Kurt Russell, Zoe Bell, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Jordan Ladd, Rose McGowan, Josh Brolin. Action/adventure/exploitation. Writers/Directors Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez.FILM SYNOPSIS: Grindhouse – noun – A downtown movie theater - in disrepair since its glory days as a movie palace of the '30s and '40s - known for "grinding out" non-stop double-bill programs of B-movies. From groundbreaking directors Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez comes the ultimate grindhouse experience: a double-bill of thrillers that will recall both filmmakers’ favorite exploitation films. Grindhouse is presented as one full-length feature comprised of two individual films helmed separately by each director. Tarantino’s film, Death Proof, is a rip-roaring slasher flick where the killer pursues his victims with a car rather than a knife, while Rodriguez’s Planet Terror follows a group attempting to survive an outbreak of zombies. The production also contains previews of fake coming attractions, such as Werewolf Women of the S.S.
PREVIEW REVIEW: Positives: It celebrates the heyday of the drive-in; it’s imaginative and often hysterical; it contains the car chase to beat all car chases, with some of the most daring stunt work imaginable; Kurt Russell is such a fine actor, giving a terrific performance in everything he does, including this turn as a mental case bent on killing fellow drivers; and the violence in the first feature is more like a Wyle E. Coyote cartoon. Negatives: The violence in the second feature is disturbing as it highlights a graphic car crash where the victims’ bodies are torn apart; in keeping with the genre the two films are parroting, the sexuality is exploitive and frequent; the language could make your ears bleed. Video Alternatives: Those looking for a great action picture need look no further than Bullitt. Steve McQueen is the essential cool cop chasing mob hit men. Great action, score and car chase. (Contains one obscenity, but I caught no misuse of God’s name. Also it has some violence, but nothing like today’s standards, or lack of.) Prefer a chick-flick? Enchanted April. A delightful fable about four women in 1920s London escaping inattentive husbands and repressed lifestyles by renting a castle in Portofino. They soon discover the estate has a magical effect on all those who stay there. Witty dialogue, dreamy cinematography, and savory performances from Joan Plowright, Polly Walker and the rest of the cast. Or how about the quintessential comic road picture? It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. A non-stop laugh-a-thon as a group of motorists learn of a fortune buried 200 miles away. Besides all the visual and verbal gags, and its constellation of comic greats, Mad World also contains some of the best car chases and stunts ever filmed.
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Timothy Hutton, Joely Richardson, Rainn Wilson. Sci-fi adventure. Directed by Bob Shaye.
FILM SYNOPSIS: Two children discover a mysterious box that contains strange devices they think are toys. As the children play with these “toys,” they begin to display higher and higher intelligence levels. The little girl tells her mother that the beat-up stuffed rabbit, named Mimzy, “teaches me things.” Mimzy, it turns out, has a serious message for all of mankind. The stuffed animal has been sent from the future to help us now and to gain something that will help mankind in the future. PREVIEW REVIEW: Some films use Eastern or New Age philosophies as mere fantasy, while others seem to incorporate those concepts as part of an agenda. It seems that is the case with The Last Mimzy, an E.T.-like adventure that bombards both the kids in the film as well as those watching it, with metaphysical beliefs, including reincarnation, palm reading, transcendental meditation, telekinesis and levitation. These didn’t seem mere props to further a kid’s fantasy, but rather a part of the writer’s own pursuit of spiritual truth. If that is not the case, the inclusion of those concepts is no less alarming. Now here’s the territory that usually generates a smirk from those who consider the inclusion of such themes into children’s films as harmless. For me to say we need to be on guard concerning what Hollywood stuffs into the minds of little ones is often ridiculed by those who think they are more open-minded to such thematic tools. Well, I don’t suggest that your little ones will suddenly become pod people upon viewing a film about mind reading or levitation. I do pay attention, however, to biblical passages that suggest what we should put in our heads and what we shouldn’t. Although the Bible doesn't deal with these topics specifically, because they are relatively new terms, the ideas are certainly mentioned and forbidden. As Moses was relating the law to Israel, he told them to stay away from those with "familiar spirits" Lev 19:31. It is also stated that "rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft" I Sam 15:23. If biblical principles are a part of your children’s upbringing, then they will be able to reject false or misleading movie messages. But there also comes a time when we should refuse to support movies that dismiss biblical truths. “Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22). “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11).
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Richard Gere, Alfred Molina, Marcia Gay Harden, Hope Davis. Written by William Wheeler. Directed by Lasse Hallstrom.
FILM SYNOPSIS: The Hoax, directed by Lasse Hallström, is inspired by true events in the life of Clifford Irving, the writer who nearly pulled off one of the most audacious media scams in history when his “autobiography” of Howard Hughes was published. Richard Gere stars as Irving, who claimed the book was based on in-person interviews he conducted with the reclusive billionaire, which were in fact completely bogus. PREVIEW REVIEW: I’m looking for the right adjective to describe this movie. There isn’t just one (or at least one this marginal wordsmith can muster), for it is both appealing and appalling. The artists and technicians have combined their veteran skills, presenting a stimulating, even captivating movie experience. Richard Gere is outstanding as Clifford Irving, as is Alfred Molina as Richard Suskind. And Bill Wheeler’s script is absorbing and enlightening, for he shows us that there are brilliant people among us who could achieve riches and glory by legitimate means, but who prefer to gain glory on their own fraudulent terms. A good director is part magician, part deceiver. Lasse Hallstrom (The Cider House Rules, My Life As A Dog) personifies these qualities. By this film’s end, we are never quite sure where truth ended and allusion began. Therefore, whenever the astute moviegoer sees “based on actual events” or variations of that phrase at the opening of a movie, he would be well advised to take it with a grain of salt. That said, The Hoax is an absorbing morality play, as it reveals the destruction of the soul by the building of a life on deception. The lies take control and with a vampiric resolve suck a soul dry. For every lie Irving manufactured, two more were needed to cover the first. In the beginning, we are as mesmerized by his craftiness as the publishers and cocktail party guests are deceived by his subterfuge. Irving is portrayed as a gifted storytelling on a par with Garrison Keillor. But suddenly the con-artist becomes caught in the down-pull of his duplicitous ways, much like a helpless animal in quicksand. We become alarmed to see a fellow human being consumed by paranoia to the point of madness. He is no longer an amusing wheeler-dealer. It is apparent that Irving has little regard for truth or for others. And we realize the past two hours have been spent glued to the misdeeds of a soulless man.Hoax is a solid movie, entertaining and persuasive, with cast and crew at the top of their form, but it is also a disturbing experience as we witness the fulfillment of the truism, “Be sure your sins will find you out.”
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Hilary Swank, David Morrissey, Idris Elba, AnnaSophia Robb, Stephen Rea. Supernatural Thriller. Written by Carey W. Hayes & Chad Hayes. Directed by Stephen Hopkins.
FILM SYNOPSIS: Hilary Swank plays a former Christian missionary who lost her faith after her family was tragically murdered by the very people she had been sent to help. She has since become a world-renowned expert in disproving religious phenomena. But when she investigates a small Louisiana town suffering from what appears to be the biblical plagues, she realizes that science cannot explain what is happening and she must regain her faith to combat the dark forces threatening the community. PREVIEW REVIEW: Though it features the same problems Pharaoh had to content with, the film lacks any substantial biblical teachings. It’s Bible precepts as seen through the eyes of a Hollywood screenwriter – always an iffy business. Biblical accuracy aside, the story is a sloppy swipe of The Exorcist, Rosemary’s Baby, and The Omen. The key word here being sloppy. However you feel about the aforementioned films, you’ll give me they were handsomely constructed and that they raised the questions: Is there really a Satan? Is he capable of possessing a person? Is he able to bring the downfall of mankind? The Reaping doesn’t honestly look with any depth at such propositions. It’s too formulaic and cardboardish to be taken seriously, and therefore somewhat misleading concerning biblical teachings. Looking for a joyless spook story complete with deceptive theology, gruesome deaths, and a moping lead who suffers from guilt and bouts of stupidity, this may be your cup of tea. If you’re looking for a smart spook flick, this ain’t it. Most fans of the horror genre attend these thrillers in hope of finding one that actually scares them – usually to no avail. But different people are looking for different types of scares. Some like stories about devil possession (The Exorcist), others like good vs. evil tales (Bela Lugosi’s Dracula), while still others just like seeing people caught and tortured (The Hills Have Eyes, II). I’ll admit that I like to be somewhat unnerved occasionally, but I prefer films of substance – even in the horror arena. So, allow me to suggest a spooky video alternative: Signs. Farmer Mel Gibson discovers crop circles on his land. Soon the world is crawling with hostile aliens. Like Hitchcock, director M. Night Shyamalan builds tension through restraint. It’s not what we see, but what we imagine that scares the Jujubes out of us. Besides being an arm-grabbing suspenseful thriller, Signs is an equally touching family drama. We get to know this broken family as they cope with the traumatic loss of a wife and mother. There is an intimacy in both script and presentation that causes us to care for these people. Added to the drama and suspense is the story’s subtext about a man losing, then regaining his faith. The film also has an intriguing take concerning coincidence in our daily lives. Do things happen by chance or do they serve to develop our nature? While it satisfies with just the right amount of goose bump-causing jolts, Shyamalan’s film also has purpose. It’s about finding our way – or finding our way back. Qualifier for watching Signs: Upon reading Philippians 4:8, you may find my suggestion of a horror film alternative somewhat conflicting. But for me, Signs contained thoughtful lessons. As for the film’s alien beings, I saw them as metaphors representing the unknown and our struggles with life’s injustices. Some Christians may be suspect of the presentation of the plausibility of alien creatures, but just as Tolkien and C.S. Lewis used symbolism in their best books, Shyamalan uses supernatural elements to explore the human spirit. I’m always impressed with Shyamalan’s work, because he infuses his films with subtext. He seamlessly layers his stories and gives depth to his characters. Few of his characters are there to just further the story. They each have an emotional truth. Signs is the most involving film I’ve seen in years from a technical, artistic and spiritual level. Although it is very scary, I found nothing vile or exploitive about this film. For me, it was two hours of passionate entertainment, which also asserted that we are more than mental and physical beings. I left the theater reminded “…in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
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Joseph Gordon-Levit, Jeff Daniels, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Bruce McGill. Action/adventure. Written & Directed by Scott Frank.
FILM SYNOPSIS: The crime drama is centered around Chris (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a once promising high school athlete who becomes mentally impaired after a tragic accident. As he tries to maintain a normal life, he takes a job as a janitor at a bank where he ultimately finds himself caught up in a planned heist. PREVIEW REVIEW: Riveting. Though we start out with teens doing something stupid that we know is going to lead to a tragedy, you’re hooked right away. Sure enough, the lead shuts off the car lights so he and his girl and their friends can see the fireflies. It is a mistake he must live with the rest of his life. Admittedly, that’s not exactly a drawing card for a fun-filled night at the movies. Nor is what happens next. Betrayal. The accident has left him with a mind that finds it difficult to reason. He must write things down on a pad in order to remind himself how to reason situations. But he has dreams and a job. He’s a custodian in a bank. He’s trustworthy. All this is known to a con artist. As awful as the wreck and its aftermath has been, it’s nothing compared to the thought that someone would take advantage of an innocent. The crook befriends Chris and tempts him much like Satan did Adam and Eve. Besides a terrific performance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock From the Sun, Brick, Treasure Planet), a young actor who chooses interesting roles and then inhabits them, plus a trenchant script, the film has two important messages/reminders. One, there are people disguised as friends who will use you and even leave you with an empty sack. And second, though God and loved ones will forgive you, life never will. You will pay for your mistakes. And you’ll find as you develop your character that your infractions will remain a part of you, even if you can forgive yourself. It’s a well-written, powerful parable. Alas, it is one filled with profane and obscene language, not to mention graphic sexual situations. Though there is a moral character, a blind man who sees far more than most people, there is no awareness or seeking of God’s input. If you do not wish to subject yourselves to the R-rated content, allow me to suggest the following video alternatives: The Apostle. This perceptive drama, written, directed and starring Robert Duvall, never condescends, nor is it antagonistic toward people of faith while telling its story of a good but imperfect man’s redemption. PG-13. I found nothing offensive for exploitive purposes. The implied adultery, its one violent scene, the reverend's faulty nature, and a couple of mild expletives serve to further the story rather than shock us or malign the ministry. The Gospel. A semi-autobiographical film about the transformative power of faith and forgiveness, The Gospel is a contemporary drama packed with the soaring, soulful sounds of gospel music. Set in the impassioned world of the African-American church, The Gospel tells the story of David Taylor (Boris Kodjoe), a dynamic young R&B star torn between his successful new life and the one he used to know. Joni. Not a great movie, but an engaging true story of Joni Eareckson Tada, who overcame depression and aloneness, after an accident left her a quadriplegic. Places in the Heart. A literate script presents a determined widow (Sally Field) bent on saving her farm during the '30s Depression. Contains perhaps the greatest ending to a film this buff has ever seen. A repentant adulterer is finally forgiven, when his wife, moved by the pastor's sermon, takes her husband's hand during the service, signifying the restoring of a relationship through Christ's love. Just as we put our hankies away after that moving moment, another symbolic healing occurs. I won't give that one away. Trust me, it's powerful! Rated PG (some mild language, implied adulterous affair – but it furthers the story and it is not explicit). Saint Maybe. Blythe Danner, Edward Herrmann, Melina Kanakaredes, Thomas McCarthy, Jeffrey Nordling, Mary-Louise Parker. Not yet on DVD, but it can be found on video from Hallmark. Worth it. When a ne’er-do-well finds himself the cause of his brother’s death, he seeks a reason for his life. He stumbles upon a church gathering and quickly turns his life around, living for others. This affecting Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of a family dealing with the loss of a loved one is a wonderful film suitable for the Christmas holidays. There are so many powerful messages and life lessons, none of which overpowers the entertaining drama. What a delight to find a film where scripture is quoted, the Christian lifestyle is not mocked, prayers are spoken and the gospel message is put into practice.
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