Movie Review: HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN

HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN

2011
Not Rated


"Maybe you'll end up like me - a hobo with a shotgun."
-- Hobo

Hobo with a Shotgun is a 2011 action film directed by Jason Eisener that serves as an homage to the grindhouse features made famous during the 1970s. As the film's title suggests, this one follows a hobo (Rutger Hauer) who stumbles upon a downtrodden and filth-infested town. He immediately sees all the crime centers around a kingpin called the Drake (Brian Downey) and his two sons, Slick (Gregory Smith) and Ivan (Nick Bateman), who terrorize the semi-innocent citizens of the city for their own carnal pleasure. When Slick decides to mess with a young prostitute named Abby (Molly Dunsworth), the hobo manages to save her, effectively putting a price on his own head. As he continues to see the level of filth throughout the city, the hobo takes it upon himself to exact vigilante justice on any criminal he can find. Slowly but surely, he makes his way toward the Drake and his sons, all while continuing to protect Abby from the perils surrounding them.

I have to be honest: when I first heard about this film, I was eagerly surprised and awaited its eventual release. I didn't have a chance to see it during its very limited theatrical run, but it finally hit NetFlix's Instant Watch, so I finally had the opportunity to sit down and give it a view. And as much as I hate to say it, I have to say I wasn't terribly impressed.

Normally, films like this are right up my alley. Anytime you have the chance to make a throwback to film genres of decades past, I'm usually one of the first to line up to see it. Add the fact that Hobo with a Shotgun actually sports an interesting premise - a hobo goes vigilante because he thinks the world's an unsafe place - and you should have the makings of grindhouse gold. It even managed to score some rather respectable reviews (it currently holds a 67% approval rating on the online review aggregate, Rottentomatoes.com). Still, I just couldn't find a way to get into the film.

For starters, there was plenty to dislike about the film's screenplay. While I wasn't expecting anything brilliant, I thought it would at least be understandable. However, there were moments during the film where I had absolutely no idea what was going on, and that's never a good sign for a film, especially one as visceral as this. There were seemingly important characters that simply appeared without so much as an explanation as to who they were or why they were there. Secondly, the acting was downright atrocious. Again, I'm not saying that I was expecting top-notch performances, but even for a film like this, the actors could've done a little bit more. How much of it was their fault as opposed to the faulty screenplay, I'm not entirely sure, but great actors would find a way to out-perform a bad screenplay's flaws.

Despite all that, the real issue with Hobo with a Shotgun was that it's terribly boring. Despite the constant stream of action and gore, it never really aroused my interest. In his review for the Philadelphia Inquirer, critic Steven Rea stated that "even connoisseurs of the genre...will find the cheesy chopfests and gratuitous gore less than exciting as one urban prosthetics-strewn bloodbath begets the next." I couldn't agree more. Even with the over-the-top violence, there just wasn't anything truly clicking with this one.

Still, if you are a fan of the genre, Hobo with a Shotgun might be worth a chance. To be fair, I am a bit of a harsh critic, so someone who can put aside the absolute terribleness might find a way to enjoy this one a little bit more than I did. However, there's no possible way I could ever give this film my blessing, so take that into consideration if you were contemplating taking this one in.

Movie Review Summary
Grade: F
1.5 Thumbs Down

Happy Birthday, Tommy Lee Jones!

Today we're celebrating the 65th birthday of Academy Award-winning actor, Tommy Lee Jones. I think my first cinematic memory of Jones was in 1997's Men in Black, in which he starred opposite the ever-present funny-man, Will Smith. At the time, I simply thought Jones was another run-of-the-mill comedic actor, but as I continued to see more and more films, I learned that he generally delves into dramatic roles more often than comedy. Jones nabbed his Oscar in 1993 for his supporting role in The Fugitive, but he's also managed to be nominated on two other occasions: for his supporting role in 1991's JFK and for his leading role in 2007's No Country for Old Men. So, as a tribute to his acting ability, I've listed my five favorite Tommy Lee Jones roles below. I hope you enjoy the videos I've supplied. Once again, let's wish Tommy Lee Jones a happy birthday!

5. Hawk Hawkins
Space Cowboys (2000)


----------

4. Samuel Gerard
The Fugitive (1993)


----------

3. Ed Tom Bell
No Country for Old Men (2007)


----------

2. Warden Dwight McClusky
Natural Born Killers (1994)


----------

1. Agent K
Men in Black (1997)

Movie Review: THE REEF

THE REEF

2011
R


"I've fished these waters, mate. I know what's out there. I'm not getting in the water."
-- Warren

The Reef is a 2011 Australian horror film directed by Andrew Traucki that centers around a group of people's attempt to survive in the Great Barrier Reef. When Kate (Zoe Naylor) goes on holiday with her brother Matt (Gyton Grantley) and his girlfriend Suzie (Adrienne Pickering), they meet with Kate's old flame Luke (Damian Walshe-Howling) who, with the help of friend Warren (Kieran Darcy-Smith) takes the party on a sailboat out to the Reef. After a day out on the ocean, their boat runs aground on the reef and capsizes, leaving the five stranded in the middle of the ocean. Luke convinces the group that they stand a better chance of surviving if they try to swim towards a remote island about ten miles from their boat, and all but Warren decides to go with him. As they make their way out to sea, they have to battle exhaustion, dehydration and the constant threat of a shark encounter.

I'm not quite sure what it is about shark movies, but I seem to be drawn to them no matter the subject matter. Obviously, it's difficult for any shark movie to stand comparison to Jaws (arguably one of the greatest films ever made), but from the reviews I'd seen for The Reef, I had some heightened expectations that we might be in for a treat. It had played at a number of film festivals before hitting the shelves in the U.S. as a straight-to-DVD flick, so I did have some reservations but held hope for something better than average. Sadly, I have to say I was a tad bit disappointed with the overall outcome of the film.

The problem here isn't really the acting, although there isn't much good to be said about the performances either. Our main cast of five is serviceable at best, bringing a legitimate sense of fear and terror to their roles. However, in the times between the horror, there's little left to be desired. The chemistry between our two leads (Walshe-Howling and Naylor) seems a tad bit forced, and some of their dialogue borders a little on the ridiculous.

The actors aren't at fault for their dialogue, however. The screenplay offers major issues throughout the film, but the dialogue isn't the only real problem. One of the biggest obstacles in making a horror movie successfully thrilling is keeping it from falling into predictability. This is where The Reef truly falters. It started out well enough, setting the stage respectably and offering a rather chilling tale of people lost at sea. Once the boat capsizes, we enter into a drawn-out period of suspense that works exceptionally well. However, I felt it lingered a little too long, as we don't have our first real encounter with a shark until over halfway through the film. Once that happens, it's all downhill. You can easily determine who's going next, and when it's going to happen. When you can guess the next moments in any type of thriller, there's something wrong. There's nothing left to leave you on the edge of your seat, and the final forty minutes are a humdrum stretch to the closing credits.

While it's not the worst shark movie I've ever seen, it's so difficult not to compare it to other shark films of history past. While Jaws is the crowning achievement in said category, I think The Reef hearkens a little more closely to the 2004 thriller Open Water, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The films have a similar concept, but something about Open Water just worked a little bit better than this one. Still, The Reef isn't a terrible film, and although it's scares are predictable, they are there for those who want to see them. Some of the actual attacks are very well-shot and stylized, so I have to give credit where credit is due. I just can't completely recommend the film as a whole.

Movie Review Summary
Grade: D+
1 Thumb Down

DVD Challenge #21: UNITED 93

United 93
2006
R
Run-time: 1 hour, 51 minutes

Directed by: Paul Greengrass




Today is an historic day in American history. It marks the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. Five years later, director Paul Greengrass released a rather controversial film entitled United 93, which told the story of the flight of passengers on the last hijacked plane who managed to seize control of the aircraft and crash it into a remote field in Pennsylvania. We can only speculate as to its true target - most people, including this film's creators, posit it was somewhere inside the nation's capital - but there's no denying that the risk these unknown heroes took saved countless more lives on that infamous day.

I originally saw United 93 during its theatrical release in 2006 with my father. Not one to see many movies, he was adamant about seeing this film, so I decided to tag along. Much like we did during 2004's The Passion of the Christ, the two of us spent most of the film fighting back tears. Because it's such a high-profile subject, everyone going into the theater knew exactly how it was all going to end, but they still chose to re-live the experience. I'd like to use Rottentomatoes.com's review aggregate to illustrate my meaning further:

Potent and sobering, United 93 is even more gut-wrenching because the outcome is already known. While difficult to watch, director Paul Greengrass' film has been made with skill and treats the subject matter with respect, never resorting to the aggrandizement of which Hollywood has sometimes been accused. Especially effective is the cast of mostly unknown actors, who portray the passengers on the doomed flight as ordinary people who respond with bravery to extraordinary circumstances.

I don't think there's any way I could possibly explain it better myself. Greengrass' direction is stellar throughout the film - he garnered an Academy Award nomination for his directing, in fact - and the cast is so superb that you almost forget they're merely actors portraying a role. It's an incredibly emotional experience that grabs you by the heart and never lets go. I'm sure there are naysayers out there who have called the film exploitative, choosing to take a stance against such a beautiful piece of work, but I see United 93 as a tribute to the men and women who gave their lives that day, and especially to those who stood up against evil and fought back with all their collective might.

Every American who was old enough to form a cogent memory has a story of where they were when they heard the news of the September 11 attacks. If I may, I'd like to share my story with you. I was two days from turning thirteen, having just started the eighth grade. A month earlier, my mother, sister and I had visited New York, spending a week taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling city. The vacation was still fresh in my mind. I remember being awoken early that morning by a phone call from my dad, who was already at work for the day. His message was simple: "Hey, turn on the news. A plane crashed into the World Trade Center." More intrigued than anything else, I flipped on the television and immediately saw the horror of the devastation. As I listened to the news report, I saw the second plane hit the south tower, and my heart instantly sank. I, like the rest of the country, knew in that instant that this was no random coincidence. The very fabric of the American lifestyle had changed in the blink of an eye, forever altering the path our lives were going to take.

I could probably talk for hours and hours about the events of that day, but the point would be moot. We all know what happened, and it's forever locked into our memory, no matter what we try to do. I would like to applaud Paul Greengrass and the rest of the cast and crew of United 93 for being brave enough to bring this heroic story to the big screen. I can't imagine the opposition they must have faced in trying to create this film, but to have done this so tastefully should earn them an incredible amount of respect.

That being said, this is one DVD Challenge that sees the film taking a back seat to the real-life heroes whose story inspired the film. The passengers on United Flight 93 changed the very definition of "hero." They accepted their fate and did what they could to ensure the same fate would not come to even more people that day.

Today is a day that will always live in infamy, but we can never forget the people who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Even ten years later, it still seems surreal, and having visited Ground Zero in New York, I can tell you that it's an equally sobering experience. To all those people who lost their lives, rest in peace. We will never forget.

Happy Birthday, Adam Sandler!

It's birthday time again, kids. Today, we're celebrating the 45th birthday of one of Hollywood's favorite funnymen, Adam Sandler. The first time I saw Sandler in a film was in 1998's The Waterboy, and since then, I can honestly say he's been one of my favorite comedic actors. Sure, he's been a bit hit-and-miss in the past few years, but comedy is a tough place to make a living. Sandler has managed to be successful in a couple of dramatic roles as well, proving that he might have a little bit of versatility under his belt. Still, Sandler has been, and will always be, best known for his comedic roles, and that's probably how it should stay. So, as I normally do with my birthday posts, I've listed my five favorite Sandler roles in tribute. Hope you enjoy them! You can next seen Sandler on the big screen in Jack and Jill, which is slated for a November 11, 2011 release in the U.S.

5. Henry Roth
50 First Dates (2003)


----------

4. Happy Gilmore
Happy Gilmore (1996)


----------

3. Pip
Airheads (1994)


----------

2. Robert 'Bobby' Boucher Jr.
The Waterboy (1998)


----------

1. Charlie Fineman
Reign Over Me (2007)


----------

Awards
1998: Nominee - Best Actor, Comedy
2004: Nominee - Best Couple; Best Original Song
2007: Nominee - Best Actor, Drama

2011 Fall Movie Preview

It's that time of year again. We're gearing for the fall season. Football is back in swing. The weather is (slowly) starting to cool, and soon the leaves will be turning brown and falling to the ground. And what better time than now to break down some of the movies slated for release this fall? As I did with my summer movie preview, I'm not breaking down every single film scheduled for a release date. Rather, I'm counting down the twenty-five movies that I'm most excited to see from today (September 9) through Thanksgiving. So, without any further delay, here's my list, starting with number 25!

Margin Call
October 21
Directed by: J.C. Chandor
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley, Mary McDonnell, Demi Moore, Stanley Tucci
***
While it's a little difficult for me to think that Margin Call isn't just trying to get the Academy's attention, there could be something rather brilliant hidden in this film. With an all-star cast sure to bring their A-game, we could be looking at a 21st-century version of Wall Street (and no, I'm not counting Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps as a legitimate entry). While I won't be making a drastic run to the theaters for this one, I'll definitely be giving it a view at some point or another.

----------

The Rum Diary
October 28
Directed by: Bruce Robinson
Starring: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, Aaron Eckhart, Giovanni Ribisi, Richard Jenkins
***
When I first compiled this list, I honestly didn't know a ton about The Rum Diary. I was really giving it a nod based on the fact that it would be a Johnny Depp vehicle, and usually that's enough to get me to the theater (here's looking at you, The Tourist). However, I've since seen the latest trailer, and I have to say that my excitement level has spiked just a tad. We're getting a film from the mind of Hunter S. Thompson, whose mind also brought us the likes of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. We could be in for quite a trip, but most importantly, The Rum Diary could truly provide some much-needed entertainment. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

----------

Martha Marcy May Marlene
October 23
Directed by: Sean Durkin
Starring: Elizabeth Olson, Sarah Paulson, John Hawkes, Hugh Dancy, Brady Corbet
***
Martha Marcy May Marlene is one of those films that you would never hear about had it not performed well during its film festival run. When I first saw the trailer, I was a little confused about the film's scenario, but after watching it a few more times, I've gotten a bit of a grasp on it. I can honestly say that this looks to be a very effective dramatic thriller, and I can only hope the acting stays on a level field as well. It's not filled with familiar faces, but John Hawkes was up for an Academy Award last year, if that means anything to you.

----------

Melancholia
November 11
Directed by: Lars von Trier
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, John Hurt, Stellan Skarsgård
***
I first heard about Melancholia a few months ago after it had a spectacular film festival run. A lot of the buzz about the film stemmed from Kirsten Dunst's stellar performance, and I've been eagerly awaiting the chance to see it ever since. I'm not quite sure whether I'll fall in love with the storyline or the plot, but if buzz is any indication, we could be seeing Dunst making a run towards an Academy Award nomination. That's how positive the talk has been. I just hope it lives up to the hype.

----------

The Thing
October 14
Directed by: Matthijs van Heinjingen Jr.
Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Eric Christian Olsen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
***
What originally looked to be a remake of the 1982 film of the same name (which itself was a remake of the 1951 film The Thing from Another World) actually looks to be a prequel to the '82 flick. It should be telling the story of the disaster-fated explorers who originally found the alien creature in the Antarctic ice. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of remakes, but considering how much I enjoyed the 1982 film - and the fact that this film's lucky enough to have scored Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Joel Edgerton to star - I think I just might have to give this new "thing" a chance.

----------

Happy Feet 2 in 3D
November 18
Directed by: George Miller
Starring: Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Ned Beatty, Brad Pitt, Hank Azaria, Hugo Weaving, John Goodman, Ray Winstone, Sofia Vergara
***
I know, this is a little bit dorky, but I absolutely loved the original Happy Feet flick. I know a lot of people dissed it after it took a hugely environmental stance, but if you can look past that bit of politico, then you've actually got a rather interesting love story filled with some fantastic music. We'll have Wood and Williams reprising their vocal roles, and they're being joined by the amazingly all-star cast listed above. I'm not expecting this sequel to be better than the original film, but it should still be good for a little bit of fun at the theaters.

----------

The Descendants
November 23
Directed by: Alexander Payne
Starring: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Matthew Lillard, Beau Bridges
***
To be fair, I still don't know a ton about this particular film, but it looks to be a bit of an offbeat comedy in the vein of 2009's Up in the Air, which also starred Clooney. I used to be a bit against Clooney and his style of acting, but in the past few years, I've started to come around. While this won't be his biggest film of the fall, there still could be quite a bit to enjoy. It seems like a fun flick that should delve into some emotional traps. I guess we'll have to see how it goes.

----------

Restless
September 16
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Henry Hooper, Jane Adams, Schuyler Fisk
***
I remember first hearing about Restless back in the early months of 2011, and I honestly thought it'd be hitting theaters a lot sooner than its September release date. While it seems like we'll be getting a double-dose of young-love films (see Like Crazy a few spaces down), I've started to grow fond of Mia Wasikowska since her breakout role in 2010's Alice in Wonderland, and the addition of Jane Adams to this particular film makes it all the more appealing for me.

----------

Hugo
November 23
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Jude Law, Emily Mortimer, Christopher Lee, Sacha Baron Cohen, Ben Kingsley, Ray Winstone
***
One of the most fascinating aspects of Hugo is that it's a Martin Scorsese flick, but what makes that interesting is that it's a venture into children's fare. It's a family film, not something typically associated with Scorsese's brand of cinema, but with him behind the camera, I personally think anything is possible. It'll be interesting to see how he takes this story and runs with it, but he's got an all-star cast (listed above) to help bring this movie to life. I for one am exceptionally excited to see just what Scorsese can do with this type of fare.

----------

My Week with Marilyn
November 4
Directed by: Simon Curtis
Starring: Michelle Williams, Emma Watson, Dominic Cooper, Kenneth Branagh, Toby Jones
***
I'll be honest and say that I really don't know what to expect from this biopic other than Michelle Williams should be one of the leading contenders when it comes to awards this year. Having not received any type of trailer for the film, it's hard to judge whether it will be any good. Still, considering the film's subject, I can't help but think we'll be getting something decent. Sure, it could very easily be some Oscar bait, but sometimes Oscar bait manages to surprise and impress. Let's hope My Week with Marilyn can do just that.

----------

Contagion
September 9
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard, Bryan Cranston, Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Laurence Fishburne, John Hawkes, Elliott Gould
***
Normally, a film like this wouldn't necessarily pique my interest, but the caliber of cast and crew for Contagion is downright unfair. When you're cast list includes names like Damon, Cotillard, Winslet, Paltrow, Law and Hawkes, then you already have enough to make a stellar film; however, add the direction of a man like Steven Soderbergh, and we could be looking at one of the better thrillers of the year. Could it all get weighed down by the sheer number of big-time players? Possibly. However, I have faith in Soderbergh's direction.

----------

Like Crazy
October 28
Directed by: Drake Doremus
Starring: Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones, Jennifer Lawrence
***
Like Restless, I'm really just interested in seeing Like Crazy for the hot young talent. The reason I've placed this film a little higher than the latter is the inclusion of Yelchin and Lawrence, one of my new favorite actresses to hit it big. While I'm not sure we'll be seeing anything terribly brilliant when it comes to the screenplay, you can be sure that we'll be getting some top-notch performances from our big three.

----------

Real Steel
October 7
Directed by: Shawn Levy
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly, Kevin Durand, Anthony Mackie, Hope Davis
***
While I admit Real Steal could turn out to be a horrendously terrible movie, there's something very attractive about the idea of robots duking it out in the boxing ring. Having the always interesting Hugh Jackman star in the film is probably the biggest draw - his charisma and personality alone would be enough to get me to the theater for this one. Still, I think there's an outside possibility that we could get something rather incredible. By taking the age-old boxing tale - a sport so perfectly adapted for film its insane - and blending it with the sci-fi realm, we could get something tremendous.

----------

The Muppets
November 23
Directed by: James Bobin
Starring: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper
***
I grew up watching the Muppets and their many adventures, be it on the big screen or through television, so their return to the silver screen is definitely an exciting one for myself and many of the people I know. Sure, there's a huge nostalgia aspect, but with Jason Segel and Amy Adams taking leading roles - as well as Segel taking screenwriting credits - I have quite a bit of faith that this next Muppet adventure will be a magical one. If anything, it'll just be great to see all those fun-filled folks back on the screen, bringing laugh after laugh after laugh once again.

----------

Red State
October 21
Directed by: Kevin Smith
Starring: Michael Angarano, Kyle Gallner, Stephen Root, Melissa Leo, John Goodman
***
When directors decide to delve into uncharted territory, I've found they have mixed results. With Red State, Kevin Smith is embarking into the realm of horror, a far stretch from the comedies he has produced over the past twenty years or so. And the transition doesn't even look to be a horror-comedy; Red State looks like it's going to be a politically-tinged thriller sure to tingle some spines. Still, there's that little bit of reservation considering Smith has never ventured into these dark waters before, so I can't be entirely sure of whether the film will be all that great. I've got my fingers crossed, though.

----------

Drive
September 16
Directed by: Nicolas Winding Refn
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Ron Perlman, Oscar Isaac, Albert Brooks
***
The more I hear about this movie, the more my excitement builds. Putting Ryan Gosling at the forefront of any film is bound for some measure of success, but the possibilities behind this one seem limitless. Add the fact that the film already holds an 8.9 rating on the Internet Movie Database, and you've got one avid movie fan chomping at the bit over here. With a seemingly all-star cast and a fast-paced storyline, I'm expecting Drive to be a bit of a hit.

----------

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
November 18
Directed by: Tomas Alfredson
Starring: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Mark Strong, Ciarán Hinds
***
Oscar bait at its finest, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy looks to be the film that most Academy voters will latch onto relatively quickly. It's bringing together an all-star cast that's almost unfair to have while delving into political and espionage issues during the Cold War. It'll be the British movie that most American people will eventually flock to see, and although I don't know whether it'll make as big a splash as The King's Speech in 2010, I wouldn't be surprised if it received the same or similar accolades.

----------

Moneyball
September 23
Directed by: Bennett Miller
Starring: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Robin Wright, Philip Seymour Hoffman
***
Brad Pitt is always a draw for me, and sports movies generally bring me streaking to the theaters. Put the two together, and you've raised my awareness of this film tenfold. The fact that we're also getting a true story - and a relatively recent one, at that - out of this film makes it all the more appealing. A little off-topic to be considered Oscar bait, Moneyball looks to have a slew of fine performances and a captivating storyline, even if I already know how it's going to end.

----------

The Ides of March
October 7
Directed by: George Clooney
Starring: Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Marisa Tomei, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright
***
I'll admit that I don't know anything more about this film than what's posited in the trailer, but I think that gives enough to give a sense of how good this film could be. It's Clooney's fourth directorial effort, and although his most recent (2008's Leatherheads) didn't "wow" critics, I have a feeling that this one might turn the tables back to his side. He's got an all-star cast to bring this one to life, much like he did with 2005's Good Night, and Good Luck., which ultimately nabbed six Academy Award nominations, including ones for Best Director and Best Picture.

----------

Killer Elite
September 23
Directed by: Gary McKendry
Starring: Jason Statham, Robert De Niro, Clive Owen
***
I have a feeling that this one's going to fall into my list of guilty pleasures, but I will watch absolutely anything starring Jason Statham. He's the action hero of my generation, and he's simply fantastic in everything he does. Add the fact that we're getting some legitimate acting chops from Robert De Niro and Clive Owen, and we could have the makings of a decent action thriller here. Even if it's just a fast-paced, no-brained action flick, I'll still find a way to enjoy this one.

----------

Warrior
September 9
Directed by: Gavin O'Connor
Starring: Tom Hardy, Joel Egderton, Jennifer Morrison, Nick Nolte, Noah Emmerich, Kevin Dunn
***
The local ESPN Radio station recently hosted a preview screening of Warrior near my home. Sadly, I wasn't able to make the screening, but I've continued to hear about the film's imminent release as a result. With rising stars Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton teaming with seasoned vets like Nick Nolte and Noah Emmerich, we could be in for quite a film here. Sure, it'll probably delve into cliché here and there, and we can tell from the trailer exactly where we're headed, but I think it might be more a focus on the characters than the storyline. That could make for a winning formula.

----------

50/50
September 30
Directed by: Jonathan Levine
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anjelica Huston
***
To be fair, I'll watch anything starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He's one of my favorite actors, and he's definitely one of the best of this generation. This dramatic comedy looks as though it'll be pulling on our heartstrings a bit, and with an all-star cast, I'm sure they'll deliver readily. I may have my issues with Seth Rogen, but who knows - maybe he'll surprise me and break away from his typical character for 50/50.

----------

Tucker & Dale vs. Evil
September 30
Directed by: Eli Craig
Starring: Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk, Katrina Bowden, Jesse Moss
***
The premise alone would be enough to send me to the theaters for this one, and to be fair, that's one of the only reasons most people would go see it. With a cast devoid of any A-list stars, it might be difficult for some to find any other reason to head to the theaters for this one; however, we'll be getting Tyler Labine (Rise of the Planet of the Apes), Alan Tudyk (Dodgeball) and Katrina Bowden ("30 Rock") to whet our appetite. I'm expecting outright hilarity in this one.

----------

J. Edgar
November 9
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Josh Lucas, Naomi Watts, Armie Hammer, Dermot Mulroney, Judi Dench
***
For whatever reason, Leonardo DiCaprio has yet to win an Academy Award. However, if there was ever a time for him to break that streak, it's going to be this year with his role as J. Edgar Hoover, founder of the FBI. The fact that the film is being directed by the legendary Clint Eastwood only enhances the possibilities for DiCaprio, who I have to see as the current front-runner for the award. We'll see how it all plays out, however.

----------

Piranha 3DD
November 23
Directed by: John Gulager
Starring: Danielle Panabaker, Katrina Bowden, Christopher Lloyd, Ving Rhames, David Hasselhoff, Gary Busey
***
If you've been following my blog from its very beginnings a year ago, then you'll know that I was a huge fan of the 2010 horror-comedy Piranha 3D. It's throwback to the B-movies of the 1970s was glorious to behold, and it left itself open for a sequel. Well, after grossing over three-and-a-half times what it cost to make, the studios gave the go-ahead for a sequel, aptly titled Piranha 3DD. This time, we're delving into residential areas, including a water park that becomes infested with the beastly little devils. My excitement level for this film is off the charts, and I simply cannot wait for its Thanksgiving week release.

Movie Review: SHARK NIGHT

SHARK NIGHT

2011
PG-13


"Maybe someone put them here."
-- Nick

Shark Night is a 2011 thriller directed by David R. Ellis that centers around a Louisiana lake's infestation with man-eating sharks. When a group of college co-eds decides to take a weekend vacation at Sara's (Sara Paxton) family lake house, they assume it will be a weekend filled with alcohol, sex and all-around partying. All-star football player Malik (Sinqua Walls) and friend Gordon (Joel David Moore) attempt to instill confidence in Nick (Dustin Milligan) who desperately wants Sara to notice him. At the same time, Sara's friend Beth (Katharine McPhee) tries to persuade her to go for Nick as well. When the group arrives, they meet some hostile locals named Dennis (Chris Carmack) and Red (Joshua Leonard) who seem agitated by Sara's return to the island. The group of co-eds continues to the lake house where they start to enjoy themselves. While wakeboarding, however, Malik is attacked by a shark and loses one of his arms. Terrified, the rest of the group does their best to contact help while trying to reason why a shark would be found in a lake. As time continues to pass, the reasons become clearer, and a more sinister underlying plot emerges.

Some of you may remember that I broke down this film's trailer a few months back in preparation for its release. In the time since, I've eagerly awaited Shark Night in hopes that it could fall into the category of "so bad, it's good." Ladies and gentlemen, I can honestly say that Shark Night nearly completely fulfilled all of the hopes and desires that I took with me into the theater.

Before I delve into my full review, I'm going to answer the questions I posed in the aforementioned trailer breakdown, so we can see how good my analytical skills actually are:

1. Is it just me, or does every movie involving a group of college co-eds going on vacation tend to take a turn towards disaster?
It seems like it, and Shark Night is no exception. 

2. Wait, there's sharks in a lake? Does that even make sense?
This is actually explained within the storyline. Although it's a ridiculous explanation, I give the writers credit for actually addressing it. 

3. Will this film achieve the same amount of success as 2010's Piranha 3D?
I'm gonna go out on a limb (read: sarcasm) and say that it won't. Piranha 3D was an unexpected critical success, whereas Shark Night has started off with some less-than-stellar reviews. Word of mouth won't benefit this flick. 

4. Will this film tribute Jaws or rip it off?
In the first twenty minutes of the film, I was a little worried that we'd essentially be getting a kill-by-kill remake of Jaws, but my fears were quickly subdued when I realized we'd be facing an altogether different beast: a horrendous film. Still, it's impossible to make a movie about sharks without having some comparisons to that iconic 1975 film.

 5. Can a 21st-century horror film make it through its run-time without involving torture?
I think they can, but Shark Night isn't capable. It adds a very strange twist to this story, but for one scene, it makes it all the more brilliant. 

6. The black dude dies first.
I actually have to say I've been proven wrong. While of the college co-eds, the black dude does get attacked first, he isn't the first to die. Does he make it to the final credits? Well, let's not talk crazy here...

And now for my actual review. I'm going to start with the acting, which was, for the most part, atrocious. Paxton and Milligan were awful as our leads, never giving me any reason to care for their characters. Milligan never once showed any real emotion, and Paxton held the same look on her face for the film's entire run-time. We do have some comically bad performances from the likes of the aforementioned Leonard and Donal Logue, who plays the film's sheriff. While I realize the cast was probably a slave to a poorly-written script, a good actor would find a way to bring out the best in a mediocre screenplay. I can't say anyone does that here.

Now, for the screenplay. It would be bad enough if we were just given a story in which random different species of sharks happened to appear in a land-locked lake, but these guys take it even farther and add a torture element to the entire scenario. If you're not in the mood for some spoilers (although I'm pretty sure they're evident in the trailer), you might want to stop reading now. Essentially, we're getting a couple of rednecks who capture sharks and place them in the saltwater lake, fitting them with video cameras so that they can record their every movement. Then, they find unsuspecting victims and get them into the water so that they can essentially create a snuff film when the shark kills its prey. Their whole plan is to sell the snuff films to make massive amounts of money. They're justification for why this would be profitable is screenwriting gold (in a "so bad, it's good" sort of way), so I can't quite give you that little tidbit. However, that little reveal made this film an entirely enjoyable experience all on its own.

While it starts off a bit slow, Shark Night does manage to pick up some steam in the second half of the film. However, it's not terror and thrills that are coming our way; rather, it's a steady steam of gut-wrenching laughter that's sure to keep you entertained until the closing credits. Once we received that aforementioned reveal, I couldn't keep my laughter contained any longer and found myself at least mildly chuckling until film's end. If you can go into Shark Night with the mindset that it's going to be horrendous, I think you're much better off. Go in looking for the comedy rather than the terror. I'm sure you'll be entertained.

Movie Review SummaryGrade: F
1.5 Thumbs Up

Addition to Rankings
Worst All-Time: #92