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February 12, 2013 By iluvcinema 8 Comments

Tuesday’s Overlooked Film: Near Dark (1987)

This Tuesday I place my second Kathryn Bigelow entry into ILC’s Overlooked Registry. It is (as my title indicates) Near Dark, the 1987 contemporary vampire thriller movie starring Adrian Pasdar, Jenny Wright, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton. Over the years, has established quite a cult following.

large_near_dark_blu-ray7

Midwestern farm hand Caleb (Pasdar) meets up with a mysterious young woman Mae (Wright), who, it turns out is a vampire who before they part company, bites Caleb, thus initiating him into the realm of the undead. Mae rolls with a vicious cohort of fellow blood suckers led by Jesse Hooker (Henriksen) who reluctantly take Caleb under their wing.

In a parallel story, Caleb’s father (Tim Thomerson) and sister are in a desperate search for Caleb when it becomes apparent that he has been taken against his will.

Eventually the story threads merge into a denouement that one may not expect in a film such as this (at least in my mind anyways).

I will admit that this film is not for everyone (due to the level of blood and violence) and I left it knowing immediately it would require a re-watch on my part, so I can pick up on some of the details I missed in my initial viewing.

On another level I think that Near Dark is a good opportunity to see the early work of Bigelow, who is best known for her latest war films (Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty) and the FBI/Surfer Dude heist-er (Point Break).

Check out the trailer here:

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* Please be sure to check out other overlooked/forgotten films over at Todd Mason’s blog, Sweet Freedom.

Filed Under: Overlooked Films Tagged With: kathryn bigelow, near dark, overlooked

January 6, 2013 By iluvcinema 8 Comments

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Zero Dark Thirty had a lot to live up to in my mind – the plaudits (and criticism *) have come in fast and furious, declaring that this is one of the best films of the year while at the same time decrying its depiction of torture and various other crimes, etc. So while I did not really know what to expect (The Hurt Locker, part two, perhaps?). I entered the cinema not knowing what to expect. Well maybe that is a bit of a stretch – considering in general,  I feel  quite safe in Ms. Bigelow’s directorial hands.

ZDT

For those who may not know, Zero Dark Thirty is based on true events and tells the story of America’s covert operation to capture the “mastermind” (a term used advisedly) behind the events of September 11, 2001, Osama bin Laden (UBL). It is an unflinching at often at times unsettling look at the frustrations, small victories and major setbacks the intelligence community experienced in the years of infiltrating the terror networks of the Middle East, all in hopes of getting the Al Qaeda leader and many of his cohorts.

Our guide on this journey is the fresh outta Langely Maya (Jessica Chastain). At first she seems slightly ill at ease with seeing up close the tactics used by her colleagues, she gradually grows into her role until it is clear that her singular mission to see justice done to UBL at all costs.

I am certain there are several but one criticism audiences with have with the film is surely the now obligatory use of the “shakey-cam” – nearly a requirement for all military films to convey a sense of action and realism. While I agree that at times it is rather bothersome (especially as I had the good fortune of sitting in the first row of the theater – price paid for getting to a NYC theater ON TIME) it was not enough of a distraction or hindrance to ruin the film for me.

Kathryn Bigelow (I have always been a personal fan of hers) proves yet again to be an auteur at the top of her game.

Kudos to all the performances by the cast; this was an ensemble piece with Jessica Chastain leading the way. As I previously alluded to, there may not have been a great deal of character development given (not really needed, given the overarching subject matter), there was just enough that as the hunt for UBL progressed, Ms. Chastain conveyed the image of a woman on a mission singularly obsessed with personally capturing this target. And by the end, we see the toll this hunt has taken on her; there is a sense of ambiguity I felt at the close – it was not necessarily satisfaction, more relief and a moment to exhale.

If you want to find out more about the CIA character on who the character is based, check out this Washington Post article.

Overall, Dark Zero Thirty is a solid, well-executed military suspense / action /drama (with a couple of chuckle-worthy moments thrown in) that in spite of the audience knowing the endgame, will keep you on the edge of your seat. It has achieved what a lot of films aim to do but just fallen short of – hitting that sweet spot of telling a true life story that has the drama and tension of the best of those stories.


* Note: I know that there are many controversies surrounding the film’s politics – and while I do not want to be dismissive of those criticisms, I have left them out of my discussion of the film.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: kathryn bigelow, zero dark thirty

June 22, 2011 By iluvcinema 11 Comments

Tuesday’s Overlooked Film: Strange Days

 

Strange Days is quite possibly one of my favorite movies of the mid-late 1990s. This is easily one of my favorite futuristic/sci-fi films.

Based on a story by James Cameron, the central premise revolves involves squid discs – a contraband technology that allow people to live the lives of others or to relive memories from their own lives. This technology is a main device through which the plot unwinds.

On an emotional level we see our protagonists deal with their pasts, pasts that obviously are affecting them in the here and now, as the city of Los angeles is on the precipice of a new millennium. This is also played against the backdrop of There are a  political subtext (involving police brutality/murder).

Directed by the awesome, Academy-Award Winning Kathryn Bigelow this is sort of a huge deal – an action-packed sci-fi motion picture directed by a woman.

That can account for the reason that the women characters, particularly the role of Juliette Lewis is troubled and far from perfect – she is a well-rounded person.

Granted the the climatic scene featuring Angela Bassett and the police officers is a bit OTT for some, it is still a well executed story.

And I have not even mentioned Ralph Fiennes yet – he definitely has the schlubby down on his luck (and life) persona captured. I can even forgive his slightly dodgy American accent.

Filed Under: Recommendation Tagged With: angela basset, james cameron, juliette lewis, kathryn bigelow, millenium, ralph fiennes, sci-fi, strange days

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