Much like films such as “Havoc,” and “Dreamland,” the teen thriller “Alpha Dog” is about as realistic a representation of the modern teen as Hollywood would like you to believe. The only saving grace is the fact that it’s based on a true story, which helped fuel my strong interest, along with the lovely Amanda Seyfried starring. “Alpha Dog” is a display of the best of the best young talents that Hollywood has to offer with an ensemble hearkening back to the likes of “The Outsiders” on many occasions. People like Ben Foster to Emile Hirsch pull in very good performances, with even Justin Timberlake pulling in a stand out as Frankie, a friend of Johnny Truelove’s who is given the duty of watching young Zack, and inevitably gains a sense of fondness for him. Timberlake is unlike anything I’ve ever seen here, and he’s both sympathetic and utterly memorable as a character that begins as a mere supporting player and ends up a key figure in the progression of crime drama.
Tag Archives: Thriller
Renaissance (2006) (DVD)
Almost simultaneously released alongside Richard Linklater’s equally high concept animated film “A Scanner Darkly,” Volckman’s “Renaissance” is a little bit of George Orwell and Phillip K. Dick with the same neo-noir atmosphere of Frank Miller with a Dystopian twist, and it composes itself as an equally high concept animated science fiction installment that focuses on a society that’s not too much in the distant future from ours. The world is ruled by vanity and the search for eternal youth, and this is all spearheaded by an ominous corporation called Avalon that markets on society’s youth obsession and rules over all of society. Ads pop up from thin air, follow pedestrians, and always seem much more omnipresent than they should.
Friday the 13th: Mother's Day (2007)
I’ve seen plenty of fan films in my time. Comic book fan films, Star Wars fan films, and yes even fan films from other movies. Usually they’re made by utterly ambitious fan boys, with a sleek production quality, and yet only really range a running time of 10-45 minutes, with the work done before the bag gets old. “Friday the 13th: Mother’s Day” is probably one of the most ambitious fan films I’ve ever seen—the jury is still out. Not only does it pay homage to my favorite horror franchise of the genre, but it’s based on a teen novel, and runs for about ninety minutes. Suffice it to say, I was shocked when I took a glimpse at the running time for this movie. Ninety minutes? Were they kidding us? No, they were not.
The Medium (2007)
What Wydeven possesses in “The Medium” is a keen eye for visuals that compliment the story he’s attempting to tell within the space of only twenty-two minutes. “The Medium” is a rather interesting tale that starts off with much less of an impact than we’d ever suspect, and Wydeven takes what could have been a boring film, and adds an eye for detail, even with the apparently limited scenery. What the real appeal is of “The Medium,” is the detail.
Yo-Yo Girl Cop (Sukeban Deka: Kôdo nêmu = Asamiya Saki) (2006)
I’ll plead ignorance in claiming that I don’t know if “Yo Yo Girl Cop” was either an anime or manga (the latter, actually), because after reading the description of the back of the movie case, this apparently is a revamping of a prior mythos where the former Yo Yo Girl Cop’s daughter is now taking the role of crime fighter. It’s a movie filled with girl cops who fight crime not with guns, clubs, or sticks, but with metal yo yo’s that smack the crap out of assailants; I mean how could I not have risked buying it without viewing it?
Gone in 60 Seconds (1974)
Many people I’ve ever talked to have never seen the actual film of “Gone in 60 Seconds,” and really have their knowledge of that title extended to the miserable and horrid remake starring great actors being completely misused in what I can describe as a ninety minute eye sore. “Gone in 60 Seconds,” from 1974, is a film I actively sought out for the mere excuse of comparing a terrible movie to what I initially hoped was a great film as previous car films like “Vanishing Point,” and “Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry” have been.
Transformers (2007)
“Transformers” has the distinction of being the first Michael Bay movie I’ve ever really looked forward to, and awaited information on, ever. Which is saying a lot considering Michael Bay is universally a terrible director who can’t create an entertaining movie to save his life. But setting aside I got over the Transformers hype a month before the release date, “Transformers” is a movie I expected to fail, and in actuality was proven wrong. As someone born in the early eighties, I caught onto the Transformers craze at the end, and grew fond of the robots in disguise, I have to say. To this day, being an animation buff and comic geek, I still have a tender spot for the robotic warriors, and felt a sense of anticipation and excitement brush over me as the film started. “Transformers” leaves nothing to the imagination.