THE END OF THE TOUR
The irony is while I am not a fan AT ALL of David Foster Wallace's writing (Self involved babble, Thomas Pynchon without a good editor), this is a very good movie. What I like most about it is it primarily consists of conversation and it's good conversation (Of course it's based on a real interview that was documented on cassette). Feels like genuine discourse not some Hollywood screenwriter's version of how intelligent people talk. I watched the real Wallace on You Tube after seeing this film and Jason Segal has really got him down - it's uncanny. If anything, the film Wallace is more likable less affected and pretentious than real life Wallace. Jesse Eisenberg is annoying and weaselly as usual but it totally fits the role here.
BONE TOMAHAWK
What makes this quirky horror western different is its strange freeform dialogue and diffident pacing technique. The movie takes itS time to reach the violent conclusion. Cannibal inbred troglodytes kidnap Patrick Wilson's wife and others. Wilson (nursing a broken leg), Kurt Russell (as the local sheriff), Richard Jenkins (as an elderly deputy), and Matthew Fox (as a cool gunfighter) go after them. Jenkins in particular is memorable - His conversations about reading in the bathtub and a flea circus are inspired scenes. Good performances, excellent script, unexpectedly eccentric characters. Worth seeing.
THE MARTIAN
Keeping intact the credible science and detail of the book, this movie is a thinking man's action thriller, as much science fact as science fiction. At times, it reminds me of a Discovery channel space show. My only complaint is that there are moments that feel padded out - Cutting out 20 minutes or so would have made it a leaner, tenser thriller. Large number of good actors and actresses featured in supporting roles.
HOWL
There is not that much you can do with werewolves other than differ the location of where one encounters them. Here a commuter train outside London that has broken down is beset by not one werewolf SPOILER but a whole pack. The director takes some time to establish all the stereotypes - Schlubby hero who saves the day, female co-worker the hero has a crush on, self-centered rich ahole, old couple, brainy Asian. The werewolves themselves have an imaginative look and the scares and action scenes are solid. Decent and it sets up the horror conflict scenes well.
THE HALLOW
Average creature horror film with two things going for it - 1.) Moving quickly into the horror without much build-up (Most of the action takes place in one night) 2.) Good makeup effects....The creatures do indeed look icky. These two plus points however are not enough to save this film from mediocrity.
Average creature horror film with two things going for it - 1.) Moving quickly into the horror without much build-up (Most of the action takes place in one night) 2.) Good makeup effects....The creatures do indeed look icky. These two plus points however are not enough to save this film from mediocrity.
SUSPENSION
Truly mundane slasher thriller that bets the whole narrative on a surprise ending that is visible from a 100 miles away. The heroine turns in a decent performance and there's plenty of bright red blood which are the only good things I can say about this film.
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