American Hustle

  With the marginally overrated Silver Linings Playbook behind him, David O'Russell continues his success with a hilariously talented {and familiar} cast.

Directed by: David O'Russell
Released: 2013
Staring: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, & Jennifer Lawrence
Rated: R

While this is not O'Russell's strongest film, it's certainly is his best script.

  O'Russell discovered a successful formula in creating unique and amusing characters; however, strong characters and the actors who portray them can't be relied upon to carry an entire film. 2010's The Fighters and last year's Silver Linings Playbook are solid examples. He takes subjects that could potentially develop into deeper, complex narratives and ultimately turns them into feel good, family success stories. Everyone gets their happy ending, save a politician or two, and the only thing audience members walk away from the film with are smiles on their faces.

Stars Christian Bale & Amy Adams on set with Director David O'Russell.

  David O'Russell again proved his talents in both writing and directing but doesn't deliver anything new to either categories. That being said, American Hustle's script turned out to be one of the best if not  THE BEST and my favorite of 2013. From start to finish I fully embraced this film as a comedy; Jennifer Lawrence in particular was blessed with one of film's most amusingly neurotic and engaging characters of 2013. O'Russell simply knows how to write great characters (with great actors in mind) "I told you not to put metal in the Science Oven!"is bound to be a new staple for film quote fanatics accompanied by "…so they can get married and have children so the Pope can have more followers." and "Tell me the Ice Fishing story!" Near the third act, the story verges on ridiculous; however, a surprise ending certainly justifies some of the rather outlandish circumstances our anti-heroes get themselves into.

  Speaking of anti-heroes, O'Russsell penned quite the ensemble and reunited almost every actor he's worked with in the past three years. Crowd pleaser Jennifer Lawrence does not disappoint; bringing her larger than life personality and injecting it into a character that could have been a whining downer of a woman. Lawrence does some very nice work with this character; the scales are often tipped more towards humor than showcasing true emotion. This role is one where Lawrence's performance mirrored her own personality dangerously close. I don't dislike Lawrence by any means, she's one of my generation's most talented actresses, but I she's teetering on a thin line between character and real personality.

Anyone remember that young, talented unknown actor from Katherine Bigalow's award winning film The Hurt Locker? Oh ya, that young guy…he can act, ya. Ever since The Avengers, I've forgotten that Jeremy Renner is actually quite the talent. His portrayal of the heartbreakingly oblivious Mayor of Atlantic City, Carmine Polito, is adorably innocent and well played. Speaking of Atlantic City, Boardwalk Empire cast member Jack Huston makes a surprisingly pleasant appearance accompanied by another major Hollywood star {no spoilers}
  The main cast of Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, and Christian Bale are strong and work brilliantly as a whole. American Hustle's script demands strong chemistry between it's leads and Adams, Cooper, & Bale exudes a confidence that MAKE the film. Adams is devilishly versatile playing Cooper and Bale's characters for all they're worth. Slowly rising as one of Hollywoods brightest stars, Adams' role in Hustle showcased her best work. Comparing her performance to Lawrence's proves difficult, the two roles are immensely different; however, Adams' performance is vastly more complex and compelling than Lawrence's.

With his pot belly, comb over and sleazy suits, Bale looks the part of slimy villain but co-star Bradley Cooper ultimately ends up with the title. In past years Cooper's work fell by the wayside, nothing exceedingly impressive. I felt his role in Silver Linings Playbook was overrated…please feel free to pelt me with aggressive insults about how wrong I am. Silver Linings was a NEW role for Cooper, different than the work he'd done in the past and for that I acclaim the performance; however, it was ultimately a performance I feel could have been given by any number of actors. I left Hustle with a similar opinion. Cooper is talented no doubt and I enjoyed him immensely, especially in those perm rods, but I feel it was the strength of script that made the performance so entertaining.

  O'Russell is just too damn good at writing captivating, unique characters and none are more expertly executed than Irving Rosenfeld portrayed by Christian Bale. Bale is relentless and raw, once again completely transforming his physical appearance. A head toe metamorphosis is one thing, generating an equally impressive acting performance is another and Bale pulls its off. His is a seamless, fully developed character that undergoes an emotional development that the audience clearly witnesses from start to finish. Bale owns both his role and the film and was it any other year, this dynamic performance would have earned him a second Oscar. 2013 was an exceptional year for male performances in cinema, the Best Actor category is already bulging despite the absence of two of the best showings by Tom Hanks (Captain Phillips) and Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis)

  The sounds, colors, and atmosphere of the 1970's come to life in Hustle, design elements remain consistent and bold from opening studio logos to final credit. Costuming is both hilarious and accurate from Adams' plunging neck lines to Bale's dazzling ascots. This year's Academy Awards will be a closely run race between Catherine Martin for Gatsby and Michael Wilkinson for Hustle. Martin's partnership with Prada resulted in an extraordinary fusion of modern glam and classic silhouette but Wilkinson's devotion to accuracy in 1970's fashion proved just as exciting! Both were stunning and imperative in creating defined worlds for each film; the decision of who takes home Oscar will be a difficult one indeed! A great soundtrack and groovy original score from a personal favorite, Danny Elfman, only boost the quality of Hustle higher.

  Charming, witty, and unashamedly gaudy, American Hustle proved to be a far greater treat than expected. This is nothing new from David O'Russell and doesn't quite match The Fighter in overall direction; however, it's superior to his previous hit Silver Linings Playbook. A strong main and supporting cast play up O'Russell's droll ensemble of characters and appeal to a wide audience.

The Wolf of Wall Street

It's called GREED Old Sport! 

                Oh wait…

Directed By: Martin Scorsese

Released: 2013

Staring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, & Margot Robbie 

with special appearances by Matthew Mcconaughey, Jean Dujardin and that guy who plays Nucky Thompson's brother Eli on Boardwalk Empire - Shea Whigham.

Rated: R

One hell of a showboat performance from Leonardo Dicaprio

 Aka: The Great Wolf of Gatsby Street

  "I will tell you God's truth, God's truth about myself. I'm the son of some very wealthily people; sadly they're all dead now."

       And I can say after watching this film I cannot help but be baffled by the fact that not only did this main character and his antics exist but he's still alive to write about it. 

The true story of Jordan Belfort, stock broker, drug addict, and womanizer is 100x more unbelievable than the tales one Jay Gatsby strings and weaves for an innocent Nick Caraway. I only draw the comparisons to the two films due to the lavish parties, booze, drugs, women and uninterrupted flow of illegally obtained cash...And the two films star of course, Leonardo DiCaprio.  

  Remember earlier this year when I reviewed  The Great Gatsby and I said something along the lines of his role in that film would not being enough to garnet the talented actor with an Oscar? It was going to take more than the charmingly passionate, love-sick millionaire Gatsby to get the coveted golden statue on his mantle piece. If there was a role DiCaprio could have, would have, SHOULD have won for in the past two years it was Calvin Candie in Tarantino's Django Unchained. Alas, poor Leo was not even graced with a nomination for his exceptional performance. With 7 days until nominations for the 2014 Academy Awards are released, The Wolf of Wall Street is DiCaprio's best shot at Oscar gold. 

His performance isn't just good, it's a nose full of coke, Mia Wallace "I said GOD DAMN, GOD DAMN" good. Sex, drugs and shootin' the authorities a big ol' fashion fuck you, are the precious cargo filling Scorsese's crazed ship and DiCaprio is the captain.

  I'm a fan of actor-director relationships films. Tim Burton has Johnny Depp, Nicholas Winding-Refn has Ryan Gosling and Martin Scorsese has Leonardo DiCaprio; when two artist work together on a regular basis it not only brings a familiar feeling to the film, but both are able to experiment and take risks. This couldn't be more apparent than in The Wolf of Wall Street. The Wolf is the product of an actor-director relationship that has surpassed all levels of comfort and flow into a realm of UNcomforted that only could be explored by very close friends. I've already used up one of my swears and I'll use another now, a shit load of craziness and debauchery, that is what Scorsese and DiCaprio create. The film is jam packed full of unbelievable circumstances that upon hearing, one would think nearly impossible to put on screen; but this dynamic duo does it in high flying, unforgiving fashion.

  

  The Wolf of Wall Street works because it's biggest star holds nothing back and it's director captures it all. DiCaprio is a powerhouse in the film; a larger than life personality and presence that, on more than one occasion had members of the audience clapping and cheering. DiCaprio shows not only how completely selfish and crazed Belfort was but also exudes the persuasive force that inspired his employees and later lead him to be a motivational speaker. Jordan Belfort is a disgusting character; an asshole, yet all you can do is shake your head and laugh when he gets in deep. You want to see just how far down this man can go before he's buried in his own filth and mistakes. DiCaprio brings the charm and sleaze to this corrupt animal all at once, making him nearly impossible to dislike. 

   Members of the supporting cast are individually strong, discovering their own characters and holding fast to them throughout the entire film. Actors who have been duds or type casts in years past dish up some hilarious and pinnacle performances. Matthew McConaughey's appearance is brief but a real highlight of the first half of the film. Jonah Hill provides the audience with a bundle of squeamishly laughable moments and commits to offering more than enough of his physical self to the camera. 

 

As I defended Baz Luhrman's over the top production of The Great Gatsby, I must also defend Martin Scorsese's choices; it's his personal directorial style. Something it seems many reviewers and audiences just don't get it. Have you seen Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Casino? Are you really surprised by profanity? This is a serious question and something that truly irks me. ARE YOU REALLY SURPRISED? I shake my head when I read reviews condemning Scorsese, for the vulgarity of his films, especially The Wolf of Wall Street. In this case it's not only the directorial style but also the subject matter that must be taken into account. The Wolf of Wall Street is based off of Jordan Belfort's autobiography, and having read excerpts from the book, I can tell you the film is pretty spot on with Belford's description his over the top lifestyle. Upon entering a Scorsese film, one must be prepared for a heavy helping of F-bombs, accents, and boobs. After seeing The Wolf, I'm quite sure I'm immune to all. 

  As a movie fan, I tend to stay away from comedies, not because I don't enjoy a good laugh, but because let's be honest, most "comedies" produced now a days are rubbish…I'm not even sure comedy is a genre anymore…that's the odd thing about The Wolf, it has more than it's fair share of laughs, but should I be pegging it as a Ha-Ha funny COMEDY? I don't know. It's laughs come from it's absurdity…like The Hangover (which I thought was funny the first time around then hated the next 3 times I was forced to watch it) but real. 

  Clocking in at a solid 180 minutes, The Wolf of Wall Street proves to be the longest running comedy on the market today. I say comedy because there really is no other genre in to which to place this film. All of Scorsese's works have their far share of laughs, mostly delivered by unique and outlandish characters. It's the people and the situations they get into that produce the biggest laughs. A drooling DiCaprio, resorting to rolling himself down a flight of brick stair because he's lost almost all of his motor skills due to a drug overdoes is ridiculous…and funny as hell. Jonah Hill's disturbingly white, propionate teeth are funny. Matthew McConaughey rhythmically pounding his chest and emitting primal, cave man-like beats is funny. A looping plane full of hookers, coke, and naked men is, dare I say it, FUNNY. What I'm trying to get at is this, The Wolf of Wall Street is brash, disturbing, and often cringe-worthy (definitely not for everyone) but it is a comedy. A comedy that may just deliver Leonardo DiCaprio that Best Actor Oscar that has eluded him for too long.  Do I think it's the perfect holiday film for audiences to see with Mom and Pop? Absolutely not. Is it a seamlessly crafted performance piece for DiCaprio full of raunchy laughs and depravity? Absolutely yes. 

  Now all I can do is sit back and have a mental battle with myself as to whether Oscar Isaac or Leo is more deserving of the Academy's honor...

If DiCaprio wins and I don't see this exact dance, I'll be very disappointed.

Drive & Valhalla Rising

A Nicholas Winding Refns Double Feature

Drive

Released: 2011

Staring: Ryan Gosling, Carrey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks, Oscar Isaac, Ron Perlman & Christina Hendricks 

Rated: R

Times Viewed: 2
Available on Netflix Instant Streaming

   I feel like many young (women) people have this pre conceived notion about Ryan Gosling. They think he, like his sweater, is perfect boyfriend material.  Soft and sensitive. Strong and hot to trot. Just a funny, good looking guy. They know The Notebook and they know Crazy Stupid love...they know Ryan Gosling's abs. A lot of people think Ryan Gosling is just a Rom-Com leading man...I like to think that I know better. I know that HE is better than that. Truth be told, Ryan Gosling is a helluva lot darker than the uninformed public knows. There is a quiet brutality and insanity in him that echoes throughout many of his lesser known and more violent films. 

  If one was to look at his profile on IMDB one would see that the only real "Rom-Coms" that he's been in are The Notebook and Crazy Stupid love. I like to think of these films as the skeleton that holds Ryan Gosling acting career together, but the real flesh and blood of his work are films like Blue Valentine, The Ides of March and one of the films I'll be reviewing today, Drive. 

Drive is an expertly crafted homage to the 80's filled with impeccable performances, blood & tears violence, and shot with great style.  Refns' modern action masterpiece.

 Ryan Gosling plays a part time stunt driver part time get away car for hire who, after becoming invested in the lives of his pretty neighbor and her young son, finds himself in deep with the wrong tank of sharks. 

  Everything in this film works. From the color scheme to the FANTASTIC soundtrack, Drive is the complete package in first rate film making. There is a deception in the first half of the film. Like Ryan Gosling's character (who is never given a name...billed as "Driver" in the end credits) it's a quiet film. But quiet does not by any stretch of the word mean boring. When I say it's quiet I mean there's action, but it's a subdued action, not thrown in the audience's face from the opening frame. This is prepping the audience for the ultra blood and guts violence that's to come later.

  Refns couples actions with suspense and character intent. There are no unnecessary, loud and brash conversations as there are in many action films. The script is clean and concise; it's a story of human experiences. There are no over blown conspiracy theories, unwarranted explosions, or ridiculous plot lines. Everything that happens in the film could have been taken from an unpublished memoir of a Driver living in Los Angeles. It's (the script's/story) simplicity allows the actors to really shine and when it is time for the action to erupt boy does it taste good. 

  Gosling is FANTASTIC. As I said before his character is quiet, but you KNOW that inside his head gears are turning; he's planning, thinking, and calculating. This stubble nature makes the performance all the more brilliant when he really hits the gas and starts hunting down the scum that threaten Carrey Mulligan and her son. Calm and collected he walks into a strip bar and beats the brains (quite literally) out of a man. Only until he pulls back and the camera focuses on his shaking hand do we see an once of humanity it his action. Truly it's breathtaking. The last 30-45 minutes of Drive is a violent roller coaster ride. Those who've had some difficulty with the "quietness" of the first half should stay put because the car chases and beatings taken in the second more than make up for the first half.
        (I personally loved all of the film, but I know a few people who didn't enjoy the first half as much)

A blood bathed Ryan Gosling in "Drive"

  If Bryan Cranston is as good in Breaking Bad as he is in Drive perhaps I should start watching the series. He's just so damn amazing. 

Ryan Gosling & Bryan Cranston in "Drive"

  Finally we need to talk about Albert Brooks. Describing someone like Albert Brook's character is difficult, but him being a relatively unknown actor to many in my generation worked for him. He comes out of no where and knocks it out of the park. He plays it like a snake slither through the grass, cool and collected until he strikes at the end...leaving more than one dead body in his wake. Brooks received a Golden Globes nomination for the role.  

Now I need to talk about the whole reason I'm here. Director Nicholas Winding Refns, a native of Denmark, is a relatively new Director but boy does he know his stuff. He knows what STYLE means, especially when it's applied to film. Drive is a film of complimentary High Key day shots and Low Key night shots where the shadows take charge and the main lighting sources are the stop lights ahead. This effect is gorgeous and really enhances the 80's feel the whole film has.
The soundtrack is definitely one of the best parts of the film. The 80's synth and heart-beat like bass that accompanies the dark, midnight drives through the streets of L.A. build suspense when the violence has been suspended for a while. Even if you don't watch the movie, I highly recommend the soundtrack.

Drive is one of my personal favorite modern films. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Valhalla Rising

Released: 2009

Staring: Mads Mikkelsen, Gary Lewis, & lots of other unknown scruffy actors 

Rated: R
Times Viewed: 1
Available on Netflix Instant Streaming

One review called it a "masterpiece" another called it "unbearably self-important." Via Netflix, one viewer compared it to drinking their own urine. "Stylish Brutality" is another apt description of Refns productions. So what's my verdict on this visceral, religious and physical piece from Nicholas Winding Refns? 

  Valhalla Rising is without a doubt a visual journey that is either a close hit or a far flung miss for most of it's viewers. It takes patience, an open mind and a bit of imagination to interpret this enigmatic film.

The film follows the journey of an enslaved warrior who kills his captors and travels with a young boy and a group of Viking Christians to Jerusalem. Only they never arrive in Jerusalem. Lost at sea, they soon discover it is not holy ground they've landed upon, but a new world as unforgiving as Hell itself.

The Film is broken into 6 Parts

Wraith 

Silent Warrior

Men of God

The Holy Land

Hell

The Sacrifice

  I'll just put it out there right now and say this is not a movie most ladies will enjoy. It's medieval brutality and ambiguous story are not  for the faint of heart.  And for those of you watching just so you can see Mads Mikk's awesome body. GET OUT. Yes it is definitely an enjoyable feature, but if you watch a film just for the body...I'll run after you fillet you. I believe I made it very clear in my review of the Hannibal series that I too possess a strange attraction to the Dane prince, but the majority of that attraction is to his talent.

  Mikkelsen is superb in this film. His performance only garners more praise because his character was a  MUTE. Yes that's right. He doesn't say a single word through out the whole film, but oh my stars is his performance incredible. OH! And he only has one eye. So now he's lost two of the key essentials that actors use in delivering a performance and still kills it. Mikkelsen uses his physicality to act as his voice, simply turning one way, or lowering a shoulder that way he concisely communicates the character's state of mind and stance. His presence speaks for itself.  

  The first 15 minutes of the film as I wrote before are stylistically brutal. Lot's of bare handed medieval mud fights where One-Eye literally beats an opponents skull open with a rock. As in Drive, when it finally comes time to show the violence, Refns doesn't hold back on the blood or gore. Honestly I love this. I think it adds emphasis but because each beating (both in Drive & Valhalla Rising) are relatively short scenes and not the entire film, he (Refns) can get away with it without being vulgar.  

  A recurring plot subject in Valhalla Rising is trust and devotion to God. After procuring One-Eye and the young boy, the Christians set out for Jerusalem. At first they believe the mighty warrior will bring them good luck, but when a mist sets in and the ship is lost at sea for an uncountable number of days, the men now see One-Eye as the devil. A bad omen delivering them all to the gates of Hell. 

           They end up on the coast of North America so close enough. 

  Through out the film One-Eye has, what I interpreted as, visions of the future.  The film will cut from a close up of one One-Eyes face in normal print and color to a close up of the injured side of his face filmed in black and red. After this the film cuts again to whatever bit of the future he may be seeing (all done in black and red coloring) An arrow head, where the ocean turns into a river, the native americans, and ultimately his own death. The first time it happened I had no idea what it was but each scene that he sees in red occurs later in the film i.e. seeing into the future.

  After landing on shore and loosing several of their ship mates, the Christian Vikings being to loose faith in their religious leader. They soon turn to One-Eye for guidance and follow him as their leader despite the boy telling them they're all going to die eventually. Valhalla Rising is packed with Religious symbolism near the end. Once the leader of the vikings dies, the events and style of Refns' directing clearly show One-Eye meant to represent some God or Jesus like leader who eventually sacrifices himself  to save the young boy. Valhalla itself is a heaven like structure in Norse mythology.     

"Valhalla Rising" was filmed entirely in Scotland and boast some gorgeous cinematography. 

Gary Lewis finds the light in "Valhalla Rising"

My favorite shot from "Valhalla Rising" AMAZING color spectrum.

 
  While it took some patience to watch, Valhalla Rising is a BEAUTIFULLY shot film with great cinematography, prime beating fight scenes, lots of thought provoking symbolism and an unforgettable, silent performance by Mads Mikkelsen. Final verdict, it was an intense movie going experience although I won't recommend it to everyone. 

    

  

Eastern Promises-Micro Review

  "You play with a Prince to do business with the King" 

Directed by: David Cronenberg
Released: 2007
Staring: Naomi Watts, Viggo Mortensen, Armin Mueller-Stahl, & Vincent Cassel
Rated: R
Times Viewed: 3

  It's David Cronenberg's birthday today and coincidentally I watched his film "Eastern Promises" last weekend. A film many say was in contention with Scorsese's "The Departed" for best mobster film of the past decade. Both released within a year of each other, Eastern Promises was produced on a much smaller scale but packs just as hard a punch.

  Where The Departed is a loud and brash game of cat and mouse, Eastern Promises has a quiet kind of suspense about it. Not to say this movie doesn't have it's fair share of violence because let's face it, it's Cronenberg. The man's middle name IS violence. *cough* History of Violence *cough* The trailer is a bit misleading from the actual plot of the film but the basic story is communicated quite well.
     
       p.s. I love The Departed just was much as Eastern Promises. I am not bashing it in anyway...just comparing the two.

 Viggo Mortensen is a knock out and I'm not just saying that because he has a nude fight scene in a bath house...but come on, that was pretty bad ass. There is a bit of a surprise tacked on to Mortensen's character at the end that really defines his actions and elevates the story to a whole new level. His Oscar nod was well deserved and I really wish he would take on more parts...more parts like this one. Check out his flawless performance in this scene with Armin Mueller-Stahl, another silent, yet hurricane like force that drives the film.

  If you like mafia flicks, great acting, and a touch of violence, I highly suggest you watch Eastern Promises. It's a film that takes you out of the hunt and inside the mob, the family, and the consequences. Beautifully directed by David Cornenberg who today turns 70.

David Cornenberg on the set of "Eastern Promises"

 

The Wizard of Gore (2007)

I love B-camp, bloody, gory horror films, but honestly, what just happened? 

Directed by: Jeremy Kasten 

Released: 2007

Staring: Crisping Glover, Brad Dourif, lots of horrible unknown actors and strippers. No really, they are an actual group of strippers/porn stars...The Suicide Girls

Rating: R or Unrated 

......I wish I had a running sound bite for chirping crickets because that's the only thing I heard when I try to think of something logical to say about Wizard of Gore. The concept of the film was so promising and it's execution so dismally disappointing. And if you're wondering, yes this film was watched on my Crispin Glover viewing escapade...Sadly, not even Glover's creepy charms could save this horrific illusion of a "mind bending" horror rampage. 

Basic Synopsis...A downtown journalsist attends several shows featuring the magician Montag the Magnificent in a seedy, underground venue. During the show, the Wizard of Gore chooses a member of the female audience and appears to dismember their body on stage, but when the lights come up it is revealed as nothing more than an illusion. The following day the bodies of the girls are found murdered in very similar fashion to their on stage deaths. As journalist Edmund travels down the rabbit hole, he discovers that he has become more apart of this wonderland than he'd like. 

  Sounds like a solid outline for an interesting game of cat and mouse movie making right? This is just the problem...this script and the film makers don't keep to this solid story, instead they choose to trip themselves and the audience up on back stories, side stories, incomplete stories, past stories, present stories and any other type of added "story" you can imagine.

  We have a magician who is possibly using his show as a cover for his murderous urges yes? Yes. We also have the possibility that someone ELSE is using Montag's show as a cover for HIS murderous urges yes? Yes. Two, you have TWO great murder motifs that you could run with the whole film. Was it Montag or was it not Montag...Is someone else using his tricks as basis for their murder? If so who and if  so why? If it had just been left at that this movie could have been successful. 

  But no. We have to add in strippers, and drugs, and sex, and vietnam (just what?), and how Edmund knows absolutely everyone, and where he met his girlfriends and how he secretly gets off on beating women, and there is the escort service, and all the girls that are killed are apart of this escort service and how Edmund is involved with the murderers, perhaps HE is the murderer Oh my good, gracious father above, let's make him an UNRELIABLE CHARACTER  so we can JUSTIFY this whole movie NOT making sense or fitting together in the end!

  Ok!!! Now that that is out of my system I'll attempt to do and actual review. I know I usually go a bit deeper into story line and characters but honestly I just can't do it for this film. Why? Because I truthfully still do not know what happened at the end. I watched this movie from beginning to end and do not know who the ultimate killer was at the end. Too many would be killers turned into victims and and with a big part of the story being the use of this drug that can make people believe what you want them to believe, the viewers is in for a big disappointment if they expect to get any real closure with this film.

Is Edmund just being a good boyfriend and giving his girlfriend Maggie and message or is he hell bend on snapping her neck in two? I never figured it out. Kip Pardue & Bijou Phillips in The Wizard of Gore.

Characters and Setting- The main character of Edmund is just dull! Boring, uninteresting and poorly POORLY written. Any development that his character supposedly goes through is NOT well written or in that case performed by the incapable Kip Pardue. His character wanders around in 1940's garb living in a world that apparently "HE created" If Edmund really had collected such an interesting group of misfits to fill his surrounding habitat in, I would have liked to see more characters that mimic his 1940's style and attitude. You could have the squeaky blonde dame, the street wise, chain-smoking best friend who works in the morgue, a mysterious and sexy asian lady who works for the enemy. Is she spying is on him? Is she falling in love with him...just so many characters that hold that sleazy 1940's downtown crime style that the movie tries so hard to emulate but only does for ONE character. There is a Halloween scene at the beginning were a couple of characters are sporting some retro grab and I think if they would have carried that theme throughout the WHOLE movie it would have made it visually intriguing as well as add some continuity to the otherwise jumbled mess of odd characters. The downtown L.A. location is great for that old school crime thriller atmosphere and if the director would have chosen to extend this 1940's esque world that Edmund has apparently "surrounded" himself in it would have made much more sense for the character and the intended feel of the film.

OMG. I'm SO retro.

This gate is retro right?

We are not going to talk about Edmunds idiot of a girlfriend Maggie because I don't even want to go there and I don't believe I can without repeatedly swearing and confusing myself and you even more. Brad Dourif, a.k.a Grima Wormtonge to us Lord of the Rings fans, plays a...a doctor/vietnam vet/message therapist/ acupuncture/ drug dealer who we think is maybe, was, sort of not, could be friend of Edmund...I mean he helps him figure things out (because obviously stellar journalist sleuth can't do that on his own) and tells Edmund that he supplies the hallucination drug Treto Detoxin (?) to Montag who dispenses it throughout his audience by greeting each one at the theater door with a hand shake...mmm, slimy! Dourif's character almost makes sense in this film...I mean he's suppose to be a crazed war vet/drug dealer and I'm not going to lie, he plays that part well...gold start to the drug lord! ...who may or may not be the murderer and may or may not know who the killer is and may or may not be controlled by the drugs he distributed...you see how this movie works now?

I'm pretty sure these were the four main facial expressions I made throughout the film.
Sometimes pictures say so much more than words.
"Uh...wha?" "Oh mah Gosh!" "No GROOOSS!" And the end "WTF?"

  Uh...and now for the part that I really don't want to talk about but must...because Crispin Glover is the only reason I'm writing this review. 

  In this film...Crispin Glover is strange...and I don't mean like his regular, cute awkward intriguing strange...I mean like eh this part is so bad I'm just sorry you took this role and I don't want people to judge you for it because it's not your best work although you are the best actor in the movie and I wish you had more screen time and oh my gosh those are really tight white pants they have you in and I like your hair like that but oh my gosh why are you eating that squid intestine baby is that thing from Prometheus and is that the voice you use when you have sex because you basically sound like you're having sex throughout your entire stage performance and I kind of like it but not really because I'm actually quite terrified of you right now but not in a good way please just don't shove that florescent light down your throat again....and ya.

Umm...well I don't remember him actually EATING it in the movie...I though he just rips it out...

Glover's character Montag the Magnificent was written to be the cynical, psychological villain who messes with our minds and seems to justify each killing with an analogy for the lack of emotions humans posses and our desensitization to horror and gore (WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT MOTIF FOR A GORE BASED HORROR FILM TO PLAY UPON...but no. We had to have strippers and drugs.) These could have been some great monologs for Glover to deliver except he uses this gasping, sexual voice when he's on stage as the illusionist. The only time we don't get this disturbing delivery is when he chooses the girl who will assist him in his demonstration of gore and debauchery. I believe "SIT DOWN BITCH! You die tonight." are the lines...interesting...I must say that things like screen play are not the actors fault...it's the screenwriters. Zach Chassler (according to IMDB) YOU die tonight. Or just please never write another screen play ever again. 

"Sit down bitch! You die tonight."
Crispin Glover as Montag the Magnificent...just crazy as hell. 

For as uncomfortable as Montag the Magnificent is, I do wish his character would have gotten more screen time. At least he's intriguing, amusing, and actually sensical believe it or not.  

On the plus side, Glover gets to use his Creepy Thin man sword training again! :D

  And that's all the farther I feel like I can go with this one...can't really recommend it for anyone unless you're a huge blood and gore horror fan, which I know there are a ton of people our there who love this movie. I watched solely for Crispin Glover and while I wasn't really disappointed with him, it was just the fact that I'll never get back the two hours I spent watching this movie...and even more tying to figure out who actually DONE it!  Concept I like. Production I hate.

P.S. I KNOW that this movie is based off of a Herschell Gordon Lewis slasher flick from the 70's, but as I said in my review for Willard I'm not a big fan of 70's film so I've left it alone and haven't checked it out. I thought the 2007 version might just be one of those bad remakes of a gory, horror classic but when I look on IMDB their ratings only differ by .3 Original Wizard of gore at 5.3 stars and the 2007 version at 5.0...so I figured the original can't be much better...especially if it was from the 70's. 

If you read the whole review wow and thanks a lots! I know it was kind of an odd one but I can't praise every movie I watch...this review was more of a subconscious train of thought.

  -Cheers!