Change Your Image
metalrules31
Reviews
Anvil: The Story of Anvil (2008)
The Best Music Movie Since Spinal Tap
There is a saying in Spanish which goes "de músico poeta y loco, todos tenemos un poco" (of musician, poet and crazy, we all have a bit). It doesn't matter how many times you've heard your mother say this, however if you come up to them and tell them you've chosen to make your life out of music, they'll probably ask you if you wish to starve to death. And sadly, so it is, there are two sides to this really complex lens, only most of the times we only hear about the successful image selling rock star, with thousands of albums sold under his belt. Although recognized by some big figures of the heavy metal genre, Anvil falls on the second group. A second group where guys start young and the same level as their peers, sometimes they happen to be more lucky than some and enjoy their Warholian minutes of fame, but fail to capitalize on the level Metallica or Slayer have so well done, and finally end up giving up on their dream. Here exactly, is where Anvil so much differs.
I bet you can't even picture James Hetfield driving the vegetable van in order to bring bread to his family table, or can you even think when was the last time Metallica had to worry about their concert attendance to one of their shows? Already on their fifties, Anvil have been around producing albums for more than 20 years, without any major breakthrough. This long and productive career couldn't have worked without the friendship shared by singer Lips and drummer Robb, they have just refused to give up, and here is where the director, finds his reason to tell their story. A story which starts with their messy Europpean tour, the recording of their 13th album and its *SPOILER WARNING* Spinal Tap-esquire final. A final which gives us the final excuse into an unavoidable comparison to the classic fake band from the 1984 rockumentary. The director is a fan though, and he really doesn't want to make fun of the band, however he did wisely in not cutting some hilarious footage with which you can't help but smile and laugh, like when the band goes through playing a German gig for four people, keep having transportation problems, or having the lead singer working as a phone seller, in order to collect enough money to finance their next effort.
This movie is a lesson on human perseverance and friendship, and it's really entertaining, making it the best music movie since Spinal Tap, it is these qualities which makes this movie an enjoyable experience even if you're not really into heavy metal music. I had not heard about Anvil before, but this is exactly the audience to whom it is aimed, and when the movie ends, you will not be able to not feel sympathy for the band, wish for their success and feel happy that this movie can give the band the honor they haven't accomplished on 13 albums.
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
This is the Stuff of Which Dreams are Made of
Just by reading the name, you can't help but become interested in this movie. Both words awake a feeling of intrigue within us. Malta is such a little known country for most of us, and the falcon is such a grand animal, that we just rub our hands in expectations, and even more nowadays, since back then, both Boggart, and debuting director John Huston were mostly unknown.
By the end of the movie, Spade (Boggart) will not be the only name you'll remember, because event though he dominates the screen by just being there, it is this wonderful portrayal of a detective which remains in our memories, and which has served as a role model for all detective characters after him. The rest of the cast is also perfectly chosen, specially by the newcomer screen actor Sydney Greenstreet, who plays Kasper Gutman, the fat guy, and another role model for villains in movies from James Bond to Mission Impossible. Cairo, portrayed by Peter Lorre, fits perfectly on his role, having that aura of queerness and ambition for the valuable artifact, and of course Mary Astor, even though her romance with Spade is not completely believable. The real magic of the cast relies on the chemistry all this actors share on screen, specially on the final scene.
John Huston portrays for the first time on his career what greed can lead people to do and makes us cheer up for the Boggart character, whom even though is not an entirely politically correct character, still manages to appear heroic in our eyes.
Hollywood might be very different if this movie didn't exist.
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
Discover the Treasure of Sierra Madre
I can't recall exactly where on on which movie I had heard a reference about The Treasure of Sierra Madre, which I thought had spoiled the movie for me. That was months ago, when I was back home in Honduras, now I'm a year in Finland and I'm enjoying the selection of movies at the local library. And the best? Rent's all for free!
At first I had trouble with translations and checking for subtitles, but then I found this movie and didn't doubt in taking it. The Treasure of Sierra Madre tells us the story of two American beggars living in a Mexican city, and how they embark in an adventure in search of gold, where they find the wilderness, bandits, an uninvited guest and the terrible greed for gold, which is the movie's main theme.
How can human economy be based on something which is not even edible? Gold is useless, but for what it means in our society, it can turn people crazy. As the movie unfolds we watch how the usually heroic Boggart succumbs to his own greed, in contrast to Curtin and the old man.
Casting and performances are terrific. Boggart is on his best shape and Tim Holt is on the same level, as well as the Academy Award performance Walter Huston, whose son also won two very well deserved Oscars, for the movie keeps you thrilled throughout its running time and the location filming at Mexico, was a great choice. The town scenes are very tasty and give us the American view of Mexico on the late 1940s, which tends to be stereotypical but portraying both the bandit Zapatist revolutionary and the common good faithed village people.
The Treasure of Sierra MAdre is definitely a treasure you should find, in case you haven't discovered it yet.
High Fidelity (2000)
Not exactly a review, but a personal statement
I've always enjoyed a good musical movie, since it mixes my two favorite hobbies; that is, well, music & movies. Having heard two quotes on this movie the same week, I decided to rent it. Apart from these reasons, this movie also happens to star an actor whose work I have gotten interested since watching "Been John Malkovich", John Cusack.
But this is not a musical movie; this is a romantic comedy which just happens to feature a main character who owns a record store, the store opposing poles clerks and the independent artist Marie de la Salle.
I'm not going to put myself as a victim, but life has treated me so bad, I'm unable to fully enjoy a romantic film. Whether its Titanic, The Notebook or As Good as it Gets, it just doesn't make me feel right to watch one of these movies all alone. So unless you have a partner with whom to watch it or are not as tragic as me when it comes to loneliness, you might just enjoy this movie.
That is exactly why, I can't say I fully enjoyed this film, but I'll still rated with 7/10; plus the musical environment does help, so if you and your partner have a musical background, the movie will become exponentially better.
Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
Monument to the Unknown Soldiers
I often complain how many war movies are out there. Many of them have not manage to be kept in memory, and the ones that have, are mainly about Vietnam. Full Metal Jacket, Apocalypse Now and Platoon are all set in Vietnam, so this was the first time I was going to watch a movie set on WWII.
Flags of Our Fathers is Clint Eastwood's view of this war, and the special episode of the island of Iwo Jima, from the point of view of American Soldiers. Soldiers who had to live their lives behind in order to fight for their country.
"Heroes are the ones who died there", say the returned soldiers from the picture of the movie poster, picture which has been taken by the government in order to finance the war. This movie does not only bring us the suffering and things soldiers have to deal with when they find themselves away from home, but also that what happens when they returned, is not always the way they had imagined it to be.
Great movie, and a good recommendation if this is in your war movies you haven't yet watch. I'm looking forward in seeing 2 Letters From Iwo Jima.
North Country (2005)
Brilliant Story of a Brave Woman
I live in a Central America country called Honduras. In here, as in any country around the world, there exists the idea of masculism, or the idea that men are superior to women. My father gives a course on which he advices men living in the rural area of the country that this idea taught to them since childhood is wrong.
A dynamic way to give the course is showing them a movie about the topic being dealt. This not only catches their attention, but it makes them relate situations and characters on the movie with some in real life, in order to find solutions to these problems. Director Niki Caro has proved to be a good storyteller on this field. 2002 "Whale Rider" gave us a more family aimed fantasy film, but this time, Caro takes a real life story about the sexual harassment women working on an iron mine had to live through. The story centers on Academy Award nominated character Josey Aimes, played by Charlize Theron. Josey's situation is quite more serious since she is the new meat on the mine, and also has to deal with problems in her family, specially with her teenage son, who dislikes the idea of Josey's new boyfriend. Josey plans suing the company for negligence, but her co-workers fear what will be their outcome if they lose the trial, and neglect to support her on her mission to establish reasonable working conditions on the mine. The movie keeps your attention throughout its whole running time, giving a story of how one woman can stand against the whole society we live in.
Being John Malkovich (1999)
Probably the most original film of the last years
Been John Malkovich catches your attention since the moment you read its title. It is a strange title for a movie, and even more when you, like the characters in the movie, have heard the name of the actor but are not able to name any of his movies. If you consider the title to be kind of original, wait until you read the plot. Craig Schwarz (John Cusack) is a failed street puppeteer, married to Lotte (Cameron Diaz, Yes its her!!) , an animal loving woman.
Craig realizes he cannot make a living out of his work and decides to look for a job, as a filer. The peculiarity of this office is it is located on the floor seven and a half. Here he meets his boss, and Maxine (Catherine Keener), the latter with whom he happens to fall in love, but is not corresponded. Things start getting even weirder (at least for us, since the characters seem to take it lightly) when Craig discovers a secret door that leads into John Malkovich's head, lets you live through his point of view and then throws you out to a road outside of Jersey. Craig is amazed by his experience and decides to set up an after work business, where people pay $200 for being John Malkovich. Maxine becomes his business partner, but is also having plans of her won. This is an amazing movie for me to spoil since it shows you scenarios you would have never thought about, without leaving you confused at what is happening.
The movie's main attraction is its originality, since I can't think of a similar movie (maybe Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, by the same screen player), plus its cast is really good and it gives you the chance to know and watch a little about an untypical form of art like puppetry.
25th Hour (2002)
Great but not Essential
Im not really aware about the US judicial system, but it does cal my attention the fact a drug dealer already found guilty of his crime is left with some additional days of freedom. I had previously watched "American History X" and loved it, therefore "25th Hour" was recommended to me. Not only because both of them feature great performances by Edward Norton, whom by now has a place in the list of my favorite actors, but also because of the subject dealt. Both movies share the topic of crime, how a character is involved and how he regrets of his doings, when its already too late.
25th Hour introduces us to Monty (Norton), a drug dealer that even though has already been found guilty is left to turn himself to jail in the period of three days. Apart from the scary future destined to pretty boys in jail, as the own movies says, Monty needs to deal with the apparent fact that his girlfriend (Rosario Dawson) was the one who exposed him.
Apart from this main story, the movie enriches itself with the appearances of Monty's longtime friends, Jacob (Phillip Seymour-Hoffman) and Frank (Barry Pepper). Even though their relationships have deteriorated since Monty got into the business, he still acknowledges them as his best friends. Specially to note is Hoffman's character, who is a teacher whom has fallen in love with one of his students (Anna Paquin). The movie deals on how the friends blame themselves on not trying too hard to keep their friend off the wrong track and how her girlfriend stopped trying to help after enjoying the economical benefits the business meant. Even though the movie is slow-paced, it features good acting, good cinematography and great dialogs. The movie does have some flaws, like some unclear flashbacks, some loose ends and the slow pace which might bore someone who wasn't caught by the first half hour of the film. Its not an essential movie, but if you happen to intercept it on cable TV or it happens to be on your video rental, then, I would suggest you watch it.
Trainspotting (1996)
Choose Life, Choose Trainspotting
Whenever we meet someone new, or want to have a conversation with someone we don't know that much, we constantly rely on hobbies. People ask questions like "What do you do on your free time?" or "What is your favorite song?". But the toughest question to ask somebody is what their favorite movie is. A non-regular movie-goer might not have a bad time answering. A girl might go for The Notebook or Titanic, while a male might chose Lord of the Rings, Star Wars or any action flick. I personally have trouble deciding among Clockwork Orange or Pulp Fiction, but my favorite movie of all time must be Trainspotting. Trainspotting is a Scottish movie, based on a book by the same name and starting Ewan McGregor as Renton. Although he is the movie's main focus, we meet other characters who enrich the cinematic experience. Sickboy, Spud, Swanney, Tommy, Diane, and Begby. Most of these guys with a little problem, they're heroin addicts. Some try to quit and others join in the process. The movie clearly portrays all the risks and disadvantages of being involved in this world and the negative things it eventually leads to, but, at the same time, the characters never deny the satisfaction that this vice gives to them. "Take the best orgasm you've ever had... multiply it by a thousand, and you're still nowhere near it", Renton narrates at some point in the movie. The real reason why this is my favorite movie is simply because your average friend can watch it and know for certain that he has seen an excellent movie. He will not be confused by Pulp Fiction, or distressed by A Clockwork Orange. Certainly it is a movie you should see if you still haven't. It gets you glued to your sit until the fabulous ending. The soundtrack is also a highlight, featuring songs from artists such as Blur, Brian Eno, Pulp, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed and of course Underworld, with its memorable song, Born Slippy, all placed in perfect timing with the movie's screening. So next time you go to your video rental, "Choose Life", choose Trainspotting.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Blessed are the forgetful, for they get the better even of their blunders
How many times, have we as humans wished to forget someone. Maybe an uncorresponding love, a relative who has passed away or a long time girlfriend who is going to study outside the country. Maybe not a person, but a shameful situation, that time you made a fool on stage or when you just couldn't contain a gas any longer. Now imagine that by a medical treatment you would be able to forget, just like that. That is what happens to Joel's (Jim Carey) girlfriend Clementine (Kate Winslet).
When Joel finds out she has decided to forget him, he decides to undertake the same process in order to erase Clementine out of his mind.
Joel goes home and goes to sleep, the therapists then come in to apply the treatment. Joel will experience each of his memories involving Clementine in a reverse chronological order, from his last memory until the day he met her. Here we are transported into Joel's mind and at this point is were the expression "Don't know what you have until its gone" is applied. Joel finds out he does love CLementine and has now to try to stop a delete process which is no longer under his control.
Both of the main performances are genius. Carey proves he can act just as well in a more serious movie. Kate Winslet character is just amazing, I instantly fell in love with her. There is also a side story involving the therapists Kirsnt Dursnt, Elijah Wood, Mark Ruffalo and Tom Wilkinson, which deals on the ethical view of doctors, patients and the treatments they use. Michael Gondry's direction is also five stars, with amazing landscape and screenplay. He has proved to be something else than a good music video director. Finally I would like to say this is the type of movie you will enjoy better if your significant other is by your side. Sometimes few bad moments make us forget the great ones we have spent.
Léon (1994)
A Genre Breaking Movie
This movie uses a technique, which although is constantly used in Hollywood, it is set fresh on this movie.
Two main characters; whom couldn't be more different from one another. Leon, a professional hit-man who finds peace on his apartment with his pet plant. On the other hand, we've got Mathilda, a young girl who lives trapped inside her own house, with her non-caring parents and sister, finding her only consolation in her younger brother.
Trouble starts when Mathilda goes out to buy groceries. While she goes out, a group of drug-dealers make a visit to Mathilda's dad, also a dealer, to find out he has being stealing some of the merchandise. This results in the dealers killing everyone in the house. Mathilda returns, tries to ignore the mess and knocks on Leon's door. He lets her, adopts her, and they both become all they have in life, but Mathilda is seeking revenge for her brother's assassination.
So is this a love story? I will say it's inappropriate to call it like that. Is it a family film? Ignoring all the violence, it might be a family film. Is it an action movie then? I think it goes way deeper than that, though the opening and final sequences are worthy of any Die Hard film.
You would need to watch it yourself in order to draw your own conclusion on the movie genre. But don't let this intercept with your movie experience, since this movie is surely worthy of your time.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
The Thin Line Between Stupid and Genius
Monty Python and the Holy Grail shows to us how thin is the line that divides a movie from being stupid and being genius and a landmark of comedy genre. Even though conservative critics might rather rate negatively a movie featuring coconuts instead of horses, the standard movie-lover will find this as a hilarious chill out.
I haven't watched the other Monty Python movies, but no film I have seen compares to this. Scary Movies may come to mind, but not even the first two are comparable to Monty Python's language and situation gags.
The story is basically that of King Arthur and three of the knights of the round table going through numerous adventures as they seek for the cup from which Jesus drank on the Last Supper.
It is to jot down that this movie contains a lot of language and British humor, which may not be suitable to the audience which finds laughter on stupid falls or hits in the head or other parts.
As a conclusion, I think that although you do not end up liking the movie, you still would appreciate to have seen how a movie with low budget is exactly done.
Volver (2006)
My Almodovar Starting Point
I might not be the right person to point this out, but from what I've read, Spanish director Pedro Almodovar is one of the finest storytellers out there.
Volver is the first Almodovar movie I've watched, as well as his latest release, and I must add it was a nice experience. Most of the performances were good, the cinematography too, but the best is definitely its screenplay.
It is to notice how some of the character's reactions and doings seem unreal and weird, but as the story reaches its revealing ending, all is set clear and we comprehend the whys of the before mentioned reactions.
The story deals, as usual in Pedro's films, with women. Specially women from one family. Raimunda, decently portrayed by Penelope Cruz, Sole, by Carmen Maura, one of the Almodovar's usual cast, and Raimunda's daughter, Paula. They all decide to go visit their aunt Paula, an old woman who lives alone in a remote village, with no company but that of her neighbor Agustina. Yet, aunt Paula acts as if Irene, the sister's mother, was still alive. Irene had died on a fire accident along with her husband.
When aunt Paula dies, all mysteries will start unfolding themselves until the final revelation.
If you have never watch one of Almodovar's movies, this seems to be a good starting point, featuring great cast, story and environment.
The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)
The Modern Definition of "Serious Comedy"
I'm not quite sure if the term "serious comedy" applies to this movie, Im not even sure if this can be applied. On the last few years movie theaters have become filled with comedy movies which are way too stupid to even make us grin. Therefore, I considered the movies which do not fill these requirements as "serious comedies".
Does The 40 Year Old Virgin fit into this guild? That is finally up to you, but in my opinion, this is a very funny movie. You get to laugh a lot, plus it delivers a social commentary through some really great characters and situations.
I'm pretty there is more than one 40 year old virgin out there, and even the people whom do not exactly fit this specifications, may feel identified by one of the characters in the movie, especially men.
The story, as the title says it, is about Andy, a shy, silent guy, whom collects action figures, watches Survivor with his octogenarian neighbors and whose favorite band is Asia.
Kal is Andy's co-worker at SmartTech. He believes Andy to be a psychopath until Andy's secret is revealed. Kal is clearly a sexual pervert but yet he seems to get what he wants with the opposite genre.
David is the passionate guy who is still in love with his ex-girlfriend, whom ran away with another guy. And Jay, a man in a relationship which seems to be affected by his continuous cheating and getting caught acts.
I'm pretty sure most youngsters from 13 to 21 have already watched this film, but it really does not have an age limit to be able to enjoy it. So in case you haven't seen it and will enjoy a little laugh, with social commentary, than go to your video store and rest from those deep and depressing independent films.
It also includes DVD bonuses which you'll really see from top to bottom.
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Apocalypse is Still Now
Another movie genre which I had decided to keep away from was that of war movies. My idea of a war movie is that of just blood and gore and directors and producers taking advantage of a problem that gets more critical every day. Some of these movies might just suit this description, but Apocalypse Now does not.
I had previously become familiar with Francis Ford Coppola's work on his Godfather movies, both of them which I greatly enjoyed. This time, along with John Milius, Coppola created a script for Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness", hired the cast and crew, and flew over to the Pacific, to start filming what will end up in more than eight hours in footage of Apocalypse Now.
The story basically deals with Captain Willard being assigned on a secret mission to hunt down Coronel Kurtz, an ex-American soldier charged of murder, and who seems to have lost his mind and is worshiped by the native Cambodians as a god.
Actors would have killed in order to get one of the main character roles. There are many interesting ones, very complex characters; starting by Coronel Kurtz, played by Marlon Brando, whose story would be revealed by Captain Willard as the movie goes by. Willard, played by Martin Sheen seems to have a high sense of responsibility in completing his mission, but as the story develops he becomes more convinced of the unnecessarily battle. And finally there is the supporting role of Robert Duvall as Colonel Kilgore. That is, without mentioning the guys who accompanied Willard, their different ages and personalities and the problems that this differences cause.
The redux edition features a new movie cut, which will take through four hours of great landscape shots of the Oriental region, comedic moments, and situations which will portrait the whole context of the Vietnam War. Don't be scared by its running time, I'm not going to say its fast-going, but it will keep you seated enough time to watch it in one try.
This is clearly an anti-war movie, and when the Pentagon found about this, they started a censorship campaign which resulted in the movie's failure at the Oscars. But in the end, time has given reason to Apocalypse Now, making it one of those movies every so-called movie lover must watch.
Te doy mis ojos (2003)
A Movie to Keep You Numb Throughout its Playing Time
One of the first negative responses the critics give about the Academy Award is how there is only one award for the rest of the world, that is, Best Foreign Film.
I do like Hollywood films and in fact, about 80% of the movies I watch are Hollywood movies. But this time I am going to write about a Spanish film originally entitled "Te Doy Hasta Mis Ojos", which translates into "Take my Eyes".
The movie is directed by Iciar Bollaín and stars Luis Tosar as Alfonso and Laia Marull as Pilar.
The movie's beginning might as well be a suitable ending with, a determined Pilar and her son running away from home to refugee at Pilar's sister, Ana's house.
The reason and main theme of the movie are soon revealed, Pilar is beaten by her psychotic husband, Alfonso. We then start understanding the difficult, but yet common, couple relationship they live through.
Pilar and Alfonso both love and need each other, which is the main reason why Pilar returns with him. Unfortunately, there are other factors affecting Alfonso, whom even though is attending an anger management program, has several outbursts of anger.
Being the black sheep of his siblings, being at a work he dislikes, and not liking Pilar's new job, which is making him insecure of her faithfulness. The truth is Pilar is only enthusiastic about doing something she likes, her husband misunderstand this leading to the mental disturbing final act.
If I had to briefly describe this movie, I will probably say "Cruelly Real". An uncomfortable feeling is always present. Making you willing to just stop the movie, but at the same time, gluing you to your seat until its ending.
The characters are really well portrayed and even though you feel no sympathy at all for Alfonso, you still try to comprehend the reasons behind his behavior.
I will like to advice it is a really heavy movie but it is surely recommendable, since this is a problem found in societies all around the world, and this movie portrays what a family under this conditions has to live through.
Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)
The First Classic of Cinema
Nosferatu by F.W. Murnau, can be considered as being the first classic of cinema history. It dates back to 1922, the early history of the seventh art. If it wasn't for some serious research in order to obtain a full copy of this movie, then I would have to give this title to another film.
It is true, this is the first silent black & white movie I have seen, but it was certainly a good starting point, and also a place I could recommend others to start from.
Its story is simple; it is basically a summary of Bram Stoker's Dracula, the backbone of the story. It eliminates secondary characters or diminishing their roles in order to present the movie with few interventions of inter-titles.
It is very fast moving, understandable and even though it dates back more than 80 years, it is still scary. This is mainly due to some great shots by F.W. Murnau and the amazing main character portrayed by Max Schreck. Some of these effects are yellow tinting for day, blue tinting for night, an amazing sound score and the genius negative shot.
Max Schreck portrays Nosferatu. Murnau considered him quite ugly and just ordered ear and nose tips to be added to his make-up. Schreck does not blink on the whole movie, wears heavy clothes and always creates an aura of darkness and mystery whenever he is on screen. This can be finally seen on one of the final scene where the shadow of the vampire is seen walking up the stairs.
All these and more, make of this film a great visual experience. This is probably the most significant release on the dark world of vampires since the before mentioned Bram Stoker's Dracula.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
I Want to be Thrilled!
For some strange reason, human beings have always enjoyed being afraid. Scream out loud, hold your partners hand or just cover your eyes and look through the gaps. This is certainly not a modern trend, it has been around since the days kids gather around the fire to hear the eldest of the tribe tell his stories of werewolves or Wendigo. Later, there was the printing press and books such as Dracula or Frankenstein appeared. But since the 20th century, humans have found another way to portrait our darkest corners inside our minds.
A reason for this nature is simple. We like to read or watch people in scary situations, but still knowing that we, as audience are kept safe from the evils portrayed.
If we are to name one character that on the late years has managed to gain a position on popular culture, it has to be Anthony Hopkins' Academy Award winning portrayal of Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter.
Along with its counterpart, FBI trainee agent, Clarice Starling, played by Jodie Foster, these two characters are placed as #1 villain and #5 hero of all time by the American Film Institution. Also to add, that this movie is one of the only three movies to have won the five major Academy Awards for Best Actor in Leading Role, Best Actress in Leading Role, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture.
The movie is directed by Jonathan Demme and is based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Harrison. It deals mainly on this two characters, and how the young agent interacts, relates and tries to understand the once psychiatrist and now psychopath, in order to find and capture another psychopath by the nickname of "Buffalo Bill".
Previously to their encounters, Starling's superiors warn her to beware of the subject and not to reveal any personal information about her, information which she needs to share in order to get clues about the whereabouts and identity of Buffalo Bill.
The movie proved to be a success and has given several sequels and prequels in order to explode the license. To me, the movie's success and position on almost any list of the best movies, is due not only to the great performances, but its also achieved by its directing. Jonathan Demme has created a style of his own, this can be observed on the changes from third person to first person and back again, and the many first shots of faces that reveal to us the reactions of the characters.
This is a movie I would like to recommend to anyone interest in cinema, though it has some scenes not proper to the young audience.
The Shining (1980)
The Shining, a masterpiece of thriller movies
The Shining is a 1980 movie by Stanley Kubrick, whom by now has become my favorite director. The movie is based on Stephen King's novel by the same name. The story tells us of Jack Torrance, a retired teacher and now writer, who plans to spend his winter, along with his family, at the Overlook Hotel as the caretaker. The isolation of the place seems to be the perfect condition for Jack's inspiration to flow. His wife Wendy, seems to agree with this decision, but their son, Danny, seems not to like this idea. Doc, as his parents call him, possesses a special talent, a so-called imaginary friend by the name of Tony, whom reveals him future visions. Danny later learns through Mr. Halloran, the hotel's chef, whom posses that same power, called "The Shining", power which also allows the to communicate through some sort of telepathy. From this point on, they are left alone and the story starts becoming awkward. Jack locks himself to type and Danny strolls down on his tricycle through the Overlook's hallways, creating one of the mos memorable scenes of the movie. The mere sound of the vehicle's wheels rolling on the carpet and then on the wooden floor help get the mood right. Mood which is only made creepier by Kubrick's imagery. A pair of twin girls, an elevator filled with blood and the mysterious room 237. Jack on the other hand has been having some mysterious encounters with other people on the supposedly empty hotel, and in a conversation with whom he believes to be the caretaker who killed his own family, is that he is finally revealed to have some sort of background inside the hotel, and is also lead into "correcting" his son and wife. The typewriter continuously clicking on various scenes, makes us believe of Jack's efficient work, but when Wendy manages to enter and read his papers, all she finds are pages and pages filled with the phrase: "All work and no fun, makes jack a dull boy". After a first fight where Wendy knocks Jack with a bat and locks him in the storage room, is that we learn that all the weird things going on are not just in the Torrances heads, but that there indeed are other forces at work, which manage to open the locked door to Jack, hand him an Ax, and change his mind once and for all into killing his family. Jack heads towards the family's room, where Wendy and Danny are hiding in the bathroom. Danny escapes through a window, which is too small for Wendy. Jack makes his way through the locked doors with the help of an Ax, and exclaims the movie's most memorable quote: "Heeeeeres Johnny!". Jack gets his hand cut by Wendy and decides it's better to chase Danny. the boy leads him into a maze and finally to Jack's freezing death, which allows Danny and his mom to escape. Jack Nicholson is amazing, he is perfect for the role, somehow mad men roles fit him perfectly. Whether it is in Batman, The Departed or even Anger Management, Jack's most sane role, ironically, is One Fleew Over The Cuckoo's Nest's McMurphy. Shelley Duvall is also quite perfect to me. Her dialogs seem scared when they ought to be and determined when they need to. Finally, Danny, played by Danny Lloyd makes a respectable job, but always subject to some limitations due to his early age. Stanley Kubrick made all of this possible on his screen adaptation of the novel, which Stephen King considered "Not that faithful to the book". Its dialogs, sequences and specially its imagery are what have made out of this movie such a classic of not only cinema, but of popular culture. References which can be found on The Simpsons or even in Slipknot's video for Spit it Out, to name a few. The soundtrack by Wendy Carlos fits perfectly, its highlights being the simplicity of the main theme, and the piercing screech when the shining is used. So, you may wonder. What makes this movie so scary? There are no alien invasion, epidemic diseases and the ghost do not act directly on people (except the lady from the 237). The terror applied by King and Kubrick relies on the terror caused by the mere idea of being tried to kill by someone you love, and who is supposed to protect you. In any conversation of terror movies, The Shining will always be present.