The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans

Film-o-Rama Review by August Meyer

Never before in my life have I been blown away in the way I was after watching "The Bad Lieutenant". Every single aspect of this movie, although there are definitely places in which it could have been improved, adds to the gritty tension and moral disputes presented by the plot. Those of you who know me may know that I have never been partial to Nicolas Cage. As I have mentioned before in my review of "Kick Ass", his hair has always been a point of great disdain for me and my viewpoints on leading actors. Now, all of these previous notions have been thrown out the window, and replaced with a great respect for this man to whom we can only refer as a true artist.

The power brought by Cage in his performance is uncanny. Depicting the immoral life and times of a "crooked" cop in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I really can't compare what he brings to the screen with any other performance I have seen in recent years. Throughout the film we see him extorting drugs from criminals, gaining sexual favors from various women of questionable moral values, and rubbing elbows with suspects in murder investigations. And for the better part of the film, there is absolutely no development in the field of improved character or lifestyle choices. It's not until the stunning and indescribable conclusion that we see that there HAS been change in Cage's character's life. And it could not have been delivered in a better way. This is Nicolas Cage's best performance, on any medium...ever. Period.

It is not just the leading man that brings the punch to this stunner of a movie. Eva Mendes plays an upscale "lady of the night", who happens to be the girlfriend of Cage's crooked cop character. The two mesh well, each articulating a different emotional struggle in ways that do more than move the audience.

I hate to bring academics to this review, but in this case, I believe it is a must. In every science experiment one might execute in a classroom, there must always be a "control", a substance or object used to be relative and compared to the results of the variable substances in the experiment. Val Kilmer IS this control. He is just as, if not more corrupt as Cage. As a brilliant example, the film opens with him and Cage placing bets on how long a drowning man in the flooded basement of the police station, in the direct aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, will last. Although Cage eventually dives in and saves the man, Kilmer is scoffing at the sidelines of this situation not comprehending what could drive someone to help a man with such a low social status. Kilmer's behavior is a lasting example of the kind of person Cage used to be at the end of the film.

This is by far one of the best, and most powerful movies I have seen in recent years, but

it is not without its flaws. The cinematography can be a little hard to follow at times, where it dances around a variety of themes. From tracking shots to wide angled scenery shots and odd viewpoint shots, it gets a little hard to follow. Additionally, the lesser supporting cast is less than average in a few instances. Examples of this are Xzibit's drug pushing kingpin, and Vondie Curtis-Hall's bad-mouthed police chief. These characters are simply "types", and are a sharp contrast to the otherwise developed characters in the rest of the movie.

Werner Herzog directs the film. Although he mostly concerns himself with German-language films and plays, he occasionally branches out to the Western World. The last examples of that being the superb "Rescue Dawn", and the critically hailed, "Grizzly Man". While watching "The Bad Lieutenant", one aura I took away was the feel of it being a hint of a Darren Aronofsky film, most notably, "The Wrestler", because of the prolonged following shots through dark corridors and mangy streets the director takes the viewer through. This is not to say that Herzog rips anything at all of Aronofsky, but just that an influence is easily detected.

The score is, as "The Dude" from "The Big Lebowski" would put it..."what really ties the room together". The screeching cellos and violins throughout never leave the screen, or your consciousness. The music in the film, I would say, is comparable to that of "No Country For Old Men", with its writhing intensity. Hearing such a high quality soundtrack leaves me wishing more films nowadays would incorporate the same kind of thing. But, you can't get everything you want.

Although "The Bad Lieutenant" did not make much of a splash in the box office, it did more than that in my heart. It is the first film I have ever felt a strong emotional relation to, and will stick with me for a long time to come. I'm not ashamed to say that by the time the credits rolled, an unnoticed tear or two was making its way down my cheek. This criminally low-grossing movie deserves every bit of your respect and attention, and is more than well worth it.

The Town Review

Film-o-Rama Review by August Meyer

Without a doubt, "The Town" is a thoroughly good, thoroughly enjoyable movie. From edge of your seat action and suspense to gratuitous love scenes, this movie really has it all. Directed by and starring Ben Afleck, coming out of this movie with a smile was a pleasant surprise. After his recent drop from the spotlight, I wasn't expecting much from this movie, seeing it more as an attempted comeback by a once great star. But I can say with confidence and admiration that he did a damn good job.

The thing that brought me into the magic of the movie was the atmosphere. Set in Charlestown, an outskirt of Boston, Massachusetts, the film follows a few weeks in the lives of a family of bank robbers. Supposedly Charlestown is the bank robbing capital of the world, and this is what the film illustrates beautifully. The cinematography, the music, and for the most part, the accents spoken by the characters bring the audience into a gritty world as realistic as there own. One thing that stood out for me was the use of masks during the bank robberies. After The Dark Knight's introduction scene, I have really had a hankering for some wonderfully creepy disguises. Instead of the cliche former president Nixon masks one would think Afleck and his gang would use, they wear unsettling skeleton masks, and in one especially tense scene, nun masks. It is these kind of touches that really add to the dark atmosphere that pushes this crime thriller forward with bleeding fast speed.

Leading the ensemble cast, Ben Afleck brings a surprising emotional punch in the gut with his brooding character, debating whether or not to leave the family business he's spent his whole life being a part of. His step brother, Jeremy Renner, is just as, if not more explosive than he was in "The Hurt Locker". One minute he'll be arm in arm with Afleck, and the next he'll be beating the head of a bank teller in with the butt of his assault rifle.

The supporting cast is phenomenal as well. Jon Hamm, or as some of you may know him, Don Draper, is a tough guy FBI agent dead set on bringing down Afleck and his crew. Already renown for his role in AMC's Mad Men, Hamm really brings it to the table. And for any of you familiar with his 1960's Ad Man character, there is even a scene where he sits down and makes himself a Mad Men-esque drink.

The one problem I have with the cast is Blake Lively's performance as a young, drug addicted single mother. Her role was meant to bring gut wrenching reality to the screen, but the finished product of her work leaves one liking her makeup more than her character. And on top of this, it is distracting watching this "Gossip Girl", who recently starred in the chick flick, "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" parade around propositioning everyone in sight for a sexual favor.

She looks much too young and fake to be living in bars all around town, hooking up with Ben Afleck periodically.There is a plethora of other actresses who could have done tenfold the job. Rachel McAdams for instance, or dare I say "Greenberg" actress Greta Gerwig, could have brought the vulnerablity and heartbreak that was needed to really show off this character.

"The Town" also showcases Afleck's writing talent. He co-wrote the script with Peter Craig, and really reminded me how great, if at times misguided, an artist he really is. And at this point, I'm tempted to forget all about his performance in "Pearl Harbor", collaborating with Michael Bay in the worst way possible.

With all of these great elements blended together in this convoluted crime drama, one can't help but love it. The suspense, the dark humor, and the myriad of absolutely superb acting will leave you with a smile on your face, as it did for me. That is, unless you're one of the few who actually liked Pearl Harbor. And if that is the case, I can do nothing but hope for you and your misguided movie tastes, and hope for the rest of us that Ben Afleck continues to do what he's doing. We love you Ben. Keep up the good work.

The Social Network Review

Film-o-Rama Review by August Meyer

The Social Network is so intensely dark and intricate that its hard to believe it is, to some degree, the story of our time. It does for our decade what all of John Hughe's films did for the 1980's. Director David Fincher earns his stripes as he dives head first into the twenty-something year old minds that created a new industry and reaped the rewards.

The Social Network follows the success and betrayal of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, as an alcohol fueled idea in a college dorm room evolves into one of the biggest inventions of the twenty-first century. But not only does it follow the story of the founding of Facebook, it delves into the kind of minds that shaped who we are today, where physical communication is almost obsolete in a day and age where everything is online. A society was flipped on its ass and reshaped by a few "nerds" with computers, and this monster of a movie brings to light the darkness and genius that did it.

The story unfolds with a question, "Did you know that in China there are more people with genius IQ's than there are people in America?". Mark Zuckerberg is seated at a shady bar with his then girlfriend, and says this out of frustration with the competitive nature of both the university he attends, and the day in which he lives . He complains about the difficulties of distinguishing oneself in today's world, and after a while of unrefined narcissistic conversation, the girl has had enough. She hurls a few expletives and is out the door. Unbeknownst to Zuckerberg, this would be the catalyst to his success. He then hurries home, and while inebriated vents about his breakup through his blog, and hacks into the Harvard University picture database to showcase who is hotter than his ex through a website fueled by jilted rage. And thus, a social network was born through rejection.

The film is acted almost seamlessly. Ronney Mara plays Zuckerberg's girlfriend, and while she has maybe ten minutes of total screen time, she shows a level of sincerity most actor's couldn't achieve with tenfold the amount of time. She also happens to have snagged the role of Lisbeth Salander in the upcoming American adaptation of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo", and you can see why.

Jesse Eisenberg headlines the film, and couldn't have deserved his leading role more. We last saw him in Zombieland, and his diversion into drama couldn't have been more impressive. Throughout the film we see every intellectual struggle he faces, and every bit of stress he encounters affect him in a way that is almost surreal. We don't doubt Mark Zuckerberg's genius for a second, while one can't help but pity his flawed character. Facebook is his brainchild, and everything he does is relentlessly done in its name. The intensity Eisenberg brings to The Social Network is without a doubt Oscar-worthy.

But its not just the characters that will get your heart pounding. The film is set in Massachusetts, among dark streets, dimly lit dorm rooms, and in conference rooms in various legal offices. While the plot jumping back and forth from past to present can be a little confusing, the feeling of raw emotional power never leaves the screen. What with the color scheme of each frame of the film, the dark comedic nature of the script, and the atmosphere created through the combination of all these different elements, tension never ceases to rise. Each and every one of the sets used in the film adds to the aura of darkness illustrating the black nature of the people willing to do anything to achieve fame, fortune, and anything that comes along the way.

David Fincher's film is not only the movie of the year, but I would wager it to be the movie of the decade. Much like what the Breakfast Club did for 80's, and what Pulp Fiction did for the 90's, The Social Network has effectively defined our generation.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World Review

Film-o-Rama Review by August Meyer

Although he may have trouble fighting "The World", the one thing Scott Pilgrim does not need to worry about is teenage opinion. The Canadian comic book inspired, "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World" is completely geared toward a younger crowd, and is just what is needed in this recent period of cinematic let downs. "Scott Pilgrim" is a total "teen flick", but somehow it strays away from the superficiality of recent movies such as "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist", and even "Twilight" for that matter. Think more along the lines of "Juno" and "Napoleon Dynamite" meets "Transformers"...but in a good way.

What with the recent explosion of quirky teenage dramadies, "Scott Pilgrim" is a welcome reprieve from all of the other "Juno" wannabe's. And it's not just these rip-offs that are getting tiresome. The entire summer repertoire of movies, at first, seemed promising, but did not pay off in the least until it was almost too late. "Inception" is the movie that swam up from the depths of what is now the abandoned land of originality, and saved our summer from certain doom. Having another film do this same thing so soon feels like a treat that we may not see again for quite some time.

The movie centers around a quirky young Canadian man and his not so normal trials with his love life. After going through a bad break up, Scott's life is in shambles. He, at the age of 22, begins dating a slightly off high school student, and his band, "The Sex Bob-ombs", is doing worse than ever. This all turns around when he meets quite literally the girl of his dreams, in the form of Ramona Flowers. A non-conformist at heart with a punk edge and color changing hair, Ramona seems to be Scott's perfect match. She would agree too, except for them to be together, Scott would have to duel her "League of Seven Evil Exes" to the death, this being a group of her past spurned lovers who all coincidentally have some sort of super power and decide to team up and fight the man who dares take away their long lost Ramona. This is where the movie really takes off. Each fight has a style of its own, incorporating the retro-video game feel that the movie thrives on. The visuals are stylized beyond belief, and are complimented by the general quirk of both the characters, settings, and the overall feel of the film. I mean come on, what else but a movie like "Scott Pilgrim" can pull of a scene in which a flying, makeup wearing Goth kid, surrounded by floating "hipster demons", explodes into a cloud of quarters after being defeated in a video game-like fight, during a show tunes style musical number, in the middle of a two bit Canadian Battle of the Bands competition? It is this uniqueness that will pack audiences into theaters, and for good reason.

While I have been pontificating my love for how great the story itself is, that is only one reason why this movie shines. The casting is absolutely pitch perfect. I cannot picture anyone else but Michael Cera in the role of Scott, and the relatively unknown Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona. The two play off each other wonderfully, what with Scott's paranoid awkwardness and Ramona's perpetual cool. These two actors were a match made in heaven.

I could go on and on about the strong points of the movie, but I think it is only fair to acknowledge its weak points also. The vast majority of the acting in the film is superb, but there are areas that could use some serious improvement. Knives Chau, played by newcomer Ellen Wong, is Scott's high school girlfriend. She is insecure, immature, whiny and paranoid, but shows this all too much. Throughout the film Wong seems to be almost squinting to read out of a script that is just off-screen, while the delivery of her humor sounds as if she had just come out of an amateur acting class. This becomes increasingly distracting amidst the plethora of strong performances as the film progresses. Additionally, the ending seemed a little forced. I won't spoil anything, but coming out of the theater, one might find themselves wondering what was going through the mind of the director when he shot that sequence. While the movie as a whole demolished any cliches or stereotypes of the genre (if there really is one that can contain "Scott Pilgrim"), the ending of the movie feels a little disappointing, but recovers itself just in time to put a serious smile on your face.

Throughout all of this flashy, CG goodness and breathtaking originality, the most amazing thing about the movie is the sincerity that "Scott Pilgrim" brings to the screen. There are plenty of jokes, innuendos, and fist to face action, but not so deep down there is a feeling of endearing self-awareness, and the need for the message of young love to get through to audiences. Now this may seem mushy gushy, but all in all, "Scott Pilgrim Versus The World" is an absolutely fantastic movie that has arrived at precisely the right time.

The Losers Review

Film-o-Rama Review by August Meyer

Now, one must always approach comic book movie adaptations with caution. Picture a whole bunch of that yellow tape you would see at a crime scene surrounding the genre.
Although a few haven't disappointed, such as Iron Man, Batman, Spider Man, and my personal favorite, Watchmen, there is a long list of others that barely hold a space in my distant memory. Does anyone really appreciate, or even remember for that matter, movies such as "Elektra", "Daredevil", "The Punisher", or "Ghost Rider"? And does the "Fantastic Four" really even count? Not even "The Incredible Hulk" could smash his way out of mediocrady.

While some notably good actors such as Edward Norton in "Hulk" and "Daredevil" ,and Jennifer Garner in both "Elektra" and "Daredevil" are present in these films, a lack of intensity in their performances, and a common distance from the roles they play plague the movies they suffer through.

This is what distinguishes "The Losers" from that latter category. Chalk full of great actors and actresses such as Jeffrey Dean Morgan, or as I remember him, "The Comedian" from Watchmen, and Zoe Saldana, who has recently stolen the tabloid spotlight because of her work in both Star Trek and James Cameron's Avatar. The two play against eachother's attitudes and stubborn personalities wonderfully. Not to be forotten behind the two leads is Chris Evans, who plays the jokster of the bunch, delivering surprisingly funny humor throught the course of the movie.

Now to the storyline. The plot of "The Losers" is definitely not something anybody hasn't heard before. And truthfully, it does seem a little stale at times. What with a team of special ops soldiers, (The Losers), being double crossed by there own government, and a race to stop a dangerous illegal arms dealer from putting the safety of the world in jeapordy, we've all seen it before. Think "Shooter" meets "The Sum of All Fears"...but with spunk and pizzazz aplenty. With so much witty dialogue, fantastic acting, and well done action sequences, the plot really isn't something anyone watching the movie will be thinking about.

This gem of a film should not be missed if you're in the mood for some popcorn action and more than a few laughs, and even if you're not, see it anyway. You would be cheating yourself out of a really great time.....but lets just pray DC doesn't tarnish it with a cash in sequel.

Shutter Island Review

Film-o-Rama Review by August Meyer

Martin Scorcese's newest film, Shutter Island, is dark, brooding, and filled with so much tension that anyone watching feels as though everything around them could snap at any moment.

To start out with, the film features a cast that would make any director's mouth water. Scorcese regular Leonardo DiCaprio headlines the film, and as always delivers a powerful performance, filled with brutal, restrained emotion, and a constant longing for love lost. This drives the plot as Dicaprio's character, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels, seeks to uncover the mystery of an inmate's escape out of the psychiatric ward on the ominous Shutter Island, and while he's at it, avenge the death of his wife Dolores, played by the exceptional Michelle Williams. Along for the ride with DiCaprio is Mark Ruffalo, Teddy's newly appointed partner, Chuck Aule. Ruffalo is like a puppy behind DiCaprio throughout the film, but a damn good puppy at that.As Teddy is slowly isolated from everyone on the island, Chuck is right there beside him. His performance adds a constant increase of suspense throughout the movie as he helps Teddy realize what seems to be going on all around them.

If the good guys don't sound fantastic enough, the bad guys give the word "creepy" a whole new meaning. A team of doctors and psychiatrists manage the demented inmates of Shutter Isand, and are headed up by the deliciously brooding Ben Kinglsey. His character, Dr. Crawley, is constantly trying to hinder the efforts of DiCaprio and Ruffalo, and subliminally develops a looming concern for the mental health of our protagonist. In Crawley's mind, he is in control of every little facet of the island, and fosters a devilishly smug attitude throughout the film.

As Scorcese's ode to Alfred Hitchcock, the film kicks off with an incredibly smooth mix of the two prolific directors' styles. The first frame of the movie is a Scorecese signature heart stopping wide shot of what will soon become the two federal marshals' prison, Shutter Island, as their ferry is pulling into harbor. As the audience is mesmerized by the magnitude of what lay before them, music so Hitchcock-esque that all of the movie geeks in the theater nearly wet themselves sets in, and while its at it, sets the mood for the beautifully harrowing adventure ahead.

As if having such an audacious cast, ambitious plot, and unforgettable characters wasn't enough, Scorcese tops it off with a gut wrenching ending that will literally slap you in the face, slug you in the gut, wait for you to regain conciousness, and do it all over again.

This wonderful, and mind boggling film leaves the audience with one question...Would you rather live as a monster, or die as a hero? The film is definitely worth watching...over, and over again.

Kick Ass Review

Film-o-Rama Review by August Meyer

Kick Ass.
At first, I was extremely skeptical of this movie. Based on the commercials promoting the film, I honestly did not expect much. What with Nicholas Cage co-starring, the only redeeming point I could think of watching the trailers was that his always ridiculous hair was covered by a mask for what seemed like the majority of the movie.

I reluctantly went to see the film the weekend it came out, and let me say...it exceeded my expectations, well, kind of. The first half of the movie was a sleeper. And by that, I mean it had me dozing into dreams that at the time seemed much more entertaining than what I had just spent ten dollars on. But I was damn glad I fought my oncoming sleep. The second half was strangely different than its earlier counter part, meaning it was actually "Kick Ass". Chloe Mortez, who plays "Hit-Girl" in the film was what saved it for me. A teeny-bopping little girl carrying weapons of kick ass destruction does that for you. What with her jumping, kicking, stabbing, shooting, and an especially action packed scene lit only by the strobe light attached to her nine millimeter pistol packed the punch the movie desperately needed to stay afloat.

As I have said, a lot of the violence was extremely well done, but in the first half of the movie, it seems as if it were added just to appeal to the "Saw 1-6" crowd. It was over the top, and not in a good way.

The rest of the cast was mediocre, with some who shined more than others, one being Christopher Mintz-Plasse, or as I fondly remember him as...McLovin'. The problem I had with all of the supporting cast was the lack of development. Basically every single one of Kick Ass' friends seemed to be cast soley for comic relief. The bad guy, crime boss Mark Strong was one color acting throughout the film as a stubborn father and underworld kingpin, and most of what happened regarding him in the plot was extremely flimsy and even hard to follow.

All in all, Kick Ass is a fun movie good to see with friends, but don't expect much. This is especially dissapointing when a movie called Kick Ass fails to live up to its title for the better part of it's story.

Video Game Movie Adaptations

Arguably, the biggest, most cursed movies of this day and age are video game adaptations. From the ridiculous Laura Croft: Tomb Raider, to the hilariously cheesy Bloodrayne,and to Doom, which may be the prime example of the lot, there is one thing lacking in all of these films which has caused them to tank in reception critically and financially; quality. Speedy production time, a lack of believable acting and a trend of unfaithfulness to the original material drag down all of these box office bombs in the same way.

Sure, Angelina Jolie's scantily clad Laura Croft in both Tomb Raider movies may have seemed ideal to lure in the drooling masses of fanboys fervently awaiting the films' release, but in it's execution both movies come off as exceptionally corny in almost every aspect, whether it be the questionable special effects or the poorly written and laughable scripts. No self respecting lover of the classic video game series could honestly respect the film makers who brought them the adaptation. They simply do not do justice to the source material.

The Doom franchise, which is revered as one of the greatest achievements in video game history would have seemed to be the perfect candidate for a flashy, action packed movie spin off. But the finished product comes off as a desperate attempt to attract as many unsuspecting fans of the games as possible, before they realize what a pile of junk it really is. Some merit is due to the producers of the movie for coming up with the idea of shooting the latter half of the film in first person, paying homage to the game with which it shares its name. But in doing so, they only managed to add to the effect of total disparity.

In early 2007, news broke of what seemed at the time like a knight in shining armor for this dying breed of movies. The holy grail of video games, Halo, was going to receive a high budget movie of its own, with supervision by one of the highest regarded fantasy film directors of all time, Peter Jackson. The Lord of the Rings director was going to oversee the production which would be directed by newcomer Neil Blomkamp, whom some of you may know as the critically acclaimed director of District Nine...but I'm getting to that. With such an amazing production team, fans of the video games couldn't be happier. The blogosphere began to teem with updates of the movie, a sensation whose pinnacle was a short teaser released on Xbox Live in October of 2007 titled "Halo:Landfall". Critics all around the video game universe were abuzz with praise for the project. That is, until later that same year.

Everything from the production team to film crews were all procured and ready to begin filming, when the finances of the film abruptly fell threw. Not wanting to lose all of the work, time, and effort already invested in the collaborative project, Jackson and Blomkamp decided to pursue an alternative project. This is what most of you will recognize as District Nine. The film was shot entirely in South Africa, Blomkamps birthplace, with a low budget and limited production time. By the time the then independent movie had been finished, it had been picked up by Sony Entertainment for distribution. District Nine went on to receive an academy award nomination for Best Picture, and is currently a front runner for the award alongside Avatar and The Hurt Locker.

Now I'm not saying that if the financing for the Halo movie didn't fall through, it could have been Halo sitting atop that pedestal with James Cameron's Avatar, but what I can say for sure is that many a fanboy and video game fanatic are hanging their heads in reverence at the death of video game adaptations.

Transformers Movie Review

As my first online review, I'm going to start with the one movie that will always have a special place in my heart. Transformers. Now, this is not because it's a movie for the ages or anything like that. The reason why this film will always stay with me is because it is the definition of a Hollywood sellout. In a way, this is a good thing, because without something so chalk full of stupidity, mind numbingly bad acting, and paycheck minded direction, we may not have had such a good example of how bad a movie can be.

Filled to the brim with flashy special effects, mindless displays of female...features, and explosions of that to rival the equally as horrifyingly bad 2012, Transformers is a prime example of what today's movie world really has no use for anymore. For director Michael Bay, a cash in, popcorn movie teeny bopping kids can crowd to is enough, but for people with half a brain, and any regard whatsoever as to what they're hard earned money goes to, Transformers is something to stay away from. Besides the dim witted idiocy of the movie, the most depressing thing about it is the way it hogged the spotlight from movies that really deserved it.

Films such as the brilliant Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez collaborative satire of 1970's B Movies, Grindhouse, and Paul Thomas Anderson's criminally low grossing There Will Be Blood were among the movies overshadowed by Transformers' undeserving reign over box offices across the world.

One thing that I can only hope film makers around the world will learn from this, is to never, ever make the same mistake again. Unfortunately for myself and every other avid movie-goer, my far fetched dream of a world without Transformers will continue to be as such. God help us all.