Drama, 119 Minutes, 2014
Campering-crippled-christ on a crusted-crooked-crutch: this was amazing. You may have heard the film is pretentious, but that would indicate that it’s trying to fool you into thinking that it has more ability or talent than it demonstrates. The film could have devolved into pretentiousness in a thousand ways, but despite the numerous risks involved it didn’t. This is the real deal.
Zombie alert!
See the review of “Life After Beth” on our sister site, MoreBrains.com dedicated to all things zombie!
Animation/Family, 96 Minutes, 2014
LAIKA, the studio behind the classics “Coraline” [IMDB] and “ParaNorman” [My Review at MoreBrains.com], continues its mostly thankless efforts to elevate the quality family cinema. Lighter than their previous offerings, this still provides the intelligence and depth that we’ve come to expect from them.
I could take or leave the actual song (not really my thing) but I was impressed with the video. Remember when music videos told stories? When they were produced with a cinematic sensibility? Take a look:
[youtube http://youtu.be/jx96Twg-Aew]
Part way in, the characters separate and the music all but fades away. They literally made the music too quiet to hear for a good portion of the song just because it better supported the visual story. That impressed the hell out of me. It was clearly an artistic decision to compromise the music for the movie.
Videos are a dying art – all auto-tuned teeny-boppers flouncing around a sound stage in fake snow while clips of Disney shows play randomly – but they used to be an amazing collaboration between mediums. This video may not light the world on fire, but it was invigorating to see somebody remember that.
Comedy/Horror, 102 Minutes, 2014
Apparently the idea for this movie was the result of an extended discussion on writer/director Kevin Smith’s [IMDB] podcast. How about a guy, the joke went, that captures people and tries to turn them into walruses? The gag picked up steam, Smith got excited and made a movie.
Horror, 104 Minutes, 2014
Oh smart horror, how I love you! You creepy, demented thing getting all up in my brain and making me think! Smart horror is always in short supply, so when it make an appearance, fans should always pay attention.
Horror, 95 Minutes, 2012
Stop me if you’ve heard this one: a group of attractive teens decide to explore an old haunted mine on Halloween. You’ve heard it? Wait tho’: in this case something goes horribly wrong! Oh, still heard it?
Then there’s not much here for you, I guess.
Somebody played VVVVVV and made a video about it! Somebody I know! Somebody who lives in my house and eats my food and who used to be a whole lot shorter but is now taller than me!
My son, you see, he made a video. He swears a lot because he’s not going to let the man (meaning me) censor his art!
[youtube http://youtu.be/iRkeTN6ARLw]
(I’m not completely convinced that the phrase “shit-fuck-a-dolphin” is covered by artistic freedom.)
Comedy, 112 Minutes, 2014
Yes, this movie caused an international cluster-fuck. Yes, it prominently features the (spoiler!) violent death of a world leader. Yes, it was the excuse that a bunch of assholes used to gut-punch an international film company and the thousands of people that work there.
There is one important question, of course: is it any good?
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” on IMDB
Comedy, 100 Minutes, 2014
You know those annoying fanboys that believe that their favorite director can do no wrong? They’ll talk about them endlessly, insist other people pay attention to them and challenge anybody that says the least critical thing about them. They make fools of themselves as they ignore obvious issues and rationalize away every shortcoming.
