John’s Review: Gran Torino

Garrett’s Review: Gran Torino

I am convinced that Clint Eastwood is to older actors as Seth Rogen is to younger actors; they both are guilty of playing the same damn character in every performance. Yes they can be good, but show me a little variety please. With the exception of Space Cowboys, which I have not seen but am just assuming, Eastwood is constantly playing the curmudgeon these days. What ever happened to Paint Your Wagon or Every Which Way But Loose Clint Eastwood? I’m not sure what crawled up his ass, but I know that it was still there in his performance in Gran Torino.

Having said all of this, I admit that I like and respect Mr. Eastwood. I see my grandfather in him and vice versa. However, sentimentality aside, I am not able to give Gran Torino a high rating. Eastwood plays a Korean War veteran whose neighborhood is being “invaded” by Hmong people. He inadvertently helps his neighbor, Thao, when he is being accosted by a gang and thus sets the story into motion.

I can understand the point of the film, but I feel that it lacked anything substantial. In a film that seemed to be so heavily focused on racism and change, Grand Torino didn’t seem to make any sort of stand for either side. Everyone in the film was racist in some way or another. Should we just accept that this a fact of life and move on? Does the “Oh he/she’s just an old coot” excuse really work? While funny at times, the racial exchanges seemed unrealistic and poorly executed. In the end, I honestly don’t think that anyone changed all that much. Yes people’s perceptions changed some, but it was more of an “I’m going to change in my own way” sort of change; no one ever really wanted to admit their faults and correct them.

Perhaps the last sentence is what the point of the film is; probably not though, as I’m terrible at reading into things. However, I feel like Gran Torino was built up to be much more than it actually was. You can make a funny film about racism and change like Higher Learning or you can make a serious, heartfelt one like Save the Last Dance, but I don’t think you can do both. I feel like the episode of Saved by the Bell where Jessie Spano tries to apologize to Lisa Turtle for what her ancestors did does just as much for race relations as this movie. Clint, I respect you and all, but your dumb Polack ass missed the immigrant boat on this one. Perhaps your hardness has gotten to you. I think it’s time to call up that orangutan, Clyde, and do Every Which Way But Loose 2 to get that banana out of your ass.

5 out of 10 unemployment checks.

Review: Let the Right One In

“Will you be my girlfriend?”

“Oskar, I’m not a girl”

The problem with most horror movies is that they disengage the audience as much as possible. Are we not yet tired of seeing a fight between between good and evil, humans and monsters of lore, women running and screaming from the unexplainable? The Swedish film, Let the Right One In, gives us a painfully emotional story of two 12 year olds and their struggle with adolescence. Oh yeah, i should mention that one is a vampire. Wait, adolescence? Yes, they are not fighting legions of mummies that are resurrected by some ancient relic of Amon-Re. Oskar, the film’s leading role, is  just a shy 12 year old boy who just tries to make it through the horrors of grade school.

Oskar is a lonely. His parents are separated, and he is bullied daily at school. He scrapbooks murder stories from the newspaper and releases his anger by swinging his knife at a tree yelling the same obscenities that are used on him.  Oskar finds comfort and guidance through, Eli, a dark haired, fair skin girl who he meets in the neighborhood playground.  

Everything is well with their relationship until Oskar, infatuated with Eli, slits his hand and offers a blood pact. Eli, unable to withstand her urge, leaps to the pool of blood on the ground and demands Oskar to leave the room.  Over time the find their differences meaningless, and they realize their survival is dependent on each other.

Let the Right One In, is a beautiful and moving story regardless of any genre it will be categorized in. Remove the vampires and you could very well have a story just as good. The casting and art direction is perfect. Every scene is shot so well, each frame could hold its own merit as a still photograph. 

Upon a bit research, I discovered that Let the Right One In is based on a Swedish novel of the same title. The novel became a success and has since been translated into four languages. From what i understand, this book and the Twilight series are part of a new genre in the literary world. I haven’t read any of them, but if the stories are crafted this well, I will be excited to see what comes next. As with any literary series with a cult following, I am sure that there are tons of answers to the some obscurities in the film isn’t fully addressed. I am dying to know the origins of Eli’s human father, and I would love to see or read about the complexities of their relationship.

Let the Right One In is scheduled for an American remake in 2010 by Cloverfield director Matt Revees. I do not doubt Reeves ability to to make a successful translation, but i can not imagine the story being better told. I feel a little odd giving my first review a perfect score, but here it is:

10 out of 10 unemployment checks.

Review: His Name Was Jason

Coinciding with the release of the “new” Friday the 13^th movie comes the made-for-TV documentary, His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13^th.   Has it really been 30 years since the original Friday the 13^thmovie was released?  I remember being exposed to the series in 1985 at age 6 when my brother was watching Part III on TV.  It scared the hell out of me and gave me a fear of the woods, cabins, and lakes (especially when together) until I was 12.  However, even though I was scared, I still wanted to watch, and still do to this day.  Needless to say I was pretty excited when I first heard about this documentary was being made.  Unfortunately, with the exception of getting to see some of my favorite characters again, HNWJ did not do the franchise justice in terms of groundbreaking material. 

First off, how do you gather 30 years’ worth of stories and footage into a 90-minute special?  While there were some interesting bits, there really wasn’t anything that those familiar with the series didn’t already know.  The film just sort of skimmed over everything.  Secondly, who are some of these people providing commentary and why?  Seriously, the guy from Psych?  Was Malcolm-Jamal Warner busy?  Third, I think that some of the interesting facts about the movies were left out and the makers didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes.  For instance, I would have liked to have heard more about Sean Cunningham selling the movie as “the scariest movie off all time” without even having a script written.  I would also have liked to hear more about the competition between Jason’s portrayers.  I know for a fact that Kane Hodder, who played Jason in parts VIII-X, was pissed that he was not asked back for the films that followed.  Fourth, I thought that the parts with special effects master Tom Savini were cheesy and not needed.  I felt like the time spent seeing some girl running around screaming at dead bodies could have been spent on more in depth stories.  It’s almost like the production was sponsored by Universal Studios and was a blatant product placement.  Finally, and perhaps selfishly, I was hoping to see some of the actors who appeared in the films and went on to fame.  Kevin Bacon, Corey Feldman, and Crispin Glover are all Friday the 13^th alumni and I wanted to hear their perspectives.  Perhaps the filmmakers couldn’t work out interviews with them, but what else would they be doing?  I’m pretty sure that Corey Feldman would do anything for any bit money.  Was Crispin Glover too busy looking bat-shit crazy to be a part of the project?  And Kevin Bacon showed his wang in Wild Things and married Glen Close look-a-like Kyra Sedgwick, so we know his standards aren’t too high. 

Even though I was disappointed in a lot of aspects of the film, there were a few saving graces.  I was happy to see some of my favorite characters again: Shelly and Fox from Part III; Ted “Teddy Bear” from Part IV; Maddy from Part VII; and last but not least, my favorite Friday the 13^th character of all time, Reggie “the Reckless” (I could watch an entire documentary on him alone).  I also found it interesting to see how some of the guys who played Jason look eerily like their character.  The guys who played Jason in Parts I, II, and the new one all have some sort of disfigured look about them.  I find it difficult to believe that much makeup was needed in order for them to gain Jason’s mongoloid look.  I was also amused that Jason’s stunt double in Part II looks like he walked right out of the Italian mafia and onto the set.  Perhaps the funniest thing in the film to me was that there were commentators that took (and still take) Jason Goes to Hell and Jason X seriously.  I love the film series to death but think that those two installments blow.  Come on guys, you wrote the screenplays for or directed these two pieces of crap, don’t act like you wrote Citizen Kane or Teen Wolf. 

For as much as I felt the documentary lacked, I feel that His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13^th was an overall enjoyable experience.  It was almost like watching the movies themselves in that some of the elements are so corny that you can’t help but to laugh at them.  On the whole I feel like both newcomers to the Friday the 13^th series and the die-hard fans can find enjoyment in this project.  For the newbies, it’s like being a virgin and hooking up with the slutty girl in school who you’ve always heard so much about.  And for the die-hards, it’s like spending the night with the homely girl who’s great in the sack and makes you breakfast in the morning; nothing fancy but still enjoyable.   

5 out of 10 unemployment checks