Now Playing: October 23, 2009
It's Friday again and that means there's a whole new crop of movies on which you can dump your money. You've no doubt worked hard this week tilling the fields and weaning your young and you wish to take in a film that won't leave you mourning the loss of funds you could've spent on booze. Choosing what film to see without any information is a bit like a round of "Press Your Luck," except landing on a Whammy won't leave you feeling insulted, robbed of your dignity, or wishing for physical harm to come about on another human being. Bad movies can do that to you. Here at Zoom In Online, we're your friends and we want to prove it by providing you with as much information as we can before you attempt to wade through a potential cinematic mine field. Consider us your cinematic D.A.R.E., except funnier and without all the poor results.
Director: Kevin Greutert
Writer: Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton
Synopsis: Really? Another Saw? Ah well, apparently excessive gore and relentless sociopathic tendencies never get old in the eyes of the American public. In this thrilling addition to the Saw saga, Detective Hoffman takes over as Jigsaw's successor. The FBI is finally close to cracking the case (no really guys, take your time) as Hoffman creates yet another game to teach them the ultimate lesson. Costas Mandylor takes over as the maniacal force behind it all, coming into the role with some pretty large shoes to fill on account of Tobin Bell's perfectly chilling performances in the first four. Considering the amount of gaping holes left at the end of Saw V, this one certainly has a lot of loose ends to tie up, and fans can only hope that inexplicable incongruities will finally be resolved in this next (and final?) installment.
Director: Mira Nair
Writer: Ronald Bass and Anna Hamilton Phelan
Synopsis: Remember that one time in 1937 when an overzealous woman attempted to fly around the world and disappeared over the Pacific Ocean? Yes, that woman...Well, director Mira Nair certainly remembers her, obviously under the impression that Amelia's story needed retelling in the form of a made-for-the-Oscars, epic biography. If you're at all interested in Amelia's legendary tale and still feel like you haven't learned all there is to know yet, you'll appreciate the storyline for its all-encompassing coverage of the pilot's life from start to finish. It shows the early stages of Amelia's life, her relationship with George Putnam and her rise to the top as one America's most beloved sweethearts. There's already buzz over Hilary Swank's compelling performance, opposite Richard Gere who critics are saying was miscast and comparatively boring next to Swank. For what it's worth, it's movies like these we tend to avoid at first glance, fully aware of the dramatic cliches and officious soundtrack. However, when Oscar week rolls around, you'll be wishing you had checked it out, for your own validation if nothing else. It's one of those hit or misses that will either move you to tears or put you to sleep.
Director: Lars von Trier
Writer: Lars von Trier
Synopsis: The trailer alone will make you want to retreat to the bathroom, curl up in a ball in the shower and wash away your sins. "He" and "she," played by the always creepy William Dafoe and French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg, have sex one day while their only son, left unattended, falls out the window and dies. Gainsbourg becomes overwhelmed with grief and begins to lose her mind. In an attempt to save his wife from going completely insane, Dafoe takes her to their secluded cabin in the "Eden" woods. But nature proves to be less soothing than they thought, as strange events begin to unfold that reveal a shockingly dark truth about their surroundings and themselves. Antichrist made it to the Cannes Film Festival where it received a nomination for the Golden Palm award and garnered Gainsbourg a win for best actress. If you're one of those people that really like mixing sex and violence into a giant pot of unadulterated vice, this movie is most definitely for you.
Verdict: Unless you're a die-hard fan of the never-ending Saw saga, go see Paranormal Activity instead for your scary movie thrill of the month. But make time for Amelia if you don't feel like being left out of all the Oscar buzz. And as far as Antichrist goes, there's just not enough unforgivingly twisted movies that are equally as pretentiously shot out there. So why to hell not.
This blog has been contributed by Film & TV Channel assistant Kristen Berke.
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