November 2, 2009

• movies i've seen recently...

  
  Michael Jackson's This Is It  (2009)  B

  If you have ever been a huge fan of Michael Jackson, then you should watch "This Is It." Compiling footage from the rehearsal period for Michael Jackson's 50 shows concert residency at The O2 Arena, this movie showcases what we would have seen if he never died. There may be few scenes where short interviews are held with some of the performers, but this is hardly a documentary at all. Nothing much from his personal life is shown here, which I actually appreciated. This is in fact more or less a concert film, with the movie moving from one song performance to another, celebrating Michael's music, dancing, and stage presence. Several moments throughout watching the film, I couldn't help but quietly sing and dance along to the performances I was seeing. We get to see how extravagant the whole thing was going to be, from 3D enabled video that would have required the audience to wear 3D glasses, to huge expensive productions fit for a broadway stage musical. In one apt moment from one of the rehearsals, Michael Jackson was complaining that he shouldn't have been singing that passionately because he should be saving his voice, but we clearly appreciate that he did in hindsight. MJ will definitely stay as the King of Pop, and "This Is It" shows us why.

  
  Antichrist  (2009)  B-

  What happens when you mix an art house film with a horror concept? You get Writer/Director Lars von Trier's "Antichrist." This is a highly volatile film that's bound to spark discussions about it's content. The beginning of the movie in itself is unforgettable, showing a couple having passionate (and graphic) sex, while their young son accidentally falls out of an open window and dies. Both characters do not even have names, and they are simply listed as "he" and "she." Willem Dafoe plays the man and believes that he can help his grief stricken female companion as her therapist, by taking her to their cabin in the woods; which she actually fears. Charlotte Gainsbourg is an incredible actress in this, and although she starts off as the distraught woman, by the end she fascinatingly becomes something else altogether. While the first half of the movie felt really slow paced to me, it really builds up that creepy disturbing tension. Then the horrific things that happen in the second half were simply just brutal to watch, and definitely pushed boundaries. By the end of "Antichrist," don't be surprised if you question what it is you just saw and experienced. You'll want some questions answered, but that will require you to dissect all the symbolism and hidden meanings behind everything about the movie. "WTF?!" indeed.

  
  Trick 'r Treat  (2009)  B

  Along with the classic film "John Carpenter's Halloween," we may be able to add another movie that should be required viewing for this particular holiday; Michael Dougherty's "Trick 'r Treat." This movie takes on myths, legends, and rules of the Halloween season, which is undeniably an interesting idea. Done as an anthology film, the multiple story lines are done out of chronological order, but throughout the whole movie, you will notice how each story intertwines with the other, while offering explanations to some unanswered questions from another story. Although "Trick 'r Treat" has it's fair share of gore and jump-at-you moments, the movie itself is really not that scary. If anything else, I was just fascinated by the stories told here, with the little twists here and there. Truth be told, I'm honestly a little more curious as to how the town is going to react the day after they find all these deaths, which this film unfortunately does not cover. The movie is filled with a strong cast from Dylan Baker, Leslie Bibb, Anna Paquin, to Brian Cox, with a memorable recurring character that is a sack-head boy trick or treater simply named "Sam." I quite enjoyed "Trick 'r Treat," and I wouldn't mind seeing this turn into a franchise, showing us more anthology stories.

  
  Law Abiding Citizen  (2009)  B

  A home invasion robbery, rape, and murder of a wife and daughter. Truly a heinous act. Justice must be served. However, what happens when attorney Nick Rice; played by Jamie Foxx, is only able to get one out of the two criminals the time in prison that they deserve? The husband Clyde Shelton; played by Gerard Butler, is clearly upset by this development, and disappointed with how the justice system has allowed this injustice to happen. Ten years later, everybody involved will learn a harsh lesson about his criticism of how the law handled his case, even if it means crippling the city in fear of dying under Clyde's terrorism. Director F. Gary Gray and writer Kurt Wimmer brings us "Law Abiding Citizen," which I found to be an enjoyable and fascinating thriller. The real strength here is watching how Clyde Shelton brings about his complicated plans to kill people, even when he has already been sent to solitary confinement in prison. The guy is just a genius, even if innocent people do die, and even if some die in gruesome ways. Do you root for Clyde or Nick? Is the justice system flawed? No matter what our opinion is about "Law Abiding Citizen's" social commentary, you will want to see how this movie ends.

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