Terry Gilliam is a filmmaker who possesses what seems to be a truly unlimited imagination. His science fiction and fantasy films over the years have been the stuff of legends. The worlds he creates are vivid, weird and downright beautiful. The man has been dazzling audiences since the 1960s with his work with the comedy group “Monty Python” and with his bizarre yet gorgeous directorial efforts. His latest film The Zero Theorem continues in that vein of offbeat cinematic output and while it is a work full of the filmmaker’s signature quirks and unique style, it might detract casual moviegoers.
Category Archives: Review
A Walk Among the Tombstones
When one thinks of Liam Neeson, one thinks of revenge-fueled action cinema. Since 2008, the rugged actor has firmly cemented himself as the aging master of hand-to-hand combat and an expert at handling firearms. Taken was the film which got the ball rolling and that ball continues to roll with the Irish actor’s latest action/thriller A Walk Among the Tombstones. The film is more or less, your standard Neeson fare but with a few twists that keep things interesting. The body count isn’t too high as the film tends to focus more on story and the somewhat interesting mystery. Nevertheless, it is an average popcorn picture which will be sure to entertain even those who aren’t the biggest supporters of Neeson.
Tracks
Spiritual journeys are the usual basis for many a movie. Everyone at some point or another asks the important questions and seeks the answers that usually can’t be answered. That quest for knowledge is what keeps us going and it normally provides for some rather thrilling cinema. Tracks is the true story of one such person, a young woman who basically picks up and ventures out where it is basically only her facing the sometimes harsh elements of nature and the darkness of the great unknown.
Life’s a Breeze
Greed is an interesting thing, one of the seven deadly sins which sometimes brings out the very worst in people. Money is a very attractive motivator and in desperate times, can turn good-natured individuals into devious scoundrels. The Irish dramedy Life’s a Breeze does focus on greed and the unfortunate effect it has on family but it does it in a way that is light and at times, rather farcical. It is a film about family, first and foremost, and how something as material as money can either bring the family together or tear it apart.
Honeymoon
It would appear that the modern horror film is severely lacking this day and age. Loud crashes and found cinema seem to be all the rage since Saw’s ridiculously gruesome torture porn reign is over. Filmmakers seem to be at a loss when it comes to originality when scaring their audiences. Luckily, there is the occasional spark of horror creativity. The latest comes from newcomer director Leigh Janiak who has taken audiences into the woods for what may seem predictable and by-the-numbers but is actually a fresh take on an established setting and popular formula. Honeymoon is a tense and unpredictable horror/thriller which may actually throw you for a loop.
The Quitter
Independent dramedies can be a thing of absolute beauty. Powerful acting contained within the world of a crafty director’s lens, joined in by a script dripping with realism and quirkiness are the film’s most essential ingredients. When these important factors mix, cinematic magic is bound to happen. The Quitter is one such indie that blends all of these ingredients and the results are utterly sublime. It is a romantic dramedy with heart, humor and at times, baseball.
A Good Job: Stories of the FDNY
When it comes to emergency situations, fires rank very high. Blazes damage property, injure people and sometimes, take lives. They are feared by many and are sometimes, uncontrollable and it takes a certain type of personality to combat these terrible forces. Firefighters are the heroes who are called to extinguish the flames and save lives and the new HBO documentary A Good Job: Stories of the FDNY shines a spotlight on the brave individuals, soldiers who go toe to toe with fires, put them out and rescue those in the process.
God Help the Girl
Scotland is a country that doesn’t get represented on film too often. The land is absolutely beautiful and full of rich history but when the casual moviegoer pictures it, not much comes to mind other than Mel Gibson yelling with war paint on his face or maybe sequences from Highlander. There is much to behold in Scotland and the latest hipster musical/drama God Help the Girl manages to blend quirky drama with lovely visions of Glasgow on a calm summer’s day. It is a unique film that showcases the musician-turned-filmmaker Stuart Murdoch’s talents, who is actually the frontman for indie pop band “Belle and Sebastian”. God Help the Girl is Murdoch’s directorial debut.
The Identical
Musical dramas often present predictable and cliché stories. Troubled characters and relationships riddled with conflict are usually at the forefront of movies that fall into this genre. The Identical, while being a squeaky clean and sincere tale, is one such film that goes the direction of “been there, done that”. It is rated PG and has some religious undertones, making it appropriate for the entire family. The performances feel very familiar and so does the movie’s ultimate message. With a bland plot and decent songs, it isn’t necessarily a bad film; it just doesn’t go above that of average quality.
The November Man
There seems to be a popular trend these days with certain actors when they approach or surpass their 60s. For some reason, when male actors reach this decade, they decide to star in violent, explosive, sometimes entertaining action/thrillers. It apparently started in 2008 with Liam Neeson in Taken, continued in 2010 with Sylvester Stallone’s The Expendables, and was evident earlier this year with Kevin Costner in 3 Days to Kill, and so on. Post-midlife crisis cinematic bloodbaths are all the rage nowadays and Pierce Brosnan’s latest actioner The November Man firmly reinforces that fact. It is a ridiculous quasi-interesting spy thriller that features decent performances, lots of dead bodies, and little less.
Unger the Radar 