Eric's Movie Party!

March Netflix Recommendations!

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:25:00 -0500

Documentary

The Imposter is a surprisingly suspenseful documentary with a deadly twist! This film depicts how a French con man pulled off one of the most notorious impersonations in history, and somehow lived to tell about it. A must see for all fans of well-made documentaries and mind-exploding stories.

Television: Comedy

Bob’s Burgers is the cartoon comedy brain-child of Loren Bouchard (Dr. Katz, Home Movies). Featuring voices from H. John Benjamin, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, and Kristen Schaal, this show is a cavalcade of quirky characters and brilliant writing that true comedy fans don’t want to miss the boat on… and it’s not too late! Bob’s Burgers is currently in it’s 3rd season, and season 1 is on Netflix Streaming for your viewing pleasure!

Music

Throw Down Your Heart follows banjo extraordinaire Bela Fleck on his journey to the birthplace of the banjo, Africa. World music fans will drool over the plethora of jam footage, as Fleck attempts to find a place for the banjo in traditional African music.

Indie

My personal favorite Indie flick of 2012, Safety Not Guaranteed, is a brief yet dense and optimistic tale of adventure, drama, and comedy. Perhaps my favorite performance by both Mark Duplass and Aubrey Plaza in a film, and a must-see for literally anyone who enjoys a uplifting cinematic experiences.

Stay tuned for more recommendations and reviews in the future.

This Is 40 (2012)

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 17:09:00 -0500

This is 40 is Judd Apatow’s fourth directed film (after The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and Funny People) and is the “sort-of sequel” to Knocked Up. Well, actually, it’s more of a spin off that takes place years later since the main characters of Knocked Up are only just mentioned in the film and now it is their supporting characters Pete and Debbie (Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann) who are the stars. The film follows the Los Angeles married couple as they approach their fortieth birthdays and provides a hilarious and, at times, brutally honest depiction of the personal and marital tension that ultimately leads to Pete’s cupcake addiction and hiding in the bathroom to play Words With Friends and escape from his family, and Debbie smoking and threatening a young boy. Apatow also wrote and co-produced the film and his two children Maude and Iris play the kids of Pete and Debbie. This Is 40 was released on December 21st.

This is a smart comedy in that it will be seen and hopefully liked by not only the twenty-something comedy nerd demographic, but also by their parents. Now look, I am still years away from experiencing the big 4-0, but judging by the hilariously awkward situations the two leads get themselves into and the continuous family drama this is a realistic portrayal of what might happen when a married couple with two kids turn forty and this is clearly a somewhat personal film for Apatow. There is one scene where Rudd asks Mann’s character to look at his anus because he is a fraid he has a “worm”… it is hilarious! But along with the plethora of funny dished out in This is 40, there is also a rather large serving of drama on the side. Besides simultaneously going through a midlife crises, the couple must deal with their uninvolved fathers, hormonal teenage daughter, and Pete’s failing record label, among other problems.

This is 40 also has a great cast. Rudd is a convincing protagonist. You feel worse for the guy with each cupcake he sneaks into his mouth when no one is looking. And he fits the stuck-in-his-own-generation record label owner well. The Rudd-Mann dynamic is quite entertaining as well. But aside from the two leads the film also features Jason Segel as Debbie’s personal trainer, Charlyne Yi as her pilled-out employee, John Lithgow as her father, and Albert Brooks as Pete’s father, to name a few.

What this film lacks is a stronger plot. It is literally just about two people turning forty, which is not a bad premise for a comedy, but it doesn’t necessarily warrent a 134 minute running time.

Overall This Is 40 is worth a watch… A funny and all-around entertaining production!

EMP Rating: 30/40

Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 12:59:42 -0500

From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes an animated comedy that’s fun for the whole family! Wreck-It Ralph takes place in an arcade game universe where video game characters roam free amongst Game Central Station after-hours. When Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) from the game Fix-It Felix, Jr. gets fed up with being the bad guy, he “goes Turbo” and jumps games in order to try and earn a medal for himself, however he clumsily releases a Cy-Bug from Hero’s Duty which threatens the entire arcade. The film hit theaters in early November and also stars Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, and Jane Lynch, and was directed by Rich Moore of The Simpsons and Futurama fame.

Wreck-It Ralph provides a unique common-ground between a fun kids movie and a witty comedy riddled with one-liners and references for the older folks. The film has an ultimately positive message and is just simply a delightful ride from start to finish, providing plenty of hilarious moments, suspense, and video game references that are sure to tickle the chuckle-bone of any nerd who sees it. For example, in the beginning of the film Ralph is at a support group for video game villains with such bad guys as Bowser and Doctor Eggman… it’s hilarious! And on top of all this, the animation is spectacular and there are a boat-load of great voice over actors!

Reilly is perfect for the lead, but Silverman steals the show as the loveable hoodlum Vanellope Von Schweetz who is a “glitch” but swears she just has “pixelitis.” And as Ralph puts it: “Who doesn’t love a brat with dirty hair?” And in addition to McBrayer, who plays the video game protagonist Fix-It Felix, and Lynch, who plays the bad-ass Sergeant Calhoun from Hero’s Duty, there are some other great voices by Alan Tudyk, Mindy Kaling, Joe Lo Truglio, Adam Carolla, and many more!

Go see this movie. It’s enjoyable for everyone and it is truly funny. Also, the Paperman animated short in the beginning is pretty enjoyable as well!

EMP Rating: 8/10

Argo (2012)

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:43:32 -0500

Ben Affleck returns to the directors chair for his third directed film Argo, following Gone Baby Gone (2007) and The Town (2010), only this time there are no Boston accents. Argo, a thriller based on a 1980 covert operation in which former CIA agent Tony Mendez attempts to rescue six endangered Americans from Iran via Hollywood, stars Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, and John Goodman. The film was co-produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov and was released in October of this year.

Affleck has now officially established himself as a solid director in my mind. The big question was whether or not he could make a film that steps outside of the familiar Boston setting, and he nailed it. With a story this strong, the suspense is already there. It begins with a rather fast-paced set up in the very beginning of the film. But it is the true depiction of the time period, impressive film-making technique, and strong casting that makes this an even more impressive production.

Cranston’s performance is as expected, a not too unfamiliar character, though the performance is particularly impressive towards the end. Arkin and Goodman add a little comic relief as they portray a film producer and make-up artist who help Mendez with his elaborate cover. And Affleck is good, but I can think of others who would have filled the lead characters shoes better. I mean, just because you directed it it doesn’t mean that you have to star in it, Ben!

Argo’s thrilling story makes for a great film, though the ending drags on a bit too long. You know what’s going to happen, and convenient setbacks to the protagonists mission get slightly annoying, though it finally leads to a satisfying finish.

All in all this is a well-crafted and entertaining film with loads of suspense. I recommend that you Argo see it for yourself.

EMP Rating: 8/10

Samsara (2011)

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 12:05:00 -0500

Director Ron Fricke and producer Mark Magidson, who collaborated on 1992’s Baraka, bring their next documentary of a similar ilk, Samsara, to the big screen. The film was in production for five years, showcasing footage and images from 25 different countries, sending the reader on a narration-less journey to explore the advancements and flaws in human civilization. Without dialogue, written or spoken, the breathtaking and sometimes shocking images are paired with an equally as adventurous score composed by Michael Stearns, Lisa Gerrard, and Marcello De Francisci. Samsara premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September of 2011 and can now be seen on a limited number of screens around the US.

This is a film that you really have to be in the mood for and have a good idea of what you are getting into. You may assume that a documentary without dialogue may be a a low-key, relaxing experience with little thinking involved, but this movie provides quite the opposite. Samsara has a strong message no doubt, though it is not entirely clear. The filmmakers have let the visually brilliant imagery and complex score lead the way as the viewer draws their own interpretation. A truly intriguing movie-going experience and a great change of pace from today’s cinema if you ask me.

The footage, shot on 70mm film, is a collage of human civilization and some of the most fascinating parts of the world, starting with ancient religious monuments to vast foreign landscapes and progressing towards a fairly shocking view of today’s society, displaying images of things like the inside of a gun manufacturing plant and natural disasters. There are a lot of images you will see in Samsara that you definitely will not see anywhere else. A time lapse technique is also used a lot in this film, and it is used very well. Also the content is put together very well. You can tell that a lot of time went into this production.

Though Samsara went in a slightly different direction than I anticipated, it is a powerful production that makes you think about things that you normally wouldn’t think about. Maybe there is a hidden agenda, I wouldn’t be surprised, but in my experience this movie has no real opinion of its own and its message is up to ones own interpretation. This is one to see, if not just for the visually spectacular presentation.

EMP Rating: 7/10

The Comedy (2012)

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 12:19:45 -0400

Directed and co-written by Rick Alverson, The Comedy is a comedy-drama about a 35-year-old Brooklyn hipster named Swanson (Tim Heidecker) and his lack of concern for the wealth he will soon inherit from his fathers passing and his struggle with basic human interaction. Also featured in the film: Heidecker’s comedy partner Eric Wareheim, former LCD Soundsystem front-man James Murphy, and Gregg Turkington a.k.a. Neil Hamburger. The film premeired at the 2012 Sundance film festival and is currently available on iTunes on demand. Theatrical release is scheduled for November 9th.

Despite the title and cast of comedic actors, The Comedy is a fairly dark drama littered with dry and whacky humor. Heidecker, whose character is an extremely unlikable hipster, showcases fantastic deadpan skill while delivering an array of darkly humorous dialogue and tom foolery in a straight-faced way. His buddies in the film are just like him: bearded alcoholics in their mid-thirties who spend their time drinking, biking, and harassing the innocent.

The fault of this film is its plot, or lack there of. Nothing really happens, there’s no story, and definitely no pay off. But that is not to say that this movie is not worth watching. Its low-energy portrayal of a fascinating social clique is intriguing, you just spend the whole time expecting something else to happen.

Though not necessarily a comedy, The Comedy has some hilarious, clearly very improvised scenes. From blowing out prayer candles at church to harassing cab drivers, these are characters who clearly stopped maturing in high school. But the story centered around Heidecker’s character is pretty depressing, though his aforementioned attributes make him impossible to root for.

I would think a fan of alternative comedy might find some enjoyment in this film, and perhaps I just didn’t get it and The Comedy is actually a brilliant piece of art. But either way be prepared for a dark film with little story.

EMP Rating: 6/10

Halloween (1978)

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 14:16:00 -0400

EMP Note: To all Eric’s Movie Party readers, thank you for your continued support and movie nerd-dom. We couldn’t have done it without ya! For our 100th review, and in lieu of it being the spookiest day of the year <werewolf howling> I have decided to revisit an all-time favorite of mine, the original Halloween! Enjoy!

Halloween is an independent slasher/horror film directed, produced, and scored by John Carpenter. Co-written by Debra Hill, the film is set in the fictitious town of Haddonfield, IL on Halloween, 1978, exactly fifteen years after local legend Michael Myers stabbed his sister to death. When Myers escapes from the loony bin, the whole town of Haddonfield is in danger, but especially teenager Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her friends. The film also stars Donald Pleasence as Dr. Sam Loomis, Myers’ obsessive psychiatric doctor. Since its 1978 release Halloween has spawned seven sequels and two remakes, and is said to be the first in a long line of slasher films, particularly in the 1980s. It is one of the most profitable indie films of all time and has influenced countless movies in the slasher and horror genre.

This is a true classic, the kind of movie that one can watch every year around Halloween and never get sick of. Just like how I watch The Santa Claus staring Tim Allen every Christmas! OK maybe I shouldn’t have admitted that. But Halloween still does and probably always will hold up which is simply due to genius film-making. Carpenter’s Hitchcock-inspired directing style makes what could have just been a forgettable gore-fest a story and cast-driven masterpiece. The camera work is exceptional, redefining the way suspense is created in cinema via influential techniques such as the first person perspective of Myers murdering his sister in the beginning of the film. And despite how gut-wrenchingly frightening this movie is there is hardly any gore, yet there is more suspense than in even the bloodiest of horror flicks.

Halloween is also the breakout role for Jamie Lee Curtis whose performance as the good girl in a group of teenage friends is convincing and exceptional for a first role. And Pleasence could not be more perfect for the role of Dr. Loomis. Pretty much all of the performances are great considering the low budget. You can tell that everyone involved was passionate about the film, which always results in a better production.

One of the most notable elements of the film is its minimalistic score by Carpenter himself. Not only does it perfectly match the films mood and elevate the suspense, its creepy 5/4 time theme has become an iconic piece of cinematic music.

If you have never seen the original Halloween, you must have been living on another planet all of your life. This is a must-see, not just because it’s a classic and everyone says it is, but because it is an important part of cinematic history and a damn good horror flick! In Halloween the scares just get scarier, and no scene is safe. They just don’t make ‘em like they used to…

EMP Rating: 9/10

Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 22:29:24 -0400

Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost return to the directors chair for the forth installment of the Paranormal Activity franchise: Paranormal Activity 4. Written by Zack Estrin, the film picks up several years after Paranormal Activity 2 and focuses on a family of four in Nevada who take it upon themselves to babysit a creepy neighborhood kid named Robbie (Brady Allen) when his mom has an unexplained accident. When spooky things begin to happen around the house after Robbie’s appearance, Alex (Kathryn Newtton) and her whacky boyfriend Ben (Matt Shively) do a little investigating and set up cameras around the house. Paranormal Activity 4 was released in theaters and IMAX on October 17th.

It’s inevitable that these movies will keep coming out simply because people keep going to see them. And though I feel that the franchise has one good sequel left in it, Paranormal Activity 4 is definitely not it. But say what you will about lame story lines, frustrating characters, and cheap scares, These movies are still great when seen in the right setting. The acting never has to be good because it is found footage, and the found footage style does add to the spookiness when done right.

I always find it interesting to see what the source of the footage is supposed to be in these films. The first three tell you why the main character has a video camera in the first place, i.e. they are a wedding videographer or they just got a new camera. But in Paranormal Activity 4 they don’t even bother to explain why this teenage girl is waltzing around with a camera in the first place. When Alex becomes suspicious she has her boyfriend set up all of the computers in her house to record video at all times after she finds out that he has been recording their iChat conversations. So the footage comes from an unexplained handheld camera, iChat conversations, laptops laying around the house that for some reason are never turned off, and an Xbox Kinect with the green motion sensors on, which is actually pretty spooky at first, though the blatant product placement is beyond lame.

The storyline in this one is probably the worst yet. Part of this is due to the fact that we have seen it all before. Nothing new or impressive is introduced and the ending is weak. The characters seem too relaxed for the situation they are in and besides Alex and Ben the characters are too one-dimentional and unlikable. You don’t necessarily find yourself rooting for the family to survive. I would really like to see one of these films with a more middle-class and relate-able family. An old, creeky house setting rather than a generic new upper-class home might add some suspense and believability.

In summation, expect poor story telling and a bunch of stuff we’ve already seen in the first three. Oh, and an Xbox Kinect! Though this movie is scary at times and also pretty entertaining. And hey, if you’ve already seen the first three you may as well see this one. The overarching story between the four is actually kind of clever and sets up for plenty of sequels. Not that great, but I’ll keep seeing ‘em.

EMP Rating: 5/10

Frankenweenie (2012)

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 12:47:39 -0400

Frankenweenie is a black and white 3D stop motion Frankenstein spoof directed by Tim Burton. The film is a remake of Burton’s 1984 short film with the same name about a young scientist named Victor Frankenstein who uses electricity to revive his dead dog Sparky. The comedy-horror was released by Walt Disney Pictures on October 5th.

Yes, it’s another Tim Burton remake, but luckily it is a remake of one of his earlier works. Original Burton ideas always make for a better Burton film, history has proven that. And Frankenweenie’s charming original story set in a quirky, demented world is refreshing for fans of the director’s work. This film is a mildly humorous parody with a dark side about a boy coping with the death of his beloved canine. The message is sweet and the premise is simple: two key attributes of a good children’s movie. Though I don’t know how well this film would go over with younger kids. Quite frankly there are some scenes that would have terrified me as a child, but then again I always have been kind of a sissy.

The stop motion animation is impressive and the black and white serves the mood and parody aspect well. Although the 3D is completely unnecessary and black and white seems weird in IMAX. Frankenweenie also features some swell voice overs by Charlie Tahan, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Winona Ryder, Tom Kenny, and more! And the score by Danny Elfman is well-crafted and elevates the film’s tone nicely.

Though not one of Burton’s best works, Frankenweenie delivers a fun little story with a heartfelt message, some laughs, and mild suspense.

EMP Rating: 7/10

V/H/S (2012)

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 16:35:00 -0400

V/H/S is an anthology horror film composed of six found footage stories, each with a different director. The film premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in January and can now be found on demand on iTunes and in a limited number of theaters around the country. Conceptually this is a clever anthology horror. The found footage style is no doubt overused these days but it does seem to be most effective in the horror genre, adding a more realistic perspective when done right.

The stories in V/H/S vary in quality, and two of them are just plain bad, but the VHS theme is actually pretty cool, despite a plethora of logical flaws. There are plenty of moments in the film where I found myself wondering “why is this even being taped?” and “who would even put a series of recorded webcam video on a VHS tape in the 21st century?” And overall the film is dark, crude, and utterly bizarre in some cases, and the production as a whole overstays its welcome by a good 15 minutes (it is a two hour movie…). However, V/H/S provides plenty of bone-chilling scares and innovations to the found footage style with each of its six stories:

“Tape 56” Directed by Adam Wingard

This is the main story, the one that sets up the other shorts and progresses between them. It starts with a group of criminals whose leader proposes that they move on from molesting women and breaking into houses on camera and take on a higher paying gig which involves stealing a VHS tape from a spooky old house in the middle of nowhere. When the gang finds a dead man in a room full of VHS tapes and TV sets displaying white static they must sort through the tapes to find the right one, thus leading to the other stories.

I have no problem with this setup, in fact it’s pretty clever, and as this individual story progresses suspense builds nicely, though its plot is simple and predictable.

“Amateur Night” Directed by David Bruckner

If you like watching bros getting savagely killed, then you will love this story! And they aren’t just bros, they are super-bros, the kind who do blow and chug brews while they spend all night trying to get women to come back to the hotel room they rented for that very purpose. Too bad they picked up a blood-thirsty succubus without knowing it….

What is unique about this one is the footage is taken from a glasses-cam worn by one of the bros. This is one of the better stories despite its lame finish.

“Second Honeymoon” Directed by Ti West

A couples second honeymoon gets spooky after they use a fortune telling machine like the one in the movie Big… A suspenseful story with a bizarre and slightly confusing twist.

“Tuesday the 17th” Directed by Glenn McQuaid

This is where the stories go from spooky and interesting to just plain dumb. Four friends are led into the woods by their friend Wendy so that she can lure a mysterious killer who murdered her friends years ago. Not only is this one sloppy and uninteresting, it seems to have been build around some cheesy effect as the killer is some kind of ridiculous supernatural figure that can only be seen as a staticy outline of a man on camera. How convenient!

“The Sick Thing That Happened To Emily When She Was Younger” directed by Joe Swanberg

First of all, a horrible and annoying title, so I guess it fits this story perfectly. This footage is taken from a video chat between a woman who thinks her apartment is haunted and her boyfriend who is “away” for some reason… If I understood any more of the plot beyond this point, I would extrapolate, but this story transforms into an amateurish piece of garbage very quickly.

“10/31/98” Directed by Radio Silence

It’s a shame that this one is all the way at the end when the viewer has most likely already lost interest, I know I did, because this is probably the best of the six. It’s a fun, over-the-top haunted house/exorcism gone wrong story set on Halloween!

As I said before, the concept of V/H/S is great, however I wouldn’t say that any of the stories are much better than mediocre. Though it has its moments and the film definitely delivers the scares one would assume to find in an anthology horror. I look forward to the sequel: D/V/D.

EMP Rating: 6/10

Winter's Bone (2010)

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 13:03:22 -0400

Winter’s Bone is an independent drama written and directed by Debra Granik and adapted from the 2006 novel with the same name by Daniel Woodrell. Set in the Ozarks, the film stars Jennifer Lawrence as seventeen-year-old Ree Dolly whose father’s absence has left her no choice but to take care of her two younger siblings and mentally ill mother by herself. When her meth-cooking father Jessup skips bail, Ree must interrogate her violent, meth-addicted family members as to her fathers where-abouts in order to keep the run-down home that he had put up for his bond. Winter’s Bone won several awards including the Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic Film and Best Screenplay Award at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.

Granik has taken a dark, disturbing story with little room for hope and created an aesthetically brilliant thriller. Despite the “drama” label this movie is as suspenseful as any, only instead of fight scenes and explosions, the intensity stems from a strong story and marvelous performances. That’s right, I used the word marvelous.

Lawrence is the hero in this seemingly hopeless tale of poverty and crime, and she plays the part exceptionally well. They should put her in more movies based on books! I kid. John Hawkes also has a phenomenal performance in the film playing Ree’s violent, meth-addicted uncle Teardrop.

This is not a happy movie, in fact it gets pretty uncomfortable to watch at times, and it only gets darker until its refreshing conclusion. I found that Granik really created a bleak and lonely depiction of the Ozarks and the setting acts as a character all its own. Everything about this movie seems so real and untamed and it is a must see, though prepare yourself for the depressing subject matter.

Winter’s Bone can be found on Netflix streaming.

EMP Rating: 9/10

Insidious (2012)

Sat, 06 Oct 2012 13:48:08 -0400

Insidious is an independent horror film written by Leigh Whannell and directed by James Wan of the Saw franchise fame. The film focuses on a family of five who moves into a spooky old house. When Renai and Josh Lambert’s (Rose Byrne, Patrick Wilson) son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) goes into an inexplicable coma, supernatural events begin to take place. Insidious was released on April 1, 2011.

For this horror spectacular, Wan and Whannell cut back on the blood-curdling gore and gross-out tricks and focus on a more psychological and truly unpredictable story. Insidious starts as one of those classic haunted house scenarios we all know too well, the kind where you find yourself screaming in anger at the screen for the main characters to just get out of the damn house already, however a delicious twist is soon introduced that adds a new element of horror. Without spoiling anything I will say that this is one to see for anyone looking to get spooked. But wear your least favorite pair of pants because no scene is safe in this spine-tingling thrill ride.

The acting is as good as it needs to be. I mean, who really notices the acting in a horror flick unless it’s really, really bad, right? Like the guy who plays the dad in The Possession. He was terrible. Oh, and this is the first movie I have seen that uses Tiny Tim’s “Tiptoe Through The Tulips” the only way that it should be used… to scare the crap out of you.

As long as you can get past a few slightly illogical plot points, this is a very fun movie for its genre. Insidious is available on Netflix streaming. Prepare to get spooked!

EMP Rating: 7.5/10

The Master (2012)

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:50:00 -0400

Directed, written, and co-produced by Paul Thomas Anderson (Magnolia, There Will Be Blood) The Master is a drama about Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix), an alcoholic World War II vet suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and his drunken discovery of a religious movement known as The Cause led by Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Despite Dodd’s belief that he can help Freddie, the rest of The Cause, including Dodd’s wife Peggy (Amy Adams), thinks him to be psychotic or an undercover agent. The film premiered at the 69th Venice International Film Festival in September of this year.

The Master is a masterpiece (pun intended) on par with Anderson’s previous film: There Will Be Blood. A powerful, cinematically brilliant work of art with eerily outstanding performances. Though the biggest difference is the less coherent story line. This film’s subject matter is intriguing by itself… a WWII vet struggling with alcoholism, PTSD, and the inability to adapt to a post-war society gets mixed up in a cult. Now that’s entertainment! But the sometimes confusing story leaves behind a good deal of unanswered questions.

Anderson made some great cinematic choices to match the heavy mood and content of the film. This movie is hypnotizing in its aesthetics and it’s score, composed by Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead, aligns with the tone and makes an already captivating film even more mesmerizing.

Performance-wise all is great. But Phoenix’s commitment makes for an almost disturbingly real portrayal of a truly complicated character. This film also features perhaps Hoffman’s best performance yet as he plays the deceivingly charismatic leader of The Cause who develops an almost brotherly connection to Freddie. Also I found Adams to be perfectly cast and she plays the part of the dedicated wife of a cult-leader so well that she almost makes the whole thing seem rational or even normal.

I was very intrigued by The Cause itself and would have liked to know more about it’s formation. The story begins when the movement has already been established and Dodd is writing his second book. Though Anderson’s realistic approach to The Cause is what makes it so unnerving.

Like I said, The Master leaves the viewer with plenty of unanswered questions, but maybe that is what it was intended to do. Either way this film is absolutely worth seeing.

EMP Rating: 8/10

Submarine (2010)

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 12:49:10 -0400

British Comedy-drama Submarine is the directorial debut of Richard Ayoade. The film, also written by Ayoade who adapted it from the novel with the same name by Joe Dunthorne, is set in 1986 and stars Craig Robers as fifteen-year-old Oliver Tate and follows him as he attempts to rekindle his parents (Sally Hawkins, Noah Taylor) relationship and lose his virginity before he turns sixteen. Oliver is love-struck by the mischievous yet oddly mature Jordana (Yasmin Paige), though he struggles to balance his own love life with his parents lack of one. Submarine premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival.

Having only seen Ayoade’s goofy side in The IT Crowd and The Watch, I was intrigued to see what his movie would be like. Somewhat surprisingly, Submarine is a heartfelt tale of adolescence and innocent young love. Oliver’s struggle with his parents drifting apart is very real. He monitors their sex, forges love letters, and even stalks his mom to see if she is having an affair. And his relationship with the likeably bizarre Jordana is smile-inducing at its highs and tragic at its lows. Both Paige and Robers are fantastic.

Everything about this movie works, and the overall production was a pleasant surprise to me. Also, the film features original music from Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys, which fits the innocent indie vibe perfectly.

This might be a good date movie. Oh, and it’s on Netflix streaming!

EMP Rating: 7.5/10

3, 2, 1... Frankie Go Boom (2012)

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 01:36:00 -0400

Directed by Jordan Roberts and starring Lizzy Caplan, Chris O’Dowd, and Charlie Hunnam, 3, 2, 1… Frankie Go Boom is a comedy about Frank Bartlett, a loner who has been ridiculed on film by his wannabe-director brother Bruce his whole life. When Bruce finally gets off of drugs and starts to turn his life around, he makes a sex tape of Frank and the daughter of a dangerous movie star without them knowing it. Oh and things get worse when the video is uploaded to the internet. The film is available on iTunes on demand and will hit theaters on October 12.

This movie is as mediocre as its title is annoying. As a fan of O’Dowd and Caplan, I was mildly entertained, but as a fan of comedy and laughter I was sorta board. The humor is crude and one can expect maybe a few chuckles, but certainly no knee-slapping moments or memorable lines.

Oh, and did I mention Ron Perlman plays a transsexual named Phyllis… which should be hilarious right?? But it’s not really. Believe it or not Ron Perlman in drag is kind of disturbing.

Though O’Dowd plays the part of a born jackass who can’t help but do wrong to his brother quite well. And Hunnam and Caplan’s chemistry is decent.

3, 2, 1… Frankie Go Boom is nothing special, but it is also not a BAD movie. The plot is simple, yet sets up for mild hilarity and awkward moments.

EMP Rating: 5/10

Sleepwalk With Me (2012)

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 13:15:25 -0400

Based on his one-man off-Broadway show, Sleepwalk With Me was written by, directed by, and stars comedian Mike Birbiglia. The film is part autobiographical and part fictional and follows Birbiglia as he struggles to establish himself as a professional stand-up comedian while also dealing with family and relationship issues and the ignorance of his sleepwalking disorder which becomes increasingly dangerous with the pressure. Sleepwalk With Me premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and won the Best of NEXT Audience Award.

Birbiglia did a great job portraying how a sleepwalking disorder can go horribly wrong when ignored in a very realistic way while also making light of his problems via comedy. The film is narrated by Birbiglia giving it the autobiographical vibe. His narration seems very honest, almost like a confession at times, and at one point he even reminds the audience that “you’re on my side.”

Aside from the increasing concern of his family, the film also deals with Birbiglia’s struggling relationship with his girlfriend Abby (Lauren Ambrose), who is still waiting for him to pop the question after eight years. The two create the chemistry of a clearly flawed relationship and Birbiglia’s parents, played by Carol Kane and James Rebhorn, are great as well.

I also found the stand-up element to be very realistic. The film goes from Birbiglia bombing at open mics to getting his first paid gig at a sparsely attended college show to booking so many shows that it begins to take a toll on his relationship and well-being.

Sleepwalk With Me is a truly unique look at the trials and tribulations of a truly unique comic with an unfortunate condition. This movie is really funny and at times utterly heart-breaking. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it and was pleasantly surprised. There are also appearances from names like David Wain, Marc Maron, and more.

Not only is this an Indie worth seeing, but it is the type of film that deserves the support. A must-see for anyone interested in stand-up and/or sleep disorders.

EMP Rating: 8/10

Adaptation (2002)

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:51:50 -0400

Director Spike Jonze and screen writer Charlie Kaufman, who collaborated on Being John Malkovich, pair up a second time for the comedy-drama Adaptation, which stars Nicolas Cage as both Kaufman and his fictional twin brother Donald. In the film Kaufman struggles with his love life, the unexpected and unwanted arrival of his twin brother, and his obsession with finishing his new script, an adaptation of a non-fiction book called The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean. Adaptation received multiple Academy Award nominations and Chris Cooper and Meryl Streep won Golden Globes for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.

There is a dark, almost smug quality to Being John Malkovich that was a big turn off for me. I found this same quality to be present in adaptation, however the story is intriguing and it is fascinating to see both of Cage’s characters create a realistic chemistry. It really took me a while to understand the whole point of this film, and the story took about 3/4 of the way to really grab me, but it does go in an unexpected direction.

Streep and Cooper’s awards were well-deserved as I found their performances to be excellent. Cage’s characters are slightly annoying but interesting to watch. Brian Cox, Tilda Swinton, and Maggie Gyllenhaal also have secondary roles in the film.

I can’t say that I thoroughly enjoyed Adaptation, but I appreciate it for the unique piece that it is. If you are still interested, the film is available on Netflix streaming.

EMP Rating: 6/10

Brick (2005)

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:18:00 -0400

Okay, you got me… I have a secret man-crush on Joseph Gordon-Levitt, which is what prompted me to check out Rian Johnson’s directorial debut, a hard-boiled detective thriller titled Brick, which stars Gordon-Levitt as Brendan Frye, a California high school student who takes it upon himself to investigate the murder of his former girlfriend Emilie (Emily Kostich). The film’s title refers to a brick of heroin which proves to be key in the investigation as Brendan finds out about Emilie’s involvement with a drug dealer known as “The Pin” (Lukas Haas). The film won the Special Jury Prize for Originality of Vision at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.

Brick is a somewhat gritty detective noir with a cool and complex story littered with unexpected twists. Though the film is highly inspired by various noirs and detective stories, it has a style all it’s own while maintaining a consistently suspenseful “who-dunnit” feel. The camera work and score by Nathan Johnson are also notably impressive and complimenting aspects of the film.

The bulk of the performances in this movie are phenomenal. Gordon-Levitt fits the fearless and determined detective role perfectly. And Haas, Kostich, and Laura Dannon are also fantastic in the film.

However, Brick has it’s confusing moments and I was slightly distracted by the fact that not only do the characters seem too mature for a story set in high school, but the subject matter seems a little unrealistically mature for high school as well.

What I loved about Brick was I couldn’t stop thinking about it after watching it. And it’s curious outcome makes me want to rewatch the film. I strongly recommend this movie to anyone who is in the mood for a detective story or a thriller in general.

Brick can now be found on Netflix streaming.

EMP Rating: 7.5/10

The Possession (2012)

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:22:00 -0400

Boy, they really do slap “based on a true story” onto everything these days. And it’s so much more believable at the beginning of an exorcism movie… But I guess they had to do something to set The Possession apart from the bajillion other exorcism movies that all seem the same besides making the evil spirit Jewish and casting Hebrew reggae musician Matisyahu.

In this Ole Bornedal directed supernatural horror flick Em (Natasha Calis), a young girl who purchases a mysterious locked box at a rummage sale, begins acting strange and coughing up moths. When Em’s recently divorced parents (Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Kyra Sedgwick) become concerned, her father Clyde does a little investigating and finds out that this mysterious box is in fact a Dybbuk box which contains an evil Jewish spirit that clings to and destroys whoever opens it. Did someone say creepy possessed children!?

I’m starting to wonder if an actual good horror movie is going to come out in 2012. Except maybe Cabin in the Woods, if that counts… That movie was great! But The Possession, not so much.

The exorcism concept got old years ago because nobody can seem to do it right anymore. It may be that fact that makes this movie not the least bit frightening. I never thought I’d say this but… this movie needs more jump scares!! I can’t remember ever feeling so relaxed during a horror film.

OK, I may be coming down a little hard on this one, but as a fan of the horror genre and one of many who hasn’t seen a good one in a while, I expected to get my fix with The Possession but instead left the theater jonesin’ for something better, scarier, and a little less effortless.

Though the film does give the viewer some of that classic bad horror movie acting, particularly in the lack-luster performance of Morgan. But at least Sedgwick and Calis are decent in the film. One of the biggest problems was I could not have cared less about the characters because I was never given a reason to. And another thing…nobody wants a serious divorce subplot forced into a movie about a box that kills people!

So, sorry horror fans, but I recommend sitting this one out. Though if something does “possess” you to go see The Possession (huh huh, get it? hehe) there are at least a few unintentionally funny parts.

EMP Rating: 4/10

Saving Silverman (2001)

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 12:34:14 -0400

Directed by Dennis Dugan (Happy Gilmore, Big Daddy) Saving Silverman is a 2001 comedy starring Jason Biggs as Darren Silverman, whose controlling psychiatrist girlfriend Judith (Amanda Peet) has banned him from seeing his childhood friends Wayne and J.D. (Steve Zahn, Jack Black) with whom he has a Neil Diamond cover band called “Diamonds in the Rough” in which all three members play Neil Diamond. Desperate to get rid of Judith, Wayne and J.D. kidnap her and tell Darren that she is dead. Neil Diamond also appears in the film as himself.

I hope you put on your chuckle-pants before watching this knee-slapper of a goofball comedy in which physical bits and one-liners are as plenty as Disneyland souvenirs at a nursing home. Though not the most intelligent comedy, Saving Silverman is consistently dumb in a funny way. The antics of Black and Zahn’s characters make this movie hilarious, and just the concept of the story is laugh-inducing and places these ridiculous characters in even more ridiculous situations. Also Amy Peet plays a great bitchy girlfriend yet again.

If you’re looking to dumb out and have some hearty chuckles, Saving Silverman is the comedy for you. However if you are the type of person who takes comedies like this too seriously, then don’t bother.

This movie can be found on Netflix Instant!

EMP Rating: 6/10