stars. Alice's Video Reviews
Ok, Here's the deal: I'm going to do movie reviews but not really. First of all I'm only doing stuff for rental (video or DVD) because I rarely go to movies in a theater. It's expensive and most movies suck. I usually only go to a theater when it's either something obscure, that I know is going to be good, or it's something old that I've seen before and want to see again (midnight screening of Red Dawn anyone?) . Also these aren't reviews in the normal sense. If I put it on this page that means I am recommending it; I'm not going to put stuff on here that I don't feel is worth seeing (well not totally, see below). I will, however, put different rating levels though. 1 star means it's good for 1 or 2 things in it, like a really good sex scene, good special effects, etc. Basically it's worth it if you can rent it for a buck and you have nothing else to do. 2 stars means it's reasonable. I thought there were a several things that were good about it but it's not super awesome so I don't think you'll be disappointed. 3 stars means I think it's fucking great and you should drop what you are doing and go rent it right now. Oh yeah, and I might put a couple on here that I really hate, just to tell you to avoid them, but I will make that very clear for those posts so you don't go rent a total peice of shit by mistake.
Adjuster, The 1991, D/Atom Egoyan. The strange goings-on in the life of an insurance adjuster and the lives of the people around him. Sounds boring, I know, but it's actually pretty out there. I guarauntee this will weird you out at least a little. stars.
American Psycho 2000, D/Mary Harron. Well this here is a movie based on the book of the same name (written by Bret Easton Ellis) about a very sucessful Wall Street executive in the 80s who happens to be psychotic and enjoys serial murder. I happened to rent the "directors cut" but I've been told it's only longer by mere seconds. I'm not really sure. Quite interesting and bizarre and a vivid social commentary but you can draw your own conclusions. Well worth a rent.
stars.
Angel Heart 1987, D/Alan Parker. I'm not going to bullshit you, this movie is straight out fucked up. My mom rented it when I was a kid (well maybe 12 or 13) and I think it damaged my mind a little bit. I saw it again years later, and wasn't quite as disturbed, but still. It's one of those kind of movies that you remember for a while afterward. This isn't like cheesy slasher movie horror, this is actually pretty scary. Oh yeah, and it will freak you out when you see what part Robert DeNiro plays. stars.
Apocalypse Now 1979, D/Francis Ford Coppola. I'm sure most of you have at least Heard of Apoc Now, if not, seen it. Based on an old novella Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad except it takes place in the more modern setting of Vietnam. Try not to think of it as a "Vietnam War Movie" but more of a psychological story that uses the Vietnam War as its backdrop. Love it or hate it, I think everyone should at least see it once. Some of these scenes are classic cinematography. stars.
Bad Lieutenant 1992, D/Abel Ferrara. Just an absolute nightmare of depravity about a dirty cop with sort of spritual redemption overtones. I love Abel Ferrara's style. Very raw and relentless and he tends not to tack on happy endings. stars.
Blackout, The 1997, D/Abel Ferrara. Another Ferrara film. I like this more than Bad Lieutenant, even. It's about a junkie movie star played by Matthew Modine. I've seen more than a few bad reviews of this movie. A few good ones as well, but it seems most people didn't really know how to take it. I would say yeah, some characters and plot elements are hard to swallow at times but I love the nightmarish bleakness and desperation of the whole thing. I don't know what is up with how it was filmed, but it has a definite dark and hazy look to it, which I think was intentional. And as usual, a depressing Abel Ferrara ending. stars.
Crash 1996, D/David Cronenberg. Based on a novel by J.G. Ballard. Sex and car crashes. In a nutshell it's about people who get a sexual high from the masochistic thrill of being in a serious or deadly car accident. I think it's only available as NC-17 so don't go looking for this one at Blockbuster, kids. (actually, if you were smart you'd never rent anything from Blockbuster). I've never read any interviews of him, but it seems to me Elias Koteas loves being in twisted movies like this. He's in quite a few (The Adjuster, for example) stars.
Cube 1997, D/Vincenzo Natali. This movie is quite a mindfuck. A science fiction nightmare about human psychology in an extreme situation. It's quite suspenseful and is overall quite gloomy. Just what I like. stars.
Doom Generation 1995, D/Greg Araki. Apparently Doom Generation and Nowhere are the 2nd and 3rd parts in Greg Araki's so-called "Teenage-Apocalypse" trilogy, of which I've yet to see the first one (Totally Fucked Up). When I first saw this movie I actually had kind of a sick feeling after, and I don't think I'm that easy to offend when it comes to movies. At any rate I had never seen an Araki film before and I guess I just wasn't ready for the candidness of the whole thing. He's got a very black sense of humor, and even though the most jacked up things might be happening in a scene, the mood tends to stay light and comedic. Well I'm rambling here but just lemme say if you've never seen an Araki movie before, and you make this your first one, you are in for a motherfuckin' surprise. heh. stars.
Evil Dead 2 1987, D/Sam Raimi. Dead by dawn, baby. This is a true classic. A horror/comedy that had some very interesting special effects, especially considering it's budget. Despite the name, it's not a direct sequel to Evil Dead. It's almost more of a remake of Evil Dead but with more characters and a lot more craziness going down. This movie also has one of the more memorable hero characters in recent movie history. stars.
Happiness 1998, D/Todd Solondz. This is what I call the rough stuff. Todd Solondz really knows how to touch nerves. You can honestly believe that these characters are real people or at least you know you have seen real people that closely resemble them. It's about regular, every day people and how Jacked up life is. It's subtle but it's also quite perverse at the same time. Don't say I didn't warn you. stars.
Hard Eight 1996, D/Paul Thomas Anderson. A lesser known (and older) Paul Thomas Anderson movie (as opposed to Boogie Nights or Magnolia). It takes place in a gambling town (Reno). It's a pulpy story about a how a few peoples lives cross paths and the harsh realities involved in them. Professional gamblers, hookers, con-men, etc. It's done in a very subtle style and conveys a lot of emotion without having the characters actually talk a whole bunch. stars.
Nowhere 1997, D/Greg Araki. This is my favorite Greg Araki Movie (of the ones I've seen, anyway). You gotta hand it to the guy, he's got a very intense style. The shit he deals with in his movies and how he deals with it, whether you agree or disagree with his point of view, will definitely stick out in your mind long after seeing one of his films. Oh yeah, and it's actually pretty funny too. stars.
Rawhead Rex 1986, D/George Pavlou. Based on a Clive Barker story about some ancient pagan demon creature that gets unleashed and goes rampaging across the Irish countryside. I'm not gonna lie; this is cheesy 80s horror at its best (worst?) but I must confess I love this movie. If nothing else for the scenes of Rex going absoloutley berzerker-crazy on people. Also I dig the very ending. I'm going to give this only 1 star because most people who rent this would probably think it's pretty damn lame but if you like a lot of roaring and screaming and would like to laugh at people getting terrorized and killed for no particular reason then go ahead and give it a whirl. 
star.
Red Dawn 1984, D/John Milius. This movie more or less amounts to a cross between Rambo and any given 80s teen flick. From beginning to end it is pure Reagan-era cold war propaganda. It's World War III, the Russians invade and a group of High School kids manage to elude them and become a viscious band of guerillas living in the rocky mountains. It's well worth it for the cheesy 80s acting if nothing else. As action movies go this is a classic in the field. And before you go rent it, and complain that it's brainless nonsense, remember the plot. You know what you're getting into here. stars.
Reservoir Dogs 1992, D/Quentin Tarantino. Well there isn't a movie nerd alive who hasn't seen this about 12,000,000 times. The notorious Tarantino film about a group of professional criminals and their heist that goes spinning out of control. It's raw and it's gritty and if you haven't seen it by now get off your ass and go to the video store. stars.
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