Review — Let Me In

[Reviewed by: Danny Moltrasi]

“I’m a lot stronger than you think.”

Let Me In, was seen as the perfect example of a remake of a non-English speaking film that was utterly, utterly pointless. And to tell the truth, in many ways that point is still completely right. However, Let Me In and its director Matt Reeves have a film that balances keeping enough of the original theme and tones, while also going a small way to legitimize the film as a stand-alone piece of cinema. It is far from perfectly, and in my opinion not as good as the Swedish original, however it is still, in its own way, a good film, and a good piece of horror.

Review — The Kids Are All Right

[Reviewed by: Danny Moltrasi]

"I dont think you guys should break up."

The Kids Are All Right, is a film that may end up being looked back in history as a fairly important film. It looks all set to do well in the award season, with Oscar buzz being around it for most of the year now. It also gives us a film where the two parents happen to be lesbians, but the key point here is that, in fact, this is not the key part of the film. Our characters just happen to be lesbians. This is rather, a film about parental relationships being shaken up by the introduction of another man into their family, rather than a film about a lesbian couple. The Kids Are All Right is far from perfect, but it is a good, well rounded film, with a very good heart. It seems likely to take the Oscar Best Picture spot for the quirky, ‘independent film’ that has recently been given to the likes of Little Miss Sunshine, Juno and Precious. It is debatable if these films are better or worse than The Kids Are All Right, but I think it is safe to say that The Kids Are All Right will be remembered for a longer time.

Review — Hatchet 2

[Reviewed by: Eric Raymer]

Slashers didn’t always used to be predictable, watered-down, remakes targeted at teenagers. Okay, maybe that’s not entirely true. But when they’re at their best, they possess a manic energy and dark sense of humor that doesn’t have to resort to self-aware, tongue-in-cheek laughs (Scream franchise, I’m looking at you). Adam Green’s Hatchet was a throwback to the best slashers of the eighties, and it succeeded in capturing their spirit. However, sequels in this genre don’t usually turn out so well. Can Hatchet II pull it off?

Review — Paranormal Activity 2

[Reviewed by: Danny Moltrasi]

“Nothing can prepare you...”

First of all, let me start by saying that I really enjoyed the original Paranormal Activity. I thought it was spooky, atmospheric and creepy. Paranormal Activity 2, on the other hand, throws all of this away and resorts to cheap jump out scares. Pretty much everything that made Paranormal Activity good, and one of the biggest successes of 2009 cinema, is sadly left. Instead what we are given is an annoying family who have a pool cleaning machine that goes on walkabouts. Not exactly high art.

Modern Classics — Mulholland Dr. (2001)

[Reviewed by: Alex Miller]

Perhaps one of the best examples of how bad the Academy is at picking the best film of the year, Mulholland Dr. was not even nominated for Best Picture in 2001. Instead they chose Ron Howard’s competent but all too formulaic and forgettable A Beautiful Mind that year. Although Director David Lynch (The Elephant Man, Dune, Lost Highway) did win Best Director at Cannes, it took time for some people to give the film the acclaim it truly deserves. It’s understandable in that if there was ever a film that DEMANDED repeat viewings it is this one. It is the first and only movie I have ever watched and then immediately rewinded and watched again (mind you it’s a 2.5hr long movie). I was interested but confused the first time, understandably so I think. The second time I wanted to go erect a statue in my yard in dedication to this cinematic achievement. If you missed out on this film when it came out, STOP READING as it is impossible to discuss this movie at any level of detail without completely ruining it for you. Go watch it, then read this, then go watch it again.

Criterion Review — 3 Women (1977)

[Reviewed by: Alex Miller]

1977 was a year in which many cinematic classics were released – Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Annie Hall, The Goodbye Girl, & The Spy Who Loved Me just to name a few. Yet when Roger Ebert made his list of the 10 best films from 1977 his top pick was a film most haven’t even heard of, much less seen – 3 Women. I recently saw the Criterion edition DVD sitting in my local library and knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see what all the fuss was about. I wasn’t disappointed.

Review — Made in Dagenham

[Reviewed by: Danny Moltrasi]

“Every single one of us, is entitled to the same pay as men.”

Made in Dagenham tells the story of how a group of small female workers in a Ford Dagenham assembly plant decided to stand up and change the world. Directed by the man behind Calendar Girls, Nigel Cole, we are presented with an uplifting story about the ability to change things through having strong morals and persistence. A fairly light-hearted film that never really gets out of its comfort zone, however Made in Dagenham is still a thoroughly enjoyable, and educational film on a landmark moment in British political history.

Cult Classics — Pink Flamingos (1972)

[Reviewed by: Danny Moltrasi]

“Kill everyone now! Condone first degree murder! Advocate cannibalism! Eat shit! Filth is my politics! Filth is my life!”

Wow, wow, wow. Pink Flamingos, ‘the filthiest film’ around, certainly lives up to that lofty claim. I had the… chance to see it, and I think it’s fair to say that it will stay with me for a long, long time. I have never, ever coward at the screen in shock like this before, and I have rarely laughed as hard as I did at times as well. The complete, utter insanity of the film is mind-blowing, yet it has the ability to keep you hooked. I don’t want to look at the screen, but I don’t want to miss what’s going on. Pink Flamingos is one of the strangest things you’re ever likely to witness, and because I feel this film is so far out of my comfort zone, I honestly don’t feel I can rate it. Just take my review for what it is…