Minnesota State Fair 2012 - Day Nine
August 31, 2012
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Continue reading "Minnesota State Fair 2012 - Day Nine" »
Sure to raise pulse rates and incite shockwaves of disbelief, “Compliance” is an exceptional example of provocative filmmaking, taking viewers on a 90-minute-long journey of humiliation, manipulation, and good old fashioned stupidity. It’s a riveting watch, with a stranglehold of suspense expertly maintained by writer/director Craig Zobel, who accepts the challenge of adapting a true crime situation without pumping the plot full of fiction, holding to the innate horror of the central violation while subtly shifting the ground beneath the viewer’s feet. Bravely uncomfortable and sure to inspire heated post-movie (and likely mid-movie) conversation, “Compliance” is haunting, positively enraging when it sinks in that this was no nightmare, but a reality. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com
“The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure” is the brainchild of Kenn Viselman, a marketing wizard behind “The Teletubbies” and “Thomas the Tank Engine” who decided to strike out on his own, overseeing a family film geared toward the short attention spans of pre-schoolers. Billed as “interactive,” “Big Balloon Adventure” encourages young viewers to twist and shout in front of on-screen characters, getting into the spirit of this lackluster musical blasted with puppetry and nuclear colors. Although it’s meant to tickle toddlers, “Big Balloon Adventure” isn’t worth punishing multiplex pricing, delivering small-scale thrills on a limited budget. It’s definitely a rental, offering parents a chance to escape while wee ones bop around for 85 minutes. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com
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I didn't know who Sir Trevor McDonald was before I sat down with the series "Queen & Country," and I know even less about the man four hours later. He's our guide through this Diamond Jubilee celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's life and times, but there's no introduction, no moment to isolate a host the viewer comes to rely on for facts, interviews, and pacing needs. The question mark of McDonald (research tells me he's a respected British journalist) is emblematic of "Queen & Country," a handsomely produced inspection of the royal experience, yet a show created strictly for royalists and romantics, offering nothing in the way of an introduction for those who've elected to live their lives without an intricate understanding of the Monarchy. The news footage is remarkable, the conversations breathless, and the subject fascinating, yet the lengthy production is no proper education, it's a victory lap. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com
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Summer ends with David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me,” Nicolas Cage unraveling in “Honeymoon in Vegas,” and Edward Furlong screeching through “Pet Sematary II.”
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As a child, it was a badge of honor to slowly acquire access to late night television. As bedtimes grew later, entrance to a world of comedians, monologues, and celebrity interviews was provided, commencing an education in timing and talent few prime time shows could offer. While David Letterman possessed an appealing wackiness and genial subversive quality, nothing could come close to Johnny Carson, an iconic figure who owned late night programming, making his nightly adventures an illuminating display of confidence and enchanting cocktail-hour routine, killing nightly with a triumphant sense of humor. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com
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“The Victim” has been routinely referenced as a classic grindhouse production, out to charm fans of sleazy, violent entertainment. However, writer/director/star Michael Biehn doesn’t put his best perverted foot forward with this lackluster, budget-minded suspense picture. Underdeveloped and occasionally directionless, “The Victim” is actually quite tasteful for the genre, preferring windy dialogue exchanges to wrathful acts of bloodshed. While not without a few highlights, the feature is disappointingly tame, missing a grand opportunity for screen insanity. Biehn has a germ of an idea here, but lacks the sickness needed to bring this tale of murder, sex, and feverish uncertainty to life. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com