This is everything you don't expect from an 80's action flick. It's more than just gunfights, explosions and one-liners. It's a slow burn that provides the template from which so many filmmakers have tried to copy, but few have had success. Carpenter always seems to have a point to his films. A simmering method to his madness that has only gotten more mysterious with age. With Halloween he makes us question if evil can exist without provocation. In The Fog, he reminds us that we indeed are held accountable for our fathers sins. In Escape from New York he asks us which world we would rather live in- a corrupt country where crime and dissent alike probably get you sent to prison? Or inside of a prison where you have to decide which smaller corrupt gang you want to join? Sounds a lot like the choices we already have. Before I get carried away and call John Carpenter a prophet or something, let me just call him a genius instead. Plissken is as close as we get to our working class stiff. He does what he has to in order to survive. in his world view and economy I don't want to know what that entails. However, he's our kind of guy. We watch him risk his neck for a cause he doesn't believe in any more than most of us know why we buy Domestic car over import. He just does, yes even before he got shot up with the ticking time bomb in his blood. Overall, a great script from Carpenter. The pacing was fantastic, the main and supporting cast was superb. The cinematography... This is 1981 and I am amazed at the cinematography. The lengths and literal heights they had to go to get some of those shots are amazing. Solid film all around. I'm glad I revisited this film after 25 years. Highly recommended. Four out of five stars.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Escape From New York
This is everything you don't expect from an 80's action flick. It's more than just gunfights, explosions and one-liners. It's a slow burn that provides the template from which so many filmmakers have tried to copy, but few have had success. Carpenter always seems to have a point to his films. A simmering method to his madness that has only gotten more mysterious with age. With Halloween he makes us question if evil can exist without provocation. In The Fog, he reminds us that we indeed are held accountable for our fathers sins. In Escape from New York he asks us which world we would rather live in- a corrupt country where crime and dissent alike probably get you sent to prison? Or inside of a prison where you have to decide which smaller corrupt gang you want to join? Sounds a lot like the choices we already have. Before I get carried away and call John Carpenter a prophet or something, let me just call him a genius instead. Plissken is as close as we get to our working class stiff. He does what he has to in order to survive. in his world view and economy I don't want to know what that entails. However, he's our kind of guy. We watch him risk his neck for a cause he doesn't believe in any more than most of us know why we buy Domestic car over import. He just does, yes even before he got shot up with the ticking time bomb in his blood. Overall, a great script from Carpenter. The pacing was fantastic, the main and supporting cast was superb. The cinematography... This is 1981 and I am amazed at the cinematography. The lengths and literal heights they had to go to get some of those shots are amazing. Solid film all around. I'm glad I revisited this film after 25 years. Highly recommended. Four out of five stars.
Black Swan
Black Swan is a beautiful nightmare, if there is such a thing. Aranofsky returns to familiar territory with this decent into madness. Natalie Portman's masterful turn as a ballet performer obsessed with perfection, is only tempered by her unwilling transformation into the Black Swan as she destroys the relationships around her. The beautiful Barbara Hershey turns in a chilling performance as the unbalanced, overprotective mother living vicariously through her daughters accomplishments. Sadly, Mila Kunis, though not underutilized as an antagonist, receives little screen time as a dancer. As always, Cassel shines as a villainous instructor. The cinematography was balanced and the lighting was superb. As one crew member put it, Swan Lake is the tragic story of a Wer-Swan. For the first time, Aranofsky gives us a true glimpse into that horror story. Highly recommended.
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