Source Code:
Duncan Jones didn't half make an impressive splash when he touched down with his wonderfully intriguing and charmingly produced 70s-vibe, existential sci-fi debut Moon, so it's great to see he hasn't suffered difficult second album syndrome with sci-fi actioner Source Code.
Jake Gyllenhaal plays military pilot Colter Stevens who mysteriously finds himself within the titular code, committed to repeat the last 8 minutes of life afforded to a passenger on a train that was just blown up by a terrorist madman who plans to go all-out in the centre of Chicago, which is hurriedly being evacuated. The source code is all to do with residual memory ... or something like that ... the sci-fi element is a touch woolly, but being that the film moves with a swift pace and talented direction, the plot holes and "but what about?" questions don't particularly get in the way.
While some recent movies that repeat a period of time for dramatic effect got a bit grating (Vantage Point), Source Code fortunately keeps things fresh throughout with new ideas to explore. It's an interesting flick that could have easily, in the wrong hands, become a silly paranoid sci-fi direct-to-DVD venture ... but in the hands of Jones, with committed performances from the key players on screen, it's an enjoyable ride with some nifty ideas to keep things fresh and moving along - even if you're left with a few plot holes come the end.
Mulholland Drive:
A decade might be pushing the term "fashionably late", but I know for a fact in January 2002 (when Lynch's mournful Hollywood dream first came to the UK) I wouldn't have been prepared, let alone suited, for viewing it. So I'm glad that I've come to it with an entirely different outlook on life and cinema than what I possessed a decade ago.
Picking it up on the recently released StudioCanal Collection Blu-Ray, it's a regret-fuelled dream/nightmare for the most part, backed up by a scattered reality. Inspired by the golden age of Hollywood, the mysterious charm of the eponymous road, the difficulties of getting a film made, and even the Black Dahlia case, Lynch's film is a haunting neo-noir mystery.
You can't half-watch this film, you can't skip bits, and you shouldn't dismiss it. Fair enough, it's certainly not for everyone, but all you need to do is pay attention and decipher what information you're provided is key and what is extraneous - indeed Lynch released a list of 10 clues to help you understand more about the film. Furthermore, as illustrated on one of the disc's special features, some French fans of the film - using the 10 clues - pulled together a convincing deconstruction of the film's plot. I'd have to agree with their findings (but do see the movie before you watch that featurette) and was well on my way to a similar conclusion after my first viewing - however it's most certainly one of those films you need to see more than once in order to appreciate the myriad of information thrown your way, and how the seemingly disparate mysteries and symbols tie together.
Furthermore it's a beautiful film, both visually and aurally, and it's haunting atmosphere is one that sticks with you afterwards. It rewards, like most of Lynch's projects, active participation and attention from the viewer. You've got to be in the mood, and you've got to have the time set aside (thanks to the lack of a traditional scene selection), but if you're willing to invest in it, and dive into the beguiling atmosphere, you'll remember it for a long time - and quite possibly become obsessed with it.
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
Double Bill Mini Musings: Kid-friendly frights...
The Gate & Gate II:
A while back now I recalled a couple of very hazy images from my childhood of a film I had seen a glimpse of on television, and after a long time pondering those vague visions and viewing many trailers from American PG-13 horror and fantasy flicks, I discovered that - to the best of my knowledge - the brief glimpses I could remember more-than-likely were from Gate II. Specifically it was what my 6-to-8 year old mind made of an early scene in the flick where Terry (and a rabble of rough teens) re-open the gate in the burnt out remnants of the house, which was the location of the antics in the first movie. I recall the house, its dilapidated state, a group of teens, a pinkish-purple colour and something to do with a portal having to be dealt with ... so like I said, to the best of my knowledge, the flick I was searching for all these years was Gate II ... although for some reason I'd gotten the impression there was a model version of the house involved that was somehow linked to the actual house, but I'm assuming that was a crossed wire in the old noggin.
The first flick, starring a very young Stephen Dorff, is a pretty darn fun time. It's decidedly 1980s, but in a good way, and it's a charming little horror flick suitable for the family. Most impressive however, are the practical special effects which mix stop-motion animation and forced perspective to a very impressive degree. It's like Poltergeist for kids, albeit with demons and hell rather than spooks and limbo.
While the first movie focusses very tightly on the house itself, which is subjected to a barrage of demonic goings-on in the second half (after a slow paced build up during the first half), the second movie goes for a much wider spread of locations - and explores a different approach to the titular portal to hell, namely the teens trying to use the power of the gate and of demonology for their own gain. The sequel is very different for the most part, and isn't as focussed as the first movie - although it does feature Pamela Segall as Liz (the actress later changed her name to Pamela Adlon, and can be found, 20 years later, as Marcy on Californication).
It was a weird experience coming to these movies from an incredibly vague snifter of a memory of one scene of the sequel, but it was nice to finally connect a full movie (or rather two movies) to that long-standing, yet very hazy memory. To see how an impression from childhood could suddenly come back after being forgotten for essentially 15 years, and then lead to an unguided search that eventually, a few years later, bore fruit.
A while back now I recalled a couple of very hazy images from my childhood of a film I had seen a glimpse of on television, and after a long time pondering those vague visions and viewing many trailers from American PG-13 horror and fantasy flicks, I discovered that - to the best of my knowledge - the brief glimpses I could remember more-than-likely were from Gate II. Specifically it was what my 6-to-8 year old mind made of an early scene in the flick where Terry (and a rabble of rough teens) re-open the gate in the burnt out remnants of the house, which was the location of the antics in the first movie. I recall the house, its dilapidated state, a group of teens, a pinkish-purple colour and something to do with a portal having to be dealt with ... so like I said, to the best of my knowledge, the flick I was searching for all these years was Gate II ... although for some reason I'd gotten the impression there was a model version of the house involved that was somehow linked to the actual house, but I'm assuming that was a crossed wire in the old noggin.
The first flick, starring a very young Stephen Dorff, is a pretty darn fun time. It's decidedly 1980s, but in a good way, and it's a charming little horror flick suitable for the family. Most impressive however, are the practical special effects which mix stop-motion animation and forced perspective to a very impressive degree. It's like Poltergeist for kids, albeit with demons and hell rather than spooks and limbo.
While the first movie focusses very tightly on the house itself, which is subjected to a barrage of demonic goings-on in the second half (after a slow paced build up during the first half), the second movie goes for a much wider spread of locations - and explores a different approach to the titular portal to hell, namely the teens trying to use the power of the gate and of demonology for their own gain. The sequel is very different for the most part, and isn't as focussed as the first movie - although it does feature Pamela Segall as Liz (the actress later changed her name to Pamela Adlon, and can be found, 20 years later, as Marcy on Californication).
It was a weird experience coming to these movies from an incredibly vague snifter of a memory of one scene of the sequel, but it was nice to finally connect a full movie (or rather two movies) to that long-standing, yet very hazy memory. To see how an impression from childhood could suddenly come back after being forgotten for essentially 15 years, and then lead to an unguided search that eventually, a few years later, bore fruit.
Saturday, 9 April 2011
Double Bill Mini Musings: Bonkers Action and Quirky Chuckles...
From Paris With Love:
Pierre Morel's film prior to this bonkers shoot 'em up, Taken, kicked arse in a serious way. This flick on the other hand kicks arse in a silly way. Travolta lets himself off the leash and promptly upon arrival on-screen paints the town red and white with blood and cocaine respectively. Again from the Luc Besson stable, it's not about a particularly deep or complex plot - there's some stuff about terrorism and covert government operations, but it's not extremely important as long as the gun play, car chases, and bickering comedy duo fun keeps on coming - which it does, so it's ideal bloke fodder. It's one of those films which is best viewed with a gang of mates, a steady flow of cans, and a take away.
Extract:
From Mike Judge, who also brought us (aside from Beavis & Butthead, and King of the Hill) the excellent Office Space and the under-praised Idiocracy, this is a gentle comedy more akin to the former. Jason Bateman plays the boss of a company that specialises in extracts, and he plans to sell the company on ... but his cash-out plan is derailed by a workplace accident, a con-woman, and a bizarre plan to entrap his distanced wife with the help of a gigolo. It's not a film about uproarious guffaws, rather more considered chuckles and gentle pacing, and while it doesn't live up to the high standard of the 'everyone can appreciate it' Office Space, it's well worth seeing if you enjoy Judge's particular brand of laid back humour.
Pierre Morel's film prior to this bonkers shoot 'em up, Taken, kicked arse in a serious way. This flick on the other hand kicks arse in a silly way. Travolta lets himself off the leash and promptly upon arrival on-screen paints the town red and white with blood and cocaine respectively. Again from the Luc Besson stable, it's not about a particularly deep or complex plot - there's some stuff about terrorism and covert government operations, but it's not extremely important as long as the gun play, car chases, and bickering comedy duo fun keeps on coming - which it does, so it's ideal bloke fodder. It's one of those films which is best viewed with a gang of mates, a steady flow of cans, and a take away.
Extract:
From Mike Judge, who also brought us (aside from Beavis & Butthead, and King of the Hill) the excellent Office Space and the under-praised Idiocracy, this is a gentle comedy more akin to the former. Jason Bateman plays the boss of a company that specialises in extracts, and he plans to sell the company on ... but his cash-out plan is derailed by a workplace accident, a con-woman, and a bizarre plan to entrap his distanced wife with the help of a gigolo. It's not a film about uproarious guffaws, rather more considered chuckles and gentle pacing, and while it doesn't live up to the high standard of the 'everyone can appreciate it' Office Space, it's well worth seeing if you enjoy Judge's particular brand of laid back humour.
Thursday, 7 April 2011
More of those fake trailers from the Hobo With A Shotgun contest...
These entries didn't make the final in-competition Top Five, but they're considered the best of the submissions that didn't make the final cut. You can view them via the following link: http://ca.hobowithashotgun.com/contest/gallery/
1) I Am Not A Superhero, This Is Strictly Revenge (Scott Staven)
An interesting direction to take - rather than serial killers, or Nazis, or sexploitation, or zombies, or what-have-you - this trailer is like a mix between a revenge flick and The Dark Knight, with a boozed-up, coke-snorting Irish tough-guy cleaning the streets!
2) Pet Seminary (Luke Hickman)
The tongue is firmly in-cheek for this one about tooled-up priests taking on a whole shedload of evil pets. Impressively silly with some nifty gore effects.
3) Max Force (Richard Adams)
Played-seriously-but-for-laughs, this trailer is like what you'd see for a direct-to-video cheap action movie produced by a very low budget independent outfit. Full of brute force moments and cheesy-good action, it makes for an enjoyable watch.
4) Mister Fister (Bill "Bloody Bill" Pon)
"A psycho-sexual killer with an insatiable appetite for women", so says the trailer, sums it up nicely. Pure, unadulterated, exploitation sleaze is offered in this trailer. The constant repeating of the title is nicely true to genuine grindhouse trailers.
5) Suicide Strip (Matt Mercer)
Going for an approach different to the traditional hard-sell, this one features a series of glimpses - campers, roads at night, cheesy-good special effects, skulls, all sorts.
6) Fight Night Fright! (Thomas Hackett)
Going for a 1930s/40s/50s vibe (only with vastly more gore), it's a mix between religion, underground boxing and vampires.
7) Teen Girl Violence: Vol. 5 (Nicole Holland)
Well there's a title for you! Religion factors in again with this one where a "twisted Sister" gets her kicks from making fight videos (think Bum Fights) and selling them on the black market - until a gang of wronged girls team up to extract their revenge!
8) Undead Revenge (Andrew Bussey)
A man seeks revenge for the murder of his family - except that he's also dead! Filled with gore, and some nice moments of action, this one really goes for you with gusto.
9) Skin (Steven Shea)
Featuring one of the best voice overs out of all the trailers I've seen submitted to this contest, it's all about a madman on the loose with a penchant for stripping his victims of their flesh. There's some really nice moments in this trailer, both visually and in terms of just having fun.
10) Garbage Man (Max Schwadchuck)
You know those movies about an honest cop looking to take down dirty cops? It's like that, only with garbage men. Cue lots of kick-arse action and gore with a spiffing presentation!
11) The People VS. Christ (Chris Murphy)
Another rather interesting idea - it's like a mix between a legal thriller and a horror flick as the battle between good and evil is taken to the modern day streets after Jesus returns and is framed for murder.
12) Pan-Tea (Angelo Womack)
Presented like a grubby old video nasty from the early VHS rental era, this has to be one of the most interestingly titled entries. A sexual pervert finds a new way of making his tea. Quite an odd one.
13) Street Hell (Ian Matheson)
Illegal bare-knuckle boxing is the name of the game here as a tough guy looking to get out of the game is forced back into it after the only person in the world that he cares for is taken hostage.
14) Machine Gun Cop (Jeremiah Durian-Williams)
The most impressively presented trailer on this list (or at least tied with Mister Fister), this one pays particularly close attention to the dreadful audio quality that many grindhouse movies had once they'd been around the block a few times. Filled with gun-toting action, this one also stands out by bringing in the infamous Zodiac killer as one of the antagonists. Love the title cards at the beginning too - nice touch.
Viewer discretion is advised.
1) I Am Not A Superhero, This Is Strictly Revenge (Scott Staven)
An interesting direction to take - rather than serial killers, or Nazis, or sexploitation, or zombies, or what-have-you - this trailer is like a mix between a revenge flick and The Dark Knight, with a boozed-up, coke-snorting Irish tough-guy cleaning the streets!
2) Pet Seminary (Luke Hickman)
The tongue is firmly in-cheek for this one about tooled-up priests taking on a whole shedload of evil pets. Impressively silly with some nifty gore effects.
3) Max Force (Richard Adams)
Played-seriously-but-for-laughs, this trailer is like what you'd see for a direct-to-video cheap action movie produced by a very low budget independent outfit. Full of brute force moments and cheesy-good action, it makes for an enjoyable watch.
4) Mister Fister (Bill "Bloody Bill" Pon)
"A psycho-sexual killer with an insatiable appetite for women", so says the trailer, sums it up nicely. Pure, unadulterated, exploitation sleaze is offered in this trailer. The constant repeating of the title is nicely true to genuine grindhouse trailers.
5) Suicide Strip (Matt Mercer)
Going for an approach different to the traditional hard-sell, this one features a series of glimpses - campers, roads at night, cheesy-good special effects, skulls, all sorts.
6) Fight Night Fright! (Thomas Hackett)
Going for a 1930s/40s/50s vibe (only with vastly more gore), it's a mix between religion, underground boxing and vampires.
7) Teen Girl Violence: Vol. 5 (Nicole Holland)
Well there's a title for you! Religion factors in again with this one where a "twisted Sister" gets her kicks from making fight videos (think Bum Fights) and selling them on the black market - until a gang of wronged girls team up to extract their revenge!
8) Undead Revenge (Andrew Bussey)
A man seeks revenge for the murder of his family - except that he's also dead! Filled with gore, and some nice moments of action, this one really goes for you with gusto.
9) Skin (Steven Shea)
Featuring one of the best voice overs out of all the trailers I've seen submitted to this contest, it's all about a madman on the loose with a penchant for stripping his victims of their flesh. There's some really nice moments in this trailer, both visually and in terms of just having fun.
10) Garbage Man (Max Schwadchuck)
You know those movies about an honest cop looking to take down dirty cops? It's like that, only with garbage men. Cue lots of kick-arse action and gore with a spiffing presentation!
11) The People VS. Christ (Chris Murphy)
Another rather interesting idea - it's like a mix between a legal thriller and a horror flick as the battle between good and evil is taken to the modern day streets after Jesus returns and is framed for murder.
12) Pan-Tea (Angelo Womack)
Presented like a grubby old video nasty from the early VHS rental era, this has to be one of the most interestingly titled entries. A sexual pervert finds a new way of making his tea. Quite an odd one.
13) Street Hell (Ian Matheson)
Illegal bare-knuckle boxing is the name of the game here as a tough guy looking to get out of the game is forced back into it after the only person in the world that he cares for is taken hostage.
14) Machine Gun Cop (Jeremiah Durian-Williams)
The most impressively presented trailer on this list (or at least tied with Mister Fister), this one pays particularly close attention to the dreadful audio quality that many grindhouse movies had once they'd been around the block a few times. Filled with gun-toting action, this one also stands out by bringing in the infamous Zodiac killer as one of the antagonists. Love the title cards at the beginning too - nice touch.
Saturday, 2 April 2011
"Hobo With A Shotgun" trailer contest...
No, I'm not involved, I just figured I'd make a few comments on what I dug about the Top Five entries which are now eligible to be voted for in the Hobo With A Shotgun fake trailer contest.
N.B. Hobo With A Shotgun won a contest to create a fake trailer to appear alongside the original version of Grindhouse (the 3 hour and 10 minute theatrical version), and it can be viewed on the Grindhouse Blu-Ray that was released in October 2010. The feature length version (starring Rutger Hauer) has been filmed and is now available as Video On Demand in America before it gets a theatrical run - apparently it'll launch in the UK on the 22nd July, but whether that's theatrical or direct-to-DVD, I'm unsure of. It looks batshit awesome and I cannot wait to see it.
Now - on to the fake trailer contest's Top Five that can be voted on via the link above.
FYI, viewer discretion is advised - these are fake trailers for grindhouse exploitation movies after all (don't worry, there's no nudity, as these videos are all freely available on YouTube). But don't watch them if you're at work, have kids in the room, or are easily offended.
N.B. Hobo With A Shotgun won a contest to create a fake trailer to appear alongside the original version of Grindhouse (the 3 hour and 10 minute theatrical version), and it can be viewed on the Grindhouse Blu-Ray that was released in October 2010. The feature length version (starring Rutger Hauer) has been filmed and is now available as Video On Demand in America before it gets a theatrical run - apparently it'll launch in the UK on the 22nd July, but whether that's theatrical or direct-to-DVD, I'm unsure of. It looks batshit awesome and I cannot wait to see it.
Now - on to the fake trailer contest's Top Five that can be voted on via the link above.
FYI, viewer discretion is advised - these are fake trailers for grindhouse exploitation movies after all (don't worry, there's no nudity, as these videos are all freely available on YouTube). But don't watch them if you're at work, have kids in the room, or are easily offended.
1) Daddy Cross
A British entry that creates a trailer for a flick that exploits religion and sexuality about a psychotic Priest. While more could have been done to hide the digital look offered by the camera that was used to shoot it, it does have a nice seedy little vibe going for it, with a convincing use of voice over and fake certificate information at the very end.
2) Van Gore
Taking grindhouse to the art house, this gleefully bloody trailer was very impressive indeed. While it does stick very close to the established aesthetic of the fake trailers seen in Grindhouse, the central premise is quite enjoyable (I'd certainly watch it as a movie), and the tagline is rather catchy.
They perhaps missed a trick by not calling it, as one commenter on the video noted, "Fearwigs", however this trailer stands out from the crowd by presenting a faux 1950s sci-fi horror shocker from the age of atomic fear (although considering the context, Earwigs would have more likely been a title chosen at that time). The dutch angles, atmospheric lighting, impassioned voice over, creative titles and use of stock footage all make this quite authentic - however some fake 'print damage' (particularly on the pristine titles) would have further hidden the digital look.
Partly inspired by the VHS trailers of the video nasty era, this Nazi-ploitation spoof kicks off with a totally convincing fake video company ident (replete with VHS tape damage), and features a comedic voice over that must have surely been inspired to some extent by South Park's lampooning of voice overs for bad movie trailers. Carefully made to look like a Troma-released, shot-independently-on-video exploitationer (think along the lines of Redneck Zombies) it tells the tale of a guy who falls for Charlene - a sex-crazed Nazi. Bonus points for the catchy and humorous music.
This one is particularly inventive, in that it's about a murderous care home populated by sexy nurses and grumbling old geezers - and they're all tooled-up with guns. Again, the digital look slightly distracts you from completely allowing yourself to believe that it could be a real trailer, but the relentless pace which crams in every possible ounce of violence and drop of blood works nicely with the darkly comic premise.
...
So there you have it, be sure to cast a vote for your favourite one of the five videos by going here - http://ca.hobowithashotgun.com/contest/vote/
In case you're wondering, yes I do know what I'd do for a fake trailer - indeed I had a version of the idea before Grindhouse was released, and that just made me think even more that it'd be a nifty idea for a fake trailer. Not to give too much away it would be called "Flying Bastard Zombies" (a reference to various conversations over on Homepage of the Dead in the past) and it would be a spoof of flicks like Oasis of the Zombies.
3) Earwigs
They perhaps missed a trick by not calling it, as one commenter on the video noted, "Fearwigs", however this trailer stands out from the crowd by presenting a faux 1950s sci-fi horror shocker from the age of atomic fear (although considering the context, Earwigs would have more likely been a title chosen at that time). The dutch angles, atmospheric lighting, impassioned voice over, creative titles and use of stock footage all make this quite authentic - however some fake 'print damage' (particularly on the pristine titles) would have further hidden the digital look.
4) Charlene: She Wolf of My Heart
Partly inspired by the VHS trailers of the video nasty era, this Nazi-ploitation spoof kicks off with a totally convincing fake video company ident (replete with VHS tape damage), and features a comedic voice over that must have surely been inspired to some extent by South Park's lampooning of voice overs for bad movie trailers. Carefully made to look like a Troma-released, shot-independently-on-video exploitationer (think along the lines of Redneck Zombies) it tells the tale of a guy who falls for Charlene - a sex-crazed Nazi. Bonus points for the catchy and humorous music.
5) Care Center Slaughterhouse
This one is particularly inventive, in that it's about a murderous care home populated by sexy nurses and grumbling old geezers - and they're all tooled-up with guns. Again, the digital look slightly distracts you from completely allowing yourself to believe that it could be a real trailer, but the relentless pace which crams in every possible ounce of violence and drop of blood works nicely with the darkly comic premise.
...
So there you have it, be sure to cast a vote for your favourite one of the five videos by going here - http://ca.hobowithashotgun.com/contest/vote/
In case you're wondering, yes I do know what I'd do for a fake trailer - indeed I had a version of the idea before Grindhouse was released, and that just made me think even more that it'd be a nifty idea for a fake trailer. Not to give too much away it would be called "Flying Bastard Zombies" (a reference to various conversations over on Homepage of the Dead in the past) and it would be a spoof of flicks like Oasis of the Zombies.
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