*previously published as a blog entry on RTH*
So begins my first blog entry on Reject the Herd. I realize that this website is geared towards the more political side of life and yet I plan to focus primarily on films with my blogging. However, I think most of you will find that the vast majority of movies I choose to discuss fall somewhere outside of the mainstream which makes this the perfect forum in which to explore them.
I was a somewhat strange little girl, in love with books of all kinds but drawn to stories that were a bit more unusual and even disturbing. At ten, my favorite author was Ray Bradbury and I was racing through books like Shardik, Shogun, and collections from Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock. This fascination of escape through a good story paved the way for my eventual passion for movies. My mother who introduced me to some of my favorite books, also played a big part in shaping my concept of what constitutes a good film. Some titles she passed on to me include The Wizard of Oz, Harold and Maude, The Russians Are Coming The Russians Are Coming, Rocky Horror Picture Show, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, and Young Frankenstein to name a few.
As my title suggests, I love October! I have a pretty wide range in taste when it comes to movies, but I find great personal joy in the genres of horror and sci-fi. Over the past few years I have developed a tradition of at least trying to watch one Halloween-esque film every day. Generally this means a lot of straight horror but it also encompasses fun flicks that at least partially take place during Halloween which can include good stuff like E.T., Spaced Invaders, Gremlins, and Donnie Darko.
As it is now October 4th, my yearly tradition is already underway but I am going to try to return to the world of RTH every few days and give an update on my progress. Here is where my journey has taken me thus far:
Day 1:
Apartment Zero (1989)
Director: Martin Donovan
Writers: Martin Donovan, David Koepp (Toy Soldiers, Stir of Echoes, Secret Window)
Actors: Colin Firth, Hart Bochner
I had never seen this movie before but had been meaning to get a hold of it for years. The other day I was waiting for a friend in Union Square in New York City and I saw somebody hawking DVDs at a little table, three for five bucks. This little gem happened to be hidden amongst a plethora of shit and I immediately snatched it up. I have to say, I really enjoyed it. It's a great psychological thriller/drama with a pinch of comedy that showcases some really rich characters. I've never really felt one way or the other about Colin Firth but he really blew me away in this one. Firth plays a cinema-obsessed man by the name of Adrien DeLuc who owns a theater and cherishes his privacy (possibly to hide from others the madness that is growing inside him). When his theater fails to make much revenue, DeLuc decides he's going to have to take on a boarder in his spare room. When you see how he interacts with his neighbors, you'll understand why this prospect causes him much anxiety. After interviewing a few people, however, he finds Jack (Bochner), an American who looks like he could have just stepped off a Hollywood screen with his James Dean ways. DeLuc has finally found someone he actually wants to be around and Jack seems to have this effect on everyone, charming men and women alike. His charm turns out to be a mask for something much darker which perhaps only adds to his draw for DeLuc. The film is set in Buenos Aires and has an interesting balance of sweetness, anxiety, and sadness when you really take the time to think about what is really happening within each of the characters, from each of the apartment tenants to DeLuc and Jack themselves. Ultimately, for me this film is about a journey into madness and a last attempt to truly connect with the outside world that instead results in a full-throttle leap over the edge (metaphorically that is, I'm not revealing any spoilers, I promise). Check it out, it's definitely a solid piece and I have a feeling that subsequent viewings will reveal even more enjoyment and appreciation.
Day 2:
The Woods (2006)
Director: Lucky McKee
Writer: David Ross
Actors: Patricia Clarkson, Bruce Campbell
Here is another movie I had never seen and I got it at the same time as Apartment Zero. The description on the back didn't particularly make me want to see it but I had to get it for three reasons: 1)Any movie with either Patricia Clarkson OR Bruce Campbell is worth at least one viewing and to have both of them together only reinforces this view, 2)I absolutely loved the film May, another one directed by Lucky McKee, and I was excited to see if he could deliver on another film, and 3)the deal was three for five bucks, I had to get something else if I wanted to buy Apartment Zero! First things first, I was pretty disappointed by this movie. It is by no means a terrible movie and at times plays out as a decent ghost/horror story. However, decent is not enough for a film that boasts McKee, Clarkson, and Campbell on one bill. The story is set in the 50s and is basically about a troubled girl, Heather, who gets sent to boarding school by her parents, her father being played by Campbell. Heather arrives at the school and of course it is spooky right off the bat and all the teachers are a little strange to say the least. Things go from spooky to downright deadly pretty quickly and Heather finds that she is somehow the key to some sort of witchcrafty plot on the part of the teachers to use the students as vessels for the spirits that reside in the woods. My first complaint is that Campbell's character is far too underused and that's not just because I want Ash from The Evil Dead to have a little more face time (although that is certainly true too). Campbell comes back to kick ass in the end but his character just felt too one-dimensional and underdeveloped for my tastes. Patricia Clarkson's character of the headmistress left much to be desired as well. I feel like the part could have been much more complex and there are moments where you feel there is something more going on but it just never quite fully makes sense. At times she is distant but occasionally Clarkson's headmistress reveals a subtle genuine depth of feeling, a kind of sad longing that never quite comes to the surface. In the end, we are forced to believe her intent was based on evil but it just doesn't add up for me. I really wanted this movie to go deeper. It's as if there were more scenes that got left on the cutting room floor that had they been included, the story would have retained its much needed depth. So, if you love Patricia Clarkson, Bruce Campbell, or Lucky McKee, go ahead and get your hands on this flick, it still has some worthy moments and I'm not sorry I watched it. If you don't care about any of these people and you have no need to see a mediocre film about haunted school girls, then by all means, skip it.
Day 3:
The Host (2006)
Director: Joon-ho Bong
Writers: Joon-ho Bong, Chul-hyun Baek
What can I say, I love Asian cinema! For some reason plot lines and character treatments that would never be accepted in American film, is perfectly welcome in Asian movies, and for this I am grateful. My favorite Japanese director, Takashi Miike is a perfect example of this, and in The Host, South Korean director Joon-ho Bong does not disappoint. The basic gist of this film is that an American military morgue director orders his assistant to pour hundreds of bottles of formaldehyde down the down and subsequently, into the Han River. Shockingly, this has negative consequences as a mutated water beast appears months later to exact terror upon the city. The story centers around a misfit family comprised of a grandfather, his three adult children, each with their own flaws, and his granddaughter. Shortly after the start of the film, the giant water monster snatches the granddaughter and the rest of the screen time is devoted to the misfit clan trying to get her back. This movie is nothing but entertaining. There is quite a bit of comedy mixed in with the big action, gross-out effects, and substantial drama and even the recognizably CGI monster is semi-realistic enough to keep the viewer involved in the story. There are some questionable elements like why the military doesn't just come out and start shooting their big guns at the monster which is certainly not invincible, and why the main characters can't just coherently explain to the authorities what has happened to their youngest family member. There's also a strange subtext going on that seems to blame the U.S. government for not only the mutation-causing pollution but also for the ill-advised "solution" that seems to do more harm than good and also appears to have some hidden agenda that goes unexplained. At the same time, the Korean government doesn't come out looking much better and leaves the viewer to wonder what exactly the message of the film is. However, if you are into ridiculous over-the-top Asian monster films that don't entirely make sense, this is the movie for you! (It certainly was for me!) It is no Citizen Kane but the characters are colorful, the cinematography is pretty cool, and there are even some tasty hidden touches that take at least a second viewing to discover.
Note: Be sure to watch The Host in Korean with English subtitles. The copy I have automatically plays it dubbed in English and I am a firm opponent of dubbing. It covers up the original sound track created to go with the film and I feel that this ruins the experience as it was intended by everyone who worked to bring it to you. Also, in all likelihood the budget for voice actors was smaller than for the actual screen actors so you will certainly suffer from deficient acting, or at least lower quality acting than the original actors. The one exception to this is certain Italian films because the Italian film industry has a long tradition of dubbing their films and often Italian movies are shot with no intention to even use the original audio, this is especially true for Italian horror. I've seen Italian movies where the original dialog was filmed in multiple languages because dubbing would automatically take place later. Just be sure to check if the original audio track is available before succumbing to a dubbed film.
That concludes this blog despite the fact that I still three days behind. I will do my best to get caught up in a timely fashion! Please feel free to make suggestions for future October films, I have 25 more to go!! And of course if you have seen any of these films, let us know what you thought of them. If you do choose to comment on the merits of any film, I do have one request. I'm not a big fan of people announcing that they hate a film and therefore it must be bad. Taste and preference in my book, are not valid arguments for what makes a movie worthwhile or a waste of time. Please back any arguments up with specific examples that have to do with structure, substance, or even intent, and be open-minded enough to acknowledge that while something may not be your cup of tea, it might be rocking someone else's world. It will be much appreciated!
Over and out, now go watch some movies!!
