The Babadook: The scariest, most effective horror movie in years.

It's no secret that modern horror movies today are kind of really awful. In the last few years, we've seen the use of found footage get beaten to death (see: the Paranormal Activity franchise and everything that tried to copy it afterward) and horror films becoming  generally stale and uninteresting, relying on cheap jump scares.

However, some horror movies, such as The Cabin in the Woods, the Evil Dead remake, The Conjuring, You're Next, and this year's Tusk, have been able to break most horror conventions and be what horror movies should be: entertaining and genuinely thrilling.

In addition to big releases, independent horror films are also becoming increasingly enjoyable to watch, as they buck studio conventions and make the visions that were intended to be seen.

The Babadook is a fine example of this.

Released in Australia this past year, The Babadook focuses on widowed mother Amelia (Essie Davis), who is raising her son Samuel (Noah Wiseman) all on her own. Samuel is a bit of a strange child: he barely sleeps through the night and believes that an imaginary monster is in his home, even going so far as creating weapons to combat it. One night, Amelia finds a strange pop-up book entitled "Mister Babadook," which she decides to read to Samuel. Soon after, strange things begin happening around the house and to Amelia, with Samuel insisting that the Babadook is behind it. Now, Amelia must discover what really is going on before it's too late.

This movie popped up on my radar after hearing countless reviews heaping critical acclaim on the film, with some calling it the scariest and one of the best horror movies in years. Seeing all this critical praise led me to become very interested to see what everyone was talking about.

After finally being able to have a chance to watch the film, I can now see what everyone is talking about: this is one of the most effective, chilling, and genuinely entertaining horror movies I've seen in years.

This is definitely in part to the two main actors, Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman. While there are numerous supporting actors around them who do fine in their roles as well, in actuality, they do not show up as much in the course of the film.

Most of the action is on these two throughout the film. Both of them are spectacular, particularly Davis. Her character of Amelia is such a delicate and fragile person, with losing her husband and taking care of her unusual child. Davis plays this to such great effect throughout the course of the film.

In addition, she has a great relationship on screen with Wiseman. You genuinely feel for these two as they deal with the terror that the Babadook has caused. The relationship feels genuine, and by the end, we feel as if we have seen these characters go through an emotional journey together before coming to terms with each other's faults.

Another thing this film has going for it is that it relies on genuine terror, NOT cheap horror scares. The film has this sense of dread and foreboding the entire time, to the point where I was completely terrified as to when the Babadook would start to show up.

 A lot of credit for that goes to first time writer and director Jennifer Kent. She takes a concept that has been done before (spirit starts to haunt wife and child), but she infuses it with a real sense of thrills and horror.

Once the Babadook starts to play heavily into Amelia's subconscious, I felt terrified and on the edge of my seat for what was about to happen next. It's rare to find a horror movie that does that anymore.

Overall, The Babadook is one of the best horror movies I've seen in a very long time, which is such a refreshing statement to say. If you happen to have a VOD service or it's playing in your nearest theater, I would highly recommend it.

Grade: A+

Netflix Picks: Snowpiercer and Stretch

 I go to a small college in New Jersey (by small I mean private) and I am currently home for a solid month for winter break.

Now obviously, I'm not able to go as much to the movies every single day, but I still want to get reviews out as often as I can on this blog. So I figured, "Why don't I review some movies that happen to be on my Netflix list that many have not heard of before?"

With that said, welcome to the first installment of Netflix Picks, where I pick a couple of films that I feel should warrant more attention. With the year winding down, let's take a look at two of 2014's most underrated films.

SNOWPIERCER

Director: Bong Joon-ho
Screenplay: Bong Joon-ho, Kelly Masterson
Starring: Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, and John Hurt

In the last few years, we have seen the dystopian future society genre been done to death, particularly with the younger crowd. We've seen numerous adaptations for young adults be adapted for the big screen, such as The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Giver to name a few. With Snowpiercer, not only do you have a dystopian future movie for adults, but also a brilliant one at that.

(NOTE: I know the film was released in Korea in 2013, but it just came out in America this past July so I'm counting it as a 2014 release).

The plot is rather simple: In the year 2031, after an experiment to counteract global warming fails and throws the entire planet into a new ice age, most of the human race has perished. The ones who remain survive on the Snowpiercer, a massive motion engine train that spans the entire globe in order to keep its inhabitants alive. The train is divided into sections; the rich and wealthy live in the front while the poor live in the tail end section. One of the leaders of the tail section, Curtis (Chris Evans), has had enough of the living conditions and instigates a coup. Now Curtis and his followers must fight their way through the massive train in order to get to the front, all while fighting followers of the train's creator, Wilford.

This is such a simple basic concept: get from point A to point B. And yet that's one of the things that makes it work so incredibly well is that simplicity. Yes the film does have subtle commentary on the class system as well as comments made about global warming. But the film's plot almost feels as if it's something out of an 80s action movie, which is due in part to the great directing done by Bong Joon-ho. He handles the actions scenes with great detail and intensity.  It's just enjoyable to watch from start to finish.

The acting is very well done, with Evans turning in a very commanding lead performance. Outside of playing Captain America, Evans really hasn't been in much else as of late. Seeing him outside of Marvel is rather refreshing, as his character, Curtis, is likable and commanding, but with a dark past. When the dark past is revealed, Evans is at his most vulnerable. The rest of the supporting cast is great to watch, especially a near unrecognizable Tilda Swinton.

Overall, Snowpiercer was one of the surprise films of the year and easily one of the best. If you haven't gotten a chance to see it, I highly, highly recommend you give it a watch.

Grade: A

STRETCH

Director: Joe Carnahan
Screenplay: Joe Carnahan
Starring: Patrick Wilson, Chris Pine, Ed Helms, Jessica Alba, and James Badge Dale.

 Stretch has had a strange history in getting released. Originally supposed to come out this past March, Universal Studios scrapped the film two months before its release and allowing producer Jason Blum to shop the project to other studios. Universal ended up getting the film back anyway, and decided to release it directly to DVD and Video on Demand outlets.

Now, when the studio moves a film from theatrical to direct to video release, that usually  says the film is so terrible that it no longer warrants being seen in theaters.

So it's rather strange as to why Stretch was released straight to video, as it's actually a very enjoyable, almost self-knowingly goofy film to watch.

The film follows a man simply known as "Stretch," (Patrick Wilson), who works as a limo driver for a living in LA after a failed career in acting. After his girlfriend unceremoniously dumps him, Stretch decides to start turning his life around. Before he can do that, he must drive around mysterious client Karos (Chris Pine), who offers to pay off Stretch's gambling debt of $6,000 if he does everything Karos asks him to without question. Karos must also deal with rival driver "The Jovi" as well as federal officers.

Joe Carnahan, to me, is one of the most underrated action directors working today. Smokin Aces and The A-Team are incredibly underrated action movies and The Grey is a great, tense thriller. With Stretch, this feels much more like a throwback to Smokin Aces, as Stretch is one of the most gonzo and bizarre films Carnahan is made.

If Birdman takes a biting satirical look at fame and trying to be famous, whether as a comeback or not, then Stretch is essentially the violent and bloody Looney Tunes take of that tale.

Carnahan directs every scene with such kinetic energy and moves so briskly that you feel you're along on this crazy and insane ride. That's also in part to the cast he has assembled. Wilson is likeable as the everyday Joe just trying to make a living and get by in life. Of course, he has to deal with some insanity every day, but you still root for him by the end. Jessica Alba is also very good as his friend and assistant in the limo service, as she shows genuine concern for Wilson's character. Alba has improved greatly since coming onto the scene in 2005.

But the two big standouts are Ed Helms and Chris Pine. Helms, playing a limo driver who committed suicide in front of a customer and is a figment of Stretch's mind, serves as the big comic relief in the film and gets some of the best lines. Helms chews scenery in every scene that he shows up in. The same goes for Pine, looking completely unrecognizable as Karos. This is Pine at his absolute nuttiest, as he takes the dial and cranks it up to 20 in a drug fueled rampage. His character is so odd and unique that all thoughts that Pine can just play Captain Kirk are gone. He's just a blast to watch.

I will say that the first maybe 20-30 minutes are extremely tough to get through, but if you can hang on until after that time, you will have an absolute blast with Stretch, as it just gets nuttier and crazier from that point on. This was one of the surprises of the year. Get a bunch of friends together and bask in the insanity.

Grade: B+

Got any Netflix Picks of your own?  Go ahead and recommend any film you've watched in the comments below!

Foxcatcher Review: Stunning Performances from Carell and Tatum

 

When you think of intense drama and the actors that star in them, one of the first that does NOT come to mind is funnyman Steve Carell.

 

Carell is known for being the awkward, bumbling, sometimes idiotic character in most if not all of his movies. Sure, one could easily argue that with Dan in Real Life and especially Little Miss Sunshine, he is capable of pulling off a serious performance.

 

However, those two latter films were also comedies. We've never really seen Carell take on a performance that does a complete 180 from his usual roles that he takes on.

 

Enter Foxcatcher, the latest film from director Bennett Miller (Capote, Moneyball). The film tells the true story of billionaire John E. Du Pont (Carell), an eccentric billionaire who decides to help train former Olympic medalist Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) in wrestling. Mark's brother Dave (Mark Ruffalo) later joins Mark to help train him as well as Team Foxcatcher. In January of 1996, while Mark is training for a comeback, du Pont murders Mark and is sent to prison.

 

**NOTE: While I usually would consider this a spoiler, in this case I'm allowing it because it actually happened in real life.

 

This is a type of character that we have clearly never seen Carell play before. I was interested to see if he was able to pull this off after hearing the heaps of praise he and the film received at Cannes this past year.

 

After watching the film, it's clear to see why Carell and the rest of the film are receiving tons of praise. The film is extremely well done, bolstered by strong performances from the two main leads.

 

Carell is terrifying to watch. He makes du Pont seem much more of an eccentric, lonely recluse. All he wants to do is be accepted among friends and be respected, rather than spend so much time with his mother (Vanessa Redgrave). You're on edge whenever he comes on screen, as you are unsure what he will do next. Yet at the same time, you also sympathize with the character, as you wish he could have some semblance of a normal life with actual friends.

 

The other knockout star of the film? Channing Tatum. This film basically proved to me that Tatum has the capability to actually act. This is easily the most vulnerable I ever seen him in, as his character just yearns for the glory days and easily buys into the things du Pont tells him. His relationship with his brother Dave (Ruffalo, in a very subtle and quiet performance) is also very well explored, as you can see Mark want to be the greatest wrestler, but feels bogged down by being in Dave's shadow, while Dave just wants to see Mark succeed.

 

Similarly, the bond between du Pont and Mark is equally as fascinating to watch. You see Mark get suckered by du Pont's words of patriotism and success. Mark doesn't want to let down du Pont, as he sees him as a friend and father figure. It's due to Carell and Tatum's strong performances that this relationship is so great to watch.

 

On a technical level, the film looks great. The cinematography done by Greig Fraiser as well as the direction by Miller is fantastic, as there are some really interesting camera shots, particularly when Mark is wrestling his opponent. it feels as if the camera blurs in and out of our vision of him, giving us an up and close view to the action.

 

Overall, Foxcatcher is an excellent, well-made film, bolstered by strong performances from both Steve Carell and Channing Tatum. However, as a warning, the film is VERY dour, especially at the end. If you're looking for an inspirational sports movie with a hopeful end, you won't find it. However, if you want to see some great acting mixed with a well done story, you've come to the right place.

Grade: A-

The Hobbit The Battle of the Five Armies Review: Return to Middle Earth One Last Time

As I type this, I have the strangest feeling of déjà vu.

It was only 11 years ago where I said goodbye to the denizens of Middle-Earth with the final chapter of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King. At that time, I was saddened to director Peter Jackson's incredible vision of J.R.R. Tolkien's world behind, but I prayed to the almighty film gods for the day when I could return to Middle Earth for the adaptation of The Hobbit.
Nine years later, in 2012, I got my wish.

And so here we are, at the end of another journey with The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, the final installment in The Hobbit trilogy.

We pick up immediately after the end of The Desolation of Smaug, with a rather quick opening sequence where Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch) starts to lay waste to Lake-Town and its inhabitants, all while Bilbo and the rest of the Dwarves look on in horror.

Smaug is soon quickly dispatched (spoilers if you've never read The Hobbit, though if you haven't....why are you still reading this review go read The Hobbit!) and Thorin (Richard Armitage) soon tries to locate the Arkenstone, the crown jewel of the Dwarven fortune. This begins to drive him mad with dragon-sickness, which is the Tolkien way of saying that Thorin basically gets greedy:

Thorin's thought process summed up in 5 seconds!

 

Meanwhile Gandalf (Ian McKellan), is still held captive by Sauron's forces at Dol Guldur, but is soon rescued by Galadriel, Elrond, and Saruman (Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, and Christopher Lee, respectively). He then goes to warn the others, where the armies of Elves, Men, Dwarves, and Orcs come together at Erebor's doorstep.

 

What follows is quite possibly the biggest and bloodiest real estate battle in history, as the Battle of the Five Armies over who reclaims Erebor and its treasure soon begins.

With the release of this film, this marks the possible final time that we will ever venture into Middle Earth (or, y'know, until Jackson makes The Silmarillion or someone comes up with the oh so brilliant idea to reboot this series...). So does this final entry in The Hobbit trilogy not only satisfy those who have been on the ride since the beginning, but also those who grew up with Lord of the Rings?

While I have a few issues with the film, it is still a satisfying conclusion to The Hobbit trilogy .

 

Both Martin Freeman and Richard Armitage conclude their excellent character arcs and give amazing performances. In Armitage's case, he really gets a chance to shine in terms of his acting. His character goes through this enjoyable arc and his friendship with Bilbo and his kin are wonderful to watch. Freeman himself also shows Bilbo's character arc as well, going from a quiet, helpless Hobbit to a hardened warrior. Both these actors pull this off brilliantly.

The supporting cast did a fine job as well. It's always nice to see McKellan as Gandalf in the role again he owns this character. The Company of Dwarves also stood out because you feel sorry for them near the end. Their leader, their king, is slowly going mad, transforming him into someone completely unrecognizable. You feel sorry for them and that they went through all these trials only to see their leader become lost until he finally snaps out of it.

Now, there are some issues with the supporting cast. For one, I STILL do not see the reason why Legolas needs to be in these films other than to serve as another connective tissue to Lord of the Rings (for further proof of this, wait until Legolas' very last scene.....you thought the references in An Unexpected Journey were obvious....).  The same goes with the appearance of Blanchett, Weaving, and Lee. It's great to see them back (even if I call shenanigans on 92 year old Lee spinning around and swinging his magic staff around like an awesome warrior), but it feels unneeded. They are there only as a way to pad the plot and pave the way for Lord of the Rings

Also, Legolas is not only essentially the elf version of Benjamin Button, but he still defies the law of physics and is basically the third Mario brother (you will understand what I mean if you decided to see it). 

Another issue that I was not a fan of is the romance between Fili (Aidan Turner) and Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly).  While it was built upon in the last movie, here it feels.....underdeveloped and rather rushed. First they meet, make small talk, then fall in love instantly without barely knowing each other. I know Jackson needed to put this in here to have a romance similar to Arwen and Aragorn, but it feels rather unneeded (although it does give way to one of the most unintentionally hilarious lines delivered in the movie)

However, the big reason people want to see this is because of the Battle and Jackson does not disappoint in this department. While admittedly VERY CGI heavy, the battle does not disappoint and is extremely well shot and choreographed. This rivals Jackson's own work on the Battle of Helm's Deep or the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Some of the fight shots are just breathtaking to watch, especially when the Orcs show up.

Finally, while I did complain about having characters and name references in for the sake of making connections to Lord of the Rings, I felt as if the ending tied everything up very seamlessly. The last two minutes of this movie feel as if we now have a natural story to watch with Jackson's Middle Earth saga. The final connection is there and it felt like we had come full circle and that we are ready to say farewell to this world, possibly forever. (Billy Boyd's song at the end credits definitely helps that).

Overall, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is a very satisfying conclusion to The Hobbit trilogy as well as Jackson's Middle Earth saga, although not without its issues. While the trilogy may not have packed the emotional punch as the original LOTR trilogy did, there is no denying the legacy of these movies  that many will discover for years to come.

Grade: B+