Take 4: More Stuff I Wanted to See (w/Video!)
Figured it was about time to do another review where I just threw a bunch of movies I'd been waiting to see for a while up to the top of my rental list. As an added bonus, check of some of the hyperlinks. They'll either take you to previous reviews that are relevant, or video clips and trailers from the movies discussed. Enjoy!
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The Illusionist (2006)
The Big Question: What happens when a member of the Austrian royal family and a peasant who has become a master illusionist fall for the same girl?
Why This Film?: Well, I'd seen The Prestige, enjoyed it, and was told by many folks that they liked this film more. So added it to my list.
Familiar Faces: Ed Norton plays Eisenheim, a great stage magician in turn-of-the-century Vienna, who tangles with Crown Prince Leopold (played by Dark City's Rufus Sewell) over the love of a young duchess by the name of Sophie (played by Jessica Biel). They are joined by Paul Giamatti, who portrays a police inspector that works very closely with the Crown Prince, but who is fascinated by the skills and talents of Eisenheim.
Interesting Trivia: Jessica Biel replaced Liv Tyler, who dropped out of the film just as filming was about to begin.
And I Quote: Chief Inspector Uhl: [pacing] "Eisenheim, I don't want to arrest you. I'm a cynical man, God knows...but if your manifestations are somehow real...then even I'm willing to admit, you're a very special person. And if it's a trick, then it's equally impressive. Either way, you have a gift. So don't make me put you in jail!"
IMDB Plot Keywords: Balcony; Narration; Based on a Short Story; Distress; Jewel
Curt's Take: Must See - For those of you who missed this, it was the other movie about magic that came out at the same time as The Prestige (starring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman). It's a bit of a different tale, though. While The Prestige was very much a "thriller," The Illusionist tended not to stray that far, and rooted itself more firmly in what I'm calling "supernatural drama." You care more about the characters and what they're going through, while in The Prestige, it's hard to necessarily feel great sympathy for either of the two leads. I really enjoyed how Paul Giamatti's character (Inspector Uhl) was central to the entire story, acting as narrator, and being the go-between for the Crown Prince and Eisenheim. He also has the most internal conflict of any of the characters, and while we as an audience are definitely interested in how the story of the love triangle plays out, we're just as interested in seeing how Uhl handles the conflicting feelings going on inside himself. I recommend checking it out.
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The Rundown (2003)
The Big Question: How difficult can it really be for a buffed out "retrieval expert" to track down a mobster's smart-ass son in Brazil and bring him back to the United States?
Why This Film?: It seemed from the previews I saw years ago like it would be a good "buddy film," a decent action movie, and an enjoyable comedy, all rolled into one.
Familiar Faces: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson plays Beck, a bounty hunter/aspiring restauranteur, while Seann William Scott plays his quarry, wanna-be archaeologist, Travis. You've also got Rosario Dawson playing a local Brazilian barkeep, and Christopher Walken playing a (surprise, surprise) slightly unstable villain named Hatcher.
Interesting Trivia: There are several references to The Rock's wrestling persona. He uses his signature wrestling move (the Rock Bottom) on a thug. The herd of bulls connects with his Brahma bull tattoo. His character (Beck) wants to be a cook at his own restaurant, referencing his catch phrase: "Can you smell what The Rock is cooking!!!" This is also a reference to Robert De Niro's character Jack Walsh, who is doing one last rundown to open his own restaurant in the movie Midnight Run, on which this movie is loosely based.
And I Quote: Harvey: [looking down the cliff] "You think they're dead?" Hatcher: "What am I, psychic?"
IMDB Plot Keywords: Artifact; Capoeira; Dog; Death; Bounty Hunter
Curt's Take: Worth Considering - Well, it's sort of a cross between Romancing the Stone, Midnight Run, and Tomb Raider. The acting isn't that great, though, and the comedy is hit or miss at times. If that was the extent of things, I'd likely have given this a lower rating. However, two things bumped it up slightly. First, the action scenes are great fun to watch. The Rock's character doesn't like to use guns or knives, so there is a lot of martial arts action and improvised weaponry, using whatever is at hand. Second, Christopher Walken is in it. And when is a Christopher Walken film not fun to watch? You've got Walken facial expressions, Walken monologues, references to other Walken movies (see quote above)...gotta love it. It's really not a bad way to pass a couple hours.
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Rent (2005)
The Big Question: What can happen during a year in lives of a group of singers, filmmakers and activists, living the Bohemian lifestyle in a rundown part of New York City, forever wondering where their next paycheck is going to come from, and how...you guessed it...they're going to pay their rent?
Why This Film?: I'd listened to the soundtrack to the Broadway production a while back, and heard that the film got a lot of buzz when it came out. I'd never seen the stage production, so figured I might as well check out the movie.
Familiar Faces: Out of the eight primary cast members, six are from the original Broadway cast. The two new members include 1) Tracie Thoms (who played a stunt driver in the Death Proof half of Tarantino and Rodriguez's Grindhouse double-feature, as well as the best friend of the main character in the TV series Wonderfalls) as Joanne and 2) Rosario Dawson (who, ironically, was in the above movie, The Rundown) as Mimi. I didn't recognize any of the original six cast members except for Taye Diggs, until I dug around some...and it turns out that Anthony Rapp (who plays filmmaker Mark) also played the annoying best friend, Daryl Coopersmith, in the great '80s film Adventures in Babysitting.
Interesting Trivia: Jonathan Larson, who wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical Rent, was once dumped by a girlfriend the way that the character Maureen dumped her boyfriend (Mark) for another woman (Joanne).
And I Quote: Maureen: "There will always be women in rubber flirting with me..."
IMDB Plot Keywords: Tango; Heroin; Drug Addiction; Apartment Eviction; Transvestite
Curt's Take: Worth Considering - First off, I really enjoyed this. As I mentioned above, I'd only heard the soundtrack, and it wasn't that easy to piece together the entire story of what was going on without some visuals. The movie helped bring everything together (as I'm sure the stage play would have), but it also gave the actors the chance to expand their roles physically beyond a stage into a more immersive environment, so it was fun to see them run with that. It also allowed musical numbers to include flashbacks, voiceovers, and imaginary leaps that would be difficult to do onstage (such as in Tango: Maureen). You could tell that these folks were having a great time working together, trying something new, and the energy in La Vie Boheme is amazing (NOTE: Videos contain adult language and references). Now, the only reason I didn't give it a "Must See" rating is that some folks simply don't like musicals...if you don't, don't bother seeing this. But if you're open minded, or are curious how the stage play translates into a film, definitely check it out.
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Cube Zero (2004)
The Big Question: The first two movies looked at the question of "What happens when six strangers wake up in a series of interconnected, trap-laced, identical cubes, with no memory of who they are or why they're there?" Here, we're looking at "So...who are the people behind this strange project? Who runs this thing? And how?"
Why This Film?: I'd seen the first movie in the trilogy (Cube) back in grad school, and was pleasantly surprised to see that a sequel came out a bit later. When I saw a third installment was out, I couldn't pass it up.
Familiar Faces: Ah...indie films. Don't recognize a single person from this.
Interesting Trivia: When Rains, Haskell and Meyerhold enter the cube with a dead body, Haskell suggests he starved to death, with Rains replying "God, I'm hungry." This is a reference to Cube 2: Hypercube where a character complained of hunger and killed a fellow captive and ate him.
And I Quote: Eric Wynn: "Do you believe in God? It all hinges on that?" Dodd: "Look, I just ask the questions and push the buttons, okay?" Eric Wynn: "What happens if you push 'yes'?" Dodd: "I don't know... No-one's ever said 'yes.'"
IMDB Plot Keywords: Prequel; Mathematics; Alternative Reality; 2000s; Survival Horror
Curt's Take: Not a Priority - If you haven't seen the first couple films, this one isn't going to make much sense. And for those of you who have, unless you're REALLY curious about some of the background goings-on in regards to the functioning of the Cube, you might want to pass on this as well...it isn't the best movie. In some regards, this is a case of the incomplete jigsaw puzzle being somewhat more satisfying than a slightly more completed puzzle. The acting wasn't that great, the story seemed thrown together at the last minute. Plus, even though we don't get the full story behind the Cube, it is a little disappointing being given a glimpse behind the curtain of how this thing operates.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Illusionist (2006)
The Big Question: What happens when a member of the Austrian royal family and a peasant who has become a master illusionist fall for the same girl?
Why This Film?: Well, I'd seen The Prestige, enjoyed it, and was told by many folks that they liked this film more. So added it to my list.
Familiar Faces: Ed Norton plays Eisenheim, a great stage magician in turn-of-the-century Vienna, who tangles with Crown Prince Leopold (played by Dark City's Rufus Sewell) over the love of a young duchess by the name of Sophie (played by Jessica Biel). They are joined by Paul Giamatti, who portrays a police inspector that works very closely with the Crown Prince, but who is fascinated by the skills and talents of Eisenheim.
Interesting Trivia: Jessica Biel replaced Liv Tyler, who dropped out of the film just as filming was about to begin.
And I Quote: Chief Inspector Uhl: [pacing] "Eisenheim, I don't want to arrest you. I'm a cynical man, God knows...but if your manifestations are somehow real...then even I'm willing to admit, you're a very special person. And if it's a trick, then it's equally impressive. Either way, you have a gift. So don't make me put you in jail!"
IMDB Plot Keywords: Balcony; Narration; Based on a Short Story; Distress; Jewel
Curt's Take: Must See - For those of you who missed this, it was the other movie about magic that came out at the same time as The Prestige (starring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman). It's a bit of a different tale, though. While The Prestige was very much a "thriller," The Illusionist tended not to stray that far, and rooted itself more firmly in what I'm calling "supernatural drama." You care more about the characters and what they're going through, while in The Prestige, it's hard to necessarily feel great sympathy for either of the two leads. I really enjoyed how Paul Giamatti's character (Inspector Uhl) was central to the entire story, acting as narrator, and being the go-between for the Crown Prince and Eisenheim. He also has the most internal conflict of any of the characters, and while we as an audience are definitely interested in how the story of the love triangle plays out, we're just as interested in seeing how Uhl handles the conflicting feelings going on inside himself. I recommend checking it out.----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Rundown (2003)
The Big Question: How difficult can it really be for a buffed out "retrieval expert" to track down a mobster's smart-ass son in Brazil and bring him back to the United States?
Why This Film?: It seemed from the previews I saw years ago like it would be a good "buddy film," a decent action movie, and an enjoyable comedy, all rolled into one.
Familiar Faces: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson plays Beck, a bounty hunter/aspiring restauranteur, while Seann William Scott plays his quarry, wanna-be archaeologist, Travis. You've also got Rosario Dawson playing a local Brazilian barkeep, and Christopher Walken playing a (surprise, surprise) slightly unstable villain named Hatcher.
Interesting Trivia: There are several references to The Rock's wrestling persona. He uses his signature wrestling move (the Rock Bottom) on a thug. The herd of bulls connects with his Brahma bull tattoo. His character (Beck) wants to be a cook at his own restaurant, referencing his catch phrase: "Can you smell what The Rock is cooking!!!" This is also a reference to Robert De Niro's character Jack Walsh, who is doing one last rundown to open his own restaurant in the movie Midnight Run, on which this movie is loosely based.
And I Quote: Harvey: [looking down the cliff] "You think they're dead?" Hatcher: "What am I, psychic?"
IMDB Plot Keywords: Artifact; Capoeira; Dog; Death; Bounty Hunter
Curt's Take: Worth Considering - Well, it's sort of a cross between Romancing the Stone, Midnight Run, and Tomb Raider. The acting isn't that great, though, and the comedy is hit or miss at times. If that was the extent of things, I'd likely have given this a lower rating. However, two things bumped it up slightly. First, the action scenes are great fun to watch. The Rock's character doesn't like to use guns or knives, so there is a lot of martial arts action and improvised weaponry, using whatever is at hand. Second, Christopher Walken is in it. And when is a Christopher Walken film not fun to watch? You've got Walken facial expressions, Walken monologues, references to other Walken movies (see quote above)...gotta love it. It's really not a bad way to pass a couple hours.----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rent (2005)
The Big Question: What can happen during a year in lives of a group of singers, filmmakers and activists, living the Bohemian lifestyle in a rundown part of New York City, forever wondering where their next paycheck is going to come from, and how...you guessed it...they're going to pay their rent?
Why This Film?: I'd listened to the soundtrack to the Broadway production a while back, and heard that the film got a lot of buzz when it came out. I'd never seen the stage production, so figured I might as well check out the movie.
Familiar Faces: Out of the eight primary cast members, six are from the original Broadway cast. The two new members include 1) Tracie Thoms (who played a stunt driver in the Death Proof half of Tarantino and Rodriguez's Grindhouse double-feature, as well as the best friend of the main character in the TV series Wonderfalls) as Joanne and 2) Rosario Dawson (who, ironically, was in the above movie, The Rundown) as Mimi. I didn't recognize any of the original six cast members except for Taye Diggs, until I dug around some...and it turns out that Anthony Rapp (who plays filmmaker Mark) also played the annoying best friend, Daryl Coopersmith, in the great '80s film Adventures in Babysitting.
Interesting Trivia: Jonathan Larson, who wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical Rent, was once dumped by a girlfriend the way that the character Maureen dumped her boyfriend (Mark) for another woman (Joanne).
And I Quote: Maureen: "There will always be women in rubber flirting with me..."IMDB Plot Keywords: Tango; Heroin; Drug Addiction; Apartment Eviction; Transvestite
Curt's Take: Worth Considering - First off, I really enjoyed this. As I mentioned above, I'd only heard the soundtrack, and it wasn't that easy to piece together the entire story of what was going on without some visuals. The movie helped bring everything together (as I'm sure the stage play would have), but it also gave the actors the chance to expand their roles physically beyond a stage into a more immersive environment, so it was fun to see them run with that. It also allowed musical numbers to include flashbacks, voiceovers, and imaginary leaps that would be difficult to do onstage (such as in Tango: Maureen). You could tell that these folks were having a great time working together, trying something new, and the energy in La Vie Boheme is amazing (NOTE: Videos contain adult language and references). Now, the only reason I didn't give it a "Must See" rating is that some folks simply don't like musicals...if you don't, don't bother seeing this. But if you're open minded, or are curious how the stage play translates into a film, definitely check it out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cube Zero (2004)
The Big Question: The first two movies looked at the question of "What happens when six strangers wake up in a series of interconnected, trap-laced, identical cubes, with no memory of who they are or why they're there?" Here, we're looking at "So...who are the people behind this strange project? Who runs this thing? And how?"
Why This Film?: I'd seen the first movie in the trilogy (Cube) back in grad school, and was pleasantly surprised to see that a sequel came out a bit later. When I saw a third installment was out, I couldn't pass it up.
Familiar Faces: Ah...indie films. Don't recognize a single person from this.
Interesting Trivia: When Rains, Haskell and Meyerhold enter the cube with a dead body, Haskell suggests he starved to death, with Rains replying "God, I'm hungry." This is a reference to Cube 2: Hypercube where a character complained of hunger and killed a fellow captive and ate him.
And I Quote: Eric Wynn: "Do you believe in God? It all hinges on that?" Dodd: "Look, I just ask the questions and push the buttons, okay?" Eric Wynn: "What happens if you push 'yes'?" Dodd: "I don't know... No-one's ever said 'yes.'"
IMDB Plot Keywords: Prequel; Mathematics; Alternative Reality; 2000s; Survival Horror
Curt's Take: Not a Priority - If you haven't seen the first couple films, this one isn't going to make much sense. And for those of you who have, unless you're REALLY curious about some of the background goings-on in regards to the functioning of the Cube, you might want to pass on this as well...it isn't the best movie. In some regards, this is a case of the incomplete jigsaw puzzle being somewhat more satisfying than a slightly more completed puzzle. The acting wasn't that great, the story seemed thrown together at the last minute. Plus, even though we don't get the full story behind the Cube, it is a little disappointing being given a glimpse behind the curtain of how this thing operates.
posted by Curt at 11:09 PM
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