Return of the Living SB Movie Experiment: Pontypool

[SsnakeBite, the No1 Frenchman]

Hopefully I will be able to watch Bad Lieutenant today. In the meantime, enjoy this new batch of quick reviews of suggestions I have already seen. Or don't. I'm not your mom, I'm not going to tell you what to do.


Pulp Fiction

Suggested by bob loves the Hurt Syndicate


Another one of my favourites, not to mention it includes many of my favourite actors and actresses: Bruce Willis, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta, Ving Rhames, etc... Hell, there's even a short cameo by Christopher Walken. In my opinion, this film's main attraction is its characters and atmosphere, which are two things I feel Tarantino excels at. The story is almost an afterthought and, despite being fairly simple when you break it down, can get a bit confusing due to the non-linear structure.

Come to think of it, there isn't really just one story. It's more about the stories of each individual character. Yeah, there IS a plotline connecting them of course but again, it isn't the film's main draw for me. Really it's pretty much the ultimate expression of Tarantino's style of having characters go on tangents, as the film is pretty much nothing but tangents. Thankfully, Tarantino's talent shines through and it's obvious he is one of the few directors who can really pull off the gimmick.



Modern Times

Suggested by bob loves the Hurt Syndicate (I swear, this guy must have made about half the suggestions in this thread)


I really like Chaplin's movies and this one is no exception. The film, as the title suggests, tackles the many social changes occurring at the tim as the industrialization was growing strong and America was recovering from the Great Depression (and when you think about it, it's a bit weird to think all this happened less than a century ago).

It's a great example of how satire was done back then, with The Tramp going crazy from his repetitive and dehumanizing work or him inadvertently starting a demonstration, of well done slapstick like when he slides along the machine's gears and genuine emotions with his relationship with the homeless woman. It runs the gamut of everything silent films were capable of and remains a classic for good reasons.

[Deleted]

Nothing But Trouble(1991).

[SsnakeBite, the No1 Frenchman]

Bad Lieutenant

Suggested by @ricrocket


I'll show you the film's synopsis from IMDb, to give you an idea of what I was expecting going in:

While investigating a young nun's rape, a corrupt New York City police detective, with a serious drug and gambling addiction, tries to change his ways and find forgiveness.

And now, here's what I actually got: a cop is an asshole for an hour and a half, but it's all made okay because he helps two rapists get away with their crime, which is apparently a good thing because forgiveness and shit and the safety of society can just be disregarded.

The main character of the story is a corrupt cop with so much personality that he doesn't even have a name. Seriously, people only refer to him as "lieutenant", "wop" and similar titles and even the credits don't give him a name. And he is so absurdly rotten and has f***ed up his own life so bad that even Max Payne would tell him to lighten up and get his shit together. Seriously, every single damn cliché of the self-destructive guy in the book is present. He drinks, he is unkempt, he cheats on his wife, he ignores his family, he gambles (with mobsters natch), he takes drugs, he is violent. Everything is done to make sure you understand he is a dirty cop. I am not even kidding when I say that the extra from Hobo With a Shotgun who actually turns to the camera and yells out "WE'RE AAAALLLLLLL DIRTY COPS!!!!" shows more subtlety and character development than "The Lieutenant". I expected more restraint from the director of Driller Killer.

Now I don't know about you but when a film is, right from the start, so far down the cynical road, I quickly lose interest. After all, if the movie doesn't give a shit, why should I? And here's the thing: in many other movies, the guy would slowly go through an arc and improve as a person, but here there is none of that. Through the entire film he remains the same miserable, despicable asshole with no growth, no change whatsoever. So I must ask again, why should I care? It's like a character study with no study. And very little character. Cobra Verde this ain't.

And I do mean a character study with no study, because if you were hoping the plot would make it worth watching well you're shit out of luck because there is no plot. Oh there are events. Scenes. But nothing creating anything that could be called a story. The Nun's rape happens 30 minutes in and takes about ten more minutes to be addressed, so for a while it feels like a random rape scene spliced in because the director feels the movie wasn't being ridiculous enough. As for the redemption part? Never happens. Oh sure, it's supposed to at the end but as I alluded to earlier, it's done by having The Lieutenant let the rapists go because the Nun forgave them, which of course is genuine forgiveness and couldn't be a coping mechanism or, as very often happens with rape victims, her being too ashamed or afraid to press charges.

So yes, our hero's redemption is to help rapists get away with their crime with no regard for the law or public safety, because what are the odds of rapists doing it again when they can rape a nun in a church and get away with it, not to mention they're also crackheads and so presumably spend a vast amount of time not exactly thinking straight? But hey, at least he gave them a one-way ticket out of New York so they can be in a place where they don't have a record and nobody knows them so it's easier for them to commit more crimes. To be fair, as Superman would say, now they're "over there"'s problem and "over there" has to stand for itself.
Bravo, lieutenant, I haven't seen such a misunderstood hero since Jamie Lannister raped his sister next to their child's corpse. It's the anti-Clockwork Orange: whereas that movie showed that redemption can only be achieved by putting effort into actually becoming a better person, facing your crimes and the people you've hurt and making amends, Bad Lieutenant argues that redemption is more about just kind of forgetting anything happened.

And the rest of the film? Well it's nothing, and I mean nothing but LT doing drugs, drinking and/or being an asshole. You'd think, this being a cop film and all, that we'd see him investigate the Nun's rape but nope, the rape is a sub-plot and solved with a throwaway line with a random extra telling LT that two thugs tried to pawn a goblet stolen from the Church and literally walking him to the rapists. Wow, police work is easy! And please don't ask why she didn't tell the cops earlier that she knew who the rapists are.

It's fairly obvious there wasn't much a script either because scenes that should be about 30 seconds short are padded out and constantly drag on... and on... and on... and on... and on... for no freaking reason and they repeat themselves ad nauseam. For crying out loud we don't need to see him get into arguments with other crooked cops over sports bet over and over again, especially when the payoff is ultimately so pointless. And we don't need to constantly see him drink, shoot heroin, smoke crack or steal from stores and even crime scenes. Aside from the rape and the ending, NOTHING. HAPPENS. An hour and a half of a guy doing drugs, getting drunk, getting into arguments about gambling and committing various crimes that really should have gotten him fired off the force and jailed not to mention he frequently does it in public. If you removed all the padding, I honestly believe the film would be about 40 minutes long, and if you removed all the pointless "getting high and being an asshole" scenes (which themselves are padded as all Hell) it would be about 10 minutes long top. I was begging for something, ANYTHING to happen. I ended up yelling at the movie to get to the point but joke's on me, there was no point to begin with!

Oh and I especially love one scene in particular where he stops two girls, who are implied to be underage, and when he finds out they are driving without a license, forces one of them to expose herself and the other to simulate a blow job while he jerks off to it, threatening to arrest them and call their father if they refuse. This scene achieves nothing but does make LT look like a complete hypocrite when he gives a lesson to the rapists. Sure, he didn't actually violate them but he still forced two women to indulge his sexual fantasies against their will and he's a borderline pedo. Also that "miming a blowjob" crap reeks of an awkward rewrite of a previously raunchier version of the scene because seriously, who the f*** does that?


After that, I need... just something, anything where stuff happens. Preferably crazy stuff, something stimulating. I don't even care if it's good, just show me something that doesn't make me apathetic, please. So... what's next?

Return to Oz

YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!

[Deleted]

Bad Lieutenant Port of New Orleans. The Nicolas Cage version

[Deleted]

Good review. I first watched Bad Lieutenant when I was 15(?), during my "I'm going to watch all these hard R films because...

Phase." It was an experience... Not like watching Cannibal Holocaust that same year, but an experience nonetheless.

My next suggestion is 25th Hour(2002).

[SsnakeBite, the No1 Frenchman]

May 15, 2014 13:04:20 GMT -5 @ricrocket said:

Good review. I first watched Bad Lieutenant when I was 15(?), during my "I'm going to watch all these hard R films because...

Phase." It was an experience... Not like watching Cannibal Holocaust that same year, but an experience nonetheless.

My next suggestion is 25th Hour(2002).

Heh heh, I remember being like that. Hell, I remember thinking I was a badass for watching 13 Ghosts when I was 12. I was adorable back then.

[Deleted]

The Collection (2012)

[bob loves the Hurt Syndicate]

Dr. No

[Hulk With A Mustache]

A Fish Called Wanda

[J is Justice]

Brave.

[nickcave]

The Fearless Freaks

[SsnakeBite, the No1 Frenchman]

Return to Oz

Suggested by J is Justice


This is kind of a sequel to The Wizard of Oz but not really, a sortaquel as I like to call those. Really it's more of a sequel to the Wizard of Oz book, or the general story. Past events and characters are frequently referenced, with the bigger part of the story being about rescuing Scarecrow, but there are obvious inconsistencies which make it implausible for it to be a direct sequel to the 1939 film and it doesn't try to be, which is good because I have not actually seen that one.

The story is based on some of the more obscure Oz books and this movie takes place months after the tornado. Dorothy's parents are financially ruined but they still decide to send her to a doctor because she is hardly getting any sleep and keeps raving about Oz. However, she escapes and ends up transported back to Oz. Unfortunately, things aren't well there: the Yellow Brick Road is destroyed, the Emerald City is in ruins and its inhabitants have been turned to stone. Of course, Dorothy wants to find out what happened and save Oz and with the help of some new friends she meets along the ride (since Scarecrow is missing and Cowardly Lion & Tin Man are among those turned to stone).

The film, as you might expect is very strange, and bizarre is always something I welcome. This is very much a fairytale so there are quite a few things you need to just roll with and I'm totally fine with that. It's really a film to enjoy for its atmosphere. Besides, the movie makes it work and makes you just want to sit back and enjoy.

Now, I heard this film has a reputation for being dark but I must say I don't really see it. Sure there are some moments that might be scary for kids, but no worse than in any other family film, especially when you consider some of the stuff Disney has put us through. In fact, I found it to be a very pleasant film, thanks in large parts to its colourful cast of lovable characters. Thanks also to its excellent visuals. Seriously, the film looks amazing and very creative. In fact, it is the only live-action film I can think of that has claymotion that I actually think looks good. Of course, it helps that it was used for characters made of rock so the stiff and jittery style works.

So, in conclusion, a very charming and pleasant film. As an adult, I find it a relaxing and enjoyable watch and I'm sure as a child I would have loved it. Definitely a good family film.


Aw man, I needed something like that after Bad Lieutenant. Hopefully we'll have more of that next!

I Spit on Your Grave

I. Hate. Everything.

[bob loves the Hurt Syndicate]

Citizen Kane

[Deleted]

21 Jump Street

[Deleted]

The Quiet(2005).

[bob loves the Hurt Syndicate]

Glen or Glenda

[J is Justice]

Patch Adams.

[Deleted]

The People Under The Stairs(1991).

[SsnakeBite, the No1 Frenchman]

Day of the Woman (a.k.a. I Spit on Your Grave)

Suggested by bob loves the Hurt Syndicate


I really wasn't sure what to expect from this, one of the first rape-revenge films and if not the first, at least the most famous and influential one. I kept hearing both good and bad about it, although considering the bad mostly came from people who openly admitted to have never seen it (with some of them, including women's rights activists, changing their tune once they actually watched it), plus the fact that I also knew that the motivation for the film's creation is that the director and some of his friends once witnessed a woman who had been raped, bloody and naked, coming out of bushes and when they took her to a police station, well... let's say the police wasn't very helpful, I at least had some hopes for this film.

Now, it isn't uncommon for films to have one scene that sticks out, that even people who haven't seen them know about and that seem to define their entire identity to the general public, for better ("This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship") or for worse ("YO AH TAEHIN ME APAHT LEESSAH!"). For this one... it's famous for having a twenty-five minutes long rape scene. So yeah, it's hard to go into this movie without apprehensions.

But really, I don't think it's fair to describe it so simplistically as it makes it sound like it's twenty minutes of uninterrupted rape and played for voyeurism. In reality, there is more going on, with various breaks and hope spots and what really struck me is that, for what is generally regarded as an exploitation film, this part (as it isn't really one long scene either) in particular is absolutely not. The rape is in no way glamorized or whitewashed and it anything but erotic. It is shown for what it is: a brutal, cowardly act that dehumanizes the victim. The film takes a good portion of time showing us the part that of course rapists never think about: the suffering and struggle of the victim as they try to recover from it.

I also liked the fact that it painted a fairly accurate portrayed of rapists: they think of themselves as badass alpha males but they are nothing but weak, dumb, selfish cowards who can't think of anything but violence to compensate for their insecurities and cower in fear the instant their façade is breached and try to shift the blame rather than face the consequences of their actions. No detail of the rape-apologist shithead "logic" is omitted. "You've been asking for it! Have you seen the way you dress and act? I'm a man, I can't help it! I'm sure you liked it! And you screw around so much anyway, what's a few more guys to you? Women should be submissive to men!", etc...

So yeah, the film does a very good job of showing rape for what an awful and inhuman act it is, and rapists for the dregs they are. However, I cannot say the film is a complete success as the revenge part is rather awkwardly made. The biggest problem I have with it is that for as realistic and raw as the first part of the film is, the revenge feels a lot more... cinematic, dramatized. It especially shows with the fact that Jennifer, the main character, uses her body to trap her rapists and even sleeps with one of them. Now, I get what they were going for: she wants to punish them in a way that mirrors what they did to her and she wants to regain control of her body and her sexuality. But still... it's a tough to buy a rape victim seducing her attackers and having sex with them, even for revenge.

This isn't helped by the fact that one of the rapists, Matthew, feels very much out of place. Again, I get what they were trying to do: he's a simpleton and easily manipulated, but the way he is written and played makes him come across as a goofy comedy relief character, which is obviously not what they were going for and of course doesn't feel right at all for a film like that, especially when, again, it is otherwise so down-to-Earth and realistic. I also can't deny there's some stuff that is just plain hard to take seriously, like one of the guys somehow not realizing he got he dick sliced off until it starts bleeding.

Another problem that many people seem to have with this film, even among those who like it, and that I must agree with, is the strange order of the killings. You see, Johnny, the leader of the group, is the second victim of the revenge, which is strange as he is the one who instigated the rape and the first of them to have violated her so you'd think it would be especially personal and she would go for him last. On top of that, after killing him, there is a striking scene of Jennifer putting on some music and sitting in a chair, looking relaxed and fulfilled. This really feels like it should have been how the film ends, but there are two more guys after that. It almost feels like it WAS supposed to be the end but it was rewritten at the last minute for some reason.

So yeah, it is debatable how well the film executed its ideas. I can see why other people wouldn't like it but I still think it works as the parts showing how cold and cruel rape is make up for the bad parts. And don't let anyone tell you this film is misogynistic because by God it does not in any way glorify rapists and does everything in its power to show that despite what said rapists claim, nothing about it is the victim's fault and that no, it is not okay to assault someone because of the way they dress or act because by its very definition, you cannot ask for rape. And it also shows that nothing is more mistaken than to think you're manly for forcing yourself on a woman.

If you intend to see this movie though, I must warn you, don't think the sensibilities of the time made people overreact to a now tame movie. It IS a very tough film to sit through, so be sure you can stomach some pretty raw violence.

And to end on a lighter note, fun fact: the first Friday the 13th was shot in the same location a few years later!


Next we have a more light-hearted work, a sci-fi comedy, Attack the Block. Not sure what to expect from it but seeing how it was suggested by the same person as the one who suggested Cockneys vs Zombies, I have high hopes.

[Drillbit Taylor]

Victory