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Mini Reviews of a Whole Lotta Underrated Movies

The holidays have ended and Im back at school, but with all that spare time - that Ill no longer have - I watched a whole lot of underrated gems (I saw a couple of these movies way back at the start of December). So in alphabetical order, Ill serve up a few words on Richard Linklaters Bernie, Ralph Fiennes Coriolanus, Tony Kayes Detachment, Lee Tamahoris The Devils Double, David Ayers End of Watch, and Amy Heckerlings Vamps.


Bernie (2011) / US / Out on DVD now / Directed by Richard Linklater / Written by Richard Linklater and Skip Hollandsworth / Starring Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey, Brady Coleman / 104 mins

Ive already said a lot about Jack Blacks performance as convicted murderer with a heart of gold, Bernie Tiede. And there wont be a point for a very long time where I dont champion that performance. Everything just clicks, and usually Black annoys the heck out of me. The movie itself is just wonderful - and I saw it twice in the holidays. I wouldnt say Im an expert on Richard Linklaters films, but I feel like he is one of the best working directors and no one really realises it. Hes just so consistent in his work. This film, all about the Bernie Tiede case where he kills a woman hes been living with (Shirley MacLaine) coz hes had it with her, is mostly told mockumentary style, with real people who were around during the whole ordeal relaying the events for the camera. It feels so real, in a bizarrely unreal way. To be honest, this is the Matthew McConaughey performance from 2012 that I have no trouble going back to again and again. I mean, who really wants to brave Killer Joe a second time? And yeah, Magic Mike wasnt my favourite.
Why see it? The performances. And it is damn entertaining.




Coriolanus (2011) / UK / Out on DVD now / Directed by Ralph Fiennes / Written by John Logan based on the play Coriolanus by William Shakespeare / Starring Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Brian Cox, Vanessa Redgrave, Jessica Chastain, James Nesbitt / 122 mins. 

Basically, this has been my most anticipated movie forever, not only because it is my favourite actor, Ralph Fiennes directorial debut, but because my favourite actress, Jessica Chastain is also in it. I mean, I could basically hear a choir of angels floating around going "this is all for you Stevee, you can just wait a year and a half for it though". I wouldnt say I completely loved the movie, particularly because admittedly, Im not so into Shakespearean language when I dont have the chance to fully digest them. This film takes the language and puts it into a very modern setting, filled with modern warfare and exile. The basic bones of the story is that theres much unrest in a city much like Rome, and a lot of people blame Roman general Caius Martius Coriolanus (Fiennes) for that, including his arch enemy Tullus Aufidius (Butler - turning in a surprisingly fantastic performance). The story definitely does fit the modern setting, particularly because the story is rather bleak and the setting is quite scarily empty and damaged, so they really go hand in hand. Fiennes has quite the flair for directing, especially getting the most he could out of modernising Shakespeare. I can see there was a bit of influence from Kathryn Bigelow - whom he worked with on Strange Days and The Hurt Locker - here, with his jerky camera and straight and narrow way of playing out the facts. Vanessa Redgrave turns in a performance which really should have been nominated for an Oscar last year. Jessica Chastain is wonderful, despite the fact she has very few opportunities to shine.
Why see it? It is a good - not great - modernisation of Shakespeare. Plus, Ralph Fiennes doing Shakespeare is one of the best things ever. And Jessica Chastain.


Detachment (2011) / US / Currently undated in NZ / Directed by Tony Kaye / Written by Carl Lund / Starring Adrien Brody, Christina Hendricks, Marcia Gay Harden, Sami Gayle, James Caan / 97 mins.

Detachment is one film which I hadnt heard that much about until I happened to watch it by chance earlier this month. And Im damn glad that I did end up watching it. It is a film of many facets. In one way, it looks at the state of education in America from the point of view of the teachers. In another way, it looks at the state of the students who are being educated. In a whole different way, it is a character study of substitute teacher Henry Barthes (Adrien Brody in one of his best performances of the past few years), who is wandering through life trying not to care for or about anyone. It doesnt always meld these different facets together well, but that doesnt make it any less fascinating. I definitely wasnt expecting the film to pack such a punch like it did, but I havent been able to shake the end for quite some time. All I can say is that you see this flawed masterpiece for yourself. Even if Tony Kayes direction gets a little bit distracting sometimes, his film is something to behold.
Why see it? It is one of the most intriguingly made films to surface recently.


The Devils Double (2011) / US / Out on DVD now / Directed by Lee Tamahori / Written by Michael Thomas, based on the books by Latif Yahia / Starring Dominic Cooper, Ludivine Sagnier, Raad Rawi, Philip Quast / 109 mins.

If you look at the poster to The Devils Double, we have a whole scene doused in gold, including Dominic Cooper holding a rather large gun. I dont know what it is, but theres something absurdly intriguing about this poster. And it pretty much sums up the film. It is based on the supposedly true story of Latif Yahia, who is hired to be the body double of Saddam Husseins sadistic son Uday, with Dominic Cooper playing both roles. Basically, the film is extremely sadistic, violent, and everything that makes an R18 film what it is. For the most part, it was so absurdly put together and the House of Hussein was one interesting place when put on film. I cant say it always had its eye on the ball the entire time (it seemed to delve into violence when it ran out of ways to go), but it was immensely entertaining even if it was sickening. By far and beyond the best thing about this film, though, was Dominic Coopers dual performances. Id put him just behind Michael Fassbenders performance in Shame for the best performances of 2011, hes that good. You can always tell exactly which character hes playing through his on point mannerisms and utter fearlessness. It may help that Ive always been a fan of Cooper - sadly from his "you tried" performance in Mamma Mia - but his performance here is truly back-breakingly fantastic.
Why see it? Dominic Coopers performance. And it is directed by a New Zealander. Not that youd realise it. Lee Tamahori has come a long way since Once Were Warriors.


End of Watch (2012) / US / Currently undated in NZ / Written and Directed by David Ayer / Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena, Natalie Martinez, Anna Kendrick, David Harbour, America Ferrera, Cody Horn / 109 mins. 

To be honest, End of Watch was not high on my watchlist until every man and his dog kept raving about it. I sure as hell wasnt expecting to be sitting on the airplane flying over the Equator bawling my eyes out. Yeah, thanks for warning me about that everyone. Anyway, the film is filmed in a found footage kind of style that also has some other grainy, documentary style stuff going on at the same time. It is hard to explain, and while it is a little bit silly sometimes, it works for the most part (but that comes down to the fantastic material). It mostly just follows the story of cops Brian Taylor (Gyllenhaal) and Mike Zavala (Pena), both in their work and in their personal lives. Things go bad for them when a gang want them dead. Admittedly, the gang were a bit one dimensional and too annoying to be threatening, but that didnt really detract from what was going on. Whats interesting is that most of the banter between Taylor and Zavala was improvised, and it just felt totally natural. In fact, most things about this film felt totally natural, and thats why it worked so well. It isnt your typical cop drama - it is one that you should definitely believe the hype for. It was crazy good.
Why see it? It is one of the best cop films Ive seen in a long time.


Vamps (2012) / US / Out on DVD now / Written and Directed by Amy Heckerling / Starring Alicia Silverstone, Krysten Ritter, Dan Stevens, Wallace Shawn, Sigourney Weaver / 92 mins.

Amongst all of these dramas and the like, heres a very light-hearted comedy that I guess is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. Written and directed by Amy Heckerling, the mind behind Clueless, and also starring Cher herself, Alicia Silverstone, Vamps is a rather funny, but also kind of depressing vampire comedy. Silverstone stars as Goody, a nearly 200 year old vampire who lives in New York with her younger vampire sister Stacy (Krysten Ritter). The two pursue dating, and the later falls in love with none other than Matthew I cant drive properly Crawley from Downton Abbey, who is also named Joey Van Helsing of all things. Yeah, it is pretty silly, but what I loved most about this film, apart from Dan Stevens being adorable without being Matthew Crawley, was the fact that it was really just an ode to the past through Goody, as shes been through so many time periods in her life. The final montage was so beautiful, as it went through all the different fads and phases she had to go through in order to keep up with the human world. Plus, Krysten Ritter is awesome. I wouldnt say this film is amazing, but it is definitely an underrated comedy that deserves more of an audience.
Why see it? It is an ode to nostalgia - not as effective as Midnight in Paris, but close to it, in a guilty pleasure sort of way.

Have you seen any of these films? What did you think of them?

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Memorable Dance Scenes in 80s and 90s Movies

There are certain movie moments that have an enduring impact, resonating with film-watchers long after theyve left the theater or turned off the DVD. Dance scenes in particular resonate well with movie fans. When executed well, these moments have the power to morph into iconic imagery, inspiring their fair share of parody and mocking. We may all be sick of Pulp Fiction dance knock-offs, but its a testament to the original that its spawned so many lesser imitators. Much, much lesser.

While some of these movies may predate some of us children of 90s birthdates by a year or two, their popularity was long-standing enough to make them a memorable part of our childhood. Whether you blame on VHS or incessant TV re-running, these movies are well-known to kids coming of age in the 90s. Plus, it would be pretty difficult to compile a list of favorite dance movie moments while completely overlooking the 80s; the easy cheesiness of 80s movies was a prime breeding ground for iconic dance scenes.

Just to be clear, theres a fine line in defining these categories here at Children of the 90s. Avid readers (Im probably flattering myself here) may remember a feature entitled "80s and 90s Spontaneous Group Dance Scenes Where Everyone Knows Exactly What to Do." This blog has never been short on specificity. If were splitting hairs, we (okay, I) may as well set some ground rules for these entirely different set of dance scene movie moments:

1. Theyre generally in character. Most of these moments dont have us suspending our disbelief at completely uncharacteristic behavior from our principal actors. The moves might be over-the-top or silly, but these dances are reasonably within the parameters of the characters behavior and ability.

2. They may be prerehearsed. Unlike the Shes All That style prom dance phenomenon, the majority of these dances involve some sort of choregraphing backstory. In the case of the 80s movies, these rehearsals are best shown to us in the form of a training montage, culminating in the achievement of a tough move timed at the most climactic moment in the corresponding background music. If the moment does occur spontaneously, its realistically within the ability of our stars.

3. They usually involve relatively few dancers. Instead of large scale Fame-style scenes that could now be classified as formidable flash mobs, plain old "dance moments" are mostly sparsely populated affairs.

With those rules that Ive just made up firmly in place, its time to meet our contenders for memorable 80s and 90s movie dance scenes:


(Ive Had) the Time of my Life (Dirty Dancing)


dirty dancing - time of my life (video)2
Uploaded by carlson.

Oh, how I once longed for Jennifer Greys dress in this scene. It probably wouldnt be quite so twirly without the dancing talent, but I like to think wearing it would have given me the motivation to learn. Few of us can ever hear "(Ive Had) the Time of my Life" without immediately thinking of the big lift at the end. Its also purportedly the third most popular song played at British funerals. That fact is from Wikipedia, so take it as you will, but if its true its incredibly ridiculous.


What A Feeling and Maniac (Flashdance)?



If you ever need inspiration for costuming yourself for an 80s party, look no further than Flashdance. This movie is an 80s cliche goldmine, from its ripped-neck off the shoulder t-shirts to the ubiquitous leg warmers. The movie also serves as a great guide for how to cast your dance movie with a non-dancing star through heavy reliance on misleading body doubles. If shes wearing the same leg warmers, its got to be the same person, right?



Footloose (Footloose)



Based on movie industry standards, were all just a mere six degrees from starring in this movie. Really makes you feel a part of it, doesnt it? Kevin Bacon plays Ren, a city teen who finds himself in an oppressive small town with a serious aversion to rock n roll. I do mean serious. Sense of humor isnt really the towns strong suit. Somehow, though, Ren stages a full 180, and everyone realizes just how great rock music and dancing can be. Its cheesy, but everyone seems to be having such a genuinely good time its tough not to get caught up in it.


You Can Never Tell (Pulp Fiction)



This scene is pure Tarantino, a man whos vision can be pretty divisive. His work is very stylized, full of personal trademarks, meta-references, and usually reliant on a nonlinear storytelling method. Whether you love him or you hate him, its tough to deny the appeal of this scene. Something about it just works. Maybe its the way they seem to be taking themselves so seriously, or possibly its the thrill of seeing John Travolta back in dancing action. Whatever it is, it all adds up to an incredibly memorable dance scene.


Tango (Scent of a Woman)



This truly is a beautiful scene, expertly choreographed and set to the instrumental "Por Una Corbeza". Its quieter and less outwardly dramatic than some of the dances on this list, but its moving in its own right. As Lieutenant Colonel Slade tells Donna, "If you make a mistake and get all tangled up, just tango on." Wise words, indeed.


Old Time Rock n Roll (Risky Business)



When I first started living by myself, I had to constantly repress my impulse to don mens briefs and some Wayfarer sunglasses while blasting some Bob Seger. After watching this movie, it can become a tough prospect to resist. That and turning your home into an impromptu brothel. Really, we all fall into that trap from time to time

Risky Business established Tom Cruise as a bona fide sex symbol, shaping his career for the better part of the next decade or so. Recently, his public image has gone sort of the way of Britney Spears; that is, their names were once used as incredibly favorable comparisons, theyre still putting out arguably solid work, but their forays in crazy public behavior has led to a drop in their celebrity stock. Whenever I see clips of Tom Cruise couch-jumping with glee or accusing Matt Lauer of glibness, I try to block it all out with the image from the above scene. Its pretty powerful--it usually does the trick.



Chopsticks/Heart and Soul (Big)



Big is big on heart, effectively capturing the earnestness of children before theyre inevitably ravaged by the cynicism of imagination-crushing adulthood. It may sound bleak, but there are moments of reprieve when we can transport ourselves back to our childhood mindset. Thats why youre here reading, after all.

Tom Hanks plays a magically aged man-child, and his innocence and enthusiasm is contagious to his adult peers. Some might argue that this is not a dance per se, but if youve ever attempted any sort of cohesive melody on the giant piano mat at FAO Schwarz you know it takes an incredible amount of kinesthetic coordination. Dance or not, its pretty darn heartwarming.



Dancing in Heaven (Girls Just Want to Have Fun)



Its entirely possible this movie played a significantly smaller role in your childhood than in mine, but as someone whose family owned a very limited number of VHS tapes my daily watching regimen was regularly split between this movie and The Sound of Music. On the sum of these alternating days, I watched Girls Just Want to Have Fun something like 200 times, yet I never managed to master the dance at their DTV final on-air competition. This movies got the requisite 80s montage and tons of great dancing footage, not to mention some awesome costumes. If you ever see Helen Hunts lizard hat in a thrift shop somewhere, please pick it up for me. I promise to pay you back.


Doesnt this all just make you want to have a life-affirming dance moment in your day? It seems like the perfect culminating event to wrap up your days story line. Imagine how much more interesting a day at the office would be if the climax of your workday was marked by a Baby and Johnny-style dramatic lift? Thats the world Id like to someday live in. Someday.

Available link for download