The Paperboy (2012)

This movie is a mess. It was directed by Lee Daniels, who previously directed Precious. Some of the tricks that worked in that movie, like dream sequences, do NOT work in this film. They make this movie harder to follow and more jittery, and it already has plenty of problems.

The first problem would be the script - it has too many story lines (adapted for the screen by Lee Daniels). The relationship between two brothers, their housekeeper, their womanizing dad, their missing mom. There is a murder mystery, closeted homosexuality, the psychology of a woman who is attracted to prisoners, racism, corrupt sheriffs. Some of these stories needed to go, but instead they're all crammed in.

Perhaps even more problematic is the mood of the film. There are many types of disturbing that can occur in a film. Quentin T pushes buttons and disturbs, but his movies attract while they repel. The subject matter of some films disturbs while being artistic. This film was disturbing in its ugliness and its jarring behavior.

John Cusack plays a repellant, evil criminal. Why Nicole Kidman's character is attracted to him is beyond comprehension and not explained. They have a nauseating and bizarre sex scene in a prison interview room in front of three witnesses - and I don't know why. I don't understand what it added to the film. Most of the people in the film wear clothes, but Zac Efron spends half his screen time in tightie - whities. He's very attractive, but I'm not sure there's a reason for the lack of clothes. The film is jarring. Some of the performances are interesting, but they don't hang together as a whole. I applaud Matthew M for trying new things, and it's too bad this movie is not a better representation of his abilities. Macy Gray as the housekeeper was the high point for me. Nevertheless, I would skip this one.

Near Dark (1987)

This is Kathryn Bigelow's second film, it appears. She also co-wrote this one. A very young Adrian Pasdar (married to Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks for many years) is a cowboy who falls in lust with a beautiful young gal one night in the parking lot of the corner store. He gives her a ride home, and she bites him. He becomes a very reluctant vampire. He doesn't want to kill and would rather return home to his dad and sister. He cannot, though, as he must stay close to Mae, the vampire who bit him.

I  believe this is a cult classic. It is atmospheric, violent, has a strong Mad Max vibe, and great performances. There is a little kid vampire who is really great. He is played by Joshua John Miller, the half brother of Jason Patric. An acting family.

Bishop and Lt. Vasquez from Aliens are in this movie, which always makes me curious. Did they recommend each other for various rules in different movies? Is there a common producer I didn't notice?

The ending of this is a little different - not traditional vampire, and not traditional at all really. (There is more than one person saving the day, including women.)

The Old Dark House (1932)

This was really cool! I read about this movie in a book on horror - it's very early, black and white, plus it is pre-code. The pre-code means the sexual overtones are strong - as are the images of a madman attacking the hero with his teeth.

It is not scary, but it's a lot of fun. A bunch of travelers get stuck at an old mansion on a dark and windy night, and the family in residence is bonkers. The butler, Morgan, is played by Lon Chaney - he's unrecognizable, as usual. Lon Chaney was a master with makeup. I recommend this for movie lovers.

Altered States (1980)

This movie starts out to be really fun! An asshole scientist (played by William Hurt - is anyone better at playing an asshole intellectual?) believes that by entering a hullucinatory state (taking drugs) he can perhaps regress into visions of the creation of man - identify the true self.

Well, instead he reverts into a caveman, running around and slaughtering goats or sheep at the local zoo. He's still an asshole, and doesn't care that he might hurt people during his caveman state. But his wife still loves him, and they overcome in the end.

I hated the end! Stupid stupid stupid American ending. The effects are terrible, but this was 1980. Why are women naked in movies more than men? But the beginning was fun. You could do worse for a rental.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (1985)

God I miss the 80's. But with movies like this around, I can re-visit them at will.

This movie showcases a young Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt, and a very young Shannen Doherty. SJP is new to town and meets wild and crazy Lynne (HH) at private school. The local dance show is auditioning for a new duo, and the gals sneak out and audition. The get grounded, meet new guys, crash a party and overcome the machinations of the local rich bitch.

So basically, there is limited plot and abundant cuteness. It was great.

Saw I through VI

Well, I've been making fun of these for years, so I finally watched them.

Saw (2004) - Watchable, but not scary. Low production quality, terrible makeup (final scenes with Carey Elwes - check the white Kobuki crap going on) and really bad effects. Illogical, but an interesting story. The crimes are very disturbing but not particularly graphic. Carey Elwes is a terrible actor! How was he so fabulous in The Princess Bride - was it an aberration?

Saw II (2005) - Better than the first. Watch the car chases, etc. This is a crack-up. These movies are really made on the cheap! And they are not at all scary - they are sucking people in with the continuing saga of Jigsaw and his manifesto.

Saw III (2006) - Boring and too many long camera shots of feet being twisted off, etc. Hardly watched this one.

Saw IV (2007) - Gross out beginning. Not my thing. Thank GOD for the FF button. I wasn't curious to start with, but now I'm actively bored.

SAW V and VI - I don't care. Cannot bring myself to pop them in.

Amour (2012)

I was not particularly looking forward to watching this one, but it's nominated for awards, so off I went with a couple of friends. Sometimes I love having low expectations!

This is a fantastic work of art - and it is aptly named. Amour is a love story, but it's not about new love; it's about what happens to love when sickness and death arrive. It is not an uplifting story. I never want to see it again, but I'm very glad I've seen it.

Michael Haneke directed Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva as the couple in their 80's, living a privileged life in Paris. She gets sick, and everything ends. George and Anne have had a good life, and the changes they face are dramatic.

My friends felt it dragged in parts, and should have moved more quickly. I feel this slowness was intentional. It puts us better in the shoes of a couple who are living with a situation that is interminable.

Fitzcarraldo (1982)

Werner Herzog is one of my favorite directors, but this is not my fav Herzog film. This is a fantastic film, and an amazing endeavor, but not my fav.

Herzog wrote this epic, a story about Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald (called Fitzcarraldo by the South American natives), who wants to build an opera house in the jungle. He's broke, however, so he borrows money from his girlfriend, Molly, in order to buy a steamboat. And here the story really gets interesting. He and a team take the boat up the Amazon, then attempt to portage it over a mountain. Herzog actually did this in the film, as that's how he rolls. There is a reason for this plan - by carrying the boat over the mountain, the group can avoid a dangerous rapids.

The scenery, the cinematography, the story - all top-notch. Fitzcarraldo is played by Klaus Kinski, and Molly is played by Claudia Cardinale. Both are fantastic. But I will confess I fast-forwarded over a lot of the long scenery shots.

The Last Wave (1977)

This is a solid and unusual film, but not my favorite by director Peter Weir. Richard Chamberlain stars as an attorney, David Burton, who is brought on to defend a group of aboriginal men accused of murder. There are possible tribal overtones to the murder, plus end-of-days type weather events occurring throughout the country. Burton is having strange dreams that appear to be premonitions. In true Weir fashion, the ending does NOT clear things up. Which I like.

Also try Picnic at Hanging Rock and Green Card, two very different and very good films by Weir.

End of Watch (2012)

This is a really solid movie. It follows two young cops, Brian and Mike, played by Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena, as they move through their days in South Central LA. This is an ugly world, but these two seem to be a couple of genuine good guys. They see every day how horrible people are, but they are still happy with their family, their job, their friendship.

They make life a bit harder for a Mexican cartel; they end up on a hit list. Through it all, we get a real sense of how profound the friendship between a couple of cops can be - or has to be?

The horrible violence they see every day is shown primarily through hand held video. This method works for the film, the acting is great, the distractions are few, the criminals are truly frightening. If you like a cop film, this is far better than most.

Trees Lounge (1996)

This movie was written and directed by Steve Buscemi (the "funny looking guy" from Fargo; Nucky from Boardwalk Empire), so I guess it's a vanity project. And I suspect that half the cast (Samuel L.  Jackson, for example) is friend or family. But does it count as a vanity project if the character Buscemi portrays, Tommy, is a total dirtbag?

Tommy is an unemployed, alcoholic mechanic. He's been ditched by his long-time girlfriend and his best friend, who are now together and expecting a baby. They both still like him - Tommy's a likeable guy - but there's no helping Tommy. He sinks lower and lower, ruining every relationship in his life.

That life centers around a bar, Trees Lounge, where we see the regulars. Old men and women who spend all their waking hours in the bar, playing cards and drinking and talking to each other if sober enough. It's a sad sight, and this is a sad movie - but not maudlin. We like Tommy, but we definitely see where he is heading. And so does he - that's what makes it so sad.

As far as the writing and directing go - this movie is well done. The famous case shows itself to advantage, whether in the tiniest role, and the pacing is awesome. There is tension, disappointment, and resignation. It's a good show.