Friday, April 23, 2004
Since we missed about four months of films released on the big screen as well as on video/DVD, Angelo and I have been frequent regulars at our local video store. It is a blast being the one to walk over the wall and have so many flicks to choose from. Usually we are the couple that people ask, "How about a movie tonight?" and then we eagerly accept, go to the video store and find that we've seen everything that they are interested in. Not that we mind, but it's a bummer for the others.
Recently we rented 21 Grams and Wonderland.
Twenty-one Grams was despairing, gritty and a stellar acting showcase of Naomi Watts, Sean Penn and Benecio del Toro. If you are up for some depressing film, pick it up, but be warned, there is little to no smiling of any of the characters involved. What an artful piece of a picture though, considering the disjointed story-telling as well as the concept around of their three very separate lives intertwining to a stunning climax.
Wonderland was a true crime story about John C. Holmes, a not-so-attractive porn star, involved in the Wonderland murders in LA in 1981. It certainly surprised us as it thankfully wasn't about the job he possessed, rather about how he got wrapped up in the murders due to his whirlwind involvement with cocaine and his desperation to attain it. I certainly wouldn't recommend the film to just anyone, due to its gore of the crime (the DVD has the actual LAPD police footage fimed of the crime scene) and context of Holmes profession, yet the pictures within the film are so incredible. The ingenuity and placement of the still, slightly over-exposed pictures within the film are completely apt in capturing the early eighties feel and the soundtrack is second to none (maybe Magnolia and Almost Famous). Val Kilmer comes back to a significant role that makes him ugly, whiney and somehow loveable. The documentary feature of John C. Holmes life is rank, but certainly interesting. Enter at your own risk!
I hope to check out Kill Bill Volume 2 by next week as well as Big Fish, out on video/DVD next week. So much to look forward to.
On a cheesy note, Bollywood released some news today on my fave actor, Amitabh Bachchan. He is going to play Marlon Brando's legendary role as Don Corleone in an Indian version remake of The Godfather. The Big B is great, but really now.
Recently we rented 21 Grams and Wonderland.
Twenty-one Grams was despairing, gritty and a stellar acting showcase of Naomi Watts, Sean Penn and Benecio del Toro. If you are up for some depressing film, pick it up, but be warned, there is little to no smiling of any of the characters involved. What an artful piece of a picture though, considering the disjointed story-telling as well as the concept around of their three very separate lives intertwining to a stunning climax.
Wonderland was a true crime story about John C. Holmes, a not-so-attractive porn star, involved in the Wonderland murders in LA in 1981. It certainly surprised us as it thankfully wasn't about the job he possessed, rather about how he got wrapped up in the murders due to his whirlwind involvement with cocaine and his desperation to attain it. I certainly wouldn't recommend the film to just anyone, due to its gore of the crime (the DVD has the actual LAPD police footage fimed of the crime scene) and context of Holmes profession, yet the pictures within the film are so incredible. The ingenuity and placement of the still, slightly over-exposed pictures within the film are completely apt in capturing the early eighties feel and the soundtrack is second to none (maybe Magnolia and Almost Famous). Val Kilmer comes back to a significant role that makes him ugly, whiney and somehow loveable. The documentary feature of John C. Holmes life is rank, but certainly interesting. Enter at your own risk!
I hope to check out Kill Bill Volume 2 by next week as well as Big Fish, out on video/DVD next week. So much to look forward to.
On a cheesy note, Bollywood released some news today on my fave actor, Amitabh Bachchan. He is going to play Marlon Brando's legendary role as Don Corleone in an Indian version remake of The Godfather. The Big B is great, but really now.
