DVD Reviews of CRASH, SIN CITY, and LAYER CAKE
CRASH
Matt Dillon, Thandie Newton, Brendan Fraser, Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Ryan Phillippe, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges
Written by: Paul Haggis & Bobby Moresco
Directed By: Paul Haggis
Film. ****1/2
Features. **1/2
Pretend Paul Thomas Anderson (Magnolia, Boogie Nights) was a Social Science major from New Orleans and directed Collateral. Because that’s basically what Paul Haggis, writer of last year’s Academy Award winning Million Dollar Baby, did. And I’m not saying that’s a bad thing.
Crash is a scathing and unapologetic look at race and its kissing cousin class, throughout the intertwining lives of strangers in modern day LA. That’s Los Angeles, not Louisiana, though the combination of subject matter and timing of this DVD’s release could not have been more tragically on time. I could go on about this film but I could never do it justice with words. Just watch it. You will be changed.
It’s the sense of touch. In any real city, you walk, you know? You brush past people, people bump into you. In LA, nobody touches you. We’re always behind this metal and glass. I think we miss that touch so much, that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something.
SIN CITY
Jessica Alba, Bruce Willis, Rosario Dawson, Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen, Benicio Del Toro
Written by: Robert Rodriguez
Directed by: Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller, and for ONE scene, Quentin Tarantino
Film. ***1/2
Features. no stars
Of course you already know what it looks like, but if you haven’t seen it, you’d like to know if you should, right? Well the answer is yes but with a catch: there are no bonus features to be seen, only a behind the scenes featurette (which mostly just compares the cine-graphic image with the comic book image) that has been used as promotion for the film since mid-2004.
This is a surprising thing for director Rodriguez (Desperado, Once Upon a Time in Mexico) because usually he packs his DVD’s so full of stuff till they almost explode. This thing didn’t even have a commentary. So the lesson I learned the hard way is: DON’T BUY IT! Rent it. Then copy it. (EDITOR’S NOTE: We do not endorse the illegal copying of ANY movie for ANY reason.)
So the first question I get is: “Which part did Tarantino do?” Answer: The scene in which Jackie Boy (Benicio Del Toro) is talking, physically speaking, to Dwight (Clive Owen). This wouldn’t seem like such a feat except for the fact that Jackie Boy has been made into a Pez dispenser, care of Miho (Devon Aoki), and has a gun barrel lodged several inches deep into is frontal lobe. It was Tarantino’s idea to have Jackie Boy actually talk, instead of Dwight just hearing him in his head.
Next question: “Who in the hell is this Frank Miller guy?” Answer: Frank Miller blew open the comic book world in the Eighties with his re-visioning and re-tooling of Batman. The first two Batman movies, directed by Tim Burton, that was all based on Miller’s work. Also he did this little graphic-novel (basically a comic book book) called SIN CITY.
Here’s the problem: the violence he depicted that once shocked everyone in the Eighties will barely shock the average filmgoer of today. The featurette comparing the film to the book I mentioned earlier, yeah the film looks just like the book, cool. But part of the problem is Rodriguez set out to make Frank Miller’s Sin City, so the film adheres to the book, but fails somewhat as a film itself.
So if you are a fan of the Kill Bill series and Mariachi movies, and the Burton Batmans, see this muther-fucking movie.
Oh yeah, and Mickey Rourke is the shit as Marv.
And there will be a sequel in 2006, and Johnny Depp will be in it.
And in case you were wondering, Yes, I am a nerd.
Walk down the right back alley in Sin City and you can find anything.
LAYER CAKE
Daniel Craig, Sienna Miller, Colm Meaney, Michael Gambon
Film. ***1/2
Features. ***
Written by: J.J. Connolly
Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
Hey, remember Snatch? No I’m not talking to my penis. I’m asking you, You! Whoever’s reading this, because this film was directed by Matthew Vaughn, the producer of that film. In fact he produced all of the Guy Ritchie (Snatch, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) films, and shot some scenes for this movie just outside of Guy Ritchie’s apartment.
In his first film as a director, Vaughn takes us on a trip through jolly ‘ol England, where we see the various layers that make up the crime syndicate in the UK, the cake. While this film doesn’t lack Snatch’s visual flair, (even though its budget was almost half) it does lack its humour, and therefore its charm. Brad Pitt’s hilarious accent, which he made up himself, is now replaced with just regular hard-to-understand British accents (I had to watch with subtitles, just to get everything.) Also if you read the cast up there you might be thinking “Who?” (except you Ward, you don’t count.) Well don’t you worry because the acting is spot-the-fuck-on.
Also, because I’m so big on song usage, the music used here (Joe Cocker, The Rolling Stones) is perfect, and surprising considering the budget.
This film is still definitely worth the 3.69 in rental fees from Movie Gallery, especially if you can’t wait for Revolver, Guy Ritchie’s next crime caper, due later this year.
Always remember that one day all this drug monkey business will be legal. They won’t leave it to people like me… not when they finally figure out how much money is to be made – not millions, fucking billions. Recreational drugs PLC – giving the people what they want… Good times today, Stupor tomorrow. But this is now, so until prohibition ends make hay whilst the sun shines.
Also out now: Tommy Boy: Holy Schnike Edition. I chose not to star this because I mean c’mon, it’s Chris Farley. It’s David Spade, when he was good, which was only when he was with Chris Farley. Basically it’s Roger and Me, but without the reality and heartbreak, oh, and Michael Moore. But there is still a fat guy… in a little coat.
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