Taken on its own, ÆON FLUX (2005) is an interesting oddity among post-MATRIX techno-soundtrack sci-fi action movies. The look is clean and brightly lit, the premise is vague, it has some legitimately strange tech and costumes. One of its shootouts happens in a rose garden, another on a manicured lawn beneath blossoming cherry trees. A major third act action set piece involves hanging from and climbing up the gold-lame-scarf tail of a blimp called “The Relical.” To date I think it might be the only movie with a Relical in it.
It’s an MTV Films production, but’s that just because it’s based on a cartoon birthed by their envelope-pushing animation anthology Liquid Television. It doesn’t have any needle drops and doesn’t seem fully invested in being of the time, or of pop culture. If not for the generic beats in the score by Graeme Revell (MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: THE MOVIE) it would feel pretty otherworldly. (read the rest of this shit…)
DESTROYER is the latest from director Karyn Kusama (THE INVITATION). It’s a dark, character-driven crime thriller starring Nicole Kidman (BATMAN FOREVER) as Erin Bell, an extra-crispy-burnt-out LAPD detective breaking all the rules to chase a bank robber (Toby Kebbell, FANTASTIC FOUR). It’s personal to her because years ago she went undercover in his gang and her partner/lover (Sebastian Stan, THE COVENANT) was killed. But she’s a total fuckin mess and she seems to be acting on her own and keeps ignoring her partner (Shamier Anderson)’s voicemails asking where the fuck she is.
a survey of summer movies that just didn’t catch on
July 19, 2013
Most art is derivative of something or other, but jesus christ is it uncomfortable how flagrant R.I.P.D. is about trying to repackage MEN IN BLACK. Instead of a secret government agency investigating aliens who secretly live among us it’s a secret police department investigating dead people who secretly live among us. But you got the younger guy recruited and learning about this real world beneath our sugar-coated topping and partnering with an older, grumpy guy and they have goofy ray gun looking guns and go around questioning weird informants who turn into crazy cartoon special effects creatures (though Rick Baker is retired, so they’re mostly digital). I swear RIPD even has a headquarters that looks like they built it over the set from MiB.
The young guy is Nick Walker (Ryan Reynolds, BLADE TRINITY), in life a Boston PD detective betrayed by his partner Bobby Hayes (Kevin Bacon, ELEPHANT WHITE) over some kind of gold treasure they stole from a crime scene. Nick was having regrets and wanted out so Bobby shot him in the face during a raid. Instead of Heaven or Hell, Nick goes to RIPD to continue as a cop and help them round up “deados” who illegally stick around on Earth. Not really a noble calling, in my opinion. (read the rest of this shit…)
I’m real late to the dinner party (get it, because this is a movie about a dinner party), but THE INVITATION is a potent suspense thriller well-deserving of its reputation from film festivals and indie circuit release from Drafthouse Films. It’s tense and uncomfortable and it’s best not to know what sort of bad thing it’s leading up to, but don’t worry. You can sense its presence from early on.
Will (Logan Marshall-Green, who I did not recognize as the whiny boyfriend I hated so much in PROMETHEUS) and Kira (Emayatzy Corinealdi, MILES AHEAD) are a couple invited to this other couple’s house out in the Hollywood Hills. It’s an awkward reunion for a close circle of friends who haven’t seen or heard from these party-givers in two years. There’s love and laughing and joking, but also weirdness with Eden (Tammy Blanchard, BLUE JASMINE)’s extra long hug of Will. And it starts to come out that not only are they exes, but their marriage ended because of a tragedy. They had a son who died in an accident right here at this house. (read the rest of this shit…)
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Recent commentary and jibber-jabber
Tim Bobo on Solo (1996): “Yea, I always like Van Peebles in Heartbreak Ridge too. He definitely had the right looks and charisma. His only…” Sep 11, 09:22
KayKay on Solo (1996): “I second the love for Mario Van Peebles Handsome as fuck, with movie star charisma to burn and given how…” Sep 11, 02:36
CJ Holden on Solo (1996): “No comment on how that poster makes it look like a comedy? Okay, the “Red letters on white background”cliche wasn’t…” Sep 10, 22:57
Zed on Solo (1996): “Speaking of Rick Geary: about 10 years ago I visited some friends who live in a tiny town in central…” Sep 10, 12:13
Bill Reed on Solo (1996): “Wait, *that* Rick Geary? Wild. I met William Sadler at a local comic-con this year. Nice guy. Sadly I did…” Sep 10, 08:08
Comrade Question on Solo (1996): “Thanks for that Mr. M, that was exactly the laugh I needed this morning!” Sep 10, 06:38
Mr. Majestyk on Solo (1996): “Well, my name is Bruce but you can call me Jaws I don’t obey any maritime laws When I ate…” Sep 10, 05:19
Max K. on Onslaught: “Shot on film, looks great, good casting. A retro throwback that’s never once cute or self conscious of it. It…” Sep 10, 01:59
Comrade Question on Solo (1996): “I missed a comma in Van Peebles’ filmography section and got really excited that he’d done a movie called RAPPIN’…” Sep 9, 22:37
Tim Bobo on Solo (1996): “I always like Mario Van Peebles. He never quite made that jump to A lister, but as a solid 2nd…” Sep 9, 20:53
Franchise Fred on Solo (1996): “Thank you for the effort of watching Carpooling, Vern. I remember at the time I appreciated the stupidity of a…” Sep 9, 18:40
Acid Burn on Solo (1996): “Curt, I immediately thought that as well, so thank you for saving me from having to look that up. (I…” Sep 9, 18:38
Acid Burn on The Fan (1996): “I’m sure everyone else read “knife salesman” and immediately understood the concept. I, however, can only picture De Niro desperately…” Sep 9, 18:06
Curt on Solo (1996): “If you, like me, thought “Hey wait a minute, isn’t this that movie that is technically a BLADE RUNNER spinoff,…” Sep 9, 18:01
Lorin A Kozlowski on Onslaught: “I liked it a little bit more than you, Vern. But, I can’t disagree. In comparison to THE GUEST and…” Sep 9, 17:53
DESTROYER is the latest from director Karyn Kusama (
I’m real late to the dinner party (get it, because this is a movie about a dinner party), but THE INVITATION is a potent suspense thriller well-deserving of its reputation from film festivals and indie circuit release from Drafthouse Films. It’s tense and uncomfortable and it’s best not to know what sort of bad thing it’s leading up to, but don’t worry. You can sense its presence from early on.
