Review: The Outsiders Bluray & DVD

The Outsiders

For many people, when they here the words ‘Brat Pack’, they think of those great 80′s John Hughes movies such as ‘The Breakfast Club’ & ‘St. Elmo’s Fire.’ Although Hughes ran with the ‘Brat Pack’ baton, he wasn’t biological father of the group. That honor goes to Francis Ford Coppola and his lesser know, but equally classic 80′s film – The Outsiders.

The movie brought together an incredible cast of young stars, including C. Thomas Howell (probably best know now for TV’s Southland), Matt Dillon (There’s Something About Mary, Wild Things), Ralph Macchio (the original Karate Kid), Rob Lowe (St. Elmo’s Fire, The West Wing), Emilio Estevez (The Breakfast Club, Young Guns, Bobby), Tom Cruise, and the late great Patrick Swayze.

The Outsiders is a coming-of-age drama set in the 1960′s American Midwest, following a rivalry between 2 gangs – ‘The Greasers’, who are, as you would expect, a denim and leather clad street kids, and the opposing ‘preppy’ ‘Socials’ (Socs). When Ponyboy Curtis (Howell) and Johnny Cade (Macchio) have a chance encounter with one of the Soc’s girlfriends (Diane Lane), the violence escalates, leading to Johnny stabbing one of the Socs in self-defense. Scared for their lives, the Greaser boys go on the run, until an unexpected a act of heroism leads to the Johnny getting arrested for murder, and the rivalry between the 2 groups coming to a violent conclusion.

This version of The Outsiders includes a number of additional scenes which weren’t in the 1983 release, helping to bring it closer in line with the original S. E. Hinton novel. Couple that with the stunning transfer of the original widescreen print, the movie has never looked better. The sound is equally well presented, with a classic hits from Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis setting a great tone for the film.

The disc comes jam-packed with extras, including a short intro and introspective commentary from director Francis Ford Coppola. Many of the cast also give an entertaining commentary track including C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Diane Lane, Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe and the late Patrick Swayze. Additional goodies include Staying Gold: A Look Back at The Outsiders Retrospective Documentary, a featurette on the casting, cast members reading extracts from the original novel, archival news footage, and of course the traditional deleted/extended scenes and theatrical trailer usually found on these releases.

This really is the definitive release of The Outsiders, and with hours of extras is worthy addition to any movie collection, or as a great Christmas gift.

The Outsiders is available on Blu-ray and DVD now!

9/10 – The definitive release of a classic 80′s movie.

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Jameson Cult Film Club: The Birds

Jameson Cult Film Club - The Birds

This was a night of firsts for me. Not only was it the first time going to a Jameson Cult Film Club night (or any type of organised film showing night) it was also the first time seeing Hitchcock’s, “The Birds” – shocking I know, however this meant I went with no preconceptions about what to expect.

The location for showing was St Paul’s Church, set in a wet St Paul’s Square in the heart of Birmingham. This was the first time the Jameson Cult Film Club had been to Birmingham, adding to the night of firsts. We approached the church to find an eerie green glow through the stained glass windows, which set the scene perfectly. The rain obviously hadn’t deterred people away because when we made our way in through the big church doors most of the pews, which would be our seats for the duration of the showing, were already full. Candles were lit, the church organ present at the front was being played and fake birds were perched in the rafters and projected on the ceiling which all helped with creating the atmosphere.

Armed with the free cocktail tokens, my date for the night, Samantha Lyster formally of The Times, and I made our way to the bar upstairs. It was here that I started to spot the actors walking around, dressed and narrating in character to those in the film. I of course could not relate however upon reflection they were pretty spot on with the characterisation. The Jameson cocktails on offer were lovely, not a whiskey drinker myself I was pleasantly surprised how it could be made into something fruity, light and easy on the palette.

We spotted in the far corner a photo opportunity to pretend to have been attacked by birds in front of a specially created backdrop by local graffiti artist ‘Victor TX’. Whilst in the queue to be snapped a member of staff added the finishing touches to our face by applying a long streak of blood from our eyes to look as if we had been pecked. We stepped in front of the backdrop, posed in a dramatic style, as if the birds were just above and Christine Tellier, the photographer, snapped us. This was very fun to participate in and a nice touch.

We grabbed a hotdog and popcorn (a little pricy) and made our way to the pews to find seats. Here an actor helped us into our seats as if the birds were attacking and every now and again a woman screaming, “The birds are coming” would run down the aisle. Little touches that added to the overall mood in the dramatic setting. The film itself I found to be actually rather funny as oppose to scary, but this is for me made it charming to watch and at these moments the whole congregation laughed together. Samantha however was ducking and diving all over the place through out the film whenever the birds were relentless in their attacks. The sound of the birds and their wings was certainly chilling.

All in all I would say the night a success. I enjoyed the complete production Jameson put on as well as the film itself. I would thoroughly recommend others to attend one of their Cult Film Club nights if the opportunity arises.

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Jameson Cult Film Club Screening – The Usual Suspects

Jameson Cult Film Club Screening - The Usual Suspects

Not too long ago GeekTown were invited to yet another infamous screening from the Jameson Cult Film Club in one of their more extraordinary choices of venues. We arrived at 6pm at Westminster pier where we were ferried onto a Thames Clippers which sped us on a beautifully scenic trip down river and through the sunset to a cordoned off dock opposite the 02 – which for what is effectively a giant expensive tent was a spectacular sight. An excited crowd unloaded into Trinity Buoy Wharf to find a green-lit replica of the corpse-littered crime scene at San Pedro Harbour from one of the slickest cult thrillers in movie history; The Usual Suspects.

A few of the crowd strayed (distracted by the salty, piping hot offerings of an all American, silver dining car outside) before descending into the basement bar for complimentary Jameson cocktails. On the way we stumbled across a complete criminal line-up of the film’s cast mimicking the infamous movie poster and were even given the opportunity to pose with the suspects. Needless to say, after a few whiskeys and a run-in with the cops the audience were buzzing with anticipation as they took their seats around the corner from the bar in a cavernous warehouse building.

A careful tableaux of detective Dave Kujan’s note-littered desk had been erected front and centre, an admirable touch but unfortunately due to a stupefyingly long delay by the time this painstakingly rehearsed scene finally came to life the audience were distinctly non-plussed. Even with the help of a fresh from the line-up Keaton and the Verbal’s shuffling doppelganger the reenactments dragged and I personally was a little put out by the filching of my favourite dialogue from the film about Kaiser Soze’s infamous rise to power, partly because my guest was a Usual Suspects virgin as well as the fact that out of context this scene lost a lot of it’s gravity and only added to our collective impatience. Saying that, the event overall was well-executed and the movie as timelessly engrossing as ever. Kudos are owed to the Jameson Cult Film Club for a magnificent effort despite some poor organization.

For more information on tickets and events check out the Jameson Cult Film Club website!

Review: Cowboys and Aliens

Cowboys and Aliens (Ford & Craig)

Sitting in my impro class last Friday, the teacher commented that sci-fi and horror are the movie genres most frequently made, and the fact that if your a hot girl, you will gain male fans who will watch you in anything. At the time of writing, Olivia Wilde (Ella Swenson) and her cat-like eyes are ranked #3 on imdb’s starmeter.

With sci-fi & the western both being genres which dominate our collective interests, it’s surprising no one has done it (this directly anyway!) before. Sure, you can argue Star Wars is a space western, but there are few movies that have genuine wild west cowboys on Earth battling aliens.

Cowboys and Aliens opens with Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig alone outside a town with the cheesy name Absolution, not knowing who he is or how he got there. For the next two hours, the audience is taken on a ride through an invasion of aliens in the Wild West to discover his identity. In keeping with our 21st century need for instant action and gratification, director Jon Favereau installs the first fight scene 2 minutes into the movie. Favereau then keeps the action going with multiple sources of danger lurking all around Absolution, not the least of which from local wealthy rancher Woodrow Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford and his son Percy (Paul Dano).

The script does a good job of meshing these two genres and creates a fun, entertaining experience. However, the concept for this movie screams for simple mindless fun and the writers should have left it at that. Unfortunately, about half way through, they decided the movie needed some depth and a message. Of course, what would a western be without Indians, but in this case, the script uses them to teach Lonergan a lesson about his past, which in turn gives him the information he needs to go on and fight against the aliens in order to save the earth. This is the classic Hollywood cliché of a person needing to go through great trials and suffering in order to triumph over self as well as external obstacles and dangers. My other issue with the script is that while Woodrow Dolarhyde is introduced as the town villain, even going so far as to tie one of his workers to two horses as he interrogates him, Dolarhyde’s conversion to ‘the good side’ happens so quickly that it is not believable.

The film, however, is superbly cast and Favereau elicits excellent performances from his actors, including the young and adorable Noah Ringer. And by putting Indiana Jones and James Bond together in a film loaded with action, how can you miss? Especially since they are hot. And guys, you will definitely ‘appreciate’ Olivia Wilde. SPOILER ALERT: In one scene, she is wearing very few clothes. You might want to wear a bib. Just saying…

6/10 Looses points for it’s cheesy attempt at a deeper meaning.

Review: Super 8

Super 8 - Ryan Lee, Joel Courtney, Gabriel Basso and Riley Griffiths

After witnessing a mysterious train crash, a group of friends in the summer of 1979 begin noticing strange happenings going around in their small town, and begin to investigate into the creepy phenomenon…

As Super 8 opens on a dark factory set, the camera zooms in on a worker changing the numbers on a “Days without an accident” sign back to 1. Director J.J. Abrams then cuts to the Lamb house and 13 year-old Joe Lamb (played by 15 year-old new-comer Joel Courtney) alone outside on a swing in the snow, while the reception after his mother’s funeral takes place inside his house. Suddenly, a scruffy man, whom we later discover is Louis Dainard (Ron Eldard), approaches the house and he and Joe stare each other down. Through these initial short scenes, Abrams, in the style of 1970s and 80s Steven Spielberg (also a producer on the film), deftly establishes a lonely, isolated mood, as well as underlying relationships and one layer of the conflict, all of which will carry the characters (and the plot) throughout the movie.

Abrams then cuts to what will become the main plot: five friends, led by Charles (played by Utah Shakespearean actor Riley Griffiths), who use their summer holiday to make a super 8 zombie movie for a film festival. Through the banter (again in Spielberg’s vein – this time The Goonies and E.T.) of Joe, Charles, Cary, an explosives enthusiast and expert (Ryan Lee), straight-laced Martin (Gabriel Bosso), and the more fearful Preston (Zach Mills), Abrams realistically digs into the nuances of their complex, quirky, but innocent adolescent male relationships. Add to the mix love interest Alice Dainard (Elle Fanning), tapped by Charles to play the wife in the zombie flick, and Abrams successfully completes a love triangle fueled by the innocence of a first teenage crush.

Super 8 - Elle Fanning

Throughout the movie, Abrams uses a sense of humour to accurately capture 1979 small town culture: from his references to a Soviet invasion and starving Africans, to a flash shot of Joe’s Pee Chee folder (a school girl’s/boy’s staple throughout 1980s America), to the creative use and significance of the town’s water tower. Abrams even manages to capture small town morals. In one scene, after being chased by the bad guys into someone’s empty house, Charles grabs a drink that happens to be on the counter. Cary, appalled, says, “You can’t do that! It’s not yours,” to which Charles responds, “I’m thirsty and I’m in the middle of a war zone.” Additionally, in his attention to small town America, Abrams continues to pay homage to producer Spielberg through the kids riding bikes through the town (ala E.T.), an external threat to the town (ala Jaws), the reaction of animals to the threat (very Spielberg) and a group of kids outsmarting adults and saving the day (most Spielberg films of the 1970s and 80s.) However, although Abrams pays such huge homage to Spielberg, he is brilliant in his own right and clearly knows and loves his genre.

Super 8 - Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney and Ryan Lee

While Super 8 is set in small town America and could not take place anywhere else without significant alterations to the script, it contains much to recommend it to a British audience. Moving camera shots not only keep the plot moving, but also give the audience a feeling of events moving too fast and spiraling out of control. Action scenes follow all sentimental scenes, which also keeps the story going and the audience on the edge of its seat. In addition, the film focuses on both plot and character relationships, which build universal themes, such as teenagers will rebel and live to talk about it, greed and ambition cause destruction, and forgiveness enables healing: themes which transcend all cultures. While the special effects are impressive, they serve the story, rather than the story existing to serve the special effects (ala any Michael Bay movie). Finally, the cast could not have been better. Elle Fanning proves herself every bit as talented as her more famous older sister, Riley Griffiths’ experience with difficult, mature Shakespearean material comes through in his ability to handle the experiences and nuances of his character, and Joel Courtney is simply phenomenal as Joe Lamb: a 13 year-old who must deal with the death of his beloved mother and who feels alienated from his father. Like Elliot in E.T., Joe serves as the emotional driving force in Super 8. Much was made in America about this being his first acting gig. However, he had to audition for the role eleven times and compete with more experienced actors. In the end, his empathy and depth more then hold their own amongst his more experienced cast-mates.

I whole-heartedly recommend this movie, giving it 2 thumbs up, 5 stars, and 0 tomatoes. This movie is a must see for all fans of JJ Abrams or Steven Spielberg, as well as anyone who loves sci-fi or a character- or plot- driven movie; or anyone who made movies as a kid. Just make sure you stay for the credits. You’ll be glad you did.

Super 8 arrives in the UK, Friday 5th August 2011

9/10 – A must see movie! 2 thumbs up, 5 stars, and 0 tomatoes.

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Review: James Gunn’s Super

Super - Out on Blu-ray and DVD on 1st August 2011

Super is the latest film from Troma alumni James Gunn, and it follows the story of Frank D’Arbo (played by The US Office’s Rainn Wilson). Frank is a pretty normal guy – he’s got a house, a crappy job, a belief in God, and a recovering drug addict wife Sarah (played by Liv Tyler). Is he happy? No, not really… but he’s okay with that. It’s all ‘fine’ until the dastardly Jacques (Kevin Bacon in true weaselly evil form) turns up and steals Sarah away from him and gets her hooked back on the white stuff.

At this point Frank becomes somewhat unhinged and after a rather visceral vision from god (aided along by a great cameo from the ever watchable Nathon Fillion as The Holy Avenger), Frank decides to become The Crimson Bolt! Armed with only his trusty pipe wrench he’ll rid the city of scum, and get back his girl!

Super is the sort of low-budget independent film making that really brings writer/director Gunn back to his Troma roots. On the one hand it has an extremely dark tone with some very twisted sensibilities, on the other, some lighter comic moments. However, neither seem to gel particularly well and hit the darkly-comic target it seems to be aiming for.

Rainn Wilson is passable as the lead, but for me works much better once Ellen Page arrives as the rather neurotic Libby (aka Boltie). Not only does she give Wilson someone to bounce off, but also steal the movie from under him. Kevin Bacon turns in a nice balance of slimey evil mixed with a jittery deviousness as the villain of the piece, whilst Liv Tyler is perfectly fine during her extremely brief screen time.

I have been desperately trying to ignore the Kick-Ass shaped elephant in the room, but you really can’t review Super without some comparison to the aforementioned ‘reality superhero’ film. Gunn apparently had been working on a script for Super since 2002, but as Matthew Vaughn’s movie beat Super to the punch, it makes Gunn’s film look like an attempt to cash in, even though I know that’s not the case.

Overall Super is a strange, off-the-wall little film. Dark yes, but not quite comic enough to balance it out. Some good performances from Page and Bacon, and I can’t help but cheer any time Fillion pops up in a movie (he SO should have been Green Lantern). But the lack of cohesion in the direction and story lets it down. I really wanted to like this film, I just wish it had been a bit more… well… Super…

Super is out on Blu-ray and DVD on 1st August 2011

6/10 – An Off-the-wall B movie that very dark, but not so comic.

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