Now Playing: October 30, 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: Kenny Ortega
Synopsis: Michael Jackson like you've never seen him before, apparently. Get an up close and personal look at Jackson's final days as he rehearses for his last concert, scheduled to being in July, 2009 and end in March, 2010. The film includes interviews, rehearsals and exclusive backstage footage of Jackson and his collaborators during the intensive rehearsal process. For some, it may serve as an eye-opening look into who Jackson really was, while for others it'll just provide additional proof that Jackson was one of the most talented performers of all time. Despite the performer's tainted past, the movie focuses solely on Jackson as an entertainer, leaving scandal entirely out of the picture. While some might say that's disregarding the giant, pink elephant (from Neverland Ranch) in the room, it at least allows for a positive tone to shine through the footage and portray Jackson as nothing more than the born-to-entertain phenomenon that he was. The film was produced with the full support of the Estate of Michael Jackson.
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day
Director: Troy Duffy
Writer: Troy Duffy
Synopsis: Director Duffy's at it again with this second installment of the popular Boondock Saints series, the first film becoming somewhat of a cult classic over the years. Sean Patrick Flannery and Norman Reedus return to their roles as the MacManus brothers, who return to Boston once more after they learn their priest has been murdered by the mob and the two of them have been framed. Billy Connolly, Clifton Collins Jr. and Julie Benz are among the cast as well, each one contributing their part to the wisecracks, superfluous gore and unnecessary hot girl scenes abundant in the first movie. While fans of the original Boondock Saints argue the film transcended the boundaries of action-thrillers and created a genre of its own, critics claim the first one was simply all style and no substance and are confident the sequel will fall into a similar style of an incomprehensible storyline so outrageous it borders on self-parady.
Director: Ti West
Writer: Ti West
Synopsis: Relive the suspense and psychological horror of the '80s with The House of the Devil, in which writer and director Ti West starts with the familiar story of a young girl stuck in a dangerous house with people who want to hurt her. While that might sound trite and predictable at first, take into account the spot-on '80s atmosphere, drawn-out horror tactics and eerily subtle acting debuts of Jocelin Donahue and Greta Gerwig. Cult actors Tom Noonan and Mary Woronov give chilling performances as well. The film made its way to the 2009 Chicago International Film Festival where horror film fanatics and Satan worshipers alike agreed it was a fun trip down memory lane, and a great way to get into the Halloween spirit.
Director: Jared Hess
Writer: Jared Hess
Synopsis: When home-schooled loner Benjamin, played by newbie Michael Angarano, attends a writers' convention, he discovers his fantasy novel idea has been stolen by Ronald Chevalier (Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords), one of the most coveted novelists in the business. He takes Chevalier to court for plagiarism, hell-bent on escaping from the Utah sticks prison he grew up in. Hess, the man behind the misfit sub-genre hit Napoleon Dynamite, brings us yet another look at the unbearably monotonous aspects of small-town living. The scenery is so depressing in Broncos, it almost sucks away all the life from the film. But thanks to Clement's hilarious portrayal of a crazy, egomaniacal fantasy novel freak, the movie holds its own comedic (lack of) weight, just barely avoiding floating off into the Utah sticks abyss.
Verdict: Considering it's Satan's favorite time of year, check out The House of the Devil in light of the season. Also, if you're a fan of Hess' quirky, mockery of middle-America humor, give Gentlemen Broncos a chance as well. You probably won't love or hate This Is It so if you have nothing better to do, why not give The Estate of Michael Jackson your hard-earned money...Boondock Saints II on the other hand is anything but heavenly so unless you're in the mood for a few cheap laughs and a ton of gratuitous gore, give the saints the boot.
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