recent views. one sorta alright one, one good one, and one real stinker...
The Item - 2001 (R). (VHS) Written and directed by Dan Clark. Four criminals are paid to pick up and hold a strange box overnight. At first they are told it is a monkey but, while learning emergency care procedures, they discover it is a worm-like organism. Far from being harmless, the eyeless creature defends itself via mind games as the criminals get impatient and sloppy. Not bad for a low-budget digital flick, it's kind of like the museum crate story from Creepshow with a watered shot of Reservoir Dogs...and one disturbing scene of alien-human-intercourse. Sort of RECOMMENDED.
Memento - 2000 (R). (VHS) Directed by Christopher Nolan. Insurance claim detective Leonard develops a rare form of amnesia after some burglers rape and murder his wife. Leonard's affliction prohibits him from forming new memories so, as he tracks down his wife's murderer, he must take numerous Polaroids and notes---he tattoos the really important stuff onto his body. Leonard's mission is complicated by others seemingly out to exploit his lack of short-term memory. The majority of the film unfolds in reverse order, beginning with scenes of Leonard's revenge and working through to the beginning of his quest; it's an effective gimmick that imparts a sense of Leonard's frustrating situation upon the audience. RECOMMENDED.
Rubberface - 1983 (NR). (VHS) Forgettingly directed by Rebecca Yates and Glen Salzman. Jim Carrey was actually a second-billing co-star when this production was filmed and released on Canadian teevee. It's an "After School Special"-type story in which a female class clown discovers her self-esteem while helping Tony (Carrey) hone his lame stand-up routine. Unfortunately, there isn't one viable laugh to be found in the whole disappointing mess. At least the mess only lasts 48 minutes. Packaged and unleashed once Carrey became a bankable star. NOT RECOMMENDED.
until next time...i will be struggling through the dreck to find the gems...(as well as most folks on this site do)
-mr. henry
Memento has one of the best scripts ever. It's so intelligent and engaging, and the twists are great. Why it did not get more Oscar ominations (or win for Best Adapted Screenplay) is beyond me. Rubberface is...wow. Unfunny doesn't really describe it. I knew it would be unbearable, being made for Canadian television (made for American television is one thing, but CANADIAN TV?!), but I was still surprised at its ineptitude.
J.R.---i agree about memento...there is a great in-depth discussion/explanation at salon.com...worth checking out...i like how the B/W sections went forward while the color segments went "backward."...and at the very end, both connected...
as far as academy awards...yeah, "a beautiful mind" one because of, uh...well...IT WAS CRAP! (i'd rather watch "rubberface")...BTW: where was "ghost world?"...should have one some more awards as well...
-mr. henry
I liked A Beautiful Mind, but it was not better than LOTR, Memento or Black Hawk Down. And Opie should have gotten his award for Apollo 13, not stolen it from Peter Jackson. BTW, Memento and LOTR lost to the ABM script by Akiva Goldsman, the "modern poet" responsible for Batman And Robin and Lost In Space. He should be punished, not rewarded.
I've wanted to see The Item for a while now. I remember seeing the preview on some direct-to-video crapfest I saw once and thinking it looked really interesting. But i haven't been able to find it, i'll probably look for it in blockbuster, they usually have all the direct to video flicks that I hear about.
i found it "the item" on sale at blockbuster...it's interesting for a digital filmed straight to video flick...shows what you can do with not a lot of money...not great but it's ok...
-mr. henry
The Item was a fun little flick. I mean...KUNG-FU TRANSVESTITES~!~
The creature's mind-f**king abilities were bar-none, as well. Plus, the main criminal (dude with the glasses) played his part to perfection, being a total prick and even killing his best friend and attempting to kill his girlfriend just to save his own ass and get his money.
you're right andrew crow...i'm going to change my "sorta RECOMMENDED" to a full-on "RECOMMENDED" when i post the blurb to my website...and you're right about the main baddie being memorable...he was a total ass...
-mr. henry
"Fascinating...you are not a man struggling with darkness, you are darkness struggling with a man."
Weird, but memorable and way, way watchable (three slimes though).
One of the best movies Frank Henenlotter never made (just think if Quentin Tarantion had rewritten Brain Damage as Reservoir Dogs with a polish by Larry Cohen and you get the general idea of the over feel of this insane little movie). I'll probably check it out again sometime. The movie sticks with you, even though the monster is a penile sock puppet.