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Reviews
Left on Purpose (2015)
powerful study of personal freedom and the artistic process
Left On Purpose is a heart-wrenching study of a man and the choices he makes. Over the progression of the sometimes surprisingly amusing subject the film also becomes a study of the choices a documentary filmmaker must at times make in order to see a project through and what happens when the filmmaker becomes personally intertwined with the subject. Highly recommended as a study of the complexities inherent in the human condition.
Hell (2011)
Pretty Darn Good
Jeez,
Some of the reviews on here are tough. This is a well acted, well shot creepy post-apocalyptic independent film!
Is it perfect? What film- or for that matter what work of art- is perfection? It seems that IMDb has become a meeting place for all the review-trolls on the internet. Let's all log on and say how bad everyone's attempts at art are.
Do any of these reviewers know the artistry it takes to shoot and cut together a film like HELL? I say kudos to the entire crew and certainly to the cast which were all top notch actors.
Did the other reviewers watch the same film I did?
This is hands down one of the best films I've seen recently.
Grizzly Man (2005)
Amazing use of beautiful found footage
Herzog is a masterful filmmaker, and here he exhibits new skills. He takes Timothy Treadwell's raw footage and assembles it into a poetic take on the life of an inspired (somewhat mad) man.
The images captured by Treadwell alone are awe inspiring. He plays with foxes in the wild, and each time a great grizzly bear sniffs his finger it is a truly amazing sight to behold. Herzog chronicles Treadwell's journey of solitude and how he sought to protect the bears from poachers and society at large and how increasingly he was putting himself in grave danger.
A great nature film and study of a man who wished to become one with nature and in doing so was engulfed by it.
The Slaughterhouse Massacre (2005)
New low in an attempt at horror
This has to be in the running for the worst of the worst. I'll put it this way- I can't even really comment on it because I'm speechless. Stay away- stay far away! The acting is so bad... you couldn't direct actors to intentionally be that bad. The script had to be written in a day with no rewrites. The lighting, the killer- every element of this one disgraces the horror genre. It has a slick box and DVD art so I guess this is a testament to the powers of marketing. That someone is making a dime off of this is astounding. I'm sure things can't get much worse. Seriously bad stuff! If Lion's Gate paid for this- they really have to rethink their policies.
Brooklyn Rules (2007)
Great film. Instant classic of the coming of age genre
Went to a screening last night and was blown away. Michael Corrente is the kind of director that is in short supply these days. With all the garbage coming out of Hollywood, he has resisted the temptation to head west and make more $ and has instead stuck to his roots. Brooklyn Rules is a powerful independent film with a very realistic take on the coming of age genre. The cast is top notch. The stars and supporting characters ring incredibly true. I'm not going to list all the names (and there are some of the top actors out there) but just look at the credits and know that each of the actors did some of his/her best work to date. Scenes of the three best friends growing together are inter-cut with elements of harrowing violence and blossoming love. The total effect is one that left me wondering why so few films have the balance of Brooklyn Rules. So many are all out in one direction. Hyper violence- or total sex for 90 minutes. This movie has classical composition and pacing yet is completely original in it's own way. A harrowing portrait of learning the horrors of the modern city life. The soundtrack is amazing on its own. Kudos to all involved- Great job!
The Ghosts of Edendale (2003)
Well done- Congrats to all involved
This is a good little horror movie- Those who praise it seem to understand it more than those who think it's so bad. The acting is pretty good all around- Yes, Paula Ficara is a stand out as the lead, but her husband Steve Wastell is very good as well- along with the rest of the cast. If you don't find the film spooky at all then I think you've become desensitized by all the overblown gore on the market these days. Subtle scares are sometimes more powerful. I prefer film stock, but there are budget restraints sometimes and it's a lot easier to get the performances out of the actors when film cost is a non-issue.
Again, Cheers to Stefan Avalos and all the cast and crew of GOE
The Cooler (2003)
Sorvino and Nascarella are perfect in supporting roles
Say what you will about the film as a whole (I thought it was well acted for the most part- many out of focus shots and a script that was sub-par) but you can't knock the performances of Arthur J Nascarella and Paul Sorvino- Nascarella is bone-chillingly realistic as an "old school" enforcer. Sorvino all but steals the film in ONE scene (Laying on his back to boot). The leads were very good but these two really left an impression on me.
Cobra Verde (1987)
Kinski the Great!
Klaus Kinski was a great actor and so few really know his work. This is one of his great collaborations with the fantastic director Werner Herzog. A must see for true fans of CINEMA. All of the films Kinski made with Herzog are of the highest caliber.
Love Streams (1984)
Amazingly unique film
This is a late great work of a master director. It is one of the most original films I have ever seen, though Cassavetes work was mostly improvised and so always had a spontaneous and creative feel. Love Streams is so good because it is the work of a highly creative mind at the height of his talents. It is haunting in its depiction of an unusual brother and sister and their love for each other and for family (in the case of the sister played by the great Gena Rowlands in a beautiful, though at times scary, performance.) More than anything it is a study of the meaning of love itself. The look of the film and the editing alone make this one worth watching.
Straight Time (1978)
Beautiful work by Hoffman
This is clearly one of Dustin Hoffman's greatest roles. It is one of those performances where one completely forgets they are witnessing a great performance by an actor. I found myself feeling as if I was watching a documentary. Gary Busey, Harry Dean Stanton, and Theresa Russell were all fantastic as well. Great direction by Ulu Grosbard and look for Kathy Bates in an early role.