Monday, April 30, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
The Raven
Film: The Raven
Starring: John Cusack (Hot Tub Time Machine) and Brendan Gleeson (The Guard)
Director: James McTeigue (V for Vendetta)
U.S. Release: April 27th, 2012 (Rated R)
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Runtime: 103 minutes
In 2006 director James McTeigue burst onto the scene with his mega hit V for Vendetta. Based on a graphic novel written by Alan Moore, the political overthrow film dazzled audiences and grossed north of 70 million dollars. McTeigue then defined the phrase "sophomore slump" with his 2009 follow up feature, Ninja Assassin. Facing a slight make or break moment in his career, the director tackles the tales of famed author Edgar Allan Poe with his third major motion picture release, The Raven.
The Raven examines the latter years of the life of infamous author Edgar Allan Poe (played by Cusack). Poe, a now forgotten and penniless writer living in Baltimore, finds himself in the most unsettling situation when a brutal killer emerges and uses his stories as a source of inspiration. While aiding police authorities in their investigation, Poe gets lured even further into this mess once his bride-to-be is kidnapped by the mysterious murderer. Racing against time, Poe and company must find this sadistic killer and save his one true love.
The Raven is a flawed, yet interesting, journey into the world of Edgar Allan Poe during the 1840s. Director James McTeigue does a stellar job of transforming a well written mystery story into a big screen motion picture. Successfully drawing the audience into the dark and twisted aura of Poe, McTeigue delivers on the macabre and gore. The film offers a fitting tone as a backdrop to the mayhem and gruesome violence that occasionally transpires on the screen. Furthermore, compliments are in order for the picture's scribes, Ben Livingston and Hannah Shakespeare, who conjure up a well thought out and perfectly calculated mystery. Without the solid story serving as a formidable backbone to the film, The Raven would have otherwise failed miserably.
On the other hand, there are problems galore with the feature. Mostly due to its uninspired cast, The Raven never feels authentic to its time period. John Cusack, although not unbearable, feels all too miscast for his role as Poe. Much like Cusack, Luke Evans offers no redeeming qualities as Poe's sidekick and police detective. With the massive amounts of screen time given to these two actors, The Raven needs far more convincing performances in order to succeed. In addition to its cast, I was also displeased by the film's final scene. Nothing is more troubling than a thoughtless resolution, and we certainly get one here. I understand the director's and writer's intent, however, I find the movie's final moment to be a bit forced and unnecessary.
When all is said and done James McTeigue's The Raven is a polarizing, run of the mill feature. It's mediocre to a disappointment, but the film contains a small core audience that it's sure to thrill. If you're a huge fan of mysteries such as Sherlock Holmes, then The Raven will definitely be a likable watch. Otherwise, I recommend waiting for DVD, at the earliest, to catch The Raven.
Stars: 2 stars out of 4
Grade: C+
Sunday, April 22, 2012
2012 Summer Movie Preview
For starters, let me preface this post with an apology. Over the course of the past month or so, I haven't been able to critique as many films as I'd normally like to. April has been in a bit of a lull, as it usually is, and the pickings have been mightily slim. In what has annually turned into "the calm before the storm", we all have had to do our best to be patient and wait for the onslaught of Summer blockbusters. With May only a stone's throw away, I wanted to prepare everyone for what's ahead in the upcoming months.
MAY
The Avengers - May 4th
We've all dreamed of a world that unites Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk and more. In just 2 short weeks, we'll get it. From the imaginative mind of Joss Whedon comes 2012's first major Summer blockbuster, The Avengers.
Men in Black III - May 25th
For all of you sentimentalists out there, the end of May will be highlighted by the third (and most likely not the last) installment of the Men in Black series. With a plot summary that will send its star Will Smith back in time to find a youthful version of Agent K (played by Josh Brolin), we can all expect a nostalgic good time with Men in Black III.
Also coming in May: Dark Shadows (May 11th), The Dictator (May 16th), Battleship (May 18th) and What to Expect When You're Expecting (May 18th).
JUNE
Snow White and the Huntsman - June 1st
Forget all about that sugar-coated Julia Roberts movie currently in theatres, I want some Charlize Theron and a dark twist on the story of Snow White. Theron, along with Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth, will attempt to open our minds to a more sinister version of the Disney fairy tale. Once June arrives, sign me up for Snow White and the Huntsman.
Prometheus - June 8th
I guess we can call June the month of Charlize as she'll open her 2nd major blockbuster, Prometheus, one week later. With this sci-fi adventure, Ridley Scott returns to his Alien roots and tackles what some are speculating to be a prequel to the franchise. There's a lot of mystery revolving around Prometheus, which gives us all the more reason to catch the movie once it hits theatres on June 8th.
Also coming in June: Madagascar 3 (June 8th), Rock of Ages (June 15th), That's my Boy (June 15th), and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (June 22nd)
JULY
The Amazing Spider Man - July 3rd
Despite Hollywood beating the Spider Man character to death, I'm somewhat intrigued by this franchise reboot. Starring rising celebrities such as Andrew Garfield (The Social Newtork) and Emma Stone (The Help), there's a massive amount of hype circling around The Amazing Spider Man.
The Dark Knight Rises - July 20th
I don't care if it's your sister's wedding, July 20th should be off limits. Reserve that special day for the most talked about theatrical release in the history of cinema, Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises. With his third installment putting on all the finishing touches to the trilogy, there's no Summer blockbuster with as much hype as this one.
Also coming in July: Savages (July 6th), Ted (July 13th), and Neighborhood Watch (July 27th)
AUGUST
The Odd Life of Timothy Green - August 15th
Disney will once again hope to dazzle audiences with it's mid-August release, The Odd Life of Timothy Green. The film centers around a childless couple, played by Joel Edgerton (Warrior) and Jennifer Garner (Juno), who bury a box in their yard containing all of their wishes for an infant son. And when a son is born, Timothy Green isn't all that he appears. Disney requests that you save all of your tissues until August.
The Campaign - August 10th
What comedy duo could perk up those ears more than Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis? Fresh off of a deviant sex scandal, Will Ferrell plays an incumbent politician trying to hold off his campaign opponent played by Galifianakis. There's potential galore here and we'll just have to cross our fingers until August and hope The Campaign is as good as it sounds.
Also coming in August: The Bourne Legacy (August 3rd), Total Recall (August 3rd), Premium Rush (August 24th), and Lawless (August 31st)
Friday, April 20, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
The Cabin in the Woods
Film: The Cabin in the Woods
Starring: Kristen Connolly and Chris Hemsworth (Thor)
Director: Drew Goddard
U.S. Release: April 13th, 2012 (Rated R)
Genre: Horror
Runtime: 95 minutes
As a huge fan of the horror genre, Drew Goddard's The Cabin in the Woods has been one of my most anticipated films of the year. As the scribe of Cloverfield and a longtime writer for the hit television show Lost, Goddard's resume speaks for itself. Therefore, I couldn't think of anything more uniquely creative than the idea of Goddard tackling my most beloved genre, horror. And without a moment's hesitation, I ventured out on its opening day and experienced, first hand, the story behind The Cabin in the Woods.
Cliche for a reason, the film follows five friends on a remote trip to an uncle's cabin located far off of the grid. You've seen the commercials, listened to the taglines, and you wouldn't bat an eye. You'd probably even ask yourself "what's so original" about The Cabin in the Woods. And to a degree, you'd be absolutely correct.
Every now and again I come across a rare movie that I struggle to review. The Cabin in the Woods is a prototypical example of such movies. For starters, there's only a handful (or two) of friends to whom I'd actually recommend this picture. The Cabin in the Woods is far too strange and outlandish for the masses to enjoy. However, in throwing my opinion out there, I can truthfully say that I appreciated the film. The Cabin in the Woods serves as a cleverly constructed mockery of its own genre. Purposely addressing every overused nuance of horror movies and slasher films, the feature prides itself on its embellished shell. Generic to a perfection (just look at the title), the movie uses this form of simplicity as a game to transform itself into a shockingly original piece of work. Without giving away too much of the plot, The Cabin in the Woods is a smart, well written twist of ideas.
Although there's a crafty core at the center of The Cabin in the Woods, the picture is not suitable for all types of audiences. Most moviegoers will find the feature to be erratic, nonsensical, and lacking in scares, all of which I can agree with. Almost to a fault, the film uses the duo of Richard Jenkins (Step Brothers) and Bradley Whitford (Billy Madison) to inject an overabundance of laughs. Unless you can appreciate the film's sarcastic intentions, this overuse of humor will feel unnecessary. Furthermore, when seeing the movie, it's imperative not to expect a full fledged horror flick. The Cabin in the Woods attempts to detach itself from the genre almost immediately but, after trying to sell the audience on its ideas, it eventually comes full circle.
The Cabin in the Woods is a surprisingly original journey into the heart of the schematic horror formula. It's a movie created for lovers of all horror films, no matter how good or bad. If you want some cheap scares or something far more meaningful, don't waste your time with this one. Unless you're interested in simultaneously witnessing a slap in the face and a big thank you to its genre, I'd stay away from The Cabin in the Woods. Otherwise, please enjoy.
Stars: 2 and a half stars out of 4
Grade: B-
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