Sea of Love

Sea of Love, 1989

After the roaring success of Scarface in 1983, Al Pacino had a mid 80's lull. He starred in the disappointing Revolution in 1985 before his longest film hiatus in the last 40 years. It wasn't until Sea of Love in 1989 that he returned to movie theatres.

Directed by Harold Becker (Malice, Mercury Rising), Sea of Love's leading man is Frank Keller (Pacino) - a hard drinking New York detective on the hunt for a serial killer with a penchant for rhyming love poetry. His partner on the case, Sherman (John Goodman), is full of beans and together they invent an orgininal way of setting a trap. But mid investigation, a scarlet woman (Ellen Barkin) enters the frame and poor old Frank is sent into a tailspin.

The build up in this movie is terrific - sharp writing and vibrant characters make it buzz along. Pacino is very good with this sort of material - goading colleagues, wooing women etc. and Goodman is just as enjoyable.

There's a scene between Pacino and Barkin that would be better suited in a David Attenborough doco but I'll let you decide whether it's really good or really bad.

There is nothing too remarkable about Sea of Love but it did mark the start of an incredibly busy period for Pacino. Between 89 & 93 he made 8 films including Godfather III, Scent of a Woman, Glengarry Glen Ross & Carlito's Way. I wonder what a complete disaster would have done to his career ? Instead it was a confidence builder for a movie legend.

6/10 Nutbuckle

AVP: Alien v. Predator

AVP: Alien v Predator, 2004

Snap reviewed the original Alien films and heaped them with praise so I thought I'd pick up from where he left off. AVP brings together two of the most ruthless killers the big screen has ever seen.

The Predator first bobbed up with Arnie and Carl Weathers in 1987 - stalking, killing and skinning its prey until its heart was content. It's a calculating, dangerous mother fucker who combines state of the art technology with old fashioned rat cunning. Think Lote Tuqiri on Proton Pills.

Eight years earlier, where no one could hear you scream, we laid eyes on The Alien. Not a Marvin the Martian type extra terrestrial but a toxic, vicious, heartless slut of a thing. Not even as an infant is The Alien to be trusted. Let's face hug it out bitch.

These two cinematic serial killers first met up in comic books and video games in the mid nineties but it took a few false starts before they combined on film.

AVP is directed by Paul Anderson - not P T Anderson of There Will Be Blood fame but P W S Anderson who was in charge of Mortal Kombat and the very watchable Event Horizon.

After a giant pyramid is discovered under Antarctica the race is on to get there first. But when the hand picked team turns up - a trail has already been blazed for them and alarm bells start going off. Turns out The Predators have had a vested interest in the place for a long time and would prefer the maintenance of the building was left to them. The Aliens lurk deep in the pyramid's bowels - ready to be hunted like rabid clay pigeons.

This is good - and if you avoid the Alien's blood - clean fun. Both the Aliens and Predators look great and a convenient mid-movie explanation paints a fairly clear picture of what's going on.

It can't be compared to the first two Alien films of the first Predator but there's many worse ways to spend 90 minutes.

5/10 Nutbuckle

Shattered Glass

Shattered Glass, 2003

Based on a true story, Shattered Glass explores the tumultuous career of journliast Stephen Glass (Hayden Christensen) during his three year stint at political and arts magazine, 'The New Republic'.

His stories are so interesting they might not be entirely true.

Directed by Billy Ray (Breach), Shattered Glass is an intelligent, well scripted look at some very interesting subject matter.

Christensen is good in the lead role but it's the supporting actors that make this film the winner it is. Peter Sarsgaard (An Education) plays a fellow New Republic writer and thrives in the role while Hank Azaria (Godzilla), Steve Zahn (Sahara) and Rosario Dawson (The 25th Hour) are also part of what really is an A-grade cast.

You'll cringe and squirm as the career of Stephen Glass painfully unravels but it's compelling stuff and a story deserving of being told this thoroughly. There are no bells and whistles here, but sharp writing and editing keep you glued.

Shattered Glass will make you question every magazine article you pick up and that's not a bad thing.

9/10

Nutbuckle

Houseguest

Houseguest, 1995

Is there a movie out there you've seen multiple times for no apparent reason? For me it's outrageous comedy Houseguest.

The irrepressible Sinbad plays a con man on the run from the mob. To avoid being caught he poses as the childhood friend of Gary Young (the late Phil Hartman) and winds up staying with his family.

This is silly stuff but there are reasons to not dismiss it completely.

Firstly, Phil Hartman, has a voice (see Troy McClure) good enough to make the phone book entertaining and in light of his death all of his work is worth cherishing.

Secondly, actors from two of TV's most decorated shows bob up in completely over the top roles. Jeffrey Jones (Deadwood) plays a dentist - not convinced that Sinbad is who he claims to be, while Paul Ben-Victor (Season 2 of The Wire) is the mobster chasing the star's tail.

Houseguest is ridiculous - complete with a terrifically stupid wine tasting scene and a bizarre trip to the golf course.

This is by no means a recommendation but if you're in the mood for something dumb and miss Phil Hartman's voice, well.....the offer's there.

4/10

Nutbuckle

Species

Species, 1995

Natasha Henstridge is a common sight on the small screen these days (Eli Stone, Commander In Chief) but in 1995 she had hundreds of teenage boys in a spin thanks to Species.

Henstridge plays Sil - the product of a DNA splicing experiment gone right.

Part human, part Alien - Sil needs to mate with a male to properly wreak havoc on Earth's inhabitants.

Also appearing in this soft porn sci-fi are the uber cool Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs), Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland), Ben Kinglsey (Gandhi) and even a very young Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain).

Critics didn't welcome Species with open arms but I think it's entertaining enough to warrant a look - the supporting cast has fun with what they're given.

It's directed by Australian born Roger Donaldson who was responsible for Cold War drama 'Thirteen Days' and the very watchable 'The Bank Job' and he keeps a good pace up here.

It's probably worth the hiring fee for Henstridge alone.

6/10

Nutbuckle

Highlander

Highlander, 1986

The good name of Highlander has been tarnished by a series of underwhelming follow-ups but the original remains a downright classic.

Frenchie Christopher Lambert (Mortal Kombat) plays immortal Scotsman Connor MacLeod - over 400 years old but still up for a fight.

Mentored by the Egyptian born Ramirez (Sean Connery, Goldfinger) - MacLeod prepares for 'The Gathering' - the grand final for immortal warriors.

Standing in MacLeod's way is The Kurgan (Clancy Brown, The Shawshank Redemption) - whose 3000 years on earth have left him a little cynical and nasty. The Kurgan's people were originally so evil they would throw children into deep pits full of hungry dogs. This sort of form makes him an easy man to root against.

The idea of immortality (decapitation is the only way to finish off an immortal) has always fascinated me and it's well thrashed out here. The concept of 'The Quickening' is original and clever.

With a killer soundtrack by Queen and a wonderfully dreary snapshot of New York in the 1980's - Highlander is rewarding viewing.

I encourage you to watch the whole franchise of movies (plus the TV spin-off) but after all - 'there can be only one'.

Dark, ominous and intriguing - Highlander is a worthy addition to your video collection.

9/10

Nutbuckle

Copy Cat

Copy Cat, 1995

Harry Connick Jr. and Sigourney Weaver play a serial killer and psychiatrist with serious history in this not too subtle nod to The Silence of the Lambs.

Tormented by a violent encounter with the now incarcerated Darryl Lee Cullum (Connick Jr.), Helen Hudson (Weaver) prefers not to leave her house.

This proves an obstacle for two detectives who need her help solving a string of grizzly murders.

Copy Cat suffers from a 'made-for-TV feel' and Weaver's not at her best without a gorilla or alien to bounce off.

Holly Hunter (The Piano) and Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend's Wedding) play the detectives on the trail of the 'Copy Cat'.

This isn't going to blow your mind but it's worth a peek to see Harry Connick ham it up. He's really quite good.

5/10

Nutbuckle

A Simple Plan

A Simple Plan, 1998

Bill Paxton (Apollo 13) and Billy Bob Thornton (Bad Santa) play a rather unlikely pair of brothers in this snow covered late nineties thriller.

The siblings, along with an out of work local, stumble across a plane crash complete with rotting pilot and $4.4 million.

The cash spikes their attention more than the deceased pilot and a plan to split and keep the money is hatched.

But before they even get a chance to buy themselves a holiday - trouble strikes and the trio is at odds with one another.

A Simple Plan is an interesting, albeit far fetched look at human character and our decision making skills under pressure.

Billy Bob Thornton changes gears from downright stupid to impressively cunning while Paxton is his usual curious self.

A late cameo from Gary Cole will bring a smile to the face of Entourage fans.

A Simple Plan could well be described as a poor man's No Country For Old Men - but hey - you could be called worse.

6/10

Nutbuckle

Boogie Nights

Boogie Nights, 1997

One of Hollywood's most interesting directors, Paul Thomas Anderson (Magnolia, There Will Be Blood), followed up 1996's Hard Eight with the generous and rich Boogie Nights.

Putting together one of the 90's best ensemble casts, Thomas Anderson uses more than two and a half hours giving us a tour of the porn industry in the 1970's & 80's.

Mark Wahlberg builds on his good work in The Basketball Diaries as Eddie Adams - a likeable teenager who will eventually become one of porn's biggest names - Dirk Diggler.

The cast is jammed with some of Thomas Anderson's favourites - John C Rielly (Chicago), Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Capote) and William H Macy (Fargo) are all superb.

Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda) is well cast as a young man with a head full of dreams, while Burt Reynolds is perfectly porno. Julianne Moore (Hannibal) and Heather Graham (The Hangover) more than hold up their end of the bargain, the former showing her considerable talent.

Throw in the likes of Phillip Baker Hall (Magnolia) and Luis Guzman (Carlito's Way) and it's basically a case of 'you name it, they're in it.

Thomas Anderson's work here is sharp - his tracking shots put you right in the heart of porn's most lavish parties.

You'll enjoy the whole ride but the highlight for me comes late in the piece - an incredibly well shot and acted scene played out to the sounds of Rick Springfield and Jessie's Girl. Movie gold.

It's more than just a big cock.

8/10

Nutbuckle

Before The Devil Knows You're Dead

Before The Devil Knows You're Dead, 2007

Blog readers will soon come to learn that Phillip Seymour Hoffman is this reviewer's favourite actor - an honour I'm sure he lists on his bulging CV.

Before The Devil Knows You're Dead isn't the best film he's in but it's a good place to start my Seymour Hoffman review fest.

Hoffman and his brother (Ethan Hawke, Reality Bites) decide robbing mom and dad's jewellery store is a great way to get them out of a financial jam. Surprise surprise, it's not as fool proof as they first thought.

Along for the ride are Marisa Tomei (PSH clearly punching above his weight in this one) and Albert Finney - both very good in supporting roles.

Full of moral dilemmas, giving into vices and general panic - Before The Devil Knows You're Dead is very dark but undeniably gripping.

Directed by Sidney Lumet (who teamed up with Al Pacino in the seventies for Serpico), BTDKYD deserves 7/10.

Nutbuckle

Arachnophobia

Arachnophobia, 1990

A lot of cool things happened in 1990, I was in prep riding trikes, Essendon and Collingwood duked it out at quarter time in the grand final and a little movie called Arachnophobia hit the big screen.

A particularly nasty spider jumps from South to North America and roots itself silly - producing an army of eight legged monsters.

New in town, Jeff Daniels has to shrug off his own phobia to help stop the spiders before they bite and kill EVERYONE.

As usual - Daniels is pretty likeable and so is this movie. Kiddies - here's a tip - if your mum says you can only hire a PG rated movie - grab this; you'll shit your pants.

8/10 Nutbuckle

The Mist

The Mist, 2007

In stark contrast to the previously reviewed 'The Happening' - The Mist hits the mark in a similar genre.

Director Frank Darabont turns a Stevn King story (with King's help) into an edge of your seat jitter fest.

The population of a small town ends up inside the local supermarket as an eerie looking mist envelops the area. What starts out as a harmless bit of fog turns seriously sinister as all sorts of things spring from the dark.

As you'd expect, chaos starts to rule and the result makes for pretty tense stuff.

The largely unknown Thomas Jane (small bits in Face Off and Magnolia) does a sound job leading the way but this is about the mist, not the acting.

Pretty memorable ending too. Underrated movie.

8/10

Nutbuckle

The Happening

The Happening, 2008

Old mate Shyamalan backs out a turd of a movie with Marky Mark caught up in the putrid mess.

They say Entourage is loosely based on Wahlberg's experiences - well if that's the case - The Happening makes Medellin look like Ben Hur.

People start dropping like flies - watching one climb up the wall would be more fun.

Pooey.

1/10

Nutbuckle

P.S: It seem the good people at Empire Magazine agree with me on this one - they rank The Happening 8th on their list of the 'Worst Movies Ever'.

http://www.empireonline.com/features/50-worst-movies-ever/default.asp?film=8

The King of Kong

The King of Kong, 2007

Think you're good at Donkey Kong? Think again. This hilarious and moving documentary follows nice guy Steve Wiebe's quest to be recognised as one of the world's truly great arcade gamers. To do so he has to overcome the politics of the old school gaming world - run by some of Earth's most interesting characters.

His nemesis Billy Mitchell could be film's greatest villain - his monologues are breathtakingly good.

"No matter what I say, it draws controversy. It's sort of like the abortion issue."

For anyone who spent a few too many dollars in milk bar arcade machines as a youngster - this is the doco for you.
If you didn't - don't fret - just immerse yourself in a good vs evil story and cheer on Wiebe!

And the best part? It's all real. DAD......WIPE MY BUTT!

9/10

Nutbuckle

The Insider

The Insider, 1999

Michael Mann follows up the razzle dazzle of 1995's Heat with an explosive-free look at Big Tobacco and life inside Amercia's current affairs world.

The prolific Al Pacino plays a Sixty Minutes producer hungry on finding the next great yarn and stumbles across a greying and vulnerable Rusty Crowe.

The boy from Romper Stomper wrestles with whether he should blow the whistle on the Tobacco industry for much of the next two hours.

It's long, intricate and lulls a couple of times but is ultimately worth the effort. Pacino is more subtle than in his previous outing (The Devil's Advocate, 1997) and Rusty looks ready to explode at any minute.

Christopher Plummer and the excellent Phillip Baker Hall are right at home as media types while it's nice to see Vinny Chase's publicist (Debi Mazar) not shrieking obscenities down the phone for once.

At 151 minutes it's no walk in the park but The Insider is worthy of your prolonged concentration.

8/10

Nutbuckle

(500) Days of Summer

(500) Days of Summer, 2009

The dude from Third Rock gets it done in a smart, funny, romantically scented comedy. Playing his leading lady - Zooey Deschanel - who pulls off cute bitch with aplomb.

JGL is a seriously good actor (see Mysterious Skin rather than him getting hacked up in Halloween H20) and he carries the audience with him throughout this one.

The lanky guy from Criminal Minds bobs up - but this is a two-hander and both are terrific. Snazzy dance sequence, Temper Trap on the soundtrack and a narrator with a cool voice - how can you go wrong.

Lads - if the girlfriend grabs this one at the video store - use it as leverage to rent District 9 but watch it with her anyway.

7/10

Nutbuckle