Netflix Pix #3

Hey everyone! Monday has come around again and I'm here to make your week better. It's time for this week’s Netflix Pix and since there isn't really anything to get excited about at the theaters this weekend I just went through and selected five movies that I simply have fun with. Summer is winding down and the weekend box office is cooling off so we all need some good movies to tide us over until the awards season comes around. So kick back this week and open up your Netflix queue because these five flicks are all streaming and more than worth your time.

1. Charlie Bartlett (2007) Directed By: Jon Poll

Anton Yelchin and Robert Downey Jr. star in this oddball coming-of-age story that centers on an eccentric high school student and his relationship with the principal's daughter. This movie has popped on and off of Netflix for the past few years and I have gone back to it multiple time. Offering a new take on the coming-of-age story, Charlie Bartlett isn't your average high school story. When he finds himself with access to a large amount of prescription drugs he winds up becoming the make-shift psychiatrist to his trouble classmates. Offering sessions in the boy’s bathroom he deals out scripts on his own diagnosis in a weird sort of teenage underworld. This is a film that takes a real look at the mentality of youth today, through the bathroom sessions we get a look into the real problems kids in high school face today. This film does an incredible job at showing the changing of the times and the rise of the next generation, and their problems. Anton Yelchin, Kat Dennings, and Robert Downey Jr. headline the cast and all put in wonderful performances making this a film worth checking out.

2. Heathers (1988) Directed By: Michael Lehmann

Keeping with the high school theme, Heathers is the perfect 80's teenage comedy. A clear inspiration for the modern classic Mean Girls, this film centers on an outcast high school girl named Veronica (Winona Ryder). All she wants is to fit in and to do so she gets close with a group of girls known as the "Heathers". This is because they are all named Heather and much like the girls in Mean Girls, they run the school. Upon befriending these girls she quickly finds out that they are terrible people and she wants nothing more to do with them. Before she can break the friendship however she meets a cute boy (Christian Slater) and he convinces her to use their relationship to enact some serious revenge. This is Winona Ryder in her prime, right around the time of Beetlejuice and her chemistry with Slater makes the film. It is completely eighties in the best way right down to the ridiculous plot twist that arises midway through the film, this is a must-see.

3. Explorers (1985) Directed By: Joe Dante

I am a bit of a sucker for a good coming-of-age story, even more so when you blend it with other genres. Explorers is a film that does just that, mixing a clever science fiction story into a classic tale of coming-of-age. Starring Ethan Hawke and River Phoenix in their first performances and directed by Joe Dante (Gremlins) this flick isn't afraid to get silly. When young Ben Crandell (Hawke) has repeating dreams of a mysterious blueprint he decides to draw them down and send them on to him super genius, inventor friend (imagine a 1980's Jimmy Neutron). Wolfgang (River Phoenix) is almost too smart for school so when he receives the plans he is more than happy to ditch school and figure them out. It doesn't take him very long and once it is built they realize they have just broken the puzzle to interstellar travel. Now him and his two friends decide to try and build their own spacecraft and become the first children in space.

4. WarGames (1983) Directed By: John Badham

This is proof that even when a film has dated technology and concepts that it can still be enjoyed decades later. Keeping it in the eighties, WarGames stars a young pre-Ferris Bueller's Matthew Broderick and a pre-Breakfast Club Ally Sheedy. David (Broderick) is a young high school student with an affinity for computers in a time before they were common household items. He loves to sit behind the keyboard and hack into whatever he can, doesn't matter what it is, he just likes to cause problems. When he unknowingly finds a back door into a military computer he sets in motion the biggest conflict he and the world have ever seen. His actions may potentially start World War III and he is now one of the only people who can potentially stop it. This film is littered with dated technology and concepts but it doesn't detract from the movie as a whole at all. Broderick and Sheedy have fantastic chemistry and their performances keep this movie from falling to its dated story.

5. I Know That Voice (2013) Directed By: Lawrence Shapiro

For the final film I wanted to highlight a documentary, Netflix is a wonderful place to find the best of these and this is easily one of my favorites. Animation is becoming one of the most successful sources of television comedy and since the beginning it has all been hinged on the voice acting involved. This documentary explores that world and the people who have been doing it since the beginning. Featuring interviews with John DiMaggio (Bender from Futurama), Kevin Conroy (the voice of Batman), Hank Azaria (The Simpsons), and countless more this documentary will make you appreciate the hell out of what they do. You get to see how much work it really is for these people and how much talent is really behind the voices of our favorite characters.  I have an absolute blast watching this and have gone back to revisit it multiple times. If you are at all interested in the world of voice acting this is a must watch as it will give you a whole new appreciation for the craft.

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

American Ultra (Review)

American Ultra (2015)

Action, Comedy

Directed By: Nima Nourizadeh

If there is one kind of movie that has been missing from modern releases it’s the wacky hard R action flick. Something we saw quite often in the eighties and early nineties with such films as Escape From New York and The Warriors, we rarely get to see films of this nature anymore. The out of this world, insane, hard R action movie has somewhat died out in recent years but the new film American Ultra aims to bring it back. Written by the eccentric and wonderfully zany Max Landis (Chronicle) and directed by Nima Nourizadeh (Project X) this film is everything you could want out of an eighties action movie, brought into modern times and with modern sensibilities.

Mike Howell (Jesse Eisenberg) is a quiet stoner that keeps mostly to himself living in West Virginia with his amazing girlfriend Phoebe (Kristen Stewart). The two have a seemingly great relationship, except when Mike suffers from his unexplainable extreme anxiety, keeping them from ever taking vacations or even leaving their town. We quickly find out that he was once a subject of government testing and is in fact a highly trained agent of the CIA, though he has no idea of this himself. When the order is sent out to terminate him the one person who can do anything about it quickly moves to activate the dormant asset. Now Mike must use the training he never knew he had to save his own life as a swarm of government assassins descend on his small West Virginia town.

On the surface American Ultra may seem like a by-the-books stoner action/comedy but once you really dig into it the film becomes so much more. I love what Max Landis is able to do as a writer, he is finding a way to add a true human element to his fantastical stories. He did it incredibly with Dane DeHaan's character in Chronicle and his abusive home life and now he has done it with Ultra. Once you boil away all of the jokes and action set pieces this movie is a story of true love, and a pretty damn good one at that. Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart strike incredible chemistry again (see them in Adventureland, I think it is wonderful) and the two really suck you into the passion their two characters feel for each other.

That being said, the action and the comedy in this movie are pretty fantastic. They don't waste much time in the beginning before moving right into the excitement. It takes roughly fifteen minutes before we get to see Howell in action for the first time, and it is great. He has the ability to kill just about anyone who comes after him, yet he has no idea HOW he can do this. This dynamic makes just about every action set piece entirely unique. His reactions to the things he has done adds a different level of emotion that we don't typically get to see in these particular movies and Eisenberg sells it perfectly.

The film doesn't miss a comedic beat and with a great script and good acting this is one that I feel will be remembered well with time. Kristen Stewart is actually a big source of laughs throughout the movie as she is basically us as we are watching this ridiculous stoner somehow mutilate and kill dozens of trained government agents. She is the voice of reason and she almost bluntly says what we are all thinking. Eisenberg may be the lead but I felt this movie hinged on her performance and she was as good as she has ever been, all of the emotion I felt watching this came directly from her and her relationship with Eisenberg's character. It would also be criminal not to mention John Leguizamo who has a small role as their drug dealer and ends up taking some of the biggest laughs of the movie.

With support from other familiar faces like Connie Britton and Topher Grace as well as the cameo of the year at the end of the film this is an all-around fun movie. It has an out-of-the-box idea, that is actually rooted in truth (google the MKUltra program) and is executed in such a way that we haven't seen done before. After seeing this I am now on board for anything Max Landis writes, he is creating completely original ideas in worlds we already know and it is fantastic. If you are looking for something completely different than anything else you have seen this year go check out this movie, I have a feeling a lot of you will feel the same way I do about it.

 

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

Cop Car (Review)

Cop Car (2015)

Thriller

Directed By: Jon Watts

Some of the best kinds of movies are the ones that can tell a big story within a small scale. A handful of actors, a couple different locations and a good script is all you need sometimes to tell a story that is larger than life. We saw it more than once this year already with Ex Machina and The Gift, both of which tell large scale stories within a claustrophobic setting. The new film Cop Car from up and coming director Jon Watts uses an intelligent script and an impressive group of actors to create a story that is far grander than it would have you believe.

The film opens in rural Colorado as we focus in on two young boys (James Freedson-Jackson and Hays Wellford), roughly ten years old, wandering through the countryside. We quickly find out that the two have just recently run away from home with nothing more than a Slim Jim to their names. They make it just over fifty miles from home before wandering upon an abandoned cop car hidden in a small tree line. After investigating the area and deeming the owner of the vehicle is not coming back anytime soon, the two find their ways into the car only to find the keys tucked up in the mirror. Despite having no knowledge of how to drive or operate the thing they decide to take it out for a little joy ride anyways, in their eyes this is their car now. James Freedson-Jackson and Hays Wellford are quite impressive as the two kids and you really feel their ignorance to the real world through them.

The car hasn't been abandoned however and the owner of the car, who we discover has been partaking in some shady activity while away from his vehicle, makes it clear he will do just about anything to get it back. This Sheriff (Kevin Bacon) must now undergo a cat-and-mouse chase with these kids before anyone at his station finds out his car has been stolen and his secrets are uncovered. This is a high intensity thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Jon Watts clearly has a talent for creating tension as more than a few scenes made me anxious to the point that I was nearly shaking.

I found a surprising amount of social commentary scattered throughout this film. Aside from the obvious trope of a cop abusing his power, something as prevalent today as it ever was, Jon Watts makes a rather blunt point about the dangers and ignorance surrounding guns. The way he has the kids handling them without any knowledge of how they work was almost chilling, you feared for their lives every time they handled a gun. It was clear that this film wanted to draw attention to some of the major issues we are having today and get you thinking about them.

Cop Car will make you do just that, think. Jon Watts purposefully leaves things unexplained or unattended to in order to keep your mind wondering what it all means. Even when the film ends you will find your head swirling with questions and ideas as to what exactly was going on. Much like in the world today, whenever we hear of an officer unlawfully killing someone we sit around and take the limited information we are given and try to form what actually happened. It’s a he said/she said world and we have to decide for ourselves how to interpret it and this film mimics that incredibly well.

As with any small scale movie like this, much of the film hinges on the writing and the acting. Jon watts and Christopher D. Ford brought together an intelligent script that stands true to the world today and filled the roles with perfect casting. Kevin Bacon is absolutely menacing as the power abusing Sheriff giving as good a performance as ever and with it building much of the tension and suspense of the film. Shea Whigham also has a small role and lights up the screen whenever he appears, he is always a fantastic character actor to add to a film and his presence is treat in the final act. Camryn Manheim rounds out the small cast as the voice of reason, the concerned citizen who witnesses the boys driving and her character is great for some comic relief.

With Watts now tapped to direct the next Spider-Man standalone this film had some big eyes on it. We all were wondering if he would have the chops for something much larger and after seeing this I'd say he's got tons of potential. Within such a small film he creates huge tension and suspense and pulls incredible performances from all of his actors. After a summer full of $100 million dollar action movies this felt quite refreshing. Talented storytelling and good direction make this a film worth seeing. I can't wait to see what happens when you give this guy a big budget and a franchise.

 

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

Netflix Pix #2

Hey Everybody! It's the start of a new week and in turn time for another Netflix Pix. This week there are a few major releases coming out, but there is one particular sequel I am quite excited for. The follow up to the 2012 horror flick Sinister hits theaters this weekend and it looks to be a solid follow up to the surprisingly scary original. In honor of such my list this week is composed entirely of horror movies currently streaming. Netflix is a gold mine for horror fans as they always have countless fantastic genre films streaming at any given time. The five flicks I have selected below don't follow any specific theme, they are just quality horror movies.

1. Resolution (2012) Directed By: Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead

Remember the names of Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, these are two filmmakers who are currently making a name for themselves in the horror world as some of the most innovative and intelligent story tellers. This year’s new film Spring was a beautiful display of fussing horror and romance, and all around is one of the most well made films of the year so far. Before filming that however the pair created a genius little indie horror film called Resolution.

Boasting a simplistic plot and intelligent writing the film centers on a Michael (Peter Cilella) and his meth addicted friend Chris (Vinny Curran). Michael has decided that the long time drug addiction his best friend has had has become far too serious. He decides to take Chris out to an abandoned cabin in the woods, tie him to the wall, and force him to get clean. He tells him if he can survive the week and get his body clean of the drugs he will let him go free and decide from there what he wants to do with his life. Unfortunately for them this won't be as simple as Michael hoped as the cabin doesn't belong to the people he believed it to and the land they are on seems to have some mystery around it. To put it frankly, when mysterious things begin happening the two realize shaking a drug habit may be the least of their worries.

2. eXistenZ (1999) Directed By: David Cronenberg

Cronenberg has certainly made a name for himself in the horror genre. With films like The Fly remake and Videodrome he has secured a place in the history of the genre. People tend to overlook one of his later films however, as it got lost in the mix being released the same year as The Matrix. eXistenZ is a cerebral horror/thriller that plays with the idea of virtual reality and the illusions of false reality it could create. It has a similar idea to The Matrix so it has been sort of lost in the shuffle as this film doesn't use insane CG or action set pieces to mystify the viewer. In true Cronenberg form this film utilizes incredible practical effects to make a film that is rooted in the future but feels like a blast from the past.

When a game designer (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is set on the run from a group of assassins trying to steal her work she must enter her new virtual reality game to make sure it hasn't been damaged. There is a hitch though, she is forced to take with her into the VR an untrained rookie (Jude Law) who could potentially ruin her whole mission.  As they move through the game with their lives at risk the line between reality and virtual reality becomes blurry and with it, their sanity begins to slip. Any Cronenberg fans who haven't seen this one should consider it a must watch.

3. American Mary (2012) Directed By: Jen & Sylvia Soska

This may sound like an odd thing to say, especially considering the subject matter of the film but, American Mary is quite possibly the sexiest horror film I have ever seen. Katharine Isabelle (Freddy vs. Jason) stars in the title role and is stunningly beautiful, even when she is brutally mutilating people. The film is simple, Mary is a young, aspiring medical student with dreams of being an incredible surgeon. When debt begins to consume her she finds herself being pulled into the world of underground surgeries. She ends up doing illegal plastic surgeries for all sorts of wacky characters as well as some more sadistic procedures as well. It doesn't take long for the life to begin to change her and by the end of the movie the beautiful, seemingly innocent Mary is anything but. Not only is this a wonderfully gory horror flick but it is also a small peek into a crazy underworld that actually exists (not saying it exists in this manner but to some extent it does).

4. Bad Milo! (2013) Directed By: Jacob Vaughan

I had to sneak at least on horror comedy on here and what better one than Bad Milo! Starring the hilarious Ken Marino alongside the wonderful Gillian Jacobs (Community) this is one of the wackiest films I have ever seen. Duncan (Ken Marino) and Sarah (Gillian Jacobs) are a happy couple living their normal, happy suburban life. That is until Duncan contracts what he thinks is a mysterious parasite, but is actually a small demon that lives inside his intestines. You read that right, he has a demon parasite living in his bowels, and even better, the butt parasite emerges each night while he sleeps to take revenge on all of Duncan's worst enemies. The two must learn to live with their new friend and try to find a way to keep him under control as he begins murdering people all over town while they sleep. This is an absolutely bonkers flick and an all-around good time. It’s funny as all hell and the little creature Milo is fairly creepy. I consider this a must watch for all genre fans as it is a raucous good time and something unlike anything you have seen before.

5. Frankenstein's Army (2013) Directed By: Richard Raaphorst

Last but definitely not least is Frankenstein's Army, a crazy little found-footage flick set during WWII. The film follows a group of Russian soldiers who have been pushing into East Germany at the end of the war. They think their war is coming to a close and the worst is behind them until they stumble upon a top secret Nazi experiment. Within the lab they find a mad scientist working from the old journal of Dr. Victor Frankenstein to create indescribable monsters to use as weapons of war. Their mission now is not to take East Germany but to clear out this madman's lab and do what they can to survive. He has countless creatures throughout his laboratory and he plans to use each and every one of them if he has to. The film is absolutely insane and just a blast to watch as each creature created by the scientist is more ridiculous and crazy than the last. Incredible make-up and set design make this a unique period piece horror. I'd definitely recommend this to any found-footage or monster movie fans out there, I think it will surprise you.

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Review)

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)

Action, Adventure, Comedy

Directed By: Guy Ritchie

In a year so crowded with movies of espionage and gadgetry to make your particular film stand out you need to do something different, something special. Paul Feig's Spy went hard on the comedy, M:I 5 went for the crazy action stunts, and Kingsman went for the old school toys and high octane action, so what could U.N.C.L.E. do to impress? It has fun, to put it simply. Guy Ritchie's latest film, working as an adaptation of the classic T.V. show, takes us on a trip back in time to when everything didn't have to be so serious.

Solo (Henry Cavill) is the CIA's most esteemed agent currently on a mission to track down a terrorist organization attempting to create their own nuclear weapons. After a botched mission due to interference from the Russians he finds himself teamed up with the very man who made his last mission a royal pain in his ass. Illya (Armie Hammer) is the KGB's most lethal asset with quite the temper. When the two are tasked to work a mission together they never take each other well. While working with the daughter of a missing scientist (Alicia Vikander) the two constantly but heads in an attempt to complete the mission themselves, without help from their unwanted new partner. These two deadly assassins, coming from polar opposite worlds, must set aside their differences in order to save the world from nuclear holocaust.

I have been excited for this project since I first heard about it simply because Guy Ritchie wrote and directed it, and I love almost everything else he has done. Even so, I was still wondering how a movie like this could stand out in a summer like this. Ritchie didn't fail me as this movie is a total blast from start to finish. Never wasting too much time with the small details and nitty gritty this film moves fast to get you into the relationship between our core three characters. Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer strike fantastic chemistry and even though Armie's accent is a tad cheesy, it never takes you out of the film. The addition of Alicia Vikander adds a ton of charm and wit to the cast as well as she puts in another amazing performance (see Ex Machina from earlier this year). Hugh Grant is also solid in his role but I felt he was criminally underused, hopefully he has a bigger role if a sequel ever comes around.

What is most impressive with this film however, is the style. From the art direction and costumes to the cinematography, this film is absolutely gorgeous to look at. You actually feel like you are taken back into the Cold War era and it adds so much to the film. This is all due to amazing costume design and set direction and when mixed with the incredible camera work in this film it makes for a gorgeous visual treat. The action scenes are also done in a way we haven't really seen before and it adds a whole level of originality that was much needed. Ritchie was never afraid to take the camera out of the immediate action to focus on another point of view and this makes for some highly entertaining and fresh action sequences.

What ultimately makes this movie though is the charm, wit, and self-awareness. The movie never takes itself too seriously and uses that to have fun. It knows it is a movie made from a classic 60's television program and it wants you to know that as well. It has the feel of all the classic bond movies while adding its own flavor to be something completely different. In a time where movies have become so serious and dark U.N.C.L.E. aims to simply entertain us. Even in the darkest moments of the movie it will make you crack a smile or have a good laugh rather than make you uncomfortable. With spy movies changing so much in the last few years it is nice to see one film content on being from the past and embodying everything that made us all fall in love with the genre to begin with.

I wouldn't call this one of the best of the summer, or even the best spy movie but it is a great time at the theater and a wonderful capper to an incredible summer of movies. Henry Cavill shows some serious acting brass, something we don't get enough of from him in Man of Steel and Armie Hammer gives his best performance I have seen to date. Alicia Vikander is a rising superstar and after seeing her in Ex Machina and now this I can only hope she begins popping up in everything. If you are looking for something to see this weekend that feels a little different from everything we have seen this summer give The Man from U.N.C.L.E. a shot, it may impress you a lot more than you think.

 

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

John Lasseter Talks Toy Story 4

Today kicks off the bi-annual convention held by Disney called the D23 Expo. This is where the powerhouse studio shows off all of their properties and future projects to the world. With the acquisitions of both Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm in the past few years the excitement for this event has grown exponentially with die-hard fans now looking here for more big ticket information. However, the first piece of big news coming out of the convention has nothing to do with either the MCU or Star Wars but with a well known Pixar property. While conducting and interview with CNBC today Pixar's John Lasseter dropped some key info on the in-development Toy Story 4.

When news broke a few months ago that Pixar would in fact be doing a fourth installment in the tent-pole franchise fan reaction was luke-warm. It's not that anyone felt the series had nothing more to tell but that the original trilogy we currently have works perfectly as a whole and nothing else is needed. Well, they said it would be a big change from those three movies and many took that as meaning we may see the torch passed on to a new group of lively children's toys. Rumors can be put to rest as Lasseter has confirmed that not only will our classic characters be returning, but two of them would be the main focus of an animated love story. That's right, as per John Lasseter Toy Story 4 will be a romantic comedy of sorts revolving around Woody and Little Bo-peep.

Look, I am never one to question Pixar or to accuse them of going for an easy cash grab (though you can make a damn good case for Cars 2) but this seems a little, I don't know, odd? The Woody/Bo-peep love story has been present through all three films, but as a small side story good for a few throw away jokes. Its seems like a weird choice to focus in on this rather than maybe introducing a new cast of toys and passing the torch onto a new generation. That's not to say they can't or won't still do this but it felt like thw right choice to leave Buzz and Woody with their trilogy.

This does have potential to be great, don't get me wrong. If done right this could be an incredibly intelligent movie that could break a lot of Hollywood stereotypes surrounding traditional couples. They could use this movie to teach a whole new generation the right away to approach love and life. They could also turn it into a by-the-books generic love story that teaches nothing new and instead further pushes the crap we see constantly around Hollywood romances. This is Pixar though and I highly doubt the latter would happen I just feel this is and interesting direction to go and I'd love to hear what you guys think. Do you like the idea of a Woody/Bo-peep love story? Would you rather see a new crew of toys be introduced? Let me know in the comments below or hit me up on twitter @ZachWWMovies. Smell ya later!