Let me start off by saying I hated Crash (the Paul Haggis one, not the David Cronenberg one, cuz I dig car crash induced sex scenes). I thought it was a lame attempt by a rich, white, Scientologist to educate the world about racism. So when his new film, In the Valley of Elah, was released I was hesistant. I mean, I waited till it came out on DVD to even watch it. But let me tell you something … it is really a well-made film.
Haggis shoots the story of a father and ex-Arm sergeant (Tommy Lee Jones) like a suspense/thriller so our attention is always focused on the questions of why the kid died and who killed him. Then, the socio-political message of “war is hell” on the boys confined to it is delicately laced throughout (aside from the heavy handed last image of the film). Like all great films, this hard pill to swallow is coated in a murder mystery. What’s great about Haggis’ approach is that the mystery is not convoluted, in fact, at the end of the film I was left going, “Well of course PERSON X did it.” But he crafted such a good film that you’re mind doesn’t wander.
Susan Sarandon is under used (but brilliant) and a subplot with Charlize Theron as a single mother/detective and her child is a little underdeveloped, but Jones and the A story give this film real weight and make it a worthwhile rental.
GRADE: A-
FOOTNOTE: Haggis does something, along with John Hughes and a few other writer/directors, which really ANNOYS me. They have a separate title card for their names for WRITTEN BY and DIRECTED BY. Like their body of work is so prestigious that they deserve TWO titles for their names. It is silly, it is masturbatory, and it is a waist. If you wrote and directed something and even produced … PUT IT ON ONE TITLE CARD.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Elah Elah Elah, Eh Eh Eh
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Movie Review - King of Kong
It’s ironic, and also very true, that my first film review would involve a monkey. Well, an ape. A gorilla? Whatever Donkey Kong is, he is the main catalyst in the Picturehouse documentary King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters.
This 83-minute documentary is sort of a combination of Trekkies and Spellbound (2003), in that it is a story of Steve Wiebe (a down on his luck family man) who challenges the Donkey Kong world record holder Billy Mitchell (who kind of looks like a lion with down syndrome). Wiebe breaks the record at home but is questioned by Twin Galaxies (the national game record keepers) and their high master Walter (the love child of Andy Kaufman and Charlie Manson). Wiebe must battle the “man” and prove himself in a world where dweebs have let their tiny bit of power go to their heads.
The film is a classic battle of good vs. evil told from a completely different perspective. In the real world, Wiebe (a teacher and father of two) is the typical average guy. Mitchell, on the other hand, is the classic Geek Gone Wild! The success and power thrust upon him due to his video gaming abilities have made him into an egomaniacal monster. It is almost as if Wiebe (a one time rock ‘n roller and baseball all-star) is being punished by the inner nerd of Mitchell. Whatever the reason for both men’s journeys into the lair of Kong, the struggle makes for highly entertaining and suspenseful drama with a kick ass soundtrack that includes Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” and Joe Esposito’s “You’re The Best” (made famous by The Karate Kid).
Funny and heartbreaking, King of Kong is a simple story and for this classic arcade game enthusiast, a true love song to a time when games were simple and a quarter could buy you at least five minutes of fun.
Grade: A
