Due Date... or Remake

The new highly anticipated comedy from 'Hangover' director Todd Phillips is by far, a remake. Has every idea already been thought of? Maybe so, maybe not. Anyways, Due Date, the film from the people with the most original comedy film in years comes the movie everybody saw in 1987...or any time past then. That movie is Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Yes, that John Hughes movie. Downey Jr. is to Martin as Galifianakis is Candy.
Let's describe the plot. One guy, an 'everyman' of sorts must make a journey all the way back home to his family, only, in order to do this, he is going to have to make this journey with an obnoxious, annoying overwieght male. Say hello to Zack/John Galifianakis/Candy. Even so, is this a good thing? I don't know if Planes, Trains, and Automobiles needed a remake but I sure hope this is a good one.
Oh well, if its going to be anyone, best it's Hughes.

Post Viewing: Of course it takes elements of "Planes, Trains..." but don't worry, it's not similar enough to spoil the classic. It actually pays homage to a bunch of road movies. Too bad, its not as good as any. The performances by Downey Jr. and Galifianakis are fine, but its not an enjoyable experience, for them or us. It doesn't feel unique enough to be rewatchable, and there are so many unnecessary sequences (one with Jamie Foxx that seriously led to nothing) that it causing one to be stupified by what you watched. Not hilarious, some funny moments, but not really worth checking out.

- Jeff Bassin

The Disappearance of Alice Creed- Review

Not too shabby, certainly great for a first feature. Director J. Blakeson (previously wrote 'The Descent: Part 2') has created a visually assaultive, intriguing thriller with the use of little to no locations. Shows how important a good cast and editor are. This cast includes the up and coming british actress Gemma Arterton, who you may have noticed as a stand out in Prince of Persia, Quantum of Solace, and the new Clash of the Titans (I certainly did). Although she really isn't anything special here. But maybe that's just because her character is dumbed down to a whiny rich girl who is naked all the time, cries a bunch, then yells a ton, and then screams some more all throughout the entire film. I, in particular, really enjoyed the performances from the two other leads (the only other characters in the film), Eddie Marsan (a great character actor who is less known than he should be) and Martin Compston. Their back and forth dialogue is the only thing that actually helps the film move along really, and move along it does...and move along I will. A bunch of criminals kidnap a rich girl and hold her ransom. But as their crime heads down the road, details are revealed and the situation at hand alters quite a bit. I won't say more than that. Also I liked the cinematography toward the end. Check this out:



Nothing like a burning car to knock some symbolism into your head. Overall, this is a good film and I look forward to seeing whatever Blakeson comes up with next. But there is no need to rush to this one.

- Jeff Bassin

A Few New (and more unknown) Films to Look Out For and Why

Catfish- A "documentary" with some incredible buzz. It's about some guy who starts a relationship with some chick and her family on facebook, and eventually he finds out she lying about herself so he travels to accuse her of this. Reason to watch: Think Dateline the Movie, but way more interesting.

Post Viewing: Awesome. It's not the "Hitchcockian" thriller it suggests, but it is very interesting and very modern. Watch it.



Enter The Void- Gaspar Noé's trippy ambitious film about a dead drug addict who's ghost looks over his sister because of tragedy in their past. Blah, blah, blah, incredible visuals, blah, blah, blah, acid trip. Reason to watch: "What's going on? (Pause) Woah, pretty colors"

Post Viewing: Weird as it seems, maybe even more, but it's striking, original, and very great would be the words to think of before watching it. Take out the 3 hours required to view this (it's only 2 hours and 40 minutes, I think, but you'll need the 20 to recover) though don't watch it with friends (or at least don't talk during it). This is a movie to take on by yourself, but then to discuss like crazy nonstop afterwards.



Monsters- While Gareth Edwards' new sci fi film may seem like the next Cloverfield with a more natural shooting environment (Mexico), it is actually a drama/love story so don't go crazy if it wasn't like you expected it to be. Reason to watch: Edwards is a skilled FX man, who shot this feature for only 7K. It looks great. Plus, the man released it on iTunes rental early, so why not? CON: Well, it's 10 bucks for the rental, so maybe you can wait.

Post Viewing: Not great. I mean, it's mostly cool sites around Mexico, with some talking placed in. There is only like one or so Alien bits, but that's not really my complaint. It's that I just couldn't believe the love story, and I think that should have been the first concern of the film. You would think that a movie focusing on a relationship would be able to paint one you wanted to happen, but really, I just didn't care. I was just wishing for an alien to attack them already. It's not terrible. Just not great. I really would only recommend this to people who want to see how Edwards uses effects to even alter props in the scene, changing a sign saying "Stop" to "Contamination (or something)".



127 Hours- Danny Boyle's Slumdog follow up with James Franco. Well see how it lives up. Reason to watch: Boyle's fast paced kinetic style in a scenario of James Franco trapped under some rocks. Wonder if it will show him amputating his lower right arm with a dull knife in order to escape like the true story it is based on. Interesting.

Post Viewing: Really great editing makes Franco entertaining and keeps the movie fast paced and fun (maybe not the right choice of words). I enjoyed it. Although, since you kind of know what's going to happen, either from movie hype or just plain old knowledge of Aron Ralston's amazing story, you might as well skip to the Arm Cutting Scene that everybody wants to see so bad. But then again, if you want to see how he got to that point (which is pretty interesting), I will certainly be the one to push on that idea.



Miral- Julian Schnabel, director of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, has got a lot to live up to after his 92 metacritic score and world wide acclaim, and he chose to direct a drama about a orphan Palestinian girl during the Arab-Israeli war. Reason to watch: It's apparently going to be in English.

Beginners- Thumbsucker director Mike Mills' first narrative based since the former, and he's got a rockin' cast to boot. Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, and Mélanie Laurent. Also, look at the cute dog.



- Jeff Bassin

More the Book of Kells, Less the Secret of Kells- Review

This oscar nominated animated film from Cartoon Saloon and first time director Tomm Moore is full of tragedy but it's also hopeful, full of color imagery and a stylistic sense of animation. This is a unique film, with an interesting premise and a beautiful surrounding fantastical world. Although the Vikings really get a bad reputation here.

The film begins with Brendan, an Abbot in training under his uncle Abbot Cellach (the fairly noticeable voice of Brendan Gleeson) chasing after a rooster (pretty funny). After having lived in the Abbey fortress of a place called Kells his entire life, he begins to feel contained inside of its walls. And so drops in Aidan of Iona, a illuminating wanderer who carries with him an unfinished but mythical book and a cat Pangur Bán (which is based on a poem that is very evident in the film). Aidan tempts Brendan to leave Kells and enter the forest, despite the fact that there is an evil dark force (actual black figures, pure evil) that is contained in the forest and a slowly approaching army of barbarians. The rest of the movie centers around Brendan's training as Aidan's apprentice and his friendship to a fairy/wolf spirit named Aisling (sounded like Ashley in the theater).

The animation is beautiful, shown through this sequence of war:


and this portrait shot of Brendan meeting with Aisling at one point:


While not greater than Up or Coraline, (Liked it more than Fantastic Mr. Fox, despite it being a Wes Anderson film, and The Princess and the Frog), I loved it all the same. 2010 was a good year for animation and I would recommend this film to most people. There is an interesting 2D animation against some 3D backdrop that provides an interesting look to the film, if that were the only reason to see it. Overall the plot seems like it would have been better if it were extended, as the film manages to skip ahead in time to show an adult Brendan. While the whole film centers on Brendan's innocence, he suddenly becomes an adult and then the film is over. But then again, maybe that was a point the film was trying to reveal. The fact that innocence is fleeting, and it is always over before we want it to. Only, behind the christian ideology, strong imagery, traditional irish music, this concept could be lost.

- Jeff Bassin

Buried with Suspense!

"Buried", a film by Rodrigo Cortés and written by Chris Sparling was released January 23 at the Sundance film festival and has yet to be released to general audiences. While I wasn't able to make it down to Utah for the fest, I was recently able to read the screenplay. First things first, here's the general plot, as long as you haven't seen the trailers.

The story opens in complete darkness with Ryan Reynolds' character Paul Conroy, your hardworking truck driving everyman, buried in a small casket deep under Iraqi ground (OHhHhhh, the that's what the title refers to). Inside of this small prison, Conroy finds only a few things: a pen, lighter, cellphone, and eventually a box provided by his captors. Without revealing to much of the plot, the rest of the film explores Conroy's struggle to escape this sand surrounded death with only a few minutes to breathe. Conveniently enough for the plot's sake, Conroy has one bar of reception for the cell phone so he can use the phone to make outgoing calls. Throughout the journey, Conroy makes calls to his work, family, friends, and even his alzheimer stricken mother, only to find hope in a leader of a search and rescue team, Dan Brenner, played by Robert Paterson (No, not Robert Pattinson, this is not a typo). He also eventually learns this cellphone was provided by his captors, a group of mysterious men that provide the political agenda of this film. While the movie never really addresses all its characters to properly, we are, in every sense of the words, given a very suspense film that plays with the audiences desire for Conroy to survive. Test after test, call after call, Conroy never seems to lose hope, and thus the audience keeps its head held high while he struggles with a lack of oxygen, fire ants, and the demands of the captors, led by the kind of stereotypical Jabir, played by José Luis García Pérez (although I suppose that is the point). At the center of this film is the conflict with mankind's resources and because of this, the film makes one question how many would be able to save you if you were in the same situation. Also there is a claustrophobic feel to Conroy's lack of an ability to move.

Despite the complaints that this film steals the idea from Quentin Tarantino's implementations in movies like Kill Bill vol. 2 and the episode of CSI episode "Grave Danger", this film comes out on its own, much more like that movie "Phone Booth" with Colin Farrell. I was especially surprised and relieved that the entire film was set in the box because this film also then becomes a test of the budget constraints versus the entertainments factor. As an independent film, it does everything it can to make itself as professional as it can, and after reading the script's fast paced style, realism definitely becomes a factor.

"Every minute counts" would have made a good tagline for this movie, especially since it would have been a double entendre for the style this film creates. Conroy is always on the move (figuratively, of course) and is doing his best throughout the movie to survive. Despite some scenes depicting Conroy's frustration and anger towards the box (completely understandable frustration and anger, I mean, he is trapped in a box and slowly suffocating), Sparling's script excites for every moment he can get out of the 80 paged script.

- Jeff Bassin

The Town- The First Impression

This is the new movie from "The Director of Gone Baby Gone". Now I put this in quotes because of the fact that this director perhaps should reveal to the audience his little secret. Right out of watching that trailer, I chuckled. Why? Cause this director is none other than its very own star, Ben Affleck. Now, maybe the trailer is just trying to seem cool with its "From the director of" thing, but part of myself wonders if this is a possible cover up of his name because of the fact that Affleck no longer holds great actor status after movies like Gigli and Reindeer Games (the latter of which I found hilarious, I mean come on, in what other movie are you going to find the protagonist make a trade off of bank robbery plans for a glass of hot chocolate). It seems these days that Mr. Affleck gets no credit for his work. He's not amazing or anything, be he's always great in supporting roles (recently Mike Judge's Extract) and was pretty damn good in some of his earlier movies (Good Will Hunting, Chasing Amy). I think its time for a return. Affleck Redemption. In fact, I think he should go ahead and reunite the Affleck/Damon team, and also get Casey Affleck in on it too. I smell oscar number 2 for that one. But until then, this one looks pretty good. Also, can't say I don't enjoy the fact that Affleck has robbers wear face masks in both Gone Baby Gone and The Town (I think we have found a director trademark.)

Post Viewing: This movie is great and I couldn't be happier!

- Jeff Bassin

Sucker Punch, A Headcase from Zack Snyder

Despite the fact that Snyder was taking a break from his usual color explosion work like 300 and the film adaptation of Watchmen to do Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole, that owl animated movie "from the makers of happy feet", it seems he has been planning something exciting after all. I remember hearing about the film's concept a while back and I couldn't help but shake the feeling that this year's craze was going to be "Alice in Wonderland" type movies, especially since Tim Burton already came out with his poorly done version. Turns out, this year's theme is actually crazy Protagonists (Shutter Island, Inception, The Crazies (what? it counts), Chloe, Youth in Revolt, Greenberg, and all the others. Since the plot of this revolves a girl's imaginative coping strategy used to escape a lobotomy at a mental institution, the theme is obviously present with nice shiny bright blinking lights. Anyways, based on the trailer, I am impressed. It's got everything a guy like myself wants to see in an action flick; ensemble cast of girls (Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, a change of pace from Disney I see, Abbie Cornish, and Emily Browning? has anybody seen anything with her since "A Series of Unfortunate Events", yes the Jim Carrey one) in questionably burlesque uniforms, dragons, samurai, steampunk, and Jon Hamm (the question is why he isn't in more movies?). This is most likely not going to be your date movie as it is clearly quote unquote for "all the young dudes" like the song's title. In the end, although I am afraid this movie may cop out for one of those, she never made it out, she is crazy so you can't trust the entire movie you watched, lobotomy, the end, I still think I may enjoy it for the ride.

Post Viewing: It's sort of what I thought it would be, but because of its lack of exposition, one does not understand the situation they are in so it's just plain old confusing, but the visuals are nice, even if the cgi looks like a video game.

- Jeff Bassin

Where The Wild Things Are- A Review

Plot, Where the Wild Things Are: Not as easily pegged by its title, even if you have read the extremely short children’s novel that is its counterpart. Why? Because this film has expanded the novel’s intention to portray the wild nature of the child with character, the thing the original book never thought to do. The story is about a young child named Max (played by the merely coincidental Max Records, I think not), who chooses to run away from home after he finds his family not spending enough time on him. Yes, the film center on a selfish child, but since that was viewer at one point of their lives, we accept him as our unlikely protagonist. Anyways, he sails to the shore of an island full of wild hairy beasts, but child-like in spirit. The rest of the film is the interaction of the characters, which grows with equal parts love and tragedy. Everything is great about this film; it’s a classic in the making.

WTWTA (I guess that is what I will call it from now on because the title's length hurts my hand) is full of beautiful visuals and natural landscapes, and surprisingly good performances...although they mostly arrive from animatronic suits. Many critics will argue a well made family film is one that, well, not to sound monotonous, but one that the whole family can enjoy. Now when it comes down to it, I didn't come to argue if this is a good film. Cause it is. But like I said, how about those parents and children? I am not so certain critics understand the media that children enjoy. Films like Prince of Persia, Despicable Me, and The Sorcerer's Apprentice, are more targeted to children. Somebody need to find some true middle ground for family cause I would find children hard pressed to enjoy the dramatic sequences of a child crying and biting his mother's boyfriend. Although children can relate to Max's child-like sense of wonder, they will question and ponder whether anything substantial occurs throughout the movie (growing up metaphors always used to fly right over me). Okay, so maybe that was the point, relation for kids, nostalgia for parents. But that's not a family film. Spike Jonze, the genius he is, cheated. In this war between the right ratio of parent-child in family movies, he chose to get critical acclaim over the money of little children. And it's great to witness a director that still has that integrity. But in the end, this isn't going to be the movie your average family rents on a rainy day or weekend, unless every 6 year old child these days are hipsters looking for something in the independent film realm.


Where the Wild Things Are: More enjoyable for an adult

- Jeff Bassin

The Sorcerer's Apprentice- A Review

Okay, let’s get the point across here. Obviously Nic Cage's new movie from the director of the "National Treasure" series (Jon Turteltaub) is not going to compare to most of the more mature films in theaters. But that is not where I find my argument.

Plot, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice: Yes, it may be a little bit obvious, but the film stars the bit too nasally Jay Baruchel as a NYU Physics student who becomes the Apprentice of an ancient Sorcerer named Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage, in a kind of tame performance…well at least by his standards) in order to defeat another Sorcerer named Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina, with great comic timing). There’s your classic love interest (Teresa Palmer), a witty roommate (Omar Benson Miller), an evil Sorceress named Morgana (Alice Krige), yes, that’s her name, and a whole bunch of other stereotypes. But it’s all in good fun, I can tell Disney spent their money’s worth on the SFX, and some of the joke had enough set up to actually make me laugh. I’m sure people would disagree, but I kind of had fun with this movie, at least this time around. Plus, I may be on my own, but I enjoyed the homage to Fantasia. Well, I guess it's not really a homage if the movie was based on the premise of that bit with Yen Sid.

Either way, kudos Bruckheimer, for making another disposable piece of popcorn entertainment to eat and drink up (which I did, had a popcorn and a soda).


The Sorcerer's Apprentice: More enjoyable for a child...or the child in you

- Jeff Bassin

Toy Story 3 Vs. The Princess and the Frog

Now, let's get down to business. I have chosen "Toy Story 3" as my first review because it is a conclusion to a film series, and a start to my reviews. So there you have it, with every end, there is a beginning.

Since this film has opened to an amazingly universal positive acclaim, it would be pointless and boring for me to describe what I like about the film. It was brimming with beautiful sequences, lush color, emotion, and most of all heart. And the 3D was pretty great as well.

Ok, it’s time for plot time, Toy Story 3: Now the movie begins with Andy, the owner of all the toys, getting ready for his drive to college. Only he can’t bring all his toys with him, because he’s an adult now. Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang have been waiting patiently to be played with again, only now they are going to be forced into an attic for the years Andy is away (excluding Woody). Only, due to a odd set of circumstance, they end up being donated to a day care center. It all looks bright and shiny at first, but the dark corruption within the center of this paradise soon begins to show. The rest of the film plays like an interesting crime caper film, much like the work in Soderbergh’s “Oceans” films, as the gang race to get back to Andy.

This adventure is full of laughs and sweet emotional moments, and that’s what I love about Pixar films in comparison to the larger focus on the comedy within Dreamworks pictures. Lee Unkrich directs with and enormous amount of style and creativity. Think the scene with the children rampaging through the day care facility with the fast paced handheld camera style of Paul Greengrass’ “Bourne” films. Also the voice acting was phenomenal. It’s great to see Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and even Joan Cusack, although most of her performances make me cringe from annoyance (think the principal from (School of Rock”). Everybody is back from the old film, except the characters Bo Peep and Wheezy The Penguin, which they cleverly mask with a brilliant line of dialogue (they were sold). The only problem I faced was the knowledge that I would not be hearing the voice of Jim Varney, the voice of Slinky Dog, who had passed away, but instead the voice of newcomer to the series, Blake Clark. In the end, Clark did a great job recovering the voice of the character and I am sure nobody will notice. But there’s a dark side to this film. In one way, I keep getting exactly what I expect from Pixar. They cease to surprise me. When I described that plot to you, it may have felt familiar, maybe a little Toy Story 2 or 1, anyone? In a sense, Pixar can do no wrong with their winning formula, but I am beginning to recognize the cogs behind this Pixar machine. Now for some reason, it bothers me. Why? You ask. Well, this is because of the enormous lack of 2D animated films.

There has got to be something wrong with that. The films that I grew up with as a child are slowly dying and withering away. Children of today will grow up on films like "Cars" and "Madagascar", and although they are not bad films, I feel almost distraught that they may miss all the classics that Disney pushed out for years. Years from now, I will most likely frown as I witness a child unable to recall the fantastical, if not darkly disturbing tale of Pinocchio, or how about if The Lion King was rebooted as a comedic film with a large focus on Timon and Pumba (they kind of already did that, oops). If anyone would just look at one frame of one of those hand drawn films, they would have the feeling of looking directly at a painting. This is because they were paintings, since they were thousands of hand drawn pictures put together and sped up on camera. Now let's think; "The Princess and the Frog", the most recently released 2D animated film, made around $270 Million dollars worldwide for its entire release. "Toy Story 3", after only 18 days, reached over $300 Million dollars. Things are not looking good for 2D. But I have hope in 2D animation since "The Princess and the Frog" has proven those films can still make tons of money. Although 2D will never be as big as it was, 3D is not a bad way for the animated business to progress.

Now it’s time for plot time once again, The Princess and the Frog: In the tradition of those classic princess films, the story begins with a girl who does not have what she wants in life. In this case, an African American girl named Tiana, who dreams of opening a restaurant in New Orleans. Due to the arrival of Prince Naveen, a plot is set afoot by the evil Dr. Facilier where the result is Naveen becoming a frog. Now this is where that old fairy tale comes in. When you kiss a frog Prince, he is supposed to be returned to his body. Only instead, Tiana becomes a frog herself. Then, the two set off on a journey to return themselves back to their original selves.

The majority of this film is the same old witty back and forth banter we are used to for all the romantic comedies of this generation. But this is better than that because of the animation. The drawing are just as vibrant and colorful as ever, which means it is just as enjoyable as ever. I had fun with this film, and I was also able to appreciate the beauty in every single frame (I actually stopped this film a few times and chose to play it frame by frame). This really brings you back to the old days with tons of nostalgia. Overall, it is the same Princess story we have heard before, but it’s just as great to look at now as it was back in the earlier days of 2D animation.
With Toy Story 3, Pixar provides children and adults the chance to spend an hour and a half together with a dark and emotional journey and I recommend everybody to see it. With The Princess and the Frog, Disney recreates those feelings you had as a child watching hand drawn animation and also gives children a chance to respond to their own Disney Princess. Either way you watch it, you don’t lose.

- Jeff Bassin