A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE (2005)

Once again I have been lax in my updating duties; my apologies blog buds.

This next film is simply superb and my meagre review really does not do it justice. The thriller aspect of the film is crisply conducted and the dynamic characters at the heart of the story jump off the screen. The story will grip you and the film will challenge you on many levels.

A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE (2005)

Star Rating: ***** out of 5

A deep, thought-provoking masterpiece from an exceptional auteur. A small town diner owner (Viggo Mortensen) is mistaken for an underworld tough guy, leading to tense moments for his family and town. But is this really a case of mistaken identity? This is simply an intelligent film which asks much from the audience. Director David Cronenberg plays thoroughly with genre but it is not to manipulate the audience. In fact, he is challenging the audience and our preconceptions of the thriller genre. As the title suggests, violence is key and Cronenberg strives to show the gruesome results of real violence. But the film goes on to ask how important and necessary violence can be and whether or not violence can simply be an on/off switch, as it is in many movies. There’s also an incisive point about the attraction of violence, something we hardly own up to in popular culture. Cronenberg and company have crafted a marvelous piece of art in the mold of a terrific genre thriller. And this could not have been pulled off if the acting was not unbelieveably superb. Mortensen and Maria Bello (playing his wife) were clearly robbed of Oscar nominations. This film will stay with you for days, if not weeks ... it is simply that good. A film not to be missed.

Film Rec

So I recently caught two solid films, a classic and a soon to be classic.

First up we have The School of Rock. Now the combination of director Richard Linklater and comedic virtuoso Jack Black means cinema gold in my book. But, I must admit, going into the film I was expecting a dressed up after-school special. And while the uplifting plot won't surprise anyone, the film works deftly in its own feel good, charming way. Anyway, if this sounds hokey and sentimental to you don't worry because the film is still absolutely hilarious and the music (all the child actors are also trained musicians) is quite good. Seriously, you should see the film just for the Jack Black, Joan Cusack scenes.

The classic I was referring to is In the Heat of the Night. This 1967 film stars Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger with Norman Jewison at the helm. This film is definitely a favorite of mine and I like to point at it as proof H-wood made decent films at one time. And this is not to say H-wood simply makes crappola nowadays but how many Lindsay Lohan or Tom Cruise films must the world really need. The major studios no longer care about art, even in the sense of telling a good story. They're mainly interested in bankable stars and their target audience (15 year-olds from Orange County). Anyway, this classic film (based on the John Ball novel) follows the trials of a black, Philly homicide detective (Poitier) who thanks to the racist charms of Mississippi gets stuck helping the local police in a murder investigation. Steiger plays the local police chief who needs Poitier's help but finds himself in trouble navigating the town's racial overtones as this black detective tries to solve the murder. The film is well crafted in every aspect and while it may not be as gritty as a modern telling, the Poitier, Steiger interplay has a lot to say even in the new millennium. Highly recommended.