Naturally all the discussion this week will surround Gangster Squad and Zero Dark Thirty, since no one wants to talk about A Haunted House. Wait, what's that? You do? Alright, I'll put this up for discussion:
Poll - Do you think A Haunted House will either A) Blow B) Suck C) Defy physics by both sucking and blowing?
Now then, onto Gangster Squad... While I opined last week (and the first week of every January) that this month is generally a dumping ground, in the instance of Gangster Squad, that means a safe place for WB to have bumped the film. As I'm sure you all recall the film was supposed to come out last year but due to the shootings in Aurora, Colorado, the studio decided to push it back out of respect. They also additionally had to do some reshoots since they figured it would be best to cut the the theater shooting scene. While I understand the decision, I still hope that's included on the DVD as an extra. The movie had nothing to do with the shooting, and I believe in seeing films the way they were intended to be seen.
Also now going into wide release this weekend is Zero Dark Thirty. Largely the talk about the film is its controversial themes depicting the torture of prisoners to get information. Everyone has their own opinions of what constitutes art, truth, and where the line is film. My line extends to this, I have no desire to see the film, simply because the subject matter appeals not to me. I don't care about the controversy or the torture scenes. It's something we know goes on in real life, but should never be allowed. No, my issue stems deeper. I plain and simply think it looks boring. I know what I like and it steps wide of that.
That said, and if you'll pardon the light pun, the of the two, Gangster Squad should do gangbusters. Last week Texas Chainsaw massacred Django Unchained. Horror movies though are notorious for taking a huge plunge the second week, so I don't expect it to stand up to Gosling's shoot-em-up flick. I suppose A Haunted House could always win the day out, though if that happens, I might have to secede from humanity for the second time this week. It'll be interesting to see just how well Zero Dark Thirty plays, but I suspect it's not the R rated film to rule the weekend.
So what films are you interested in this weekend? If it's A Haunted House, I promise not to throw a fit and hold my breath till you change your mind. Probably...
A Haunted House is 0% on Rotten Tomatoes. I vote for C.
ReplyDeleteI will one day watch Zero Dark Thirty, but it's not a movie I really want to see. I know I'm in the minority, but I didn't care for Bigelow's Hurt Locker either. It felt cold to me.
I didn't like Hurt Locker either. I actually went to the bathroom and never came back. Part of it might have been the motion sickness I was feeling but I have to agree with you it was cold and I didn't care about the people in it.
DeleteZero Dark Thirty was amazing. It's a difficult film to sit through but I think that's the point.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to see Gangster Squad until I realized it's going to be a giant fucking cartoon. NVM.
Since I am a mush brain when it comes to movies and I tend to not over-think or dissect them...I am anxious to see ZDT because I recently read the book it is based on. It was a riveting first-person account of the events of that night. In all it makes the 4th book on the Bin Laden killing I have read.
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree with Alex on The Hurt Locker, I loved that movie.
I also want to see the Gangster Squad because it looks so cool in B&W.
Honest and fearless, John O'Mara (Josh Brolin) of LAPD is assigned the job of taking down gangster Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn). He is asked to form his own unit, comprising of like-minded, skilled men who can put an end to Mickey's growing crime empire. He thus forms his own 'gangster squad'. The only difference being, his squad will have to violently kill in order to restore order in the city. When acting heavy-weights like Sean Penn, Josh Brolin and Ryan Gosling come together, one expects a mind-blowing effect, but that doesn't really happen. Gangster Squad engages and entertains you with its occasional humour, sleek slow-motion action sequences and stylized gun violence but somewhere falls short of substance and depth. As certain righteous cops fight for honour and justice, you do not feel enough for the characters. Filmmaker Ruben Fleischer is known for comedy. True to his style, he infuses some good humour in a few scenes. However, in the very next scene, you see extreme bloodshed. The transition doesn't seem too smooth here. That very style worked in his earlier film Zombieland (2009), owing to its genre, which was a comedy. Emma Stone as the gangster's moll gets a weak role. Ryan Gosling as the ladies-man seems repetitive. In spite of drawbacks though, the film is high on style and keeps you hooked, thanks to some superb stunts and performances by Josh Brolin and Sean Penn who looks absolutely menacing as Mickey Cohen, his gaze and body language perfect for his character. Brolin is as brilliant as the heroic cop who relentlessly chases Cohen down. As far as stunts are concerned, car chases and fist-fight scenes are superbly shot. The 1940's setting looks authentic too.
ReplyDelete...That's a review from off the Times of India site. Assuming this some ploy to get people to click on over to your site, I have to say that's the weirdest spam I've seen awhile. Congratulations. Though you're really missing your targeted demographic here. I don't get too many readers from India.
DeleteI don't really have any interest in any of these movies and I think that I pick C for Haunted House. I did see Silver Lining Playbook and LOVED IT! Have you seen it yet? It is hard to describe but perfectly executed.
ReplyDeleteMaybe there was a bug in the spambot programming...
ReplyDeleteGangster Squad and Zero Dark Thirty sound pretty good to me, but I'll pass on the sure to be stinker of haunted house.
I LUV S.L.B.Who didn't?
ReplyDelete