Berberian Sound Studio (2012)

Berberian Sound Studio (2012)

Starring: Toby Jones, Cosimo Fusco, Antonio Mancino

Writer & Director: Peter Strickland

Synopsis (IFC):

Mild-mannered sound engineer Gilderoy arrives in Rome to work on the soundtrack to a film called The Equestrian Vortex, a tale of witchcraft and murder set inside an all-girl riding academy. Before long he becomes entranced by the film's mysteriously terrifying allure, and the lines between reality and fantasy begin to blur. Now Gilderoy's own mind has become the battleground between his horrifying delusions and his desperate grasp on the real world.

Review:

The story for Berberian Sound Studio may be considered paper thin or just really basic. It's the visual style, music, and sound effects that make it so damn intriguing. That, and a handful of great performances – a couple of which are straight up terrifying. The lead, Gilderoy, is more or less a pushover, working totally out of his element within a genre he knows nothing about. Moreover, he's working side-by-side with the film's producer, Francesco, who is quite a prick. Aside from these negatives, watching Gilderoy – a master of his craft – record, edit, and perform the sound effects for The Equestrian Vortex is nothing short of mesmerizing. But it's on a completely different level once he begins losing grip, caused by the scenes being show before him.

We never see the terror of The Equestrian Vortex. Yet, Berberian Sound Studio manages to be terrifying in itself. No, it's not a horror film. And no, we aren't watching actors/actresses being brutally murdered beyond the lens of a camera; we're seeing radishes get ripped apart, frying pans sizzle, lettuce getting stabbed, and fucking watermelons being smashed into oblivion. This is some of what's used for murderous sound effects. I'd wager that the thought of fruits and vegetables meeting a grizzly demise on camera doesn't sound creepy at all. Well, it is, for one reason or another. And even when it isn't, it's still an entertaining and eye gluing experience.

The film strongly succeeds off of its visual and audible presentation. Some shots go from crystal clear perfection to a blur, as if you're watching from eyes drowning in tears. The scenes of Gilderoy working the soundboard, matched with a performer shrieking the fear of a thousand souls from a confined recording booth is mind blowing. These instances are hands down frightening at times, due to character close-ups and execution from the actors/actresses. It's like watching someone hit insane levels of speaking in tongues. Eyes go bloodshot, hands are clenching, and heads are shaking as if they're being exorcised. You won't want to blink.

Toby Jones as the lead, Gilderoy, is fantastic. The character is like a timid puppy of sorts. Even when we see a different side of him later in the film, he's still quite subdued. Cosimo Fusco as Francesco the producer is a great counterpart to Gilderoy's character, too. The man is all about getting the job done, and he's not very caring about his employees. Antonio Mancino plays Santini, the director of The Equestrian Vortex. Kind of a rock star type person. Shows up here and there, happy go lucky at face value, but something's off. Do not make the mistake of calling his film “Horror”. Fatma Mohamed plays Silvia, who voices a character for the Giallo. Silvia is my favorite next to Gilderoy, and Toby Jones and Mohamed have some great moments together.

Broadcast's soundtrack for Berberian Sound Studio is an Italian horror fan's wet dream. Once you get to the scene where Toby sits down and has his first experience with The Equestrian Vortex, I'd be surprised if that's not your selling point for the movie. It's so incredibly coherent to the genre.

Final Words:

If more style than substance isn't typically your thing, you may find disappointment in Berberian Sound Studio. But on a visual level, I doubt it. The film looks and sounds glorious, and the acting is ace. Available now on DVD from IFC, as well as Netflix Instant.

- Eric (Brobocop)

Back Online. Back On Doodie - Tales From the Batcave Goes to Hell!

Back Online. Back On Doodie.

Tales From the Batcave

Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday

By: Mitch Reaves

I tend to find at least something to enjoy with just about everything I watch. I've never been one of those people who watch things just to be able to bitch about them. For me to say that I absolutely hate something that I intentionally sit down to watch, because it’s something I was interested in, is a rarity. Sure, some things have been disappointments, some have been downright awful, but still there’s normally at least one thing that I can take away from the experience as a positive. I said all that to say this, the day I saw Jason go to Hell in a small theater in LaGrange, Georgia, I fucking hated the shit out of it.

Oh how well I remember the summer it was released, it was way back in 1993 and I was but a wee lad, 15 years of age. I had just really gotten into horror around the age of 13, and when the first news came along that Jason would once again be on the big screen, well, you can imagine my excitement. A brand new Friday the 13th film, and I was going to get to see it. It’s 20 years later, and I still get ridiculously excited for new Jason, at 15, I felt like I was going to die before the movie came out. My excitement was further exacerbated by New Line Cinema, who marketed the holy hell out of the movie. There wasn't a single day that went by that I didn't see a TV spot, or see an ad in a magazine. Jason fever was spreading across the world, and I had a terminal case of it.

Finally the day came, and my mother dropped my brother and I off at the theater, which as mentioned was in a small town in Georgia, which was a 40 minute ride from the even smaller town I grew up in next door in Alabama. We got there pretty early, as I was certain the movie was going to sell out, and I would have to wait another week, which just wasn't acceptable. Of course my brother and I ended up being two of only a handful of people in the theater, which looking back shouldn't have been a surprise, but at the time was. The theater lights went out, and I’m fairly certain I let a girly squeal escape my lips as the trailers began.

Then the movie started. Things kicked off to a pretty normal start for a Friday flick. Camp, at night, naked chick, and finally… JASON FUCKING VOORHEES. I was 100% glued to the screen, sitting on the edge of my seat, prepared for 90 minutes of amazing. As we all know, about 10 minutes later, Jason takes a mortar to the face, and doesn't reappear in the movie as himself until the last 10 minutes or so. What. The. Fuck. I was crushed. I left the theater angrier than I had ever been at a movie. I simply couldn't fathom that New Line had screwed up so badly, and this flick was what I’d been waiting so impatiently for so long to see. Even the fact that the ending was pretty badass, and Freddy’s hand made it’s infamous cameo didn't help. Devastated doesn't even begin to describe how I felt. I even came close to swearing off the franchise for good, it was that big of a deal to me. Of course I understand how ridiculous that idea was now, but you try telling 15 year old me that he was being irrational over a movie.

For many, many years after that I refused to even acknowledge the existence of Jason Goes to Hell. It had hurt me like no other movie ever had. It wasn't until Jason X was getting ready to release in 2001, 8 years later, that I ever laid eyes on it again, and I wasn't happy about it either. I did as I’m sure most of us do when a new Friday is getting ready to release, I had myself a marathon and watched every film in the franchise, and when the time came, I even went and bought a copy of Jason Goes to Hell. It’s the completionist in me I suppose, I had to have all of them, even that one. I popped it in, ready to fast forward most of it, and yep, it was pretty much exactly as I remembered it. But something funny was happening, the mortar landed and I was well past that part, and I hadn't hit the fast forward button once. I wasn't even mildly upset either. Fuck me, was I enjoying this? It turns out I was, I guess knowing what to expect helped, and while it was still my least favorite sequel in the series, yanno, that beginning was pretty badass, and that ending was supremely badass, and FREDDY’S GLOVE!

To this day I can honestly say that while it’s by no means my go-to Friday the 13th movie, I like Jason Goes to Hell a little more every time I watch it. It’s got a dark sense of humor, a needlessly complicated and convoluted supernatural origin thing going, but it’s gone from a furious rage inducing pile of shit to a movie that I view as adorably awful but trying it’s hardest. For me, that makes it hard not to love.

* Mitch runs Tales from the Batcave, one of the first blogs I followed shortly after starting Back Online Back On Duty. We hit it off immediately, due to our love for werewolf movies...specifically Silver Bullet. You can check out the Tales From the Batcave blog HERE, and the Facebook Page HERE. Thanks for bringin' the Doodie, homie! Happy Friday the 13th!*

Sightseers (2012)

Sightseers (2012)

Starring: Alice Lowe, Kennith Hadley, Steve Oram

Writers: Alice Lowe, Steve Oram, Amy Jump (Additional Material)

Director: Ben Wheatley

Synopsis (IFC):

Chris wants to show his new girlfriend Tina his world and he wants to do it his way – on a journey through the British Isles in his beloved RV. Tina has led a sheltered life and there are things Chris simply needs her to see. But it doesn't take long for annoying tourists, overbooked campsites and Tina's meddling mother to spoil Chris' dream. Now he's out to prove that hell truly hath no fury like a vacationer scorned.

Review:

I went into Sightseers more or less blind eyed. Other than seeing a trailer – which doesn't show the full greatness of the film – I did no other research. Admittedly, I still haven't watched Ben Wheatley's Kill List, which I hear is insanely excellent. I'll definitely be seeking it out now, and anything else Wheatley's name is attached to, because Sightseers blew my damn mind. It's a perfect mix of hilarity, brutality, and strangely, endearment.

At the end of the day, our lead characters may not be the most well strung individuals, but that doesn't mean that they aren't without sweetness. It's kind of impossible to not fall in love with Chris and Tina, despite some of the heaviness that unfolds during the story. They are actually easy to relate to in a lot of ways. Have you ever been in a situation where someone near you does something that just completely rubs you the wrong way, so much that you want to take action? You know you have. I have visions of Michael Douglas Falling Down syndrome all the time. But that's it; they're just visions, and you can't follow up with them. That's the beauty of having a film like Sightseers, where characters DO follow up with actions, allowing the viewer to blurt out a morbidly resounding “Hell yeah” followed by laughter.

On the acting front, Alice Lowe and Steve Oram – who additionally wrote the story and scouted locations – are absolutely monsters in their roles of Tina and Chris. They nail every aspect of their relationship, from love to spite to anger and so on. What makes this all the more admirable is that both characters are pretty restrained personality-wise. There's some other great secondary performances in the film, but it's really the two leads who shine above all.

Revealing the horror factor of Sightseers would be a true injustice, but damn, it definitely has some graphic moments. Honestly, the sheer violence behind some of the actions is what makes it so heavy hitting. The bloodletting is extra cheese on the already awesome nachos.

Jim Williams has a great score and the movie carries an awesome rock soundtrack, as well. What's nice about the music here – along with some sleek camera direction and slo-mo moments – is how well it contrasts with the insanity of the story.

Final Word:

I can see Sightseers ending up on a lot of “Best of” lists, given that it just dropped on DVD in the states. It will definitely be somewhere in mine. Now available from IFC, and also streaming on Netflix. Well worth your time, friends.

Special Features on DVD- Interviews, Trailer

- Eric (Brobocop)

Man of Tai Chi (2013)

Man of Tai Chi (2013)

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Iko Uwais, Tiger Chen

Writer: Michael G. Cooney

Director: Keanu Reeves

Synopsis (Anchor Bay):

Keanu Reeves stars as a wealthy owner of a Beijing underground fight club who recruits a humble Tai Chi student to his closed-circuit battles. But when the young man is seduced by money and power, it will trigger a war between the Hong Kong police, the world's deadliest combatants, and a peaceful spiritual discipline turned lethal new fighting style.

Review:

Man of Tai Chi is great action wrapped around a pedestrian narrative. It's kind of like a video game. One of those fighters from Dreamcast or Playstation 2 era that tries to add some depth to the characters, but in the end you don't give a shit, because you just want to fight. This flick would have a seriously high replay value if it were 105 minutes of straight ass kicking. It's the story that weighs it down a bit, along with a pretty hilarious performance from Keanu Reeves.

Saying Reeves is a terrible actor is somewhat of a double edged sword for me. On one hand, I do believe that assessment is accurate- while on the other I surprisingly like a whole hell of a lot of films he's been in. That being said, it's interesting to see him take on more of a villainous role in Man of Tai Chi. If you look at the film from a video game style perspective, his performance makes sense. He's really hamming it up here. Though, what's confusing is whether or not he's trying to. It also sorta feels like he's still stuck in his Matrix glory, but it's really hard to blame him. That movie made him look fairly cool. 

Man of Tai Chi has fight choreography from legendary Yuen Woo Ping, and Tiger Chen – who worked stunts for the Matrix trilogy – takes the lead role. Mad credit can be given to Chen, as he really stands out as a character conflicted with the good and evil of the world. As far as acting goes, he runs circles around Reeves. Fights circles around him too, for that matter. 

There's a review blurb on the back of the Blu-ray case that cites Man of Tai Chi as being the best martial arts film since The Raid. That's a seriously bold statement, and one that I can't agree with. Taking nothing away from Man of Tai Chi, as the fights are indeed awesome, but they don't pack the same punch. Not even close. More importantly, at the end of the day, this is a much different type of film. So, be advised not to fully read into that comparison. With that out of the way, the fighting in this film is fast paced and highly exciting, and Reeves is spot on as far as camera placement to capture it all. It's very obvious that he's a fan of the genre.

Additionally, there's some great choices of music that accompanies all the ass kicking. Well, not even just for the fighting. Sometimes the music does a fantastic job of making Tiger Chen look straight up awesome while he's walking around the city and whatnot. It made me feel cool just watching it.

Final Words:

All in all, not a bad directorial debut for Keanu Reeves. It would be nice to see more come from him behind the camera. Man of Tai Chi is light on story and often silly, but there's enough feet and fists vs. faces and other body parts to keep you entertained.

Anchor Bay/Starz releases Man of Tai Chi on DVD and Blu-ray Tuesday, December 10th, 2013. Special features include a "Making of Man of Tai Chi" featurette and an audio commentary with Keanu Reeves and Tiger Chen. Order the DVD HERE and the Blu-ray HERE.

- Eric (Brobocop)

All the Boys Love Mandy Lane... Yep, Even Me! (Review)

All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006)

Starring: Amber Heard, Anson Mount, Whitney Able

Writer: Jacob Forman

Director: Jonathan Levine

Synopsis (Anchor Bay):

Amber Heard stars as Mandy Lane, an untouchable Texas high-school beauty who is invited by her classmates to a weekend getaway at a secluded ranch. But as the sun goes down and the party rages on, the festivities take a disturbing turn. And for Mandy Lane, a night of endless horror has just begun.

Review:

That synopsis is pretty misleading, but rightfully so, as All the Boys Love Mandy Lane will work best when very little is known about it. It's an absolute shame that Jonathan Levine's 70's lookinh slasher-esque feature film debut sat on shelves collecting dust for seven years, before earning a US release. Criminal is a better word. In a way, this may even hurt the status of the film in the long run. Let's face it- hype has a way of determining a lot of people's overall reaction to a film. I’m not sure why, but nearly everyone at one point has bought into hype. It's best to put widespread acclaim – as well as disdain – to the wayside, because it's YOUR judgment that should determine how you feel about a film. It doesn't matter if a thousand people say something is either awesome OR if it's shit; it matters what YOU think, and that's important to remember while trying to absorb a film.

With that being said, All the Boys Love Mandy Lane is now available on DVD and Blu-ray, thanks to Anchor Bay/Starz. It's waiting for the horror masses to take it in. The movie may feel like somewhat of a myth to a lot of people at this point, and that's okay. I'm not here to do a big plot breakdown, because that just wouldn't be fair. What I can say is that when seeing it a few years back I was pretty taken by it. As a fan, it's one of those movies you want to show to all of your friends. One of its best elements has nothing to do with the horror side, but more so with the lead character, Mandy. Moreover, what her image is. I feel like every high school has that one boy or girl that everyone swoons over, all cliques aside. Either they want to be a friend, a lover, or just know them in some manner, other than seeing them in a school hallway. This person isn't always part of a popular crowd; they are above that. They have a glow. This is who Mandy Lane is, and Jacob Forman's writing, along with Levine's direction, really captures that perfectly.

Even seeing this film years back, it wasn't impossible look at Amber Heard and just feel that she'd have a successful career. There's something about her, other than how gorgeous she is. There's a whole lot of charisma in this girl. Even her small role in Zombieland – which I am admittedly not a huge fan of – is exceptional. She's only around for a bit but holy hell, did I wish I could help her out. Then, she's a complete sexy badass in Drive Angry. But All the Boys Love Mandy Lane is basically where it started, and she's really damn good . Not to discredit the rest of the cast, but Heard honestly stands out. Everyone else gives what it takes, but there's less complexity. In a way, that speaks volumes about their performances. Most are portraying roles of stereotypical high school kids, and it's pretty convincing. A few of them have the depth of a rain puddle, but it makes sense and feels right. Anson Mount stands out as Garth, the ranch hand. He's a good lookin' fellow – I got a Mel Gibson/Mad Max vibe, by appearance – with a charming voice. For one reason or another, Garth has some type of connection to Mandy. Perhaps just because the movie title is true. Either way, Heard and Mount have some great screen time together that helps build background for their characters.

I don't want to say a whole lot about the horror side, but it's definitely layered in thick during the second half. There's several genres coming all at once here, to where at times you might forget you're watching a horror film. It's admirable when a writer and director can do that and still manage to keep things interesting. I feel the pacing is spot on. It helps that sunning visuals are in abundance. Lots of color saturated camera work, flaring, great wide shots and low angle work – which works well for replacing how safe the story feels at times by injecting an ominous tone.

The soundtrack is another high point for the film. It's a mix of indie-ish type jams, 80s tunes, classical, and more. It all adds to the accompanied scenes very nicely. Mark Schulz provides the film score, and like the rock/pop soundtrack, it fits the tone well.

Final Word:

That's about the size of it. As far as I'm concerned, All the Boys Love Mandy Lane deserves attention, and hopefully it will gather a cult status now that it can be seen by the masses. No promises can be made, but hopefully it adds up to all the good feedback you've heard for more than half a decade now. Or even more hopefully, you just forget about all that feedback.

Special Features:

As far as special features on the Anchor Bay release, Jonathan Levine's commentary is a total delight to listen to. It's the first time he's watched the film basically since it's original film festival runs. You'd think that with a time gap that extensive there would be a lot of dead air, or things forgotten. He actually gives all kinds of great information. He also unashamedly admits to things he wished he had done differently. I admire that in a filmmaker. Lastly, the dude is funny as hell. Well worth listening to.

Now available on DVD and Blu-ray from Anchor Bay/Starz.

- Eric (Brobocop)

Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus (2013)

Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus (2013)

Starring: Michael Cera, Gaby Hoffman, Juan Andres Silva

Writer and Director: Sebastian Silva

Synopsis (IFC):

Jamie is a boorish American twenty-something traveling in Chile, who somehow manages to create chaos at every turn. He coaxes three Chilean brothers into accompanying him on a road trip north to experience a legendary shamanistic hallucinogen called the San Pedro cactus. In a fit of drunkenness at a wild party, Jamie invites an eccentric American woman – a radical spirit named Crystal Fairy – to come along.

What is meant to be a devil-may-care journey becomes a battle of wills as Jamie finds himself locking horns with his new traveling companion. But on a remote, pristine beach at the edge of the desert, the magic brew is finally imbibed, and the true adventure begins – and it's more than any of these newfound friends bargained for.

Review:

While I can say that enjoyed the experience of Crystal Fairy, it's probably not something I will ever watch again. Or at least not anytime soon. That sounds weird, right? I liked it, but don't care to see it again. At the end of the day, LIKE isn't as strong as LOVE. When I love a movie, I'll watch it over and over to an unhealthy extent. I've seen Donnie Darko around 20 times, if not more. I've watched Only God Forgives and Lords of Salem five times this year. I love those films for one reason or another. It's wild to trap yourself inside those worlds. If I trap myself in the world of Crystal Fairy, I'm hanging out with an asshole version of Michael Cera for 100 minutes. I'd rather be with the 'always the same person' Michael Cera. At least he's usually a nice guy. Asshole Cera makes this adventure kinda taxing.

That being said, and this is sure to confuse, but this is probably my favorite Michael Cera performance outside of Scott Pilgrim. It's just a totally different type of role for him, and he does a great job with it. Jamie is self absorbed and will go to any lengths to get fucked up proper off of the San Pedro. What makes him so unlikable is how he treats the bizarre Crystal Fairy on their adventure for the cactus. It's downright nasty every step of the way. And he constantly drags the three brothers off to the side, seeing to it that they let him know if she annoys, as he'll take care of it. He's more bothered than anyone that Fairy came along for the trip, and HE'S the idiot who invited her. Sure, he may have been off-his-rocker drunk and coked out, but still... accept that she's there, and stop being such a dick. Ultimately, Jamie is way more annoying than Crystal Fairy could ever be.

So, it's basically a job well done that I hate Cera's character so much, because he makes him so hateable. Not because of under-performing, but because he shreds in the role. Crystal Fairy is played by child actress all grown up, Gaby Hoffman. Fairy, like Jamie, is not really a person I would want to be stuck with on a road trip. But at least she, while definitely annoying, has good intentions. There's not a mean bone in her body. Crystal Fairy's biggest problem is she tries too hard, and this makes her and Jamie clash big time. The three brothers, Pilo, Lel, and Lobo (played by Agustin, Jose, and writer/director Sebastian Silva), who are all delightful, seem rather fascinated with her eccentricities. Anyway, Gaby Hoffman is grand in the role. The character honestly seems like a stranger you'd meet at a party or somewhere random. It doesn't feel made up at all, and Hoffman is why.

Final Thoughts:

That's about the size of it. Crystal Fairy isn't the best of all drug infused road trip movies, but it's not the worst, either. It's part funny – not in a laugh-out-loud manner – and part dramatic, so much at one point that it tugs at the heartstrings. Now available on DVD and Blu-ray from IFC Films. Also currently streaming on Netflix.

- Eric (Brobocop)

All Is Bright- The Feel Good Holiday Movie of the Year... More Like the Hit the Feels Holiday Movie of the Year

All Is Bright (2013)

Starring: Paul Giamatti, Paul Rudd, Sally Hawkins

Writer: Melissa James Gibson

Director: Phil Morrison

Synopsis (Anchor Bay):

Lie, cheat, steal...it's all part of the holiday spirit for ex-con Dennis and fast talker Rene when they try to make a quick buck selling Christmas trees in New York. For Dennis it's a chance to go straight, and for his best friend and partner-in-crime, Rene, it's a chance to make some easy cash so he can marry Dennis' ex-wife. But for two not-very-bright guys now stuck together on the cold streets of Brooklyn, this holiday season man bring some of the most unexpected miracles of all.

Review:

All Is Bright is actually quite good if you can get past how much of a downer the story is. It's noted as a Drama/Dark Comedy. There's plenty of drama, for sure. But if you want to consider it a Dark Comedy, you had better paint it as dark as it can get. I can see certain areas are meant to be funny, but they are sewn into a narrative so sad that they make you feel that much more sorry for the characters, other than laugh at them. I wouldn't recommend watching All Is Bright after your dog died or some shit, unless you are a weirdo like me and occasionally enjoy wallowing on your couch in a ball of pity. This movie bravely displays that not all is well for everyone around the holidays.

I can sit here and chat it up about how well shot the film is, but its two main successes are the story and the acting. Melissa James Gibson has created great despair. It's easy to identify with, even for those of us who have never stolen so much as a stick of gum. The character Dennis goes through some downright awful tribulations, from the moment he shows back up at home after being put on parole. Actually, events go sour before that, but it's really thick once we get to that point, and from there on out. It's not a matter of whether the character can learn to live an honest life; it's about being able to feel downright awful for him even if he can't. Paul Giamatti is absolutely perfect in the role. He grasps onto the anguish of his character and makes it believable and painful.

Paul Rudd is one of those actors who I often find enjoyable even when he's in films that I generally don't care for. His role in All Is Bright isn't all that far removed from characters he's portrayed in more straight-up comedies, but the theme of this picture makes for a great juxtaposition. He plays Rene, who kind of comes off carefree and lighthearted. When he's put into rotten situations, another part of him bleeds through, and Rudd steals these moments. That being said, Rudd and Giamatti together are pretty fantastic. The characters are of a similar past, but the people they are differ greatly. I also completely fell in love with the character, Olga (Sally Hawkins), a New Yorker who befriends Dennis after buying a Christmas tree from him. She's absolutely adorable and not afraid to speak vulgarities at anyone. Olga is really sincere and I applaud Sally Hawkins for the performance.

Final Thoughts:

Ultimately, All Is Bright may not be a film that compels you to put a big smile on your face and spread yuletide cheer, but the unapologetic sadness is where the film's magic is. It's not sugarcoated and it doesn't feel for being the way it is. That pretty much makes it a win for me. If I were to make a list of Christmas movies to watch all in one day, I probably wouldn't follow up Home Alone with All Is Bright, though. Just sayin'.

Now Available on Blu-ray, DVD, iTunes and On Demand, from Anchor Bay.

- Eric (Brobocop)

Violet & Daisy (2011)

Violet & Daisy (2011)

Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Alexis Bledel, James Gandolfini

Writer and Director: Geoffrey Fletcher

Synopsis (Cinedigm):

Violet and Daisy are a pair of gum-cracking assassins who casually snuff out crime figures in New York City, distracted only by the fact that a concert by their favorite pop idol Barbie Sunday has suddenly been canceled.

Determined to raise cash for a pair of Barbie Sunday dresses, the duo takes on a new hit job, only to face a reckoning in the form of a mysterious loner. He catapults the girls into an odyssey far beyond the world of Barbie Sunday and bullets for pay.

Review:

I didn't really know at all what to expect before going into Violet & Daisy. Danny Trejo's face on the front cover of a Blu-ray nowadays is a tricky situation. You could either be getting something fun or something that will make you want to gouge your eyeballs out with a butter knife. Or, it could be false marketing to get you to check out a movie by putting an actor in the forefront, when they're actually only in the film for about 3 minutes. That's pretty much the case with Trejo in Violet & Daisy. Anyway, none at that matters at this point. What does matter is that this was super fun assassin movie. It's not heavy on action, but more so on character depth. It carries a quirkiness from time to time that slightly reminded me of something out of a Gregg Araki film, but ultimately much more balanced.

The movie totally hits hard with striking visuals and grand cinematography. There's aren't a lot of different sets, other than getting characters from point A to point B. Largely, the film is set in the apartment of the assassins' next hit. Color scheming is really good here, as the film taps into several emotions in its 88 minute runtime. It's funny, charming, badass, and bittersweet, and every factor in the movie caters to these feelings appropriately. If a scene is supposed to come off cold and straight forward, the room the characters are in is shaded in blue. If you're feeling the warmth and kindness of someone, then the set design adheres to that, too. Or it could be that I'm just talking nonsense, but this is the vibe I got.

Saoirse Ronan really blew me away with her performance in Hanna, and she does it again here as Daisy. Alexis Bledel is also quite good as Violet, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel that Ronan steals the show every step of the way. But, as a unit, the chemistry is done up nicely, and the characters are really hard to not fall in love with. They are tonally very different from one another, in terms of personality and actions. Super fun to watch, and very comical. But if there's anything that overcasts Violet and Daisy's friendship, it's the bond that's built between Daisy and Michael, played by the late James Gandolfini. All three of these characters are dealing with their own little personal turmoil throughout the film, and that is what makes the story so intriguing. Gandolfini is seriously at his best; it's honestly a very sobering performance, given the circumstances. Admittedly, I got choked up a few times by his presence. He and Ronan together are complete magic, though, and that's really all that needs to be said.

While Violet & Daisy does put the assassin side of itself off to the side several times, you never once forget why the two females are at Michael’s apartment. This is important, as it creates nice parallel of mixed emotions for the characters. That being said, the action is really stylish and exciting. The opening of the film will suck you right in, and a few other instances serve as a reminder of how hardcore our characters can be when called for.

Final Thoughts:

I dare say that Violet & Daisy was not the film people were expecting writer Geoffrey Fletcher to follow up Precious with, let alone be his directorial debut. All I can hope for is that he does another film, preferably soon, because I was really impressed by this. It's visually beautiful, comes packed tight with cool characters and some really stand out performances. Well worth a watch.

Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack available HERE. Special features included are a poster slideshow and theatrical trailer.

- Eric (Brobocop)

Girls Just Want To Fire Guns- Night of the Comet (Review) [Scream Factory]

Night of the Comet (1984)

Starring: Catherine Mary Stewart, Kelli Maroney, Robert Beltran

Writer & Director: Thom E. Eberhardt

*pictures/GIFS included are from DVD, not Blu-ray*

Synopsis: 

A comet that hasn't passed Earth in 65 million years is about to zip by again. People be partying down- getting' their drink and dance on. Well, the comet isn't friendly. Those who were exposed to it were either reduced to red dust or turned into ghouls – aka, the slower version of the process. Two valley girl sisters are seemingly the only ones left alive. Their once familiar city is covered by a red sky. The streets are filled with empty clothes and comet zombies prowl the alleys. The two girls head to the local radio station, where they learn that they aren't the last humans on Earth.

Review: 

Childhood classic right here, and it is still every bit as entertaining -if not more- as it was back in the 80s. Night of the Comet takes the apocalypse and valley girl sub-genres and tosses them in a blender. The end result is a perfect mix of hilarity and some genuine creepiness. You got big hair, tube socks, neon, talking zombies, sexy sisters, and great 80s jams. There's nothing else needed for a good time. Additionally, for some reason I often forget that Night of the Comet takes place around Christmas. I won't be doing that anymore. It's got enough of the yuletide vibe about it to be included in the annual “watch around Christmas” list.

While it's heavier on comedy than scares, Night of the Comet carries its bleak atmosphere pretty well. The city is bleeding out death and loneliness, achieved by filming during the wee hours on holidays, and using a colored lens on the camera to fulfill that red sky approach. It totally works. The place looks empty and even poisonous. As far as the story goes, it's super entertaining. Lots of great “Like, oh my god!” dialogue and there's some fine character depth for what it is. It's totally easy to fall in love with the sisters, Regina and Samantha.

Performances from Catherine Mary Stewart and Kelli Maroney are fantastic. It's seriously believable that Reg and Sam are sisters. Little things like ad-lib help a lot –such as the MAC-10 scene. If I'm being honest, I've always been in the Team Samantha camp, ultimately. Both characters are awesome, and hot, but Samantha just has an extra bit of zing to her. When she's not funny as hell, she comes off like a lost kitten type character; someone you would want to help and assure that everything will be okay 'n all that jazz. Sam still holds herself well while firing a gun or throwing high heels at ghouls, but her sister is more of the badass. And perhaps Regina's highest attribute in my eyes is that she plays the hell out of video games, and plays them really well, at that. So yes, at the end of the day, both characters are fun. Both actresses are adorable... but Samantha/Kelli Maroney all day every day for me.

And, not to get all Weirdy McBeardy on everyone reading, but I gotta give thanks to Thom E. Everhardt for having some strange Kelli Maroney Legs/foot fetish... because homegirl's got it going on in the sexy stems/feet department. 

Robert Beltran takes on the main dude role as Hector, another survivor of the comet aftermath. Good character, and there's some nice sympathetic moments between Hector and Regina (displayed), but ultimately Beltran isn't given as much depth as the ladies. He's still great in the part, especially in the previously mentioned moments with Regina (Stewart). There's also some familiar faces up in here, such as Mary Woronov, Geoggrey Lewis, and Michael Bowen. All good, but they're mostly bit roles, especially Bowen's character. Don't expect him to be lookin' all Breaking Bad, either.

Night of the Comet isn't the average all out gory zombie flick, either. There's an impressive ooey gooey moment early on, but the movie largely uses subtly for the horror. The zombie makeup is really nice, and it blends well with the ghouls having personality and speech. The sunken in eye sockets are a nice approach. They look as if there'll be bone showing at any moment. It's good stuff. There's also some nice work on set design and mattes, to make areas look larger than they are. Look for this during the science lab moments. If you still don't catch some of it, go over the special features on the disc and be blown away.

The film soundtrack is a big dose of 80s awesome. Probably most noted for the use of “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” during the epic mall shopping scene. This version has Tami Holbrook on vocals, and not Cyndi Lauper. That being said, Holbrook does a bang-up job with the song. It's not even something I noticed when I was a youngster. And even now I'm pretty much like “Damn, who cares!? It's two cute girls dancing and trying on clothes to Girls Just Want To Have Fun!” David Richard Campbell's film score is nice, too. The music during the title credits sets the stage perfectly. It carries that 1950's Sci-Fi vibe proudly on its shoulders.

Final Thoughts: 

Night of the Comet is a film that is perfect in a marathon, and said marathon doesn't even have to fully consist of horror films. Watch it with Some Kind of Wonderful and you'll be fine. Hell, with any 80s John Hughes related flick it will go well. Or even Fast Times. But it will also be awesome with other apocalypse films with a 'last person' theme. The Omega Man, Last Man on Earth, Dawn of the Dead... take your pick. I don't want to say it's a perfect 80s horror comedy, but it's, like, really damn close.

cover art by Nathan Thomas Milliner

Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack:

Scream Factory's Blu-ray of Night of the Comet is presented in 1080p High-Definition Widescreen (1.78:1). The DVD is presented in Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1). Visually, the film doesn't appear quite as crisp as most previous Scream releases. There's a bit of a washed out or soft look. If I'm being honest, it kind of works in the film's favor, as the story has a city set in red dust remains of humans. This being said, it's still hands down the best I've ever seen the film, and I fan will want to own this release ASAP. Audio choices on the Blu-ray are a 5.1 DTS-HD Master and a 2.0 DTS-HD Master. On the DVD you got 5.1 Doly Digital Surround and 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo. The 5.1 on the Blu-ray is solid. It's a good, rich sound and the mix between score and dialogue is solid. "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" is gonna be flowing through your soul!

Special Features

Audio Commentary with actresses Kelli Maroney and Catherine Mary Stewart, hosted by Edwin Samuelson of The Cinephiles

Audio Commentary with director Thom Ederhardt, hosted by Michael Felsher of Red Shirt Pictures

Audio Commentary with production designer John Muto, hosted by Michael Felsher of Red Shirt Pictures

The Maroney/Stewart commentary is pretty fantastic. Lots of good jokes throughout, and a nice dose of information about the production of the film. 

Valley Girls at the End of the World: with Catherine Mary Stewart and Kelli Maroney- Good little fifteen minute featurette for Night of the Comet, where Maroney and Stewart take you all the way from their auditions for the role, to the production, as well as discussing the film's fanbase. 

The Last Man on Earth?: with Robert Beltran- 12 and a half minute feaurette on how Beltran got the gig, and how it was a back and forth process at first. 

Curse of the Comet: with David B. Miller- Good little FX featurette where Miller discusses his freedom on creating the makeup for Night of the Comet, and the process of making it work on a small budget.

Film Photo Gallery

Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery

Theatrical Trailer

This is another loaded release from Scream Factory, and a definite must have for fans of Night of the Comet. Available now.

Order directly from Scream Factory HERE

Order from Amazon HERE

- Eric (Brobocop)

2 Guns (2013)

poster by Gravillis Inc

2 Guns (2013)

Starring: Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, Paula Patton

Writers: Blake Masters (Screenplay), Steven Grant (Graphic Novel)

Director: Baltasar Kormákur

Synopsis (Universal):

When an attempt to bring down a drug cartel blows up in their faces, two undercover operatives are forced to go on the run together, though neither knows that the other is a federal agent. Suddenly, everyone on both sides of the law wants them dead, and their only hope is to trust each other.

Review:

2 Guns wasn't really a movie I was seeking out. Don't get me wrong; I love action films. I REALLY love buddy action films. And hell, I even dig Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg. So I have no excuse. At the end of the day, it just looked like a film already made a hundred times over, but with different actors. But  I was ultimately entertained.

Apparently, 2 Guns is based on a graphic novel from Steven Grant and Boom! Studios. Me having absolutely zero knowledge of this should show you just how behind I am on my comic reading. I mainly keep up with The Walking Dead, and find out about other comics way later down the road. Kinda sad. Anyway, I can't talk about whether this movie adaptation is faithful or if it does its own thing. What I can say is if it has any similarities to the comic, then said comic is probably a pretty fun read. As a movie, 2 Guns moves along at a pretty exciting pace, slowing down here and there to build a dynamic between the two leads (Washington & Wahlberg) and to show us how big of a baddie our antagonist is. It's your basic story, nothing too terribly original. Good guys take money from bad guys. Bad guys get pissed and come looking for it. There are some twists in the plot, though, they aren't really hard to figure out. But hey, credit for trying.

The action here is really top notch. Dudes fighting, shooting at each other, car chasing, crashing through windows, exploding shit... it has all the tropes of a good buddy flick. So if you're a person who never tires of these ingredients, then you'll probably at least be cheering on. The vehicle pursuit around the mid mark of the film is a high point, featuring trucks. Additionally, the finale is bonkers and it doesn't really let up at all, for at least a good fifteen minutes.

2 Guns definitely has a lot of familiar faces fitting into their characters. Robert John Burke (Dust Devil, Robocop 3), Edward James Olmos, James Marsden, Fred Ward, Paula Patton... but Mark Wahlberg, Denzel Washington, and Bill Paxton are the three who really got their A-game on. I hear and see a lot of hate when it comes to Wahlberg and I just can't jump on that boat. Been a fan since Boogie Nights –since the Funky Bunch, if we're being honest here. Sure, he does some movies that are pretty ridiculous, and some that I just totally have no interest in. But when he's in something I enjoy, a lot of that joy is due to him. Nothing much can really be said about Denzel Washinton; the guy has a gift and can pretty much play any type of role with ease. The whole buddy aspect between Washington and Wahlberg is really fun and the actors gel together well. It's nothing you haven't seen before. Topsy-turvy relationship. One is the more straight runner, while the other is a bit unorthodox. But hey, it's a good time, and that's what matters. And Bill Paxton- even when this guy overacts, it's a serious gift of awesome to the viewer. The less said about his role in 2 Guns, the better, but he's very good.

Clinton Shorter's music for the film is about what you'd expect in this type of story. It seems like a lot of buddy action movies live with those heavy and raw blues type jams, and 2 Guns is no different. It fits for the atmosphere. Nothing groundbreaking, but it works. It would have been nice to get some Lethal Weapon borderline softcore-type horns, but I can't say I'm dissatisfied with the score.

Final Thoughts:

If you've seen the trailer for 2 Guns, you probably know whether or not that it's a film you want to check out. You're not going to be moved by some heavy originality, but it's a good popcorn action flick.

Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD

Exclusive Blu-ray Combo Pack Features

The Good, The Bad and The Sexy- Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, Paula Patton, Bill Paxton, Edward James Olmos and James Marsden talk about what it was like to play their characters.

Finding the Vibe- Bringing the world of 2 Guns to life.

Living Dangerously- Stuntwork feature.

Blu-ray and DVD Bonus Features

Deleted and Extended Scenes

Undercover and Into Action- Graphic novelist Steven Grand and screenwriter Blake Masters on creating the script.

Commentary- With director Baltasar Kormákur and producer Adam Siegel. 

Available Tuesday, November 19th, 2013 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. 

Order the Combo Pack HERE

Order the DVD HERE

- Eric (Brobocop)