Back!

The site's been out of commission for a little because oh how hectic life is but it should have more regular updates now! I'm making a video on MoviePass that'll be done soon so stay tuned.

-Samuel

Spectre / Steve Jobs reviews

We're back! Here are two review we posted the past couple of days about Spectre and Steve Jobs. 

Everest review (Ramble Review) ft. Crickets

This is the first of what I call "ramble reviews." It's about a mountain.

What We Do in the Shadows review

What We Do in the Shadows (2015)
Directed by Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi
Written by Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi
Starring: Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, Jonathan Burgh, Cori Gonzalez-Maucer


In an age where mockumentary-style TV shows are abundant with the likes of Modern Family, and when the words "these go to eleven" are a phrase that many people use and revere, it's somewhat hard to find a way to make something new and fresh. The same can be said about vampire movies (Thanks Twilight, Dark Shadows, and Vampires Suck).

What does What We Do in the Shadows do? It goes and makes them new and fresh.

WWDITS follows 4 (eventually 5) vampires for several months to demonstrate what vampires are ACTUALLY like, as well as how they live. There are werewolves, zombies, witches and more, and they all live in Wellington, New Zealand! Crazy, right?

One name you're bound to recognize if you're into the world of comedy is Jemaine Clement, otherwise known as "that one guy from Flight of the Conchords with the glasses." He and writing/director partner Taiki Waititi write, direct and star in What We Do in the Shadows and boy do they work well as a team.

The obvious comparison is to Flight of the Conchords since Jemaine is a member, but it's a good comparison still. Humor and writing style are the same, tone is the same, and that's FAAAAANTASTIC. Sarcasm and dry humor prevail throughout the movie; it's the subtle things that really get you. Sometimes it can be somewhat predictable, but the execution is so good that you still laugh and maybe laughed even more because of how it was done. I laughed so hard, probably more than I have all year long. "I think we drink virgin blood because it sounds cool." Delivery is key with that sort of dry wit/sarcastic humor and this cast just kills it. Boom, jokes.

Cinematicly, it's shot pretty well. It's a documentary, so overlayed footage, but a lot of cuts to breeze through time. There are two skips in time of a few months but it doesn't feel rushed or forced because of the ease that Clement and Waititi have over their writing and directing. Everything fits together to create this fantastic version of The Real World mashed up with Only Lovers Left Alive.

Also, Rhys Darby calls someone a dickhead and that's always bound to get you laughing.

What We Do in the Shadows is such a hilarious, interesting take on mockumentaries and vampires and paranormal life in general that it gets a 9/10.

The Transporter Refueled review (Rapid Review)

Oh.

I Am Chris Farley review

I Am Chris Farley (2015)
Directed by Brent Hodge & Derik Murray
Written by Steve Burgess
Starring: Chris Farley, Kevin Farley, David Spade, Bob Odenkirk, Adam Sandler

Let it be known that I LOVE Saturday Night Live.

My mom got me hooked on SNL at a young age. She sometimes blames my darker sense of humor and "language choices" on the fact that elementary school Samuel was watching the likes of Ferrell, Samberg, Hader, Wiig, Fey and Fallon making sex jokes, talking about drugs and things that probably shouldn't be told to a 3rd grader. We had many SNL "Best of..." DVD's from people like Steve Martin (never a cast member, but hosted SO many times), Will Ferrell, Phil Hartman and one Mr. Christopher Crosby Farley.

I Am Chris Farley is a documentary that follows the rise and fall of America's favorite "fatty fall down" comic, and boy this ride is insane.

It's no secret that Farley, who died at age 33 of a speedball overdose, struggled with drugs and addiction throughout his life. While that isn't specifically what the documentary is about, you can tell that Farley's friends and family are still messed up from those days about 20 years later. I Am Chris Farley does a good job of not glossing over the bad parts of Farley's life, although it is only used for the last 15-20 minutes of the film. There's something surprisingly haunting seeing so many comedians and friends of Farley tear up and get physically upset when they think of his death and the decisions that led to it. Moving.

The rise of Chris Farley is probably the strength of I Am Chris Farley. Interviews with Farley's siblings (woah Kevin looks like Chris!) give us just what we need to know about this naturally talented and hilarious performer. You also get to see others from his early days like a priest (named Matt Foley), some college friends and even teachers that let us know that he was basically just as kooky and crazy as we thought!

Farley's SNL cast-mates take over and most of the movie looms on his time on the show, since that is what most people know him from. It becomes one story after another about Chris behind the scenes, with the fans, onstage, on set, and even in the shower (scandalous). Yes, the stories are entertaining and fun to watch but some of them just seem to be placed to make you like Farley more. It might just be the editing, but that's the main problem with the film. Tone is consistently happy and lighthearted and then at the end becomes sad and depressing. There are hints of the sadness throughout, but it never really has an affect on you.

I know I addressed how that part was probably the best part of the film, but it does feel a little out of place when the entire film was so happy and funny up until then. It's a personal preference for me perhaps, but I wanted Bob Saget and his tears to expand on how show business can change you in the middle when we saw his sadness. Also, Tom Arnold has a moment like that and it isn't expanded upon. It would have made the movie more consistent. Oh well.

It's a simple interview style documentary that informs you on the life of a former comic icon while playing clips from his past. There isn't anything groundbreaking, but it still is good nonetheless. If you liked Chris Farley's work, I suggest watching it!

I Am Chris Farley gets a 7/10.

The Visit & Creep review

My latest review: The Visit AND Creep!

Enjoy!!

-Samuel

The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened? review

The Death of "Superman Lives:" What Happened? (2015)
Directed by Jon Schnepp
Written by Jon Schnepp
Starring: Jon Schnepp, Jon Peters, Tim Burton, Kevin Smith

I should let it be known that I think Jon Schnepp is the coolest. He's directed episodes of Metalocalypse; he edited Space Ghost Coast to Coast; he's a recurring panelist on Collider Movie Talk (formerly AMC Movie Talk), one of my favorite movie shows online.

I should let it be known that I think failed movies are incredibly interesting. I even did an episode of a (possible) podcast called Unseen Silver Screen on another failed superhero movie, Justice League: Mortal, that is getting ITS own documentary on how it failed.

I should let it be known that when you combine the two, I get incredibly excited. The Death of "Superman Lives:" What Happened? is exactly that. Does it deliver though?

You bet your Kryptonian ass it does, but what exactly WAS Superman Lives? 

"Superman Lives" was a failed 1990's Superman movie written by Kevin Smith, produced by Jon Peters, directed by Tim Burton and Superman was to be played by Nicolas Cage. That was a real thing at one point. The movie is told through a series of interviews with various people who were attached to the project at one time or another. It really tried to shed light on just what "Superman Lives" would have been. 

Some of these interviews are INCREDIBLE, specifically Jon Peters and Tim Burton because of exactly what their visions were for the movie. "Like what?" Well for starters Jon Peters didn't want Superman to fly or wear his usual suit and he was supposed to fight a giant spider. It's as insane as it sounds.

Some of the concept art is incredible to see, and getting to watch the photo-shoot of the infamous picture of Nicolas Cage as Superman in a test-suit was SO SATISFYING. Listening to Nicolas Cage talk in 1997 about how he viewed Clark Kent and Superman as people might be one of the single greatest things. You can tell he was a Superman fanboy and was excited to try a new take on the man of steel.

                       (Look at that 2nd picture. That looks pretty sweet. The 
              1st picture was in mid-blink with an unfinished suit.)



Getting to see the behind the scenes videos as well as hear the crews views and opinions on what was going on is a fantastic experience. One thing TDOSLWH skips over though is what the story would have been. Yes, we get to know that Christopher Walken might have played Braniac and would have fought polar bears, but you never get a clear idea as to what the plot of the movie would have been. There are a few plot points discussed here and there which help you figure parts out, as well as the knowledge that it would have been based on "The Death of Superman" storyline from the comics, but that's just it. It would have been BASED on it. What exactly would happen to Superman and why? That's never defined entirely.

That doesn't mean that this is a bad movie, not at all. In fact, that's the only downside to it. Jon Schnepp really took the time to find all of these people and art and he even directs live action versions of things that might have happened in "Superman Lives" had it have happened. Find this movie. Download it. Watch it. TDOSLWH gets an 8/10. 

-Samuel

No Escape review

No Escape (2015)
Directed by John Erick Dowdle
Written by John Erick Dowdle & Drew Dowdle
Starring: Owen Wilson, Lake Bell, Pierce Brosnan

There was no escape from talking about No Escape.

No Escape follows the Dwyer family as they move to some unnamed Asian country (most likely Cambodia) due to Jack's (Owen Wilson) job for an engineering company called Cardiff moving him. A coup occurs and the Asian rebels begin to murder the foreigners and people they see in line with the former government. The Dwyers try to stay alive with the help of a man named Hammond (Pierce Brosnan) who might know just what is going on.

I'll say the movie has "thrills." It's labeled as a mystery or suspense film on Rotten Tomatoes, but it is more of a thriller in my opinion. No Escape has parts that are scary, somewhat uncomfortable but nothing that is ever too terrible. That is where the movie falters.

John Erick Dowdle, who co-wrote and directed No Escape, does a better job in both positions than his last movie As Above, So Below, but he manages to make the "escape" seem way too easy. They hide in a bush and the rebels miss them. Easy. They put on scarves and hats and walk right through a rebel protest and are almost spotted, yet still manage to get through. Easy.

Owen Wilson's "gee whiz" swagger (from a review on The Work Print) works at the beginning of the movie, but as the story goes on it starts to become a bit of distraction because it rubs off on the rest of his family. Everyone somehow manages to become a "wow what is happening? why are we in this?" thinking character and that falls on Dowdle's script. Character development is also little-to-none which makes for a somewhat one-not movie. "Oh hey we are foreigners and we need to survive!" The times that the script tries to give characters some time to shine isn't entirely explained. (i.e. the scene with Lake Bell and Owen Wilson in the bathroom). Hammond is the only exception due to how fun and interesting his character is. More on him later.

No Escape's editing and direction create a chilling atmosphere, though, which really put you inside of the mind of the Dwyers. That's a positive. Hammond's character is also a positive when he is onscreen because he injects a sense of fun at times and real danger at others into the film. Spoiler warning for No Escape though...

SPOILER WARNING NOW. SCROLL TIL YOU SEE "ALL CLEAR."

Why did Hammond HAVE to die? I get he was a mentor, but he was probably the best character and added a new perspective on the uprising. Killing him off wasted the talent of Pierce Brosnan, but his death was sorta cool (with him shooting the driver of a truck and then opening his arms to accept death as the truck ran him right over). Ugh. That part bugged me. Oh well.

ALL CLEAR.

Overall, No Escape has thrills and some fun throughout but the script's poor execution leaves characters feeling bland or annoying. I give No Escape a 4.5/10. The video below is of my friend Baili's reaction to the film after we left our screening. She gives it a 6/10.

-Samuel

American Ultra review

Our review on American Ultra.

About Us

"...ratings are relative, not absolute." -Roger Ebert

Samuel Janvier enjoys a plethora of things like Nintendo, weird music and, of course, movies. He is attending the University of Texas at Austin for a BA in Theatre. His favorite movie is Troll 2.

Ethan Wells is a guy who likes movies and old music. That's about it. His favorite movie is Fight Club.

Justice League: Mortal

Here is Episode 0 of Unseen Silver Screen, it's basically a test. Enjoy!

What's Up with the Cool New Site, Man?

If you're reading this, then you are at our new website! Welcome to Cinematic Static, where Ethan and I (Samuel) will review movies, talk about movies and think about (you guessed it) movies. 

Hopefully this site runs smoothly and surely. Hooray for new things! There will be others announced in the near future from us so be on the look out!

-Samuel