Mysteries Abysmal

The fun of the shudder

said Edith Wharton of ghost stories. Paramount has just released a darned good one made for a slender $15,000. (Although it might be more accurate to call it a demon story.) I reviewed it today in the newspaper. Link: Paranormal Activity , Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 2, 2009. Here are some fellow moviegoers' outrageous reactions after the midnight screening I attended last week. These things tend to be edited for effect, but I can vouch that there was some pretty spirited chatter following the film. Watch that video here.Lastly, Rod Serling's brilliantly inventive Twilight Zone turns 50 years old today. About a month ago I watched 20 episodes and can't recall a single moment where I was bored. My three favorites were "The Living Doll," "After Hours," and "The Hitch-Hiker." "It's a Good Life," however, has one of the strangest comedic devices cable television has ever produced. Long live the weird tale!

Scaradouche

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell Here's my review in the Chicago Sun-Times of the Tucker Max craze, which has now morphed into a film that never should have been made. If you're looking for an unadulterated trashy movie to while your Friday night, please look elsewhere. This thing farts through silk all the way to the bank.

It Might Get Loud

 

Davis Guggenheim's (An Inconvenient Truth) excellent documentary about guitarists Jimmy Page, the Edge and Jack White hits theaters this weekend in Chicago. Here's my Sun-Times review. I hope people get out and see it, if only for some of the wonderfully odd new music it offers. I'm looking to track down Son House's "Grinnin' in Your Face," which Jack White plays on a scratchy turntable and declares to be the alpha and the omega of soul music.

Deadgirl

My film review of "Deadgirl" also appears in today's Sun-Times. As a lifelong horror buff, I was intrigued by the original albeit disgusting premise of this promising but utlimately lackluster film. (You'll have to read about the synopsis through my review.) I will say that Noah Segan, who plays a ridiculously sexed-up teenager, is a camp treasure. This screens tonight and tomorrow night at midnight at the Music Box.

Night and day

 

Charles Laughton's gorgeously nocturnal The Night of the Hunter--which forever ruined color cinema for me--plays at Facets this Saturday at midnight. And for a mere $5 too. While the film's starkest visual moments do seem to come after suppertime, the opening day scenes best throw into focus all of Robert Mitchum's deranged quirks. The greatest of all fairy tales is not to be missed. Also opening this weekend is a fairly prosaic movie about a tired big city journalist looking for life lessons in a small town. I reviewed it in the Sun-Times. 

Sorta into the wild

Movie review of Blindsight, Chicago Sun-Times, April 11

Validated

I was going to write a smart-ass little diatribe about my disappointment in Juno, but this J.R. Jones fellow from the Reader has already done so more civilly. Like a friend said, "It's like an episode of Gilmore Girls only more annoying." On the otherhand, Mr. Ebert thinks it's the best movie of 2007, and is sorely mistaken, in my opinion, when he says "the film has no wrong scenes."  One example that comes to mind is the ultra-sound gathering when the stepmother demeans and humiliates the medical technician.  It's cruel, unfunny, and in no way a "moment of instinctive, lightning comedy."  After that scene I felt indifferent about these people and all their snarky one-liners that followed.  Happy Valentines day!

What I'm watching - a new feature

Netflix appears to be the finest invention ever.  Here's my current queue, and I'll add my ratings once I get around to seeing them.  With super high ratings, like I've given Country Priest, I hope some will see what all the fuss is about.  I am always looking for recommendations myself, so please take advantage of my comments section. 

Diary of a Country Priest, dir. Robert Bresson  9.5/10 

Why does Herr R. run amok? dir. Rainer Werner Fassbinder 9.5/10

Gates of Heaven, dir. Errol Morris   8.5/10

Touch of Evil, dir. Orson Wells

Medium Cool, dir Haskell Wexler

L'Argent, dir. Robert Bresson

          

Cinema undone

Here's one for your Netflix queue: The Corndog Man (1999), dir. Andrew Shea.  Came upon this gem in '03 and can't believe I haven't mentioned it on here.  It's one of a handful movies that's literally impossible to turn off, even with subsequent viewings.  Right 'off a bat' the oddities begin to pile up.  Redneck boat seller Ace Barker gets a strange phone call one morning from a voice claiming interest in purchasing a boat.  A few minutes later he gets another call and the exchange gets a little weirder. Then he gets another call.  And another one.  And so forth for the remainder of the film.  What's it all leading to? Some pretty shocking material, that's what. The film's highest point is a scene where the anonymous caller puts Paul Butterfield's "It all comes back" on the record player, which uses music in ways that would make Wes Anderson envious. It's also a great big sin Noble Willingham's role as the bullheaded South Carolinan bigot remains unnoticed, and probably will forever.  I see these great movies which look like they were made for about $50 and it's all so inspiring.  Do me a favor and see it, and tell them Abysmal sent you.    

A black comedy, done right

"Harry un ami qui veut du bien," or "With a Friend Like Harry" (France 2000), is a subtle and dark look at obsessive-weirdo Harry Ballestero and his relationship with old schoolmate Michael.  It's "Cable Guy" meets the "Vanishing," but way more intense and restrained than the former.  I have to give the French credit on this one, as this film's revealed a humor to me that I didn't quite think they had in them.  Bravo, bravo!