Tag Archives: movie review

Last Saturday afternoon I went to the Dipson Theatre at the Eastern Hills Mall to see Michael Haneke’s 2007 version of Funny Games. Really the only thing I can say about this film is—you’ll either love it or hate it. Most of the people in the theatre probably hated it since they practically ran out of as soon as the credits rolled and the death metal song started back up. I thought it was amazing!

With most remakes I generally like to see the original so I can compare them and see how bad they fudge it up. The weird thing with Funny Games is the writer/director of the original 1997 German version also directed this newer version specifically for U.S. audiences. What is interesting to note is, Haneke shot the film scene for scene. So it ended up looking identical to the original minus the subtitles and with new actors of course.

After seeing both versions I think the newer Funny Games is far superior. The casting is better, the performances more intense, and the tension and dread just come off more believable in the hands of Michael Pitt, Naomi Watts, and Tim Roth.

The 1997 version does have a nice interview with Michael Haneke on the DVD that sheds some light on the motivations for the film. I thought he had some interesting ideas on how the viewer becomes an accomplice in violent films by witnessing the atrocities. He also talked about how he isn’t concerned with just telling a story and having it end simply because it should or has to. But is more interested in developing intelligent villains which tend to make for a better stories. A great concept I wish more screenplays and films followed, since I often find myself cheering on the bad guy.

After seeing Funny Games twice now I really want to go back and watch some of his other films. Years ago I saw The Piano Teacher and don’t really remember much about it, other than it being awkward and weird. Just the sorta film I tend to enjoy. He also wrote and directed Caché, which is a more conventional suspense/thriller about a couple who receive strange packages from a voyeur.

I sure do love me some Netflix…

Well I couldn’t wait any longer for The Darjeeling Limited to play in Buffalo. It ended up opening this past weekend in Rochester, so Kayta and myself made the hour long drive to the Little Theatre. At first we were the only people there, but that quickly changed when middle aged folks who I’d never expect to see at a Wes Anderson movie consumed the theatre.

The film was what you’ve come to expect from Wes Anderson; Jason Schwartzman, one of the Wilson brothers, quirky characters, humorous situations, and an amazing soundtrack. I would probably rank it just behind The Royal Tenebaums or Rushmore—sorry The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou…I wanted to love you but felt like something was missing. =(

Prior to seeing The Darjeeling Limited I had heard various reviews about the second half taking a drastic turn in plot and structure. I have no idea what they were talking about because it felt like the same movie to me. At first I thought it was going to turn into one big flashback or maybe they’d go on an expedition to find the tiger who would then turn out to be their reincarnated father. Neither happened.

Also, make sure you view the short companion piece Hotel Chevalier (iTunes and several other online sites have it available for free) prior to seeing The Darjeeling Limited. You don’t have to, but you’ll get a few insights into Schwartzman’s character while he is in France and is visited by his ex played by Natalie Portman. I’m sure it was only meant to be a short film, but I’d really like to see it developed into a feature.

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On Monday I followed up The Darjeeling Limited with Across The Universe—that movie whose narrative is told through Beatles’ songs. I’m not one for song and dance numbers, but this was alright. My only problem with it was how forced all the scenes and characters felt. Every time someone new was introduced and they spoke their name, you could just guess what song would be used next to explain the story.

For the most part the songs and characters worked and served the story. Let’s be honest here, this is a movie for Beatles fans and if you love their music you’ll love this movie. I enjoyed it enough to justify the movie ticket even if the characters were cliche. My least favorite parts were the psychedelic hippie dream like scenes. I’m all for weird and goofy stuff, but I don’t know if it’s just my hatred of this era of music or what, but I could have done without them. Seeing how it was a movie about the war and all that it sort of had to be included, so I’ll forgive it this time.

The big question now is… “what will I see this weekend?” Do I want to continue down the indie art house road with Into The Wild? Or should I go all Halloween horror with 30 Days of Night. Hmmmmm.

The mystery that is the Dipson Theatre in the Eastern Hills Mall still eludes me. They could screen pornos on a Friday night and I would still end up being me in a theatre filled with grandparents. I will never understand why the seniors gravitate to these theatres to see films that they have nothing in common with. What possible reason could they have for wanting to see a movie about a stuttering boy who tries out for his high school debate team? Hell Dipson doesn’t even offer a senior citizens discount nor are they any cheaper than the Regal Cinemas. What the heck?

So there you have it. I went to see Rocket Science tonight after waiting a few weeks for it to finally be released here. I’m a sucker for these indie flicks…you know the kind I’m talking about right? Quirky comedies about dorks falling in and out of love, to the tune of a decent soundtrack (in this case Eef Barzelay of Clem Snide and some Violent Femmes tracks), while an omniscient narrator clues us into life’s little nuisances and learned lessons.

I really was hoping for something special with this one. If you saw the trailer, you pretty much got all of this flicks offerings. Sure the story is elaborated on with a few extra laughs, but I thought there would have been something more to it. Perhaps something like The Squid and the Whale, with the alcoholic boy who does some ‘nonsense’ in the library. While not bad I couldn’t really tell you anything amazing about Rocket Science—which should be evident from my shoty movie review.

The actors are great, the story decent, but in the end it failed to really make an impression on me. Thumbsucker, The Chumbscrubber, or any Wes Anderson movie it is not. C+