The first half focusses mainly on character development, and the second half on action. There was no way they could surpass the ladder scene from the previous film, but they gave it a damn good try.
3½ needles in the face out of 5
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Once Upon a Time in China 2 (1992)
The first half focusses mainly on character development, and the second half on action. There was no way they could surpass the ladder scene from the previous film, but they gave it a damn good try.
3½ needles in the face out of 5
2012 - Cuckoo's Year In Review
The Nutshell reviewed nearly 100 films that came out in 2012, so you'd think it would be difficult to narrow them down to a list. Not so. I saw only a few that really stuck out as being really good or really bad. I saw several that were really decent and would be more than willing to recommend but just couldn't make the "best of" list in my opinion.
Here's my Top 10 Favorites of 2012:
click on the titles for mini-reviews
10) FRANKENWEENIE
9) KOTOKO
8) HOLY MOTORS
6) ARGO
4) AMOUR
1) LIFE OF PI
Honorable Mentions:
...and of course, there's the cream of the crap.
Granted there's worse films released last year (Will Ferrell, Tyler Perry, Nicolas Cage & Adam Sandler, I'm looking at you) but these are the ones I was able to stomach subjecting myself to. So here they are...
The 5 worst films of 2012:
Agree? Disagree? Have a list of your own?
I'd love some thoughts from other folks.
Wednesday, 30 January 2013
A ROYAL AFFAIR [2012]
aka En kongelig affære
Nikolaj Arcel, the screenwriter of the original The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo directs the rich & compelling romantic period drama, A Royal Affair.
Set in Denmark in the 18th Century, during the reign of the mentally ill King Christian VII, the story follows the queen who begins a romance with the kings most favored physician. Aided by some solid performances by the 3 core cast members, the film not only revolves around the romance but a interesting and at times infuriating story about a political & religious revolution It's a delicately detailed and absorbing period piece that will either win you over with it's intriguing story or scare you away with it's "old stuffy" historical storytelling.
4 kings in a tree out of 5
Once Upon a Time in China (1991)
The feeling that an era is ending fills the film with poignancy and is perhaps most evident in Shi-Kwan Yen’s magnificent performance. He’s not the star of the show, but he’s the one that draws my sympathies most.
OUaTiC was my introduction to Tsui Hark's film-making style and remains the benchmark by which I measure all his other works.
4½ shadowless kicks out of 5
HOLY MOTORS [2012]
Director Leos Carax makes his bold return to the cinema after a 13 year hiatus, with gloriously weird and hypnotizing Holy Motors.
It follows the bizarre story of a man who rides around in a limousine and assumes the role of a different persona with each stop he makes. Some personalities are humorous, others disturbing, some sad and some just downright baffling. It seems to switch from genre to genre with great ease, maintaining a certain tone and mood, while bouncing all over the place. With memorable imagery, rich performances and batshit crazy situations, Holy Motors is an experience that doesn't come around every day.
4 Les yeux sans visage masks out of 5
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 [2012]
The 4th film in the inane Paranormal Activity series might just be for the diehard fans only.
It offers nothing but a few lukewarms scares and some interesting new gimmicks but simply not enough to shake things up a little. Thankfully the lead character and her friend aren't written as the usual spoiled teenage bitch & douchebag and instead come off as smart & easy to like. Be sure to check back sometime later this year for a Nut of the 5th film because, well, I like torturing myself for your sake, gentle reader.
1 X-box Kinect pixel dot out of 5
IRON SKY [2012]
Älymystö vocalist and Star Wreck director Timo Vuorensola hams it up in the sci-fi b-film Iron Sky.
Playing like a serial adventure of yesteryear, the film takes the concept of a Nazi invasion from the moon and has an absolute ball with it.
It teeters between witty political satire and just plain dumb but never ceases to have fun doing it. For the limited budget that the producers had to work with, it's actually quite a striking looking picture with CGI that may not look realistic but fits with the pulpy tone that is was trying to set. For what it's worth, I'd recommend it to anyone that isn't embarrassed to watch a film about space Nazis in the future.
3 Blacks To The Moon out of 5
Tuesday, 29 January 2013
BAD ASS [2012]
Craig Moss, known for generally bad spoof films, directs Danny Trejo in Bad Ass, a film that takes pride in being...well...bad.
Loosely inspired by the AC Transit Bus Fight, this C-movie is brought up a few notches from Trejo's surprisingly grizzled, yet charismatic performance. Beyond that, it's really, really bad and occasionally quite funny for it's terrible dialogue, nonsensical situations and a climatic bus chase that's footage is so obviously stolen right out of Red Heat with some minor digital alterations. I don't know if were intended to recognize it but if not it makes all the more funnier.
2 amber lamps out of 5
CHICKEN WITH PLUMS [2012]
aka Poulet aux prunes
Vincent Paronnaud & Marjane Satrapi, the co-writer/directors of the animated Persepolis, re-team for the quirky drama, Chicken With Plums.
Like their previous film it mixes emotional drama with a touching sense of humour, only this time it's mostly live action mixed with a wide variety of styles, including animation, a parody of American sitcoms, fairy tale surrealism and beautifully painted backdrops over models. Unfortunately while they're focusing on being funny with the cowardly protagonist, the adding depth to characters is forgotten. Therefore the dramatic moments lack any sort of impact or sorrow, with the exception of the scenes featuring Golshifteh Farahani's small yet powerful performance. It's got aim but never meets it.
2½ curious Angels Of Death out of 5
STAR WARS - THE CLONE WARS [2008]
Wow. What a way to leave a sour taste in one's mouth when completing a run of Star Wars films.
Serving as sort of like a "further adventures of...", The Clone Wars is a CGI animated film that's set during the "prequel" days.
Directed by Dave Filoni (Avatar: The Last Airbender), the film makes you realize just how much of a creative spark Lucas added to his lacklustre prequel films. It might have some interesting character designs that are pretty reminiscent of the old Thunderbirds marionettes but the dialogue is outrageously bland, the action scenes have no soul to them and the whole set-up is frustratingly annoying. As a Saturday morning cartoon it might work, as a feature film it's an insult to movie-goers.
1 lack of title scrolls out of 5
For an alternate expanded review of this film check out The Nut Box.
For an alternate expanded review of this film check out The Nut Box.
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (2010)
aka: Fist of Fury: The Legend of Chen Zhen
Chen Zhen was originally played by Bruce Lee and then by Jet Li; if anyone is qualified enough to follow those two, then it's surely Donnie Yen.
The film picks up seven years after the events of Fist of Legend (1994). Chen is living in post-war Shanghai, which remains under Japanese control. He longs to see a China free from oppression, but he's forced to keep a low profile lest he draw attention to the underground resistance.
The story could've been better, it really stretches the credibility of the Chen Zhen character, but the martial arts scenes are as violent as ever and the film is visually impressive.
3½ Kato masks out of 5
Shivers (1975)
Shivers is crude and suffers from some clunky pacing in the middle section, but the imagination and the sense of dread that it exudes raise it up. The threat isn't intentionally malevolent, it’s simply trying to survive; that erosion of good and evil makes it all the more terrifying.
Viewers not familiar with his work may laugh at the meaty ‘phallic turds’, but if they do they’re missing the point.
3 bathtub buddies out of 5
THE DEVIL'S CARNIVAL [2012]
Director Darren Lynn Bousman & writer Terrance Zdunich (Repo! The Genetic Opera) return to the dark rock opera world in The Devil's Carnival.
The first in a proposed series of 3, the film clocks in at 56 minutes, leaving you wanting more as soon as the credits being rolling. It's dark, twisted and morbidly entertaining with just enough colorful, zany flair to keep it from getting too morbid. Like in Repo!, it's painfully obvious that Bousman & Zdunich have seen Forbidden Zone one too many times but it never takes away from the enjoyment of this experience.
3½ Aesop Fables out of 5
THE PAPERBOY [2012]
With it's exploitative & lurid plot, large host of despicable characters and other-timely trashy fashion sense, Lee Daniels' The Paperboy is by all means the definition of "pulpfiction".
It's got a lot of layered, impressive performances, particularly Nicole Kidman, but for some reason Daniels seems to think he can carry a whole film on just that. The story is nothing we've never seen before and gives us no reason to give any thought to the actions onscreen. With it's numerous themes and conflicts bouncing around it might have tried to insert some warmth or heart into the story but instead it seems to find itself all too comfortable in the seediness of the world.
2 gator guts out of 5
Monday, 28 January 2013
CHRONICLE [2012]
I'm getting awfully tired of the superhero and found footage trends in film, so I went into Chronicle with leery expectations.
Director Josh Trank & writer Max Landis' feature film debut started out pretty much like every other found footage film but the intrigue and dread slowly crept up after the 30 minute mark. It captures your attention with a realistic view on the superpower genre, while never really relying on the found footage gimmick and instead integrates it into the storytelling with subtle yet effective ideas. Graced with some strong lead performances by a bunch of unknowns, Chronicle is a fine addition to two tired film genres.
3½ buddhist monks out of 5
HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA [2012]
Director Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter's Laboratory & Samurai Jack) makes his feature film debut with the CGI animated film, Hotel Transylvania.
It's not necessarily a great film but the energy put into the animation and character design is enough to keep an eye on it. Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg and Kevin James surprised me with some strong voice work that brought a lot to their characters and expressions. It supplies a few chuckles for the adults but will mostly attract the younger viewers with it's upbeat and vibrant mood.
3 Sumatran Rat-Monkeys out of 5
STAR WARS - EPISODE VI - RETURN OF THE JEDI [1983]
The sixth installment of George Lucas' Star Wars saga, Return Of The Jedi, is probably the chapter I have the most fondest childhood memories of.
However over the years director Richard Marquand's film doesn't stand up as well as the it's classic predecessor. It feels as it's already acknowledged who these characters are and waste no time on any sort of development, instead focus on some insanely cool action pieces and creepy, crawly puppet work. It's not exactly a work of art but it is highly entertaining and imaginative, so you get exactly what you should expect.
3½ unamed, teddy bear like creatures named by marketing whores out of 5
Last Order: Final Fantasy VII (2005)
I've witnessed some fanboys get in a tizzy over certain plot discrepancies, and I guess if I was a VII fanboy then I'd be tizzy too, but I'm not.
Animation is by Madhouse, so it's high quality. But the extra story is far from essential unless you're one of the aforementioned fans.
2½ friendly rivalries out of 5
Sans Soleil (1983)
Its complexity never once threatens to overwhelm its narrative, which is both separate from the 16mm film and utterly dependent on it.
It also contains within it the most perfect deconstruction of Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo (1958) that I've ever seen or heard.
5 things that quicken the heart out of 5
Dolan's Cadillac (2009)
2½ specific varieties of Sherry out of 5
The Matrix Revisited (2001)
You get to see Yuen Woo-ping at work, which was a real treat for me.
The film also functioned as a kind of promotion vehicle for the then unreleased sequels.
It'll be of great interest to film students and Matrix fans, but I don't imagine Joe Public will get overly excited by it.
3½ simulacra out of 5
V/H/S [2012]
V/H/S is a collaborative effort of several short "found footage" films framed by another "found footage" film, all of which have next to nothing to do with each other.
It might feature some interesting concepts and effective scares but never really seems to gel together to form a stronger impression. I pretty much got exactly what I was expecting and admittedly was entertained by a few of the better segments but none of it leaves much of an afterthought.
2 homicidal video glitches out of 5
THE RAVEN [2012]
John Cusack does his usual self-absorbed "tortured" smartass routine, only this time he's Edgar Allan Poe in James McTeigue's fictional mystery about the final days of the author's life, The Raven.
It's a beautiful looking grisly film that tells a tightly wound little tale that unfortunately has no character to it. We're introduced to Poe's personal problems but they are never utilized in any sort of interesting character conflict, which makes me wonder why the character had to be Poe in the first place. It's got a few moments of intrigue but in the end it adds up to nothing but frustrated disappointment.
2 raccoons out of 5
Sunday, 27 January 2013
ROBOT & FRANK [2012]
Robot & Frank is a thoughtful and quirky indie-drama which serves as the directorial debut from Jake Schreier.
Frank Langella delivers a surprisingly heartfelt performance as an elderly ex-thief who, much to his detest, is forced to live with a robot servant to help with his everyday life. At first it deceives you as being overly simple but as you peel away the layers you find it explores multiple themes and character studies. We're treated to a bittersweet tale about the frailty of age, the disappearance of human interaction in the technological age, the importance of memory and the struggle of loneliness. It's not always a smooth ride but packs in enough laughs, touching moments and thoughtfulness to leave a smile on the face.
4 little astronaut bastards out of 5
Project A (1983)
If you don’t share my nostalgic love of old school Jackie then you may want to deduct half a point from the score.
3 Harold Lloyds out of 5
2046 (2004)
There are some sci-fi elements, which were intended to fill almost half the running time but were scaled down for budgetary reasons; it’s a shame because that part is fascinating visually and the most emotionally engaging.
I would rather have seen the Cannes version because this one left me cold and longing for the heart that warmed the previous film.
2½ train rides out of 5
BATTLESHIP [2012]
Peter Berg's loose "adaptation" of the Hasbro boardgame, Battleship, marks the first time I've Nutted a film without finishing it first.
One hour into it I gave up on this stupid film. In the same style as Michael Bay's Transformers films, Battleship is noisy & generic, horribly written, badly acted and poorly edited with loads of childish humour to boot.
No. Just no.
½ chicken burrito out of 5
DEADFALL [2012]
From The Counterfeiters director, Stefan Ruzowitzky comes the quiet and finely crafted crime drama, Deadfall.
It's a complex character study that's filled with depth, strong emotional conflict and plot threads that threatens to spiral out of control but all meets up in the end. The plot is nothing too special but everything is strengthened by superb acting, beautifully cold photography and wonderful pacing. The writing is so good and deeply layered, you actually find yourself caring about the murderers & criminals in the film but in a different way than Quentin Tarantino's glamorization of the crime life.
3½ barbed wire fences out of 5
Saturday, 26 January 2013
STAR WARS - EPISODE V - THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK [1980]
Irvin Kershner assumes director's duties in place of storywriter George Lucas for the fifth instalment in the Star Wars saga, The Empire Strikes Back.
Widely considered the best of the series, the film is a bold, big space opera sweeping with melodrama, romanticism and big ol' space ships firing lasers. While it is the series' best film, it can't stand on it's own with no real beginning or end to the story. The cold, harsh planet Hoth at the beginning of the film reflects the dread and darkness of the rest of the story. A great achievement in Star Wars history that outdoes the original on every level.
...and yeah, John Williams' Imperial March theme is feckin' awesome.
4 asteroid potatoes out of 5
In the Mood for Love (2000)
It’s a slowly blossoming melodrama that won’t appeal to everyone, but if you’re one of the lucky ones that it speaks to you’ll fall in love.
Wong Kar-wai uses his lens in such a way that his shots made me feel like I was intruding into the characters’ private lives.
4½ rehearsals out of 5
Friday, 25 January 2013
GET THE GRINGO [2012]
Get The Gringo follows Mel Gibson doing what he does best: cracks dry, yet funny lines, looks like a nut and knows how to kick ass with what little resources he has.
A film that sort of snuck past most movie viewers, which is a shame considering there's worse action films of the year that received more undeserved attention. Gringo is pretty simple, predictable and run-of-the-mill but it's Gibson's charms (if you can still call it that), the fresh dialogue and interesting backdrop that make it worth the watch.
3 livers out of 5
AMERICAN MARY [2012]
The Soska Sisters channel their inner Cronenberg for the bizarre, sadistic and oddly hilarious body modification horror film American Mary.
Ginger Snaps' Katharine Isabelle turns in an incredibly impressive performance that completely transforms by the end of the film. Only a few short years after Dead Hooker In A Trunk it's amazing to see how much The Soska Sisters have matured and advanced as filmmakers. The story unfolds at a smooth pace, the camerawork is quite nice and the lighting breathes life into the black & red color palate. This twisted little film isn't for everybody but will certainly find a well-deserved dedicated audience.
4 living cartoons out of 5
PREMIUM RUSH [2012]
Premium Rush is a lightweight "action" film from Jurassic Park & Spider-Man screenwriter David Koepp.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a New York bike messenger hunted down by a crooked cop, played by the always wonderful Michael Shannon. The film is pretty light on thrills or extravagant action scenes and instead feels like an '80's tween "action" film that isn't necessarily good but will be fondly remembered by a handful of kids when they're grown up 15 years from now. Toy Soldiers or The Shadow anyone?
It's a pretty fluffy movie that could have easily gone straight to video had it not the stars to carry the box office weight of the film but still entertaining for their appealing performances.
2½ smiley faces worth a fortune out of 5
BAD KIDS GO TO HELL [2012]
Based on the graphic novel of the same name, Matthew Spradlin adapts his own Bad Kids Go To Hell for the screen.
It's basically The Breakfast Club if it were built on top of an Indian burial ground, so one should expect it not take itself too seriously. I was expecting something creatively unique and wit cleverly buried beneath stupidity like in the highly enjoyable Detention but instead I got something pretty uninspiring, dull and short on the laughs. To add to the disappointment, the kids are so snotty and unlikable it really detracts from any hope of enjoyment.
1 nail gun out of 5
SAFE HOUSE [2012]
Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington deliver some great performances in director Daniel Espinosa's crime thriller Safe House.
The two leads turn in some solid acting, however it's the rest of the fantastic cast that is put to waste as stock characters that have nothing to offer to the character conflicts. The rest of the film is ruined by a predictable plot that has nothing new to offer to the genre and an irksome overuse of the shaky cam effect. It's not offensively bad but leaves little to offer after all is said and done.
2½ guests out of 5
KILLER JOE [2011]
Killer Joe is a brutally sadistic over-the-top black comedy from William Friedkin based on Tracy Letts' play of the same name.
It's gifted with some brilliant performances, particularly Matthew McConnaughey, who as outrageous as they all are, never seem to fall into cartoony type of characters. Like a David Lynch film, you're never sure if you're supposed to be laughing or looking away at the graphic violence unfolding before your eyes. Sadly, the film can be so repulsive it's completely unlikable, especially when you consider how nothing ever really serves a bigger purpose.
2 fried chicken blowjobs out of 5
THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER [2012]
Stephen Chbosky adapts his own coming of age novel, The Perks Of Being A Wallflower for the screen with a heartfelt sincerity.
The leading stars are all fantastic with the help from a strong supporting cast, noting Paul Rudd in a wonderful minor role as a high school English teacher. It's the type of film that could have easily fallen apart with some miscasting or sentimental schmaltz but thankfully it stays true to who the characters are and their realistic reactions to the world around them. Flavored with a healthy dose of early 90's music and cultural references, the film is a constant reminder as my days as an outcast teenager struggling to find a comfortable spot among some sort of social circle.
4 mix tapes out of 5
STAR WARS - EPISODE IV - A NEW HOPE [1977]
The one that started it all. A curse to some. A blessing to others. A New Hope is the first film, while still the fourth film in the groundbreaking Star Wars saga's chronology.
Carried by some exciting new effects (including some dazzling spaceship dogfights), a bar filled with bizarre looking aliens and a battlestation the size of a moon. It brought the brainless sci-fi pulp style of storytelling back into the mainstream paving the way for many copycats to come after it. Sure the dialogue is terrible, the pacing gets really bumpy in the final 30 minutes and Mark Hamill is quite frankly abysmal but it's the type of fun that makes me think of sugary breakfast cereal.
3½ droids you were looking for out of 5
Thursday, 24 January 2013
Hey Ram (2000)
The cover art suggests a typical love story, but it's misleading.
What's this? No subtitles for English language speakers on the songs? Sort that shit out, Eros! And put some love into your DVD transfers.
3 balconies out of 5
Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance (1974)
It's bleak from beginning to end. The dreary feeling is further enhanced by poor lighting and camerawork that's mostly uninspired.
2 blood puddles out of 5
END OF WATCH [2012]
David Ayer (writer of Training Day and The Fast & The Furious) sits in the director's chair for his crime thriller End Of Watch.
No stranger to films about the crime riddled streets of South Central Los Angeles, what Ayer lacks in originality he makes up for it with stark realism. Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña give everything they've got for their bold and surprisingly heartfelt performances. The film's biggest problem is it's pointless use of a "found footage" style of shooting that at times is quite distracting. Still, it's a pretty solid film that sadly seems to have been quickly forgotten for some reason.
3 knives in the eye out of 5
REBELLE [2012]
aka War Witch
Canadian writer/director Kim Nguyen crafts a brutal and disturbing tale in Rebelle. It's about a young girl telling her unborn child of the times she spent as a forced soldier in the Rebel Army in Africa.
It's a difficult film to enjoy but still a tale that needs to be told and acknowledged. Rachel Mwanza stars as the young girl and deserves recognition for her haunting and powerful performance. Beautifully shot and paced with perfection, Rebelle is a film one won't soon forget.
3½ white roosters out of 5
Possession (1981)
NOTE: The edited US version cuts forty minutes, so avoid it at all costs.
4 halves of the face of God out of 5
THE IMPOSSIBLE [2012]
Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor and newcomer Tom Holland deliver some powerful performances in The Orphanage director Juan Antonio Bayona's The Impossible.
Following the story of a family separated during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the film never tugs at the heartstrings for the sake of drama but grounds itself in a reality that is all too frightening and emotionally draining. A realistic retelling of a story about family, the will to survive, glimmers of hope and life & death that's tastefully done.
4 loose pages from a book out of 5
Wednesday, 23 January 2013
YOUR SISTER'S SISTER [2012]
I went into Lynn Shelton's Your Sister's Sister because I'm fond of Mark Duplass and Emily Blunt only to discover it's Rosemarie Dewitt who steals the whole show.
Relying heavily on improvised dialogue, the film explores all sorts of themes in a quiet, thoughtful manner that remains interesting from beginning to end. The believability of the writing and strong performances is funny, heartbreaking and genuinely enjoyable. It does resort to a few overused cliches but never enough to become frustrating.
3 bike rides out of 5
STAR WARS - EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH [2005]
The third installment of George Lucas' Star Wars saga, Revenge Of The Sith, is easily the best of the "prequel" trilogy.
Sure the hokey dialogue and flatlining acting is still firmly intact but it manages to pack in quite a powerful punch with it's melodrama and dazzling action sequences. Visually the film is a masterpiece with it's solid colors and beautifully rendered backgrounds. The final hour sends haunted chills down my spine as it's like watching your childhood's imagination being written before your very eyes. It's great popcorn entertainment that doesn't end with a smile on it's face.
3 uber-aging out of 5
Good Against Evil (1977)
The characters are flat and the twists and turns neither twist nor turn.
It picks up again near the end to become a poor man’s Exorcist (1973), and while it does the anxious priest routine well enough it’s all rather pointless when you can just watch the original film.
A TV series was planned but didn't appear, so there's an open ending.
1½ Satanists never laugh on film out of 5
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Kikujiro (1999)
Kitano has the ability to fill my left eye with tears of sadness while my right eye swells with tears of laughter, all during the same lingering scene. That kind of emotional power is a rare thing.
Regular composer Joe Hisaishi delivers another simple but effectively heart-warming score that's inseparable from the imagery.
5 free rides out of 5
COMPLIANCE [2012]
There's physical torture porn like Saw & Hostel and then there's psychological torture porn like Craig Zobel's Compliance. The story, inspired by true events, follows a prank phone call to a fast food joint that results in the sexual assault of an employee.
Aided by some believable performances, the film digs under your skin and more or less entices you to scream at the screen as the stupidity of these people becomes worse and worse. Ann Dowd is particularly great as the naive restaurant manager that you just want to reach out and slap some sense into her. The film is unique, frustrating and repulsive which is guaranteed to start many a conversation afterwards.
3 aprons out of 5
The Animatrix (2003)
4 nose bleeds out of 5
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