Friday 12 June 2015

Double Bill Mini Musings: Smith's Weird Whimsy, and Near-Future Chaos...

Tusk:
What's it about?
A snarky podcaster heads to Canada to interview a viral video sensation, only to end up in the home of one Mr Howard How - a curious old man, confined to a wheelchair and a solitary life - who has many interesting stories to tell. However, the old man's fixation on the mighty walrus takes a sinister and creepy turn.
Who would I recognise in it?
Justin Long, Michael Parks, Haley Joel Osment, Genesis Rodriguez, Johnny Depp.
Great/Good/Alright/Shite?
Birthed from an episode of Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier's "SModcast" podcast, in which they extrapolated a bizarre Gumtree advert into a horror film idea, Tusk is very much the product of Smith's new found invigoration for filmmaking. The idea went from a detailed and marijuana-induced giggle to a full-blown film in a matter of months, which affords this strange outing from the writer/director of Clerks et al a sense of immediacy. Low budget and high concept - a maniac seeks to turn his latest victim into the perfect walrus - it's an out-there experience that's as disturbing as it is bewildering.

Crammed-full with in-jokes that attentive SModcast network fans will appreciate, Tusk's immediacy also presents some problems. There are some structural issues that might have benefited from a little extra work - the Guy LaPointe scenes are heartily entertaining, but necessitate a sudden change of gear and shift in focus - but might more time for script tweaks have robbed the film of some of it's vim and vigour? The cast all seem to be having an absolute blast, and undoubtedly stealing the whole show - similar to the case of Smith's previous film Red State - is Michael Parks, who explores the various recesses of his deeply disturbed Mr How. Featuring some wacky - and quease-inducing - practical effects work from Robert Kurtzman, Kevin Smith's latest piece of whimsy is a curious beast. It is a film that has divided its audience, and will continue to do so, but - much like Justin Long's game performance - will haunt your thoughts for a long while. Good.

Click "READ MORE" below for The Purge: Anarchy...

The Purge: Anarchy:
What's it about?
Dystopian thriller set in a near-future in which for one night a year all crime is legalised - the titular "purge". A series of unlucky L.A. residents - and a vengeance-seeking purger - are thrown together in a fight for survival against a roving squad of nefarious goons.
Who would I recognise in it?
Frank Grillo, and others.
Great/Good/Alright/Shite?
Less frustrating than the first film, but still featuring a premise that is riddled with holes, the sequel is generally a more rounded outing this time. The politics are still pretty simplified, but there are a few shades of grey scattered about - including Frank Grillo's captivating anti-hero: a good man wronged by fate and justice who seeks resolution via the purge. The central idea is still a good one, but the details continue to be in sore need of ironing out - why on earth would anyone not take a half-day off from work on purge day?! Why would you go to the shops just before closing - not long before the purge kicks off?! Etcetera! A combination of bullet-spraying action, and some disturbing ideas makes for an improved sequel, albeit one that still needs work, but which offers a few interesting possibilities for a potential third outing. On the cusp between Alright and Good.

No comments: