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Reviews
Smile Pretty (2009)
An amazing movie for what it is, Scout outshines even the biggest stars today
Smile Pretty. Now, apparently Scout's character is supposed to be a victim and to an extent she is. But she is very ala Evie Zamora from thirteen-nix the drugs, amp up the sex, you get the idea. She is cold, calculating, manipulative, and when combined, the idea of feeling remorse for her drains away. I'm not saying this was bad, no, the entire cast was amazing, Scout especially, talk about 360s. Ah Harry Bromley-Davenport, I want to welcome you to the club-the Sickos Club! Welcome! Embrace it! The most amazing thing about this was how all these damage and down-right *beep* up people found each other. Nasty and Matt, that I can understand, but throwing in Sam and at the end? It was the only part that felt forced and somewhat unplanned, yet turned itself around quick. Matt and Nasty-I can't even imagine what prompted any sane parent to give their blessing to this movie. About sixty-nine minutes into this movie, it isn't what you see, it's what you hear that will turn your stomach. Basically, Nasty escapes with Matt who is by def. a pedophile and they are living together as brother/sister. She claims to be in love with him but I don't buy it. "He is a stud"-ha ha ha I wonder how many takes before Scout could say it with a straight face? Stud? Right-and Michael Myers is sane. I fell off the couch laughing when this scene came to-not going to lie, alcohol did not help. Nasty-boy is she. From the way she talks which can sound like the way a trucker would sound to the way she acts, she is damaged goods that will never be right. Scout plays it perfectly, never missing a step, a beat, a frown, a tear, whatever the scene called for, she nailed it. If there is a hell, then Matt and Peter are surely destined to burn there for all eternity. People like Matt should be arressted and castrated and then released back into society, people like Peter, we should just line up along a wall and gun down. Pete Cheklev or something is Matt who is quite weak though circumstances in his life made him this way. He can not make it with adult females they have to be young girls-how he managed to escape jail after sleeping with a 14-year old is mind-boggling (this was before Nasty). Alexander Knezevich is Peter he runs on a very short fuse and every scene he is in provoked an anger I hadn't felt in a long time. He is sort of like a jealous pimp and he is down-right evil. Much like H2, I am still trying to figure out exactly what I felt overall. I will say that Scout left me speechless, the second best performance from her. She has the ability to run circles around full-grown adults in the acting biz. As long as she doesn't fall into any pitfalls of young people in the industry and does more thought-provoking films like this, she will go far. Oh and Harry welcome to the Sickos club.
Flicka (2006)
Decent family film that delivers
Flicka is a feel-good family film in the spirit of Shiloh which was all the rage when I was a kid. I was in my late teens when Flicka came out and I was not interested at all-a movie about a girl and her horse. Gee, wonder how this will end? But, after taking a closer look at the cast-oh fine, Alison Lohman-I gave it a chance and was quite surprised. Sixteen year old Katy McLaughlin (Alison Lohman) is a country girl at heart, she longs for the open fields and the farmstead as opposed to her boarding school which is where we find her in the opening scenes. Her father, Rob (Tim McGraw) thinks she is destined for college and something more. These two bump heads throughout the entire movie, yet, you still feel the love between them through it all. Katy finds a wild mustang in hills and falls head over heels for the creature. Her father who owns a quarter horse ranch will hear nothing of keeping the horse. Ignoring her father's wishes, Katy works with the horse in secrecy and slowly the two form an amazing bond. While the movie isn't perfect, it has a lot going for it, most notably the cast. Lohman and McGraw are perfect as father-daughter, just barley pushing the envelope, yet always managing to keep it just right. In their own respects, they both deliver amazingly well as opposed to over-the-top. Ryan Kwanten is Howard, the older brother to Katy and the opposite of her-everything their father wants for her he wants. He does quite well, torn between staying true to his father and the farm and helping Katy reunite with Flicka. Finally, there's mom Nell (Maria Bello) who is the peacekeeper and the glue that holds the family and the farm together. She is the one that truly sees the bond between Katy and Flicka; unfortunately she battles with Rob who is stubborn and thick-headed. What I truly enjoyed was the suspense and not knowing whether this was going to be a happily ever after (Shiloh) or a tragic tear-jerker (The yearling, Old Yeller). This was never truly apparent until the last few minutes of the movie, constantly you get yanked up and down like a yo-yo, thinking its going one way, then it takes off in another. The scenery is beautifully breathtaking, the script walks a fine line of clichés and just barley keeps it from being too washed-out, and the cast delivers everything perfectly. Lohman's Katy is at once strong-willed and stubborn, yet has a gentle soul that she bares through her eyes, those deep brown bedroom eyes that dare you to blink and miss a second. Her loyalty and never-ending love for Flicka caused even me to shed several tears, both in her pain and her happiness. McGraw-what's up with all these singers thinking they can act?-is quite good here, though his performance in Friday Night Lights was just a tad deeper and better in a different way. Throughout all the fights and conflicts at the end of the day all he truly wants is his daughter to be happy and safe. One scene really sticks out even now as I type this where he talks to Katy that will surely tug at the heart-strings (once you see it, you'll know the one). Kwanten is great as the big brother and son who would rather have the opportunities Katy has. Despite the fact I can only think of one scene where I internally clapped for him, it was still a deep one. Bello is mom and ties with Lohman as the best acting for me. She is just trying to keep everyone happy and heads above water, always the optimist. Did I already mention Lohman? Oh well, here it is again, her eyes will captivate you, her smile could knock a dove from a tree, and her commitment to the role is genuine 100%.
Black Christmas (2006)
Talk about thrashing a CLASSIC!
Understand this: I went into this with my expectations set at 0. When I left the theater, my expectations had done something they'd never done before: they went into the negatives!!!! Just when I thought Hollywood had done enough damage to classics such as hills have eyes, tcm, etc, here comes black Christmas and proves me wrong again!
Let me say one positive thing: the acting (with the exception of Katie Cassidy) was as good as they could do. I honestly believe it-especially given the Godforsaken script they were given. But, on the slight downside, it's not like it was hard for these actors to portray these roles: Michelle's done buffy, weinstead was just in fd3, and mean girls taught Chabert a thing or 2-it isn't hard to play the conceited bitch. Anyone can pull it off.
The total downside was in 1974, which I am a devote fan of, we didn't know why "Billy" killed-he just did. When there is no motive, or no explanation as to why the person kills, it makes the story all the more scary and intense-hence when a stranger calls, etc. But of course, here comes the explanation and as soon as that is given to an audience, there goes the suspenseful terror of why.
Now, the plot. Very simple, cookie cutter of the original-well, almost. A houseful of sorority girls are slowly being picked off one by one. The downside isn't the killings-oh, wait,-yes it is! The original relied on our imagination and not blood and guts to scare us. This one does the opposite-it's a no-holes bard with tons more deaths that are over the top and ridiculous.
All in all, this movie was the biggest waste of my time in years. Zero stars, shame to all who had a hand in making this abomination, and damn the people in Hollywood for destroying all these beautiful horror classics-now horror has gone from horror to just horrible.
The Perfect Suspect (2006)
Loved it, loved it, loved it!!!!!!!! (Did I already mention I loved it?!)
OK-maybe I'm being biased because I'm such a huge Brooke Nevin fan, but, I still loved this movie! The concept is very easy and very "lifetime": Joanne (Jo) is home for spring break in Seattle (?) What greets her? Her dead stepfather and her unconscious mother with a gun next to her. Looks bad, huh? And from the get go it is bad. Still, despite all evidence pointing to her mother (played in a very peculiar role by Kate Jackson) Jo sets out to prove that her mother is not the killer but a red herring. Oh, did I mention there are plenty of them in this movie? What most people need to remember first and foremost is this: it's on lifetime! If you know the formula, this one will be no different for you. But, this one is better than the average lifetime flick- great cast, a storyline that challenges the mind and an ending that will knock ya flat on your rear-hey, did it to me! If you're looking for a mind-numbing no-brainer, this isn't your film. Looking for a mind-bending who-done it that has a great script and cast? Look no further-oh, and long live Brooke Nevin!!!!!!!!!
I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer (2006)
Not the best but... (may contain spoilers)
Still very decent. As someone who works in the movie-making industry, I know firsthand that it's become quite difficult to get filmmakers to come up with story lines that are good (hence the numerous and unnecessary remakes). Nonetheless, I'll always know is a breath of fresh air from all the depressing remakes and rehashes of ancient movies that deserve to be left alone.
I'll always know starts with a July 4th prank that goes wrong and results of the death of a friend in a small town in Colorado. Much like the original, we have four kids, Amber (Julie), Colby (Barry), Zoe (Helen) and Roger (Ray). Again, they make a pact to take what has happened to the grave. One year later, a fisherman with a hook starts stalking and killing.
Yes, there are times when the script is contrived and dull, but for the most part, the action is decent and keeps a good steady pace. The gore is immensity greater than either one or two. And, of course, everyone is a red herring.
Although I enjoyed this movie, I know it won't be everyone's cup of tea- as I've seen from reviews I've read. For someone who is looking for a movie that is above Scream, below Wes Craven in the 70's and 80's, and just wants to see a horror movie that gives great gore, slightly above acting (esp. the ladies) and a script that's more intelligent than most, see this. For everyone else, avoid.
Labyrinth (1986)
They don't make them like this anymore!
Let's face it, the eighties gave us the best of everything: best music, best movies, best acting, etc. Now, we get leftovers that have been churned out a thousand times and remakes that make me nauseous. Labyrinth is a breath of fresh air from all that.
Despite Jim Henson being dead and gone, his movies live on- and Labyrinth rules supreme. Well, to me, anyways. With a combination of (gasp) original ideas, characters, and enchanting music, Labyrinth is a classic that is overshadowed by travesties such as LOTR.
For those of us who were around in the 80's, like myself, chances are, you were familiar with David Bowie, rock god. He pulls himself up from that disaster The Hunger and plays Jareth the goblin king with wit, charm, and charisma that you can't deny.
Jennifer Connelly- whom, I already loved from Phenomena/Seven minutes in Heaven- was perfect for Sarah- she had the right tone, right intelligence, right facial expressions- every scene where she wasn't in it left me begging Henson to bring her back (which he did! :)
Labyrinth has everything that movies today only WISH that they could possess: great acting, great cast all around, fun/original storyline (Quick! Hide! It's an original IDEA!!!) and it's fun for the whole family.
Labyrinth is a classic, a gem that will always have a special place in my heart. If you haven't seen this beautiful masterpiece yet, please do so. After all- the only things in life that one should regret are the things that you haven't done. Make sure missing Labyrinth isn't one of them.
The Chumscrubber (2005)
Beats American Beauty by a longshot!
I don't hate American Beauty- I just thought it was one of the most overrated movies that left me going "and the point was?" The Chumscrubber does not do any of this. Although not a big Rita Wilson/Jamie Bell fan, I have always loved Camilla Belle and this movie, like the ballad of jack and rose, shows us just how much talent she has. The storyline is simple: teens in Hillside stay happy on happy pills! Problems arise after drug-dealer Troy kills himself. The day of Troy's memorial and a wedding to the mayor fall on same day. What happens on that day is absolute chaos. If you see this movie for any reason, see it for Belle. Or, see it because Posin truly is a genius.
Encino Man (1992)
Funny
OK, so it's your typical flick from the 90's. Who cares? Obviously, no one who did this movie did! Anyways, Encino man tells the story of two boys (Dave and Stoney) who uncover a caveman (Link) while digging a pool. They use him to get popular, only to have to whole thing blow up in their faces. It's a feel-good comedy that one can still watch and get a good laugh at. Yeah, the jokes are stale and the acting isn't Oscar-worthy, it's still funny. One of the better films of the 90's and should not be missed if it's on one night and there's nothing else to watch. The cast is Sean Austin, Brendan Fraser, Polly Shore, and Megan Ward. Also in the movie is Dalton James, whom you Isabel Evans fans might remember from my father, the hero.
Oh, and Robin's in it!