Archive for August, 2009

The Fan

  • Written by Box Office Boredom
  • Posted August 27, 2009 at 4:48 pm

A Review by Jason L. King

Starring: Robert Deniro, Wesley Snipes, Benicio Del Torro
Directed By: Tony Scott
Rated: Rated R for language and violence
Movie Released: 1996
IMDB Link

Final Grade: <

As I delved back into my own rental shelves and searched for something to watch, I picked up my copy of the Deniro and Tony Scott film, The Fan. The film is a sports film that really brings the dark side of sports to life, and I think that is why I really enjoy the film a much as I do.

The film follows Gil Renard (DeNiro) a unemployed knife salesman and die hard Giants fan who becomes obsessed with his favorite team’s 40 million dollar slugger, Bobby Rayburn (Wesley Snipes). When Rayburn goes into a hitting slump, Gil thinks he can help Rayburn rekindle his once great hitting average, even if that means stooping to the level of murder.

It is the story that I enjoy most about this film. I love sports, don’t get me wrong, but I am not an obsessive. However, I do know people who are obsessed with the game of baseball, football or whatever their chosen poison is. It’s just a game!! One year you are booing a player because they play for your rival (The Packers perhaps) the next year you are rooting for them because that player found his common sense and joined another team (The Vikings). It’s all a bunch of hogwash! —Wow did that just turn into a Brett Favre rant?

Anyhow, DeNiro does a great job of exposing the crazy inter workings of an obsessed fan and crazy person. It’s like mixing DeNiro’s version of Max Cady from Cape Fear with a baseball obsessed divorcee. DeNiro plays scary well- again. But then again, DeNiro plays scary well most of the time. That’s what he does best. As for his counterpart, Wesley Snipes, well Wesley does what Wesley does best. He stands there and spews his lines like an overpaid one liner. He’s pretty much just re-hashing a more serious version of “Billy Mays Hayes” from Major League (before Omar Epps took over for him). Snipes doesn’t do anything new and exciting, but he is a believable ball player none the less.

Every time that I have revisited the fan, it reminds me that director Tony Scott knows how to construct a film. Leading up the “The Fan” Tony Scott brought us films like Beverly Hills Cop 2, Days of Thunder, Top Gun, The Last Boy Scout, True Romance and Crimson Tide. In my opinion, The Fan was one of the last “great” films of Tony Scott’s decade of greatness.

The Tony Scott that viewers get to see now has turned into his own version of Gil Renard, but instead of obsessed with baseball is more obsessed with style than substance. Scott’s films over the last few years, Enemy of the State, Man on Fire, Domino, Deja Vu have all been grainy, grey green, ADD induced hand held shots drug across a plodding and heavy plot line. It’s not the Tony Scott I grew up watching and loving, and I am saddened by the change. However, The Fan pre-dates the reformed Tony Scott era, and so there is a mixture of style and story. The film shows that Tony is just beginning to be a bit more experimental in his film making but not enough to be distracting like it is now. The Fan is just a nice balance.

Should you rent this or not? I say yes. I find enjoyment in the film. No, it is not the same enjoyment you would get out of watching “Rookie of the Year” or “The Sandlot” but its a good suspense film all the same. No, it’s not for the kids, it carries a hard “R” and be prepared to think DeNiro is a real jerk in the film- so much so it is almost uncomfortable. But if you want to travel to the dark side of sports and obsessive fans- check out “The Fan.”

–writers note: At the time of posting, “The Fan” is available online at: Crackle.com. or can be picked up to own at a big box retailer like Walmart and Bestbuy for $5.

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Filed under: Drama, Movies, Suspense

Waking The Dead

  • Written by Box Office Boredom
  • Posted August 26, 2009 at 10:11 pm

A Review by Jason L. King

Starring: Billy Crudup, Jennifer Connelly
Directed By: Keith Gordon
Rated: Rated R for language and sexuality
Movie Released: 2000
IMDB Link

Final Grade:

Waking the dead is about a blue collar aspiring politician who falls in love with a human rights activist in the 70’s. 10 years after her tragic death, he begins to see her again and begins to question his own sanity only days before his ongoing senate race. The film stars Jennifer Connelly and Billy Crudup and came out in 2000 and went under the radar.

The film itself is extremely well acted, and it flowed quite nicely from scene to scene in many cases. Running just under 2 hours the film crafts a intriguing little tale and keeps you wondering right along with Billy Crudup’s character. Is he really losing it? Is he seeing a ghost, or this girl from the past, long assumed dead suddenly back in his life?

What I really liked about this film is the acting. I enjoyed the performance by Connelly and Crudup a great deal. Crudup does a wonderful job of pushng the envelope and you are drawn into the film. You experience the same emotions of sadness, grief and confusion with him because of the powerful emotion he brings to his character. Crudup outshines Connelly in every way, although Connelly puts up a strong fight in the flashback sequences she is featured in.

While I enjoyed the film, there were a few things that just didn’t fit together right for me. Perhaps the older and crankier I get, I want things tied up in a nice neat bow. I didn’t get that in the film. I felt like it just kind of ended unresolved. I also had a hard time believing that Connelly and Crudup’s characters would have fallen in love at all in the first place. They seemed to be polar opposites, and they shared opposite viewpoints on most things. I found it funny, that Crudup is reminiscing the death of his beloved girl, and many of the things he remembered always ended in a fight, or one or the other being beaten down for the opinions by their friends, family and co-workers. Then again, they say opposites attract. Maybe that was what they were going for.

There were scenes in the film that were choppy jump cuts during dialogue, and while some may think they were artistic, I found them very distracting from the film. Director Keith Gordon felt the need to do this on at least 2 or 3 seperate occasions and it rarely worked. I kept thinking my computer was skipping and buffering the video at first and then realized that it was a stylistic thing. (I will however stand corrected if someone tells me differently).

All in all, this is a movie that ends leaving you feel empty inside. The acting is good, and the story is intriguing, but I felt the ending left me feeling alone, pessimistic and well just not a happy camper. Waking the Dead is a good film, it is just a slow moving film. It’s not exactly the film for everyone.

For those of you looking for those free rentals, you can find it free on hulu.com so you could see this for free on your next rental night!

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Filed under: Drama, Movies

A Time To Kill

  • Written by Box Office Boredom
  • Posted August 15, 2009 at 9:12 pm

A Review by Jason L. King

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew McConaughey, Kevin Spacey, Sandra Bullock
Directed By: Joel Schumacher
Rated: Rated R for violence and some graphic language
Movie Released: 2005
IMDB Link

Final Grade: <

The film choice of the day was A Time To Kill, a 1996 film directed by Joel Schumacher based off the John Grisham film of the same name. This was a title that I picked up on DVD for $5 in a Wal-mart bargain bin for a rainy day watch. Well it turns out that today was that rainy day. The story is of Carl Lee Haily (Samuel L. Jackson) who kills 2 rednecks who raped his 10 year old daughter. Carl Lee takes vigilante justice into his own hands right in front of 50 people on the courthouse steps, so the case really doesn’t look to be a winner. However a young lawyer. played by Matthew McConauhey, steps in and takes Carl Lee’s case and tries to get him off on a plea of temporary insanity. Little does he know, this racial fueled Georgia case reignites the resurgance of the Ku Klux Klan.

Like every John Grisham book that is made into a film, the film doesn’t hold up to the books. Grisham is the master of the legal thriller novel, and can take the same formula and use it again and again and even again and have his fans eating out of his hand. Grisham fans drool like Pavalovian dogs at the mere sight of his novels and can’t wait to read them. However, for some reason his books just don’t translate to the big screen with the same power that they have in print form. The Firm, The Pelican Brief, The Rainmaker, The Client, The Runaway Jury and A Time to Kill are all OK films, but they really aren’t anything more than just that: OK films.

This film has a plethora of stars in the cast and lending thier hands to the film are Sandra Bullock, Kevin Spacey, Ashley Judd, Oliver Platt, Chris Cooper and Donald and Kiefer Sutherland to name a few. But despite all the star power it still seems flat. I felt like I was watching a high quality made for cable TV film. Something they show on TNT…(after all they know drama right?) None the less the film lacked and drug along at a drudging pace. It wasn’t too slow, it just really took it’s time getting to the end. It would be like watching a turtle race with only one turtle. You know the result, so why watch? It’s slow moving and at the end it’s still a turtle.

Some of the pacing issues might have been to blame on director Joel Schumacher. I’d like to preface that by saying I went into the film thinking, “oh God, Joel Schumacher made Batman and Robin.” Well, I had to remind myself Joel Schumacher has made a lot of great films such as Phone Booth, Tigerland, 8MM and Falling Down. He also made The Client (another mediocre Grisham adaptation). Joel just paces the film a bit slow and has a constant circus of actors streaming across the screen and it doesn’t do anything for me.

What I really did enjoy about the film was the ending. Sam Jackson does what he does best, yells. There is something fun about Sam Jackson screaming “Yes the deserve to die, and I hope they burn in hell!” The film also sports a powerful closing by McConauhey which I really enjoyed. But alas, it was a little underwhelming after the long ride.

While A Time To Kill is a decent flick, it’s nothing I think I would put on a must see rental list. If you are a reader, give the book a try. Grisham is great easy reading disposable stuff. It’s the legal world’s Dan Brown (DaVinci Code – non-readers!!). As for Grisham adaptations to film, try and try as they may, I still haven’t seen one pulled off perfectly yet.

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Filed under: Drama, Movies

On A Clear Day

  • Written by Box Office Boredom
  • Posted August 14, 2009 at 6:25 pm

A Review by Jason L. King

Starring: Peter Mulla, Brenda Blethy, Jamie Sives, Billy Boyd
Directed By: Gabby Dellal
Rated: PG-13 for mild language
Movie Released: 2005
IMDB Link

Final Grade: Grade

When aging shipbuilder Frank Redmond is fired from his job by the new upper management he doesn’t know how to adapt to his new found circumstances. His relationship with his son is estranged and the two can’t say more than two words to each other without walking away from each other and his wife is even a bit distant. But with the help of his friends he begins to secretly plan to swim the English Channel with the help of his friends.

On A Clear Day is a small independent film that Focus Features and Universal Pictures put out in 2004-2005. The film circuited its way around small art houses and cinemplexes and never really gained steam. Now it sits on rental shelves collecting dust, which is really a sad affair.

I myself am guilty of this plight, I picked up a copy of On a Clear Day at least a year ago and left it unwatched on a shelf. I figured it was one of those clearance rentals that sounded ok, and was actually cheaper to buy than rent at most locations. So there it sat amongst the 500 other DVD’s on the shelves awaiting that day when I too would blow off the dust and give it a chance.

Well, today was that day. I really enjoyed this film. It was a nicely paced heartwarming story. It’s the kind of film that is inspirational in the way that it makes you feel a bit lazy. After all, a 65 year old man just swam the English channel, and my biggest accomplishment is I can sit on a couch eating cheesy poofs and think that’s inspiring. What a sad life some of us live. Never the less On a Clear Day achieves it’s simple but inspiring story.

One of the things I really liked is the character development in the film. Of course we have Frank going through his transformation, but each of Franks friends also face their own insecurities throughout the course of the film thanks to the inspiration of Frank’s “crazy idea.” Each of the characters had a quirk, much like each of your own friends do and that is what makes them a loveable cast. I think what also helped bring a sense of realness to the film is that none of these actors are really “big” names in Hollywood, except Billy Boyd of Lord of the Rings hobbit fame. Sure the other people have popped up in films before, but it wasn’t like I was watching a movie about Tom Cruise swimming the English Channel. There is something about a big name in a film that can take away from the overall effect of a simple, heartwarming tale such as this.

In the end, On a Clear Day is a great film about finding yourself and your family again, over coming adversity and going for your dreams. It is a great pick me up film that has been forgotten over the last few years. Why not give it a shot on your next rental.

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Filed under: Drama, Movies

Pitch Black

  • Written by Box Office Boredom
  • Posted August 12, 2009 at 6:52 pm

A Review by Jason L. King

Starring: Vin Diesel, Rahada Mitchell, Cole Hauser
Directed By: David Twhoy
Rated: Rated R for violence and language.
Movie Released: 2000
IMDB Link

Final Grade:

Believe it or not there was a time when Vin Diesel was cool. Some people never think that happened, but it there was an era, where Vin Diesel didn’t make “The Pacifier” or “xXx3: The Return of Xander Cage” (look it up, it’s in the works). Vin Diesel was the bad ass that every guy wanted to be and every girl wanted to be around. Now days, the only time he can kind of pull that off is by rehashing Fast and Furious films.

Aside from Boiler Room and a small role in Saving Private Ryan, Vin Diesel was little known in the acting world in 2000 until Pitch Black came along. But Diesel’s performance as Richard B. Riddick shot him to instant cult classic stardom. Riddick is the ultimate badass, the world’s most feared criminal and biggest anti-hero you may find in film. Vin Diesel makes Pitch Black a fun film.

Most critics cry a little bit inside when they say the best thing about a movie is Vin Diesel. Now the film snob in me can agree with that statement, but this is Diesel at his finest. The plot follows a prison transport ship that crash lands on a planet that is inhabited by strange blood lusting creatures that come out in the eclipse that happens every 22 years. By the luck of the shipwrecked crew, it’s been 22 years since the last eclipse the day they crash. Can they get off the planet alive? That’s where Riddick enters the picture. A life long felon who has spent his time in solitary confinement, he has the ability to see in pitch black conditions and could be their ticket to safety.

It’s been a few years since first watching the film, and I realized that Cole Hauser can’t act regardless of what film he is in. Thinking back on his career of Paparazzi, Pitch Black and Lakeview Terrace, I realized he may be a waste of space. (Note to self- never expect things from Cole Hauser). Pitch Black did not restore my faith in him. In the film he plays a whiny bounty hunter who is constantly picking a fight with Riddick. You want him to die, just to get off the screen. You may also wish for his untimely death because he can’t deliver his lines with out looking like a fool. Much like a young Ryan Phillipe or a Freddie Prinze Jr., Hauser tries to command the screen only to fail much like his comparisons.

What is great about Pitch Black is what isn’t seen is what is scariest. We do get a look at these creatures, and admittedly they look a bit cheesey. But they do tear people to shreads and pluck them out of the middle of nowhere when it is compeltely dark. It helps solidify that fear that things that go bump in the night really are stalking you.

Mixing horror and sci fi can be a tricky mix, and Pitch Black pulls it off very well. This isn’t Leprachaun in Space or Jason X. This is some solid sci-fi horror that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s got some great dialouge, some great characters and a fun plot. It was really a shame how they never got the Riddick franchise kick started beyond this film. If you saw the Chronicles of Riddick and hated it, give the films origins a try. You’ll have a better understanding of why Riddick really is such an entertaining character.

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Filed under: Action, Movies, Science Fiction
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