Weekly Capsule Reviews

Maid in Sweden
Directed by Dan Wolman and written by Ronnie Friedland and George T. Norris.

This is an erotic drama, which is an unusual choice for me. I thought it was a well made, if exploitative film, but I didn't like it. Don't get me wrong, I love soft core porn as much as the next guy (especially from Sweden!). But this movie takes a wrong turn early on with a rape scene that is glossed over by both the victim and raper. After that, everything else in the movie was tainted..ya know...with the RAPE! But it is a fairly decent, if standard, end of innocence story.


The Foot Fist Way
Directed by Jody Hill and Written by Jody Hill, Ben Best, and Danny R. McBride.

This was an unusual comedy that I waited a long time to see, since it was so indie it didn't come out in the Cincinnati area. I love Danny R. McBride, and he's been all over the two top comedies I saw this summer (Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder) and I can't say he disappoints in this either. That being said, this movie is a very dark comedy. Its funny, but more in a "hmmm..yes, amusing" kind of way rather than a "hahaha I'm dying here" kind of way. Its good, but don't go in expecting to laugh your ass off, this comedy is more stealthy..like a NINJA.


The TV Set
Written and Directed by Jake Kasdan.

This movie was excellent. If even a tenth of what is portrayed here is true, then I have even more respect for the few shows on television with integrity and quality. Its the story of a writer/creator who struggles to get his pilot made, and then picked up. All the while he is slowly having to compromise his vision. David Duchovny, Signourney Weaver (no one plays a souless bitch quite like you Sigourney!), and Ioan Gruffudd are excellent in this. Its funny, its tragic, its ...kind of, sort of, realistic. Its very watchable!

Jesse "Baron Ironfury" Stevens

Maniac Cop Lives!

On the heels of the recent announcement by Bill Lusting that he and Larry Cohen are going to be doing a Maniac Cop 4, I came across a recent fan film by the highly talented Chris .R. Notarile. Chris is a struggling independent film maker who, for fun and notoriety, has done a number of fan films in the past along with his own original projects. You can checkout his work at Blinky Productions, where you can watch all his fan films, or buy DVD's of his original projects. His latest fan film (which is also serving as a bid to be included as a filmmaker in a new Maniac Cop film) features Matt Cordell himself, the Manaic Cop!

Review: Ghost Son (2006)

Recently I had the awesome chance to go to the Cinema Wasteland convention in Cleveland and meet director Lamberto Bava and actress Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni. These two have made a lot of great films in their time, and a few of them they’ve made together. Unfortunately, while Ghost Son is one of those films they made together, it’s not a great one. As is often the case, Coralina is relegated to a supporting role here. The lead actress of the film is Laura Harring. While this may come as a surprise to some, given her popularity after her breakout in Lynch’s Mulholland Drive, it seems Laura has a soft spot for horror pictures. She has appeared in such gene projects as Silent Night Deadly Night III: Better Watch Out!, Willard, and All Souls Day: Dia de los Muertos. Supporting Laura in the film are actos John Hannah (The Mummy Remake Series), Pete Postlewaite (Ususal Suspects, Alien 3), and Laura Harring’s giant breasts.



The film’s plot concerns Stacey (Laura Harring) moving to Africa to be with her boyfriend Mark (John Hannah) against the urging of her best friend Beth (Coralina). Sadly, in what can only be considered really shitty timing, Mark is killed in a car accident not long after Stacey arrives. She then becomes haunted by Mark’s ghost. He tries to get her to commit suicide, and even rapes her one night; Nice. Soon Stacey finds out she’s pregnant and gives birth to a little boy, only to be really creepily freaked out when Mark possesses their baby and tries to mack on her; Icky. Things get even creepier and weirder from there.



Now, this film is not very good. Don’t get me wrong; the cast is excellent and Bava’s cinematic eye is as sharp as always. The big problem here is that nothing really unpredictable or horrifying happens until the fifty minute mark. By then, if it wasn’t for Ms. Harring’s knockers, I’d be fighting to stay awake. Once the baby becomes possessed by Mark’s ghost, things finally kick in and we’re treated to some really weird and creepy shit. Unfortunately, the films climax is also a bit of a letdown, and is simply underwhelming. The film does benefit greatly though by being shot and set in Africa. This adds a really different vibe to the proceedings and, in my opinion, is an underused setting for genre films in general.



So, while this may be one of Bava’s weaker efforts (mostly due to the uneven script), it’s still worth checking out for fans of Bava, Coralina, or the hot Laura Harring. Even considering the problems here, I’m just happy it’s not a fall from grace for Bava of recent Romero proportions. Check it out.

Noah "Annubis" Soudrette

The Baron's Weekly Capsule Reviews

As I say above, "weekly." I promise, from now on.

Drillbit Taylor
Directed by Steven Brill and Written by Kristofor Brown & Seth Rogen.

This is a fun goofy comedy in the same vein as 40 Year Old Virgin and Superbad. I am not a fan of Owen Wilson at all, yet this movie was funny enough to get me to ignore his inherent mild retardation (thats right, I said retarded. Come get me anti-defamation league!). Its fun to watch nerds, and even a heavy nerd (a rarity in films) fight back and come out on top for a change.

The Kingdom
Directed by Peter Berg and written by Matthew Michael Carnahan.

This is a great movie. It pulls you (the American audience) in right from the beginning, and it doesn't let you go until the closing credits. The characters, the cinematography, the setting, it's all top notch. This may be the best thing I've seen Jaime Fox and Jennifer Garner in (not to mention some good work from Jason Bateman and Chris Cooper). By the end of the movie you understand that not every person from the Arab/Muslim world is a terrorist, but those who are probably will never be moved to stop their atrocities. This is a MUST WATCH!!!

In Bruges
Directed and Written by Martin McDonagh.

This is an excellent bit of dark comedy (emphasis on the dark; think "Hamlet" and you'll get an idea of character survivability in this flick). The cast does an excellent job, even Colin Farrell (a rabid little miscreant who's acting skills I usually despise) playing Ray, an uncouth retard (so the casting took the actors strengths and used them). Over all it's a great little bit of film from a first time writer/director, and if you like black comedies about hitmen/criminals with midget interludes, drug fueled rants about future race wars, and great medieval architecture...well then you will love this movie.

The Darjeeling Limited
Directed by Wes Anderson and Written by Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola, and Jason Schwartzman.

Okay, let me say, I hated this film. The characters are annoying (two of which are portrayed by actors I can't stand: Owen Wilson and Adrien Brody), the plot seems to go nowhere and take forever doing it!, and the short film prelude, is like a micro-cosom of the larger film (i.e. annoying, pointless, and slow). This film acted as the crap chaser that only emphasized the delicious flavors of the "okay to good" films I watched in this batch.

Entourage: Season 4
Created by Doug Ellin.

The show is a very glitzy sharp and funny tale of ultra-hippster actor Vincent Chase and his hangers on (a brother, a manager, and a childhood parasite known as Turtle). This show is a guilty pleasure for me, its a fun look into the industry of shallow values and crazy drama addicts. A friend of mine once declared it Sex and the City for men, and I'm a little embarrassed to say that's not untrue. Season 3 of this show sees our five main characters grow in their industry, if not there lives (though some of that happens too) as Vince and manager Eric (E for short) are producers on Vince's latest starring movie. They will reap the rewards and suffer all the problems this entails.

Battlestar Galactica:
Season 3
Created by Ronald D. Moore

This season of Galactica, more than any previous season, is heavily character driven. The plot is still there, but it kind of takes a backseat to the development of characters and their relationships with other characters. So its not a bad, or poorly made season. But I had to wait to watch this on DVD, quite a long wait my friends. And not seeing the story moved forward as much as I would like after so long a wait, I can't say that didn't annoy me some. And the ending is a cliffhanger! I already get that from Lost guys, I don't need another ultra-serious sci-fi drama that always ends with cliffhangers. It was a good solid season, but not my favorite season so far.

Hot Rod
Directed by Akiva Schaffer and Written by Pam Brady.

I'm not going to lie to you folks. This movie is silly and ridiculous. Its got crazy hilarious fights, large quantities of hair-band music in the score, and even some poop humor. And I loved every minute of it! The cast is super bad-ass! You have recent SNL alumni Andy Samberg and Bill Hader, then you have Danny R. McBride that seems to have exploded into every single funny movie I've seen this summer (Pineapple Express, Foot Fist Way, Tropic Thunder), and then you have Ian McShane as Rod's ultra-tough step-father. This movie is legit. Its too legit, and so it must not ever quit!

News Rant: Poor Kevin Smith

So, Kevin Smith has been ranting on about his "horror film" Red State that he wants to make. While making the rounds on the news site Ain't it Cool News and chatting about his new film Zack and Miri Make a Porn (which sounds way too much like the recent film The Amateurs) he was asked about the status of Red State:

"I'm still trying to find money for Red State, though, admittedly, I haven't been looking that hard yet, since it's not something I'm gonna get to 'til March the earliest. Early prospects, however, look dim. Problem is, the flick is bleak. Beyond bleak, even. Remember how bleak Dark Knight was? This flick makes the bleakness level in that flick seem Beverly Hills Chihuahua bleak. Sadly, while the flick's bleaker than Dark Knight, it's also not nearly as good as Dark Knight. Or as commercial. Or commercial at all, really. The commercial prospects for Red State are not good."

So he's barely asked anyone about funding this project and has already come to the conclusion it's "too bleak". So, it's bleaker than The Strangers, 30 Days of Night, Quarantine or any of the other "bleak" horror flicks released lately? That aside, if it's not as good as Dark Knight, which I liked but didn't think was the holy grail of film making like some, maybe they're shooting it down because... it's not very good! He goes on to say this:

"The question, then, would be "Why bother?" For some reason, I feel like I've gotta make this flick. Part of the reason is that I never really feel like a filmmaker most days; more of a writer who gets to direct his own flicks. Trying my hand at another genre that's 180 degrees away from anything else I've ever done might finally answer the question (for me) of whether or not I truly am a filmmaker, or just the guy who makes the dick and fart jokes movies. I suspect it's the latter. I guess we'll see. Maybe."

What the fuck? Don't get me wrong, I like two of Kevin Smith's films, I don't think he's total shit, but give me a fucking break. Your not sure you're a film maker? So, it takes NINE fucking movies to figure out whether you should just stick to screenwriting? If your not comfortable behind the camera, then get the fuck out of there. I'm sure someone else can make your "dick and fart jokes movies." Stop subjecting the world to what must be the most expensive creative self discovery/wank-fest of all time. You know what? There are lots of film makers out there who do belong behind the camera, so shit or get off the pot. How pathetic.

Noah "Annubis" Soudrette