Film School Rejects » Kevin Carr

Rock, Paper, Scissors: The Next Big Thing in Sport Movies?

Kevin Carr — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:21:38 +0000

Here at FSR, we’re not just about throwing the spotlight on major Hollywood releases. We also like to give a nod to the indie filmmaker when we have a chance. That’s why we have loved the success of films like Paranormal Activity, which started as a grass-roots movement and became a national phenomenon.

The independent production The Flying Scissors is attempting to do the same thing, starting off with a college tour of screenings around the country. The Flying Scissors has been rolling through the American universities since the end of September, and it will be seeing a limited theatrical run in New York starting November 12.

The film is a mockumentary about a cut-throat Rock-Paper-Scissors competition and was produced for a price tag of less than $100,000. You can check out the trailer by visiting their web site at www.FlyingScissors.com. You can also find more information about the current college tour, release information and DVD details.

Will this spawn a sequel about a Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock competition? We can only hope so.

Kevin Carr’s Weekly Report Card for 11.06.09

Kevin Carr — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:34:36 +0000

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Studio: Disney

Rated: PG for scary sequences and images.

Starring: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins and Robin Wright Penn

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

What it’s about: If you don’t know this by now, you should be barred from the holiday season worldwide.

What I liked: By this time, you should know exactly what to expect when you get a Robert Zemeckis motion-capture film. Like The Polar Express and Beowulf, A Christmas Carol is heavy on the effects and virtual camerawork and relatively weak on the character and plot.

We’ve seen this story adapted so many times in so many forms – from feature films to re-tellings on our favorite 80s sit com – that there is almost no unique way to approach it. The uniqueness of this version is that the full-blown CGI extravaganza hasn’t been done yet. In this sense, it does work. The visuals are pretty cool and the IMAX 3D experience is a sight and worth it for no other reason that you won’t be able to recreate it at home.

What I didn’t: There are a lot of reasons to dump on this movie. If you don’t like Jim Carrey’s cartoonish acting, you’ll not like it in this movie. (Although I will admit that he is directed down in a good chunk of the film.) Also, because the movie is shot with motion capture technology, it allows Carrey to play all forms of Scrooge as well as the three Ghosts. Likewise, Gary Oldman plays several roles, including Bob Cratchit and Jacob Marley. Again, the coolness factor in this respect tends to overpower the story.

Movies like The Polar Express are famous for making CGI humans that are permanently camped in the uncanny valley. The human emulations have gotten better in this film, but they’re still in that valley. Most of the work has been done to make Carrey’s characters look more realistic while Gary Oldman just gives me the willies throughout.

A lot of people will say this version is completely unnecessary, and also pretty terrifying for a young child to watch, and they wouldn’t be wrong.

Who is gonna like this movie: Families… as long as they aren’t easily scared.

THE FOURTH KIND

Studio: Universal

Rated: PG-13 for violent/disturbing images, some terror, thematic elements and brief sexuality.

Starring: Milla Jovovich, Elias Koteas, Will Patton, Hakeem Kae-Kazim and Corey Johnson

Directed by: Olatunde Osunsanmi

What it’s about: Milla Jovovich plays Dr. Abigail Tyler, a psychologist from Nome, Alaska, who is investigating sleep disorders. After putting her patients under hypnosis, she discovers that these cases are possibly reflections from UFO abductions. The more she digs, the more she learns about the terrifying reality of abduction cases, which eventually hit close to home.

What I liked: I will admit that The Fourth Kind does capture a certain level of suspense and atmosphere. It’s pretty damned intense in some scenes, and the set-up is intriguing if not entirely thought out.

What I didn’t: The Fourth Kind really pushes the whole “based on actual case studies,” to a fault. It really rams this concept down your throat, going as far to presenting the video footage alongside the reenactments. Yet every time something interesting is happening, the case studies footage gets distorted so we can’t really see anything. Hmmmm… isn’t that convenient.

I like a solid alien abduction movie, although there are very few of them that have been made. This one just tries too hard. The set-up is interesting, having actress Milla Jovovich walk right up to the camera in an early scene and swear that everything’s real. But this hook is the only thing keeping the movie alive. All the other elements that make a movie good – characters, story, plot, empathy, heart and soul – are noticeably absent.

Maybe if rookie director Olatunde Osunsanmi had spent more time crafting a decent story instead of reminding the audience that these are “actual case studies,” we would have a better film.

Who is gonna like this movie: People who though Paranormal Activity was a documentary.

THE BOX

Studio: Warner Bros.

Rated: PG-13 for thematic elements, some violence and disturbing images.

Starring: Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella, Basil Hoffman and Gillian Jacobs

Directed by: Richard Kelly

What it’s about: In 1976, a mysterious stranger shows up on a couple’s doorstep with an offer. They are given a box with a red button on it. If they push the button, someone they don’t know somewhere in the world will die, and they will be given a million dollars. The couple struggles with whether or not to push the button, which has greater ramifications on their lives – and the lives of everyone around them – than they ever would have thought.

What I liked: First off, let me say that this movie is not for everyone. It’s waaaaaay out there, and that’s saying something even for Richard Kelly fans.

The movie has a brilliant set-up, courtesy of writer Richard Matheson’s original short story. (If you don’t know who Richard Matheson is, he wrote about a third of the original Twilight Zone teleplays.) So, it’s not surprising that the film has a whole Twilight Zone feel to it. About half-way through the film, it starts to go bat-shit crazy, which might alienate some of the audience, but Kelly is fearless about this.

Ultimately, The Box is a bizarre morality tale that sets up a very slick atmospheric feel. It should make you think about what you would do in a similar situation, and it delivers a story that really isn’t like anything else out there right now… for better or for worse.

Kelly manages to capture the feeling of 1970s with the cinematography, production design, wardrobe and sound design. In a strange way, it feels more like a movie that was shot 30 years ago rather than in the modern era, and that’s really pretty neat in my book.

What I didn’t: I’ll admit this movie is not without its faults. Cameron Diaz is a beacon of bad acting in this movie, slathering on a southern accent so thick, you’d swear she was pretending to be from the deep south. Were it not for Frank Langella and James Marsden to temper her, the movie would crumble from an acting standpoint.

There are several moments in the film that drag, which seems to be a trademark of director Richard Kelly, but they only show up once in a while.

Some folks will take issue with the story and its Twilight Zone elements, but I was okay with them. The film kept me interested throughout, and that’s pretty rare for a movie to do nowadays.

Who is gonna like this movie: People looking for a different brand of thriller.

Fat Guys at the Movies Ep. 139 – The Fat Kind

Kevin Carr — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:00:17 +0000

On This Week’s Show: Kevin and Neil say good-bye to scary movies (well, not really, considering two are released this week) and decide to ring in the Christmas season early. They stare at some goats, grumble about not being allowed to open a box, visit the uncanny valley and debate whether Kevin is spoiling the viewing experience for The Fourth Kind. They also lay down a Fat Guy Five about awesome UFO movies, and Kevin gloats over Neil’s not-so-accurate box office predictions from last week.

Films Reviewed this Week: A Christmas Carol, The Fourth Kind, The Men Who Stare At Goats and The Box

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Episode Schedule:

Segment 1 [8:50] – Reviews of The Box and The Men Who Stare At Goats

Segment 2 [10:40] – Review of A Christmas Carol and The Fourth Kind

Segment 3 [12:45] – Box office gloatation and the Fat Guy Five: Five Awesome UFO Movies

Segment 4 [6:35] – DVD Round-Up: Neil’s picks are G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, North by Northwest on Blu-ray, Watchmen Ultimate Cut and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on Blu-ray; Kevin’s picks include The Rocky Undisputed Collection, Say Anything on Blu-ray, Disney Treasures: Zorro Seasons 1 and 2, Two Girls and a Guy on Blu-ray, Eleventh Hour, Aliens in the Attic, Love Actually, The Dead, Mickey’s Magical Christmas and I Love You Beth Cooper; Review Recap and a look ahead to next week.

Next Week’s Show:

Kevin and Neil get apocalyptic with 2012 and Pirate Radio

Show Links:

Kevin’s guest appearance on CriterionCast, talking about Terry Gilliam’s Brazil
FSR’s Weekly Report Card for A Christmas Carol, The Fourth Kind and The Box

Give the Fat Guys some love:

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Email the Fat Guys
Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)
Follow Neil on Twitter (@rejects)

Weekly DVD Drinking Game: G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

Kevin Carr — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:08 +0000

We at FSR love to drink. And we know that many of you love to drink, as well. This shared love has led us to a brand new (though not exactly new) feature here at FSR: The Weekly DVD Drinking Game. Every week we will chose a DVD release and give you a few simple steps toward drunken stupidity (or cinematic tolerance). This week…

Hasbro had a mega-hit with Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and the studio hoped for lightning in a bottle with their August release of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. It made some green, but you might need to have a few drinks to really enjoy the film again on Blu-ray or DVD. So Film School Rejects is doing its civic duty by giving you a tool for getting sufficiently drunk on this film.

And now, to cover our butts… This game is only for people over the age of 21. Please drink responsibly, and don’t tell anyone who Cobra Commander really is!

Click Here to Buy G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra from Amazon

TAKE A DRINK WHENEVER….

There’s a flashback

Someone fires a gun

Something explodes

Someone uses an accelerator suit

TAKE A DRINK WHEN YOU SEE…

CGI effects

An American flag

An invisible fighter

A character wearing sunglasses

TAKE A DRINK WHEN SOMEONE SAYS…

“Joe”

“weapon”

“M.A.R.S.”

someone’s code name

CHUG YOUR DRINK WHENEVER…

There’s a montage! (Oh we want montage!)

For more drunken shenanigans, check out our Drinking Games Archive.

Fat Guys at the Movies Ep. 138 – This Is Fat!

Kevin Carr — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:00:47 +0000

On This Week’s Show: Kevin and Neil meet up in the Magical Studio in the Sky to have a Fat Guy Smackdown to beat all Fat Guy Smackdowns. While they don’t come to odds so much with A Serious Man, they certainly disagree about Michael Jackson’s This Is It. In honor of the film, Kevin lays down a Fat Guy Five about Five Cinematic Sex Offenders while Neil protests with his own Fat Guy Five about the Five Movies to Watch on Halloween. The Fat Guys also offer their predictions about the box office and wish the listeners a Happy Halloween.

Films Reviewed this Week: A Serious Man and Michael Jackson’s This Is It

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Episode Schedule:

Segment 1 [8:50] – Review of A Serious Man

Segment 2 [10:40] – Review of Michael Jackson’s This Is It

Segment 3 [12:45] – Box office recap and the Fat Guy Five: Five Cinematic Sex Offenders (with Neil’s protest list being Five Movies to Watch on Halloween)

Segment 4 [6:35] – DVD Round-Up: Neil’s picks are Battlestar Galactica: The Plan and Monty Python: Almost the Truth; Kevin’s picks include Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Stargate: 15th Anniversary, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasures, Saturday Morning Cartoons 1960s and 1970s and The Stepfather; Review Recap and a look ahead to next week.

Next Week’s Show:

Kevin and Neil get into the new holiday spirit with A Christmas Carol, The Fourth Kind and The Box

Show Links:

FSR’s 31 Days of Horror: The Reckoning
Kevin’s 31 Horror Movies in October

Give the Fat Guys some love:

Subscribe in iTunes

Subscribe via RSS

Email the Fat Guys
Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)
Follow Neil on Twitter (@rejects)

31 Days of Horror: Martyrs

Kevin Carr — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:25:40 +0000

Martyrs (2008)

Synopsis: Lucie is a pre-teen girl that has recently escaped a horrific ordeal of torture at the hands of mysterious captors. She is brought to an orphanage to be treated and befriends Anna, yet she is still haunted by an apparition that reminds her of her captivity. Fifteen years later, Lucie is convinced that she has found her captors and attacks the family. Anna tries to keep her sane and safe, but things soon spiral out of hand, and Anna learns the true horror behind Lucie’s imprisonment.

Killer Scene: Like Inside, an earlier French horror film covered in the 31 Days of Horror, Martyrs comes with more than its fair of shocking moments. However, the one that hits home most is when Lucie first confronts the family she believes is responsible for her childhood ordeal. It’s not unpredictable, but it is a powerful moment of revenge.

KillSheet

Violence: While it would hardly fall into the category of “torture porn,” Martyrs is filled with scenes of human suffering. There are several bloody and explosive on-screen kills, committed with guns and knives. There’s also lingering scenes of abuse and torture. The human body is put through a lot in this film, and it gets more intense as the movie plays out. There’s a lot of blood on the hands, feet, face and floor, though surprisingly necessary to tell the story. And we are asked: how important is skin really?.

Sex: There’s no sex per se, though there is quite a lot of female nudity. The problem from the sexual arousal angle is this nudity comes in the form of psychotic apparitions and victims of abuse and torture. It’s not a turn on (at least for most members of the audience), though it does technically contribute to this category.

Scares: At the beginning of the DVD, director Pascal Laugier apologizes to the audience for watching his film. This is classy and hilarious – and totally necessary. Martyrs is not the most shocking movie I’ve seen by far, but it does get under your skin with its disturbing nature. It’s not a movie that has the overt scare moments (i.e., you won’t jump when a black cat leaps out of the shadows or anything). Most of the unease you’ll feel in this film will be more psychologically disturbing… a certain degree of wondering if what happens in the film is possible.

Final Thoughts: After seeing films like Inside, Irréversible and now Martyrs, I’m convinced that the French are some screwed up people. In this decade, this country has delivered some of the more thought-provoking and viscerally disturbing films. Part of Laugier’s intent when making this film was to turn the horror genre on its ear and keep the audience guessing. I’ll give him credit in that Martyrs kept me guessing. It was refreshing to see a film that changed its tone and focus effectively throughout. It wasn’t as disturbing as I was led to believe it would be, but Martyrs is a powerful thriller that is fantastically unique.

Weekly DVD Drinking Game: Battlestar Galactica: The Plan

Kevin Carr — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:18:57 +0000

When you’re stuck on a Battlestar, far from the decimated Colonies of Kobol, there’s not a whole lot to do but hate on Cylons and drink yourself stupid. Even the Cylons knock a few back now and then, so why can’t you… especially because you’re seeing everything from their point of view now.

And now, to cover our butts… This game is only for people over the age of 21. Please drink responsibly, and don’t trust the Cylons.

TAKE A DRINK WHENEVER….

Something explodes

Cylons meet to conspire

Someone dies (even if it’s a Cylon)

A scene that parallels a scene from the series

TAKE A DRINK WHEN YOU SEE…

Boobs

A title card

A centurian

Two or more copies of the same Cylon model in the same scene

TAKE A DRINK WHEN SOMEONE SAYS…

“frak”

“Cylon”

A Cylon number

A character’s name

CHUG YOUR DRINK WHENEVER…

The colonies are attacked

For more drunken shenanigans, check out our Drinking Games Archive.

Kevin Carr’s Weekly Report Card for 10.23.09

Kevin Carr — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:08:11 +0000

SAW VI

Studio: Lionsgate

Rated: R for sequences of grisly bloody violence, torture and language.

Starring: Costas Mandylor, Mark Rolston, Betsy Russell, Tobin Bell and Shawnee Smith

Directed by: Kevin Greutert

What it’s about: This sixth installment of the popular horror franchise sees Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) continuing the work of the serial killer Jigsaw (Tobin Bell). However, even with a new game targeting a greedy insurance tycoon afoot, there’s more surprises for Hoffman from the police and from beyond the grave of Jigsaw.

What I liked: Unlike many critics, I have really enjoyed the Saw franchise, and this film is a worthy successor. If you’re looking for gore and violence, you’ll get plenty of that. But also, if you’re looking for a film that gives more twists and turns in the already complex story arc, you’ll get that as well.

Like the other sequels, Saw VI uses a lot of the elements of the previous films to lay a trap in the plot for the viewer. Tobin Bell returns in full force as Jigsaw in flashbacks (as does Shawnee Smith), so there’s something there for the long-time fans. The movie works to a wicked-cool conclusion that, of course, sets itself up for another sequel.

What I didn’t: At one point early in the film, I was watching a random act of human mutilation, and I caught myself thinking, “Is this going too far?” Then I remembered that it was a Saw movie. They’ve been going too far for years. But if you’re squeamish or have a soft stomach, you’ll probably throw up watching this movie.

The acting in these films are pretty awful, and Costas Mandylor is no Tobin Bell, but that bar was set very low in the first film with Cary Elwes cutting his foot off in the first movie. The film is more predictable than the others, but it still serves its purpose.

Who is gonna like this movie: Gore hounds and Saw fans.

CIRQUE DU FREAK: THE VAMPIRE’S ASSISTANT

Studio: Universal

Rated: PG-13for sequences of intense supernatural violence and action, disturbing images, thematic elements and some language.

Starring: John C. Reilly, Ken Watanabe, Josh Hutcherson, Chris Massoglia and Ray Stevenson

Directed by: Paul Weitz

What it’s about: Based on the first few books of the popular young adult series, The Vampire’s Assistant tells the story of Darren Shan (Chris Massoglia), a teenager who visits a freak show and becomes a vampire at the hand of one of the star acts. His friend Steve (Josh Hutcherson) is jealous because he’s always wanted to be a vampire too, and a band of evil vampires help him out in that respect.

What I liked: There are so many vampire movies and television shows out there that live in the same realm: the angst-filled sensual blood lust. The Vampire’s Assistant is a breath of fresh air because it doesn’t fall into the same cliches as Twilight and True Blood. It’s a teen vampire movie without all the bellyaching. In fact, it can be rather refreshing, to quote John C. Reilly.

The movie has a slick production design that really got me in the Halloween spirit, and it introduces some really neat characters that should get some excellent stories if the movie makes enough green to warrant a sequel. But the bottom line is that The Vampire’s Assistant is a relatively safe monster movie that you can enjoy with most of the family.

Oh, and John C. Reilly steals the show as a 200-year-old vampire who is simultaneously cool and goofy. He sets the tone for the whole film.

What I didn’t: The film does have some slow moments, especially in the middle when it tries to figure out what it’s trying to be. Let’s say it eventually settles on iCarly with teeth, but in a good way. Also, the movie is a pretty obvious set-up for a series – even more so than other juv fantasy attempts like The Golden Compass and City of Ember – but all that did is whet my appetite for more.

Who is gonna like this movie: Teenage vampire lovers, with less emphasis on the lovers.

ASTRO BOY

Studio: Summit Entertainment

Rated: PG for some action and peril, and brief mild language.

Starring: Freddie Highmore, Kristen Bell, Charlize Theron, Donald Sutherland and Nicholas Cage

Directed by: David Bowers

What it’s about: The classic magna series comes to life in this CGI action film. A brilliant inventor accidentally vaporizes his son in a weapons test. He’s so distraught that he builds a new robotic son which he gives his boy’s memories. However, when he realizes that it will never be a replacement for the real thing, he plans to deactivate the robot, until it seeks a life of its own.

What I liked: There’s some really cool action sequences in this movie, and it is definitely a boys’ film. There’s such a spectrum of CGI films nowadays, and this movie falls in the middle – somewhere between WALL-E and Space Chimps. That’s a pretty wide divide, I am aware, but this is the landscape we are given.

Astro Boy has some excellent animation and humorous moments. Oh, and it has a hero with machine guns in his butt, and that’s always a selling point for kids.

What I didn’t: Having never read the Astro Boy magna, I couldn’t tell you if it is an accurate adaptation or not. All I can say is that it has some rough patches in the story. In the middle of the film, Astro Boy falls to Earth and swerves into a bizarre Oliver Twist sort of story that would work on its own but just seems like a huge diversion to the rest of the film.

Also, as grim as some folks said Where the Wild Things Are was last week, Astro Boy seems worse. The movie opens with a kid getting vaporized, for crying out loud. And it deals with themes of abandonment and loss throughout the film, so be prepared for that.

Who is gonna like this movie: Kids who want to see a robot with machine guns in his butt.

AMELIA

Studio: Fox Searchlight

Rated: PG for some sensuality, language, thematic elements and smoking.

Starring: Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor, Mia Wasikowska and Christopher Eccleston

Directed by: Mira Nair

What it’s about: Hilary Swank stars in the title role as the legendary aviatrix Amelia Earhart. The film follows her final journey in an attempt to circumnavigate the Earth, flashing back to her career in aviation and her various lovers.

What I liked: Well, I respect the hell out of Amelia Earhart, and it’s nice to see her get her own film. I just wish it was under better circumstances. There are decent elements to the film, including some decent acting moments from both Swank and Richard Gere (although their performances border on caricature with the over-the-top personalities they are portraying). And the flying scenes were neat to watch, if you don’t mind a healthy dose of green screen.

Oh, and unlike last week’s The Stepfather, this film was in focus.

What I didn’t: Biopics are hard to achieve without making them puff pieces, and here’s where the film failed. Amelia Earhart was presented with her only flaws being her awkward oppression in beauty and sexuality. But her biggest flaw was being boring. Earhart was a legend, but her life as presented here was frightfully dull.

We all know how this movie ends, but unlike Titanic which had a predictable climax presented as an awesome action sequence, Amelia’s climax is about as exciting as watching a trucker talking on a CB radio.

Who is gonna like this movie: Amelia Earhart fans… and Hilary Swank.

Fat Guys at the Movies Ep. 137 – Fatro Boys

Kevin Carr — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:00:04 +0000

On This Week’s Show: Neil takes some time away from his preparation for the Austin Film Festival to meet up with Kevin in the Magical Studio in the Sky. The Fat Guys cut through Saw VI before taking flight with Amelia and Astro Boy then sinking their teeth into Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant. They also give some love to vampire movies (that aren’t Twilight) in a Fat Guy Five before preparing for Halloween and butt-loads of candy.

Films Reviewed this Week: Saw VI, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, Amelia and Astro Boy

Download this Episode

Episode Schedule:

Segment 1 [8:50] – Preview of Saw VI and a review of Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant

Segment 2 [10:40] – Reviews of Amelia and Astro Boy

Segment 3 [12:45] – Box office recap and the Fat Guy Five: Five Awesome Vampire Movies (that aren’t Twilight)

Segment 4 [6:35] – DVD Round-Up: Neil’s picks are Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Blood: The Last Vampire; Kevin’s picks include Black Adder: Remastered, Fawlty Towers: The Complete Series, Peanuts: 1970s Collection Vol. 1, Cheri, Wrong Turn 3: Left for Dead and 100 Feet; Review Recap and a look ahead to next week.

Next Week’s Show:

Kevin and Neil look at the scariest movie of the year: Michael Jackson: This Is It

Show Links:

FSR’s 31 Days of Horror: The Reckoning
Kevin’s 31 Horror Movies in October
FSR’s Weekly Report Card for Saw VI, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, Amelia and Astro Boy

Give the Fat Guys some love:

Subscribe in iTunes

Subscribe via RSS

Email the Fat Guys
Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)
Follow Neil on Twitter (@rejects)

Weekly DVD Drinking Game: Wrong Turn 3

Kevin Carr — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:58:20 +0000

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, shame on the mutants! It’s the third time around for the cannibal mutants to feed on not-so-innocent people who wander into the West Virginia woods. Wrong Turn 3 brings more murder, mayhem (and a few boobs as well) to the woods again on DVD and Blu-ray.

And now, to cover our butts… This game is only for people over the age of 21. Please drink responsibly, and don’t mess with the cannibal mutants in West Virginia.

TAKE A DRINK WHENEVER….

Someone cocks a gun

Someone fires a gun

Someone is killed

Someone picks up or puts down bag of money

TAKE A DRINK WHEN YOU SEE…

Fire

Blood

Money

A tattoo

TAKE A DRINK WHEN SOMEONE SAYS…

“hillbilly”

A racial slur

A swear word

Someone’s name

CHUG YOUR DRINK WHENEVER…

A vehicle explodes

For more drunken shenanigans, check out our Drinking Games Archive.

Kevin Carr’s Weekly Report Card for 10.16.09

Kevin Carr — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:03:55 +0000

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

Studio: Warner Bros.

Rated: PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure action and brief language.

Starring: Catherine Keener, Max Records, Mark Ruffalo, Lauren Ambrose and James Gandolfini

Directed by: Spike Jonze

What it’s about: This adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s classic picture book tells the story of young Max (Max Records), who is constantly getting in trouble at home. One night after being punished, he runs away to a magical land where he meets a tribe of Wild Things and becomes their king.

What I liked: I loved this book as a child, and I was thrilled to see that this has been given a faithful and inspired adaptation. Bringing a picture book to life on screen is different from adapting a novel because instead of trimming things down, the screenwriter must embellish on the original story. Spike Jonze does a brilliant job hitting all the major points of the book but adding a brand new story to the mix.

Where the Wild Things Are deals with some heavy issues, including loss, friendship, heartbreak and the loss of innocence. In this sense, it’s more appropriate for a grown-up who has been through all this but still remembers the book fondly.

In the age of CGI robots blowing shit up, it’s nice to see a throwback to traditional creature effects. While the faces and other elements of the film were enhanced with computer graphics, the characters were furry, real and tangible.

This all helped to make the movie relateable and strangely realistic. Jonze resists the urge to explain anything about the movie, and that’s one of its strengths. It’s the story of a child told from a child’s point of view, and it works.

What I didn’t: Some of the movie’s subject matter is pretty dark and dreary. This makes sense because Max is on the verge of puberty and is dealing with uncontrollable emotion. However, this element of realism might not be appropriate for all ages. Where the Wild Things Are can be bipolar at times and does have some moment of dragging in the middle which could bog down younger kids, so keep that in mind.

Who is gonna like this movie: Grown-ups… who used to be kids (which is everyone).

LAW ABIDING CITIZEN

Studio: Overture Films

Rated: R for strong bloody brutal violence and torture, a scene of rape, and pervasive language.

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Gerard Butler, Bruce McGill, Colm Meaney and Leslie Bibb

Directed by: F. Gary Gray

What it’s about: Gerard Butler plays a man whose wife and daughter are murdered. Jamie Foxx plays the prosecutor who cuts a deal, letting one of the killers walk with only five years in prison. Butler’s character isn’t happy with the outcome, so he brutally murders both killers. Then, after being arrested and put in jail, he starts picking off one-by-one the people involved in what he considered to be an injustice.

What I liked: As a husband and father, I can totally relate to Butler’s character. I can’t say that I wouldn’t take similar retribution on anyone who went after my family And with all the goofy court outcomes we’ve seen in this country (e.g., O.J. Simpson and the Menendez boys), I can’t say that Butler’s character doesn’t have a point. Anyone frustrated with the corrupt criminal justice system will find this movie appropriately cathartic.

F. Gary Gray delivers a solid action thriller with some really neat twists and the single most awesome on-screen death since Amanda Detmer was hit by a bus in Final Destination. He starts off making a movie that had the potential to be the next Se7en.

What I didn’t: Unfortunately, Gray cops out with his film. He doesn’t have the balls that David Fincher had when he made Se7en and goes for a conclusion that really isn’t very satisfying at all. I found myself rooting for Butler’s character through pretty much the whole film and saw Foxx’s character as the one that needed to be adjusted.

Like I said to some friends on Twitter after seeing the movie at an advanced screening: It’s 90 percent awesome and 10 percent just okay.

Who is gonna like this movie: Fans of the stars and badass legal thrillers.

THE STEPFATHER

Studio: Screen Gems

Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing images, mature thematic material and brief sensuality.

Starring: Dylan Walsh, Sela Ward, Penn Badgley, Amber Heard and Sherry Stringfield

Directed by: Nelson McCormick

What it’s about: This remake of the 1987 cult classic stars Nip/Tuck’s Dylan Walsh as a serial killer who targets widows and divorcees, marries them, then slaughters the family after things get bad. Sheesh… talk about a complicated exit strategy. His new targets start to get suspicious which causes him to go on a somewhat random killing spree, crave peanut butter and cancel newspaper subscriptions.

What I liked: Normally for a movie like this, I say something snappy like, “At least it was in focus.” The problem is that this doesn’t even apply for The Stepfather. Too many scenes had characters go soft when the focus puller dashed off of set to shoot smack. Seriously, folks, they couldn’t even keep their own movie in focus.

The only plus was the fact that Amber Heard spends much of the film in either a bikini or her underwear. I’m all for this, but like Transformers 2 which was a giant dicktease of a movie with no payoff, The Stepfather never delivered anything more than a butt cheek peeking out of her panties. Considering this girl has no problem taking her clothes off in front of the camera, I was disappointed. Screw you, PG-13 Screen Gems turds!

What I didn’t: Everything else. Where to start?… No one sees the early warning signs… No one believes the late warning signs… The soundtrack is overproduced, giving the goofy looking Dylan Walsh a rumbling sustained note “I’m a killer” musical theme… There’s no subtlety whatsoever… The cops talk about how bloody the crime scenes are, but there is really no blood… The plot is a house of cards… Sela Ward’s sister is in a lesbian relationship, and I’ve seen better lesbian acting at www.ButtHunger.com… The movie is more predictable than an episode of Dora the Explorer… And all people do in this movie is swim, take showers, eat dinner and kill people.

And all this added to the fact that the guy wasn’t actually a stepfather (because he wasn’t married to Sela Ward’s character)! I know this is splitting hairs, but that just shows how apathy ruled on this movie from script to final cut.

Who is gonna like this movie: Idiots.

Fat Guys at the Movies Ep. 136 – Where the Fat Things Are

Kevin Carr — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:00:14 +0000

On This Week’s Show: Neil stuns the interwebs by once again seeing none of the new movies this week, but Kevin swoops in to save the day with his reviews of Where the Wild Things Are and Law Abiding Citizen. However, due to the fact that Screen Gems releases total crap, neither of them were afforded a chance to see The Stepfather, but that doesn’t stop the Fat Guys from offering their opinions. And speaking of opinions, in honor of Where the Wild Things Are, Kevin and Neil throw down a Fat Guy Five about great adaptations of children’s books before Neil makes a relatively creepy revelation about himself at the climax of the show.

Films Reviewed this Week: Where the Wild Things Are, Law Abiding Citizen and The Stepfather

Download this Episode

Episode Schedule:

Segment 1 [8:50] – Preview of The Stepfather

Segment 2 [10:40] – Reviews of Where the Wild Things Are and Law Abiding Citizen

Segment 3 [12:45] – Box office recap and the Fat Guy Five: Five Great Children’s Book Adaptations

Segment 4 [6:35] – DVD Round-Up: Neil’s picks are Drag Me to Hell and Futurama: The Complete Series; Kevin’s picks include Land of the Lost, The Proposal, The Legend of the Seeker: Season One, Nick Swardson: Seriously Who Farted?, Katt Williams: Pimpadelic and Natural Born Killers and How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Blu-ray; Review Recap and a look ahead to next week.

Next Week’s Show:

Kevin and Neil look at Amelia, Astroboy, Saw VI and Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant

Show Links:

FSR’s 31 Days of Horror: The Reckoning
Kevin’s 31 Horror Movies in October
FSR’s Weekly Report Card for Where the Wild Things Are, Law Abiding Citizen and The Stepfather
CNN.com’s article on Paranormal Activity, which quotes Kevin

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Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)
Follow Neil on Twitter (@rejects)

31 Days of Horror: Inside

Kevin Carr — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:12:46 +0000

Inside (2007)

Synopsis: Inside (À l’intérieur in the original French) is a 2007 import that should prove to Americans that the French have some real balls. Sarah is pregnant when she gets in a car crash that kills the father of her baby. After Sarah lays him to rest, on the night before Christmas, she finds herself stalked by a mysterious woman outside her house. Calling the police doesn’t help as they are incompetent. Soon, the mysterious woman finds a way to get inside and seems intent on killing Sarah and anyone else who comes to her aid.

Killer Scene: While there are many intense moments in Inside, the kicker is the final scene. I wouldn’t want to spoil it for anyone, so let’s just say that it is one hell of a way to end the movieult.

KillSheet

Violence: Inside was released on DVD in the U.S. by Dimension Extreme in an unrated cut, and it deserves it. Like many bloody films that have come to the states from overseas, this one pulls no punches. There’s several extremely violent deaths caused by a variety of household items – from scissors to knitting needles to hairspray. There was an R-rated cut for theatrical release which toned down the visceral moments, but the original French cut, which you gorehounds out there will love, is presented in its full glory on the DVD.

Sex: There’s no sex to enjoy in this movie, unless you consider a creepy gyno exam or Sarah running around in her preggo panties all that titillating. She’s already pregnant after all, pervs.

Scares: Inside is a excellently paced suspense movie, which is where it gets its audience initially. Anyone who has been home alone with a nice dose of paranoia will find plenty of moments to get freaked out. The gruesome nature of the picture is enough to make even the weakest stomach a bit uneasy. There’s plenty of moments where you’ll jump, but the real scary element is the “it could happen to you” concept behind the film. And anyone who is pregnant or been through a pregnancy will find Inside scary as hell.

Final Thoughts: Some folks might consider it a cheap shot to go after a pregnant girl in a horror movie, and they’re right. But some of the best horror movies around take the cheap shots. You might think that by renting a French film, you’ll get some stuffy Truffaut new wave art flick. You are so wrong about this. It’s not just the Asian market that’s cranking out some grisly films these days. Don’t rent this movie if you’ve got a weak stomach or if you’re pregnant ‘cause it will mess you up. Otherwise, horror fans should enjoy the nail-biting suspense punctuated with bloody violence.

Weekly DVD Drinking Game: Drag Me to Hell

Kevin Carr — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:10:57 +0000

They say that drinking is a sin, and maybe if you do too much of it you might be dragged to hell. But apparently Alison Lohman is on her way there as well, so at least you’ll be in good company. Enjoy watching Sam Raimi’s tour-de-force of sensory overload while numbing your senses with this drinking game.

And now, to cover our butts… This game is only for people over the age of 21. Please drink responsibly, and don’t piss off any old Gypsy women.

TAKE A DRINK WHENEVER….

Someone screams

Someone is hit with something

The soundtrack gets really loud

We are reminded that Chris used to be fat or poor

TAKE A DRINK WHEN YOU SEE…

Slapstick

The evil eye

A fly or maggot

A woman’s handkerchief

TAKE A DRINK WHEN SOMEONE SAYS…

“Lamia”

“account”

a swear word

someone’s name

CHUG YOUR DRINK WHENEVER…

Someone is dragged to hell

For more drunken shenanigans, check out our Drinking Games Archive.

Kevin Carr’s Weekly Report Card for 10.09.09

Kevin Carr — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:28:02 +0000

COUPLE’S RETREAT

Studio: Universal

Rated: PG-13 for sexual content and language.

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Faizon Love and Kristin Davis

Directed by: Peter Billingsley

What it’s about: Four couples face a wide array of relationship problems and travel to a tropical resort for a getaway. Unfortunately, they must also face a barrage of couples’ counseling, which puts a greater strain on their relationships.

What I liked: I know this movie is just a big roaring pot of cliches, but I thought it was funny. The cast is the key, and it is loaded with some hilarious people. That’s not just the dudes with Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau and Faizon Love (who is the fat black dude that no one seems to remember but throws down the comedy as good as the rest of them). It’s also the ladies with the Kristen/Kristin double bill (yes, I’d like a Davis/Bell sandwich, please).

The comedy comes out of uncomfortable situations and bitter dialogue. We’ve all seen the yoga instructor with his ass in Jason Bateman’s face and crotch all up in Malin Akerman. These are all cheap shots but I laughed. I’m the lowest common denominator that way.

What I didn’t: This film epitomizes the concept of “seen it all before.” It is predictable as hell, and the characters are pretty shallow.

Couple’s Retreat really is nothing more than a Tyler Perry movie without all the melodrama and only one black couple. In the end, its a retread of Why Did I Get Married and has the conflicts resolve too easily. There’s a story for everyone, and things get spread thin through much of the film.

Still, you get to see the ladies in bikinis and underwear a lot, and that speaks to me.

Who is gonna like this movie: The mainstream audience not quite ready for a raunchy comedy.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Rated: R for language.

Starring: Micah Sloat, Katie Featherston, Mark Fredrichs, Amber Armstrong and Tim Piper

Directed by: Oren Peli

What it’s about: Katie has been haunted by a spirit all her life. Instead of breaking up with her, her boyfriend Micah buys an HD camera and tries to document the paranormal activity. And lots of spooky shit ensues.

What I liked: This is being heralded as the next Blair Witch Project, but the difference is that this is a better film. It’s minimalist filmmaking at its best with some really creepy moment. Like Robert Wise’s classic ghost movie The Haunting, Paranormal Activity uses off-screen effects and suspense to deliver the scares.

A lot of people have knocked this movie for its POV nature, which we’ve seen before in The Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield. However, it’s an effective way of doing things. Paranormal Activity holds back on the shaky-cam technique and uses locked-down shots to its advantage.

Paranormal Activity has caused quite a stir already, selling out midnight shows in its limited release. This is the best way to experience the film: in a crowded theater with the lights out. It’s an event movie that will lose its luster on home video, so see it now if it’s playing in your area.

What I didn’t: There’s plenty of things to complain about with a movie like this. The acting isn’t that great (although it beats the pants off Blair Witch). The dialogue can be a bit silly (although I’m sure most of it is improved by unknowns). The cinematography is just so-so (although it’s supposed to look amateurish).

I have seen a lot of these movies made by a couple dudes with a camera, and there is something special about this one. Yeah, it’s got its warts, but it is far better than most things you’ll see committed to videotape without a studio budget.

Who is gonna like this movie: Ghost hounds who want to be in on the experience.

TOY STORY & TOY STORY 2 IN 3D DOUBLE FEATURE

Studio: Disney/Pixar

Rated: G.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, John Ratzenberger an d Annie Potts

Directed by: John Lasseter

What it’s about: In anticipation for the release of Toy Story 3 next summer, Pixar has re-rendered the first two movies in 3D and released them as a double feature. In Toy Story, Woody the cowboy is Andy’s favorite toy, but his world is turned upside down when Andy gets a new Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger for his birthday. In Toy Story 2, Woody is toynapped by a collector who wants to reunite him with his original set, and the rest of Andy’s toys go on a rescue mission.

What I liked: Okay, I know this opened last week, but it’s worth giving a nod to because this is the final week you can see it in the theaters. I freaking love Pixar, and this was the movie that started it all. Everything else being equal, it’s awesome just to see these movies again on the big screen for the first time in ten years.

And the brilliance of the 3D experience is that these movies are simply enhanced by the technology. It’s not gimmicky, and Pixar doesn’t go back to fix anything. It’s what 3D should be. With the digital stereoscopic technology, the image is crystal clear and just pulls you into the movie more than it ever has. After a decade of watching these on DVD, this release reminds me that the Toy Story films are meant to be seen in a theater.

Finally, you can’t beat the price. Even with the inflated 3D tickets, you’re still getting two movies for the price of one, and there’s some cute interstitials during the ten-minute intermission. What better way to spend three hours with your kids?

What I didn’t: The fact that we have to wait until next summer to see Toy Story 3.

Who is gonna like this movie: Everyone.

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