Blindness

WOW. This is one heavy film. Being a fan of the disaster/post-apocalyptic genre, when I found out that Fernando Meirelles the director of the equally heavy 'City of God' and also recently 'The Constant Gardener', I had to check it out. This film is full of star power coming from the likes of Mark Ruffalo, Julianne Moore, Danny Glover, and Gael García Bernal, and for the most part they do what they can with what they are given. But this is not a character driven film, its storyline is one that is meant to probe the darkest parts of the human condition. There is a Lord of Flies quality to this film about a large group of people (eventually the world) who are suddenly struck with a mysterious case of, well, blindness. The government of course immediately quarantines them to a building with different wards and, other then regular food drops, leaves them to fend for themselves.
Julianne Moore is inexplicably the only person who is not struck with the illness, but pretends to be blind in order to go into quarantine with her husband, Mark Ruffalo. Her performance is the most starling, as she has to secretly bear the burden of those within her ward literally can't care for themselves. When they all eventually realize they are on their own, issues of order (democracy) and morality are relentlessly thrown at the viewer. At times it felt as if it might be more than I could handle. Especially when Gael García Bernal's character comes onto the seen proceeds to take charge of food rationing, in exchange for unreasonable demands. Although the film is well done, my recommendation is to only see this film if you have a strong stomach and a firm moral foundation. Otherwise you may find yourself severely depressed and your faith in mankind shaken. While I respect 'Blindness' for its unflinching look at the dark side of human nature, I cannot think of a time when I would ever want to watch it again. Even a hopeful ending just isn't enough.

***WARNING - SO YOUR NOT AS UNPREPARED AS I WAS - THIS FILM CONTAINS LOTS OF NUDITY/RAPE***

Salute to the Jugger (AKA The Blood of Heroes)

'Salute to the Jugger' is a little known Mad Max clone that came out in 1989. As far as Mad Max clones go, this one is one of the best. The whole dirty, gritty post-apocalyptic world is quite believable, reminding me at times of Terry Gilliam's glimpses of the future in '12 Monkeys'. This film is one part post-apocalyptic survival tale and one part sports underdog story. These two very different kinds of film come together as we follow star Rutger Hauer (Bladerunner) and his ragtag team of juggers, who play a new brutal sport that involves someone called a 'quick' trying to get a skull on a stick, while Gladiators fight all around to harm or protect him (or her). This sport provides the only means of income for this select group of people who travel from town to town to play the local best. The story unfolds as we find out that Rutger's character named Sallow used to be a part of the official jugger league. To become a part of the league you have to have gathered enough wins (skulls) and make an official challenge. Even if you do challenge your chances of getting the leagues attention are slim to none as most challengers are dispatched within minutes, and many loose their lives or the ability to walk in the process. Sallow seems content to travel and make what money he can until his 'quick' gets his legs broken and local asian women joins the team, and she has higher aspirations. The more I write about this film the more I appreciate its simplicity. Create an an awesome post-apocalyptic atmosphere: CHECK, Create an awesome new sport that combines the best of football and American Gladiators:CHECK, Make us root for the underdog:CHECK. Its a shame this film is so hard to find. I'd love to see a widescreen, directors-cut someday. If you can find it, check it out. (PS-I apparently found the version with the pretty great original ending which was not included in the American release of the film)

The Quiet Earth

Recently I had a movie night with some friends, which always turns out to be ridiculously good and bad in a good way. After much deliberation on the theme of the evening we went with one of my favorite genres in film (or books for that matter) post- apocalyptic or apocalyptic in general. I spend a great deal of time putting together a list of little known or seen mad-max clones and went to the local indie video store only to find out that they didn't have any of them. So in order to save the night I had to forgo the B-movie craziness and pick up a few more serious apocalyptic films...this did not turn out well. Among them was, what many consider on the net, a classic of post-apocalyptic media: 'The Quiet Earth'. While this film had great potential, with the last man on earth scenario, numerous New Zealand film awards, and 1985 special effects, my friend put it best when he said "it was just too ok."
If a post-apocalyptic film is going to take itself seriously it NEEDS to be amazingly executed or else it just becomes mediocre and incredibly boring. While I respect what the film was trying to do, and it does make you think about how long it would take you to crack when your left alone in a world that you helped destroy, its just lacked believability. Everything about it is barely passable from the acting to the story-line to the special effects and so on, and in this genre barely passable comes across as worse than laughably bad. Now there is enough potential there that if a talented director wanted to attempt a remake I would be the first one in line, but as-is like 'Waterworld' your just left with would could have been.

Goemon

Ok, I apologize for not posting to the blog for quite a few weeks now as I have been transitioning back into the States, but now that I am settled, I hope to bring you more of the good stuff. I am proud to have my first official post of the new year be some very exciting news. First off, if you have never seen the Japanese movie 'Casshern' go rent it now. It is a visual feast of pure CGI live action anime...it is what movies like 'Sin City' could only hope to look like. Outside of the visuals the storyline falters and it becomes overly long and self-indulgent. So rent it once, soak it in in all its glory and let it leave you wanting more, because it will and I am here to tell you that the more is here now (did that sentence make any sense?) Director Kaz Kiriya is about to unleash his sumptuous next film entitled 'Goemon'. While not based on an existing anime, it is firmly within the same realm. This is a martial arts epic, and it looks to trump 'Casshern' in every way. Here's the trailer:

In Bruges

In Bruges is one of those films that will completely mind-whip your moral fabric, as it throws you into the lives and whacked out perspectives of two hitmen, one of which (played by Colin Farrell) is on the tale end of a job gone horribly wrong (sorry can't tell you how). Their boss, having found out about this atrocity, sends them to quaint Bruges in Belgium to lie low while things get sorted out. While the elder (Brendan Gleeson) and more experienced of the two enjoys the scenery, Colin Farrell's character is going out of his mind with boredom and dealing with flashbacks of the prior incident of which he is responsible. I can't reveal much more of the plot without ruining things, but let me say that things get very complicated as both men have to deal with reconciling very different moral dilemas and their resulting inward and outward battles. Seriously, there are so many crazy bits in this film that I am dying to write about, but you just gotta see for yourself.

The film has fantastic dialogue that is well matched by every actor, including Ralph Fiennes as their temperamental boss. It adeptly mixed priceless dark comedy with a real sense of human drama. Colin Farrell may have never put together a better performance. Mind you this is NOT the feel good film of the year, but you will laugh, you will cry, and yes there is a midget. Here is the trailer which doesn't do the film justice:

(WARNING--this film is at times very violent, and contains sexual situations (no nudity) and drug usage)

OldBoy

There has been much talk recently about the prospect of Will Smith and Steven Spielberg teaming up to do a remake of the Korean classic "OldBoy". While I think no matter who acts and directs this film, there will be die hard "OldBoy" fans out there groaning (including myself), I think there is legitimacy to the fear of this teaming. Personally I think Spielberg could handle this, but with Will Smith involved it will most definitely go from a stylish, yet gritty dark revenge story, to a slick, flashy commercial piece, with Will Smith crackin' the occasional hip joke.

The most recent news is that Will Smith has reportedly said that the film will not be a direct remake of the Korean film, but an interpretation of the manga the Korean film was based on. Apparently the Korean film added a lot of the more unsavory elements that made us squirm through the final third. Personally while the Korean film is still a masterpiece as far as style, acting, pacing, and crawl out of your skin surprise ending, I'm all for doing without the gag inducing reveal (which makes it a hard one to justify repeat viewings). But the reality is that, while this news may calm some angry fans who scoff at someone remaking their beloved film, it still will produce the same result. Seriously Will Smith, I would be delighted if you would prove me wrong. Here's the trailer to the original:

Sicko

Let me start by saying I am not liberal or conservative, and I am just as skeptical as anyone of Michael Moore and his tactics. I'm sure that just like any good documentarian he was able to spin some of the stories that were told in this film to fit his agenda. But I will also say that there are too many facts presented here to ignore, and by the end of his film I felt quite ashamed to be an American. I am the first to admit that in my country, money is definitely King, and power is used to fatten pockets rather than meet the needs of the community. Our healthcare system is so morally bankrupt and it will stay that way as long as conservatives, the working class and the uneducated continue to be manipulated by fear-mongering (Socialism is evil!!!), political heavyweights, who are members of congress one day and paid employees of Healthcare companies the next.

As for the film Moore does a great job making such a despairing subject as watch-able and, dare I say, fun to watch as possible. Taking a bunch of 9/11 rescue workers who had, in America, either been refused health care, or were practically in the poor house because of its costs, to Guantanamo Bay was a stunt that really drove home his point. The soundtrack was also very effective and fitting, hilarious one moment, tear-jerking the next.

One thing that hit me hard was the fact that in Great Britain, where they have free universal healthcare, there are incentives in place where doctors are monetarily rewarded for how well they do their job (all the way down to how many patients they get to stop smoking). In America it is just the opposite, our physicians are rewarded by Healthcare providers for how much money they save them AKA refusing treatment, which often ends in death/murder. Listen everybody, why can we provide socialist services in America like free fire fighting, police, libraries, schools, postal, but not free healthcare? Don't be so close minded that you miss out on this film. Here's the trailer:

The Host

So there are reports on the net that director Gore Verbinski, of Pirates of the Caribbean fame, is set to direct the remake of Korean monster flick "The Host". Well, he'll get the monster action right, thats for sure, but not much else I fear. One of the things that made the Korean blockbuster so good, was the dis functional family coming together to bring back their daughter from the grips of a giant sea creature. Emotional depth has never been Gore's strong suit, so in my opinion this will be another brilliant Hollywood spectacle that nobody cares about. The last thing we need is another "Godzilla" with Matthew B. on our hands. If you haven't seen "The Host" go rent the DVD now, here's the trailer:

***CORRECTION---I've found out recently that Gore Verbinski will only produce the remake, while Fredrik Bond, who has previously done Nike commercials will direct. Well, the previous article still applies only things are slightly more bleak.***

Son of Rambow

I know this movie is out on DVD now, but I just thought I would give it my own personal stamp of approval. If there is anything this movie has an unlimited supply of is heart. It is about a wildly imaginative young boy who lives an extremely sheltered life, as a result of his cultish religious upbringing. Everything changes for him when he meets the misunderstood school bully and is shown a bootleg copy of Rambo. With he new found adrenaline pumping, he and his new friend, embark on a journey to make their own Rambo film, all the while trying to keep it a secret from his family. As word gets around to the coolest kid in school (a french exchange student) it becomes a bigger production and harder to keep under wraps. It is layered film about friendship, love, family and growing up, with enough quirky moments to satisfy any Napoleon Dynamite fan. Here's a trailer:

Chrysalis

I was able to locate a copy of first time French director Julien Leclerq’s sci-fi actioner Chrysalis recently. While its not the best sci-fi film I have ever seen, its one of the best I've seen recently. There is much to love in its deliberate pacing, cold noir atmosphere, and superbly staged action/fight sequences. And why wouldn't the fight scenes please me when they have Alain Figlarz of "Brotherhood of the Wolf" and the Bourne films behind them? I won't say much, but the film is about a hardcore detective David Hoffman who is obsessed with catching Dimitri Nicolov who killed his wife and partner in front of him, and in a parallel storyline, a teenage girl named Manon, who is recovering from being badly injured in a car wreck. I don't think it ruins anything to say that these two character's lives will intertwine, the interesting thing is how. While the plot suffers a little in place of style, it is clear that Julien Leclerq can direct with the best of them and I look forward to his next project, a real terrorist story called "Air France Flight 8969" (also with Alain Figlarz). Check out the trailer: