Columbus: A Thoughtful Film That Focuses on the Art of Growing Up
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Columbus is charming film that features stirring cinematography, assured direction, and likable lead performances from John Cho and Haley Lu Richardson. Director/writer Kogonada does a fine job telling a story about moving forward while showcasing the architecture of Columbus, Indiana. Columbus could’ve easily been a self-indulgent “indie” that features dialogue you only hear in movies, and static shots you only see in independent films. However, the static shots are framed around fantastic modernist architecture and the dialogue rings true because there is an actual reason for it. I can see the allure of a city like Columbus and the fact that it brings together two soulful people who are in very different stages of their life plays true. Kogonada has always come across as a deep thinking video essayist (they are very good) and you can tell he took his time with Columbus in order to make it as unique as the architecture. The film has many influences (Linklater, Anderson, Ozu, Bergman) but nothing feels overly copied and instead the walking-and-talking feels organic.
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Columbus centers around the meeting and eventual friendship of two very different people. Casey (Haley Lu Richardson) is a 19-year old high school graduate who stays in Columbus because she is worried about her mom having a drug relapse. She works in a library, frets constantly about her mom, and hangs out with a slightly older friend Gabriel (Rory Culkin) who indulges her in conversations that I never would’ve had when I was 19. One day, she meets Jin (John Cho) and the two hit it off quickly due to their mutual indecisiveness and fear of moving forward due to parental woes.
Jin is in town because his famous scholar father collapsed while in town to give a speech at the local university. Due to the father’s induced coma and weak state, Jin is stuck in the town and can’t return to his soul-draining job in Seoul, Korea. He is stuck in a holding pattern due to lack of drive and parent issues that have stopped him from pursuing his ambitions. His meeting with Casey was fortuitous because they push each other forward due to their parental issues and intelligence. Throughout their several meetings, they get to the core of their issues and push each other onward via arguments, agreements and late night talks.
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What I loved most about Columbus is how it doesn’t shy away from what it is. Kogonada is very clear when discussing his influences and he knows that there is a specific aesthetic and look to his debut film that can remind people of other films. I’ve always found it refreshing when directors embrace their influences and are able to make films that have their own personality and style. There have been many films that copy-and-paste their influences and they feel lifeless and stock. Columbus found a way to showcase architecture organically and I 100% believe that someone like Casey would invest herself in the modernist architecture as a way to find meaning and control in her life. Thus, she would take a new acquaintance on a tour because it’s what she knows and can control.
Columbus is a very good film and if you are looking for something that is thoughtful, patient and smart you will dig it.
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Paddington 2: The Best Thing Since Paddington
Paddington 2 is quite possibly the nicest film ever made and it is filled to the brim with likable characters, inventive set pieces and Brendan Gleeson being bonked by a baguette. The 100% Rotten Tomatoes score is justified and even though there is a lot of hyperbole around the sequel I think it has earned the praise. Very rarely do films manage to uplift, entertain and put a smile on your face that won’t leave. I can’t think of the last time I left a theater so happy and that is testament to writer/director Paul King and writer Simon Farnaby. King does a fine job balancing a PG Wes Anderson-esque tone while making everyone look great in pink prison outfits.
You need to watch the visiting room clip.
Paddington 2 focuses on everyone’s favorite South American bear getting used to his life in London and trying to find ways to buy a beautiful pop-up book that he can send to his aunt in Peru. After a fateful meeting with a pompous actor named Phoenix Buchanon (Hugh Grant – nails it), the priceless book is stolen and Paddington becomes the main suspect. After a quick trial, Paddington finds himself in prison which allows Phoenix to freely follow the treasure map that is housed in the book. The money from the treasure will get the penniless Phoenix the money he needs to stage his comeback one-man show which will most certainly involve lots of pomp and wardrobe changes (I’d love to see it).
The rest of the film focuses on Paddington’s adopted family trying to clear his name and find the book that Phoenix has in his possession. In their quest they meet a coffee drinking security guard (Simon Barnaby), infiltrate Phoenix’s home and allow Hugh Bonneville to look awesome.
Paddington’s time in prison is anything but hard as he quickly wins all the prisoners over and soon has them cooking delicious food in the surprisingly stocked kitchen. The key to making prison better was winning over the feared Knuckles McGinty (Brendan Gleeson) with his delicious marmalade sandwich recipe and overall kindness. Eventually, Knuckles and several other prisoners stage an escape (think Grand Budapest Hotel) to allow Paddington to clear his name and get that sweet book back for his aunt. From there, it’s all very likable and ends up with a very fun set piece aboard a train.
Paddington 2 is a very nice film that swings for the fences and never feels lazy. It could’ve easily rested on the first films success, but instead embraces making everything more of the same but different (that is good). If you are looking for a very fun movie that will leave a smile on your face they don’t get any better than Paddington 2.
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The MFF Podcast #116: Happy Death Day and PG-13 Horror
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You can download the pod on Itunes, Stitcher, Podbean, or LISTEN TO THE POD ON BLOG TALK RADIO.
If you get a chance please make sure to review, rate and share. You are awesome!
The MFF podcast is back and we are talking about the very fun Happy Death Day. We had a blast discussing Jessica Rothe’s excellent performance and behind the scenes stories that helped it become a very successful film. I love the movie and found it to be very refreshing in its willingness to have fun, tell a simple story and rely on likable people. We also discuss the Blumhouse productions back-catalog and ponder the difference between PG-13 and R-rated horror films.
Jessica Rothe is very likable in Happy Death Day.
As always, we answer random listener questions and discuss the fact that we haven’t watched Taken 3. If you are a fan of the podcast make sure to send in some random listener questions so we can do our best to not answer them correctly. We thank you for listening and hope you enjoy the pod!
Here is the link for the Event Horizon blu-ray that we discussed on the pod.
You can download the pod on Itunes, Stitcher, Podbean, or LISTEN TO THE POD ON BLOG TALK RADIO.
If you get a chance please make sure to review, rate and share. You are awesome!
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MFF Special: Analyzing the Odds – Zara’s Demise in Jurassic World
Many people have been killed in the four Jurassic Park films. Whether it be getting smooshed by a Tyrannosaurus Rex or sideswiped by a clever Velociraptor we’ve been blessed with some gnarly dinosaur related deaths. The majority of the deaths have all happened somewhat organically due to the fact that on multiple occasions people been dumb enough to travel to islands filled with carnivorous monsters. Death is par for the course when battling dinosaurs and aside from Peter Stormare being dumb in The Lost World: Jurassic Park, I’ve never really felt that they were unnecessary or cruel. However, there is one death in Jurassic World that has garnered a lot of attention for being straight up mean. The destruction of Zara the assistant (Katie McGrath – long live A Princess for Christmas) via two Pterosaurs and a Mosasaurus is unique because she is the first women to be killed onscreen in the franchise, and it is a very long and brutal demise that is brought forth by her being forced to be a babysitter.
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Zara’s death has gotten a lot of press (here, here and here) and her character is even considered to be a hero to some (Thanks Cracked!). I kinda love that one death in a film stuffed with murder via dinosaur has stood out and become a lightning rod. That is why I watched the movie again, took a ton of notes and analyzed pretty much every diagram of the park. The reason I did so much research is that I wanted to know the odds of Zara’s death. I’m not here to hate on the film, or create something snarky in regards to Jurassic World. If you’ve read my other stuff you know I love filling in the blanks via educated guesswork, randomness and burning a lot of my free time.
It was a long day for Zara.
The following features total guesswork and after looking at all the factors there is no way to accurately answer the following question:
What are the odds that Zara the assistant would be picked up by two Pterosaurs, dumped into the massive lagoon, and swallowed whole by a Mosasaurus while at Jurassic World?
As I tracked Zara’s progress through the park I originally came up with odds that were astronomical (1 in 300 billion). After a lot of soul-searching (via punch dancing in abandoned warehouses) I decided to go with a more pragmatic approach. I originally included divorce rates, square mileage, aviary destruction and stupidity in the equation. But, after talking to people who are much smarter than I am, I was able to narrow down the odds and get it to something that slightly resembles a believable number.
Here we go!
Sidenote: There is no way to know the exact answer. However, I’ve tried to be as pragmatic as possible in an effort to make this number somewhat practical.
- Jurassic World had been open for 10 years (all year round = 3,650 days) and they never had an animal escape. – (1 in 3,650)
- According to park numbers, there were 21,216 guests at the park.
- I’m guessing that 150 Pterosaurs (and other flying beasts) escaped when the Indomnious Rex and helicopter crashed into the aviary. Let’s say one-in-three of the flying beasts (50) were big enough to pick up one of the guests, and that each one picked up one person (50 in 21,216 – 1 in 424).
- The majority of the guests had been pushed into the front area of the park. It is a very large area and I’m guessing half of the people were close to the massive lagoon that housed the Mosasaurus. (1 in 2).
- If a large Pterosaur attacked you, the odds of it flying off with you alive or able to fight would be about 1 in 2. I gave it those odds because there is an instance where the large flying beast landed on a guy and seemed to be destroying him on the ground.
- After being grabbed by a Pterosaur, the odds of you fighting back would be 1 in 2.
- If you were picked up close to the water you’d have a 1 in 2 chance of being dropped into the water.
Poor Zara. She didn’t deserve such a gnarly fate.
The pragmatic odds of being at Jurassic World during a mass animal escape in which you are picked up by a Pterosaur and dropped into a Mosasaurus tank is 1 in 24,761,600 (3,650 x 424 x 16). There had never been a large scale dinosaur escape in the 10 years the park had been open and nobody had ever been dropped into a large lagoon by a Pterosaur. Also, being that there are 20,000+ people, the odds of being singled out by the 50 attacking Pterosaurs was very slight. Also, I feel terrible for her because she ended up dead because she had to watch two punks while people willingly let out a dinosaur that had active camouflage.
Here is what lead Zara to her death.
- She is forced to look after her bosses nephews because their parents are getting a divorce (She’s British…she will be great).
- The nephews promptly run away from her leaving stressed out, worried and still having to do her day job.
- Due to some very bad decisions, the Indomnius Rex is let out of its cage.
- The nephews decide to ignore park warnings and stay out in the park in the moving bubble thing.
- The Indomnius Rex is chased into a massive aviary holding very hungry flying creatures. The people in the helicopter essentially chased it into the aviary……
- The nephews hotwire a car and drive back into the park via the west gate.
- Zara collects the kids, and they run away from her which forces her to chase them.
- The nephews stop in the middle of the carnage and Zara turns to see what they are doing.
- A massive pterosaur picks her up and flies away with her.
- Another pterosaur steals her away and flies toward the lagoon.
- Poor Zara is dropped into the lagoon.
- Pterosaurs dive into the water and one of them managed to lift her out of the water.
- A Mosasaurus eats both Zara and the bird.
- None of the main characters care.
- I hope her fiance and parents get a massive settlement.
In conclusion: I feel really bad for Zara.
If you like this post make sure to check out my other dumb data posts! Enjoy!
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- Breaking Down The Mariner vs. Sea Beast Battle in Waterworld
- How Long Did it Take The Joker to Setup the Weapon Circle in Suicide Squad?
- Michael Myers Hates Blinkers
- Jason Voorhees Can’t Teleport?
- How Far Did the Merman Travel in The Cabin in the Woods?
- How Far Did Matthew McConaughey Jump in Reign of Fire?
- How Fast can Leatherface Run?
- Deep Blue Sea and Stellan Skarsgard
- How Far Did Michael Myers Drive in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
- How Did the Geologist Get Lost in Prometheus?
- People Love a Bearded Kurt Russell
- A Closer Look at Movies That Feature the Words Great, Good, Best, Perfect and Fantastic
- An In-Depth Look At Movies That Feature Pencils Used as Weapons
- Cinematic Foghat Data
- Explosions and Movie Posters
- The Fast & Furious & Corona
- Nicolas Sparks Movie Posters Are Weird
- Predicting the RT score of Baywatch
- The Cinematic Dumb Data Podcast
- What is the best horror movie franchise?
- How Fast Can the Fisherman Clean a Trunk in I Know What You Did Last Summer?
- It’s Expensive to Feature Characters Being Eaten Alive and Surviving Without a Scratch
- How Long Does it Take Your Favorite Horror Movie Characters to Travel From NYC to San Francisco?
- What was the Guy’s Blood Pressure in Dawn of the Dead?
- Why Were There So Many Lemons in National Treasure?
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15 Images for 15 Years of Horror, Part 3 (2002-2016): some of the greatest, goriest, most shocking and most memorably defining moments in horror
Greetings, horrorounds! We spend so much of our time complaining about re-used, recycled, unoriginal, tired-out horror tropes and stories and stale archetypal horror character roles presented by actors that can’t act, directors who can rarely direct, and budgets that don’t get us anywhere. So I thought it was time for us to take a moment to remember that even today in the modern horror era we find the occasional delight in the form of worthy remakes or original approaches to old ideas…maybe even some new ideas.
This is a follow-up article to 15 Images for 15 Years of Horror, Part 1 (2000-2014) and 15 Images for 15 Years of Horror, Part 2 (2001-2015). So if you don’t see your favorite movies listed here, they were probably in last year’s review of awesome horror scenes. If you want some excellent horror suggestions from further back, you should check out The Best Moments in Horror: looking back 20 years to 1995, looking back 20 years to 1996, looking back 20 years to 1997, and The Best Horror Came from the ’80s: Part 1 and Part 2.
I really wanted to include movies like Session 9 and The Skeleton Key, but such films are more about tone than single iconic images that ignite memories. So now I give you 15 more photos for 15 years of horror. These don’t necessarily represent the 15 “best” horror movies since 2001–for that you should check out our articles on What is the Best Horror Movie of the 21st Century? and The Top 21 Horror Films of the 21st Century!–but rather 15 of the most memorable moments for me.
Train to Busan (2016)
Between the hyper-scrambly zombies climbing over each other like the spilled-over denizens of a kicked ant mound and the sniveling bad guy who would soullessly do anything to survive, I found myself feistily yelling at the screen about a dozen times… especially during the train car zombie bumrush (ABOVE). This movie has its real emotional moments (especially getting heavy at the end), but it likewise has its fun thrills! From cityscapes and train station chase scenes to wide angle convergences of zombie hordes, this film is gorgeously shot. I can’t sing its praises enough, but if you want even more reassurance please check out Mark’s 5 Reasons to watch this exciting approach to zombiism that’s fresher than the very flesh it infects. It also made Mark’s 10 Best Horror films of 2016 and it’s one of the better zombie films I’ve seen in a while, featuring excellent characters. This is a major win and a thrilling ride, mixing the best of 28 Days Later (2002) and World War Z (2013) with a dash of Dawn of the Dead (2004) and Snowpiercer (2013).
Bone Tomahawk (2015)
So did you see that horror-western starring Kurt Russell? Well… whether you did or not, you can’t unsee this! So you may as well just go watch the film. It’s brutal throughout. Although, undoubtedly, chopping a man’s groin with an ax and then pulling him in half…? That’s probably the most awful part of anything you saw in 2015.
We discussed this tasteful film in our Podcast #46: Troglodytes on Skype.
Zombeavers (2014)
I think that it’s really quite important that in a genre full of fantastic, unimaginable or ridiculous concepts, that a film be self-aware and know where it stands. No scene could better accomplish this task than when an undead beaver–dragging its 97% severed lower half in tow by its own gory connective entrails–lunges towards a screaming, scantily-clad girl’s crotch boasting a beaver’s-eye-view of, well, you guessed it.
We discussed this tasteful film and all its class in our Podcast #17: B-Movie Madness.
Mama (2013)
Every time Mama moved… it was creepy. Not just her other-worldly movement, but her face was so off-putting that director Andy Muschietti just couldn’t help but to sneak it into the remake of Stephen King’s It (2017). As a fan of both films, I whole-heartedly approve!
REC 3: Genesis (2012)
In just the first five minutes we were introduced to a personable, charismatic couple on their wedding day. They were real, they were sweet, and they had the kind of first dance we all wish we could pull off. This also may be the most beautifully shot zombie film I’ve seen since 28 Days Later (2002), with the color-corrected crispness of the blood occasionally bordering on artistry. Our newlyweds worked well as a couple fending off zombies and they almost made it out safely. The ending scene… just GREAT.
Apollo 18 (2011)
Remember when the moon rocks came to life? Yeah. Me, too. That was awesome! #MoonRockSpiders
For more cautionary tales of space exploration, check out our Podcast #96: The Perils of Space Travel.
Piranha 3D (2010)
The lakeside piranha massacre scene was truly a gorehound’s delight. Blood and guts and chunky gore abound, reddening the waters as victims’ bodies literally fell apart before our eyes like a fine pulled pork, slow-roasted all day. Mmmmmm.
The Human Centipede: First Sequence (2009)
This “unique” film was strongly marketed before its release. Not much was revealed about it, except for the–and pardon the expression I use here–but the “ass-to-mouth” theme. At this point in cinematic history we have seen a lot of harsh, gritty movies… I Spit on Your Grave (1978, 2010), The Last House on the Left (1972, 2009), Cannibal Holocaust (1980), Salo (1975), Martyrs (2008), Inside (2007), and even the Cube and Hostel and Saw franchises were already upon us. As horror fans, we’ve become pretty hard to shock. So, admittedly, creative filmmakers are left with little choice but to go to extremes to shock us. And with that, I give you the “pooping scene.” That poor girl–eyes watering.
This first film brought its three-man monstrosity intended as a piece of intense shock film art. I’m not sure if it was art, nor would it bring pleasure to most viewers, but this film brought us something we had never seen before… something conceptually gross, disturbing and terrifying. Making it more effective was how (as with Hostel) it was told through the perspective of the victims. Dare I say it, but the victims’ experience was very well-acted. Their sympathy, horror and suffering were palpable. What little nudity there was never felt exploitative; rather it revealed vulnerability. It was very effective and there was very little gore or violence. In a strange way, this distasteful film was done…tastefully? No pun intended. To quote my podcasting comrade, John Lasavath: “There’s a good chance this movie wasn’t made for you.”.
The Happening (2008)
This film may not have been M. Night Shyalaman’s greatest conquest. We had trouble buying Mark Wahlberg as a science teacher gazing in terror at a stand of oak trees while wondering what happened to all the bees. But thankfully, there were some memorable moments as well. And what sticks out in the genre more than a self-inflicted lawnmower death?
REC (2007)
Horror Drags have become the norm–just another trope–but there was a time when they really worked. During this Zompocalypse survivor’s video testimony… that poor girl.
The Omen (2006)
This was one of those remakes that everyone decided to hate before it was even released. Not that it was anything sensational, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. In lieu of torture or flesh-rending gore, it features the brutal, gut-punching emotional impact (and dread) that I look for from time to time. The scene that best captured this (in my opinion) was the hospital scene in which the evil nanny comes to kill Damien’s mother (Julia Stiles). Entombed in a full body cast, she has no way to defend herself as she watches the slow advancement of the air bubble that would kill her. See for yourself. I found it soul-rattling!
Saw II (2005)
OMFG, when Amanda gets pushed into the needle pit and has to sift through it! That scene killed me. I can laugh at someone getting their head sawed off–but needles…NEEDLES…I just can’t. But you don’t need a fear of needles to find this horrifying. Oof, and some of them probably would snap off and be left irretrievable under her skin! YIKES! I also don’t expect that those syringes are “new.” Hepatitis would be the least of her worries after this affair.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Shaun of the Dead will likely forever remain among the very greatest of horror comedies. Not only is the writing on point, but the acting is splendid and this film always finds a way to be funny. Among its long list of hilarious accomplishments was the “zombie acting” scene. Shaun nailed it!
Fearing for his own death, Rory wisely picks a “porn buddy” to remove anything that might break his mother’s heart from his apartment if he dies. Well, Rory, you couldn’t have picked a better time! Death comes to collect his toll with an unreasonably elaborate chain of events resulting in a slicing reminiscent of Ghost Ship (2002; below), Resident Evil (2002) and Cube (1997).
I think we can all agree that Ghost Ship wasn’t exactly a critically acclaimed film. In fact, I mostly enjoy it as a great “bad movie” with high production value. But that flick got at least one thing right…and it got it waaaaaaaay right. It had one of the most memorable opening scenes (and most memorable death scenes) of the decade after a serenely classy mood is set by an elegant musical number atop a luxury cruise deck. That lonely little girl… that kind invitation to dance… and that mass-dissecting finish! Just a deliciously gory and happily unexpected delight! (Start just after the 3-minute mark to skip the mood and get right to the mayhem.)
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Hope you enjoyed some of my favorite mania-feeding moments.
Please read…
15 Images for 15 Years of Horror, Part 1 (2000-2014)
15 Images for 15 Years of Horror, Part 2 (2001-2015)
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Happy Death Day: PG-13 Horror Done Right
Happy Death Day is a breath of fresh (albeit recycled) air that moves along breezily and does exactly what it intends to do. The purpose of this PG-13 horror romp is to simply entertain and tell a neat riff on the classic Groundhog Day. I love how relaxed and self-aware it was in its repeating day plot and the action/horror takes a back seat behind a very likable performance from Jessica Rothe (La La Land). Her performance is equal parts comedic, charming and self-effacing. She is the rare actress who can say “would you stop looking at me like I took a dump on your mom’s head” and pull it off.
Happy Death Day revolves around a college student named Tree (Jessica Rothe) having a terrible day that keeps repeating. She is the stereotypical snarky sorority movie girl who hates carbs, gets wasted and finds herself in random dorm rooms after a night on the town. Normally, this type of character is killed off in the first act, however, after being killed on campus by a baby mask wearing maniac she wakes up back where she started (in a random dude’s dorm room). Being that this is a PG-13 semi-romantic horror film, the dorm room guy is actually a really nice kid named Carter (Israel Broussard) who ends up aiding Tree in her quest to find the murderer. A neat wrinkle to the repeating day twist is that Tree wakes up each morning feeling the effects of the prior nights killing. Thus, she can’t spend years hunting the killer and only has a finite amount of time before her body fails from too many deaths via a masked baby person.
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The best part about Happy Death Day is that it is fun. Director Christopher Landon (Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones) and writer Scott Lobdell (X-Men – writes for Marvel) keep everything moving along quickly and do a fine job making the 96 minutes breeze by. Happy Death Day is never exciting or ground breaking, but it really doesn’t have to be because it is so heavy on charm. The supporting cast is solid and I really like the head-sorority punk Danielle (Rachel Matthews) who thinks deja-vu is when “someone’s thinking about you while they’re masturbating. I get it like six times a day.”
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Movies like Happy Death Day are perfect for repeat viewings on cable and I think the current Hollywood system isn’t churning out enough of these laid back films that don’t swing for the fences because they are cool with hitting doubles. I’m not condoning lazy film making, I’m just saying there is a place for movies that simply want to entertain and be nice while putting the characters through a whole lot of murder. I’m not surprised by the massive $115 international box office total because Happy Death Day has an easy appeal and it is much better than it had any right to be. I love that it was able to entertain on a relatively tiny $5 million budget and I hope that Jessica Rothe is able to build on her solid performance and get bigger and potentially better roles (I liked Tree a lot).
If you are looking for a fun horror film that brings the charm and makes you want to eat cake I totally recommend Happy Death Day.
The MFF horror czar also wrote a review for Happy Death Day. Check it out!
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Phantom Thread is a meticulously crafted romance that feels like every inch of it was tailored by director/writer Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will be Blood, The Master, Boogie Night, Magnolia). It put a massive smile on my face as every hand crafted scene played in front of my eyes, and when it was over I wanted more. I love how Anderson finds ways to make his films feel so alive and layered because they almost force you to rewatch them to embrace every detail.
Phantom Thread revolves around Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) a consummate bachelor/famous dressmaker meeting a woman named Alma (Vicky Krieps) who becomes his muse. Since this is a Paul Thomas Anderson film, the romance is anything but conventional and plays like a subdued rollercoaster in the guise of a period drama. The two meet while Woodcock is away at the country after a particularly stressing fashion show. After a charming breakfast scene involving the great pronunciation of the word “raspberry,” Woodcock takes Alma out for a date, then back to his place to fit her for what will become a beautiful dress. After their initial meet-cute, Alma comes back to London with him to become his muse, lover and verbal sparring partner. However, since he is a stuck-in-his-ways bachelor it puts a strain on their relationship and leads to some trippy places.
I loved how Alma adds minor chaos to Reynold’s routine by simply spreading butter on toast too loudly or insisting on getting the last word in during their arguments. Woodcock bit off a little more than he could chew with Alma, and he doesn’t realize his normal tricks of turning women away won’t work with her. Together, they co-exist in an interesting pattern of passive aggressiveness and infatuation that leads to a really awesome and weird ending. Also, this may sound random but Phantom Thread features the best pronunciation of the word “raspberry” since Dracula: Dead and Loving It.
It’s random. I know
If you are thinking that a period romance about dressmaking isn’t for you, just remember that Paul Thomas Anderson is the guy who directed There Will Be Blood, The Master, Boogie Nights and Magnolia. It doesn’t matter what the subject matter is because Anderson always finds a way to make things look beautiful and the plot interesting. You will 100% be surprised at what transpires throughout the film and you might find yourself smiling at the absurdity of it all. Also, the sets, dresses and locations, provide an embarrassment of eye candy.
Phantom Thread is a beautiful film that might just be the swan song for Daniel Day-Lewis. For that reason alone you should head to the theaters to bask in his layered performance that proves he is one of the best actors on the planet.
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Maze Runner: The Death Cure: A Solid Send-Off to a Trilogy That Punched Above its Weight
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Maze Runner: The Death Cure is a somewhat satisfying end to a very fun trilogy that hit above its weight. I say “somewhat satisfying” because it sticks the landing, but gets weighed down in too many subplots, weird pacing and not enough running. Director Wes Ball (FSU alum!) was given the rare job of being allowed to direct an entire trilogy and I think he has done a fine job telling a cohesive series of movies that have evolved and gotten bigger. The first movie was a fun YA adaptation that featured plenty of stakes, likable characters and a breakout performance from Dylan O’Brien. The second film The Scorch Trials was a big step up that featured some epic (for the budget) running set-pieces that succeeded in making me tired.
Maze Runner: The Death Cure focuses on the final battle between the “Gladers” and WCKD (Wicked). Thomas (Dylan O’Brien), Newt (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) and Frypan (Dexter Darden) have continued their team up with resistance leader Vince (Barry Pepper!!!) and the very enjoyable Brenda (Rosa Salazar) and Jorge (Giancarlo Esposito) in order to rescue their close friend Minho (Ki Hong Lee) and get the heck out of the infected wasteland in search of greener and less gross pastures. However, things happen and the crew is forced to reengage with old (fr)enemies Teresa (Kaya Scodelario), Ava Paige (Patricia Clarkson) and Janson (Aidan Gillen).
What is the reason for the final showdown? The folks at WCKD are all about finding a cure for the deadly “flare virus” that has turned humanity into cranky zombies (AKA cranks). Their means of finding a cure is far from ethical as they don’t care about occasional torture, death and insane tests. The “Gladers” aren’t really keen on being tortured, but they need to break in to WCKD’s massive lab (after trying to escape for years) to rescue their friend who is being super tortured for a cure. Once all the chess pieces are back in play we are blessed with many explosions, some running and a disfigured Walton Goggins (AKA The Best) blowing more stuff up.
The best moments of the trilogy revolve around reactive action scenes that feature fast thinking and lots of cardio.
What I love most about this film is it’s loaded with actors and characters I like. There is a mini Game of Thrones reunion (Littlefinger, Jojen Reed, Missandei) and anytime Walton Goggins can ham-it-up onscreen it makes me happy. I’m also happy that Dylan O’Brien was able to recover from the horrible accident that happened to him while shooting a stunt for this installment. He went through a lot and the accident forced the film to be delayed over a year and potentially never finished. However, after a very trying period of physical therapy he was able to come back and crush the finale.
Maze Runner: The Death Cure is a fine ending to an unlikely trilogy and I’m happy it was able to get a proper sendoff. It may not have the thrills and excitement of the first two movies but I still had a fun time watching people I like engaging in post-apocalyptic shenanigans. If you are fan of the first two, I’m certain you will dig this film and embrace that everyone came back and it was able to have a proper ending.
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The MFF Podcast #115: Bram Stoker’s Dracula
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SUMMARY: This week we discuss Francis Ford Coppola’s ambitious venture into Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992), a dazzling visual spectacle mixing equal parts horror, romance and fantasy–much like Romeo and Juliet took a stroll through the horror genre. Join us for analyses of British accents, a deeper exploration of Coppola’s methodology, innovative camera techniques, and how this star-studded cast approached their varied roles.
If you enjoy discussions about horror romance films, check out Episode 62: Honeymooners (Honeymoon and Spring).
For more horror podcast discussions, check out…
Episode 114: Office Horror, Mayhem & The Belko Experiment
Episode 113: Elise, her Demons and the Insidious Franchise
Episode 108: The Best Horror Films of 2017
Episode 78: Carpenter vs Zombie Halloween Rematch (1981 vs 2009)
Episode 76: The Blair Witch Pod (1999-2016)
Download the pod on iTunes, PodBean, Stitcher or
LISTEN TO THE POD ON BLOG TALK RADIO.
Please SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW, RATE and SHARE.
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Wind River: A Very Good Thriller That Proves Taylor Sheridan is One of the Best Writers Around
Director/writer Taylor Sheridan has been on a tear with his screenplays for Sicario, Hell or High Water, and now Wind River. I believe he is one of the best working writers today because he is able to combine poetic dialogue, genuine heart and action scenes that make you feel like you are part of the action. His screenplays focus on the fringes of society where lawlessness and politics go hand in hand and are often accompanied by sudden violence and death. Whether it is on the Mexican border or Texas back roads, Sheridan loves wide open spaces that are home to lawlessness and great dialogue.
Wind River centers on the investigation of a dead body found in an uninhabited part of the Wind River Indian reservation in Wyoming. Fish and Wildlife Agent Cory Lambert (Jeremy Renner) discovers the young woman without shoes or proper winter gear and the cause of death is a pulmonary hemorrhage caused by the rapid inhalation of sub-zero air. The main problem is the autopsy shows signs of trauma and rape, however, since the cause of death was a pulmonary hemorrhage the local police, Lambert and FBI agent Jane Banner (Elizabeth Olsen) can’t request more help from the FBI. Thus, they are under-manned, without clues and due to the closely-knit community can’t get many people to talk.
Watch the clip to get a feel for the surroundings and dialogue.
Their investigation takes them to the back roads of the reservation where the inhabitants range from relaxed to drug-addled. We are also introduced to the parents of the victim who are crushed that their daughter suffered so terribly. Lambert also lost his daughter years back and this latest murder to one of his daughter’s friends brings back horrible memories and also a redemption of sorts. What follows is heartbreaking (due to its true story nature) and breathtaking.
Taylor Sheridan nails his directorial debut and I love that he builds to an action scene that I haven’t been able to shake. When you watch as many movies as I do it’s hard to hold on to everything. However, there is a crazy tense standoff that left my mouth agape and in fear of Jeremy Renner. I bet that Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen were happy to get away from their superhero roles and spout some great dialogue. I’d love to give my favorite scene away, but due to its spoiler nature I don’t want to wreck a very good Renner speech that he gives at the end. It is simultaneously uplifting and also punches you right in the gut with the grief behind it. So, instead of wrecking that moment, I’ve added another clip below that features Renner crushing some dialogue.
Watch Wind River and appreciate the work of Taylor Sheridan.
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