Review: A Bag of "Bones" (Happy B'day, Snoop Dogg)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 151 (of 2003) by Leroy Douresseaux

Bones (2001)
Running time: 96 minutes (1 hour, 36 minutes)
MPAA – R for violence/gore, language, sexuality and drugs
DIRECTOR: Ernest Dickerson
WRITERS: Adam Simon and Tim Metcalfe
PRODUCERS: Rupert Harvey, Peter Heller, and Lloyd Segan
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Flavio Labiano (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Michael N. Knue and Stephen Lovejoy
COMPOSER: Elia Cmiral
Black Reel Awards nominee

HORROR with elements of fantasy

Starring: Snoop Dogg, Pam Grier, Michael T. Weiss, Clifton Powell, Ricky Harris, Bianca Lawson, and Khalil Kain

I held out no hope for rapper Snoop Dogg’s horror film vehicle, Bones. It was released in 2001, but I didn’t see it until two years later. When I finally saw it, I found Bones surprisingly entertaining, if a bit hokey and poorly written.

I also learned that Ernest Dickerson directed the film. Dickerson came to prominence in the late 80’s and 90’s as Spike Lee’s cinematographer on Lee’s first five full-length features including Do The Right Thing and Malcolm X. He made his directorial debut with the fairly well received urban drama Juice, about a group of friends and their trouble with a pistol. Dickerson later showed a deft touch for horror films with the delightful Demon Knight, a film version of the HBO series “Tales from the Crypt.” Sadly, Bones, although mildly entertaining, lacks Demon Knight’s sense of mad glee and hilariously evil hijinx.

Snoop plays Jimmy Bones, a low-key gangster, pimp type, and godfather of an inner city neighborhood in 1979. When he refuses an offer to join the drug trade, the dealers shoot him and force his associates and baby mama to participate in the killing. 22 years later, his angry spirit returns after some suburban kids buy his playa mansion and turn it into a club.

Bones isn’t that bad, but it isn’t too good. It’s lost somewhere in the middle of mediocrity. The characters all have potential, especially in regards to their socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds, but the filmmakers sacrifice them to violence and trite special effects, many of the effects old when Clive Barker used that kind of SFX in his early Hellraiser films.

Snoop does most of acting with a perpetual scowl etched across his face. Still, he has excellent screen presence, and makes a good bad guy when he’s given (I don’t know, maybe) depth and subtext. It really would have been nice had Dickerson approached this film with the same sense of fun and funny mayhem that made Demon Knight such a charmingly trashy fright flick.

4 of 10
C

NOTES:
2002 Black Reel Awards: 1 nomination: “Theatrical - Best Actress” (Pam Grier)

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"The Howling Reborn" Now on DVD

A legendary horror franchise that redefined a genre returns to scare a new generation...

ANCHOR BAY FILMS “BAYS” AT THE MOON WITH THE HOWLING REBORN ON BLU-RAY™ AND DVD

A New Moon Rises October 18th

Get ready to run with the pack again, as Anchor Bay Entertainment unleashes The Howling Reborn October 18th on Blu-ray™ and DVD. An all-new, original chapter directed by Joe Nimziki, the much anticipated Anchor Bay Films release stars Lindsey Shaw (“Pretty Little Liars,” “10 Things I Hate About You”), Landon Liboiron (Fox’s upcoming series “Terra Nova,” “Degrassi: The Next Generation”) and Ivana Milicevic (Casino Royale, Vanilla Sky). Described within industry circles as “Twilight with bite,” The Howling Reborn deftly combines romance, action and thrills that will have audiences worldwide embracing their inner lycanthrope! SRP is $26.98 for the DVD, and $29.99 for the Blu-ray™. Pre-book is September 21st.

Anchor Bay SVP of Marketing Jennifer Roberts stated: “We couldn’t be more thrilled with the picture, and are excited to get “The Howling: Reborn” out as quickly as possible for this Halloween. We truly believe this picture will re-launch the franchise and lead to even bigger and better new chapters ahead.”

The creatures for The Howling Reborn were brought to life by 2010 Academy-Award® nominee Adrian Morot (300, Night at the Museum 2), and the score produced by award-winning composer Klaus Badelt (Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean).

On the eve of his high school graduation, Will Kidman (Liboiron) finally looks up from his books to catch the eye of the girl he’s longed for the last four years –the mysterious Eliana Wynter (Shaw). He’s always been the shy kid, flying under the radar, but when he discovers a dark secret from his past— that he is heir to a powerful line of werewolves -- he finds he has a choice to make between succumbing to his primal nature, or turning against his own, and maintaining his humanity. In order to fight the destiny of his legacy, and save Eliana – as well as himself – he must battle not only his growing blood lust but an army of fearsome beasts bent on killing him, Eliana...and then, us all.

Bonus features on The Howling Reborn Blu-ray™ and DVD will include filmmakers’ commentary and a behind-the-scenes featurette.

The Howling began enthralling fans more than 30 years ago, with the 1977 publication of Gary Brandner’s best-selling novel and the 1981 film adaptation written by Academy Award® nominated screenwriter John Sayles (Lone Star, The Spiderwick Chronicles) and directed by Joe Dante (Gremlins, InnerSpace). The film’s success ushered in a new era of screen werewolves, as well as the six “Howling” sequels that followed.


About Anchor Bay Films
Anchor Bay Films is unique in that it offers the creative community a fully integrated distribution capability on all platforms and an international solution extending beyond the U.S. Anchor Bay Films is a division of Anchor Bay Entertainment and is on the ground providing quality distribution with operations in the U.S., United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, as well as distribution capabilities in other key territories. The company focuses on a platform release strategy for its films with an eye toward maximizing their potential across all ancillary distribution platforms. The company recently released the critically acclaimed comedy City Island starring Andy Garcia and Solitary Man starring Michael Douglas, Kill the Irishman starring Ray Stevenson, Vincent D’Onofrio, Val Kilmer, Christopher Walken, as well as Sundance Audience Award Winner happythankyoumoreplease starring Josh Radnor, Malin Akerman, Kate Mara, Zoe Kazan and Tony Hale. Upcoming releases include, Meet Monica Velour with Kim Cattrall and Toronto International Film Festival award-winner Beautiful Boy with Maria Bello and Michael Sheen. Anchor Bay Entertainment is a subsidiary of Starz Media, LLC (http://www.starzmedia.com/) which is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Starz tracking stock group.

Review: "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut" is a Great 1999 Film (Happy B'day, Trey Parker)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 176 (of 2004) by Leroy Douresseaux

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999) - animated
Running time: 81 minutes (1 hour, 21 minutes)
MPAA – R for pervasive vulgar language and crude sexual humor, and for some violent images
DIRECTOR: Trey Parker
WRITERS: Matt Stone and Trey Parker and Pam Brady (based upon the TV series created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker)
PRODUCERS: Trey Parker and Matt Stone
EDITOR: John Venzon
Academy Award nominee

ANIMATION/COMEDY/MUSICAL/WAR

Starring: (voice) Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Mary Kay Bergman, Isaac Hayes, George Clooney, Brent Spiner, Minnie Driver, Dave Foley, Eric Idle, Nick Rhodes, Stewart Copeland, and Mike Judge

I could list several films that were better than Oscar® winner for “Best Picture” of 1999, American Beauty. One of them is South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, the film version of the hit animated series, “South Park,” on cable television channel, Comedy Central. The film did earn an Oscar® nomination in the category of “Best Music, Original Song,” and it should have won. But where it really counts, the film won – it is as good as the best episodes of the series.

Our heroic quartet: Stan Marsh (Trey Parker), Eric Cartman (Parker), Kyle Broslofski (Matt Stone), and Kenny McCormick (Stone) sneak into a theatre to see the R-rated film of Canadian bad boy duo, Terrance & Phillip, entitled Asses of Fire. The film, a wall-to-wall profanity-laden musical, warps the little boys’ minds, and they begin to freely used the most vulgar language in everyday speech. Kyle’s mother, Sheila Broslofski (Mary Kay Bergman), is horrified, so she leads the other boys’ parents in a massive crusade against Terrance and Phillip.

In true fanatical organized censorship fashion, her coalition against filth goes overboard. The parents pressure the United States government to declare war on Canada (because they generate lots of filth that finds it way to America), and to have Terrance and Phillip publicly executed just before the U.S. military invades Canada. Meanwhile, in Hell, Satan and his homosexual lover, Saddam Hussein (Stone), eagerly await the execution. For when Terrance & Phillip’s blood touches the earth, it will open a portal from Hell to Earth from which Satan and Saddam will launch an invasion.

The quality of the animation (crude and crudely manipulated paper cutout animated figures) and comedy (naughty) of the film is about the same as the TV series, except the hardcore R-rated vulgarity and profanity that would be edited out of even the series makes its way to the film. What the film has that the show doesn’t is a wonderfully satirical and farcical song score. There are certainly better musical and song scores in film history, but none are as ribald, as bold, and as hilarious as these songs.

The most important thing about South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut is that it is so subversive. The TV series has always used satire and farce to make political and social commentary. Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone take their hardest hits at ultra conservative, too liberal, bigoted, and politically correct America. But the part of the U.S. that takes the biggest hit is the dishonesty of adults: lying to children, not explaining to them why they should be protected from certain things, cheating, stealing, and selfishness. Parker and Stone do it while making you laugh so hard at their outrageous sense of humor. I don’t know which is their best talent, humor or commentary; they do both so well that’s it’s unfair to most others who try both.

9 of 10
A+

NOTES:
2000 Academy Awards: 1 nomination: “Best Music, Original Song” (Trey Parker and Marc Shaiman for the song "Blame Canada")

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Review: Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 83 (of 2011) by Leroy Douresseaux


Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur (2011) – Video
Running time: 75 minutes (1 hour, 15 minutes)
DIRECTORS: Ethan Spaulding with Kirk Tingblad (animation director)
WRITER: Douglas Langdale
PRODUCERS: Spike Brandt and Tom Cervone
EDITOR: Damon P. Yoches

ANIMATION/ADVENTURE/COMEDY/MYSTERY

Starring: (voices) Frank Welker, Matthew Lillard, Grey DeLisle, Mindy Cohn, Matthew Gray Gubler, Finola Hughes, Kevin Michael Richardson, Fred Willard, Maulik Pancholy, John Di Maggio, Michael Gough, Dave Wittenberg, Cathy Cavadini, and Gwendoline Yeo

Beginning in 1998 with Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island, Warner Bros. has released direct-to-video animated movies based on the Scooby-Doo cartoon franchise. Except for a few years when two movies have been released, there has been at least one movie a year. Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur is the 16th movie in this direct-to-video series.

Legend of the Phantosaur begins with a successful conclusion to another mystery – well, not entirely successful. The case has left Shaggy Rogers (Matthew Lillard) with a case of “acute threat avoidance hypertrophy disorder” or “overreaction to fear stimuli.” Also, Fred Jones (Frank Welker) is failing science, so Daphne Blake (Grey DeLisle) comes up with an idea to help both Fred and Shaggy. They will travel to the remote desert town of La Serena, the location of a spa where Shaggy can relax. He can also avoid scary things because La Serena is “the least haunted town in America” (according to the U.S. Bureau of Supernatural Forces). Near La Serena, there is also an archeological dig, which would make a good extra-curricular project for Fred.

The gang arrives at the La Serena Spa and meets its eccentric owner, Mr. Hubley (Fred Willard). Hubley wants to use his own invention, an advanced hypnosis machine with a giant holographic projector, to cure Shaggy. Later, Professor Svankmajor (Finola Hughes), the head of the local paleontological dig, shows the gang the dig site. Velma Dinkley (Mindy Cohn) meets one of Svankmajor’s students, Windsor (Matthew Gray Gubler), who is like an identical male version of Velma, and the two begin a romance.

It turns out that La Serena is indeed experiencing a haunting. The Phantosaur, a local Native American legend, has returned to terrorize the area. The latest mystery the Scooby Gang tackles is like no other. Shaggy has a dual personality, and Scooby-Doo (Fred Welker) is trying to manage them both. There is a local biker gang, and Shaggy challenges their leader, Big Texas or “Tex” (Kevin Michael Richardson), to a motorcycle race. And there are snakes and more dinosaurs waiting in the wings to terrorize. Can the gang solve this mystery when they may not even survive it?

Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur is 75 minutes in length, but it seems much longer than that, but not in a bad way. There are so many subplots, character arcs, and lines of conflict that this seems like a live-action film of about 100 minutes in length. This is also something different from other Scooby-Doo straight-to-video films; it is more character driven, and the comedy is built around character situations.

Potential viewers shouldn’t be put off because there are some big action set pieces here – a motorcycle race, a dinosaur invasion of La Serena, and the entirety of the last act. Still, in between the manic fun, there are quite a lot of off-rhythm character drama scenes (if I can call them that). This focus on the characters does bring up a problem; the voice performances for what are essentially supporting/guest characters aren’t that good. Matthew Gray Gubler’s performance as Windsor seems uninspired, and Fred Willard is either awkward or out of place as Mr. Hubley.

Of the three most recent Scooby-Doo moves, Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur is the least in terms of delivering fun and entertainment. It’s not bad, and, in fact, the production values and art direction are quite good. But there will be an ebb and flow in how much these movies capture the unique Scooby-Doo spirit and sense of adventure and fun. Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur is closer to an ebb.

6 of 10
B

Monday, October 17, 2011

Pirates of the Caribbean 4 on DVD Tuesday, October 18th

Dive Deeper Into the Epic Quest to Find The Fountain of Youth

Johnny Depp is Back as Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney’s PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES

Grossing Over $1 Billion at the Worldwide Box Office, One of the Biggest Films of All Time Sails Home on Disney Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and Blu-ray 3D™ on October 18th

The Walt Disney Studios and Jerry Bruckheimer Films are proud to present the #1 worldwide box office success of 2011 - making over $1 billion globally - Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, in stunning high definition Blu-ray™, eye popping Blu-ray 3D™ (a first for the legendary franchise) and Movie Download on October 18, 2011.

Setting sail on an ocean full of hi-def adventures, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides will debut in a Limited Edition 5-Disc Combo Pack (1-Disc Blu-ray 3D + 2-Disc Blu-ray + 1-Disc DVD + 1-Disc Digital Copy), a 2-Disc Combo Pack (1-Disc Blu-ray + 1-Disc DVD), and for the ultimate fan a 15-Disc Four Movie Collection. Additionally the movie will be available in 3D and High-Definition Movie Download.

The Limited Edition 5-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack includes hours of bonus materials offering fans a deeper dive inside Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides including immersive Disney Second Screen technology, exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences, Fountain of Youth mythology, an extensive look at mermaids, bloopers, deleted and extended scenes, and much more.

In addition, the Pirates of the Caribbean 15-Disc Four Movie Collection offers fans more adventures than ever before. The Collection is packaged in an authentic replica Pirate’s Chest, and includes a collectible map and an iconic skull disc case that holds the Blu-ray™ discs and digital copies of ALL four Pirates of the Caribbean movies, along with the Blu-ray 3D™ disc and DVD of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, directed by Rob Marshall (Nine, Chicago), and written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio (Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, National Treasure 2, Mask of Zorro), Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is the latest addition to the incredibly successful Pirates of the Caribbean franchise that has for years entertained audiences of all ages with its thrilling adventures, hi-tech special effects and unique storylines.

Back as Captain Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp (Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Alice in Wonderland) returns leading a sensational cast of talents that includes Penélope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Geoffrey Rush (The King’s Speech), Ian McShane (HBO’s “Deadwood”) and more.

The visually stunning film shot in high-definition 3D invites viewers to embark on an adventure-filled ride with Captain Jack Sparrow as he searches for the breathtaking Fountain of Youth. Along the turbulent trip, fans are forced to re-think their knowledge of fairytale creatures when they are introduced to a group of alluring yet precarious mermaids, traverse isolated islands and fight international enemies.

Details:
2-Disc Combo Pack (1-Disc Blu-ray™ + 1-Disc DVD) SRP = $39.99 U.S./$46.99 Canada
• Disney Second Screen
• Bloopers of the Caribbean
• Audio Commentary by director Rob Marshall
• LEGO Animated Shorts: Captain Jack’s Brick Tales

Limited Edition 5-Disc Combo Pack (1-Disc Blu-ray 3D™ + 2-Disc Blu-ray + 1-Disc DVD + 1-Disc Digital Copy) SRP = $49.99 U.S./$56.99 Canada

All of the above features plus…
• Legends of On Stranger Tides
• In Search of the Fountain
• Last Sail/First Voyage
• Under the Scene: Bringing Mermaids to Life
• Deleted and Extended Scenes with Intros by director Rob Marshall

Limited Edition 15-Disc Four Movie Collection SRP = $169.99 U.S./$189.99 Canada
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2-Disc Blu-ray+1-Disc Digital Copy )
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2-Disc Blu-ray+1-Disc Digital Copy )
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2-Disc Blu-ray+1-Disc Digital Copy)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (1-Disc Blu-ray 3D +2-Disc Blu-ray+Digital Copy+1-Disc DVD)
• 1-Disc Blu-ray bonus disc that includes all-new never-before-seen short film “Wedlocked”
• Authentic replica Pirate’s Chest, a collectible map and an iconic skull disc case.
• And much more…

High Definition Movie Download SRP = $39.99 U.S./$46.99 Canada
• Bloopers of the Caribbean
• Deleted and Extended Scenes with Intros by director Rob Marshall
• LEGO Animated Shorts: Captain Jack’s Brick Tales

3D Movie Download SRP = $49.99 U.S./$56.99 Canada

Disc Specifications:
STREET DATE: October 18, 2011
Suggested Retail Prices: 2-Disc Combo Pack = $39.99 U.S./$46.99 Canada
5-Disc Combo Pack = $49.99 U.S./$56.99 Canada
15-Disc Four Movie Collection = $169.99 U.S./$189.99 Canada
High Definition Movie Download = $39.99 U.S./46.99 Canada
3D Movie Download = $49.99 U.S./$56.99 Canada

Feature Run Time: 136 minutes
Rating: U.S. = PG-13 (Not Recommended for Young Children & Frightening Scenes)
Canada = PG (Not Recommended for Young Children & Frightening Scenes) **Bonus Material Not Rated
Presentation: Blu-ray 3D & Blu-ray = 1080p High Definition 2.40:1
DVD = Widescreen 2.40:1 – Enhanced for 16x9 Televisions
Audio/Language: Blu-ray 3D & Blu-ray = English 7.1 DTS-HD MA (48kHz/24-bit), English 2.0 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 DVS Dolby Digital, French, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital (3D Blu-ray), French, Spanish 7.1 DTS0HD HR (Blu-ray)
DVD = English, French, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital
Subtitles: Blu-ray 3D & Blu-ray = English SDH, French, Spanish
DVD = English SDH, French Spanish **applies to film content only

Film Synopsis:
From Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer comes all the fun, epic adventure and humor that ignited the original. Johnny Depp returns as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. A tale of truth, betrayal, youth, demise — and mermaids! When Jack crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penélope Cruz), he’s not sure if it’s love or if she’s a ruthless con artist using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. Forced aboard the ship of the most feared pirate ever, Jack doesn’t know who to fear more —Blackbeard (Ian McShane) or the woman from his past. Directed by Rob Marshall, it’s filled with eye-popping battle scenes, mystery and all-out wit.

Social Media:
For those who would like to stay connected with the world of Pirates are encouraged to:
• “Like” the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PiratesoftheCaribbean
• Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DisneyPirates
• Visit the website and mobile site: www.disney.com/pirates


About Walt Disney Studios:
For more than 85 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company (DIS: NYSE) was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under four banners: Walt Disney Pictures, which includes Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, Disneynature, Touchstone Pictures and Marvel. Original music and motion picture soundtracks are produced under Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records, while Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Broadway theatrical productions, Disney on Ice and Disney LIVE!. For more information, please visit http://www.disney.com/.

Review: "Chicago" is Bold and Splash (Happy B'day, Rob Marshall)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 35 (of 2003) by Leroy Douresseaux

Chicago (2002)
Running time: 113 minutes (1 hour, 53 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sexual content and dialogue, violence and thematic elements
DIRECTOR: Rob Marshall
WRITER: Bill Condon (based upon the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins and the musical by Bob Fosse and Fred Ebb)
PRODUCER: Martin Richards
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Dion Beebe (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Martin Walsh
COMPOSER: Danny Elfman
2003 Academy Award winner

MUSICAL/CRIME/DRAMA with elements of comedy

Starring: Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly, Lucy Liu, Taye Diggs, Colm Feore, Christine Baranski, Dominic West, and Mya

Adulterous Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) kills her lover after he boldly admits lying to her and stringing her along. Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) kills her song and dance partner sister and her own husband when she catches them knocking boots. Both end up in the same dark and dank prison awaiting trial, clients of William “Billy” Flynn (Richard Gere), a flamboyant lawyer who specializes in representing gals who’ve killed their husbands and lovers. Under the tutelage of Matron “Mama” Morton (Queen Latifah), the girls struggle to escape the gallows for their crimes and strive for fame in scandal laden 1920’s Chicago.

Yes, it’s good, damn good. Director/choreographer Rob Marshall’s Chicago, a film version of the famed musical, is a thoroughly enjoyable and invigorating film spectacle. If this and Moulin Rouge! represent what the return of film musicals will look like, we are in for a treat. Marshall choreographed “Annie” and “Rodger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” for television. In his film, he creates lavish and electrical dance scenes of the musical’s songs and integrates them with the dark and gritty world of 20’s Chicago. The colorful staged renditions of the songs flit back and forth showing us the idealized worlds of the characters, juxtaposed against the brutal frankness of their real world. The dance numbers are stirring and attention grabbing, as visually attractive as anything on MTV.

Screenwriter Bill Condon, who won an Academy Award for writing his film Gods and Monsters, does an excellent job composing a story that can compete with the energy and electricity of the songs. That’s no easy feat. Condon had to structure the story so that we would be as interested in it as we were thrilled by the songs. Chicago’s central story is rife with engaging tension and conflict and with characters we can support along every step of their treacherous journey.

Can Ms. Zellweger, Ms. Zeta-Jones, and Mr. Gere sing and dance? The answer is a resounding “yes!” Seeing them in the staged numbers and in the story scenes is like watching six different performers. I had a hard time believing the actors and singer/dancers were the same people; I know these performers and to see them pull off these performances is a revelation. I didn’t know Gere had it in him. It’s simply stunning and worth every minute of your time to watch.

The supporting performances are quite nice. Queen Latifah’s presence asserts itself strongly on the film; it often seems as if Mama is the puppeteer backstage directing events. Taye Diggs adds a sense of style to the film, and John C. Reilly quietly adds a sense of innocence and moral dignity to a story of people ready to grab fame at any costs.

Chicago, like Moulin Rouge!, is not like your average film. In fact, it’s very different from most quality and “serious” films. Like a good drama, it’s thoughtful; like the best action movies, it’s quite explosive. Chicago is a dream work, a film that is as visually rambunctious as the best music videos, but with the strong story and characters that you can take to heart – a must see movie.

8 of 10
A

NOTES:
2003 Academy Awards: 6 wins: “Best Picture” (Martin Richards), “Best Actress in a Supporting Role” (Catherine Zeta-Jones), “Best Art Direction-Set Decoration” (John Myhre-art director and Gordon Sim-set decorator), “Best Costume Design” (Colleen Atwood), “Best Film Editing” (Martin Walsh), and “Best Sound” (Michael Minkler, Dominick Tavella, and David Lee); 6 nominations: “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” (John C. Reilly), “Best Actress in a Leading Role” (Renée Zellweger), “Best Actress in a Supporting Role” (Queen Latifah), “Best Cinematography” (Dion Beebe), “Best Director” (Rob Marshall), “Best Music, Original Song” (John Kander-music and Fred Ebb-lyrics for the song "I Move On"), and “Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay” (Bill Condon)

2003 BAFTA Awards: 2 wins: “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role” (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and “Best Sound” (Michael Minkler, Dominick Tavella, David Lee, and Maurice Schell); 10 nominations: “Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music” (Danny Elfman, John Kander, and Fred Ebb), “Best Cinematography” (Dion Beebe), “Best Costume Design” (Colleen Atwood), “Best Editing” (Martin Walsh), “Best Film” (Martin Richards), “Best Make Up/Hair” (Jordan Samuel and Judi Cooper-Sealy), “Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role” (Renée Zellweger), “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role” (Queen Latifah), “Best Production Design” (John Myhre), and “David Lean Award for Direction” (Rob Marshall)

2003 Golden Globes: 3 wins: “Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy” (Martin Richards), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy” (Richard Gere), and “Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy” (Renée Zellweger); 5 nominations: “Best Director - Motion Picture” (Rob Marshall), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (John C. Reilly), “Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy” (Catherine Zeta-Jones), “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Queen Latifah), and “Best Screenplay - Motion Picture” (Bill Condon)

2003 Black Reel Awards: 1 win: “Theatrical - Best Supporting Actress” (Queen Latifah)

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Review: New "Footloose" Both Respectful and Down-and-Dirty

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 82 (of 2011) by Leroy Douresseaux

Footloose (2011)
Running time: 113 minutes (1 hour, 53 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for some teen drug and alcohol use, sexual content, violence and language See all certifications
DIRECTOR: Craig Brewer
WRITERS: Dean Pitchford and Craig Brewer; from a story by Dean Pitchford
PRODUCERS: Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Neil Meron, Dylan Sellers, Brad Weston, and Craig Zadan
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Amy Vincent
EDITOR: Billy Fox
COMPOSER: Deborah Lurie

DRAMA/MUSIC with elements of romance

Starring: Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell, Miles Teller, Ray McKinnon, Patrick John Flueger, Kim Dickens, Ziah Colon, Ser’Darius Blain, L. Warren Young, Brett Rice, Enisha Brewster, and Tony Vaughn

Footloose is a 2011 drama and dance film from director Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow). It is also a remake of the 1984 teen drama, also entitled Footloose. The new Footloose is surprisingly faithful to the first, so much so that it can be unsettling at times. The new film updates the story, changes some scenes, and repurposes some characters. Footloose 2011 is also edgier, hotter, and dirtier – in a Southern sort of way.

As before, Footloose focuses on Ren MacCormack (Kenny Wormald), a teenager who arrives in the small town of Bomont (Georgia?). Ren’s mother recently died, so Ren has come to live with his Uncle Wes Warnicker (Ray McKinnon), Aunt Lulu (Kim Dickens), and their two daughters. Although he is the new kid, Ren doesn’t have trouble fitting in and soon befriends two football players, the cowboy Willard (Miles Teller) and the jovial Woody (Ser’Darius Blain), and Willard’s girlfriend, Rusty (Ziah Colon). His most startling new friend is the wild child, Ariel Moore (Julianne Hough), the daughter of local pastor, Reverend Shaw Moore (Dennis Quaid), and his wife, Vi (Andie MacDowell).

Ren likes to dance and play loud music, but he soon learns that loud music and dancing, for the most part, are not allowed in Bomont by several different city ordinances. Ren decides that the senior class should have a prom and starts a petition to change the law. His decision not only pits him against the city council, but especially against Rev. Moore.

Footloose 2011 is so faithful to the original that it retains many well-known scenes from the original – including Ren’s dance of anger at the mill, the out-of-town trip to the club (where Willard gets punched), and a re-imagined version of the “chicken race.” Some of the original songs return, including “Footloose,” in the original Kenny Loggins version and in an up-tempo country version by Blake Shelton.

Most importantly, the new Footloose is simply a very good movie. I had a darn good time watching it, and I would watch it again. It has a killer opening to Kenny Loggins’ pounding “Footloose” that also sets the stage for this film’s darker tone. This time, director/co-writer Craig Brewer and co-writer Dean Pitchford (who wrote the original film and co-wrote its songs) delve deeper in the psychology of the characters. The audience will get a more intimate look into why Ariel is so wild and why her father has control issues, both with his family and with the town at large.

The heart of the film is still Ren MacCormack, the rebellious teen with the dark glasses, black jacket (and black pants), and skinny tie. Kenny Wormald plays him to near perfection with a James Dean-like swagger and intensity. Movies need a star, Footloose has one in Wormald.

The original film had synthesizer-driven pop music as its structural backbone, and while music is important in the new film, Brewer relies on character drama and the distinctive setting, the backwoods Bomont, to drive the story. Brewer, who is known for earthy films featuring lots of Southern black folk, takes the original all-white, Midwestern Bomont of the original film and populates the new Bomont with lots of African-Americans, rednecks, good-old boys, and good Southern people. It’s the Deep South side by side with the Dirty South.

The dance moves performed by the young actors is heavily influenced by country music (line dancing), hip hop, and krumping. When Brewer isn’t making his cast mesmerize you with suggestive, booty-poppin, hip-thrustin’ dance moves, he is dragging you into the drama. With the new Footloose, Brewer does right by the original and still manages to make his own unique film – the best teen dance movie in years. It’s not perfect, but it’s perfect for me.

7 of 10
A-

Sunday, October 16, 2011