Insidious

I know I'll get butchered by some for the title, but the tension in this film was stupendous. At all the right times, in all the right places, the scares and thrills are there. Sure, it's a hodge-podge of Poltergeist, Exorcist and Paranormal Activity, but each aspect of those movies is accentuated to produce a genuinely frightening combination.

After a family of five moves into a new home, it takes little time to realize something is wrong. Items move, doors close. When one child falls into a coma and the mother hears what sounds like Vin Diesel growling in some Gaelic dialect over the baby monitor, it's time to move despite the fact the father is a disbeliever. Unlike the Jefferson's, moving on up doesn't work for this family and the frights return like ghost herpes.

While creative license was necessary to move the story along, the astral plane concept is not completely embraceable. Nonetheless, the rest of the movie hits on all cylinders. Visually there isn't a lot, but what is presented works very effectively. All the scare techniques (e.g. eerie noises, well chosen music accompaniment, quiet-to-loud shocks, quick reveal scares) are expertly crafted and executed. Epic timing on more than one occasion. None of the actors really stand out, and a few (a Ghostbusters reproduction) were somewhat silly, but Lin Shaye must be recognized for her interesting performance as a medium who ties the entire movie into a sleep-stealing knot.

Impressed from beginning to end by this movie, I applaud the return to old fashioned, suspenseful horror that doesn't need a teenage sacrifice in a brothel, hostel, or abandoned building. Not saying I dislike those, but Insidious is good for the change of pace. The second half of the film is much slower than the terrifying first half, but if you've recently asked yourself, "Whatever happened to the slow build up?" Watch this in a dark theater with a great speaker system. Guaranteed thrills.

The Company You Keep

The criticism of this movie was originally started by the press's talking heads, with them only knowing the movie's topic and Redford's politics.

I am conservative who is organically suspicious of the press and it's motives, regardless of the side they come down upon. So I went to see it anyways, mostly because I wanted to see a particular actor's performance. I AM CONVINCED THE PRESS MISSED THE ENTIRE POINT OF THE MOVIE.

This film does not glorify terrorism. Quite the opposite. It shows how a person can cross the line from being an "activist" to being a felon/terrorist. It is sort of a retrospective of an activist's two lives - one he had to abandon once he crossed the line, the other, the second life he had to build afterward. In both cases, the focus of this movie is more on the private price he paid and simultaneously pushed off onto loved ones to avoid paying the public price for his acts.

The reader must understand that Sloan was guilty of some felony activities, but NOT the murder of the bank guard. His crimes, if caught, were worth some jail time, but not a life sentence for murder.

If a member of my family was considering becoming an activist, I would want them to see this movie. This would be their chance to understand that the actions they initiate could go awry and/or be twisted by others and spin out of control. This could easily leave them with consequences they would be forced to live with for the rest of their life, and JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, exact a greater price upon all their loved ones. People should carefully weigh the costs against the benefits.

I recommend this movie to all conservatives and all liberals and everyone in between who wanted their loved ones to make informed choices.

This is a VERY tightly packed movie, hardly a word that isn't important to the development of the plot. I like Redford movies because he tries to make his point the "old fashioned" way, without car chases, gun battles and funny sidekicks. This movie does need a bit more tension and rage at one particular point, but that's about the biggest flaw I saw.

Just so you know, Redford, 76, is playing the role of a mid-60 year-old, and, without giving away a major plot point, there are good reasons why he has a young daughter. Now, it is up to you to see this film and figure out why. (SPOILER ALERT! I've enclosed MY thoughts on why in comment #6 at the bottom of this review.)

By the way, this movie has a lot of great talent in it, and they each do very well for themselves and the presentation of the movie's theme. There are 14 class act performers, plus one. This would be a hard cast to play against, but "plus one" did a super job in her first movie role. (See comment #1, if you are curious.)

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

CBS messing with time slot running this season's shows late. That messes with DVR recording. Now all this season's shows are recorded short the last 15 minutes! Would rather pay Amazon than CBS-TV (who wants to bill 5.99 per month to watch shows!)

CBS...listen up! Why would I pay YOU on top of Cable/Satellite? Get real! Advertisers pay you. Viewers shouldn't!

The Mentalist Seasons 7

Only the first 2 episodes have aired so far of what will be just a half-season to wind up the series. This is promising to be an extremely memorable finale for a series that is head and shoulders above any I've ever seen. I have all the DVDs and look forward to the final set for Season 7. This is one show that is rewarding every time I watch episode again and sometimes again and again. More nuances become apparent that increase the depth of the story line. The acting is outstanding, the story telling is creative.

There is humor, drama, suspense and tragedy played out on a crime of the week platform. It's a work of theatrical art. The most remarkable thing about the series is the character development of Patrick Jane, played by Simon Baker. This is as award worthy as anything gets.

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters

After getting a taste for blood as children, Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and Gretel (Gemma Arterton) have become the ultimate vigilantes, hell-bent on retribution. Now, unbeknownst to them, Hansel and Gretel have become the hunted, and must face an evil far greater than witches...their past.

Sophie's Choice

I watched "Sophie's Choice" not knowing at all what to expect. I assumed that the "choice" would be something commonplace in a film, like a choice between two lovers. When I found out what the choice really was, it made a very deep impression on me. It was the most gut-wrenching thing I have ever seen, in the movies or in real life. The scene is unforgettable. The emotionless evil of the SS officer offering Sophie the choice is highly disturbing. The man is extremely cold, almost Satanic in the evil he radiates. The strange thing is that he is not physically ugly-at first I thought the part was played by Alec Baldwin.

This is easily the best portrayal of the Holocaust I've seen on film, much better than "Schindler's List." The evil of Auschwitz is so all-encompassing, so icy and devoid of emotion, that I can't help but think that it is the closest thing to Hell ever recreated on Earth.

Also, Meryl Streep's performance is by far the best I have ever seen in any film. Her virtuosity and technical brilliance are unmatched. One reviewer compared it to DeNiro in "Raging Bull," and I have to agree. The supporting performances are excellent, especially Peter McNicol who is indispensable as the narrator. The one flaw I found with the film (and probably with the novel as well, although I have not read it) is Stingo's (the author's) highly self-conscious fixation on sex. I thought that it was irrelevant to the story. To anyone who feels that the film is too slow-paced, I say keep watching action movies until you grow up and leave superb films like these to people emotionaly mature enough to appreciate them.

On the whole, I would rate this among the best films I've ever seen. Definitely don't miss it!

Major Crimes Seasons 3

I really try to like this show, but it seems that the writing staff must not have worked on The Closer, and maybe hasn't watched enough of The Closer to really know the characters. The magic that Flynn and Provenza had in The Closer is gone. Their charm was in the trouble they always got into and how they irritated each other but only in the way two long-time best friends can. Now Provenza is more of a reluctant leader and Flynn is all mushy over Sharon Rader.

Doesn't work in my opinion. Tao and Julio don't get to shine like they did in The Closer, either. There is WAY to much valuable screen time given to Rusty's story. It's not at all believable that he spends so much time wandering around the Murder Room. Let's get the Stroh trial over with and cut Rusty loose, or send him to college, PLEASE. He whines in every episode. And DDA Rios is unlikable and uninteresting. She's squeamish at the sight of blood and can't handle the smell of decaying bodies, so why does she have to be at the crime scenes? They are trying too hard to make a regular character out of her and she just isn't adding anything. DDA Hobbs is much better.

Sikes has potential, but she needs more to work with. The cases lack the intrigue they had in The Closer. The Closer story lines gripped me and put me through real emotions, wondering what was going to happen. The show had great drama with well-written and well-acted comedy in all the right places to alleviate the seriousness of the cases. Go back to the old formula that worked with Flynn and Provenza, give Tao and Julio more to work with, make Buzz more interesting, write more scenes for the medical examiner--he's pretty funny, finish Rusty's storyline and send him to college, and I'll keep watching.

The Interview

Excellent movie! It met most and exceeded many expectations. I'm sure some people will think it's vulgar and crude (because it it). Yes, some of the humor is a little less than mature, but if you've seen Pineapple Express or This is the End, you should not be surprised. I think they accomplished exactly what they wanted to do. More importantly, the way in which Rogan and Franco actually "take [Kim] out," is well done on a number of levels and while I won't speak to the hype or whether or not the film lived up to said hype, I will say that this is possibly the best Rogan/Franco buddy comedy yet. I haven't disliked any Seth Rogan film (except for Knocked Up, which was a nightmare scenario for me when it came out and I haven't been able to bring myself to watch Guilt Trip), so this review is not completely impartial, his comedic ability to handle life's most uncomfortable situations is painfully hilarious. This is also some of Franco's best work, he does meta-theatrical situations well (I also enjoyed Oz the Great and Powerful, again not completely impartial), but the final scene with Park crying, singing Firework is perfect.

Some of the critical response looks disappointing, but I believe they did what they set out to do. I'll pay again to see it in the theater too. Looking forward to the the Blu Ray and deleted scenes.

Jack Reacher

I'm the first to admit that going into this film I had low expectations. Cruise is a decent enough actor and well suited for the genre, but the plot seemed derivative and overly pedantic, just another flick I'd catch because...well...I'm a dude and the preview mentioned something about guns and explosives.

Surprisingly, the plot played out steadily, not needing to be propped up by a few well placed action sequences. While, if you've seen any movie ever in your life, you'll be able to predict what's going to ultimately happen, "Reacher" maintains a consistent level of intrigue and charm through the whole length of the film. I appreciated that the action scenes actually added to the plot. I was expecting some random "Look how awesome I am at fighting" scenes tossed into the mix, and was happy to see that while those scenes are absolutely in there, they also help move the plot forward. Good thinking, action-movie-maker-people (pretty sure that's the correct technical job title, but don't quote me on that...)

In sum, without telling you a thing about the film (because I hate summaries that are just spoilers in disguise), you can feel good about spending your money on this one. You'll enjoy it. Even if you hate Tom Cruise. That's right, I'm talking to you, Katie...

Tromeo & Juliet (Region Free) [PAL] [Blu-ray]

The first film written by James Gunn, who went on to write 2004's Dawn of the Dead and write/direct Slither, Tromeo & Juliet moves Shakespeare's classic tale of star-crossed love from 16th Century Verona to a crumbling modern day New York, where young Tromeo (Will Keenan) and Juliet (Jane Jenson) must defy their families endless feud in order to be together for eternity.

Featuring all the body piercing, kinky sex, car crashes and dismemberment that Shakespeare always wanted but never had, Tromeo & Juilet is the most subversive and original literary adaptation ever put on screen!

Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky [Blu-ray]

You MUST buy/rent/steal the video "the story of Ricki Oh"....An instant classic and quite possibly the most violent, gory, and graphic film ever made. Multiple gorings, eye gougings,stabbings, impalings, and dismemberments. Dudes get buried alive, encased in concrete, flayed, their tongues cut out, crushed under presses, and run through meat grinders. Guys are chopped in the face with swords, boards studded with nails, and have wood planes run up their face. Did I menntion that the prison warden in this movie shoots prisoners with exploding bullets that make them expand like balloons beforee they burst like road kill underneath a car tire?

The hero ricki punched through dudes, decapitates his enemies with oopen fist blows, crushes guys heads like he's popping a zit. There's even a scene where a guy, who is about to die in a fight with Ricki, grabs a knife and stabs himself in the stomach...then he pulls out his intestines and tries to strangle ricki with them....

With memorable lines like:
"They gave me 30 pounds of rice to cut you up, turn you into mince meat, and put you in a pie..."
"Oscar has shown his tatoos...now he must kill!!!!"
"Ricki, I am your uncle. I have known you since your were 7 or 8 years old, when you possessed suoperjuman strength. Do you still possess your super human strength?"
"Chi Cong feeds on strength!!!!!"
"I have hit you in your death spot..soon you will die"
"His style of Kung Fu is unorthodox...I do not think I can defeat him..."

Stephen King's a Good Marriage

Great film! True to form, Stephen King is a great story teller. The tale unfolds slowly. This film is not for those who want car crashes and machine gun killings. When the wife discovers the secrets, her reaction suggests fear, but of what? And the seeming flashbacks - are they flashbacks or dreams, or both? A story of people living lies. Image is everything.

In the end it all comes together, as a good story does. The quality of acting is fantastic as well. I'm always amazed by Joan Allen. I did not even recognize her. The roles she plays are so varied. Amazing! And Anthony LaPaglia was great as well, (spoiler!?) as a man losing ground to "someone else". I have seen him before, but I did not realize that he is Australian, his American accent is so good. These two actors also are not actors playing a role, but become the characters themselves - real quality, not just Hollywood glitz.

I watched it again just to enjoy the quality of acting and the unfolding of the story. Again, the brilliance of Stephen King, a story taking place in Maine, that unfolds quietly with insight. I would like to know, however, who sings "A Tombstone Every Mile" in this film. Great song.

Red Vs Blue: Season 12 [Blu-ray]

If you found your way here on accident and don't really know what you're looking at - go to roosterteeth 's website and watch some of RvB (every episode is available to stream there), each season has a bunch of episodes and their seasons are grouped into series. Seasons 1-5 are a series, then 6-8, then 9-10, season 11 and 12 are part of another series which will conclude with season 13.

You can start each series without needing a whole lot of backstory - but the backstory is awesome, so while the beginning of any particular season might be a logical start-off point to check them out, I still recommend starting from the beginning. Then come back here and buy their DVDs to support the artists so they keep making more!

Banshee: Season 2 SD

From executive producer Alan Ball, creator of True Blood, this Cinemax action drama charts the continuing twists and turns that follow Lucas Hood (Antony Starr), an ex-convict who improbably assumes the identity of sheriff of the rural, Amish-area town of Banshee, where his former lover and partner-in-crime (Ivana Milicevic) lives under her own alias, Carrie Hopewell. Season 2 takes up immediately after the S1 finale, when Carrie’s father, gang kingpin Rabbit (Ben Cross) was left for dead after a climactic warehouse shootout. Carrie, now exposed and estranged from her husband and kids, is torn between her devotion to her family and her connection to Lucas, who had given himself up in order to save her years earlier.

The new season finds Lucas, having escaped detection after being interrogated by FBI agent Jim Racine (guest star Zeljko Ivanek), with his hands fuller than ever as sheriff, dealing with (among other things) the murder of a Kinaho tribe girl, the continuing escalation of tensions between Amish overlord Kai Proctor (Ulrich Thomsen) and Kinaho tribe leader Alex Longshadow (Anthony Ruivivar), and the unwelcome appearance of a surprise visitor: the reprobate son of the real (dead) Lucas Hood.

Shameless: Season 4

 

Shameless is one of my favorite TV shows. It has consistently stayed well written and acted and directed through four seasons now. Season 4 might be the strongest and best season yet. How Emmy Rossum, William H. Macy, and Jeremy Allen White have been overlooked for the last three years for Emmy nominations is beyond me. While William H. Macy (Frank Gallagher) is a bit underused this season, Emmy Rossum (Fiona Gallagher) and Jeremy Allen White (Phillip "Lip" Gallagher) give their best performances yet.

Season 4 is just like the previous three seasons, lots of laughs, lots of raw emotion, nudity, drug and alcohol use, and shocking moments. After every season ends, my girlfriend and I miss spending time with the Gallagher family. It seems like the season flies by, even though waiting week to week for a new episode seems to last forever. I can't wait to rewatch season 4 without any week long breaks. If you haven't seen season 4 yet, you're in for a big shocker at the end of the season finale. So when the credits start to roll on the final episode of season 4, don't turn it off. There is a big shocker during the end credits. If you haven't watched Shameless yet, you need to. FULLY APPROVED.

Elsa & Fred

ELSA AND FRED is the story of two people who, at the end of the road, discover that it's never too late to love. After losing his wife, Fred (Christopher Plumer) feels disturbed, confused and alone, so his daughter (Marcia Gay Harden) helps move him into a small apartment where he meets Elsa (Shirley Maclaine). From that moment on, everything changes. Elsa bursts into Fred s life like a whirlwind, determined to teach him that the time he has left to live be it more or less is precious and that he should enjoy it as he pleases.

Tusk [Blu-ray]

I honestly don't know how many stars to give this weird, creepy little movie. I love Kevin Smith, but this is Kevin Smith doing his version of the Human Centipede. (Though I guess if I think of it in those terms, it was much better than Human Centipede if only because in this alternative reality of greatly suspended disbelief, the idea of turning someone into a walrus is much more believable than sewing people together rear-to-mouth. I mean, come on, the centipede's whole digestive and excretory system is completely unworkable, while turning someone into a walrus is .... oh, never mind.)

The soon-to-be walrusized Justin Long is really (and I assume deliberately) unlikeable in this movie, which I find complicated my loyalties as a viewer. While I was horrified at the idea of anyone being mutilated like this, having it happen to someone as unfeeling, crass and utterly lacking in humanity left me wondering whose side I was actually on. Even his girlfriend's ruminations on "what happened to the guy I fell in love with" (i.e. the one who cried at Winnie the Pooh) only made me wonder, "What are you still doing with this jerk? Are you sure you want to go find him?"

Yet I will confess, I was impressed by Long's ability to recognize literary quotes from Hemingway to The Rime of the Ancient Mariner; he may be a jerk, but he's a well-read jerk, and that means a lot to a writer and former English major like me.

What is enjoyable (though not as much as I would have hoped) is the "KevinSmithism" humor that creeps in. The passport guy at the airport is perhaps the funniest part of the movie. Canadian humor, eh?

Joel Haley Osment, who no longer sees dead people because right after that enormous success he suffered the fate of so many child actors: a growth spurt into puberty that rendered his once too-cuteness into something of rather awkward proportions. Luckily he seems to have grown into his features now. But he has such a tiny part in this movie, it's wasted.

I don't know how many people even know that Johnny Depp is in this movie, even after they've seen the movie. I give Depp credit as an actor for completely disappearing into the character of a Clouseau-like French Canadian detective. I had to Google to see if it actually was him. However, like most of this movie, he'd have been better and funnier with a little less screen time. LIke so many movies and tv shows, you get the feeling this was a good joke that would have made a great half-hour skit, but a really slow two-hour-ish movie.

The Equalizer [Blu-ray]

McCall (Denzel Washington) has put his mysterious past behind him and is dedicated to living a new, quiet life. But when he meets Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can’t stand idly by. Armed with hidden skills that allow him to serve vengeance against anyone who would brutalize the helpless, McCall comes out of his self-imposed retirement and finds his desire for justice reawakened.

If someone has a problem, if the odds are stacked against them, if they have nowhere else to turn, McCall will help. He is The Equalizer.

Sons of Anarchy: Season 7

SOA is one, single work of art. It can't fairly or accurately be judged or critiqued based on an episode or a season. It is one story. I am so tired of reading about the violence of Season 7 and the lack of "emotional resonance". There is a reason that things are so different now. The decisions that have been made by the characters in the past have brought them to this point. There is no "emotional resonance" with Jax because he has shut down all of his emotions due to the pain of losing his wife and he is totally emotionally numb. Obviously, if he lives long enough and the narrative continues long enough, we will get to see him have to deal with his emotions when they come crashing back. No one can box their emotions away indefinitely. We will also get to see him have to deal with the consequences of all the violence that has been caused by his mother's lie and his numbness-fueled rage. The violence is an integral part of the story and anyone who is offended by it shouldn't even own a television. The worldviews and behaviors of the characters have no bearing on the character of Kurt Sutter.

All of you who want to personally attack Mr. Sutter because of the behavior of his characters are of low I.Q. and questionable parentage. The behavior of his characters is based on behavior exhibited by thousands of thousands of real people everyday. Criminal organizations have always been racially segregated. They have always used, dare I say, the "N-word", and other racial epithets when referring to individuals outside of their group. These people are a product of their environment and they are morally bankrupt. The world is full of them. And all of you who want to censor Kurt or any other storyteller because the world's that they create contain people that you don't agree with would love to do the same thing to the world we live in. You are SICK. Violence and racism are alive and well. Born in the hearts of men. This story contains some of those men and it certainly doesn't take anything away from its value or credibility. This show is pure genius.

Regardless of how it ends, nothing can take that away. I will mourn these characters when they have passed from my life.

Game of Thrones: Season 4 (Blu-Ray+Digital Copy)

Game of Thrones is one of HBO’s signature series and a huge runaway hit for the network. This year, a plethora of compelling storylines will play out to their inevitable, and bloody, conclusions. As the season begins, encouraged by the Red Wedding slaughter in the Riverlands that wiped out many of their Stark nemeses, the Lannisters’ hold on the Iron Throne remains intact … but can they survive their own egos as well as new and ongoing threats from the south, north and east? While an unbowed Stannis Baratheon continues to rebuild his army in Dragonstone, a more immediate danger comes from the south, as Oberyn Martell, the Lannister-loathing “Red Viper of Dorne,” arrives at King’s Landing to attend Joffrey’s wedding to Margaery Tyrell, and perhaps act on an ulterior agenda. In the north, a depleted Night’s Watch seems overmatched against the inexorable Wall advances of Mance Rayder’s army of wildlings, which in turn is being trailed by an even more formidable foe: the undead White Walkers.

If that’s not enoug, Daenerys Targaryen, accompanied by her fierce trio of dragons and Unsullied army, is poised to "liberate" Meereen, the largest Slaver City in the east, which could provide her with an imposing force to execute her ultimate plan: to sail to Westeros and reclaim the Iron Throne the Lannisters usurped from her family.

Masterpiece: Downton Abbey Season 5

Downton Abbey remains one of the most anticipated shows on both sides of the Atlantic, and with the UK shows already underway, those of us who are lucky enough to watch them know that the tribulations of the Grantham clan are already in full swing

We left season 4 with Carson and Hughes wandering into the ocean, ankles exposed. It appears that the liberality of the modern age is starting to effect the help! Soon they will be asking to take off weekends. What is a weekend? The Dowager is just as confused about it too. There are too many plot lines to even recap, with various murders, hidden children, old-fashioned forbidden love; Season 5 continues along the same line.

Each of our well-worn characters seem to find themselves in familiar territory: Mary is advancing on and yet infuriating suitors, Edith is hopeless at trying to hide her love-child, Lord Grantham is still waiting to bet the family fortune to show he is anything but an impotent landlord (I hear dirigibles are a great investment), while the help are falling into similar conundrums as in Season 4: Mr. Carson remains in a continual strain of retreating from modernity though steps into the wireless age, albeit mostly unwillingly, Bates continues to quietly menace while we wonder if he really is a cold-blooded killer, while Ms. Pattmore and daisy continue their upward ascent (Daisy might even make head cook someday).

Though it often feels like the ground has been covered before, Season 5 is just right for those Downton fans who have grown fond of the characters and get to follow them in their ascent to the modern age. Though sometimes bordering being too melodramatic, the show is a tried and true companion in the winter months. Sometimes just getting to see Isis wander through the scene and hear the Dowager utter a one-liner is enough for a fine Sunday evening. The new season, so far, does not disappoint; a must for Downton fans.