DIRECTOR: John Carpenter
CAST: Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasance
THE PLOT: A psychotic murderer, institutionalized since childhood, escapes on a mindless rampage with his doctor hot on his heels.
BEN'S VIEWS: In 1978 John Carpenter made an independent horror film for little to no money. The result was a huge boxoffice and critical success that made millions in profit and popularized a genre: the slasher film (a genre that dominated the 1980's with countless sequels and ripoffs). There are reasons that Halloween still remains the definitive film in the genre. The film is a prime example on how to build and sustain suspense in a horror film. The backstory and setting of the film get the mood right. The score is one of the best horror film scores I have ever heard which adds to the thick atmosphere of dread. Then Carpenter ratchets up the tension to unbearable levels in the films final third. The story is simple but very effective making Halloween one of the best horror films ever.
DIRECTOR: Curtis Hanson
CAST: Eminem, Brittany Murphy, Mekhi Phifer, Kim Basinger
THE PLOT: A young rapper in Detroit struggles with his anger and social status through music.
BEN'S VIEWS: When a musician has the starring role in a film it is usually a big warning sign to steer clear. Most of the time these films are big stinking failures (Crossroads or Glitter anyone?) because musicians are not actors and typically they cannot carry the weight of an entire film. 8 Mile is that rare exception. I loved this film and I am not a fan of Eminem the rapper. But as an actor he holds the camera with an intensity that no singer or rapper has done before. It helps him that there is a strong supporting cast led by Kim Basinger, Brittany Murphy, Mekhi Phifer and Evan Jones. Director Curtis Hanson makes Detroit another character in the movie by filming it magnificently in all its gritty, rundown glory. It's the atmosphere of this place that is part of the pressure weighing down on the main character, keeping him from his dreams. Most critics probably expected this film to fail, but it is triumphant just like the lead character. It is a true inspiration.
DIRECTOR: Kathryn Bigelow
CAST: Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore
THE PLOT: A former cop turned street hustler accidentally uncovers a police conspiracy in 1999 Los Angeles.
BEN'S VIEWS: Some films paint an intersting enough portrait of what the future will be like that they elevate the film to another level. Strange Days is one of them. It is so skillfully told that you will forgive the fact that "the future" in this film is New Years Eve 1999, on the dawn of the new millenium. It was made in 1995 so maybe the filmmakers thought that it would be possible in five years for us to have the virtual reality technology displayed in the film and that Los Angeles would be in a police state. But the story will suck you in and won't let you go until the thrilling climax. From the get-go you can feel the electricity in the air. The films self-seriousness is contagious. It helps to have a versatile leading man like Ralph Fiennes who creates an imperfect protagonist that you will want to root for. Juliette Lewis is miscast but that doesn't hurt the flow too much as Angela Bassett and Tom Sizemore make up for it with their supporting work. Overall this is a fantastic film and boast a stellat plot that you will enjoy losing yourself in.
