Dean’s Reviews-“Grindhouse”, “The Reaping”, “The Hoax.”
Dean’s Reviews-“Grindhouse”, “The Reaping”, “The Hoax.”
Let's hear what you think......
“Grindhouse”
It’s one of the most anticipated "films" of the year; a throwback to the days when you go to see a couple of bad "b" movies, full of blood and gore; movies that were "ground" out fast and furious; the genre called "grindhouse" films.
And that's where Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez get the title of their "2 separate movies for the price of 1” double feature. But the double feature doesn’t start until you go through a couple of fake trailers for films that don’t exist. After those and some bad, animated reminders to visit the concession stand it’s time for the first of the “Grindhouse" twin spin, Robert Rodriguez’s “Planet Terror."
Former Marilyn Manson squeeze, Rose McGowan, plays the machine-gun peg-leg ex-stripper who is just one of the survivors fighting off flesh eating zombies infected by a virus taking over a small Texas town. Chicago’s own Freddy Rodriguez, Bruce Willis, Josh Brolan, Naveen Andrews
and a cast of over the top characters are the uninfected trying to stay un-eaten.
Purposely over the top, campy and disgusting; purposely grainy, appearing to be badly spliced, it’s just a load of fun and a loving tribute to the genre, but after about an hour, you get the bloody idea and it just gets repetitive.
Then, there are a couple more hilarious fake trailers, actually more entertaining than the features, one of them for a fake film, “Thanksgiving”, because every other holiday has had it’s own horror movie. Without a break to “refresh” yourself, it’s on to feature two, the Quentin Tarantino directed, "Death Proof."
If you're a hot babe in a car, look out for that crazed mad man, Kurt Russell, at his whacked out best. After a long set up, he hunts down a bunch of hot chicks that have been drinking their way through town, and takes them on the ride of their life...and death. Then, it’s on to a second group of gals who prove to be up for his thrill-ride challenge.
"Death Proof" is the better of the double feature; and the right length at about an hour. Both films and the trailers run 3 hours and 15 minutes without a break.
I liked this creative package. They’re both fun, but a little long and a little "film snob" self-indulgent. Regardless, these directors march to their own beat and make film-going fun. I give them a Dean’s List “A.”
The Reaping
It’s Hilary Swank’s scary story about 9 biblical plagues that are happening in a small town being blamed on a creepy little girl played by Anna Sophia Robb. Swank is a professor sent in to find rational reasons for the locust attacks, frogs dropping from the sky and water turning to blood.... but can't.
“The Reaping” IS scary, even a little "Exorcist-like disturbing", with it's roots in religion...but overall, the story falls short. British actor, Idris Elba and David Morrisey co-star. Maybe, check this one out when it comes out on DVD...but it’s not worth $9. A Dean’s List “C.”
The Hoax
There’s also Richard Gere’s, “The Hoax”, the true story of Clifford Irving, the author who wrote a fake biography of reclusive billionaire, Howard Hughes; had it published and became an instant celebrity. It’s a great piece of 70's history and a really interesting look at our thirst for inside celebrity news. Alfred Molina and Marcia Gay Harden co-star in this Dean's List "B."