Here's a rare example of an indie film that should've been made by a studio. It's THE LAKE HOUSE as a horror story. Mary finds an old rotary phone in the apartment she's just moved into. Soon, an elder lady starts calling her...from 1979. The lady is psychotic and her actions in 1979 start to have disastrous effects on Mary's life.
The script is there. Matthew Parkhill's direction though kills whatever chance it had of being a hit. Parkhill is incompetent. His scenes are boring. He doesn't know how to build suspense, he doesn't know how to tell a story visually, he's incapable of sustaining any sense of dread.
The cinematography by Alexander Melman is criminal. Everything's too dark. It looks as if he was in a drunken stupor while shooting. He and Parkhill ruin the story.
Stephen Moyer does a good job. He easily slips into the skin of his character and shows sides that are totally different from Bill on TRUE BLOOD.
Rachelle Lefevre is miscast as the lead. She cannot carry a film. The part calls for more range than she can deliver. She doesn't have any screen presence and her performance hurts the movie.
If you had cast Natalie Portman and had a good, visual director, the film could have done some damage at the box office. It's a shame this wasn't a foreign film which could now be remade by a studio.
Sergio Casci's script deserved a much better fate. He's a writer to keep an eye on.
Monday, October 10, 2011
THE ALLNIGHTER
Terrible film starring Susanna Hoffs. Poorly acted, poorly directed, poorly written. Not worth the effort it took to put on film. Not even worth the effort it took me to place the disc into the DVD player.
The plot is ill-conceived. Almost as if it were written by high-schoolers. Story's about Hoff's character desperately searching for true love. College is coming to an end, graduation is tomorrow and she still hasn't found what she's looking for.
How did this ever get a distribution deal? The film's so bad it may have contributed to the break-up of the Bangles.
The plot is ill-conceived. Almost as if it were written by high-schoolers. Story's about Hoff's character desperately searching for true love. College is coming to an end, graduation is tomorrow and she still hasn't found what she's looking for.
How did this ever get a distribution deal? The film's so bad it may have contributed to the break-up of the Bangles.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Finished this script by David O. Russell.
I liked the script but there's no way I'd greenlight it. Story's about Pat Peoples, newly released from a mental hospital for beating up his wife's lover after catching the two of them in the shower together.
He's not quite healed but he's resolute in trying to show his wife how much he's changed so that they can resume their marriage.
Into his life comes Tiffany. Tiffany's husband has been killed and now she sleeps with everyone. The script concentrates on these two broken people as they strike up a friendship.
The script is quirky, the characters are odd, the big movie moments are nonexistent. This is an indie film at best. If THE FIGHTER hadn't come out, I doubt this script would ever go into production.
Yet, I enjoyed reading it. We're all broken in some way. And love can heal anything. The message is sound, the characters have their moments. It's just not big enough to fill the screen. It would have a hard time filling the television screen. This is the type of material that works much better as a novel than a film.
I liked the script but there's no way I'd greenlight it. Story's about Pat Peoples, newly released from a mental hospital for beating up his wife's lover after catching the two of them in the shower together.
He's not quite healed but he's resolute in trying to show his wife how much he's changed so that they can resume their marriage.
Into his life comes Tiffany. Tiffany's husband has been killed and now she sleeps with everyone. The script concentrates on these two broken people as they strike up a friendship.
The script is quirky, the characters are odd, the big movie moments are nonexistent. This is an indie film at best. If THE FIGHTER hadn't come out, I doubt this script would ever go into production.
Yet, I enjoyed reading it. We're all broken in some way. And love can heal anything. The message is sound, the characters have their moments. It's just not big enough to fill the screen. It would have a hard time filling the television screen. This is the type of material that works much better as a novel than a film.
SCRE4M
Terrible film. Early on, the film makes fun of the SAW franchise for not containing any character development yet turns around and comes up with the blandest, lifeless characters imaginable. The original SCREAM turned the horror genre on its head. It was slick, self-aware, played with conventions, kept you off-guard and was always inventive.
This edition is the exact opposite. The film has nothing to say and worse, has nothing to add to the genre. It tries to make points about the new rules of horror yet doesn't do anything inventive with them.
Instead of hearing about the murders, this time (because of the internet) you're going to see them. That idea might have been cool but the way it's handled, it quickly becomes a bore. The same can be said about almost every aspect of the film.
Script seemed more like a rough draft. The ideas were there but weren't fleshed out at all.
This edition is the exact opposite. The film has nothing to say and worse, has nothing to add to the genre. It tries to make points about the new rules of horror yet doesn't do anything inventive with them.
Instead of hearing about the murders, this time (because of the internet) you're going to see them. That idea might have been cool but the way it's handled, it quickly becomes a bore. The same can be said about almost every aspect of the film.
Script seemed more like a rough draft. The ideas were there but weren't fleshed out at all.
THE EVENT - Season 1
There's so many problems with this failed NBC series it's a wonder it ever made it to pilot stage.
First off, the casting is wrong. Jason Ritter isn't able to pull off the lead role. Sarah Roemer is terrible. Blair Underwood doesn't make a convincing president. It goes on and on.
Second, you need a strong villain. Sophia isn't it. She isn't even a villain until we're halfway through. Without a strong villain driving the plot, the story drastically sags and interest starts to drop about four episodes in.
Third, revealing the alien angle early kills the mystery and without mystery, serials like this fall flat fast. The bulk of the series is simply boring. Without the strong leads, we stop caring what happens. Without a strong villain, the plot loses urgency.
The worst thing about the series though is the ending. You need a huge cliffhanger. Instead, we're given a speech about the arrival of the aliens which has already been set in motion two episodes back. You cannot spread a weak ending like this throughout three episodes and then not show it.
The entire subplot about Hal Holbrook's character is weak. The conflict inherent in the rebellion by Sophia's son goes nowhere since Sophia takes up his cause once he's dead. Vicky falling in love with Ritter comes out of left field and doesn't make any kind of sense. The vice-president trying to poison the president isn't dramatic.
It's hard to find any likeable elements in this series.
First off, the casting is wrong. Jason Ritter isn't able to pull off the lead role. Sarah Roemer is terrible. Blair Underwood doesn't make a convincing president. It goes on and on.
Second, you need a strong villain. Sophia isn't it. She isn't even a villain until we're halfway through. Without a strong villain driving the plot, the story drastically sags and interest starts to drop about four episodes in.
Third, revealing the alien angle early kills the mystery and without mystery, serials like this fall flat fast. The bulk of the series is simply boring. Without the strong leads, we stop caring what happens. Without a strong villain, the plot loses urgency.
The worst thing about the series though is the ending. You need a huge cliffhanger. Instead, we're given a speech about the arrival of the aliens which has already been set in motion two episodes back. You cannot spread a weak ending like this throughout three episodes and then not show it.
The entire subplot about Hal Holbrook's character is weak. The conflict inherent in the rebellion by Sophia's son goes nowhere since Sophia takes up his cause once he's dead. Vicky falling in love with Ritter comes out of left field and doesn't make any kind of sense. The vice-president trying to poison the president isn't dramatic.
It's hard to find any likeable elements in this series.
HOUSE OF CARDS
Finished the teleplay by Beau Willimon.
Willimon has clearly captured the political drama category. Following up FARRAGUT NORTH, he now adapts this series for NETFLIX.
Story follows Francis "Frank" Underwood as he's passed over for Secretary of State by the President-Elect. This sets into a motion a pure political power play as Underwood deftly uses all of his tricks and skills to gain what he feels is rightfully his.
Willimon is a terrific writer able to turn the story into a page-turner. Clearly defined characters that turn politics into a bloodsport. He brings to life the behind-the-scenes motives as well as illustrates all the hidden agendas and con-games at play.
HBO should've big higher for the series which should become the apothesis of smart tv.
Willimon has clearly captured the political drama category. Following up FARRAGUT NORTH, he now adapts this series for NETFLIX.
Story follows Francis "Frank" Underwood as he's passed over for Secretary of State by the President-Elect. This sets into a motion a pure political power play as Underwood deftly uses all of his tricks and skills to gain what he feels is rightfully his.
Willimon is a terrific writer able to turn the story into a page-turner. Clearly defined characters that turn politics into a bloodsport. He brings to life the behind-the-scenes motives as well as illustrates all the hidden agendas and con-games at play.
HBO should've big higher for the series which should become the apothesis of smart tv.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
HESHER
Good performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Natalie Portman continues to show she's the best actress of her generation. Never a false note played. The two of them make the film interesting.
HESHER is an indie that works. It's because you're never quite sure where it's going. Is Hesher going to be a savior or an anarchist? Does he have a deep understanding of things or is he just plain dumb?
Spencer Susser is one to keep watch over. Let's see what he comes up with for an encore.
HESHER is an indie that works. It's because you're never quite sure where it's going. Is Hesher going to be a savior or an anarchist? Does he have a deep understanding of things or is he just plain dumb?
Spencer Susser is one to keep watch over. Let's see what he comes up with for an encore.
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