All posts by scottmet99

2013 Films, Ethan Hawke, Horror, James DeMonaco, Lena Headey

The Purge-2013

July 23, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

The Purge-2013

Director James DeMonaco

Starring Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey

Scott’s Review #128

Reviewed July 23, 2014

Grade: A-

On paper, the premise of the film The Purge (2013) is very intriguing. It immediately caught my attention and I was compelled to see it.

The government, fed up with the overwhelming crime and prison overcrowding, decides to initiate a once-a-year purge, where anything goes.

It’s like Christmas for the criminals and the insane.

All emergency and police will shut down on this night and citizens are left to their own devices as a way to purge the violent and aggressive instincts from human systems.

An affluent family, led by a security systems genius (Ethan Hawke), nestles in their lavish home.

Of course, events go awry and chaos ensues.

The film contains suspense, thrills, frights, and a bit of humor, containing questions of class distinction and raises societal questions- Why are the wealthy better off than the poor? Do they deserve to be?

I enjoyed the setting of the wealthy, gated Los Angeles community and the eerily Stepford wife-like atmosphere of the neighborhood where housewives delivered casseroles and other dishes to each other for the big night.

Throughout this sunny environment, the viewer could sense a too-good-to-be-true cheerfulness and the darkness to follow anticipated as sunset emerged.

I found this film to be unpredictable and the edge of your seat and the film delved into a home invasion thriller, which was effective.

I could not predict what might happen next and that is incredibly entertaining.

I am unsure if some of the humor in the film was intentional or not- some of the kills were over the top and contained one-liners, but The Purge (2013) is a crisp, fun, summer popcorn horror film.

2012 Films, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Alicia Vikander, Bill Skarsgård, Domhnall Gleeson, Drama, Emerald Fennell, Holliday Grainger, Joe Wright, Jude Law, Keira Knightley, Kelly Macdonald, Leo Tolstoy, Michelle Dockery, Olivia Williams, Raphaël Personnaz, Romantic Drama

Anna Karenina-2012

July 22, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Anna Karenina-2012

Director Joe Wright

Starring Keira Knightley, Jude Law

Scott’s Review #126

Reviewed July 22, 2014

Grade: B+

Anna Karenina (2012) is the film adaptation of the classic Leo Tolstoy novel. Shamefully, having not read the novel, but being familiar with the story I was not sure how successful the transition from novel to film would be.

The transition proved to be quite successful, as it would turn out.

Being a fan of director Joe Wright, who did wonderful work on his direction of Atonement in 2007, he is a master of costumed period pieces and Anna Karenina is no different in that regard.

It is vastly different, however, in the way it is shot. The film is non-traditional and is shot with jarring, quick camera movements interspersed with musical numbers.

It resembles Moulin Rouge (2001) in this style and is not for everyone’s tastes. I enjoy this technique and, combined with the wonderful art direction/costumes, makes for modern, unique storytelling.

Keira Knightley is as adequate as Anna, but nothing special. I have to wonder if she was cast simply because she is typically the lead in Joe Wright films.

It is a tragedy, of course, and a tale of a lonely love-torn young woman conflicted between two high-class men. On a broader scale, it’s a story of the romantic entanglements of the high-class world and their trials and tribulations, centering on Anna.

The look of the film is what impressed me most, more than the story did.

Oscar Nominations: 1 win-Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design (won)

1984 Films, Bruce Mahler, Corey Feldman, Crispin Glover, Horror, Jason Voorhees, Kimberly Beck, Peter Barton, Slasher, Tom Savini

Friday the 13th: Part 4: The Final Chapter-1984

July 21, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter-1984

Director Joseph Zito

Starring Kimberly Beck, Corey Feldman

Scott’s Review #125

Reviewed July 21, 2014

Grade: B

Being the 4^th chapter in the popular Friday the 13^th saga, and the shameless marketing of this installment as being the final chapter, obviously a fib since the ending of the film sets up another sequel, I have a soft spot for this Friday the 13th sequel.

If I am being honest, with each viewing I realize more and more it’s not nearly as good as the first three.

From a storyline and technical perspective, it is a crappy movie.

It now seems incredibly dated and of its time- the acting is mediocre at best but fans of the franchise will love it.

It’s predictable, much like eating at McDonald’s, you know exactly what you will get and that is fine for a certain audience.

A gathering of horny, pot, and beer-induced teens flock to Camp Crystal Lake for a weekend of revelry. Apparently not knowing, or caring, that dozens of other teens have been slaughtered there before, they begin their partying.

For horror fans, there is comfort in this film. We know the youths will be killed- we just don’t know how or when. That’s the fun and beauty of it.

Will someone be decapitated? Lose a limb? Will the murder weapon be an ax or a machete? Who will be the last remaining victim?

The introduction of the twins is a nice touch and a very young Crispin Glover appears.

The addition of Corey Feldman to this one adds child feistiness. Otherwise, it’s pretty formulaic, and not much separates it from any of the others. Fans of the franchise will love Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984), all others stay away.

2012 Films, Documentary, Ken Burns, Sarah Burns

The Central Park Five- 2012

July 21, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

The Central Park Five-2012

Director Ken Burns, Sarah Burns

Starring Antron McCray

Scott’s Review #124

Reviewed July 21, 2014

Grade: B+

The Central Park Five (2012) is a fascinating documentary surrounding the infamous 1989 events of the Central Park jogger, who was raped, beaten, and left for dead one night.

I remember the case well but was too young to know the details and circumstances involved.

Suppose one is to believe the documentary presented. In that case, one is to be outraged and disgusted by police, detectives, and attorneys who railroaded and influenced the youths found guilty because they assumed they were guilty. Youths who were later found to be innocent after years of wasting away in prison.

It saddens me how the media turned the case into a witch hunt and sensationalized the story. What is sadder is this still happens today.

I like documentaries that present both sides, but according to the film, no attorneys, detectives, or police would comment, so I will accept this as truth.

After the youths were exonerated, no apology was ever issued.

It is a sad day when detectives can pressure and threaten someone into a confession. In modern times, DNA evidence has come to the falsely accused rescue.

As with anything, there are two sides to every story, but one can’t help but wonder if the police did no wrongdoing then why not comment on the events?

The Central Park Five (2012) is a shockingly truthful, informative documentary.

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best Documentary Feature

2012 Films, British, Comedy, Drama, Dustin Hoffman, Independent, Independent Comedy, Independent Drama, Maggie Smith, Pauline Collins, Tom Courtenay

Quartet- 2012

July 20, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Quartet-2012

Director Dustin Hoffman

Starring Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay

Scott’s Review #122

Reviewed July 20, 2014

Grade: B+

Quartet (2012) is a fantastic little British film, directed by Dustin Hoffman, and starring the always wonderful Maggie Smith, whom one might argue could be watched in anything.

I certainly could.

Smith stars as a stubborn retired opera singer who begrudgingly settles in at Beecham House, a luxurious senior retirement home for former musicians in their final years.

There she reunites with colleagues from years past who attempt to reunite for a concert for the public to save the home from foreclosure.

The cast of senior citizens in Quartet is quite likable in one of the few smart films handling aging gracefully.

There is comedy and drama mixed in as the intelligent characters are treated as such in their final years with a hint of soap opera to the film as some of them were intimate with others in years past and the current hijinks are hysterical.

The subject of aging is treated with respect and dignity and not played for laughs, which is one aspect of the film that I adore.

A talent-filled cast of British theater actors, along with some real-life musicians make this film a treat.

It is terrific to see Pauline Collins (Upstairs/Downstairs) in a large role.

2013 Films, Action, Brad Pitt, Drew Goddard, Marc Forster, Mireille Enos, Ruth Negga, Science Fiction, Thriller

World War Z-2013

July 20, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

World War Z-2013

Director Marc Forster

Starring Brad Pitt

Scott’s Review #121

Reviewed July 20, 2014

Grade: B

World War Z (2013) is the type of film that is a summer hit but will most likely be forgotten over the years. It is a slightly above-average, enjoyable action/ zombie thriller, but not much more.

It stars Brad Pitt as a former United Nations investigator called in to save the world from a zombie pandemic. The crisis is spreading throughout major cities of the world simultaneously.

The film sees Pitt traversing the globe in an attempt to find a cure for the epidemic before it is too late and the zombies make the world extinct from humans.

The zombies are super zombies in that they can fly and move at lightning speed making them ultra-dangerous.

The story is implausible and plot-driven, but it doesn’t matter and works on some level. My theory for this success is that the film is fast-paced, the action starts almost immediately, and Brad Pitt is charismatic.

He is the star and all the action centers around him.

The film contains exciting, tense scenes including a plane crash sequence and a chase around a medical lab.

World War Z (2013) is a popcorn film, meant to be sat back and enjoyed and not overanalyzed or taken too seriously.

It is a perfect summer hit.

2012 Films, Chilean, Drama, Gael García Bernal, Historical Drama, International, International Drama, Pablo Larraín, Sergio Hernández

No-2012

July 17, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

No-2012

Director Pablo Larrain

Starring Gael Garcia Bernal

Scott’s Review #119

Reviewed July 17, 2014

Grade: B

No is a 2012 Best Foreign Language film nominee that centers around a Chilean ad executive’s campaign to oust a powerful Chilean dictator (Pinochet) from power circa 1988.

The ad executive (played by Gael Garcia Bernal) struggles to create a powerful campaign to influence the media and the voters.

The movie looks very documentary-style and is visually interesting. One will experience firsthand how difficult it was to create a successful campaign amid the political unrest occurring in Chile during this time.

The fact that the film is based on a true story adds a level of interest.

While watching the film, I felt like it was genuinely 1988 and I felt transported back to that time, unlike many period films where sets simply look dressed up for the period.

A detraction of No (2012) was its painfully slow pace, which made it drag occasionally.

Oscar Nominations: Best Foreign Language Film

1985 Films, Corey Feldman, Horror, Jason Voorhees, Shavar Ross, Slasher

Friday the 13th: Part V: A New Beginning-1985

July 17, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Friday the 13th: Part V: A New Beginning-1985

Director Danny Steinmann

Starring Melanie Kinnaman, John Sheperd

Scott’s Review #118

Reviewed July 17, 2014

Grade: B

The fifth installment of the seemingly never-ending Friday the 13^th franchise, Part V (1985) offers viewers a twist, one that sadly did not go over well with horror audiences.

Hardly high art, and hated by myself initially, I have grown a fondness for this film over the years after repeated viewings.

Originally, I was not crazy about the twist at the end of the film, but I now recognize, for this type of film, an appreciation for trying something different.

The lighting is brighter and more modern than its predecessor, Part IV, despite being made only a year later.

There is greater comedy in this one- the hillbillies are laugh-out-loud funny and the waitress scene is howlingly awful in the acting department most of the acting is atrocious and can be laughed at, but a much-needed change of setting away from Camp Crystal Lake works and seems refreshing.

The final victim is, for a change, not a teenager, but a mature, intelligent young woman.

Released smack dab in the middle of the 1980s, the film has a jarring dated look to it, which doesn’t do the film any favors in the longevity department.

The film cannot compare to the original or even the first three installments (the best in my opinion), but more experimental than any of the others, which deserves some credit.

2013 Films, Drama, Gattlin Griffith, Independent, Independent Drama, J.K. Simmons, James Van Der Beek, Jason Reitman, Josh Brolin, Kate Winslet, Lucas Hedges, Maika Monroe, Tobey Maguire

Labor Day-2013

July 17, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Labor Day-2013

Director Jason Reitman

Starring Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin

Scott’s Review #116

Reviewed July 17, 2014

Grade: B+

Labor Day (2013) is quite simply a modern love story.

Set in 1987 on a hot Labor Day weekend in New Hampshire, a boy and his mother are approached by an escaped convict pleading for help.

They reluctantly agree and what follows is a weekend of mixed emotions and bonding between the three individuals.

Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin have nice chemistry as the two leads, and although the film felt like it was decorated to be 1987, it looks quite modern.

The woman is divorced and insecure and bordering on being a shut-in. The son is more like the parent, taking care of her, and running errands.

The film is narrated by an older version of the son (played by Tobey Maguire). Questions run through the viewer’s mind throughout the film, which is a major positive.

Can the convict be trusted? Is he guilty or is there more to the story? Is the mother falling for him or pretending to escape?

All the action plays out over one weekend while the town is on high alert and everyone is searching for the escaped con and most of the action takes place in the family home, lending a stage production feel to the film.

There are some tense moments and flashbacks of both the convict and the woman and their lives before meeting so we, as viewers, get to know them well.

Despite their differences, the couple has a rooting value to them thanks to Brolin’s and Winslet’s talents.

Labor Day (2013) is a well-made film that received little recognition.

1938 Films, Allan Dwan, Children, Comedy, Gloria Stuart, Jack Haley, Musical, Musical Comedy, Randolph Scott, Shirley Temple

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm-1938

July 16, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm-1938

Director Allan Dwan

Starring Shirley Temple

Scott’s Review #113

Reviewed July 16, 2014

Grade: B

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1938) is one of several Shirley Temple films released in the 1930s and 1940s.

In this story, Rebecca (Temple) is a confident child singer auditioning for a New York City radio gig with her opportunistic Uncle. Through a series of mishaps, she winds up outside the city with her aunt and other people living on or near the farm.

The radio people race to find Rebecca in time and make her a star. Other romantic subplots involving the supporting characters occur.

The film is innocent and cutesy, but you must be a Shirley Temple fan to enjoy it truly. If not, you might find it contrived and sentimental.

It falls somewhere in the middle for me. While I enjoyed the Shirley Temple musical numbers and the star’s talent, the story was predictable, and no surprises were in store. It felt more like a pleasant trip down memory lane.

The film is harmless and contains the standard Temple curls, smiles, and joyfulness. The supporting cast includes Jack Haley (The Wizard of Oz) and Gloria Stuart (Titanic-1997).

2013 Films, Andy Muschietti, Guillermo del Toro, Horror, Jessica Chastain

Mama-2013

July 15, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Mama-2013

Director Andres Muschietti

Starring Jessica Chastain

Scott’s Review #112

Reviewed July 15, 2014

Grade: C

Mama is a horror film from 2013, surprisingly starring Jessica Chastain, who one might assume is too high-brow for horror given her recent Oscar nominations.

Mama tells the story of two little girls, involved in a car accident, who survive on their own for years until finally rescued and raised by Chastain.

This film had both positives and negatives.

The beginning sequence involving the girls’ troubled father and the drive through the countryside to the car wreck is realistically done and compelling.

The snow and the drifts have a picturesque and haunting beauty to them.

Throughout the film, some unique, effective visuals create a mysterious ambiance.

However, the primary negative of the film belongs to Chastain.

A top-notch actress, I did not for an instant buy her as a short-haired raven-dyed, rocker chick with tattoos and a tough-girl persona.

It did not work at all.

The story as a whole was convoluted and when the final credits rolled, made no sense to me at all.

As a whole, Mama (2013) was not scary (sadly rated PG-13) but had some nice moments.

2013 Films, Drama, Independent, Independent Drama, LGBTQ+ Drama, LGBTQ+ Films, Maggie Siff, Robin Weigert, Stacie Passon

Concussion- 2013

July 15, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Concussion-2013

Director Stacie Passon

Starring Robin Weigert

Scott’s Review #111

Reviewed July 15, 2014

Grade: B+

Concussion (2013), is a small, interesting, independent film that tells the story of an affluent Westchester County, NY housewife who is a lesbian.

Brilliantly played by Robin Weigert, the woman is married to another woman and decides to become an escort for other women experimenting with their sexuality.

On paper, it reads like it could be a comedy, but it is a character study and strictly a drama.

The woman (Abby) has a seemingly happy marriage. Her wife is a high-powered attorney, and Abby stays home and raises the kids.

But she is bored and conflicted in her marriage and something is missing. She loves her wife and they have a wonderful circle of friends, both gay and straight.

They throw dinner parties and have a sense of togetherness.

The escorting scenes are not what one might think. Very little sexual content occurs, but rather bonds can form between escort and client.

I love the way no lesbian stereotypes are portrayed- both main characters are intelligent, attractive, and feminine.

The clientele is not dangerous, trashy, or flighty.

Concussion (2013) is not a lesbian film per se, but it’s a human film- anyone in a long-term commitment or anyone who admires a character-driven film will relate to this movie and it should be viewed.

2013 Films, Chloë Grace Moretz, Gabriella Wilde, Horror, Judy Greer, Julianne Moore, Kimberly Peirce, Portia Doubleday, Stephen King

Carrie- 2013

July 15, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Carrie-2013

Director Kimberly Peirce

Starring Chloe Grace Moretz, Julianne Moore

Scott’s Review #110

Reviewed July 15, 2014

Grade: C-

Carrie is a 2013 remake of the classic 1976 horror masterpiece of the same name directed by Brian De Palma and adapted from the Stephen King novel.

Comparing the two is difficult since the original is brilliant. The remake of Carrie showed some potential in the first half as the set-up was developed and is overall only fairly entertaining.

Carrie White is a bullied, outcast teenager who has telekinetic powers. She can make things move, usually when angry.

Her mother, played by Julianne Moore, is a repressed Christian woman with issues about sex (among other things).

Following a cruel encounter in the locker room, one of the popular girls, feeling guilty, talks her boyfriend into taking Carrie to the prom.

Chloe Grace Moretz is okay as Carrie but hardly seems nerdy or homely enough to completely pull it off. She could easily have portrayed one of the popular girls.

Julianne Moore is too sympathetic an actress to be believable as the crazy Mrs. White so that doesn’t completely work either.

Finally, the actresses playing Sue Snell (Gabriella Wilde) and Chris (Portia Doubleday) should be reversed. Chris is a despicable character, comfortable as the queen bee, but Doubleday plays her as awkward and insecure.

Meanwhile, Wilde feels better suited to play a vicious, bitchy character.

So, there are issues with the casting.

In the original, the audience feels Carrie’s rage and cheers along with her revenge, but that does not happen in this version. There was not as much justification to warrant the revenge.

And since when did having telekinesis result in being able to fly?

Carrie circa 2013 is a pale imitation of the classic 1976 horror film, but I suppose not a complete dud either.

2011 Films, Comedy, Drama, Ed Helms, Independent, Independent Comedy, Independent Drama, Jason Reitman, Jason Segel, Jay Duplass, Judy Greer, Mark Duplass, Susan Sarandon

Jeff, Who Lives at Home-2011

July 12, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Jeff, Who Lives at Home-2011

Director Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass

Starring Jason Segel, Susan Sarandon

Scott’s Review #107

Reviewed July 12, 2014

Grade: B

I confess to not being a huge fan of Jason Segel.

Jeff, Who Lives at Home (2011) tells the story of a slacker who lives with his mother and lives in the shadows of his successful brother, played by Ed Helms.

He regularly smokes pot and looks for meaning in random occurrences.

One day he begins an adventure when he believes he sees meaning in a phone call and it sets up a series of mishaps involving his brother and estranged wife, played by Judy Greer.

The secondary story involves the mother (Susan Sarandon), who leads a dull life working a mundane job. She suddenly develops a secret admirer at her job.

The film was much better than expected. As the movie unfolds it turns into a day in the life of a dysfunctional, yet loving family.

I expected a silly, dumb comedy given the star and the premise, but the film was much better than that. It is a nicely layered, touching movie with a message and some spirituality mixed in.

I loved the ending and was impressed by the heartfelt nature of this small little slice-of-life film.

1994 Films, Comedy, Courtney Cox, Jim Carrey, Lowest Rated Films, Sean Young

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective-1994

July 12, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective-1994

Director Tom Shadyac

Starring Jim Carrey, Courtney Cox, Sean Young

Scott’s Review #106

Reviewed July 12, 2014

Grade: D-

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective is a silly comedy from 1994 starring Jim Carrey as a goofy private investigator specializing in pet rescue.

He is fairly inept but is hired by the Miami Dolphins to find their stolen mascot.

The film is ridiculous on almost every level- bad clichés, bad acting, mostly by the football players, and a dumb plot.

The saving grace of the film is Jim Carrey who defined the goofy, slapstick film star of the 1990s and, although over-the-top, is quite funny with his weird gestures and absurd mannerisms.

If the writing were only slightly better- think Dumb and Dumber (1994) or The Mask (1994), this film would have been almost enjoyable, but it pushes the definition of dumb fun just a little too far and sooner rather than later becomes convoluted and tedious.

A cameo appearance by Dan Marino, obviously a poor actor, just made this move seem sad and desperate.

Sean Young is appealing as the villain.

1957 Films, Cary Grant, Comedy, Deborah Kerr, Delmer Daves, Leo McCarey, Marni Nixon, Romantic Comedy

An Affair to Remember-1957

July 12, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

An Affair to Remember-1957

Director Leo McCarey

Starring Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr

Scott’s Review #105

Reviewed July 12, 2014

Grade: B

An Affair to Remember (1957) is an excellent example of how romantic comedies have changed.

‘rom-com’ is not my genre of choice as typically they are clichéd and predictable. The romantic comedies in years past were vastly different, containing a glamorous innocence lacking in today’s generic rom-com.

In An Affair to Remember, the charisma of Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr makes the movie. They portray two strangers who take a luxury cruise and inexplicably fall madly in love despite having significant others at home.

The couple wine and dine with each other, revel in merriment for a week and make a pact that if they don’t forget each other in a year, they will meet at the top of the Empire State Building on a specified day and time.

It does not get much more romantic than that.

The extravagance of the gorgeous sets on the cruise ship makes the film a visually satisfying experience. In my book, any movie set in New York City, as the second half does, is a plus.

An Affair to Remember is not a cutting-edge film, though for 1957, adultery may have raised a few eyebrows, but rather a pleasant, warm romantic comedy of the past.

It’s meant to sit back and escape with a sappy, sweet, fun romance.

Oscar Nominations: Best Scoring, Best Song, “An Affair to Remember”, Best Costume Design, Best Cinematography

1987 Films, Dario Argento, Horror, International, International Horror, Italian, Italian Horror

Opera-1987

July 11, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Opera-1987

Director Dario Argento

Starring Cristina Marsillach, Ian Charleson

Scott’s Review #104

Reviewed July 11, 2014

Grade: B+

Opera is a 1987 Italian horror film directed by Dario Argento.

The story revolves around a theatrical production of Verdi’s “Macbeth” as the understudy takes on the lead role of Lady Macbeth after the star is hit by a car, and strange and horrific events begin to occur.

The film contains traditional Argento elements- stylistic, extreme close-ups, and weird camera angles.

Members of the cast are systematically murdered as the killer forces the film’s heroine to watch- aided by a device which, if she blinks, sharp nails will go through her eyes.

The ending is killer- no pun intended. I love surprise endings in horror films and this one was dynamite.

My main criticism of the film is the horrendous dubbing, which distracted me a great deal. It has a muffled, hard-to-hear quality to it and no subtitles.

I’d rather it have been available in Italian with English subtitles. The film needs to be upgraded to Blu-ray ASAP.

Another odd aspect of the film is the mixture of operatic music with heavy metal music with each kill. It did not seem to fit the film at all.

Not Argento’s best- Suspiria (1977) and Deep Red (1975) have that honor, but a very good, enjoyable cinematic horror film.

2012 Films, Documentary, Dror Moreh, Israeli

The Gatekeepers-2012

July 10, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

The Gatekeepers-2012

Director Dror Moreh

Starring Ami Ayalon

Scott’s Review #103

Reviewed July 10, 2014

Grade: B-

I truly wanted to love The Gatekeepers, an Oscar-nominated documentary from 2012, but only mildly enjoyed it.

I find the nominating process and the award determination for documentaries baffling. In recent years it is beginning to mirror the Foreign Language film selection process.

The one documentary of the five that is brilliant (How to Survive a Plague) did not win and the documentary that did win (Searching for Sugar Man) was good, but not great.

The Gatekeepers explores an important, informative topic-the Israeli Secret Service. The documentary consisted of interviews with five former Secret Service members and was a tell-all of past situations and how the members handled the matters.

The documentary also uses real footage and computer animation to explain how the Secret Service becomes involved in military activity.

Important stuff, but it comes across as a bit dry and relatively dull.

After thirty minutes I found myself looking at the clock and somewhat tuning out.

I respect the documentary for its subject matter, but it could have used a bit of spice to keep things moving along.

Oscar Nominations: Best Documentary-Feature

2013 Films, Horror, James Wan, John R. Leonetti, Lili Taylor, Patrick Wilson, Ron Livingston, Vera Farmiga

The Conjuring-2013

July 10, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

The Conjuring-2013

Director James Wan

Starring Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga

Scott’s Review #102

Reviewed July 10, 2014

Grade: A-

The Conjuring (2013) is one of the best horror films I have seen in recent years.

It tells the story of Ed and Lorraine Warren, played by Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson respectively, who are paranormal investigators and come to the aid of a haunted farm family, the Perrons, led by Ron Livingston and Lili Taylor.

The film is set in Rhode Island, circa 1971, and is loosely based on true events. Typically in modern horror films, one is treated to a) gore or b) attempted scares that are seen a mile away.

The Conjuring is a classic ghost story with genuine frights. A big difference from other standard horror films is that the audience cares about the characters. One believes they are a family being terrorized by demons and sympathizes with them.

The phrase “based on a true story” is meaningless.

Who cares? It’s a scary film with likable characters.

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are the standouts for me as well as one refreshing child actor who can act without the cutesy-ness or overacting too often found in child actors today.

The costume/set designers do an excellent job as the film has a genuine early 1970’s look which was tremendously effective.

The Conjuring (2013) is an eerie, frightening, jump-out-of-your-seat, fun time.

1970 Films, Drama, Jack Nicholson, Karen Black, Lois Smith

Five Easy Pieces-1970

July 10, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Five Easy Pieces-1970

Director Bob Rafelson

Starring Jack Nicholson, Karen Black

Scott’s Review #101

Reviewed July 10, 2014

Grade: A-

Five Easy Pieces (1970) is Jack Nicholson’s first leading role and, as one watches the film now, it is evident that the character of Bobby Dupea influenced many of his later performances.

The film is a quiet, character study about a talented yet unhappy concert pianist who gives up his privileged life of affluence and performing to lead a simple, blue-collar life working on an oil rig and dating a neurotic lonely waitress played wonderfully by Karen Black.

He returns, via a road trip, to his upper-class family to visit his ailing father.

With Black in tow, they travel from California to remote Washington, with a couple of excellent scenes involving two angry at-life female hitchhikers, and a cold waitress at a coffee shop where Nicholson performs his infamous “chicken sandwich” scene.

It is a story of one man’s loneliness and his conflict between the two lives he has lived and his turmoil at deciding where he belongs- a conflict many people wrestle with.

He is not a happy man.

Karen Black is excellent as the needy, clingy girlfriend and Sally Struthers has a small, yet interesting part as a flirtatious girl.

The film drags at times, moving very slowly, but does an excellent job of getting inside one man’s mind and sharing the pain with the audience.

The film is nuanced as the conflict Dupea feels pulls at his very being and this is conveyed incredibly well. The final scene is simply mesmerizing in its power.

Five Easy Pieces (1970) is a purely character-driven and wonderfully life-questioning film.

Oscar Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor-Jack Nicholson, Best Supporting Actress-Karen Black, Best Story or Screenplay Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Published or Produced

1963 Films, Connie Mason, Gore, H.G. Lewis, Horror, Horror-Camp, Independent, Independent Horror, William Kerwin

Blood Feast-1963

July 10, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Blood Feast-1963

Director H.G.Lewis

Starring Thomas Wood, Connie Mason

Scott’s Review #100

Reviewed July 10, 2014

Grade: B-

Blood Feast (1963) is the debut film by horror master H.G. Lewis, who invented the gore genre.

The film is simplistic and makes his later films almost seem a big budget.

This film is not meant to be taken seriously. Anyone who does is completely missing the point. It is exploitation but completely over-the-top, with wooden performances for laughs, specifically by Connie Mason, who stinks.

The story involves a demented caterer hired by a mother to cater an Egyptian-themed dinner party. He uses genuine body parts to complete the meal, is obsessed with some silly curse, and owns a female Egyptian statue that talks to him.

The kills are laughing out loud in their basic shock value, and all the victims are women.

One victim’s tongue is torn out, as another is whipped to death, which, in a more modern film like Saw (2004), would be horrific. But the kills are so comedic, and the gore blood so amateurish that the audience cannot help but chuckle.

The highlight for me was the intentionally (let’s hope) horrendous acting by all involved.

I prefer H.G. Lewis’s later films, but Blood Feast (1963) is a blueprint and a nice introduction.

1976 Films, Alfred Hitchcock, Bruce Dern, Karen Black, Thriller, William Devane

Family Plot-1976

July 9, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Family Plot-1976

Director Alfred Hitchcock

Starring Bruce Dern, Karen Black

Scott’s Review #99

Reviewed July 9, 2014

Grade: B

Family Plot is sadly Alfred Hitchcock’s final film, made in 1976.

It is certainly not one of his greats, but not bad either, and a fitting way for a viewer to conclude his career.

The film is a jewel caper and has a vastly different feel from many of his other, earlier films. It has a slick quality to it and is reminiscent of a 1970s television movie, which is not a knock.

It simply feels more television-like than film, which likely could be because the film stars notable television stars, William Devane and Katherine Helman.

It also features some big film stars of the time- Karen Black, Bruce Dern, and Barbara Harris.

The film is a departure from other Hitchcock films in that it is a macabre comedy. It is a tongue-in-cheek story of a fake psychic (Harris) and her boyfriend (Dern) who become involved in a search for a missing heir, a jewel heist, and a murder.

All of the characters intersect as the film moves along and it contains some nice Hitchcock elements- the speeding car with no brakes down a hilly road is pure Hitchcock.

The film, for me, has a slightly melancholy feel as sadly, it is the great Hitchcock’s final farewell.

2013 Films, Elizabeth Olsen, James Ransone, Josh Brolin, Lance Reddick, Michael Imperioli, Rami Malek, Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee, Thriller

Oldboy-2013

July 8, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Oldboy-2013

Director Spike Lee

Starring Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen

Scott’s Review #97

Reviewed July 8, 2014

Grade: B-

Oldboy (2013) is a United States remake of the original South Korean film from 2003 that tells the story of a successful advertising executive named Joe Doucett, played wonderfully by Josh Brolin.

He is mysteriously kidnapped and kept prisoner in a private one-room facility, where he is served the same three meals daily for twenty years, while framed for the murder of his wife.

Through the years he is kept abreast of his daughter’s life events through videos. He is just as mysteriously released after twenty years and sets out to exact revenge on his former captors.

Brolin is quite charismatic and appealing (kudos for his multiple nude scenes) in the lead role and it is nice to see Michael Imperiolo in an off-beat supporting role.

The premise is interesting but the type of film where everything that happens is plot-driven, the villains completely manipulate events, and the film becomes implausible and, via flashbacks, reminds me of the CBS series Cold Case.

Forgetting that Brolin’s character becomes superhero-like and chiseled after twenty years in captivity, the film is a good, solid, fun, thrill-ride, and bloody at times.

It has aspects of a nice whodunit to a point. It has so many plot holes that I lost count, but somehow it is enjoyable at the same time.

Oldboy is never boring and even unpredictable at times.

Many questions run through the viewer’s head. Who is the villain? What could the villain’s motivation be? Friend or foe?

Is the film unrealistic, and ludicrous at times, but also highly enjoyable?

1987 Films, Brad Pitt, Gene Hackman, Iman, Kevin Costner, Sean Young, Thriller, Will Patton

No Way Out-1987

July 5, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

No Way Out-1987

Director Roger Donaldson

Starring Kevin Costner, Sean Young, Gene Hackman

Scott’s Review #96

Reviewed July 5, 2014

Grade: B+

No Way Out is a slick political thriller from 1987 starring Kevin Costner as a U.S. Naval Officer investigating a Washington D.C. murder.

Gene Hackman and Sean Young are co-stars. Costner is at the top of his game in the film and is quite charismatic and charming.

The plot has several twists and turns that keep the viewer guessing and engaged and is a classic edge-of-your-seat stylistic film.

The film is paced very well as it gradually picks up steam with each plot turn until it builds to a frenetic finish. Specifically, the final forty-five minutes that take place in the CIA are quite a cat-and-mouse game.

It’s a film about sex, murder, love affairs, politics, and backstabbing.

Hugely successful in the 1980s, and as much as I still enjoy it, the film unfortunately now appears quite dated as the soundtrack, hair, and clothes, all scream late 1980’s and that is not to its credit.

It now seems all too similar, though a cut above, to other countless themed films of the same period. Truly great films are timeless.

Kevin Costner was in his prime with No Way Out (1987) and Sean Young has a wonderful turn as the mysterious Susan Atwell.

2014 Films, Christopher Walken, Clint Eastwood, Erich Bergen, John Lloyd Young, Musical, Musical Drama, Steve Schirripa, Vincent Piazza

Jersey Boys-2014

July 5, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Jersey Boys-2014

Director Clint Eastwood

Starring John Lloyd Young

Scott’s Review #95

Reviewed July 5, 2014

Grade: B+

Jersey Boys (2014) is a film version of the hit Broadway show of the same name, directed by Clint Eastwood.

It tells the story of Frankie Valli and his friends (later becoming the Four Seasons) growing up in 1950s mob-laden New Jersey and their journey through hardships and petty crime to musical success.

The film is a mainly feel-good experience as the songs alone resonate with the audience and immediately stick in one’s head as catchy as they are (Sherry, Walk Like a Man, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You) are prominently featured throughout the film making it tough not to toe-tap along with the musical numbers.

Most of the boys grow up in a heavily Italian neighborhood, which is a delight as Eastwood’s authenticity is impressive: the food, the fights, gangster mob ties.

Admittedly, I found the first thirty minutes a bit slow, but then, the film takes off.

The cast is good- John Lloyd Young is excellent as Frankie Valli, a role he also portrayed on Broadway, and it is very nice to see Christopher Walken as a kindly mob boss who looks out for the kids.

The film is wonderfully shot and the 1950s nostalgia is apparent via set pieces, costumes, etc.

Is this film edgy? Not in the least. Is it a safe crowd-pleaser? Absolutely!

It is a fun musical experience that does not delve into schmaltz and is lots of fun.

Welcome to my blog!1,505 reviews posted so far! I'm Scott Segrell and I reside in Stamford, CT. My site features hundreds of film reviews I have written since I launched the site in 2014. I hope you enjoy reading my latest reviews or searching for your own favorites to see if we agree. Please see my featured films of the month, and don't forget to utilize the tags and category links.