O Cine Hall está de volta depois de tanto tempo, não com um estouro das bilheterias dos ultimos tempos, sim com  um “thiller” com a elegância eo charme de poucos que já vi por ai.Instinto secreto (ou Mr. Brooks no original) é daqueles filmes que não o faz desgrudar os olhos da tela, Kevin Costner tambem crava-lhe os olhos de um modo perturbardor mas sedutor ao mesmo tempo, somos capazes de ficar intimo deste homem de familia e profissional respeitado na sociedade, mesmo sabendo que ele é um serial Killer “de luxo” que nunca foi pêgo e nunca será, mas assustador é Marshall,”alter ego” Do Sr.Brooks que aparece sempre como se realmente estivesse ali,curioso temer Marshall, visto que ele não passa de uma vertente da mente do Sr.Brooks, mas volta  e meia nos perguntamos; “quem é Marshall?” e nunca viemos a saber de fato.Temos uma visão panorâmica de como funciona a mente destes assassinos por natureza que volta e meia aparecem nos noticiários norte americanos e dão dor de cabeça ao FBI, que no filme tem a “maozinha” da detetive/policial Demi moore, o tipo de mulher que sempre iriamos querer por perto, ela quase chega a exelência intelectual do Sr. brooks de Costner, se não fosse policial concerteza teria vocação para serial Killer, ela sim daria mais medo que o olhar de homem correto do Sr.brooks. Nada no filme é superficial e é tudo sobre medida incluindo trilha sonora e fotografia, tem a satisfação de uma receita que esta no ponto, suspenses a sim são raros, de tamanho deleite, para nos expectadores que fica a satisfação de saber que o crime perfeito no cinema realmente compensa.

Espero que hayan cumplido el reto de ver tooodas las películas de Halloween llenas de sangre, violencia, adolescentes estúpidos…mmm, confio en que algunos de mis lectores son psicópatas y vaya que disfrutaron verlas y leer las palabras anteriores; y algunos que si no lo eran descubrieron que lo son por amar ver tanta SANGRE, VIOLENCIA, ADOLESCENTES ESTÚPIDOS (se que les gustan esas palabras…o mejor dicho, que les valen). Yo? Si, si disfruto verlas…porque me puedo reír de ellas, aunque desgraciadamente no las pude ver todas este año porque muchas personas se volaron las películas del Blockbuster…no los culpo. En fin: psicopátas. Son las personas más geniales que he visto en el cine. Son manipuladores, agresivos, calculadores, inteligentes…ahhh. Eso según los psicólogos. Pero según yo, aquí va un recuento de las personas geniales -y malvadas- del mundo del cine con patología imprecisa:
Jean-Baptiste Grenouille
Nuestro chico francés que tiene un gusto especial al aroma de las mujeres jovénes y hará todo para obtenerlo…en especial matar.

Catherine Tramell

La mujer que arrancó…suspiros a muchos hombres en Bajos Instintos y que encontraba un placer mayor en matar a los hombres que …estar con ellos. (No la culpo…sólo vean el Espacio de Keso y díganme si no se convertirian en asesinos al leer lo que dicen…haha)

Earl Brooks

Pues, este Mr. Brooks es un psicópata agradable (en los estándares comunes) y muestra bien a sus …amiguitos que viven en su cabeza.

SWEENY TODD

Ohh, me gusta mucho la película! Mrs. Lovett quién ama a un psicópata asesino y él la mata al final lanzandola en una caldera…Que hermosa historia! Esperen…me suena conocida…Oh…

Anton Chigurh

Bueno…pues me sonó a Harvey Dent lo de su moneda esa, pero aún así la escena final es genial y más aún la cara de “que más da” de Javier Berdam.

LEATHERFACE

El sonido de la sierra + una chica gritando horrible durante toda la película= Boo! Hasta a mi me asustó por sus gritos y aún peor cuando esta en la hermosa reunión familiar de psicópatas: oh, que honor! El abuelo de 150 años va a partirle la cabeza para la cena! Llena de miedo psicológico tiene la cinta ” La masacre en Texas” y quién no? Con un carnícero con una máscara de pieles humanas. Me llevo dos!

Hannibal lecter

El ex psiquiatra Dr. Hannibal cuyo plato favorito somos tú y yo. Bastante culto e inteligente y con diálogos llenos de ingenio hacen que entre en la categoría de psicópatas refinados. Pase usted, es hora de la cena!

JIGSAW

Vaya lecciones de vida nos da! Acosado por una enfermedad terminal, busca enseñar a todo aquél que no disfrute su vida a cómo “Vivir la vida” con unos simples y divertidos juegos: No pierdes nada al jugar! Sólo que si pierdes, mueres de una forma horrible y dolorosa. ¿Quieres jugar?

ESTHER

Una “niña” completamente diabólica!!!! Ok, es una psicópata. Basta ver los lindos dibujos que tiene pegados en su cuarto, bueno, ya sabemos porque no quisieron ponerlos en la puerta del refrigerador. Sabe mostrar muy bien lo psicópata y más aún con la escena de la paloma. Bueno, claramente con una pedrada en el cráneo dejara de sufrir.

NORMAN BATES
Creación de Hitchcook de un hombre que se disfraza de su madre para asesinar. Es prota de la famosa escena de la ducha. Usa frases cortas como estas. Muy buena actuación. Vaya madre debió ser esa. Han de oirse raras estas frases. Diablos.

PATRICK BATEMAN

A poco? Por algo se llama Psicópata Americano, no? Ohh, muy buenas escenas hay en la película. Desde el vago asesinado, la chica asesinada con la sierra desde las escaleras, su crisis mientras confiesa sus crímenes. Vaya que vale la pena y Christian Bale aquí es muy genial!

Alex McDowell

El ultraviolento Alex es sumamente genial en Naranja Mecánica y un claro ejemplo de psicópata…un psicópata fanático de Beethoven y de Gene Kelly, cabría suponer.

Y AHORA…EL NÚMERO UNO!!!!

THE JOKER!!!

El de Heath, claro. Bueno, bueno…él no es un psicópata. Más bien es un sociópata (simplemente Joker <3), pero no importa. Ya no falta decir POR QUÉ, verdad? Creo que ya lo he dejado claro. Ohhhhhh…<3 <3

Mr. Brooks directed by Bruce Evans (who wrote the screenplay for Stand By Me) is a very good Hollywood commercial movie.  Most Hollywood movies are about killing, often wanton killing at that, and Mr. Brooks is about killing as well, but with a twist; it is about kids who think killing is great fun, probably from video games and such, and nurtured inside a culture and civilization that is built on war, and imagine their shock when they are killed. This movie has one of the best screenplays I have seen in a while; it is a very substantial movie with many many things happening in the plot, and the director and screenwriter (Raynold Gideon) never drop the ball. Very nice work. Kevin Costner plays Earl Brooks, a successful Oregon businessman who is voted “Man of the Year,” loving husband and father who is also a serial murderer addicted to killing. But like all informed addicts, he knows he is an addict and he wants to quit his addiction. He is enrolled in AA where he simply introduces himself as “I am Earl Brooks. I am an addict.” An addiction is an addiction, right? He chants the Serenity Prayer often; he really wants to quit killing. The movie opens with him being felicitated as Oregon’s Man of the Year and the whole celebration makes him want to go out and kill, which he does; he breaks into the apartment of a couple and shoots them while they are having sex. The couple likes to leave their window blinds open while having sex and sure enough a couple of days later Mr. Brooks is visited in his office by a Mr. Smith played beautifully by Dane Cook with the right amount of cluelessness we see in kids who are born rich maintained rich–sexually mature children–and who has never understood the value of life (which is inherently valueless–which is why the military can go out and kill with such calmness–they know this–it is what value you attach to it that makes it valuable). Mr. Smith has been taking pictures of the couple for a while and now has the pictures of Mr. Brooks killing them as well. What he wants is surprising though and this is where the movie departs from the standard Hollywood fare: Mr. Smith does not want to extort money from Mr. Brooks. He wants Mr. Brooks to take him along for the next killing. He thinks killing is great fun; he loved watching Mr. Brooks kill the two people. Mr. Brooks tries to tell him that he is an addict and that he does not like killing and is in the process of quitting killing. Mr. Smith won’t take “no” for an answer. He wants to go along for another killing; if not, he will turn Mr. Brooks over to the police. Exploit an addict. This is where the movie becomes about Mr. Smith and not about Mr. Brooks. It is a fantastic plot–Mr. Brooks has an alter ego, or a brain played menacingly by William Hurt who is a terrific actor; a detective Tracy Atwood (Demi Moore) going through an acrimonious divorce but whose subplot is woven beautifully into the main plot with Mr. Brooks; Mr. Brooks’s daughter, a very scary young girl Jane (Danielle Panabaker); and an escaped felon and his accomplice. The upshot of this complicated plot held up beautifully throughout the movie is  that Mr. Brooks owns up all killings; he does not want anyone else to kill anyone; he kills for them. There is a beautiful moment in the movie when his teenage daughter announces that she is pregnant and wants an abortion; Mr. Brooks vehemently opposes it. This is not a pro-life argument; but Death saying “no” to that particular death. The movie turns almost allegorical at this point. Mr. Brooks is Death, the way you see Death in The Seventh Seal; Death as a karmic act, strictly amoral. You could be dancing, shooting meth, having sex, walking along–death will come to you. I have never seen a Hollywood movie do this before. I was never a big fan of Kevin Costner; somehow his movies have never struck  a chord in me, but Costner is good in this movie.  Demi Moore’s role is probably the thinnest role in the plot but even that character works. I am always so pleased when I see young actors like Dane Cook and James Franco do good on screen; supporting but memorable roles. A good commercial movie; see it if you haven’t.

Vakar su Kristina pažiūrėjom. Filmas įvertintas gerai (kalbu apie imdb) – 7.5, mano gal kiek mažesnis balas, kokie – 6.5. Šiaip neblogas filmas ir aktoriai geri pvz: Kevinas Kostneris ir Demi Mur. Kalbant apie patį siūžetą tai yra ir vingiai keli tokie netikėti sakyčiau, kas visai patiko. Šiaip filmas apie daug pasiekusį žmogų, gavusi net “metu žmogaus” apdovanojimą, tačiau turintį polinki žudyti nekaltus žmonės. Jis yra savotiškas žudymo narkomanas. Bet jis nežudo šiaip sau, jis kruopščiai viską suplanuoja, nepalieka jokių pedsakų. Tačiau jis padarė vieną klaidą..bet jo nepričiupo, o situacija irgi idomiai išsirutuliavo. Na užteks intriguoti patys pažiūrėkit. Beje berašant aprašymą pagalvojau, kad mano įvertinimas bus 7 . Gero žiūrėjimo.

We are a rather fortunate bunch. Our grandparents only had two chances to see a film: either when it came out in theatres or if it popped up on television, which is what made the annual television screenings of The Wizard of Oz such a big deal. It was not until VHS revolutionized the industry and films could be watched whenever we desired. Combine this with the communication powers of the internet and a film that never got past screenings in New York can suddenly make a ton of cash and notoriety.

With such fortunes, I find it our job as film enthusiasts to promote our favorite smaller films as a counter-weight to the advertising juggernauts that rumble across our cultural plains.

After my previous blog entry on blockbusters I figured the natural companion would be a list of ten great independent films that may have missed your radar.

This is not a definitive list by any means. These are merely some of the best independent films that I have seen over the last decade. I would love responses with your own list as I’m always wanting to add to my own.

Tideland (2005)

I was hooked from the beginning to Terry Gilliam’s crazy tale about a little girl’s adventures with his bold, balls of brass introduction of awesomeness to the film.

Most of Gilliam’s work is polarizing and this is definitely another of those. One would immediately use words like “creepy” and “messed up” to describe the film. However, this comes from the film’s ability to walk in both the worlds of adults and children.

While watching the film you’re childlike, until the adult bursts into your brain carrying the fear of a danger that never comes. Gilliam plays our adult brains like fools, shooing us away while saying, “Go away mom, we’re just playing!” It’s what really makes the film.

The Machinist (2004)

It’s hard to talk about The Machinist without mentioning that it stars Christian Bale and he lost 62 pounds for the film, stopping at 120 pounds even though he wanted to drop to 100 (he then gained all the original weight back, plus 40 more for Batman Begins).

That type of dedication helps the film, as Bale’s emaciated zombie-body blends with the film’s moody atmosphere about a guy who says he hasn’t slept in a year. Better call Guinness about that.

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

Before Forest Whitaker gained notoriety for Last King of Scotland, one of his best performances came from a little known film by Jim Jarmusch.

Ghost Dog is a hitman for the mob who uses the Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai as his handbook, but things go awry when the mob turns on Ghost Dog when he leaves a witness after a job.

This is a very simple, quiet film, paced by readings of the Hagakure and the RZA soundtrack. The themes of tradition being overlapped by new upstarts and duty to others make this a wonderful little film that doesn’t sacrifice itself on the altar of “CRAZY ACTION will make them buy tickets, right?”

*See also Leon: The Professional

Waking Life (2001)

There’s a lot to be said for Waking Life, but it really does speak for itself. Following Richard Linklater’s stories of conversations (see Before Sunrise), this film is all talk, with the main character becoming engrossed with on philosophical conversation after another. Combine the mental head trip with the crazy rotoscoping visuals and you’ve got a lot to think about for the day.

On a personal note, I found that watching it all the way through can make you miss things in the latter half simply because you’re overworked. After you’ve seen it once, re-watch it from the middle and get your enlightenment on.

*See also A Scanner Darkly

Mister Brooks (2007)

Since Kevin Costner practically did two apocalyptic films back to back (and both tanked), we haven’t seen a lot of him except for the random throw away comedy. His turn in Mr. Brooks as a serial killer tortured by his addiction brings him back into our favor.

Also re-surfacing is Demi Moore as the detective on his tail, reminding us why she was heralded as such an asset to presentations of women in cinema (that is until she did Striptease).

And finally, William Hurt, who continues to randomly pop up in great supporting roles (see A History of Violence) appears as the little devil on Brooks’ shoulder.

Combine all three of these great veteran actors and this film comes to life like Robin Williams in the 1970s (yes, that was a drug reference). Costner does the role justice and offers meditation on all types of addiction. Though everything is a little more interesting when people are being killed.

Brick (2005)

Every year Hollywood churns out another crop of comedies, some trying to cash in on high school experiences, never reaching the level of John Hughes intelligence and wit – that is until Brick.

Though not a “comedy”, this neo-noir set in the world of high school is funny, serious, endearing and overall fantastic. The film keeps the interest via the writing, which is dripping with cool and firing off like a tommy gun. When’s the last time writing kept you engaged with a film? It’s also hard to believe that the star of the show was that long haired kid on 30 Rock From the Sun.

The Fountain (2006)

This is probably one of the most polarizing films in the last ten years, one upped only recently by Synecdoche, New York. I would wager that this distinction is what either draws or pushes away prospective viewers. However, I would encourage everyone to try it.

Even if the quiet (and confusing) commentary on death and acceptance may not be your cup of tea, the amazing visuals (no CGI here folks) and haunting score by Clint Mansell will make you feel something. Each will walk away feeling differently.

*See also Sunshine and Pi

The Descent (2005)

At this point I think a lot of my friends see me as a prophet for this film. I happened to catch it on late night cable, was blown away, and continue giving people my copy to watch.

The film focuses on a group of girls who go spelunking, only to wind up lost and trapped with some vicious inhabitants.

Now from this synopsis you’re automatically thinking, “Oh yeah, dumb girls find themselves in peril and scream throughout rest of film. End.” Amazingly, that’s incorrect! The creatures don’t monopolize the film’s creepies, but the ways in which the characters react and change to the situation provide the real goods.

This is one of the few horror films in which women are portrayed strong, smart, and by people with acting chops, not just good looks. Also, be sure to watch the international version, as the ending is different for the US (surprise, surprise).

*See also Aliens for strong female characters

Children of Men (2006)

True, this film had a rather large budget for me to title it as an “indie.” However, it never got a great showing around town and most have still not heard of it.

Set in a future in which women can no longer give birth, the world is crumbling as the populations grows older and extinction seems closer. When a young girl is discovered pregnant it becomes the task of Theo to escort her to the Human Project, which urban legend has it, is a group of scientists who have been trying to cure the infertility problem.

I saw this on the big screen three times and it’s no wonder: Alfonso Cuaron’s limited use of CGI, immersive sets, and mesmerizing long takes make you feel the world in your bones. The film’s apocalyptic landscapes put the recent Hollywood attempts to shame (I Am Legend, Terminator Salvation) both visually and narratively.

This may just be the best dystopian film ever made (if anything compares, please tell me) and I consider this my absolute favorite film, right next to Fight Club. If you’ve seen Blade Runner and enjoyed The Road, you’re sure to love this film.

*See also Blade Runner, 28 Days Later, and Blindness

Half Nelson (2006)

When I think of indie films that beat the shit out of any summer blockbuster with a 200 million dollar production budget, I think of Half Nelson – because all the CGI in the world can’t get me as glued to the screen as damn fine acting with a well written script.

Sure, a lot of people know Ryan Gosling for The Notebook, but fans also remember him in The Believer (playing a Jewish Nazi….yeah, that’s not hard on the parents) and The United States of Leland. Gosling as drug addicted high school teacher, Ryan Dunn, spins between being the cool teacher you knew in high school, to being kind of a dick or just pitiful. Kind of like all of us when you think about it.

The film could just be another cautionary tales about drugs, but it lets Requiem for a Dream keep that position and focuses on the relationship between Dunn and Drey, who is also struggling to keep away from drug dealing after her brother’s sent up to jail for such a crime.

I will pretty much swear by this: there is not ONE thing wrong with this film. Camera work is personal, the music counts where it needs to, and the film’s ability to highlight the type of love and help these characters require remind us of our own frailties. You HAVE to see this movie.

Mentions:
A History of Violence/Eastern Promises
Both made by David Cronenberg and starring Viggo Mortensen. Fantastic stories about relationships and the damages of violence.

Collateral
Don’t bother with Public Enemies, just re-watch Mann’s best since Heat

Gone Baby Gone
Casey Affleck as a legit badass.

The United States of Leland
Another Gosling film with a ton of other great actors. If you liked The Perks of Being a Wallflower, you may like this coming of age film.

Hay friands,

I’m not much of a critic but here is what I have watched this summer. I rated it based on a A B C D F scale because that is easier than a P4k 6.74 scale. K.

—

Michael Clayton

Grade: D

Why? It was pretty boring. The story was confusing. The characters weren’t that interesting. I couldn’t wait for it to end.

Lords of Dogtown

Grade: C

Why? The film was kind of neat in terms of learning the history of skateboarding’s “founding fathers”. But I thought the way it was done was kind of crappy. I didn’t like the way the film “flowed” but maybe that just reflects the life of the skater dudes. It wasn’t bad. It wasn’t great. I’d probably watch again.

Mr. Brooks

Grade: C

Why? Well it was alright for the most part, but just alright. It wasn’t all that original and honestly, for a killer, he wasn’t that interesting. Mildly entertaining if you want to watch a thriller.

Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone

Grade: C

Why? I’ve only seen this installment. Harry Potter doesn’t seem to be that original of a concept. Snape was pretty cool and the kids were tiny compared to the previews I’ve seen of the new one. I couldn’t help but continually wondering why year 1 kids have to kill Volemort instead of the 80 year old experienced wizzards.

Everything is Illuminated

Grade: B

Why? The film was pretty funny. It kept me interested and at the end I thought it was pretty neat. Kind of depressing but a cool idea and new take on the Holocaust. I enjoyed it.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Grade: A

Why? The film is a heart-touching WWII film. It was a new spin on the WWII genre and done quite well. Unexpected yet practical ending. Pretty good acting. Low budget but high satisfaction. Will recommend and watch again.

Angels and Demons

Grade: B

Why? It was a decent film full of unexpected twists. I never saw the Davinci Code but from what I hear this one was much better. I enjoyed it. Conspiracy-type-history-type films are always a go for me though.

Be Kind Rewind

Grade: D

Why? I hate Jack Black. He just sucks. And this film shows his suckiness well. Mos Def is the only bright part but he isn’t very funny either. The plot was kind of clever but it wasn’t done well at all and the ending, while abrupt and inconclusive, was great, because I was ready for that nightmare to end.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Grade: A

Why? What a clever story. Based on Fitzgerald’s short story. Great acting. Wonderful characters. Funny lightening man. Just a masterpiece. A must watch. Bring some tissues. It’s a tear jerker.

Stranger than Fiction

Grade: B

Why? I don’t like Will Ferell too often. At least not when he is trying to make me laugh. I like him in the innocent roles like this where he is all cute and clueless and such. The story was pretty odd and didn’t make literal sense; but it didn’t need to. I liked it that way.

—

That’s all so far. I still have a list of others to watch in my last month of summer. Until then,

<3 Uncle Farkus

• Bethany Joy Galeotti (Haley, One Tree Hill) is included in an article on the band Enation in Vancouver Family Magazine.
• Brett Claywell (Tim, One Tree Hill) has been on One Life to Live since February.
• Michelle Williams (Jen, Dawson’s Creek) has been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, allowing her to vote in the Oscars.
• Harve Presnell (Mr. A.I. Brooks, Dawson’s Creek) died yesterday.
• John Driscoll (Blossom, Dawson’s Creek; guest star One Tree Hill) will debut on The Young and The Restless in July.
• Tori Spelling (Donna, Beverly Hills 90210) has started a web series based on her book Mommywood.
• Kristin has spoilish info on Olivia (Hilary Duff, Gossip Girl).

This pick is probably going to be a suprise to most people, but I really have just had something for this actor for many years now . . . so in 4th spot . . . Kevin Costner

I have pretty much been in love with Kevin since I was young and totally loved Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. I really just thought it was the best movie and loved Kevin in it as Robin Hood. Yes everyone seems to critise the movie and give Kevin a really hard time about it all, which I have never really understood. I think over the body of his work, he has taken risks and put in some fantastic performances over the years, and still puts in good performances to this day.

I really think he is another who just keeps getting sexier with age. He has always been sexy but just seems to get even better with age, which is just fantastic for those who are watching it him. He just has some type of sex appeal no matter which role’s he is in. My two favorites for how sexy he has looked in recent times are “Rumor Has It” and “The Guardian”.

In “Rumor Has It”, I just think its totally realistic that the graduate was based on him as he is pretty irresistable still at an older age in that movie. I actually liked him and Jennifer Aniston together, haha. While in “The Guardian” he was taking on a role similar to Folley in An Officer and A Gentleman, and training the next crop of rescue swimmers. The uniform definatly added more hotness to an already hot Kevin.

He seems to enjoy playign characters who have a past and try to deal with the past. Two examples I can think of are, “Message in a Bottle” and “Dragonfly”. I really do believe he has shown that he is a really good actor and can take on any type of different role in order to make a good movie. He also likes to step behind the camera and direct.

His best acting role recently has to be in “Mr Brooks” as the serial killer who just cannot help it, and keeps doing it because he has a problem with killing people. Not because he wants too. I really thought he done a great acting job in this movie and showed he could play that different type of character. One of his most famous roles has to be in “Field of Dreams” which I just totally love, the end scene asking his dad to play catch with him is just so moving.

2007: Mr. Brooks di Bruce A. Evans

Giustamente stroncato dalla critica americana (contrariamente alle aspettative parte di quella italiana è stata più tenera), il film è la seconda prova registica di Bruce A. Evans (Oscar 1986 come migliore sceneggiatura per Stand By Me – Ricordo di un’estate).

Peccato, il film poteva risultare intrigante e fornire più di uno spunto di interesse: l’assistere al dramma di un uomo dalla doppia personalità (non originale ma solitamente sempre funzionale sul grande schermo), il vedere insieme due attori prestigiosi in ruoli per loro non consueti, il ritorno di un’attrice che nel passato aveva dato buone prove…

Kevin Kostner (che da un bel po’ di tempo non indovina un film) non appare molto convinto di quello che fa e offre una interpretazione particolarmente piatta e monocorde di un personaggio che richiedeva, invece, mille sfaccettature.
Demi Moore dal look del tutto inverosimile come detective, è una presenza perfettamente inutile nell’economia del racconto e sembra offrire solo il pretesto per inserire qualche scena d’azione (che del resto stona completamente con l’atmosfera che si è cercato di dare all’intera pellicola): da sottolineare poi che le sue vicissitudini di divorzianda non centrano nulla col racconto principale e danno l’impressione di assistere ad un altro lavoro. Si salva, come sempre, William Hurt: veramente inquietante nel ruolo dell’alter ego del protagonista.

La narrazione si perde colpevolmente in tante sottotrame di cui non sia capisce la necessità: tolgono mordente,  distraggono e disorientano il pubblico (giustamente Il Corriere della Sera ha scritto: “A un certo momento il film, e lo spettatore con lui, perdono la bussola e quello che poteva essere un buon giallo con un risvolto metaforico diventa un groviglio di colpi di scena che non sorprendono nessuno”).

Il susseguirsi di situazioni improbabili, la poca tensione, lo scarso ritmo impresso dalla regia non migliorano la situazione (con l’aggravante che il film sembra non condannare il male, il che non risulta molto educativo).

Due giudizi mi sembrano riassumere perfettamente Mr. Brooks:
La Repubblica: “…un prodotto pieno di ambizioni irrealizzate”.
La Stampa: “A ciò che racconta il film non credi neanche per un minuto…”.

Pubblicato su Cineocchio
tuttelerecensioni

Regia: Bruce A. Evans
Sceneggiatura: Bruce A. Evans, Raynold Gideon
Cast: Kevin Costner, Demi Moore, Dane Cook, William Hurt, Marg Helgenberger, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Danielle Panabaker, Aisha Hinds, Lindsay Crouse, Jason Lewis, Reiko Aylesworth, Matt Schulze, Yasmine Delawari, Michael Cole, Kit Gwin, Marcus Hester, Steve Coulter, Stephen Michael Ayers
Paese: USA (2007)
Genere: Thriller
Durata: 120’
Uscita Italia: 5 Ottobre 2007
Uscita USA: 1 Giugno 2007
Trama:
Earl Brooks, stimato uomo d’affari e amorevole padre di famiglia, ha in realtà una doppia vita: è un assassino schizofrenico dedito all’omicidio rituale. La sua psiche si scinde in due personalità, indipendenti ed in precario equilibrio tra loro…
Note:
24 anni fa Kostner e Hurt si erano già incontrati sul set. Ma Il grande freddo non permise agli spettatori di vederli insieme sullo schermo: in fase di montaggio la parte di Kostner fu totalmente abolita.

Mavado

It has been plaiging the minds of Jamaicans since the launch David Brook’s International music career, “what is he up to”.

Fans have been complaining about not hearing nothing from their artist and are wondering if he forgot about Jamaica.

Well…. all we have to do is just watch and we will find out.

Mavado new album is out: “Mr. Brooks”-a brighter tomorrow

It’s proof positive that a movie is truly great when seen multiple times almost two years separate and good feelings only elevate. Mr. Brooks is one of those experiences that truly defines the lines betwixt “film” and “movie;” it’s a spectacle in every facet yet it’s so engrossing and captivating that every movement and every line is as a miniature succubus. I’m not the biggest fan of the police-serial killer/serial criminal genre, yet time and time again I am blown away but how much that niche has to offer. In this instance, combinations of Silence of the Lambs, CSI, and various teen horror movies conbubulate into an epic drama of murder, family, and intrigue. When I claim the weakest performance within is a tie between Demi Moore and Dane Cook, it’s a clear indication how intense the film truly is. Honestly, this is Kevin Costner’s most brilliant achievement in the six hundred years he’s been on screen. It honestly makes the idea of serial murder an interesting comment -no matter how perverse it is to evoke that. It’s sad that I don’t have much to say because I fear anything too in-detail would ruin the terrific plot. (No, that is not an excuse to write less than my usual-300 word quota.) I’ll save you the time: see the shit out of it. Now.

Conclusion: 4 Kevin Costners killing people that is awesome (out of four)

År: 2007
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Kriminalare.
IMDb Betyg: 7,6
Skådisar: Kevin Costner, William Hurt, Demi Moore, Dane Cook, Jason Lewis.

Costner spelar i denna eminenta rulle Earl Brooks som är en kärleksfull familjefar och framgångsrik affärsman. Men han har också en hemsk hemlighet. Han är en mördare, känd under namnet The Thumbprint Killer.

De är dock Mr. Brooks alter ego, Marshall som får honom att utföra morden. Skulle vara coolt om hans alter ego var samma person, Costner alltså. Men jag gillade den, den var bra genomtänkt och klart sevärd.

Betyg:

Spanish

Por fin ha salido el último Lp de Mavado, titulado “Mr Brooks…A better tomorrow” y editado por los todopoderosos Vp records.  Pienso que es un disco demasiado concebido para el mercado americano, un mercado que mayoritariamente solo conoce al señor Brooks por las pequeñas píldoras que les llegan en forma de colaboración con las rapstars yankis.  Recoge algunos de los singles de 2008 de Mavado y prácticamente no aporta ninguna novedad que pueda sorprender al fiel seguidor de Mavado. Sinceramente, esperaba mucho más de quien aspira a convertirse en el Don de la isla, aunque el disco pueda ser de utilidad a los acérrimos fans de Mavado, que ya no tendrán que compilar ellos mismos los singles de Mavado…

English

Finally has come out the last Lp of Mavado, titled “Mr Brooks… A better tomorrow” and edited by the powerful company Vp records. I think that it’s a Lp too much designed thinking in the US market, a market that only knows mr. brooks thanks to his collaborations with the US rapstars. The disc compiles much 2k8 mavado’s singles, almost nothing that could surprise the faithful follower of Mavado.  Sincerely, I expected more from the man who aspires to become the Don of the island.  Although maybe the disk can be useful for the very strong fans of Mavado, who will not have to compile themselves the Mavado’s singles.

“Töten Sie nie jemanden den Sie kennen. Das ist der einfachste Weg, geschnappt zu werden.”

Earl Brooks ist der “Mann des Jahres” – ein erfolgreicher Geschäftsmann, glücklich verheiratet und stolzer Vater einer Tochter. Doch es gibt etwas, dass außer ihm niemand weiß: Er ist der gesuchte “Daumenabdruck-Killer”, der Nachts ohne eine Spur zu hinterlassen Menschen tötet. Doch im ewigen Zwiespalt mit seinem Gewissen (“Marshall”), will er damit aufhören – bis er entdeckt wird…

Hören wir nicht alle manchmal Stimmen? Oder sind wir nicht manchmal innerlich zerrissen, wenn es um wichtige Entscheidungen geht? Rational getroffene Entscheidungen sehen halt meistens anders aus als emotionale Entscheidungen. Und wie gern würden wir doch manchmal ein ernstes Wörtchen mit unserem Gewissen sprechen, quasi von Angesicht zu Angesicht. Dies ist zwar nicht wirklich möglich, doch Mr. Brooks tut dies – ist es doch seine innere Stimme, die ihn zum Mörder macht. Dabei lässt sich mit Marshall eigentlich nicht wirklich gut reden, wissen doch beide, dass er nicht echt ist. Marshall spricht im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes aus, was Earl denkt, und so braucht es eigentlich keine wirklichen Überredungskünste, um Earl zum Töten zu treiben denn letztendlich sind es nur klägliche Versuche, sich selber einzureden, nicht an dieser Situation Schuld zu sein.

Kevin Costner hat ja eine recht wechselhafte Karriere hinter sich, und ich kenne auch nicht wirklich viele Filme von und mit ihm, doch mit “Mr. Brooks” ist ihm ein wirklich guter Film gelungen. Costner spielt seinen Mr. Brooks mal als warmherzigen Familienmenschen, mal als eiskalten Killer, und doch ist Earl immer er selber. Ab und zu darf sein Wahnsinn durchbrechen, und das ist, wenn Marshall komplett die Oberhand gewinnt und die beiden zum Beispiel diskutierend im Auto sitzen – und am Anschluss des Dialogs anfangen verrückt zu lachen. Das ist dann wirklich beängstigend.

“Ich sollte losfahren und ihn einsammeln!”
- “Nein, hupe nur. Dann muss er die Straße überqueren und vielleicht haben wir Glück und er wird überfahren.”

Es gibt dann auch nicht viel, was man “Mr. Brooks” vorwerfen kann. Es sind zwar im Grunde schon mehrere Dinge, die aber in der Summe nicht all zu schwer ins Gewicht fallen, als das sie einem den Film vermiesen könnten.
Da wäre zum einen Demi Moore, die sich wahrscheinlich, um ganz in ihrer Rolle aufzugehen, vor Drehbeginn zu viele Profiler-Krimiserien und danach zum Abschalten ein paar Western mit harten Cowboys angesehen hat. Ihre Darstellung der toughen Polizistin wirkt dann doch in meinen Augen wie Over-Acting. Leider hat man ihrer Rolle dann auch noch so viel Raum gelassen, dass eine im Grunde unwichtige Nebenhandlung über ihre Scheidung ausgewälzt werden musste. Sicherlich gibt es dann letztendlich einen Zusammenhang zum Hauptplot, der aber mehr wirkt, als wurde er gegen Ende künstlich hergestellt. Auch die, wenn auch spärlich gesähten, Action-Szenen sind nicht wirklich gekonnt inszeniert und ich meine sogar eine (wirklich schlecht geschnittene) “rasante” Szene in der so beliebten Zeitlupe gesehen zu haben. Sowas mag ich dann ja nicht so.

Doch wie auch schon geschrieben, das macht den Film nicht wirklich kaputt. “Mr. Brooks” ist spannend, schwarzhumorig und zu keiner Sekunde langweilig und außerdem zu Unrecht viel zu unbekannt. Und auch wer Costner sonst nicht mag, kann dem Film mal eine Chance geben.

Mr. Brooks es un hombre torturado incapaz de controlar sus emociones. Tiene una mitad diabólica, un álter ego amante del asesinato y el caos. La detective Atwood es una experimentada investigadora cuya devoción por su trabajo capta la atención y la admiración del asesino que esconde Mr. Brooks…

- Titulo: Mr. Brooks
- Calidad: DVD-Screener
- Género: Thriller
- Idioma: Español
- Peso: 890Mb

Enlaces:
http://rapidshare.com/files/74666804/mister.part01.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/74666790/mister.part02.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/74666795/mister.part03.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/74666716/mister.part04.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/74667925/mister.part05.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/74667950/mister.part06.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/74669360/mister.part07.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/74668105/mister.part08.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/74669376/mister.part09.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/74669251/mister.part10.rar

Ook nog wat films gezien:

• The Kingdom (**) van ene Peter Berg (en niet van Lars Von Trier). Glimmende politieke actiethriller met Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner en Chris Cooper. Een team FBI-agenten trekt naar het Midden-Oosten om een bomaanslag op te lossen. Behoorlijk spannend begin, maar gaandeweg verzandt de film in steeds belachelijker wordende onzin.
• American Movie (*****). Documentaire uit 1999 van Chris Smith over amateur-filmmaker Mark Borchardt, die een paar jaar wordt gevolgd in de voorbereiding en het maken van zijn kortfilm. Hallucinant, hilarisch en ontroerend portret van een outcast met meer ambitie dan talent. Machtig portret van de onderbuik van de VS, de behoefte aan een persoonlijke American Dream, met enkele onvergetelijke scènes. Van het niveau van Capturing The Friedmans en The Staircase (Soupçons). Helaas enkel verkrijgbaar in Region Code 1 DVD.
• The Man Without A Past (***1/2) van Aki Kaurismäki. Een man komt per trein aan in Helsinki, waar hij zo’n pak rammel krijgt dat hij z’n geheugen verliest en een nieuw leven probeert op te bouwen in armoede. Visueel apart met enorm droge humor.
• Michael Clayton (****) uit 2007, van Tony Gilroy, de scenarist van de Bourne-trilogie. Met George Clooney in de hoofdrol in een film die het afstandelijke van Syriana combineert met het geëngageerde van Erin Brokovich. Uitstekend.
• Le Deuxième Souffle (***), remake uit 2007 van de 60s classic met Lino Ventura. Grimmige misdaadfilm met Daniel Auteuil, Eric Cantona, Jacques Dutronc en Monica Bellucci. Monica Bellucci! Goeie vertolkingen, maar een uurtje te lang.
• Taking Lives (*) van D.J. Caruso uit 2004 met Ethan Hawke, Angelina Jolie en Kiefer Sutherland. Flauw, lachwekkend, belachelijk, overbodig, slechtbedoelend seriemoordenaarsgelul.
• 3:10 To Yuma (****) van James Mangold. De terugkeer van de old school western, met opnieuw een uitstekende Christian Bale (toch een van de beste acteurs van zijn generatie) en een goeie Russell Crowe als Ben Wade, een schietgrage misdadiger die door een kliekje vrijwilligers naar Yuma wordt gebracht, waar hij op de trein naar de gevangenis gezet zal worden. Goed in beeld gebracht (John Ford zou niet klagen), sterk acteerwerk, spannende laatste twintig minuten.
• Stranger Than Fiction (****1/2) van Marc Forster, uit 2006. Voelt aan als een Gondry/Kaufman-samenwerking, maar is wat speelser en ligt minder zwaar op de maag. Een doodsaaie kerel ontdekt op een dag dat hij het hoofdpersonage van een roman is en dat de dood hem te wachten staat. Geweldig acteerwerk van Will Ferrell en goed weerwerk van Dustin Hoffman, Maggie Gyllenhaal en Emma Thompson. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind lag me om de een of andere reden niet (ik werd er enkel nerveus van), maar ik was volledig gewonnen voor dit luchtig experiment.
• Dial ‘M’ For Murder (**1/2) van Hitchcock, uit 1954. Een jaar of tien-vijftien geleden nam ik me voor om alles van Hitchcock te zien. Ik denk dat het me destijds ei zo na gelukt is. Ik had nog redelijk goede herinneringen aan deze prent, en ik begrijp eigenlijk niet waarom. Het gaat allemaal erg statisch vooruit en vooral: de acteerprestaties zijn, die van Ray Milland uitgezonderd, allemaal onder niveau.
• Hukkle (***1/2) van György Palfi volgt het leven in een Hongaars dorpje. Het is geen sociaal realisme, maar een experimentele, surreëel aanvoelende stijloefening. Er zijn geen dialogen en amper een plot. In plaats daarvan krijgen je hopen close-ups (van scharnieren, insecten, waggelende varkenskloten), visuele en auditieve tics (het is een geweldige film om naar te luisteren) en een onderhuids sluimerend onheilssfeertje. En er is een ouwe kerel die goed anderhalf uur blijft hikken, dat ook. Grappig.
• Coach Carter (**). Hoosiers-meets-Dangerous Minds. Oftwel: er is een keiharde (Samuel Jackson) voor nodig om een zootje ghetto boys discipline bij te brengen. De basket-scènes zijn behoorlijk indrukwekkend, maar het verhaal is een moraliserend hoop rommel die herkauwt wat al veel te vaak herkauwd was. Herkauwen is voor runderen.
• Mr Brooks (**) van Bruce Evans uit 2007. Cevin Kostner doet zijn best om gestalte geven aan een steenrijke zakenman die in zijn vrije tijd seriemoordenaar is. Zijn vertolking is best geloofwaardig, maar er zijn voldoende elementen en subplots die de film zonder pardon naar de B-categorie verwijzen. Stand-up comedian Dane Cook doet ook z’n best als protégé van Costner. Marg Helgenberger (zie ook: CSI) tuit vooral haar lippen, maar daar is ze dan ook erg bedreven in. Demi Moore maakt een comeback (bwa) en lijkt steeds meer op Kristien Hemmerechts. *ril*
• Rory Gallagher: Live In Montreux (****). Dubbele concert-DVD die een vijftal performances in Montreux (3 uit de 70s, een uit de 80s, een uit de 90s) verzamelt. Zoals te verwachten viel zijn het vooral de oudere opnames die echt overtuigen. Gallagher was een fenomenaal natuurtalent en deze 2DVD biedt meer dan genoeg argumenten om te laten zien waarom Gallagher als mens én muzikant zo geliefd was.
• Snow Cake (****1/2) van Marc Evans uit 2006. Zo een van de kleine, onverwachte verrassingen die je soms in de schoot geworpen krijgt en het verschil maken. Alan Rickman geeft een meisje een lift in een ondergesneeuwd Canada. Ze worden aangereden, zij sterft. Hij bezoekt haar moeder (een excentrieke Sigourney Weaver), die zwaar autistisch blijkt te zijn. Er ontvouwt zich een onwaarschijnlijke vriendschap tussen Rickman en Weaver en iets meer lijfelijks tussen Rickman en de buurvrouw. Ontroerende prent met geweldig acteerwerk.
• Jesus Camp (****). Angstaanjagende documentaire over Becky Fisher, een vrouw die jaarlijks kampen organiseert waar kinderen volledig geïndoctrineerd worden om in het leger van Jezus te gaan vechten. Weinig ingrepen van de makers, die geen bemoeienissen nodig hebben om duidelijk te maken dat de betrokkenen enkel kunnen denken in een gevaarlijk wij-vs.-zij-manier  die enkel desastreus kan zijn voor de vorming van een kind.
• Unrest (*1/2), horror uit 2006. Een pathologe in opleiding vermoedt dat het lijk waar ze mee moet werken een vreemde voorgeschiedenis heeft. Voorspelbare brol met een paar creepy momenten.
• Saw 3 (*1/2), gore extravaganza uit 2006. Gaat verder dan de al even belabberde Hostel-films en lijkt ook gemaakt te zijn met een groter budget. De special effects zijn opmerkelijk goed, maar de film heeft werkelijk niets om het gemutileerde lijf.
• The Spiderwick Chronicles (**1/2). Kinderfilm uit 2008 die braaf uit het traditionele fantasy-vaatje tapt. Niet slecht, niet opmerkelijk. Een beetje zoals de Disney-films die elke zondagnamiddag op tv getoond worden. Wel geslaagde special effects. En Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds), dat is natuurlijk ook een troef.

Voilà, nu kan ik eindelijk met een gerust gemoed aan die andere dingen beginnen.

NP: Grace Jones – Nightclubbing

The other day I went to see Step Brothers, which is a terrible, terrible movie that made me lose all respect for John C. Reilly. It makes me wonder if he actually enjoys brainless comedies or if he was THAT hard-pressed for money.

Anyway, it feels like most movies I’ve watched in the theater this year were absolutely awful, and I’m trying to recount what they were. If you want the results before I list the movies, here they are:

(Watched in the last two years in the theater:)
24 movies
_________
12 bad
7 okay
4 good
1 AWESOME (Juno)

- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Terrible writing, terrible dialog, terribly ridiculous fight scenes. I met Uwe Boll this year, and he was right when he said that people would’ve put him in an insane asylum if *he* had been the one to make the movie. I’d much rather watch Bloodrayne a third time than watch Indiana Jones again. And Shia LaBeouf is one overrated actor, I tell you.
- The Dark Knight
COMPLETELY overrated. Even silly action movies used to be better than what Hollywood is coming up with these days, and the 9+ star rating at IMDB.com is ridiculous. I’d give it a six, tops. There were some things I liked, and it’s hardly ever unpleasant to see Maggie Gyllenhaal perform in anything (except maybe in Secretary, but I might just be a prude), but overall the movie was just too forced and too dumb.
- Step Brothers
As mentioned above. A piece of turd. No more to say.
- Vantage Point
A dumb movie. Such a promising story – seeing the same scene from several different perspectives – but in the end, such a lame plot.
- 21
An okay movie, not particularly memorable, though.
- Sex And The City: The Movie
Ah well, not exactly good, not very emancipated at all, but only a little bit worse than I expected.
- Fool’s Gold
Finally a movie I wasn’t disappointed by, because it was exactly what I had imagined. Silly, fun, with stupid action-movie clichés and Kate Hudson. ENTERTAINING!
- Get Smart
That one was really good. A very decent comedy with some smart jokes and generally a LOT more than I expected!
- No Country For Old Men
I suppose it was okay, but it was very slow and I didn’t exacty ‘get it’. As much as I like the Coen Brothers, I won’t be recommending this movie to anyone.
- Juno
Definitely the winner! This is the best movie I’ve seen in a long while, in and out of the movie theater! You go, Ellen Page! You go, Kimya Dawson! You go, Diablo Cody!

I suppose Juno and No country For Old Men were technically released last year, but it always takes a while for them to reach movie theaters here… But now that I look at what was released last year, there was mostly crap, too.
I did watch these in the theater last year:

- Transformers
Pretty awful.
- I Am Legend
Good idea, but not very well done. Logic erros, and stupid monsters and a VERY stupid ending.
- Live Free Or Die Hard
Bad! Maybe action is NOT all you need in an action movie.
- Atonement
Well, it had some interesting scenes and the way the sound was blended into the movie was nice, but the story… geeeeez.
- Ocean’s Thriteen
Oh well. I seem to remember it was dull.
- Mr. Brooks
That one was pretty awful, too. The story was dumb and nobody cared for the characters and their strange behavior.
- Hitman
Okay, I played the game and I thought the movie would be fun as your typical action movie with nice effects, but it was boring and Timothy Olyphant had a grin on his face all the time, and although little is known about Agent 47, I know this: He doesn’t smile a lot!
- Beowulf
The movie is pretty awful, and some of the animated faces looked eerie (Uncanny Valley much?), but I watched it in 3D and the 3D effect was pretty wicked, so who cares? The sins of our fathers! The sins of our fathers!! THE SINS OF OUR FATHERS!!! I AM BEOWULF!!!! (Urg.)
- American Gangster
Well, not exactly great, really, but entertaining enough and – looking at the competition – evidently up in the better half of the movies I’ve seen in the theater.
- Gone Baby Gone
Hyped way too much when it really had a lame and uninteresting story, but it was okay.
- The Brave One
Definitely one of the better movies I’ve seen in the theater, and it did make me think and was interesting. The romantic scenes were kind of odd or unfitting or somehow off, and the ending was also a bit peculiar, but all in all it was a good movie.
- 300
An awful movie. Awful and ridiculous.
- Because I Said So
Awful writing, bad movie. Diane Keaton is overrated.
- Keinohrhasen
The one German movie I watched in the theater in the last two years, it seems. And it was surprisingly good. Sure, lots of clichés and exactly how often can you laugh at something embarassing being said too loudly so it’s overheard by everybody in a restaurant – but all in all, it was sweet.

CONCLUSION: I watch too much crap in the movie theater. I should choose the movies I watch more wisely. Too many bad movies are being made! It’s scary to think that Fool’s Gold is one of the best movies I’ve seen in the theater lately…

Apparently, American movie producers made a bet they could remake every single horror film from the 70s and 80s in the next ten years, as a remake of the 1983 not-so-classic The House On Sorority Row will start shotting next month in Pittsburgh.

Retitled simply Sorority Row, the film will star Rumer Willis (The House Bunny), daughter of Bruce Willis (the Die Hard films) and Demi Moore (Mr. Brooks), Jamie Chung (ABC Family’s Samurai Girl), Briana Evigan (Step Up 2 The Streets), Audrina Patridge (MTV’s The Hills) and Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia in Star Wars).

In the original film, seven sorority sisters accidentally kill their house mother while playing a prank on her, but decide to hide the body in the pool because they want to have a graduation party before dealing with it. Naturally someone at the party starts killing the girls one by one.

Adapted by screenwriting duo Pete Goldfinger & Josh Stolberg (2 episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender), Sorority Row will change the initial accidental death to one of the sorority sisters rather than the house mother. The film is expected to be rated R in the US and will be directed by Stewart Handler (Whisper).

From the looks of the first film’s trailer (above), and its reputation, this remake doesn’t have much to live up to and could easily surpass the original. But then again, so could Prom Night and we all know how that turned out.

Fun Fact: The first film’s writer/director, Mark Rosman, went to direct 11 episodes of Lizzie McGuire and several Hilary Duff movies…WTF?

Source

Buy at AllPosters.com


Mr. Earl Brooks lives in Portland, he is a philanthropic businessman and family man that has been just elected Man of the Year. Mr. Brooks manages his factory of packages and lives in a comfortable house with his wife Emma and has a rebel daughter Jane in college. However, Mr. Brooks has a terrible dark secret: he is a psychopath serial killer also known as The Fingerprint Killer.
Directed by Bruce A. Evans. With Kevin Costner, Demi Moore and Dane Cook this movie is a great psychological thriller.