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Thursday, October 4, 2012
Film / Film News Opening Friday
Posted By Matt Brunson on Thu, Oct 4, 2012 at 10:00 AM
- The Weinstein Company
- Butter
Butter - Jennifer Garner, Olivia Wilde
Chicken with Plums - Mathieu Amalric, Maria de Medeiros
Frankenweenie - Animated; voices of Martin Landau, Winona Ryder
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Logan Lerman, Emma Watson
Taken 2 - Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Film / Film Reviews Halloween Countdown: The Thing from Another World
Posted By Matt Brunson on Wed, Oct 3, 2012 at 2:00 PM
(In anticipation of the coolest day of the year, this month-long series will offer one recommended horror flick a day up through Oct. 31.)
THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD (1951). Christian Nyby may be credited as director, but it's long been established that Howard Hawks (billed here as producer) was the one calling most of the shots on this horror/sci-fi hybrid. Certainly, the film fits right into his compendium of classics: Like Rio Bravo, The Big Sleep and oh-so-many-others, it features crackling dialogue, deliciously subversive humor, confident and competent heroes, and a healthy air of sexual playfulness between its romantic leads. Featuring James Arness (before Gunsmoke) as the deadly e.t. who makes life difficult for a group of soldiers and scientists huddled together at a North Pole research facility, this has endured largely because of all the top talent Hawks corralled for the project: ace cinematographer Russell Harlan (the sequence in which the men use fire to fight the alien is a standout of lighting and composition), top composer Dimitri Tiomkin (employing the theremin to great effect in his score) and revered screenwriter Charles Lederer. Equally recommended is John Carpenter’s excellent 1982 version (simply called The Thing), featuring Rob Bottin’s imaginative makeup effects and Ennio Morricone’s beautifully minimalist score. Best, however, to skip last year’s same-name prequel.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Film / Film Reviews Halloween Countdown: Brotherhood of the Wolf
Posted By Matt Brunson on Tue, Oct 2, 2012 at 2:00 PM
(In anticipation of the coolest day of the year, this month-long series will offer one recommended horror flick a day up through Oct. 31.)
BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF (2001). Movies that adopt an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach are often maddening messes, but this French import (original title: Le pacte des loups) is reminiscent of countless other films and yet still manages to retain its own swagger of originality. With a first half that plays like Sleepy Hollow, a second half that begs comparison to From Hell, and elements of Jaws, The Last of the Mohicans, The Company of Wolves and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon scattered throughout, this delirious experience covers most bases and makes at least a cursory stab at the few it misses. In 18th century France, a naturist/philosopher (Samuel Le Bihan) and his Iroquois companion (Mark Dacascos) are sent by the royal court to investigate a series of slayings in the French countryside. The creature responsible is reportedly a monstrous wolf, but as the pair investigate, they discover that several of the locals may know more about the affair than they're admitting. This one's got it all: martial arts, political intrigue, tender romance (between Le Bihan and Rosetta's Emilie Dequenne), steamy sex scenes (between Le Bihan and Irreversible's Monica Bellucci), and a snapping, snarling, bloodthirsty beast.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Film / Film Reviews Halloween Countdown: Day of the Dead
Posted By Matt Brunson on Mon, Oct 1, 2012 at 2:00 PM
(In anticipation of the coolest day of the year, this month-long series will offer one recommended horror flick a day up through Oct. 31.)
DAY OF THE DEAD (1985). George Romero's 1968 Night of the Living Dead has long been considered a classic, as has its 1979 sequel Dawn of the Dead. As for this third installment — well, it's considered anything but a classic, yet it's better than the reputation it garnered upon its original release, when it quickly became apparent that this was the runt of its particular cinematic litter. Set in an underground military bunker, this finds a group of scientists, intent on studying the zombies in the hopes of finding a cure, engaged in a mental tug-of-war with the trigger-happy soldiers who would be just as content wiping out everybody (scientists and zombies alike) who vexes them. Largely missing is the primal horror of the first film and the sharp satire of the second, yet what remains isn't bad, with some of Romero's interesting ideas and Tom Savini's gory effects triumphing over some amateurish acting (major exception: Howard Sherman, who's effective, even touching, as Bub the domesticated zombie). Interestingly, this movie basically shares the same philosophy as the more recent — and more acclaimed — zombie flick 28 Days Later: A flesh-eating monster may be nobody's idea of a desirable companion, but he's no worse than a spirit-sapping military man.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Film / Film Reviews Weekend Film Reviews: Pitch Perfect; House at the End of the Street; Dredd
Posted By Matt Brunson on Fri, Sep 28, 2012 at 4:23 PM
- Lionsgate
- Dredd
Click on the title to be taken directly to the review.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Film / Film News Opening Friday
Posted By Matt Brunson on Thu, Sep 27, 2012 at 10:00 AM
- Fox
- Won't Back Down
Hotel Transylvania - Animated; voices of Adam Sandler, Kevin James
Looper - Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Pitch Perfect - Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson
Won't Back Down - Maggie Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis
Monday, September 24, 2012
Film / Film News / Film Reviews Modern Times at EpiCentre tonight
Posted By Matt Brunson on Mon, Sep 24, 2012 at 1:31 PM
By Matt Brunson
MODERN TIMES (1936)
****
DIRECTED BY Charles Chaplin
STARS Charles Chaplin, Paulette Goddard
The American Film Institute named Some Like It Hot as the best comedy of all time; the IMDb voters currently have Forrest Gump ranked as the best comedy; Rotten Tomatoes' critical mass holds Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb as the pinnacle of comedic perfection; four different British media outlets designated Monty Python's Life of Brian as best of the best; and this nation's frat boys would doubtless consider The Hangover the greatest comedy ever made. My pick? It has long been Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times, although folks who cite either Chaplin's City Lights or The Gold Rush can certainly defend their choice.
Chaplin's works were always a blend of inspired comedy, unforced poignancy and sharp social commentary, and these elements were arguably best combined in this riotous satire in which Chaplin's Little Tramp — the last time he would ever play this beloved character — has trouble finding, and then retaining, employment. Hunger, homelessness and the uncaring attitude of the American workplace all figure in the proceedings, making Modern Times as topical today as when it was first released.
Yet for all its heavy subjects, this is a comedy first and foremost, and as such, it features some of Chaplin's most brilliant — and most hilarious — set pieces. The various factory (at the beginning) and restaurant (at the end) sequences are deservedly legendary, although I always laugh the hardest during the wonderfully staged skating segment.
(A 35mm presentation of Modern Times will be held at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Sept. 24, at EpiCentre Theatres, 210 E. Trade St. The screening is free for Charlotte Film Society members as part of the organization's 30th Anniversary celebration. Those who are not CFS members can sign up for membership at the event and receive two more free screenings this week — Akira Kurosawa's Throne of Blood Tuesday and Abbas Kiarostami's Taste of Cherry Wednesday — as well as other CFS benefits.)
Friday, September 21, 2012
Film / Film Reviews Weekend Film Reviews: Trouble with the Curve; The Master; Compliance
Posted By Matt Brunson on Fri, Sep 21, 2012 at 4:46 PM
- Magnolia Pictures
- Compliance
Click on the title to be taken directly to the review.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Film / Film News Opening Friday
Posted By Matt Brunson on Thu, Sep 20, 2012 at 1:00 PM
- Oscilloscope Pictures
- Samsara
Compliance - Ann Dowd, Dreama Walker
Dredd 3D - Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby
End of Watch - Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena
House at the End of the Street - Jennifer Lawrence, Elizabeth Shue
The Master - Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Samsara - Documentary
Searching for Sugar Man - Documentary
Trouble with the Curve - Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Film / Film News The Light Factory's film roster of '72
Posted By Matt Brunson on Wed, Sep 19, 2012 at 9:49 PM
It begins with a man squealing like a pig and ends with a transvestite eating something less than, uh, divine. In between, there are plenty of offers that moviegoers can't refuse.
It's Spirit of '72, a celebration of some of the most noteworthy releases from the same year that The Light Factory was born. The venue has selected a total of eight feature films from 1972; some are Oscar winners, some are box office smashes, and yet others managed to push — make that shred — that proverbial envelope.
The series runs this Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 20-23, at The Light Factory. Admission is $7 per film ($5 for TLF members). The full schedule with days and times is below.
DELIVERANCE
Director: John Boorman. Cast: Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds. 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
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Question the Queen City: The haunting of Love’s Pass
The railroad pass has claimed at least 14 lives
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Eight (possible) things overheard in Patrick Cannon's prison visitation room
Who goes to see him on weekends? What do they talk about? We have no idea, but we're creative.
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Listen Up: VS Guitar Duo Shreds on 'Local Vibes'
Episode 35
