The Usual Suspects (1995)

I've actually watched this film multiple times, but I rewatched it just to make sure it was good, and look out.  It's good.  The Usual Suspects was my first Bryan Singer film and had been a childhood favorite of mine for a while.  I've loved a lot of great things in this film.  The acting, directing, story, characters, and dialogue were all phenomenal.  The film starts off slowly, giving a rather simple plot at first.  Then, many twists and turns are thrown your way and it's one hell of a ride to watch.  This entire week I've watched 8 other movies: Re-Animator (7/10), Breakfast Club (5/10), Arachnophobia rewatch (8/10), There Will Be Blood rewatch (6/10), and the next couple are not worthy of a mention, due  to their value being extremely low.  However, the Usual Suspects earns the best film of the week award, and it wasn't a close finish.  It blew the other films away.

The Usual Suspects starts off really simple.  After a truck has been hijacked and stolen, the police officers capture 5 very high profile criminals: Fenster (played by Benicio del Toro), McManus (Stephen Baldwin), Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey), Hockney (Pete P.), and Keaton (played by Gabriel Bryne).  Now, they are all very suspicious as to why they were all put in one lineup because you never put 5 very good criminals in the same lineup.  They soon find out that it is a setup, and are put there for one reason, which I won't specify.  However, they are all there because one man wants them to be there; Keyser Soze.  Keyser Soze is a myth, an urban legend, who is rarely seen.  He brings the group together, so that they can take out a huge stash of coke that a rival, Hungarian gang is selling to the Argentinians.  Of course....there is more to this plot than meets the eye, and when it comes full circle, you'll be amazed.

The best part of the Usual Suspects is the dialogue.  It's snappy, quick, and very witty at times.  The actors speak a mile a minute, so you better be paying close attention to what they say or you'll be forced to rewind the scene to get the dialogue right.  While this may not bode well with many people, this actually gives the film a huge advantage for me.  There is a lot of things to be said in this film and if they spoke at a mild pace, it would really slow the film down.  Also, there are moments of pure wit and hilarity.  When I had to rewind a scene because I missed one important line, I found a couple of funny one-liners tossed in, such as when McManus broke the fourth wall.  It's fun to know that there are some lines you'll miss, so you test yourself to see if you got it.  Many casual moviegoers will be scratching their heads trying to make sense, that is if they have slow hearing.  However, most people shouldn't really have a problem.

Another wonderful thing is the style and acting.  It's a very slickly made film, featuring Singer's typical flare that he adds to all his films.  The camera pans are stylistic and some shots are purely magical.  I love when a film can combine both style and substance into one amazing concoction of epic proportions, and this film is one of those films.  Unlike *cough*Drive*cough*, it has enough narrative smarts and more than 1 line of dialogue per scene.  And unlike Bullhead (fight me, Belgians), it has enough style to keep the film fresh and unique.  However, where the film is nearly at it's best is the acting.  All of the actors gave well rounded performances.  Gabriel Bryne as Keaton is a mix of anger and self loathing.  Benicio Del Toro has great comedic moments in his scenes, though he was more of a background character.  Stephen Baldwin gave a good performance as well.  However, the one man that stole the show....was none other than John Doe: Kevin Spacey.  I've always known Spacey was a great actor, but here, it's like on a different level.  Sure, his John Doe performance in Se7en was great.  One of the best.  However, I completely found myself more interested in Verbal Kint.  A truly unique character, with some great acting, can end up being the best thing ever.

Overall, to keep it short.  The Usual Suspects is one of my favorite films ever.  It's fast paced, fun, and filled to the brim with great dialogue.  The acting is phenomenal from all, especially Kevin Spacey.  The dialogue is spoken a little too fast at times.  And I did predict the ending, though I doubted it a couple of times.  And Benicio del Toro should've had a bigger part in it.  However, those flaws are easily outmatched by this simple, yet cunning film.  Crafted by a good director in Springer, coupled with an excellent script, this is a prime example of what crime dramas should be about.  Have a good amount of substance and tension, while throwing in some style, and you will have yourselves another classic.

9/10

Re-Animator (1985)

"I gave him life!"

Here's to some good schlocky fun!  *downs whiskey*  The 80s were a time of weird fashion trends, cheesy horror flicks, and good music.  It's a time in which I wish I had lived through, due to the sheer awesomeness of how life was like back then.  Gas was low and movies were cheese.  Maybe I would have loved this film even more if I had seen it back in the 80s, or when I was a child.  But Stuart Gordon's Re-Animator is a great horror experience that nothing from that era can ever measure up to.  It's fun, unique, and pretty gory with it's kills....like really gory.  So much at times, you may be able to cringe if you at some of the gruesome deaths, like a freaking shovel decapitation.  So, yeah, this not for weak stomachs.  But, being the guy that I am, I didn't mind it cause it seemed very 80s.  Not like that's a bad thing.  Stuart Gordon, who did Robot Jox (only the initiated will understand), crafted a film that perfectly embodies the 80s at a whole: a fun, cheesy, unique, and weird time.

 

Based on the H.P. Lovecraft book of the same name, Re-Animator focuses on Dan Cain, a doctor in training.  He studies at some medical school, where he gets hands on experience, and places dead bodies in the mortician's room.  Oh, and he's also sleeping with the dean's daughter, so that's a win-win.  Enter Herbert West, or the Re-Animator if you would.  He joins the school after something bad went down in his Switzerland-based school.  Instantly, he proves himself a genius, knowing much more about the human brain that his teacher does.  He's also a condescending little rat, who pisses off the very same teacher he's smarter than.  Anyways, he finds an ad for a roommate rent, and guess who's home it is!?  It's Cain's!  He moves in and for a while, is very quiet.  That is until Cain walks in on him re-animating a dead cat, that attacks both of them.  What works well for the film is it's imaginative premise.  It's silly and unique and it's the clear driving force of this film.  It's a huge positive that helps it avoid yawning.

Of course, as I have said, the film is super, ultra cheesy.  However, it's not the Walmart brand cheese stick.  It's actually the good kind.  The fermented one....(sorry, got carried away).  It's dialogue has that cheese-filled goofy 80s vibe to it, but it enhances the film.  If I weren't watching it on an HDTV, I'm pretty sure I would've thought that I had entered the 80s full on.  Also, while the acting from the cast as a whole is not impressive, Jeffrey Combs is actually quite entertaining as the anit-hero (yes, he's not the true villain).  He reeks of cheese, but like I said, it works for the film.  It's not a film to be taken seriously, though it does quite possibly want to speak about something.  I felt like the film wanted to speak about something (good or bad I don't know) that goes on in the medical field.  Maybe too much medical practicing can turn someone into a psychotic re-animator.  Eh, I wasn't truly understanding what it wasn't trying to tell us, but oh well, I guess it needs a rewatch.

With all the positives there can be negatives with the film as well....and it's the same thing I was praising in the previous paragraph.  The cheese in this film can sometimes go stale, but not full on Walmart brand, no!  There are some lines of dialogue that can be a little over-the-top, namely the one scene of romance in the film.  It's not like a romance in a film can suck.  It's just the things they said to each other were just corny, rather than cheesy.  For a second, I thought this film would devolve into the Notebook.  Also, the characters seem to be able to cope with things much better than the average person can.  If someone killed my father and re-animated him, I'd be pissed off to the point of no return.  Yet, the character handled it pretty well in this film.  Also, the same goes for the cat.  I would kick that man out of my home if he did that.  It's just a little to gleefully cheesy at times.

Overall, Re-Animator is a good time for a Friday or Saturday night.  It's fun, campy, cheesy, and gory.  The deaths are a little over-the-top, but it helps in a film this creative.  Also, Cabin in the Woods, you know that film that came out in '12, ripped this film's final act off so bad.  You can see an obvious style in the final act that Cabin had as well, and quite honestly, that really helps this film.  Usually, when a film inspires another film, whether that other film is sub-par or not, it helps that film that came out first.  And considering it's a 20 year time difference, I'm pretty sure that it was coincidence.  However, enough with all this "borrowed" inspiration.  The Re-Animator is a perfect example of cheese done right, unlike the original Evil Dead.  It's humor at times may be too deadpan, but in the end, it really does make for a great film.

7/10

Cinema Paradiso (1988)

Well, maybe I was in full fanboyism when I first gave it the score of 9/10.  I was wrong.  Don't get me wrong!  Giuseppe Tornatore's Cinema Paradiso (or Nuovo Cinema Paradiso) is a good film.  Definitely better than a lot of the schlock that comes out now-a-days.  However, while the first two acts are amazing.  When Salvatore becomes a teen, the film just falls apart.  I'm sorry, but this film easily went from a cinema loving film, a love note to cinema, to just becoming a sappy romance story with little meat.  I mean, there's nothing wrong with romance films (Hey, my favorite film of all time is a romance film).  But I just was expecting much more than what I got.  This is a classic case of hype really killing a film.  It's a shame too because I was enjoying the first half.

Nuovo Cinema Paradiso is in short, a tribute to film in general.  The story follows the life of a boy named Salvatore, who lives in a small town in Italy.  He works as an altar boy and goes to Catholic school, but he has no interest in either of those.  What he does have an interest in is the art of cinema.  He sneaks into his local movie theater, where he watches the uncut version of the film.  Then, on release day, nearly everyone in town gathers to watch the censored version.  Salvatore (or Toto for short) is so enticed that he sneaks into the projector room, where he meets Alfredo, the man in charge of running the film.  Alfredo teaches Toto the ways of cinema and Salvatore grows up to become a well known film director.  Most of the film is based on Tornatore's life experiences as a child, and how he grew up to become a director.

Now, I'll start off with the things I loved about this film.  First off, the film is excellently shot.  Tornatore creates wonderful angles for us to enjoy this experience, and he incorporates archival footage of the films Toto watched as a kid.  There's a magical flare that is present throughout the first half, giving us what cinema is truly about: a graceful, majestic art.  The first half is easily the more charming half as well.  It features likable characters, witty dialogue, and some very humorous moments within it.  I can't tell you how much I laughed at that crazy lunatic who runs people out of the town square.  The film is also marvelously acted.  You know, I've never watched a child actor with half as much charm and charisma than Salvatore Cascio has when he plays the young Toto.  The rest of the supporting cast is great as well, including Philippe Noiret as Alfredo.  Then....the final act comes in.

The final act is not necessarily bad, but it's just a little too sappy.  Whereas the first act focused on Toto as a child and when he learned the art of film, the second act focuses more on his love.  The humor also noticeably dies down as well, causing this uneven tonal shift.  It hurts the movie a lot and really slows down what could've been the best film ever.  Cynical jerks, who hate romances a lot, may be turned off by this rather sappy romance.  But for me, I really didn't mind it.  It's just too reminiscent of......The Notebook(Gosling's worst film of all time, mind you) However, the acting is still just as great, even though only 2 actors were added.  

Overall, the film was basically killed by the hype, in my honest opinion.  The first two acts are easily the better half, and the last one dissolves into The Notebook.  I can't believe that such a great film can have such a weak ending.  However, if you look past the cheesy romance, you will find the true gems of this film.  It's well acted, features great acting, and is nostalgic.  Even though I didn't live in the 50s, the film does make me reminisce of a time in which I did not exist.  It's sweet and enjoyable, with a great sense of humor, though it can be a tad much (Those boys were doing what in the theater?) (o_0)....Anyways, it's a good, not great film, and should be watched by any film lover....except people who hate love stories.

7/10

Mock Film Posters/Ideas

Sometimes I don't want to review films, but my mind is still on movies.  I get very bored with not being able to watch a movie, so I make my own.  I make movie ideas up, and if I like the idea, I'll make a poster, add some actors to it, and viola!  It's done.  So, without further ado, here are some cool film ideas/poster I made.

Arcology (Sci Fi)

Set in a dystopian future, this sci fi flick follows the event of 3 successful business makers, who create an arcology.  An arcology is a new form of living.  It's a massive building that holds entire habitats within it's walls.  The 3 men who build this building all become rich and successful.  However, one of the businessmen (played by Sam Rockwell) becomes corrupt, abusing his power.  This leads to many riots, causing the murders of many civilians.  Disturbed by this, the other two businessmen leave their power behind and start a group of rebels prepared to attack their once best friend.  Starring, Sam Rockwell, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Affleck, Ryan Gosling, Aaron Paul, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Denzel Washington, and Tom Cruise.  It will be directed by Duncan Jones, who did Moon (2009) and Source Code (2011).

Earth (Sci Fi)

Summer, 2013.  The world enjoys a peaceful summer afternoon when aliens have attacked and conquered Earth.  They subjugate the people of Earth to numerous tortures and deaths.  After all seems bleak the people of Earth, one man is found to be the savior of Earth.  Starring, Jaime Foxx.  

Bloody Fig Newtons (Horror/Comedy)

All is quiet in the town of Jacksonville, Florida.  That is until an evil cult starts worshipping Satan.  Following a brief skirmish with officers Dan and Johnny, the cult leader escapes to an abandoned Fig Newtons factory, which conveniently has 50 boxes of Fig Newtons inside.  Using his black magic, he ends up sending the devil and his dominion's souls into the Fig Newtons.  Filled with evil and anger, the delightful treat soon starts taking it's anger out on the town, causing mass hysteria.  Follow officers Dan and Johnny as they attempt to escape this horrible realm.  Director: Me.  Starring: John Travolta, Jeff Goldblum, Nathan Fillion, and Morgan Freeman as the Devil.  

Man of Tai Chi (2013)

When we think of Keanu Reeves, we mostly see the Matrix or Speed or Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.  However, one thing I think we could agree that the one thing we didn't expect from him is to direct a feature length film.  Man of Tai Chi is Keanu's first and hopefully last film.  It's completely devoid of likable characters, cool action scenes, or decent acting.  So you might be wondering why the score is a 5/10 instead of a 1/10....Well, the film is funny, and not the good kind.  There are many laughable moments, especially near the end, and it really makes the experience much easier.  Keanu Reeves probably saw this as an action film, but I saw it as a comedy.  Nothing good comes from that.

Man of Tai Chi is about Tiger Chen, a young, innocent martial artist.  He works at the post office and doubles as a master of Tai Chi in his palace.  Running low on money, the palace is about to be closed and Tiger is running straight into debt.  So he enters a fight tournament and comes in first.  Now, Tai Chi isn't used as a fighting technique, but rather a technique used for peace within yourself.  They mention this once and it's never brought up again.  Anyways, Tiger's performance has attracted the eyes of a huge business man played by none other than Keanu Reeves.  Reeves meets with Tiger and gives him an option: You fight for him or leave.  Desperately needing money, Tiger joins "Fight Club".

The film is bad, nothing more and nothing less.  When the best actor in this film is Keanu Reeves, you know your film is gonna suck.  Everything was phoned in and the script was clearly made in under a month.  This wouldn't bother me if the film had cool fight scenes, right?  Well, sorta.  The first fight was okay.  It gets your pulse moving somewhat.  However, after that, it all went down hill.  The fights just seemed ultra repetitive and don't get me started on the "super powers" these guys have.  You heard me right.  These guys do the strangest jumps and punches.  They even threw in a Kamehameha, even though it was more of air than blue dust.  I mean, I don't mind it, seeing as I found Hero and House of the Flying Daggers to be decent.  However, I get really sick of the flying and terrible choreograph.

Oh, and speaking of choreography....OMG!  The last fight scene was just hilarious.  I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my life.  You shouldn't watch this film and they even spoiled it in the trailer, so I'll tell you what happens.  Anyways, a huge falling out occurs between Tiger and Keanu.  So, like Keanu always does, he confronts Tiger, leading to a fight at Tiger's temple.  Oh, how I've never laughed this loud before.  Watching Keanu's stupid face trying to do kung fu is just.......just too funny!  And then, they give Keanu superpowers, like semi-flying and super strength.  Oh, and there's a moment where Keanu does a drop kick on Tiger and land perfectly......That's easily the best part cause it was too obvious that there was wire work going on and.....YOU JUST HAVE TO SEE IT!

All in all, don't believe the hype.  Man of Tai Chi definitely doesn't deserve the 70% it has on RT right now.  The acting is atrocious.  I mean seriously, the best actor throughout this film is Keanu.  That's a sign that it isn't good.  The plot is involving, which is a shame cause it could have been a somewhat decent character study.  I mean, to see a man go from good to evil would be nice.  However, it never utilized it at all.  The action scenes are completely second rate.  This would be child's play to someone like Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Donnie Yen, or any other martial artists.  The special effects are seriously some of the worst I've seen, especially the terrible wire work on Keanu's drop kick.  This film just doesn't work....at all, except on one standard.  If you and your friends have nothing to do on a Friday night, turn this film on and enjoy a huge roasting session.  As a comedy, this film is gold.  As what it wants to be (a full throttle actionier), it fails miserably.

5/10