Just Because- John Carpenter's "The Thing" - artwork by Drew Struzan

Review- The Hunger Games

 At the Theater - The Hunger Games - I haven't read the book this was based upon and don't intend to. If a film is good enough, it will stand on it's own- see JAWS, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or The Shawshank Redemption for clear-cut inarguable proof of this.  That established, The Hunger Games isn't bad but ultimately not my cup of tea- it's a flawed, often generic, but otherwise passable diversion whose target audience definitely doesn't include mid-30's males who enjoy the NFL and NBA.  I still don't know what compelled me to see it nor do I understand the rabid fervor behind this phenomenon after my viewing- it just might be the most bland Box-Office mega-smash to date...

The "stranger in a strange land" angle is woefully underdone here- so many scared young people plucked from the ranks of starving poverty and suddenly plopped into an extravagantly rich lifestyle (which the film spends very little time exploring) with so few segments of wide-eyed wonder and adaptation. Question and an observation: How is a young person who was raised her entire life in a Great Depression Era-like environment (ahem, which the film spends very little time exploring), with little or no technology in sight, able to quickly navigate a complex remote control and television with such ease?  Food is obviously at a minimum with people scrounging for small animals to eat and/or use as currency, yet our heroine is wearing a pristine, finely tailored $300+ leather jacket... hmmm.

Director Gary Ross (Seabiscuit) has fashioned a rather emotionally uninvolving tale- I couldn't quite buy into the lead character's desperation or subsequent hardships because each time the going got tough or looked a bit too grim a little nugget of salvation would come falling conveniently from the skies- it's an aspect of the game that works against any buildup of tension. Pivotal "tribute" characters are also given precious little screen-time yet we're supposed to feel absolutely devastated with their respective deaths. A few fuzzy, bendable rules (once again, very convenient) are also counterproductive. Katniss' character spent very little time reflecting on her life and current situation-  as a result, Jennifer Lawrence is merely serviceable in the role and should have been given more free-reign to breathe life into the character.

Apparently the future is rife with atrocious wigs and the desire to dress in various shades of pink and purple- perhaps if the cinematography/visual style were a bit more dynamic or the vistas more FX heavy and gaudily impressive I would have bought into it, but as it is...

Stanley Tucci's game-show host (sporting some obnoxiously fake chompers and a funny blue 'do) is a token character we've seen portrayed many times before and often better- how about Richard Dawson from The Running Man?  Even Michael C. Hall in Gamer had more villainous panache... . Elizabeth Banks (slathered in white makeup and hidden beneath pink ruffles) is a difficult character to get a hold on- why don't these teen gladiators being sent out to certain slaughter hate her more given what she represents?   Woody Harrelson (yep, you guessed it- bad wig)  is a former Champion who shows a slight spark in his eyes from time to time- alas, it's one that never fully lights fire.  Toby Jones (awful wig) is nearly unrecognizable and has one discernible line.  Wes Bentley sports a funky beard and his trademark, seemingly permanent icy glare as the games producer.  Donald Sutherland makes little more than a cameo playing... Donald Sutherland.  If Isabella Fuhrman (Orphan) had been given more of a character arc and time to shine I'm sure she would have made an excellent villain- she's that talented.  Josh Hutcherson is surprisingly solid- I'm guessing his height has been a detriment in garnering more roles.  Liam Hemsworth is here to complete a love-triangle sub-plot that never gets off the ground.  Strangely enough, I'm picking Lenny Kravitz as the scene-stealer- dude's effectively (and unexpectedly) likable.

The Hunger Games is a film that desperately needed more of the "Damn the Man!" type sentiment from those being exploited and a bit more "creativity" as far as the deaths of fellow tributes are handled- another 15-20 minutes of character building might have worked wonders...

*There is a scene involving a cgi mutant dog (think the Terror Dogs from Ghostbusters, yet hornless here) that will more than likely have you jump out of your seat.

Watch the similarly themed Battle Royale (2000) if you want to experience a film with some real "edge" to it- afterwards, you might find yourself believing that The Hunger Games just ripped it off and watered it down for teen girls...

6.5 out of 10

Film Review - The Raid: Redemption (2012)

On Blu Ray and DVD - "The Raid: Redemption" - Gritty, brutal and bloody as all hell- martial arts and asian cinema fans definitely need to check this out.  Twenty SWAT team members infiltrate a thirty story high-rise determined to take down a ruthless crime lord, only to find themselves outnumbered and surrounded by an army of thugs, completely cut off from outside help and desperate to stay alive.  Most of the little logistical problems I came up with as the story opened up were alleviated by film's end.  Expect several elaborate and well-choreographed martial arts fight scenes (showcasing the Indonesian Martial art form known as Silat) , a few extended shootouts and knife fights capped off with a couple of big twists in the third act- the proceedings are competently filmed and the story conveys a fair amount of tension.

Iko Uwais (Action Film fans should get used to his name) stars as "The Rookie" character, thrust into a leadership role and responsible for guiding the dwindling survivors in an attempt at escape.  Dude's got a fair amount of presence and seems like a solid actor- there's no reason we shouldn't be seeing more of him in future action films.  There's one helluva tough little henchman known as "Mad Dog" (played by professional Silat instructor Yayan Ruhian) that should prove to steal the movie outright with this crazy moves and endless energy.

There's very little CGI and absolutely no "wire-fu" to speak of here- it's a stunt-heavy, straight-forward action film that should please fans of the genre.  There's a sequel and an Americanized remake on the way so those interested should go ahead and check it out before it gets watered down. 

Recommended

8.5 out of 10 

Review- Lawless

At the Theater - Lawless - This 1930's Prohibition-Era (based upon a true story) tale of Virginia bootleggers ends up somewhere between good and very good but nowhere near great- it's much better filmed and acted than written or directed.  That said, this is Director John Hillcoat's (The Proposition- liked it, The Road- didn't care for it) most accessible work of his limited feature film efforts.  Viewers will undoubtedly remember Guy Pearce's (Memento, L.A. Confidential) scene-stealing performance as a sadistic "Special Agent Man" - a couple more extended scenes featuring his reptilian presence might have propelled him amongst the ranks of the all-time infamous greats. The dude oozes evil here and that wide part he sports down the middle of his hair is killer.

While I'm not much a fan of the young Actor, Shia Labeouf once again displays an undeniable talent- he portrays the impressionistic "Jack Bondurant" here,  the youngest sibling of three real-life, moonshine-running brothers.  Although he'll never be able to shake the boyishness to be believable as a pure action star (I mean, c'mon, can you ever really see him kicking ass alongside Jason Statham?) there should be a wealth of quality dramatic roles in his future.  His character is likable enough, and much more involving than any other in the film.

I couldn't shake the notion that Tom Hardy's ("Bane" in The Dark Knight Rises, as if you didn't know) character is a bit of a contradiction- his grumbling "Forrest Bondurant" (the leader of the three brothers) is presented as some kind of legendary, unstoppable enforcer/brute that can't quite muster the heroic goods in two defining sequences where he ends up more of a hapless victim than anything else.  He dishes out some old-fashioned "justice-with-a-mean-streak" here and there, but not when it really counts- those hoping for a substantial confrontation between his and Pearce's slimy villain will be let down.  I understood the reasoning (it sets the stage for a more "innocent" character to shine through in the clutch) but couldn't get past it's uneven and predictable execution.

Gary Oldman fans might also find themselves disappointed- the actor only shows up in a few scenes as a flashy Gangster that "Jack" wishes to pattern himself after.  I felt Oldman's character lacked a dynamic- he simply isn't given the material or time to truly shine in what amounts to a decidedly trivial role.  It's rather frustrating that seasoned veteran greats like Oldman are having to settle for smaller bit parts. Yeah, it's a paycheck, but those who've seen the Actor's performances in The Professional or Romeo Is Bleeding should understand.

Jessica Chastain (The Help, The Debt) looks prettier than ever- she's quite good here (in yet another underwritten role) as a Chicago dancer mistakenly looking for a change of pace as a backwoods bartendress.  Mia Wasikowska is the "farmer's daughter" that young "Jack" courts- the naturally pretty actress is solid and should have a massive 2013 (she has five films slated for next year).  Jason Clarke (Rabbit Proof Fence), playing "Howard Bondurant", and Noah Taylor (Almost Famous) round out the familiar faces.  Something about newcomer Dane DeHaan (Chronicle), a teenaged bootlegger friend of "Jack's", reminds me of a young Leonardo DiCaprio.

The countryside cinematography is very nice (though Georgia is subbing for Virginia here) while the period clothing, vehicles and set pieces all feel authentic.  Expect some rather graphic violence and bloodletting throughout- it's appropriate for the subject matter and I wouldn't have it any other way. The third act of the film (which includes my aforementioned issues with Tom Hardy's character) is my chief complaint- it feels disjointed and rushed, almost a bit bizarre in it's lack of emotional punch given what's come before.  It's another film where the buildup is far better than the payoff. I liked it, but it's not nearly as good as similarly themed films like The Untouchables, Road to Perdition, Public Enemies or Miller's Crossing. 

7.5 out of 10