Blood Into Wine

I'm cautiously suggesting this new documentary - Blood Into Wine.

Maynard James Keenan, singer from Tool and A Perfect Circle fame, started a vineyard and wine making facility in northern Arizona a few years ago - a region NOT previously synonymous with either. Blood Into Wine is its story.

With help from Eric Glomski, he's painstakingly started producing a very small amount of grapes (compared to most vineyards) which they sculpt into a couple different blends of vino.

This is a very interesting documentary and the wine - or at least one of the three varieties - sounds like a "Must try". But I have a couple issues with it.

I'm not sure if I'd care one little bit if I weren't a fan of Keenan's. [Maybe my audience could help me answer that.]

Secondly, there are some scenes put in for comic relief that were NOT funny. It's not a good thing to watch a movie for the first time and want to fast forward past certain actors. Yes, actors. Inserted into what appears to be all documentary are splashed a fake cable-access interview show (a-la Wayne's World) that is just way too painful to sit through,

Lastly, there's NO Tool or A Perfect Circle music. They have some of Keenan's Andy Kaufman-esqe band Puscifer, but not Tool?? OK, minor critique at best.

This review really isn't bad. I really enjoyed it - mainly for the interviews with Maynard and Eric. And even a lot of the DVD extras are worthwhile - although most are just unedited, longer versions of what appears in the movie.

Rent and give me your opinion!

War, Inc.

Today's suggestion is a 2008 comedy produced, co-written and starring John Cusack - War, Inc.

It's set in a fictional Middle-Eastern country after the first privately-run war. A US company, headed by a former vice president, sends their ace "trouble shooter" (read: assassin) to take out the opposition. While battling his own old demons, new complications arise as he has to organize a high-profile pop star's wedding and he starts falling for an anti-war journalist.

The cast is great: John Cusack is the assassin, Marisa Tomei as the reporter, Hillary Duff (I never thought I'd blog about a movie with HER!) as the pop star diva, Joan Cusack, Ben Kingsley and Dan Aykroyd. All are superb.

This is a sometimes biting satire, sometimes silly, somewhat violent film with a nod here and there to spaghetti westerns. The action is top-notch and the humor is varied, smart and actually funny!

It's also reminiscent of Grosse Point Blank - not only in cast but in characters, plot and humor. But there are enough distinctions to let this film stand on its own. Rent both and have a double feature!

Sky High

I didn't think Disney made obscure movies. But based on how many of my friends haven't heard of 2005's Sky High I may have to revise this axiom.

This is a delightful and clever comedy about a boy, Will Stronghold, finding his way through his first year of high school. Will is the son of 2 superheroes (Kurt Russell and Kelly Preston), and thus goes to Sky High, a school devoted to teaching teens with super powers.

The cast is amazing - especially the school's staff; including Lynda Carter, Bruce Campbell (!!), and Kids In The Hall stars Dave Foley and Kevin McDonald.

Even its soundtrack is good: 80's songs covered by various artists (and done well), like Devo's hit Through Being Cool performed by They Might Be Giants.

As you may have guessed already, this Disney movie is not for little kids. But I'd suggest this for anyone older than a high school freshman. Adults will really like this too. In fact, I'd put this in my favorite high school movies!

Not the Messiah - He's a Very Naughty Boy

This week's suggestion is mainly for you Monty Python fans - 2010's Not The Messiah.

Filmed at a one-time only showing at London's prestigious Royal Albert Hall. Eric Idle and John Du Prez, the creators of Spamalot, give Python's Life of Brian the same treatment as they did Holy Grail (Spamalot).

This is not a play, as Spamalot is. Rather it's an oratorio - meaning it's just singers, Eric Idle and some memorable cameos standing on-stage in front of a symphony orchestra. There isn't much acting unfortunately, mainly singing.

The other slight drawback for me was that it made me want to watch Life of Brian again (oh nooooooo!)

The singers, orchestra and choir are all excellent and it's a really good show. So if you enjoy Monty Python I'd recommend renting this.

Zombieland

Time to change things up - in more ways than one.

2009's Zombieland is a lot more mainstream than I usually review but...

Every once in a while you watch a movie that captures your sense of humor so perfectly that it becomes an instant classic - like Tremors, Clerks, Supertroopers and now Zombieland.

It's about...it's a zombie flick, do you really need a plot summary??

And like the other movies I just mentioned, this is NOT to be taken too seriously. (Zombie flick!) Sure it's predictable in spots, but it more than makes up for that with it's humor.

This has instantly become my favorite zombie movie, by far. Sorry, George A. Romero, I love the idea of the zombie allegory, but Zombieland is such a pleasure to watch, it's got you beat.

It's not nearly as scary as most zombie movies and not as gory. Although there is some gore. (Zombie flick!)

Rent Zombieland!

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

I'd consider this week's suggestion a Must See! It's the 2008 World War II drama The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

It's about an 8-year old boy and his family who move from the big city, Berlin, to the country. Bruno, the boy, finds it boring and lonely in his new surroundings so he explores the woods behind his house and makes an unusual friend, to say the least, in another boy his age.

This is a BBC film and everyone, including the American actress playing the mother, has a thick British accent that is hard to understand at points. There - that's the bad stuff. (Some have complained about the pacing, especially early, but it's a DRAMA. Shut up, sit still and watch!)

I was skeptical of the premise going in, but the plot is handled with care and precision. All the characters are very 3-dimensional. but most of all, they did wonderful job with the script capturing the innocence of childhood!

This is what sets this movie apart from other great WWII movies - It really is seen though the eyes of a child.

Perhaps, best of all, this movie is hard hitting - how can it not be - but it does not beat you over the head with a sledgehammer like many war movies do.

Better Than a Movie

I'm taking a brief holiday, as the Brits would say, from blogging.

There is something a lot more exciting to watch. Especially this year!!

I hope it's a long, good series and I wish I could watch every single minute of it. (silly eastern time zones!)

Beer Wars

Here's an interesting, informative and entertaining documentary, 2009's Beer Wars.

Written and directed by Anat Baron, a former executive for Mike's Hard Lemonade, this movie describes the fight micro-breweries have to endure to try to compete with the "Big Three" (Anheuser-Busch, Coors, and Miller).

I've been interested in this subject ever since Coors bought the rights to Caffrie's Cream Ale and then refused to sell it in the U.S.A.

Do not be put off if you're not a beer snob/aficionado/casual fan. This documentary doubles nicely as a Big-corporations-are-too-greedy essay.

Information is abundant in the movie. I learned Stella Artois, Kirin, Bass and other "good" imported beers' rights are owned by Anheuser-Busch, if not owned outright, for example.

There are a few problems with Beer Wars. The female subject isn't nearly as sympathetic as she should be, and Anat spends almost all her time on the east coast. Stone Brewery and Mike's are mentioned in passing, but those are the only mentions of anything west coast - Odd, I thought, as the micro-brews are doing so well here.

But over-all I liked this movie and would recommend renting (or streaming) it!

Shinobi: Heart Under Blade

I'm suggesting the next movie to a very select few. I just watched Shinobi: Heart Under Blade and enjoyed it. But I don't think very many people will.

Shinobi is billed as X-men meets Romeo and Juliette, and it doesn't lie. Two ancient clans of warriors (each warrior has a different 'special ability') face off to determine the rightful ruler of Japan. Unfortunately for them, two happen to have just fallen in love.

What I liked about it:
A] It was adapted from a Manga [anime] series, and indeed it is a well-done, for the most part, live-action anime. The action scenes are stunning. The characters' super powers are as realistic as super powers get and well shot. B] This movie is beautiful to look at, especially the backrounds and scenery. C] They introduce the love story and then leave it at the door - no cornyness here. D] Its many references to my favorite anime movie Ninja Scroll.

What I didn't like about it:
A] It was really hard to follow in spots! B] It's ending. I won't say any more in case you actually rent it. But really, unless you're a big fan of anime, I don't think this is a good rental for you.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

I'm starting a crusade of my very own this week. Go out and rent (and then buy???) The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus!

I'm doing this to spite the silly company (not gonna give them any hype here) who decided they'd release a Terry Gilliam movie but treat it as movie-non-grata. They gave it absolutely no advertising and a very limited release - and in a very akward way. [Explitive deleted] studio!

The movie studios should know by now that Gilliam has a devoted following and should have at least tried to market this film.

OK. So it's probably not his best film ever. But it is still very good. Any fan of Gilliam will appreciate and like this film - and in a new way.
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Gilliam has always displayed a vivid imagination in his movies - but has done so in a now outdated way with lavish, grandiose sets - and, to paraphrase my friend Bug, the technology finally caught up with him. This is, by a million miles, his finest looking film. He uses digital effects for the first time. And it is beautiful where it's supposed to be, bleak where it should be! (Bigger screen TVs will be more effective here.) I was very upset that it didn't win the Oscar for Art Direction.
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Imaginarium is about Dr. Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) who has a running bet with the Devil (Tom Waits). The entire cast is spectacular! The story and script are better than average.
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This is Heath Ledger's last movie. He died while filming. But he had completed all his "real life" scenes. So after much deliberation, Gilliam got Heath's acting buddies to fill in for the dream-like scenes. But this is not a distraction. On the contrary, I think it adds to it.
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As I eluded to, non-Gilliam fans might not dig this movie as much because of its subtle humor, pace, and a python-esque scene or two.
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But I'm still urging everyone: Please, at least rent this movie. Show the Big Corporate Studio that original directors like Gilliam still have an audience!

Live from Baghdad

Here's another good HBO film to rent. It's a docu-drama from 2002 called Live from Baghdad.

Based in Baghdad (go figure), a CNN crew struggles to cover the lead up to the 1991 Gulf War.

This is an interesting film. It highlights the rise of the 24-hour news network, while showing the CNN crew struggling with moral dilemmas while still trying to get actual news out of a very secretive regime.

Michael Keaton and Helena Bonham Carter star as the producers of the film crew. Both do an excellent job, as do the rest of the cast.

Music Within

Here's an inspirational movie based on a true story: 2007's Music Within.

Ron Livingston (Office Space) stars as Richard Pimentel. Richard looses almost all his hearing in the Vietnam war. He comes home and finds a new calling - fighting to get wounded vets and otherwise disabled people jobs.

There are a few problems with the movie, like Ron Livingston is not able to pass as a 19 or 20-year old. And it is rated R for bad language, so kids who'd be able to learn quite a bit from it are not its target audience, I guess.

But otherwise this is a really good movie. Your emotions will run the gamut. It's funny, touching, tragic, and inspiring. And most importantly, it's honest. Here's a real biography of a real person - good and bad.

It's also worth watching 2 of the DVDs extra features: the making of, and actual live footage of the real Richard Pimentel.

Primer

This week my suggestion is a real low budget movie: 2004's Primer.

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It was written, directed by and stars Shane Carruth. And he managed to make it for under $8,000. Needless to say, you won't recognize any of the actors.

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Without giving too much away, it's about 4 guys who use their spare time to invent stuff in their garage. Their latest sci-fi-like contraption threatens their bonds, in more ways than one.

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This is a good movie. It is slow paced, but stick with it. It's intelectual and realistic for a sci-fi based concept.

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

This week's suggestion is called Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai.

Forest Whitaker portrays a thoughtful antihero, a modern-day hit man who lives by the code of the samurai, who has sworn to protect the mafia member who saved his life. Things soon turn nasty when the mob put a hit out on him.

This is a really interesting movie - mixing action and philosophy, mafia and samurai, modern and ancient.

I found a couple problems with the realness of some of the action scenes, and it has an odd flow to it. It's not a typical Hollywood action flick. But that's the point here.

Closet Land

I'm going to break my own rule here. This is a super obscure movie that I loved watching when it first came out on VHS (1991), but haven't been able to see it since. Netflix doesn't have it so if you have a Mom & Pop video store near you that has a great selection you may still be able to watch this. And I highly recommend that you do!

Closet Land is a little movie - 2-person cast - produced by Amnesty International. But both actors are amazing in it - Alan Rickman (Die Hard) and Madeleine Stowe (12 Monkeys).

It's about a children's book writer (Stowe) who is imprisoned and interrogated at length for suspected political messages in her books.

Rickman 's use of accents is especially good as the interrogator. But it's when his accents slip that it gets really intriguing.

This is a superb look a dark subject, nuanced and intelligent. A true study of human nature.

Sukiyaki Western Django

This week's suggestion is a bit more off the beaten path, so to speak, than usual. It's also for a limited audience.

Sukiyaki Western Django is the film. Its a 2007 Japanese movie that Quentin Tarantino helped produce, and has a small (thank God) part in.

It's billed as an "East meets West western" and it doesn't lie. It's a spaghetti western where the characters are equally adept with a six-shooter as a samurai sword.

This is Yojimbo remade with a cult-type of intent. (Yojimbo was later remade as A Fistful of Dollars and Last Man Standing.) Gunslinger wanders into a town where neither of the two rival gangs can get an upper hand and plays them off each other.

Sukiyaki will have a bigger audience in Japan because of some of the campiness. But if you don't mind a little 'camp', aren't too upset by generous amounts of violence or gore, and like westerns and swordplay, this is a good film to rent.

I know that's a bunch of caveats, but here are two more. You need to watch this with the subtitles on - the accents are just too thick to understand. You'll need to somehow get past Quentin Tarantino's awful imitation of a Japanese accent - which borders on insulting, but is fortunately over after the first five minutes.

Black Moon Rising

This week's film is an 80's action classic: Black Moon Rising.

This is another HBO movie, never making a theatrical release. But it was written by John Carpenter - 'nuff said?

No? OK. It stars Tommy Lee Jones, before he got really famous, as a thief hired by the FBI to steal records from a company they've been investigating. Things take a turn toward the complicated when he has to hide the tape in a prototype car....which then gets stolen.

This is a good heist movie with a lot of realistic action, even tho the super car isn't realistic, the characters don't bounce right back up after they're knocked down. And the acting is good for an 80s action flick.

Rent this if you're in the mood for a no-brainer action flick.

The Dogs of War

This week I'm suggesting another "older" film - The Dogs of War.

Christopher Walken plays a mercenary hired to start a coup in a small African country rich with valuable minerals. But soon after his arrival he's exposed and captured.

This is a pretty faithful adaptation of Frederick Forsyth's novel. Forsyth writes a bit like Tom Clancey - too much dry detail for 1 movie. But The directer and editor do good jobs eliminating the unnecessary.

This was made in 1980. So it's a bit slow by today's standards. This is not a Hollywood summer blockbuster. There aren't action scenes every 10 minutes.

But if you have a little bit of patience, this is a good movie. Walken is awesome! So are the atmosphere and characters.

Pi

This week's suggestion is Darren Aronofsky's 1998 masterpiece, Pi.

I know a lot of my friends have already seen this movie. But I'm writing this anyway for the few people I know who haven't seen it yet, and also because this is independent movie making at it's best.

It's about a paranoid, obsessive compulsive mathematician searching for order in nature's chaos. There are also forces trying to recruit him to work for their darker purposes.

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This is not a dumbed-down Hollywood summer blockbuster. This is a really intelligent film, mixing numerology with Kaballah and Wall Street.

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Don't worry if you're not a math-wiz. Everything is explained and ingeniously creative.

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Being shot entirely in black and white also helps give it the "Indy" feel. The acting and direction are top-notch and even the soundtrack of music I typically don't like fits in perfectly. This is a must-see!

Fanboys

This week's suggestion is a bit of a conundrum for me. I really liked this movie - thanks for the recommendation, Bug! - but I think most of the people I know who would like it have already seen it. But I'll take the chance and review it anyway.

The movie in question is the 2008 comedy Fanboys. With no big-named director or actors, it's about a group of Star Wars fanatic (fanboy) friends (circa 1999) who venture to the Skywalker Ranch to steal a copy of the much-awaited Star Wars I - The Phantom Menace, since one of their group is dying and won't be around for the theatrical release.

This is a good comedy, but I think most of the references are too specific for the "common" audience. This movie if for Sci-fi fans. Not so much only for Star Wars fans, but Trekkies (Trekkers??) and sci-fi buffs in general will enjoy this movie. If you know who Wedge, Sarek and Starbuck are you'll get a lot of the humor.

Other references are more obscure, like the guards at Skywalker Ranch dressed in THX 1138 costumes, but not critical to the enjoyment of this movie. I didn't get all the obscure references, but it would help if you got more of them than you missed.

The band Rush also has a surprisingly prominent role in the humor (alas, no cameo), which I, personally, greatly appreciated!

Fanboys is a little cliche at points, but it also made me literally laugh out loud at times. And the cameos were priceless!

Rent if you're even close to being a sci-fi geek!

Moon

This week you get two reviews for the price of one!

I just watched 2009's Moon, which I would suggest renting! Thanks, Brian, for recommending it to me!

To call Moon a sci-fi movie may give the wrong impression - there are no aliens, ship-to-ship combat scenes or anything in general exploding. This is a good psychological thriller that happens to take place on the far side of the Moon.

Written (original story) and directed by Duncan Jones, it's about a miner/astronaut who, approaching the end his three-year stint alone on the Moon , wonders if he's losing his mind due to strange events. A lot more is involved.

It's got a small cast, but they are all excellent - Sam Rockwell, in particular, as the astronaut and Kevin Spacey as the voice of the computer.

This is a good movie - it's atmospheric enough that it moves quite well and doesn't get boring, and it leaves you thinking about it afterwards. But I'd stop right there. I wouldn't call it great, but it is very worth seeing.

Moon kept reminding me of another movie: 2002's Solaris. Both have similar themes and subjects, but Solaris, based on a 1972 Russian film, is more diabolical but a lot SLOWER!

So, I'd suggest renting Moon. And if you liked that and can sit through a 2001-like tempo and want something a little darker - Solaris is right for you!

True Stories

This week's suggestion is a bit older. It's a comedy from 1986 called True Stories.

David Byrne (of the rock band Talking Heads), who directed, co-wrote and stars, takes a satirical visit to a typical Texas town while it's celebrating it's sesquicentennial.

This isn't a laugh out loud Airplane or Holy Grail-type comedy, it's a lot more subtle, as most satires tend to be.

And as I mentioned, it is an older movie, but I don't find it dated. The clever writing, visuals and quirky characters are just as effective today.

This movie is enhanced by the numerous Talking Heads songs. But even if you're not a fan of the music I think there's enough other good stuff in here to entertain you.

9

It's hard to say how obscure this movie is since it just came out on DVD. But just judging on how long it was in theatres and how much money it didn't rake in...

9 is definitely a movie to rent!

It's not the greatest movie ever. The preview made it seem like a non-stop action flick - which it is NOT. The script leaves a bit to be desired. And it's based on a short film created by a film student (Shane Acker, who directed and co-wrote), so don't be expecting a Citizen Kane...

That being said, this is still well worth seeing. It's got a cute story. And the animation is simply amazing! ...Especially the use of focus, backgrounds, and the charming main characters made of burlap.

This is not a movie for the little kids, as the PG-13 rating attests, but it's food for the soul, so to speak, for the little kid inside all of us so-called grownups.

DO NOT RENT THIS!

I was all set to love this movie. I just joined Netflix and I really wanted this to be my first film rented. I'm a huge Terry Gilliam fan. And poor reviews are practically meaningless when it comes to his works...

Except in this case!

Normally, I wouldn't waste the time in writing a bad review. But this film warrants it.

According to the introduction by Gilliam himself, it's about a child's resilience and innocence. But Gilliam not only missed the mark, he wasn't even in the same zip code. There are scenes in this movie (way too numerous) I found totally inappropriate - and I'm not that squeamish.

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This is a colossal waste of a potential viewer's time. There's no conflict in this story: no obstacles to overcome (inner or otherwise), no justice to be sought. It's just 2 hours of the worst, most scarring childhood imaginable.

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For all you other Gilliam fans out there (or just film fans in general), and I cannot stress this enough, DO NOT bother with this one! Go see Imaginarium of Doctor Parnasus instead.