Film Club 2K6 Vol 4
I missed last week due to being sick, but here we go...
Cache
Plot Summary:
Georges, who hosts a TV literary review, receives packages containing videos of himself with his family -- shot secretly from the street -- and alarming drawings whose meaning is obscure. He has no idea who may be sending them. Gradually, the footage on the tapes becomes more personal, suggesting that the sender has known Georges for some time. Georges feels a sense of menace hanging over him and his family but, as no direct threat has been made, the police refuse to help...
Review:
Michael Haneke is a brilliant German filmmaker whom I hate. One of my closest friends loves this guy’s movies, so inevitably I see them as well. And every time, I’m able to appreciate the guys talent and his eye for good actors, but I can’t stand his movies. He made a film about 8 years ago called “Funny Games” which was probably my least enjoyable film experience EVER.
So when Cache’ came out a couple weeks ago I was planning on staying away. But the fact that it got amazing reviews and that it starred Juliette Binoche, waivered me just enough to see it.
And guess what?
I f**king hated it. It’s pompous and pointless. The film sets up a great premise, but it doesn’t offer any pay off. I don’t mind spoiling this movie, because you really shouldn’t see it. YOU NEVER FIND OUT WHO SENT THE F**KING TAPES! How annoying is that? Let me tell you…it’s really f**king annoying.
I have to give the movie one piece of props. This does have, hands down, the most shocking suicide scene I have ever seen in any movie. The entire audience gasped, and some people had to leave the theater. But outside that…it sucked.
Brokeback Mountain
Plot Summary:
The new film from Academy Award-nominated director Ang Lee. An epic love story set against the sweeping vistas of Wyoming and Texas, Brokeback Mountain tells the story of two young men - a ranch-hand and a rodeo cowboy - who meet in the summer of 1963, and unexpectedly forge a lifelong connection, one whose complications, joys and tragedies provide a testament to the endurance and power of love.
Review:
I did it. I gave in and saw the gay cowboy movie. And, not surprisingly, it’s pretty good. In fact, it’s really good. With the exception of “Hulk”, I’ve always been a really big fan of Ang Lee’s camera work and storytelling. He’s always excelled in accenting the subtleties of performances, which is really what saves this movie from feeling syrupy.
Having said all of that, I was a little under whelmed by the film. It didn’t have anything to do with the movie directly, but more with my expectations. With all the accolades and awards it keeps receiving, I really expected more. There’s a scene at the end of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon where Chow Yun Fat is dying and he finally confesses his love to Michelle Yeoh, and I always loved how much impact and emotion Ang Lee was able to pour into that one little moment. And I found myself looking for something like that again in Brokeback, but there wasn’t, and probably intentionally so.
I don’t know. I think what it really boils down to is that I enjoyed the film while I was watching it, I loved the way it was filmed, and the cinematography was amazing, but after I walked out of the theater I was really just ambivalent.
Live Freaky, Die Freaky
Plot Summary:
It is the year 3069 and the Earth has been robbed of all its natural resources, destroyed by war and ozone depletion, and is now only a barren desert. The humans who inhabit this empty vessel search not only for food but for a god to save them. Their search will soon be over when Charles Manson returnes to save them.
Review:
Uh…yeah. So, we basically have a claymation musical about the Manson family, voiced by Punk rockers. Yeah…this movie was just weird. It’s all told from Manson’s point of view (A pregnant Sharon Tate goes out of her way to destroy the environment, and snorts extra amounts of cocaine because she’s “getting high for two now”), only with song and dance numbers. If you dig bands like Green Day and Rancid, there’s some novelty in hearing all these guys as voices in the film. But to be honest, outside of a few moments here and there, this movie is just stupid. I don’t even want to dignify the review beyond that. It’s a dumb movie, with really crappy claymation and it’s not worth your time.
Chronicles of Riddick
Plot Summary:
Riddick, now a hunted man, finds himself in the middle of two opposing forces in a major crusade. Colm Feore plays Lord Marshal, a warrior priest who is the leader of a sect that is waging the tenth and perhaps final crusade 500 years in the future. Judi Dench is Aereon, an ambassador from the Elemental race. She is an ethereal being who helps Riddick unearth his origins.
Review:
Movies like this give Sci-Fi a bad name. Which is a shame because Pitch Black was sci-fi at its best. Good Sci-Fi should be accessible to anyone. Star Wars, Terminator, Aliens, Matrix, Blade Runner, they all have one thing in common. Thematically, they all deal with subjects that anyone can relate to. The Science Fiction aspect is merely a device to tell that story. Planet of the Apes is a perfect example of this. The entire movie just a social commentary on the world as it is today (today being the late 60’s). Yet it’s told in a fantastic fashion, introducing concepts and ideas that push our imaginations further.
Chronicles of Riddick is the kind of movie for someone who’s hobbies include “Reading Dune Novels”. The story and the world it takes place in are thick and convoluted. So much so, that it ceases to be entertaining. The character of Riddick was absolutely fantastic in Pitch Black, and here he’s reduced to stereotypical action hero. And at the end of the day, this is just a boring, movie.
Code 46
Plot Summary
Code 46 is a love story set in a Brave New World-type near-future where cities are heavily controlled and only accessible through checkpoints. People cannot travel unless they have "papelles," a special travel permit issued by the totalitarianistic government, the "Sphinx". Outside these cities, the desert has taken over and shanty towns are jammed with non-citizens - people without papelles forced to live primitive lives. William is a family man who works as a government investigator. When he is sent to Shanghai to solve a case of fake papelles, he meets a woman named Maria. Although he realizes she is behind the forgeries, he cannot help but fall completely in love with her. He hides her crime and they have a wild, passionate affair that can only last as long as his papelles: 24 hours. Back home, William is obessed with the memory of Maria. When the original investigation is inevitably re-opened a week later and William is sent back to finish the work he started, he tracks her down, only to discover she has been accused of a Code 46 violation and any further relationship is impossible.
Review
If you were to mix “Lost In Translation” and “THX-1138”, you would get Code 46. The concept is fascinating. A Code 46 violation (I’m not giving anything away because it’s explained in the first minute of the film) is basically a violation of two people who are too genetically similar to mate (i.e incest). Basically, in the future all babies have some form of genetic manipulation, and many are even test tube babies. This practice has caused a lot of unrelated people to have very similar genetic make-ups. In order to prevent, what is technically incest, people that are too genetically similar can’t legally be together.
I love stories where technology and the future clash with the human condition, and this film was fascinating to me. The performances by Tim Robbins and Samantha Morton are great, and the film does a great job making the future still feel contemporary. While this movie is definitely not for everybody, I loved it and would recommend it if it sounds at all interesting to you.
CachePlot Summary:
Georges, who hosts a TV literary review, receives packages containing videos of himself with his family -- shot secretly from the street -- and alarming drawings whose meaning is obscure. He has no idea who may be sending them. Gradually, the footage on the tapes becomes more personal, suggesting that the sender has known Georges for some time. Georges feels a sense of menace hanging over him and his family but, as no direct threat has been made, the police refuse to help...
Review:
Michael Haneke is a brilliant German filmmaker whom I hate. One of my closest friends loves this guy’s movies, so inevitably I see them as well. And every time, I’m able to appreciate the guys talent and his eye for good actors, but I can’t stand his movies. He made a film about 8 years ago called “Funny Games” which was probably my least enjoyable film experience EVER.
So when Cache’ came out a couple weeks ago I was planning on staying away. But the fact that it got amazing reviews and that it starred Juliette Binoche, waivered me just enough to see it.
And guess what?
I f**king hated it. It’s pompous and pointless. The film sets up a great premise, but it doesn’t offer any pay off. I don’t mind spoiling this movie, because you really shouldn’t see it. YOU NEVER FIND OUT WHO SENT THE F**KING TAPES! How annoying is that? Let me tell you…it’s really f**king annoying.
I have to give the movie one piece of props. This does have, hands down, the most shocking suicide scene I have ever seen in any movie. The entire audience gasped, and some people had to leave the theater. But outside that…it sucked.
Brokeback Mountain Plot Summary:
The new film from Academy Award-nominated director Ang Lee. An epic love story set against the sweeping vistas of Wyoming and Texas, Brokeback Mountain tells the story of two young men - a ranch-hand and a rodeo cowboy - who meet in the summer of 1963, and unexpectedly forge a lifelong connection, one whose complications, joys and tragedies provide a testament to the endurance and power of love.
Review:
I did it. I gave in and saw the gay cowboy movie. And, not surprisingly, it’s pretty good. In fact, it’s really good. With the exception of “Hulk”, I’ve always been a really big fan of Ang Lee’s camera work and storytelling. He’s always excelled in accenting the subtleties of performances, which is really what saves this movie from feeling syrupy.
Having said all of that, I was a little under whelmed by the film. It didn’t have anything to do with the movie directly, but more with my expectations. With all the accolades and awards it keeps receiving, I really expected more. There’s a scene at the end of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon where Chow Yun Fat is dying and he finally confesses his love to Michelle Yeoh, and I always loved how much impact and emotion Ang Lee was able to pour into that one little moment. And I found myself looking for something like that again in Brokeback, but there wasn’t, and probably intentionally so.
I don’t know. I think what it really boils down to is that I enjoyed the film while I was watching it, I loved the way it was filmed, and the cinematography was amazing, but after I walked out of the theater I was really just ambivalent.
Live Freaky, Die Freaky Plot Summary:
It is the year 3069 and the Earth has been robbed of all its natural resources, destroyed by war and ozone depletion, and is now only a barren desert. The humans who inhabit this empty vessel search not only for food but for a god to save them. Their search will soon be over when Charles Manson returnes to save them.
Review:
Uh…yeah. So, we basically have a claymation musical about the Manson family, voiced by Punk rockers. Yeah…this movie was just weird. It’s all told from Manson’s point of view (A pregnant Sharon Tate goes out of her way to destroy the environment, and snorts extra amounts of cocaine because she’s “getting high for two now”), only with song and dance numbers. If you dig bands like Green Day and Rancid, there’s some novelty in hearing all these guys as voices in the film. But to be honest, outside of a few moments here and there, this movie is just stupid. I don’t even want to dignify the review beyond that. It’s a dumb movie, with really crappy claymation and it’s not worth your time.
Chronicles of Riddick Plot Summary:
Riddick, now a hunted man, finds himself in the middle of two opposing forces in a major crusade. Colm Feore plays Lord Marshal, a warrior priest who is the leader of a sect that is waging the tenth and perhaps final crusade 500 years in the future. Judi Dench is Aereon, an ambassador from the Elemental race. She is an ethereal being who helps Riddick unearth his origins.
Review:
Movies like this give Sci-Fi a bad name. Which is a shame because Pitch Black was sci-fi at its best. Good Sci-Fi should be accessible to anyone. Star Wars, Terminator, Aliens, Matrix, Blade Runner, they all have one thing in common. Thematically, they all deal with subjects that anyone can relate to. The Science Fiction aspect is merely a device to tell that story. Planet of the Apes is a perfect example of this. The entire movie just a social commentary on the world as it is today (today being the late 60’s). Yet it’s told in a fantastic fashion, introducing concepts and ideas that push our imaginations further.
Chronicles of Riddick is the kind of movie for someone who’s hobbies include “Reading Dune Novels”. The story and the world it takes place in are thick and convoluted. So much so, that it ceases to be entertaining. The character of Riddick was absolutely fantastic in Pitch Black, and here he’s reduced to stereotypical action hero. And at the end of the day, this is just a boring, movie.
Code 46Plot Summary
Code 46 is a love story set in a Brave New World-type near-future where cities are heavily controlled and only accessible through checkpoints. People cannot travel unless they have "papelles," a special travel permit issued by the totalitarianistic government, the "Sphinx". Outside these cities, the desert has taken over and shanty towns are jammed with non-citizens - people without papelles forced to live primitive lives. William is a family man who works as a government investigator. When he is sent to Shanghai to solve a case of fake papelles, he meets a woman named Maria. Although he realizes she is behind the forgeries, he cannot help but fall completely in love with her. He hides her crime and they have a wild, passionate affair that can only last as long as his papelles: 24 hours. Back home, William is obessed with the memory of Maria. When the original investigation is inevitably re-opened a week later and William is sent back to finish the work he started, he tracks her down, only to discover she has been accused of a Code 46 violation and any further relationship is impossible.
Review
If you were to mix “Lost In Translation” and “THX-1138”, you would get Code 46. The concept is fascinating. A Code 46 violation (I’m not giving anything away because it’s explained in the first minute of the film) is basically a violation of two people who are too genetically similar to mate (i.e incest). Basically, in the future all babies have some form of genetic manipulation, and many are even test tube babies. This practice has caused a lot of unrelated people to have very similar genetic make-ups. In order to prevent, what is technically incest, people that are too genetically similar can’t legally be together.
I love stories where technology and the future clash with the human condition, and this film was fascinating to me. The performances by Tim Robbins and Samantha Morton are great, and the film does a great job making the future still feel contemporary. While this movie is definitely not for everybody, I loved it and would recommend it if it sounds at all interesting to you.
posted by Casey at 10:32 AM
5 Comments:
I'm a sucker for the Planet of the Apes. I've even got the original 5 film box set. Sure, Escape from the Planet of the Apes was a little cheesy but it had Khan in it. That alon elevates its coolness.
Have you ever seen the alternate endings? From the Original Rod Serling scripts to the screenplay
THE ENDINGS, IN ORDER
Prior to 5/15/64 (Serling)
At archeological dig, they find caskets, a human doll which cries "mama?"—and film showing bombs, explosions, etc. Zaius doesn't want Thomas to take Nova, but he escapes with her and LeFever, and flies home to earth—which is inhabited by apes.
5/22/64 (Serling)
They find the doll and film showing a mushroom cloud—"filmed by U. S. Air Force." Thomas delivers a long monologue explaining everything, but gorillas in a helicopter try to "assassinate" him. The apes plan to explain everything as a hoax—using a robot resembling Thomas, but a switch is made at the last minute and he escapes in the landing craft with Nova and flies off, as Zaius muses about his future.
Date unknown (Serling)
Similar to above, but there are references to disease (radioactivity). Explosions near the excavation loosens terrain, which reveals the "giant metal arm." Thomas reads the ship's computer tapes—then looks at the Big Dipper and realizes he's "home" (the first appearance of the Statue of Liberty).
12/17/64 (Serling)
They find the doll, then skeletons and a sign reading "Public Air Raid Shelter." Thomas presents his hypothesis about an atomic holocaust. He escapes, and sees the "arm" loosened by explosions. At his ship, he's able to read the computer tapes and realizes where he is. As he flies off in a helicopter toward the jungle he spots the Statue of Liberty.
1/6/65 (Serling)
Thomas escapes to his ship with Cornelius and Zira following close behind, and together they discover the "metal arm." Aircraft engines are heard, and they tell him to escape, but he stares at the arm, finally realizing where he is. The gorillas arrive and shoot him dead. As they carry him away the camera pans to reveal the full Statue of Liberty in the sand.
2/23/65 (Author. unknown, script bound with 20th Century fox cover)
Essentially the same as above, with a few minor dialogue changes at the end.
5/5/67 (Wilson)
Zira, Cornelius, and Thomas escape to the excavation. Zaius arrives with the gorillas, and he promises to give in if solid evolutionary evidence is found. They find a human doll which can talk but Zaius goes back on his word, so Thomas escapes on horseback with Nova, and riding up the beach he discovers the Statue of Liberty.
3rd the POA mention, which means a little something extra to Mr. Goose (I'll let him explain it if he chooses too)...I've only seen one film from this list...CoR...and I'm starting to get worried that my words are coming out of MCP's typing...your definition of Sci-Fi is one I've used for a while now, and I couldn't have stated my disdain for CoR more...why?...why make this film?
I think its time to create the 10-20% rule...which in its simpliest form means that directors/producers are given increases/decreases in budget based on the success of their original film budget at a 10-20% implement depending on the success/failure...
Pitch Black was made for a modest budget of $23mil(which seems a touch high)but, CoR on the other hand: $110mil(which seems about right) this is a prime example of a ridiculous increase in budget that resulted in an equally ridiculous movie, from a director/producer that just needed an extra bag of Doritos in their lunch...
Obviously there are exceptions to the 10-20% rule, the big ones can make quality out of the big jump: Jackson,Nolan & Singer come to mind, but on average I'd like to drop Bay's next budget about 90% to make up for back taxes on his part....
Wow. I was excited to see Cache, but now I might have to wait until it's released on DVD thanks to TP telling us we never get to find out whose sending the tapes. Good spoiler, TP. You moron.
I take offense to the “Reading Dune Novels” comment. The Dune novels are freaking amazing reads. If you haven't read them than you probably don't know, but the political intrigue and multiple storylines is epic storytelling at it's best. For a literature fan, they are worth a read. That being said, Pitch Black was good and Riddick sucked. I agree with you there, just leave Herbert out of it.
And by the way, TP... shorten the synopsis' a little, we can read it off the link on IMDb for crap's sake. You've put in the time though, so good work overall.
Nice call on the alternate endings Goose...I hadn't heard the robot one before.
As for the 10%/20% rule, that's actually a pretty good theory. I've never been a believer in the theory that you need $100 million to make a big film. Some of the most talented filmmakers are able to take modest budgets and make it look like there's way more money spent. Robert Rodreguez is probably the king of this theory. I don't think he's ever spent more than $40 Million on a movie. And he's one of the only filmmakers I can think of who has had every single one of his movies make a profit off of the Theater release alone.
And finally Joe...
First off...I'm doing you a favor by telling you that you never find out. And actually if you've even seen a Heineke film you probably would have assumed it anyway, he's a very masterbatory kind of filmmaker and loves giving the audience as little information as possible. I really hated this movie, and I'm just doing you a favor.
Secondly, I'm not denouncing Dune, but it's a very niche heavy series of books. If you're going to introduce someone to Sci-Fi, you don't start with Dune. Personally I'm not Dune fan, but I respect the series.
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