Red State

Red State

2011

Action (Horror/Thriller)

Rated: R

Running Time: 88 minutes

Starring: John Goodman, Michael Angarano, Nicholas Braun, Ronnie Connell, Stephen Root, Michael Parks

Directed By: Kevin Smith

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Outline

Three teens head into the woods for sex but soon become entangle with a group of religious fanatics that have more than prayer on their agenda.

Review

Religious cults and fanatics pop up in the media from time to time but I don’t know much about them. I usually see the aftermath like a burning building in Waco, Texas, or an empty cup of Kool Aid lying on the ground. Getting to look into the inner workings of one of these groups in this movie is chilling. It is chilling to watch and even more chilling to know that these groups exist. Red State is the story of three teenagers who after meeting a woman from the internet get unwillingly immersed in a group made up of religious zealots.

Red State is an interesting little flick. It deftly incorporates topics such as homophobia, religious cults, government corruption, internet exploitation, and a whole whack of other sensitive topics. It does that without losing the viewers interest or becoming convoluted. This film is labeled a horror and director Kevin Smith calls it a horror but I can tell you this is not a horror. It has the feel of a horror to start out as the three teens head into the dark woods and even get into the obligatory car crash. As it progresses though this film plays out more like an Action/Thriller so don’t expect some typical teens trapped in the woods scenario. The film is a very dialogue driven flick and this will be a make or break for most people. I love Smith’s dialogue so this film I found very intriguing as it went along. Having to listen to a preacher drone on about scripture and sin is not only compelling but a great buildup for what is to unfold.

The acting in this film is solid with a few standouts on the positive side. The teens Travis, Randy, Billy-Ray played by Michael Angarano, Ronnie Connell, and Nicholas Braun have the look and emotional range to lead this film. As they get plunged deeper and deeper into the cult’s world their desperation seems honest. They did a nice job. The first stand out though was preacher Abin Cooper played by Michael Parks. His religious sermon is delivered with intensity and passion. His performance really seals the viewer to this gripping story. He also has an edgy look so he did a great job. Next was ATF agent Joseph Keenan played by John Goodman. Goodman could basically be in every movie he is that awesome (Don’t make the obvious except for the Hunger Games joke please). He takes on every role like a pro and this was no different as a level headed lawman. He was great. The rest of the cast was believable and they certainly looked the part which was good to see.

The church where these cultists work from is secluded and sets the tone of terror and uncertainty of what is about to happen there. I also would be remiss to not point out the great camera work in this movie. Incorporating nice hand held camera shots with some interesting editing makes for some fantastic looking scenes. The film also has a steady rise to it and the fact the story changes lead characters and genre types quite easily makes for a great watch. The films horror start, and dramatic middle, is topped off nicely with an intense if not great gun fight scene towards the end. The films lack of budget is noticeable during these scenes where bullets are flying at will. The quick editing and non crisp scenes of people being shot while not awful could be better. The film’s ending is quirky and concludes this film quite well. A film that splinters genres and has lead characters that might not survive was fun to watch. I was also pleasantly surprised that the characters make rational choices in this movie. When the chaos starts, people take a more of an everyone for themselves mentality which is rare in movies these days.

Director Kevin Smith steps out from his comedic shell (Clerks, Dogma) and shows he is just over all a good movie writer and creator. He takes a cool story where anything and everything happens to the characters and interchanges genres quite easily. His camera work and casting are great and his dialogue is above average to excellent as always. The action scenes are a little lacking but not terrible. I am glad Smith branched out as he has put together a nice little film.

I give this movie a recommendation but be wary as there is a lot of dialogue which will bore some. While I didn't love this film I did find it fresh and interesting so take a look.

T Factor + If you like films that are a little quirky than this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you like more action and little dialogue then this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Law Abiding Citizen, Way of the Gun.

Vampires Suck

Vampires Suck

2010

Comedy

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 82 minutes

Starring:  Jenn Proske, Matt Lanter, Ken Jeong, Diedrich Bader

Directed By: Jason Friedberg, Aaron Seltzer

Rating: 1 out of 10

Outline

This is a film spoofing the Twilight franchise.

Review

Vampires suck, Twilight sucks, this movie sucked. It was inevitable that a spoof movie came out about Twilight due to its massive global appeal. The problem is when the source material is so wretched the spoofing of that source will no doubt follow suit. Vampires Suck is a movie spoofing the first two Twilight films. It follows the story of a teenager named Becca as she is torn between the world of Vampires and Werewolves.

This movie for most people will be a lose, lose. You need to watch the first two twilight movies (I am sorry) to fully appreciate this movie (I am also sorry). Spoof movies have been around for quite a while but it looks like funny people don’t want anything to do with them anymore. Movies like Epic Movie, Date Movie, Disaster Movie and a number of other god awful spoof films have ruined this genre recently. This film is added to that list and it is quite apparent this genre is dying if not dead at this point. So the movie starts and if you haven’t seen the original Twilight movies then be prepared for a dazzling array of crap. The first thing you will notice is the awesome amount of thought gone into the play on word names this movie uses. Twilight's Bella Swan, Forks Washington, and the Cullen family have been changed to Becca Crane, Sporks Washington, and the Sullen family respectively. The humor doesn’t get any deeper than that just to prepare you. As you are introduced to the key players it is clear this film will really generate nothing but contempt. It uses a tired recipe of fart jokes, crotch shots, pop culture references, and any other cheap humor trick you can think up but it never works.

I am not going to pick on the acting as the cast is mostly made up of people trying to make it in the business. That and the material is impossible to pull off well anyways, but I am always impressed with these types of movies. Somehow they are always able to find great people to mimic the real star. For example Jenn Proske playing Becca Crane does a pretty solid imitation of Kristen Stewart. Her awkward pauses and angst ridden mannerisms are bang on and will get the odd smile from the viewer. Matt Lanter playing Edward Sullen does an okay Robert Pattinson also. The rest of the cast does decent ranging to terrible jobs at mimicry but overall the casting wasn’t the worst. Diedrich Bader and Ken Jeong are in the film also if you are fans of theirs but are not remotely funny.

As the film progresses you will find your mind wandering and thinking of anything else but the film. It is hard to focus on a film that you and a couple of friends could have written in an afternoon while crushing a 12 pack of beers. The film throws at you jokes about the Kardashians, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Tiger Woods, Lindsay Lohan, Lady Gaga and many more without ever generating a smile. The film mercifully is only 82 minutes long so at least the pain is not prolonged. The only thing this film does well is it picks on the obvious awfulness of the Twilight franchise and that is to be commended. I will stop talking now as I think you get the idea that this film is not worth the watch.

Directors and writers Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer might be funny in real life but need to stop making these movies (They won’t because of the profit) It is like they are trying to make the worst movies known to man. They are the masterminds behind Meet the Spartans and Epic movie, and many more. All they do right is casting but everything else from the tired slapstick to the cheap pop culture references make me hate them more and more with each movie. Please stop making these films but as I write this I notice they are in pre production of a movie called the Starving Games. Please lord help us all. On a side note I wish Benny Hill was still alive.

I cannot recommend this film as it not worth anyone’s time or money.

T Factor + Like stupid humor this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – Anything really could make this film lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Epic Movie, Disaster Movie.

Employee of the Month

Employee of the Month

2006

Comedy

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 103 Minutes

Starring: Dane Cook, Dax Shepard, Jessica Simpson, Andy Dick, Harland Williams, Tim Bagley, Brian George, Efren Ramirez

Directed By: Greg Coolidge

Rating: 5 out of 10

Outline

A Super Club employee and slacker decides to go for the employee of the month to impress a new co-worker.

Review

I can forgive people anything when it comes to me judging if a movie is good or bad. Peoples off screen persona and past on screen performances never factor into my review. Now that I have said that, seeing the cast of this movie made me throw up in my mouth a little. Dane Coke, Dax Shepard, Andy Dick, Harland Williams, Jessica Simpson, and whatever Pedro from Napoleon Dynamites real name is? Really?  This is the cast you are throwing our way? Can I take the douchiest casts in movie history for 200 hundred Alex? Now that I got that out of the way this movie was more entertaining than I expected. Employee of the Month is the story of Zack, a box boy who works at Super Club (basically a Costco) He jokes, he slacks, and he hangs out with his coworker buddies without a care in the world. That is until a new employee Amy shows up who seemingly likes guys who are employee of the month (EOTM from now on). Nothing can stand in Zack’s way of winning the EOTM and the girl except his propensity for slacking and a model employee Vince who is the head cashier.

This film is all about weighing the bad and stupid characters against the good characters that genuinely get laughs and are fun to watch. Ultimately there are just too many scenes of random or unfunny comments to make this movie a recommendation. The film introduces us to its key players and quickly you will realize this is a two man movie. Zack and Vince try their best to make you like this movie but they are bogged down with a terrible supporting cast. The film seems constrained by its PG-13 rating. It is trying to make itself look like a raunchier film then it actually is or can be. Under all the product and shelving at Super Club this is just another thinly put together romantic comedy that needed some more risqué humor to make it work. The film starts to unfold in the usual manor. Zack the slacker realizes he has to change his ways to win the girl and the EOTM. Vince the model employee wants the girl also and has won the last 17 EOTM prizes in a row so he won’t give it up without a fight. In this battle for the girl is where the movie works the best. The two of them think of new ways to sabotage each other like Zack putting Vince’s car in the racks for sale, or Vince breaking into Zack’s home to make him late for work. They get laughs with funny lines and stupid slapstick and that was fine by me.

The good characters are Zack played by Dane Cook and Vince played by Dax Shepard. Vince is this loveable slacker character that is easily relatable. Cook has the quick bantering and fast delivery that makes his character so good in this film. Vince is the highlight of the film for me. I am guessing he will not appeal to everyone but I found him funny. He is this lanky, super dyed blonde hair, creepy, unlikely ladies man. He over sells everything from his head cashier job to his crappy car and he had me laughing right through this movie. When Cook and Shepard are face to face and trash talking it makes you wish the supporting cast could have been better.

See that segue right there as I transition the conversation smoothly into the terrible supporting cast. Virtually everyone in this film was off aside from a couple of funny comments from Vince’s side kick Jorge (Efren Ramirez). I am sure I don’t need to tell you this but Harland Williams is not funny and neither is Andy Dick. I am not sure why they keep showing up in so many films. They both played co-workers and friends to Zack and I hated them equally. Andy Dick played a virtually blind, eye glass technician (Hilarious right) and Harland plays a warehouse worker who thinks saying the word “guy” at the end of every sentence is hilarious. They offered nothing positive or funny to this film in any way. Lastly is the leading lady in question, Amy played by Jessica Simpson. Let me just say Jessica Simpson should be doing anything else in life other than being in movies. Her delivery is so unnatural that you cringe when she has dialogue in this movie. She is nothing more than glorified eye candy in a tight sweater in this film.

The film seems to build up some comedic momentum and then that momentum quickly gets snuffed out by a bad joke or awful situation. The film also falters as it tries to make it seem like it has heart. Zack alienates his friends and ultimately starts acting like Vince in a tired and expected angle in this film. This film doesn’t need deep big box store romance, or Super Club back story. It just needed jokes and they seemed to forget this at regular intervals.  As the film makes its way to the typical but not unsatisfying ending of a man versus man shopping challenge I can say I was pleasantly surprised by this film even though it falters in so many areas. It shows you with a little creativity any cast can get some laughs.

First time full length feature director Greg Coolidge has much to be proud of. While the obvious story dragged down this film in a lot of areas he still put together an entertaining film with a generous amount of laughs. He has good pacing on the film and got the most out of a less than stellar cast. It would be interesting to see what he could do with a better script.

I cannot recommend this film and while having said that it was the most fun I had in a Costco bar none.

T Factor + If you liked stupid humor this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you do not like Dane Cook or Dax Shepard this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: My Best Friend’s Girl, Loser