tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70926738878518848662010-04-09T14:47:26.707-07:00Illustrated Journal of Cinematic DiversionsJulianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172548520981404961noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092673887851884866.post-71450453212100150222010-04-09T08:31:00.000-07:002010-04-09T08:37:31.170-07:002010-04-09T08:37:31.170-07:0013 Going on 30.... Not Thrilling<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S79HWJ1QPPI/AAAAAAAAAFU/U4bhsDYC2-0/s1600/13+going+on+30+C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S79HWJ1QPPI/AAAAAAAAAFU/U4bhsDYC2-0/s640/13+going+on+30+C.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
13 Going on 30: 3 out of 10: First of all, I would like to throw my full weight behind any effort to give Jennifer Garner a special Oscar for best performance in a pretty bad movie. She is delightful and plays the character much better than it was written.<br />
<br />
In addition, I would like to absolve any of her co-stars, from any possible negative career ramifications, due to their unfortunate appearances in this film. They also did a fine job and deserve our praise. Last I would like security to please apprehend the writers (Josh Goldsmith & Cathy Yuspa) and director () who I see sneaking out the fire escape.<br />
<br />
Okay first the director is sentenced to community service for making some pretty obvious soundtrack mistakes for 1987. For example he highlights, as the supposed geeky underground song, Burning Down the House is used though it was featured as a jock anthem in the movie Revenge of the Nerds three years earlier. In addition, and even more inexplicable, as MTV fodder he highlights Thriller from 1983. By 1987 Thriller was already in the Halloween ghetto mix.<br />
<br />
I'm afraid the writers on the other hand get life in prison without parole. First question I would ask either of them. Have they ever worked in any office anywhere, let alone a supposed fashion magazine? They get so much wrong with that one small detail I don't even know where to begin.<br />
<br />
Second, though Garner's performance is great, her character is a real mess. She finds older guys “icky” in one scene and is attracted to them in the next, and then she is back to “icky” with hardly an explanation or even an indication that the character herself notices. The she bizarrely handles her cutthroat business environment with more maturity than most thirty year olds let alone thirteen year olds.<br />
<br />
Instead of going into a Being There, Chauncey kind of vibe where Garner's character's inane utterances would be taken as genius; the film actually makes her more proactive than either her shy thirteen year old self would be or her cutthroat thirty year old self is. No working woman cliché is of course ignored and the less said about the sappy and ridiculous ending the better. Poor Miss Garner is all over the map with this film.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.myimghost.com/viewer.php?file=mr5s2rd3yi80eauic3ar.jpg"><img alt="mr5s2rd3yi80eauic3ar.jpg" border="0" src="http://www.myimghost.com/images/mr5s2rd3yi80eauic3ar_thumb.jpg" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.myimghost.com/viewer.php?file=2dlcxc83w356ojc343w4.jpg"><img alt="2dlcxc83w356ojc343w4.jpg" border="0" src="http://www.myimghost.com/images/2dlcxc83w356ojc343w4_thumb.jpg" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.myimghost.com/viewer.php?file=dvor51wbm55dloms4s47.jpg"><img alt="dvor51wbm55dloms4s47.jpg" border="0" src="http://www.myimghost.com/images/dvor51wbm55dloms4s47_thumb.jpg" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.myimghost.com/viewer.php?file=grj64vtomm2um8d7uefd.jpg"><img alt="grj64vtomm2um8d7uefd.jpg" border="0" src="http://www.myimghost.com/images/grj64vtomm2um8d7uefd_thumb.jpg" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.myimghost.com/viewer.php?file=dxgjofb9imkfuakduf6q.jpg"><img alt="dxgjofb9imkfuakduf6q.jpg" border="0" src="http://www.myimghost.com/images/dxgjofb9imkfuakduf6q_thumb.jpg" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7092673887851884866-7145045321210015022?l=juliankennedy23.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172548520981404961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092673887851884866.post-37171545063521656952010-04-09T07:19:00.000-07:002010-04-09T07:19:45.502-07:002010-04-09T07:19:45.502-07:00<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S782n5ztHZI/AAAAAAAAAFM/nbivlklYAe0/s1600/13+Ghosts+A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S782n5ztHZI/AAAAAAAAAFM/nbivlklYAe0/s640/13+Ghosts+A.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
13 Ghosts (Thir13en Ghosts) (2001): 4 out of 10: Fantastic set design and creative character (ghost) make-up effects cannot save this overloud, over edited mess.<br />
<br />
The cast ranges from the where is my paycheck crowd (F. Murray Abraham and Tony Shalhoub), disappointedly clothed (Shannon Elizabeth about 10 years too old to play a virginal teenager and cute Embeth Davidtz), and remarkably irritating (Alec Roberts playing a little boy you wish would just die. Matthew Lillard in his the most irritating role ever and that's saying something). In addition, female rapper Rah Digger channeling every offensive black maid stereotype and inventing a few new ones. <br />
<br />
Come to think of it a black maid is so 1960's anyone who is anyone has a European au pair.<br />
<br />
Yes the good old black maid stereotype, Digger is apparently channeling Beulah from Party at Horror Beach. She exclaims she ain't washing no windows (It's an all glass house) and for you film historians out there she doesn't birth no babies either. <br />
<br />
The rest of the comic relief is at about the same level. With Lillard practically imploding on his performance in a mad dog style that has to be seen to be believed and underutilized Davidtz stuck with the laughable task of playing an environmentalist ghost protector. <br />
<br />
On the plus side the ghosts are very well done however they don't have nearly enough screen time and look a bit like the cast of Hellraiser is moonlighting. The set design with a giant glass house with beautiful Latin writings on the walls is where the movie shines. <br />
<br />
I guess in a haunted house movie the ghosts and house are the real stars. It's simply a shame they had to include the plot and characters. Truth be told it would have been a better movie without them.
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7092673887851884866-3717154506352165695?l=juliankennedy23.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172548520981404961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092673887851884866.post-33235766532809754322010-04-09T07:08:00.000-07:002010-04-09T07:08:23.645-07:002010-04-09T07:08:23.645-07:0012 Days of Terror.... Brokeback Seaman<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S78zjbqZ5zI/AAAAAAAAAFE/Cvno03ElcAw/s1600/12+Days+of+Terror+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S78zjbqZ5zI/AAAAAAAAAFE/Cvno03ElcAw/s640/12+Days+of+Terror+B.jpg" width="464" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
12 Days of Terror: 4 out of 10: This is one strange film. A period piece Jaws taking place in Matawan, NJ in 1916. (They actually do a nice job recreating the early nineteenth century Jersey shore line, except the boats are too modern.) I always have enjoyed a good (or even bad) shark attack movie. I always figured it was because of the fun "munch the swimmer" action. I never really thought about the T and A part of it. You know all those nice girls running around in their string bikinis or even less. Because 1916 female swimwear was apparently designed by the Taliban, there is barely an ankle visible in the whole film. Funny how you don't miss the little things till they are gone.<br />
Taliban,<br />
Creating an even bigger quandary is the surprising over the top homo-erotic overtones throughout the entire film. Seriously not since Jeepers Creepers 2 have I seen more shirtless boys making googly eyes at each other. The two leads Colin Egglesfield and Mark Dexter are supposed to be in a love triangle with Jenna Harrison, but the way these two carry on with each other that poor girl doesn't have a chance no matter who she chooses. It's like Brokeback Beach Bingo.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
That aside this is Jaws by the numbers throwing out the actual historical facts and having our hero along with John Rhys-Davies (who apparently still will appear in any movie offered him) go shark hunting with barrels and a crazy naturalist. This along with the rundown ship having an inboard gasoline motor is needless to say ahistorical. So if you like your Jaws slow paced, with a made for TV Merchant and Ivory feel, and you prefer the first victim be a hunky guy in wet clingy cotton one-piece rather than a naked blonde girl, I have got your movie. I, on the other hand, am going to go watch a Ginger film to help clean my palate.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.myimghost.com/viewer.php?file=rieyvdmn23al7d6bime3.gif"><img alt="rieyvdmn23al7d6bime3.gif" border="0" src="http://www.myimghost.com/images/rieyvdmn23al7d6bime3_thumb.gif" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.myimghost.com/viewer.php?file=qcdn7an20jl7zgmcdp8.jpg"><img alt="qcdn7an20jl7zgmcdp8.jpg" border="0" src="http://www.myimghost.com/images/qcdn7an20jl7zgmcdp8_thumb.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7092673887851884866-3323576653280975432?l=juliankennedy23.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172548520981404961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092673887851884866.post-36062808492533974622010-04-08T21:02:00.000-07:002010-04-08T21:51:06.901-07:002010-04-08T21:51:06.901-07:0010 to Midnight....Does anyone really know what time it is?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S76mZTWcbZI/AAAAAAAAADE/QyQVWsXHPc0/s1600/10+till+Midnight+E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S76mZTWcbZI/AAAAAAAAADE/QyQVWsXHPc0/s400/10+till+Midnight+E.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
10 to Midnight: 8 out of 10: Wow this was a pleasant surprise. Part cop/part vigilante film; it is a Charles Bronson movie after all. Part slasher film; with an effective Gene Davis as the white creepy Ted Bundy style psycho. And part after hours film. Everyone is naked even the killer, though thankfully not Charles Bronson)<br />
<br />
<br />
Even though it is a mishmash of genres 10 to Midnight works surprisingly well. The slasher parts complement the cop action and lets face it attractive people getting naked rarely makes a film worse.<br />
<br />
<br />
Almost a surprise then that Roger Ebert gives the film zero stars. Roger tends to like a decent exploitation film. Roger’s vitriol “Logic isn't the problem with this movie, however. A lack of humanity is.” “This is a scummy little sewer of a movie, a cesspool that lingers” seems out of place for a competent mainstream hard R action film. Maybe the slasher subtext with the cop angle threw him but the film simply isn't that exploitative. It just is what it is.<br />
<br />
<br />
Now it can certainly be argued that a zero star review from Roger is a badge of honor of sorts. Certainly no film given zero stars by Ebert is all bad except Freddy got Fingered and The Life of David Gale. In fact if you want a library of exploitation classics There are admittedly worse places to start than Ebert's zero star reviews.<br />
<br />
<br />
What Roger objected to is the film is sleazy. Guess what it is. Yeah I hate it when sleaze rears its ugly head in my otherwise fine exploitation movie. And this is a true exploitation movie. Naked nurses, naked serial killing and Charles Bronson doing a Mark Furman with a vial of blood. Nothing puts a smile on my face faster.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S76mglbwsfI/AAAAAAAAADM/0K-UqxjzPaM/s1600/10+to+Midnight+F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S76mglbwsfI/AAAAAAAAADM/0K-UqxjzPaM/s400/10+to+Midnight+F.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Bronson is thinking now where is my Phone book<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://naughtybits23.blogspot.com/2010/04/10-to-midnight-8-out-of-10-wow-this-was.html">For the same review with more pictures including uncensored nudes click here</a><br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7092673887851884866-3606280849253397462?l=juliankennedy23.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172548520981404961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092673887851884866.post-52762747649547353792010-04-08T20:33:00.000-07:002010-04-08T20:47:19.414-07:002010-04-08T20:47:19.414-07:009 Souls... David Soul tragically not included. .<br />
.<br />
9 Souls: 3 out of 10: Here is another great film critics will love. The problem is that it is not a very good movie.<br />
<br />
The films premise is simple. Nine convicts escape a prison after the tenth one goes crazy and tells them where the treasure is.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S76dWFtYlhI/AAAAAAAAAB8/r1EkBzOdo48/s1600/9+Souls+A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S76dWFtYlhI/AAAAAAAAAB8/r1EkBzOdo48/s320/9+Souls+A.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S76dY5DJ0QI/AAAAAAAAACE/Jd3VQlwzj0M/s1600/9+Souls+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S76dY5DJ0QI/AAAAAAAAACE/Jd3VQlwzj0M/s320/9+Souls+B.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
The first half has a lot of slapstick some of it very broad while the second half is a character driven descent into fantasy and melancholy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S76dZz3C8DI/AAAAAAAAACM/R3VXL5eo2mA/s1600/9+Souls+C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S76dZz3C8DI/AAAAAAAAACM/R3VXL5eo2mA/s320/9+Souls+C.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><br />
The two halves simply do not work together. Individual scenes do work very well (The guys crashing a friend’s house who has a new Filipino bride is hilarious. While a later scene with the big guy working in the restaurant will tug at the heartstrings.) They simply do not mesh with each other.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In addition the movie is missing entire set-ups. One scene shows the people desperately looking for change under a deserted vending machine to buy a snack. The next scene has the whole crew in drag sitting down in a restaurant. Where did the convicts get the dresses and wigs? (In particular since this crew has both a really big guy and a midget.) How did they get all the clothes and money to buy the meal? Most puzzling is why they are in drag in the first place? These are clearly guys in drag and let’s face it, is there anything more memorable to witnesses than a big guy and a dwarf eating a meal dressed as women?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S76deT7tOWI/AAAAAAAAACc/gDcnU9R83Y8/s1600/9+Souls+E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S76deT7tOWI/AAAAAAAAACc/gDcnU9R83Y8/s320/9+Souls+E.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I mention the big guy and the dwarf because besides the old guy everyone else seems to blend into each other. (In fact, they wear matching white jumpsuits throughout most of the movie) The movie has very little character development in its first half and as a result, the second half really lacks an emotional punch. As we are often trying to figure out who is who in their individual payoff scenes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S76dnAjEBKI/AAAAAAAAACs/LCBWKEThfOU/s1600/9+Souls+F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S76dnAjEBKI/AAAAAAAAACs/LCBWKEThfOU/s320/9+Souls+F.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Speaking of a drag, the second half of 9 Souls has all those wonderful sweeping camera shots, big emotional moments, and great symbolism that can make a great film. It is also excruciatingly slow, which makes for a boring movie.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
<br />
<br />
9 Souls is a big disappointment, the reviews gush about a great film and it's in there somewhere, good luck finding it yourself.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S76db5LjYzI/AAAAAAAAACU/_5rw1egyHjk/s1600/9+Souls+D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S76db5LjYzI/AAAAAAAAACU/_5rw1egyHjk/s320/9+Souls+D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7092673887851884866-5276274764954735379?l=juliankennedy23.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172548520981404961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092673887851884866.post-21527276579476553852010-04-08T12:19:00.000-07:002010-04-08T12:20:47.453-07:002010-04-08T12:20:47.453-07:007th Street... Where have all the homeless gone?7th Street: 5 out of 10: Nostalgia about ones childhood is a dangerous thing. It permeates 7th street where Josh Pais is clearly to close to the subject as he bemoans the loss of the crime-ridden hellhole of his youth and worries about the gentrification of said block. (There are outdoor café's now and people are drinking lattés; oh the horror, the horror)<br />
<br />
At times, it can be a fascinating documentary; and 7th street has a great group of interview subjects. In particular, Reno Thunder, who was his mother’s occasional boyfriend, shines as the interesting street person with a story. The film alas gives his story a short shrift. 7th Street is often a high production home movie. It consists of many interviews with family and friends, many of who often counteract Mr. Pais's thesis about the neighborhood change. Later in the film when Mr. Thunder falls on hard times, the change is so dramatic it is clear that forces, other than the neighborhood cleaning itself up, are at work here.<br />
<br />
I wish we had spent even more time with Mr. Thunder after the change and less on Mr. Pais's childhood In particular the endless footage of his late mother, and how she was at the center of an art revolution. She actually comes across as somewhat a …how does one put this nicely? She is a party girl. Mr. Pais's brother in a hilarious, and all too short clip, reminisces on his reaction of finding Marcel Marceau in his living room one morning. It becomes clear that he does not hold the neighborhood (not to mention mimes) to his heart and seemed glad to escape.<br />
<br />
There is a staged and telling scene at the end where an adult Mr. Pais and his friend play in a fire hydrant while yuppies look on disapprovingly. Mr. Pais strikes me as that kind of self-centered person who is only concerned about how his neighbors reflect on his own accomplishments. Obviously successful, mature people make for bad neighbors in Mr. Pais little world.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S74rvqXX2qI/AAAAAAAAABk/MLr7Y-L8pcU/s1600/7th+street+A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S74rvqXX2qI/AAAAAAAAABk/MLr7Y-L8pcU/s400/7th+street+A.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S74rwZ2AdII/AAAAAAAAABs/A5p_GwNkI0U/s1600/7th+street+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S74rwZ2AdII/AAAAAAAAABs/A5p_GwNkI0U/s400/7th+street+B.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S74rxS9NAGI/AAAAAAAAAB0/efehRFJqxV0/s1600/7th+street+C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S74rxS9NAGI/AAAAAAAAAB0/efehRFJqxV0/s400/7th+street+C.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7092673887851884866-2152727657947655385?l=juliankennedy23.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172548520981404961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092673887851884866.post-60473912758217376632010-04-08T11:10:00.000-07:002010-04-08T11:15:35.309-07:002010-04-08T11:15:35.309-07:003 Deewarein (3 Walls) ... Don't Tear Down This Wall3 Walls (3 Deewarein): 7 out of 10: My first reaction was that Indian prisons are really quite nice. Honestly, I went to a couple of sleep away camps in my youth and suffered more hardships than these prisoners suffer. Sure, the prison has sexual assault, loss of freedom and an occasional death but I am sticking to my analogy.<br />
<br />
<br />
This was my first real Bollywood film. There are no musical numbers, dancing, or romance. (Thank god, it is after all a men’s prison movie.) The film is not your typical Bollywood production. This is straightforward human drama with very good dialogue and a surprisingly adult story.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The film concerns three prisoners who are all scheduled to hang. One is angry and proclaims his innocence, one refuses to accept guilt for his crime and the last feels so much guilt he cannot wait for the noose to be drawn. Into their lives comes a female filmmaker with some baggage of her own.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The movie is about the four characters interactions, as well as how justice is eventually done despite the long odds and the corruption. While you may have some Shawshank Redemption flashbacks during the film, the movie really has its own story and feel. The acting is good across the board and the production values are excellent. This would be a well-made film in any nation.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S74bzCrEB4I/AAAAAAAAABc/HkBp2T5_nFo/s1600/3+Deewarein+D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S74bzCrEB4I/AAAAAAAAABc/HkBp2T5_nFo/s400/3+Deewarein+D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S74bMMpn51I/AAAAAAAAABE/PX3fqazNeBQ/s1600/3+Deewarein+A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S74bMMpn51I/AAAAAAAAABE/PX3fqazNeBQ/s400/3+Deewarein+A.jpg" width="352" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S74bSE6NCmI/AAAAAAAAABM/6LjW16_5kQU/s1600/3+Deewarein+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S74bSE6NCmI/AAAAAAAAABM/6LjW16_5kQU/s320/3+Deewarein+B.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S74bsKeBOTI/AAAAAAAAABU/Z33GTPzTx9M/s1600/3+Deewarein+C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S74bsKeBOTI/AAAAAAAAABU/Z33GTPzTx9M/s400/3+Deewarein+C.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7092673887851884866-6047391275821737663?l=juliankennedy23.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172548520981404961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092673887851884866.post-32329312449820222442010-04-08T08:44:00.000-07:002010-04-08T09:14:51.551-07:002010-04-08T09:14:51.551-07:00Claire of the Moon... The Hook Up GenerationClaire of the Moon: 2 out of 10: This is why women's studies majors shouldn't be allowed to write and direct films. Of course woman's studies does not actually study all woman as woman have opinions and accomplishments as varied as men. Woman's studies courses as pointed out by <a href="http://userpages.umbc.edu/~korenman/wmst/fem_overhaul.html" rel="nofollow">Professors Dapne Patai and Noretta Koertge</a> in ‘Professing Feminism: Cautionary Tales from the Strange World of Women's Studies' are more interested in “the political mission of training feminist cadres to override educational concerns. The strategies of faculty members in these programs have included policing insensitive language, championing research methods deemed congenial to women (such as qualitative over quantitative methods), and conducting classes as if they were therapy sessions.”<br />
<br />
Woman's studies is an exercise in a particular group-think that attacks freedom as a whole and the freedom of woman in particular. Claire of the Moon is full of long anti-woman diatribes basically claiming straight woman are undermining the feminist movement (this is assuming there are any straight feminists left mind you). The movie was directed by a woman, so of course this anti-woman point of view is okay. This is the Precious rule where as long as you are a member of a group you can make a film that drags out every horrible stereotype about said group and will be praised for it. Now had the exact same film been written and directed by a straight white male, people would have burned the theater down.<br />
<br />
This politically correct nonsense really should not effect the enjoyment of a film as one can be pro nuclear power and still enjoy Godzilla as an example. Claire of the Moon however has much bigger problems than its absolutist point of view. <br />
<br />
Claire of the Moon's plot consists of two woman who become roommates at an all woman writer's retreat (one would think a writer's retreat would have individual rooms. This however is never examined.) Our titular protagonist Claire Jabrowski (Trisha Todd) is a drunk woman (Think Sherrybaby) who is sloppy, sleeps with creepy men at the drop of a hat and passes for a writer in the way that Tara Reid is convincing as a brainy anthropologist in Alone in the Dark. Playing Felix to Todd's Oscar is Karen Trumbo who plays a successful lesbian writer who is very butch and a neat freak. They hate each other on sight so it's going to be a long tedious ride before the inevitable hook-up sex.<br />
<br />
Claire of The Moon tells this story in the form of three films mashed together: A haranguing lecture, A romantic novel and a soft core porn film.<br />
<br />
<br />
The haranguing lecture is easily the worst part. The actresses are all amateur and read their overwrought screeds with a talent that varies from awful, to god awful, to good God make it stop I will join your cult and renounce my evil heterosexual ways awful. The romance novel bits consist of endless shots of sunsets and driftwood on various Oregon beaches while a piano tinkers in the background. You may remember how seemingly every movie in the early seventies would stop the story outright and go all soft focus while a folk song played in your ears? Claire of the Moon is kind of like that but without the warbling.<br />
<br />
The soft-core sex is what hopefully attracts both enlightened females and straight males to the movie. (I say hopefully because if you came for the acting or the story you are in for a world of hurt.) Our hook up sex partners (sorry romantic leads) are as stated above Trisha Todd who never made a another movie, teaches drama at Grant High in Portland, looks a little like Laura Dern, she is easily the best actress of the bunch, and whose nudity is the sole reason the film wasn't rated one out of ten. The other main lead Karen Trumbo has found some roles since Claire, she looks a little like Sigourney Weaver if Sigourney had a breast reduction and a little boy’s haircut, and she convincingly plays a butch lesbian.<br />
<br />
The sex scene comes in the last ten minutes of the film and it is decent as these things go (though it certainly not worth watching the rest of the film for). It also has the great advantage however of having no dialogue, and is more enjoyable if you don't know the characters. In other words this is the reason God created the fast forward button.<br />
<br />
For an illustrated version of this review please see my mature review site <a href="http://naughtybits23.blogspot.com/2010/04/claire-of-moon-2-out-of-10-this-is-why.html">Naughty Bits</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7092673887851884866-3232931244982022244?l=juliankennedy23.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172548520981404961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092673887851884866.post-39045774542799854242010-04-08T07:23:00.001-07:002010-04-08T09:22:57.450-07:002010-04-08T09:22:57.450-07:002 Fast 2 Furious.... Soft Core Car Porn2 Fast 2 Furious: 5 out of 10: Okay so it's car porn. 2 Fast 2 Furious however is rather well done car porn. Stunningly brainless, but rather fun in places, 2 Fast 2 Furious gives us a candy colored version of street racing, with a plot that is best not even discussed. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S73o2fOJM_I/AAAAAAAAAAc/gqMdKZe9Mb4/s1600/2+Fast+2+Furious+E.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="360" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457774346234311666" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S73o2fOJM_I/AAAAAAAAAAc/gqMdKZe9Mb4/s640/2+Fast+2+Furious+E.jpg" style="display: block; height: 225px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" width="640" /></a></div>After all you don't watch movies like this for the plot. You watch it for the pretty cars and the pretty people. Eva Mendes leads among the pretty people and various Mitsubishi autos contend for prettiest car.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S73pBqBgJlI/AAAAAAAAAAk/GsnKMjKZrYc/s1600/2+Fast+2+Furious+D.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="427" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457774538112640594" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S73pBqBgJlI/AAAAAAAAAAk/GsnKMjKZrYc/s640/2+Fast+2+Furious+D.jpg" style="display: block; height: 267px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" width="640" /></a></div>Director John Singletary clearly has been practicing when no one was looking. For the director of Boys in the Hood and Rosewood he convinces me he has secretly been directing Burt Reynolds' movies all his life. (This is not a criticism in any way.) A slumming Singletary keeps the pace tight and the actors attractive. Seriously what's next? Scorsese’s Jaws 5 or Spike Lee's Ella Enchanted 2: Ella in Da Hood?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S73pOTMrSHI/AAAAAAAAAAs/xhMXemby2ds/s1600/2+Fast+2+Furious+C.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="427" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457774755323791474" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S73pOTMrSHI/AAAAAAAAAAs/xhMXemby2ds/s640/2+Fast+2+Furious+C.jpg" style="display: block; height: 267px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" width="640" /></a></div>However all is not peachy keen in the land of tight turns and even tighter abs. As an example I haven't seen African American hairstyles this bad since Cotton came to Harlem. The Tyrese character comes across as a complete idiot almost sinking the movie once or twice. (Now I know Tyrese can act so it isn’t necessarily his fault.) Another quick note I have driven cars with nitrous oxide and they give you a burst of acceleration not warp speed effects from Star Trek. (And let’s face it the Mitsubishi cars are pretty but not terribly fast.) These cars are dragging down a strip after a minute and the speedometer finally moves from 90 to 120. Not exactly Furious in my book. The movie, to its credit, acknowledges the Mitsubishi’s weakness, when the cars get whooped by some good old American muscle. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S73pjE3AtZI/AAAAAAAAAA0/hWJ-BWpA1Uo/s1600/2+Fast+2+Furious+B.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457775112252077458" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S73pjE3AtZI/AAAAAAAAAA0/hWJ-BWpA1Uo/s400/2+Fast+2+Furious+B.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<br />
I know I promised not to discuss the plot but one thing. If you needed someone to drive a couple of million dollars from Miami to Key West (all of 2 hours on Interstate 95 and Route 1), would you A: hire and old couple in a RV B: Drive it yourself or C: Hire two ex-cons in the flashiest cars you have ever seen and who had to this point been incapable of rounding the block without causing an accident and attracting various state and local agencies. I guess that's why we are not criminal masterminds.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S73pwE5Q92I/AAAAAAAAAA8/Ejg-avhlQcA/s1600/2+Fast+2+Furious+A.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457775335599830882" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qj99wo2W20/S73pwE5Q92I/AAAAAAAAAA8/Ejg-avhlQcA/s640/2+Fast+2+Furious+A.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" width="640" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7092673887851884866-3904577454279985424?l=juliankennedy23.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172548520981404961noreply@blogger.com0