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)