Movies
Review
- Directed by
- Stephen Frears
- Staring
-
Glenn Close
John Malkovich
- Release
- December 21, 1988
This movie is on a short list of ones that I'll watch repeatedly, like a little kid with a Disney video. Set in pre-revolution, 18th Century France, the movie is based on a contemporaneous novel. The story of social intrigue and deceit could just as easily take place at any point in time since the beginning of history to today (Mean Girls, anyone?). I find it endlessly fascinating even though I am not the type to engage in such behavior. (I probably have more in common with Le Chevalier Danceny than I care to admit.)
What truly grabs my attention, though, is the period portrayed. This movie deserves the Oscars it won for Art Direction and Costume Design (in addition to the Screenplay, another well deserved award). The depiction of everyday life of the French nobility is captivating. From the opening scene with the main characters getting ready for their day to the faux good act of the Vicomte de Valmont in saving the peasant from the tax collector, you truly get a sense of the gap between rich and poor of that era. We seem to be heading in that direction today, hopefully we'll arrest it before we have our own 1789.
Review
- Directed & Written by
- Oren Peli
- Release
- October 16, 2009
This low budget thriller with no CGI special effects scared the living crap out of me. Though superficially similar to the Blair Witch Project, the plot was more meaningful and the characters had depth. I was pulled into the story from the beginning and kept there throughout. So much so that I came to despise the boyfriend as a major asshole:
- How can you not live up to the spirit of a promise you made to someone you love? How can you try to weasel your way out semantically?
- When you're partner is crying, pleading for you to do something, no matter how irrational, either do it or get the fuck out.
- Beware the man who gets his honor (read, "Doesn't want anyone to question his manliness") caught up in an issue. It becomes all about him.
See, I'm telling you, Peli put together a masterful story. I'm still seething. Well, when I'm not jumping at noises the house makes. Doesn't help that we're in the middle of a blizzard.
Quick Take
- Directed, Written & Staring
-
Fiona Gordon
Dominique Abel
- Released
- December 7, 2005
This is a fun, quirky film with great absurdist elements in it, not to mention an insightful look at modern day life. I love French movies set in "real" France. We get a peek into every day life and a seaside village that I'd love to live in.
Linky
Brilliant! Funny! And yet, a very sensible approach to survival in a zombie environment.
Submitted by Bill on Sun, 01/24/2010 - 00:00
Linky
As I said, since I loved the book so much, I worried that the movie wouldn't live up to my expectations. Even though this was a box office flop and not loved by the critics, I still enjoyed it very much. The casting was excellent and it remained true to the original story.
Submitted by Bill on Sun, 01/03/2010 - 00:00
Linky
One of the worst movies I've ever seen. John Cusac will have to answer for this in the afterlife. Some amazing special affects, but the story is implausible and the acting horrible.
Submitted by Bill on Wed, 11/25/2009 - 00:00
Linky
I normally don't like movies that a heretical to the zombie canon, but I'll make an exception for this pair of sprinting, not really undead zombie flicks. The opening scene of the second movie scared the crap out of me. I've never had such high adrenaline levels.
Submitted by Bill on Mon, 10/26/2009 - 23:00
Linky
I had low expectations for this movie. I tend not to like those which make fun of the genre, attempting to be campy. These guys avoided most of those pitfalls to make a really movie.
Submitted by Bill on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 23:00
Linky
Stephen King has always been one of my favorite TEotWaWKI authors. After The Stand, this is my favorite of these types of stories that he's written. The movie was pretty good, too, a fairly faithful representation of the book, although with a different ending
Submitted by Bill on Fri, 10/16/2009 - 23:00
Linky
This is truly an amazing movie. The characters are compelling, the story tight and nerve wracking. George Romero's best movie, by far. This movie, along with The Zombie Survival Guide, spawned BIll Drinkmore.
Submitted by Bill on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 23:00
