L Magazine.

460) A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (2011)

460) A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (2011) Dir: Todd Strauss-Schulson Date Released: November 4, 2011 Date Seen: November 2, 2011 Rating: 3.5/5

I mostly enjoyed myself, yuh. See mah, re-view for Nomad Wide Screen.

459) Coriolanus (2011)

459) Coriolanus (2011) Dir: Ralph Fiennes Date Released: December 2, 2011 Date Seen: November 1, 2011 Rating: 2.75/5

I conducted an interview with actor and now director Ralph "Inanimated Fucking Object" Fiennes for Vulture. And while I like what ran, there was a bunch of stuff that Fiennes and I talked about that I think is pretty interesting. The discussion basically circled around what I consider to be problematic about Fiennes's thoughtful but over-cautious approach to adapting Shakespeare's source play for film. Still, he's thinking about his creative decisions and he's a very good interview. So check out my entire interview here. And enjoy, youse mugs.

Apart from directing Coriolanus, you’ve recently played Voldemort in the last two Harry Potter films and played Caius Martius in Coriolanus, too. These are two intensely expressive and demanding roles. You must be exhausted! How have the junkets been going?

The junkets have been fine. People have been asking me great questions about doing Coriolanus. But they’re often questions that either need a very glib answer or something more (laughs) involved. So to try to be clear and articulate, sequentially—your brain gets a bit tired. Because you want to make sense and I hear myself rabbiting on. It’s a skill to be coherent, sometimes even about something you’ve made!

457) Frankenhooker (1990) and 458) Brain Damage (1988)

457) Frankenhooker (1990) Dir: Frank Henenlotter Date Released: June 1, 1990 Date Seen: October 31, 2011 Rating: 4/5

458) Brain Damage (1988) Dir: Frank Henenlotter Date Released: April 15, 1988 Date Seen: October 31, 2011 Rating: 3.75/5

Good Halloween eve festivities (I lost my ticket to go see the Stuart Gordon/Jeff Combs one-man show about Edgar Allan Poe...no worries though as I think it's coming back to NYC this year). Wrote about these films and a lidda bit about Henenlotter's Basket Case, too for Press Play.

456) Eye of the Cat (1969)

456) Eye of the Cat (1969) Dir: David Lowell Rich Date Released: June 18, 1969 Date Seen: October 30, 2011 Rating: 1.75/5

I will give this totally ludicrous film points for being, well, totally ludicrous. And I do love the exterior scenes that really establish the film as a San Francisco film. But yowza, this movie had me in stitches. Cats, everywhere cats! EVIL CATS. My buddy Steve Carlson was trying to convince me that this was knowingly ridiculous. But hey, look, I've seen killer cats played up to the point where it was knowingly ridiculous. I mean, we all remember that episode of the Emma Peel-era Avengers with the killer cats, right? Right?

....

Look, I've seen it and that's all that matters. But this is not that. There are too many moments where I felt they were seriously trying to show me, in close-ups no less, that the face of an angry cat is one of the most frightening things ev-ar. And it doesn't work! 'Cause they're kitty doodoo butts and Rich just didn't work hard enough to get past the cats' inherent kyoot-ness in order to accentuate something even remotely frightening. 

So yeah, totally ridiculous. But hey, there's that one ridiculous (in a De Palma sense of the word) scene where the lady is hurtling down the street in a wheelchair in slow motion after one cat dropkicks her. Yeah, you know the scene I mean. And if you don't, well, you should.