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