The self help book business is a thriving industry for many reasons: people want to better their lives, people don’t know where else to look for the answers to their problems and they often turn to a false prophet to help fix said problems. In the new dramedy Reach Me, a colorful group of characters played by an equally eclectic ensemble of well-known actors are all effected by a self help book and its recluse author. Each character who is touched by this “magical” book are from all walks of life and the finale eventually brings all of these random individuals together for one rather average film.
All posts by Unger the Radar
Wolves
With the teen supernatural genre boom courtesy of Twilight, movies dealing with dark creatures have been dumbed down and cater to kids hungry for mindless entertainment. Sometimes, a film slips through that is intelligent and pays homage to the characters and their stories in a respectful manner but sadly, Wolves is not one of them. It has all of the ingredients that made the Twilight saga successful and then some. Unfortunately, those qualities aren’t the same as quality cinema. It has a very cheap feel to it and will probably fall into Netflix Instant obscurity.
Bad Turn Worse
Crime stories are often filled with colorful characters, interesting plot points and evoke everlasting emotions. The Coen brothers and Quentin Tarantino are notorious for bringing noir and crime to movie audiences in fresh and original ways. However, they aren’t the only filmmakers to delve into the crime/thriller genre with decent results. Directing team (and brothers) Simon and Zeke Hawkins have come out with Bad Turn Worse, an independent western thriller that has all the elements necessary for a disturbing yet highly entertaining film but sadly because of its indie flavor, mass audiences will probably overlook it.
Beside Still Waters
Friendship is a subject explored in movies pretty extensively. Togetherness and bonding are the touchstones of many film stories. Large groups especially like those in The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo’s Fire provide for some of the more memorable friendship sagas. The latest dramedy Beside Still Waters is a perfect example of this and while it shares many of the themes and tropes of friendship films before it, it does contain a few original ideas and some really great performances, making it one of the better indies out there today.
West
The road to starting a new life can be a long, hard and tiring one. Sacrifices must be made and challenges must be met. These are exactly the type of obstacles the main character in West faces and the film, while shot decently and featuring some very strong performances, it lags and doesn’t really go in any direction that is worthwhile or interesting. A German export, the film is a perfect example of realism caught on celluloid but fictional and lackluster at best.
Fury
The travesty of war has been captured on film time and time again. From Apocalypse Now to Saving Private Ryan, some war films are better than others but the fact remains that war is hell and film serves as an excellent way to depict the horror and sometimes, adventure. The latest war drama Fury is a welcome addition to the genre and it not only features exhilarating action sequences but a powerful cast full of seasoned actors who fully submerge themselves in their respective roles. Brad Pitt headlines the strong cast and David Ayer pulls triple duty as writer/director/producer.
Foxcatcher
Movies based on true stories often provide for some of the more riveting and though-provoking cinematic experiences. The drama and grittiness is palpable and it is the one of most literal examples of “art imitating life”. The searing drama Foxcatcher is a dark and psychological exploration of three men who each have their own individual problems and eventually clash with a truly unfortunate outcome. The film stars Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo and an intense and almost barely recognizable Steve Carell. It is a movie that will suck you in and basically leave you breathless. Released just in time for award season, this is one drama/thriller that is not to be missed.
Interview with Haley Joel Osment (Sex Ed)
You all know him from Forrest Gump and The Sixth Sense. He was that cute little kid who “saw dead people”. Well, now he’s all grown up and he stars in the raunchy new comedy Sex Ed, a film with sharp wit and pretty decent performances especially from Osment. I spoke with the actor regarding the film and it was pretty enlightening to say the least. Here’s the interview:
Sex Ed
Haley Joel Osment made a name for himself in the 1990s as a child actor. He was Forrest Gump’s son in 1994 and he “saw dead people” in 1999’s The Sixth Sense. Since then, he’s dabbled in film and television, most recently in the dark Tusk. This year has also seen the young actor in a bit of departure from “normal” roles. That film in question is Sex Ed and it is a raunchy but surprisingly sweet comedy that features Osment in the lead role. It’s smart, sexy and downright cute. It also showcases Osment in a new and very welcome way: charming leading man.
Soul of a Banquet
Believe it or not but “food porn” is one of culture’s greatest forms of entertainment. Since what we eat is so important, film and television companies have made a fortune off of photographing and accentuating the very nature of food. It has become an art form and a major source of discussion and appreciation for audiences worldwide. The new documentary Soul of a Banquet continues to glorify food and focuses on someone who is pretty legendary when it comes to the subject: Cecilia Chiang, a central figure in the evolution of Chinese cuisine in the United States.
Unger the Radar 