Movie Review Signs

Signs (2002) 

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan

Written by M. Night Shyamalan

Starring Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin, Amanda Breslin

Release Date August 8th, 2002

Published August 4th, 2002 

I Can't Believe He Did It Again! Director M. Night Shyamalan, for the third consecutive film, has managed to twist audiences to his will with yet another twisted film that shocks and surprises. In Signs Shyamalan plays his audience like a violin and makes us like it in what is the best film of 2002.Taut, perfectly paced, and filled with breathtaking moments, Signs is yet another extraordinary signpost in the increasingly brilliant career of M. Night Shyamalan. 

Signs stars Mel Gibson as Father Graham Hess, or rather just Graham Hess. As we come to find out Graham has lost his faith in God and left the church. Now living on his farm with his two kids, Morgan (Rory Culkin) and Bo (Amanda Breslin) and his brother Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix), Graham seems to be slowly adjusting to life without faith. Then, not 10 minutes into the film we are thrust into a story involving the mythical urban legend: the crop circle.

To Graham it seems local idiots have vandalized his corn. It isn't until TV new coverage reveals that the crop formations aren't just in his cornfield, they are global. Interestingly enough the crop circles are merely the hook; the real story takes off well after we've seen our last crop circle.

Shyamalan adopts a sort of pop culture version of Hitchcock, aping the master’s style with his impressive film score that evokes some of Psycho and The Birds. Like Hitchcock, Shyamalan knows that the audience need not see anything to be scared, in fact, what the audience imagines is likely far scarier.

Mel Gibson is solid as always playing Graham with depth and feeling, never allowing the character to drift off into action hero mode but also not allowing him to be weak. Shyamalan once again shows his brilliant eye for casting children, with Rory Culkin proving to be the class of the Culkin family. And little Angela Breslin, whose wide-eyed deadpan delivery is used to both great dramatic and comedic effect.

One of the film’s most surprising elements is its sense of humor, which is perfectly timed and never takes away from the suspense. Shyamalan is beginning to show a pattern in his filmmaking style. A simplicity of storytelling that is so understated you barely notice it. He simply and artfully weaves together subtle realistic drama against outrageous backdrops. 

In the Sixth Sense it was ghosts, in Unbreakable it's comic book superheroes and in Signs it's.... no no, I am not going to be the asshole who ruins the fun. You will have to see it yourself in what may be the best film of the year.

Movie Review Austin Powers in Goldmember

Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) 

Directed by Jay Roach

Written by Mike Myers, Michael McCullers

Starring Mike Myers, Beyonce, Seth Green, Michael York, Robert Wagner, Vern Troyer, Michael Caine

Release Date July 26th, 2002 

Published July 25th, 2002 

The original Austin Powers was a kick in the pants to the lazy action spy genre that was becoming repetitive and dull. The second film , The Spy Who Shagged Me, achieved the opposite effect, instead of continuing the satire of the first film, the sequel the trend of the moment gross out humor and ended up funny but derivative. Now comes the third film, and while Goldmember is slightly better than it's predecessor, it also lacks the originals sparky satirical bite.

Beginning with a sensational movie within a movie featuring eye popping celebrity cameo's, and quickly upping the ante with another hysterical dance sequence, Goldmember gets off to a spectacular start. Unfortunately it's downhill from there. As we rejoin the story Dr. Evil has returned from space to a new lair in the Hollywood hills where Number 2 (the highly under-appreciated Robert Wagner) has opened an evil talent agency. Agent being the perfect evil profession. 

Dr. Evil is once again ready to launch an evil scheme. However before Dr. Evil can finish his plan involving time travel to the 1970's, a tractor beam, and a meteor, the meeting is broken up by Austin Powers. Dr. Evil is arrested, leading to a Hannibal parody in which Austin needs Dr. Evil's help to find the man who has kidnapped his father played by the legendary Sir Michael Caine. Dr. Evil's newest henchman, Goldmember, is the culprit leading Austin to time travel to the 1970's to find Goldmember and save his father. While back in the 70's Austin hooks up with an old flame named Foxy Cleopatra (the surprisingly game Beyonce Knowles).

From there the film becomes a series of sometimes very funny skits that don't necessarily add up to much of a story. There is a great deal of obvious improv going on which is skillfully done by Myers and company but it ultimately detracts from the story, especially towards the end of the film which turns into a complete mess. At times it seems like ideas were thought of on the spot and weaved into the film as it was going on.

When the film is funny, it is very funny. However when it's not funny, the film is damn near impossible to watch. Especially unfunny is the film’s main conceit built around Austin's need for his father's approval. I don't know about you but I wasn't the least bit interested in knowing that Austin Powers was neglected by his father and frankly the whole storyline is a real downer in a film that should come nowhere near a downer.

The film is populated with big laughs and indeed when the film is funny it's funnier than any other film this year. But the script’s reliance on bits rehashed from the first two films fall intensely flat. Especially when the characters acknowledge the recycled jokes which borders on being too clever for it's own good. Especially unfunny cribbing from The Spy Who Shagged Me is Dr. Evil's rap set to Jay Z. The musical number isn't as funny as it is uncomfortable.

While my review may seem negative, and indeed there are a lot of things I didn't like, the film is still very funny. If the humor had been a little less scatological, and the story slightly more coherent, Goldmember could have been a classic. As it is it's an amusing but unmemorable comedy that is best to wait for on Video and DVD. Though judging by the box office that is a moot point.

On a side note shame on IMDB for giving away the names of the celebrity cameos. You could have waited a few weeks so that people could see it for themselves.

Movie Review K 19 The Widowmaker

K19: The Widowmaker 

Directed Kathryn Bigelow 

Written by Christopher Kyle 

Starring Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson, Peter Sarsgard 

Release Date July 19th, 2002

Published July 18th, 2002 

Few genres come with an atmosphere built in. Film noirs of the 1950's, with their smoke filled back rooms, guys in trenchcoats and femme fatales, is an example of a genre with built in atmosphere. Another genre with an atmosphere built right into it is the submarine film. When you see a sub movie you’re guaranteed many guys crammed into tight quarters and claustrophobic interiors where the walls are actually coming in on you.

The new Harrison Ford film K-19 expertly takes advantage of the built in atmosphere, using it to crank up the intensity of a film based on real life events.

It's 1961 and the Russians are gearing up to show the Americans they have nuclear strike capability. Unfortunately, according to the captain of the navy's one nuclear class sub, Captain Polenin (Liam Neeson), the boat isn't ready. Despite the boat's obvious technical problems the government orders the ship commissioned in 4 weeks for a run which will lead to the firing of a test missile within range of American spy planes. 

Of course if things went as planned there wouldn't be a movie. Captain Polenin's pleas for more time to fix the boat are ignored and Polenin is demoted to executive officer. Polenin is then replaced by Captain Vostokoff (Ford), a Captain known for his party loyalty and connections that are rumored to have earned him the prestigious post. The boat sails even after the ship's nuclear expert is fired for drunkenness and replaced by a green rookie right out the military academy.

Tensions flare between Polenin and Vostikoff after Vostikoff endangers the crew in order to test the boats limits. Unfortunately, the test may have led to the failure of the sub’s nuclear core. There is only one way to fix the reactor, send someone into the reactor itself and fix the problem by hand. Keep in mind we are talking about a nuclear reactor, where radiation can eat right through you. This leads to scenes of compelling bravery all the more sobering knowing that it is based on a true story.

All of these setup scenes are well staged as well as the action sequences which are extremely familiar to us as we near "crush depth". No depth charges though, likely a first for a sub movie. Even as familiar or even clichéd as these scenes are, director Kathryn Bigelow defly handles them, using the dramatic weight of her actors and some impressive special effects that take you outside the boat as if you were hanging onto the side of it.

Indeed Ford and Neeson have some familiar dialogue exchanges, questions of loyalty, competence and motives. Each actor however transcends these problems with their restrained and dignified presence. Ford and Neeson are imposing actors whose authority can be expressed with looks and manner. Peter Sarsgaard plays the green nuclear officer Vadim who, while struggling to hold onto his accent, still delivers a heroic performance.

Give credit to director Bigelow and her crew for casting actors able to garner our sympathy, considering they are portraying our enemies. The history lesson is sobering and the Cold War backdrop is well used to increase the tension. The ending leaves something to be desired as it overstays its welcome, but overall K-19 is a solid, dramatic, history lesson with fantastic performances.

Movie Review: Eight Legged Freaks Starring David Arquette

Eight Legged Freaks (2002) 

Directed by Ellory Elkayim

Written by Jesse Alexander

Starring David Arquette, Scarlett Johannson, Scott Terra, Doug E. Doug Rick Overton

Release Date July 17th, 2002 

Published July 16th, 2002 

I've never been afraid of spiders, well, except for that first Spiderman script to hit the net, that was pretty scary. Other than that though I have no fear of these disgusting creatures. Not that being afraid or unafraid of spiders will affect your viewing of the movie Eight Legged Freaks, I just needed an opening paragraph for this review.

Freaks stars David Arquette, a freak in his own right, as Chris Mccormick. The long missing son of a small town miner who recently passed away, Chris has returned to takeover his dad's mining business in hope of finding the gold his father swore was in those mines. Upon his return Chris once again strikes up a relationship with his high school crush Sam Parker who is now the town's Sheriff. 

It's been over ten years since they have seen each other and a lot has changed. Sam now has two kids a daughter named Ashley played by Scarlett Johannson and a son named Mike played by newcomer Scott Terra. It is Mike who sets the story in motion after visiting a friend who runs a Spider museum (an uncredited Tom Noonan) Mike discovers that the grasshoppers his friend has been feeding his spiders have been mutated by toxic waste spilled into the local creek. Mike soon finds his friend dead and giant spiders are the culprits.

At first no one believes him, no one believes little kids in these situations. Soon however pets begin disappearing, then local residents and finally the town is completely overrun.

The film is a modern take on the cheesy sci-fi of the 1950's and the film’s cheesy effects are a nice touch, making the film more comedy than horror film. The spiders look as fake as they would have in the 1950's. I hope that was what they were going for because if it wasn't then this film has serious problems. Working under the assumption that this was all intentional Eight Legged Freaks comes off as an often funny but plodding movie.

The supporting characters, most notably Doug E. Doug and Rick Overton, provide the film’s best laughs. But of course the movie’s best asset is the spiders, and when they aren't onscreen the film suffers. Eight Legged Freaks isn't bad but it's far from great. The spiders, while totally cheesy, are very funny. Unfortunately, they do wear out their welcome after the first hour or so. Simply, I liked this movie but I won't be seeing it again.

Movie Review Reign of Fire

Reign of Fire (2002) 

Directed by Rob Bowman

Written by Matt Greenberg

Starring Matthew McConaughey, Christian Bale, Isabella Scorupco, Gerard Butler 

Release Date July 12th, 2002 

Published July 11th, 2002 

Whilst I must quibble with the film Reign Of Fire being called a sci-fi film (indeed the film contains not one bit of science), what I can't argue with is that Reign Of Fire is a roller coaster ride, action thriller that kicks serious ass. As we join the story, a young boy is visiting his mother at her job on a construction site when some guys drilling a hole accidentally awaken a billion year old fire breathing dragon. Whoops!

The dragons are awake and after a couple million-year nap they are a little hungry, thus begins the near apocalypse. By the year 2020 the dragons are Earth’s dominant species while humans hide in caves and outwit the dragons to grow food and get supplies. The young boy from the beginning of the movie, Quinn (Christian Bale), is now grown up. Quinn is the leader of a ragtag group of humans living in what’s left of the English countryside.

An American army arrives, led by Van Zandt (Matthew McConaughey) and Alex (Iabella Scorupco). Van Zandt does what Quinn and his people have never dreamed of, they hunt and kill dragons. We are quickly treated to Van Zandt's hunting style in a spectacular set of mind-blowing effects scenes. Indeed Reign Of Fire is a special effects movie and the effects are fantastic, rendering very lifelike dragons and a surprisingly lifelike Scorupco.

There is, however, something deeper going on as director Rob Bowman, the man behind The X-Files movie, makes a film that is part western, part war movie. Bowman then tops it off with hints of Herman Melville's “Moby Dick” as McConaughey's Van Zandt's insane obsession with killing the lone male dragon with Quinn as his Ishmael.

McConaughey is a real standout in this film. He oozes machismo and charisma. His insanity is so engaging I would have followed him into battle for sure. Christian Bale is also good as the straight man; he doesn't get McConaughey's swaggering arrogance. Instead he is consummately British; intelligent, levelheaded, but always ready to fight.

I do have some trouble with some of the film’s logic. How when all of New York has been burned to the ground did Newsweek and Time magazine print their issues announcing global apocalypse? Also, if Time and Newsweek have time to print magazines, how is it scientists didn't have time to figure out the dragon's secret weakness? What matters most though is the action and Reign Of Fire more than delivers. Awesome special effects, amazing dragons and a lot of great action. Reign Of Fire is a huge summer movie surprise.

Movie Review Pumpkin

Pumpkin (2002) 

Directed by Anthony Abrams, Adam Larson Broder 

Written by Anthony Abrams, Adam Larson Broder

Starring Christina Ricci, Dominique Swain, Marisa Coughlan

Release Date June 28th, 2002 

Published November 10th, 2002

For anyone who has never been to college or at least visited a college campus, the terms Sorority and Fraternity are likely mere pop culture. In reality, the pop culture treatment of these odd institutions does not do them justice.

Fraternities and Sororities are actually weirder than they have been portrayed. These conformity factories for the elitist culture are a strange mix of depravity and morality. They each combine odd rituals and out of control behavior with a social conscience that includes charity work. One night guys are spanking each other with a wood paddle, the next day they are picking up garbage on the side of the road.

In a Sorority, the rituals aren't as sadomasochistic in nature but just as weird with singing, chanting, dancing and other liturgy. The film Pumpkin has yet another pop culture treatment of the sorority world and its biting wit on the subject makes for one of the funniest movies of the year.

Pumpkin stars Christina Ricci as top sorority gal Carolyn McDuffy. She is the house pep leader and the model for the rushes, the girls trying to get in the sorority. Carolyn and her house leader Julie (Marisa Coughlin) are determined to win S.O.Y, Sorority of the Year. To win they have to show they can do community service so they volunteer to help "special" kids train for an athletic competition. Each member of the sorority is paired with a "special" kid and Carolyn is paired with Pumpkin (Hank Harris).

At first, we believe Pumpkin is both mentally and physically handicapped, he arrives in a wheelchair though he can walk. Pumpkin is immediately dumbstruck by Carolyn who is the most beautiful girl he's ever seen and probably the first he's ever touched. Carolyn wants only to quit her charity work and go back to important things like shopping and spending time with her vapid Ken-doll boyfriend played brilliantly by Sam Ball. 

In a scene that you're ashamed to laugh at, Carolyn attempts to teach Pumpkin how to throw the javelin as Pumpkin tries to find the words to tell Carolyn how he feels. Pumpkin's struggle for words and Carolyn’s embarrassing attempts to understand him makes for very uncomfortable humor. For Pumpkin, it's love at first sight. For Carolyn, it's something she can't comprehend. There is something in Pumpkin's eyes that she has never seen before.

Nothing about Pumpkin is simple, this strange mix of earnest romance and biting satire walks the line between good taste and offensiveness. If you are sensitive about the treatment of the handicapped, you might want to avoid this film. Pumpkin bravely wades into this thorny issue and lets loose a barrage of bad taste humor that, while funny, makes anyone watching just a little uncomfortable.

Pumpkin's shifts in tone from biting satire to earnest romance stretches credibility, leaving the audience to wonder whether to take the film seriously or not. The film wants to be edgy and satirical but also wants you to believe the romance that grows between Carolyn and Pumpkin is for real. Were it not for Ricci's skilled performance and Harris's charismatic willingness to go all the way to every extreme with Pumpkin, the whole film would likely collapse on itself.

Co-directors Anthony Abrams and Adam Larson Broder, each in their directorial debut, walk that line of credibility with bravery and sharpness. Their willingness to trust Ricci and Harris' performances and make it difficult to believe their romance is real is a decision not many directors would have the courage to do. And in the end, to send up everything the movie has built up to with one ingenious line of dialogue is truly brilliant.

What truly makes Pumpkin one of the best comedies of the year was the ability of Abrams and Broder, who also wrote the script, to create a mini-universe for these characters to exist in. By doing that they can control the context of the jokes and are free to take chances. And take chances with a bold comedy that I highly recommend. 

Movie Review Mr. Deeds

Mr. Deeds (2002) 

Directed by Steven Brill

Written by Tim Herlihy

Starring Adam Sandler, Winona Ryder, John Turturro, Peter Gallagher, Jared Harris, Allan Covert 

Release Date June 28th, 2002 

Published June 27th, 2002

In 1934 the legendary Gary Cooper starred in Frank Capra's Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. Nearly 70 years later the film has been remade with the Gary Cooper role now filled by Adam Sadler. Did someone say the decline of western civilization? Well I wouldn't go so far as to say that this is the film that will destroy our culture. In fact, as much as I hate to admit it, Sandler's Mr. Deeds isn't that bad.

Deeds stars Sandler in his usual dopey earnest character. As Longfellow Deeds Sandler is a pizza shop owner in a small, New Hampshire town. Deed's also happens to be the sole heir to the fortune of his long lost uncle. The fortune is a company worth in excess of 40 billion dollars. Deeds however couldn't care less as he is more excited about the free trip to New York.

Peter Gallagher is the film’s formula bad guy out to dupe our hero into handing the company over to him. Also trying to take advantage of Deeds is a TV tabloid show. The show’s producer Babe (Winona Ryder) goes undercover and begins dating Deeds and secretly filming him for the show, leading to an hysterical cameo by John McEnroe. Well of course the formula dictates all that happens. Babe has a change of heart and falls in love for real, evil will be punished, and the company will be saved. The plot is meaningless.

Well of course it's meaningless, this is an Adam Sandler movie. The plot is merely in place to lend a little context to the jokes. What is most surprising is how funny those jokes are. Sandler and his supporting cast, which includes not only Rider and Gallagher, but also John Turturro and Steve Buscemi, all contribute some very funny moments, A lot of which is great physical humor.

I was honestly ashamed at how much I laughed during this film. I tried not to laugh, but I couldn't. Especially in scenes with Steve Buscemi as the guy with the crazy eyes. And then there is Sandler. He has always reminded me of an old friend of mine named Decker. Decker was never the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he was the guy to call if you ever had a problem. Sandler has that same “give you the shirt off his back” earnestness.

Maybe the key to his appeal is the fact that Sandler doesn't seem like a movie star. Instead he seems like a guy you could actually know. He has a goofy charm and friendliness that is easy to enjoy at least in short bursts.