Merry Christmas, Everybody! Have A Good One!

You ever notice that when you're thinking about the impending holiday coming up, you tend to reflect on the last one? It never ceases to amaze me just how fast the Christmas season can come and go. Of course, I say this every year, but every year it rings more true.

See, when Christmas is getting closer and closer, I think more and more about the last one. So when I think about Christmas 2006, several memories come back to me. Hanging out with the boys in the basement, playing Family Feud and watching "Christmas Vacation" with the family on Christmas Eve, heading up to Warman on Christmas Day to see my other brothers and sisters, and the Boxing Day dance in Outlook. That last one is especially a good memory, because I realize the same thing every year when I go to the dance; it's nothing short of a Class Of 2004 reunion. People have been away for so long - they're working, going to school, whatever, so its great to see them when they all come home for the holidays. Of course, I never forget to carry my trusty digital camera so I can snap some photos of my former classmates and I. All in all its always a fun night. Dare I say that I look forward to the dance more than Christmas itself? BLASPHEMY!! I CAST THEE OUT!!! (well there might be some truth to it...)

I'm not sure if I have a particular favorite Christmas, but here are some random years that I have fond memories of. You may have read these in my Christmas Memories feature in our December 17 issue of The Outlook, but nevertheless, here it is.

**THE HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHT REEL**

1992: My brothers and I get a Nintendo system from our parents, complete with the always-packaged-with Mario Bros/Duck Hunt game. Everything else becomes moot because its time for Mario to eat some 'shrooms, save the Princess, and defeat the evil warlord Bowzer. As well as shooting digital ducks and high-flying clay shells.

1995: My oldest brother Jim comes home for Christmas and hands out gifts to everyone, minus me. He tells me that mine will be coming in the mail, so I go into the living room and watch the WWF on TV. Dad, sympathetic to my disappointment, sneaks into the room and tells me what exactly is on the way - an authentic WHL Calgary Hitmen jersey, the team co-owned by one of my all-time idols, Bret "The Hitman" Hart.

1999: At first, I'm disappointed to learn that my parents didn't buy me the drum set that I hoped to get. I make a feeble attempt to not look devastated but soon learn that Santa must exist, and yet he must have mixed up his lists, because it sits in Ken Blixt's house a couple blocks away as Mom and I go over there. Its a noisy but happy holiday season.

2000: Overdosing on holiday spirit, I buy Christmas gifts for nearly my entire Grade Nine class. Where I got the money I still don't remember. Regardless, my act produces many smiling faces. As for myself, I'm more nervous than I've been in my life, because I have a gift for my crush Janine in my hand. Of course, procrastinating as I am, everybody is watching as I give her my gift. As a result of the unintended "show", I'm sweating like Roger Ebert and nearly pass out in front of my locker door.

2001: I once again buy gifts for people in my class, but drastically downsize the list. I wear a Santa hat as I stroll into English class with Mr. McPhail in our last period of the day, and hand out gifts as we pretty much forget about class and Mr. M reads us some Christmas jokes and stories. Don't really remember a whole lot about Christmas at home that year.

2003: My buddies Chris, Kyle, Mitch, Alex and I get together at Kyle's place after school's out for the holidays. We watch probably about 5 or 6 movies and spend most of the night joking and horsing around, as well as burning candles and seeing who can last the longest with hot wax dripping on them. Can't remember who won but I remember it hurt like Hell. My family celebrates Christmas in Calgary with Jim and sis-in-law Daniella, so we open our gifts the night before we leave. My parents give me the camcorder I asked for, possibly making it the most expensive gift my parents have ever given any of their kids. I guess I'm just that special. Nevertheless, I feel a little bummed that I don't have any more gifts to open on Christmas Day but that feeling goes away quickly. What we all don't expect is the fight that Jim and Daniella have the day before we leave, which sort of puts a strain on the rest of that holiday season. Regardless, its just a lover's quarrel and all is forgotten. Nobody's perfect.

2004: Mom is again in Calgary this Christmas with Jim and Daniella, this time helping in the birth of my now 3-year old nephew Curtis. I do the cooking and cleaning on Christmas Eve, making Shake 'N Bake chicken with mashed potatoes and mixed veggies. Afterwards, family friend Curtis Read comes over and we all play Uno for most of the night, before watching "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" and going to bed. We open our gifts the next morning before heading off to Warman, celebrating Christmas with the rest of our family at my sister Launa and bro-in-law Brad's house.

2005: On my way out to Victoria back in September, I buy my round-trip plane tickets home for the holidays in advance. When it comes time to use them in December, I find myself almost not wanting to go home. Strange. Regardless, I have fun on Friday the 16th, playing Scene It! in screenwriting class, having lunch at Boston Pizza with my entourage of classmates, and seeing "King Kong" at the multiplex downtown. I then get back to my apartment, confirm my ride to the airport, and pack my suitcases while watching Smackdown. Its a long day at two different airports the next day, but I get home at about 9:00 on the 17th, my brother Perry's birthday. We get home, I unpack, and jet over to Outlook where I surprise the Hell out of Chris and Kyle and show up at Kyle's place, walk in without knocking, and casually walk down to the basement, like as if I hadn't been gone for over three months. Christmas Eve is especially good, as I simply drive around Outlook for more than an hour and a half, listening to music and enjoying being home for the brief time. Its a great holiday, and I get a digital camera for Christmas. Saying good-bye on New Year's Day proves to be emotional again but I make it back to Victoria safe and sound.

2006: I pretty much went through last year's way above, but I guess the memory that sticks out the most was the Boxing Day dance. I went with my buddy Alex and we ended up being the absolute first two people there. Things got going quick though and it was a great time. I took a boatload of pictures and loved talking to my old classmates again. I look forward to doing the same this year.

So there you have it. More memories, more secrets revealed in the never-ending saga that is my life. I only hope that this year will prove to be one worthy of remembering.

With that, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Remember that our offices at The Outlook are **CLOSED** from December 24 - January 2. Take care of each other and make sure you have a happy holiday.

If you want something fun to do before your holiday traveling begins, then head on down to the Jim Kook Arena *TONIGHT* for Round One of the "Battle Of The Bridge", as the Ice Hawks play host to my Conquest Merchants. Round Two is going to be on New Year's Eve in Conquest. There's also a good supply of other SVHL games going on around the holidays that should keep you entertained.

Again, Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!

See you NEXT YEAR, and in the meantime...

Keep 'em laughin',
Derek

I'm Already Standing In Line...

Crave Online: Funny Videos, Sexy Videos, Music Videos, Movie Trailers, and More!

This is the newly-released theatrical trailer for next summer's "The Dark Knight", the follow-up to 2005's "Batman Begins", in which the entire franchise was reinvisioned and brought back down to Earth, where the Caped Crusader is more realistic and fighting with his demons as opposed to the loud, bombastic, Batcard-carrying installments "Batman Forever" (1995) and "Batman & Robin" (1997).

"The Dark Knight" has been hyped, anticipated and closely watched virtually ever since people left their theater seats after "Begins". Set for release on July 18, 2008, this is no doubt one of, if not THE most anticipated film of the year. Christian Bale returns as Batman, along with cast regulars from "Begins" Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman. New faces along for this installment are Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart and of course, Heath Ledger as The Joker.

There's a lot to love in this trailer. For the first time, we're shown official footage of some of the characters in the film, not like the voice-over teaser that we got back in August. I think Warner Bros knew that people wanted a big helping of Joker footage and this does not disappoint. Yeah, Batman is the hero and the titular character, but ever since hearing of Ledger's casting as the Clown Prince of Crime, people have been talking, blogging, and imagining just what the Oscar-nominated actor could bring to the role. From the looks of it, he loses himself in The Joker, and finds a man so deranged that he thinks he's the sane one in an insane world. It also looks to be more of a grounded, less-flamboyant Joker, which is what relaunching the entire Batman franchise was all about in the first place. Yes, you can "go there" with some things that are a bit over the top, but you're not gonna see Ledger desecrating expensive art while dancing to Prince.

That's not to say that people still don't love Jack Nicholson's interpretation of The Joker in the Tim Burton-directed "Batman" from 1989. Far from it. I still love that movie, and I grew up watching it. That film had a dark tone to it, even if it was geared towards a younger audience than today's Batman is.

As well, people are looking forward to a possible glimpse at another favorite Batman villain, Harvey "Two-Face" Dent, played by Aaron Eckhart. To my understanding, Dent will simply be his normal, District Attorney self for most of "The Dark Knight", but he'll be scarred and burned near the end, turning into Two-Face. Based on what I've read, Two-Face would be the main villain in a third film if the millions of websites are correct. That leaves the fate of The Joker up in the air. I'm hoping that he isn't killed off in this one because The Joker is almost an immortal character. He'll always be there; lurking in the shadows of Gotham City and never leaving Batman's mind.

Another notable cast member is Maggie Gyllenhaal, playing Rachel Dawes. She takes over the role from Katie Holmes, who played Dawes in "Batman Begins" but left this film for whatever reason. Quite frankly I'm glad, because I wasn't at all impressed by Holmes in the first film. She has no range as an actress and was simply playing the generic damsel in distress. Gyllenhaal has the acting chops to give Rachel a few shots of emotion, and has a confrontational scene with The Joker, as shown in the trailer.

Yes oh yes, "The Dark Knight" is shaping up to be one heck of a film. This is definitely gonna be the one to beat for box office supremacy next summer, so I think that Indiana Jones and Iron Man have their work cut out for them.

Keep 'em laughin',
Derek

Isolation Epic Smarter Than The Average Blockbuster

"I Am Legend" (2007)
Directed by: Francis Lawrence (Constantine)
Starring: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Emma Thompson (cameo)
Running Time: 101 minutes
Rut's Rating: 4/5

Isolation is the key factor in "I Am Legend", the third adaptation of the Richard Matheson story, originally published in 1954. It grips you from the start, with opening shots of a decrepid, rotting downtown New York. And this isn't CGI, folks. What you see is what you get. You feel that sense of loneliness right from the beginning, like you're the only one left on Earth. In Robert Neville's case, he is.

Will Smith plays Neville, a scientist who becomes the last man on Earth after a deadly virus sweeps across the world and wipes out the living. But soon, the living become the walking dead, turning into blood-craving mutants. Much like vampires, they stray from sunlight and hide in the dark. Neville barricades his home and has a supply of guns and ammo ready, and spends his days sending out messages to find any survivors, as well as trying to find a cure for the deadly virus. With him is his dog Sam, a German shepherd that's loyal and stays by his side. Sam is the only contact that Neville has with another living thing, and talks to her as if she were human. You may be wondering what happened to Neville's family. Well, you're just gonna have to see the film to understand. And its not what you're probably thinking, either.

Smith is no stranger to these $100 million epics. "Independence Day", "Men In Black", "I, Robot", we've seen him in all these types of movies where he's called upon to be the hero. But "Legend" is different. Yes, he carries a big gun and fights these mutants when he has to, but its more than that. Will Smith carries this film. In a movie where he's the only human on screen for two thirds of it, he displays an excellent, emotional performance. There's one scene in particular that I found amazing in which Neville thinks that a mannequin is alive in the middle of the street. See, having been alone for nearly three years, he talks to mannequins as if they were real, and even has names for all of them. So when he sees one in the street and can't believe his eyes, he starts to go a little insane. Especially since he didn't move it...

Comparing it to the original Richard Matheson story, there are obviously some differences. Major ones. Hollywood has a tendency to change things and condense material when it comes to adapting written works, and this one is really no different. But in the case of "I Am Legend", I don't see how they could have NOT done some changing. I've read the original story, and in my opinion, it was a little preachy and over-stuffed with scientific jargon. Let's face it: movie audiences don't want to hear that stuff. They want guns, explosions, and a hero. The movie gives them that, but it also doesn't consider the audience stupid. There are some really emotional moments in the film, and you might even need to try and hold back a tear or two.

That all being said, the one miss that I think this movie had was the last act. I won't go into specifics, but it involves Neville coming across two survivors and making a final stand against the virus-ridden mutants (in the film they're called the Dark Seekers). I just think there were some missed opportunities there, but I was still very impressed and pleased with the film. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a big fan of horror films, but this one is more of a sci-fi thriller. It isn't gory, as it's rated PG-13. But that's OK because what you don't get in mutant attacks and a pile of bodies, you DO get a greatly-written story of one man's fight for survival, both physically and mentally. I really think that Will Smith was robbed when the Golden Globe nominees were revealed, because it takes a true actor to be able to unleash the performance that he does, especially when he's essentially the only character in the film.

With that, "I Am Legend" is already a record-setter, having made an incredible $77.2 million over the weekend, and breaking the original December record of $72.6 million set by "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" in 2003.

It also didn't hurt that the highly-anticipated trailer for next summer's "The Dark Knight" was attached to prints of the film. More on that coming up...

Keep 'em laughin',
Derek

Merchants Home Opener *TONIGHT*

Head on down to the rink in Conquest tonight if you have some time, as the Conquest Merchants are holding their first home game of the SVHL season, playing host to the Loreburn 19ers.

As well, look for my review of the Will Smith sci-fi thriller "I Am Legend" next week, as well as a possible one for the movie that every critic has been falling in love with, "No Country For Old Men".

I'll also go into detail about the new teaser trailer for arguably the most anticipated film of 2008, "The Dark Knight", starring Christian Bale again as Batman and Heath Ledger as The Joker. Heck, I may even post the darn thing, because from what I've heard, anybody's who been looking forward for new footage of the "Batman Begins" sequel will not be disappointed with this trailer!

All of that, and much more, next week!

Keep 'em laughin',
Derek

The Cutest Little Man You'll Ever Meet

On December 1, the Conquest Merchants held their Casino Night Fundraiser & Silent Auction. The event turned out to be a blockbuster success, as people piled into the rink from all around. This night was for one special little guy, and his name is Owen.

Owen is 1 1/2 years old, and unfortunately, the little guy was diagnosed with bone cancer. His parents, Shayne and Helen, were teary-eyed and incredibly grateful as several organizations donated thousands of dollars to the family. When a microphone was brought to his little lips, Owen started blowing kisses to the packed rink full of people!

There is absolutely no doubt that nights like these are what the holidays are all about!

All the best go out to the Clarke family, and I've never been more proud to be from a small town!
FULL STORY IN THE DECEMBER 10 ISSUE OF THE OUTLOOK...

Saskatchewan Finally Does It!!!

After 18 long years, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are once again Grey Cup Champions!

Coach Kent Austin had to be feeling a sense of deja vu when the Riders hit the field in Toronto. In a twist of fate, the '89 Cup was held in Toronto, the Riders had won it, and Austin was on the team as a star player!

The game was a tough one, and both teams came out to win, in front of over 52,000 screaming fans at the Rogers Centre. Winnipeg was especially impressive, considering their star quarterback Kevin Glenn was out with a broken arm and the rookie Ryan Dinwiddie was in.

By the time the first quarter was over, Winnipeg had 3 points on the board, but the Riders came back full-force with 10 in the second. Though the province was "bleeding green", many will likely point out that the Rider offense should have been stronger, and I agree with that. Yes, in the end we won the Grey Cup, but that's not going to stop people in Manitoba from letting us know that we got it just by the skin of our teeth! Still, it was a hard-fought war that I think the Riders wanted just more. Kerry Joseph was in tears as he handed his mother the game-winning ball at the end, while Coach Austin was splashed with Gatorade.

With a final score of 23-19, the 95th Grey Cup is sure to go down as a war between prairie neighbours. I'm sure that Regina is simply going ballistic right now, and rightfully so. No more jokes about Hell freezing over when the Riders take the Championship, or "I'll believe that when the Riders win the Grey Cup!" With our heads held high, we have the right to be proud. But so do the Bombers, because they impressed many when doubters said it'd be an easy win for Saskatchewan, which it wasn't.

Man, a new government in office, Christmas around the corner, and the Riders win the Grey Cup? What's next, a winning 6/49 ticket for yours truly? Jennifer Aniston, Uma Thurman, and Jenna Fischer all accepting my marriage proposals? Well, I guess stranger things have happened......(like us winning the Cup)

Keep 'em laughin',
Derek

Come Support Little Owen!

On Saturday night, December 1, at the Rink in Conquest, the Conquest Merchants hockey club are hosting Casino Night & Silent Auction. This is an annual thing that the team does to raise funds for the club, but this year they are also raising money for Owen Clarke.

Owen is 1 1/2 years old, and he has recently been diagnosed with cancer. The poor guy is undergoing chemotherapy, something no person should ever have to go through, let alone a child who can barely walk.

There's going to be a cash bar, and lots of cool items to bid on in the silent auction, including autographed NHL memorabilia.

The Merchants are giving Owen and his parents, Shayne and Helen, a minimum 25% of all proceeds from the event. But if it results in a huge success, the more will go to help the little guy.

Let's do what we can to help the Clarke family. Now that we're in the holiday season, we should all feel the spirit of giving, especially in this trying time for Owen and his family.

So mark your calendars and come on down to Conquest. Good times, good friends, and for a good cause!

Conquest Merchants Casino Night & Silent Auction
"For Owen"
Saturday, December 1, 7:00 PM
Conquest Rink

Come one, come all!

Keep 'em laughin'
Derek

Just Before The Big Game!

I found this lengthy gem on Rock 102's web site. Not sure exactly who wrote it, but it's very creative, no doubt about that!

Enjoy!

‘Twas The Night Before Grey Cup

Twas the night before Grey Cup, and all through the Dome,
Not a creature was stirring, but the gophers back home.
The players were nestled and snug in their beds,
While visions of Grey Cup Rings danced in their heads.

When out on the field, there arose such a clatter,
Kent sprang from his bed to see what was the matter,
Away to his window, he flew like a flash,
Threw aside the Green Curtains, and Silky White Sash.

And what did he see with his wondering eye?
But a sea of Green Revelers and a furry brown guy.
“That looks like Dominguez, and Flick and Fantuz!”
“Its way after curfew! Do they want us to lose??”

So, out of his room and down to the field,
Coach Austin stormed out with a fury to wield.
As he went through the tunnel, the ground shook with a beat,
From the dancing and prancing of ten thousand feet.

“Hey Coach,” cried a voice, “Whatcha doing down here?”
It was Szarka and Schultz, and they were handing out beer!
Chucky and Chick were grilling up Dogs,
With Burgers being served by O’Day and the Hogs.

Crandall cooked Hot Wings, Joseph grilled steak,
While Cates, Holmes, and Hughes helped Makowsky serve cake.
“This is nuts!” Austin shouted, “It’s one-thirty AM!”
“I expected some revelry, but this is mayhem!”

Eric Tillman tapped Austin, “ You’re not Eagle Keys -”
“But I’m not Berry, or Gotta, or Gregory – so PLEASE!”
“You’re all waddling around here like Wascana geese!”
“And in need of a dance coach like Donald Narcisse.”

“Now, you’ve all had your fun, so back to your rooms.”
But then Austin’s nose picked up the barbecue fumes.
Then Green Is The Color rang out through the air,
As Congi and Boreham played Banjos with flair.

On Davis, on Johnson, on Coach Ritchie Hall,
Even old Alex Smith flashed a smile after all,
On Lloyd, on McCullough, on Hunt and on Perry,
On Kornegay, Frazier, and yes, even Kerry.

The skydome then filled with a soft greenish glow,
And the whole Rider Nation set poised for a show.
An S and a wheat sheaf then formed in the air,
And a smile took the place of Coach Kent Austin’s glare.

Then everyone there, the players, the fans,
They formed a big circle by all holding hands,
Then right in the centre appeared the Grey Cup,
Which Fairholm and Ridway and Elgaard picked up.

They handed it over to Ritchie and Kent,
Who called Kerry and Eddie, and off the Cup went.
It was passed round the field, past heroes to present,
While Gainer dug holes for the Blue Bomber Pheasants.

That music was heard coast to coast people say
And they say Rider Pride grew three sizes that day.
Everyone left there dreaming of Blue Bomber doom.
And they sent all the Banjos to Troy Westwood’s Room.

GO RIDERS GO!
BRING HOME THE CUP!

Dedicated to every man, woman and child with a severe case of Rider Pride!

Gangster Flick Lights up the Screen

"American Gangster" (2007)
Directed by: Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator)
Starring: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Josh Brolin, Cuba Gooding Jr.
Running Time: 157 minutes
Rut's Rating: 5/5

Crowe. Washington. Scott. Crime premise. That was all I needed to know. I first saw a preview for "American Gangster" back in August, at the good ole Galaxy Cinemas in Saskatoon. Right away, I knew this was a film that I needed to see, and that I was likely to love it. As it usually turns out, which is about 98% of the time, I was right. I eagerly watched and fell in love with it. It was everything that I thought it would be, and more. I know I must sound really gushy right now, but there's just something about finally seeing a film after months of anticipation that erupts excitement out of me. Its happened many times before, with movies like "Freddy vs Jason", "Walk The Line" and "The Departed". I'd follow the movie for months, whether it was in the middle of shooting, post-production, whatever stage it was at. I'd look forward to it more and more until it was finally released, and I've never been disappointed. (I'm currently pumped for "I Am Legend", starring Will Smith and being released December 14)

"American Gangster" is the true story of Frank Lucas, a Mob driver who takes reign of the criminal operations in Manhattan when his boss dies, and is played deviously wonderful by Denzel Washington. Lucas thrives on the role of Mob Boss, he loves having the power that comes with the position. He begins a drug trafficking business that sees a better product hitting the streets but at a lower price, building Lucas an empire that soon sees him able to buy his own mother a mansion in the hills. Frank is cold, calculating and ruthless, but another side of him shows his integrity and pride he has for his family. He mirrors this somewhat split personality throughout the course of the film. He can relax with family on a Sunday afternoon, and at the same time *SPOILER* douse a man in gasoline and light him on fire before emptying several bullets into him, as evidenced in the very first moments of the film. Washington is an acting marvel here; its very interesting and enjoyable seeing his portrayal of morally-corrupt men of authority, such as in his Oscar-winning role in "Training Day". He doesn't just portray Frank Lucas, he becomes him, in a role that I wouldn't be surprised to see receive another Best Actor Oscar nod for Denzel.

Meanwhile, Lucas' operation is being studied and trailed by Richie Roberts, a New York cop who becomes an outcast with his fellow officers for not taking a bag full of unmarked cash for himself. He comes to believe that someone is climbing the ladder of organized crime, even above the Mafia families, and that a black power player has risen to the top of the drug underworld. Fellow Oscar winner Russell Crowe plays Roberts, and does so with maticulous authenticity. I've read that Crowe requested the use of audio tapes of the real Richie Roberts, in order to perfect his voice tone. I'm not sure what the real Roberts sounded like, but Crowe does a brilliant job. Even his body language told me, "This guy is a cop". Just by the way he walks and carries himself, he's a man of authority, even if he's surrounded by corruption and crooked police officers. Russell Crowe has really been impressing me lately, but his penchant for great method acting dates back to 1999, in Michael Mann's "The Insider".

The film is brilliantly directed by Ridley Scott, who knows his action and drama extensively. It's also shot wonderfully: 1970's New York never looked so authentic in its drab, everything-jammed-together atmosphere and environment.

"American Gangster" is an epic. With its ending credits hitting the screen at exactly the 2 1/2 hour mark, some may say it could've had maybe 15 minutes or so shaved off in editing, but I sincerely believe that it didn't need one cut or edit in its finished state. And the 2 1/2 hours flew by for me. Maybe that's because I was looking forward to it so much. That might be the case, but I was just so incased into the story, I never looked at my watch or anything like that. The mirroring image of Lucas running his drug empire while Roberts continued his investigation was enough to keep me from even think of getting bored. That is how good this film really is. If you're looking for an incredible story and great performances, then look no further. But if it's just a bang-bang, shoot-em-up flick you want, I can point you to the nearest Blockbuster. In all honesty, there really isn't that much shooting and killing in the film, but when it does occur, it grips you and sometimes comes out of nowhere.

This is, to put it bluntly, just one of the best movies that I've seen in awhile. The year 2007 has been fairly scarce as far as incredible, story-driven films go, but there has been a handful, albeit a small one. "American Gangster" is definitely one of those. I'm a huge fan of crime films (Scarface and The Departed, most notably) and this one now joins the list. I strongly urge you to see this in theaters, as I don't believe renting it can give you the whole experience, unless you have a $5000 home theatre package with a 60" TV and 12 speakers with surround sound. Nevertheless, seeing it in a packed house at a theater is a great experience, because you don't have any stupid kids talking or texting on their cell phones. Man, I hate it when theater owners let those kind of kids in, especially when its an R-rated film and these kids are 13 years old, at the most.

For a movie that almost never happened, "American Gangster" has turned out to be one of the best in years; see it for yourself and I'm sure you'll agree.

Keep em laughin',
Derek

Health (S)Care Doc Opens Eyes

"Sicko" (2007)
Directed by: Michael Moore (Bowling For Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11)
Starring: Michael Moore, dozens of frustrated, angry Americans
Running Time: 123 minutes
Rut's Rating: 4.5/5

Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore is loved AND hated by many. Many see him as a guy who's not afraid to stand up for what he believes in, while others classify him as a loudmouth who makes films to just showcase his opinions on politics and the state of the world. As for me, I see him as a brilliant documentarian who has provided the world with gripping, emotional, sometimes funny documentary stories. Yes, the man has his opinions, but so do all of US! He's just the only one who isn't afraid to voice it, and if that means voicing them through critically-acclaimed and Oscar-winning documentaries, such as "Bowling For Columbine" and "Fahrenheit 9/11", then so be it. He's not shoving his theories on the Bush administration down our throats, and he's not ranting and raving on the horrors of gun violence in America. With "Sicko", much like with his other work, Moore takes the story to the people that matter, and the people that are affected the most - American citizens.

"Sicko" focuses on the state of America's health care system, where ill people are denied health insurance and HMO horror stories run rampant. Moore talks to many people who have had a loved one die because big corporations have denied them coverage. These true stories are surprising, emotionally charged and terribly large in numbers. Workers who helped at Ground Zero on 9/11 talk to Moore about their health conditions and reveal that insurance companies won't cover them, which to me was horrifying. These people volunteered on the day that will forever be remembered as one of the darkest days in American history, and they can't have their medicine or treatment looked after? Insane.

But true. Sadly, sadly true.

Moore takes a look at the health care systems in other countries, such as France, Britain, and makes a stop in our neck of the woods, Canada. He meets a woman who drives from Michigan over the border to Ontario so she can get free health care; with the way the American system works, her actions seem justified. Moore discovers that the health care systems in these other countries is astounding, and wonders just what exactly is wrong with his own country of America. He also finds out that the only place on American soil with universal health care is Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where prisoners receive better treatment than the average American. So Moore loads up several boats with the people he meets throughout the film, including the 9/11 workers, and they set sail for Cuba. They don't receive care at the actual prison, but are flabbergasted when they're all more than taken care of by a local hospital. A 9/11 worker receives her medication at a cost of $0.05 US, compared to the $120 she pays at home. The rest of them are treated and taken care of with high-quality care, and needless to say, they are very surprised and impressed.

The question that Moore is asking is "What's wrong with us?", concerning the United States. In the richest country in the world, they deny people coverage and sacrifice essential health services in order to maximize profits. The film was eye-opening to me, and makes me proud to live in Canada. I think this is some of Michael Moore's best work, and I find it hard to believe that people will criticize it. Moore isn't lambasting George W. Bush, he's showing you the facts about his country's health care system. It's impressive and at times emotionally draining.

We may complain about our own health care system a lot, but I don't think people will do so as much after seeing this film.

- Derek

Costner Is a Multilayered Killer

"Mr. Brooks" (2007)
Directed by: Bruce A. Evans (writer of "Stand By Me" & "Cutthroat Island")
Starring: Kevin Costner, Demi Moore, Marg Helgenberger, William Hurt
Running Time: 120 minutes
Rut's Rating: 3.5/5

For years, people have seen actor/director Kevin Costner in many good-guy roles, much like in "Dances With Wolves", "The Bodyguard", "JFK" and "The Untouchables". Now, at age 55, Costner is only now starting to branch out, and flips that good-guy image upside down in "Mr. Brooks", a killer thriller about a man constantly wrestling with his inner demons and only kills because its a "disease" that he has.

Earl Brooks, played by Costner, is a top executive who receives a "Man of the Year" award. He's a loving husband and father, but he's tormented by the spirit of his alter ego, Marshall, played with calm and witty eeriness by William Hurt. Its this alter ego that drives Brooks to partake in his secret hobby, killing people. In doing so, he is calculating and flawless, never leaving a trail and having been successful in hiding this "illness" he has had for years. Suddenly, he's alerted that someone saw him commit a murder. A perverted photographer, played by comedian Dane Cook, is the witness and tells Brooks that he wants to accompany him when he goes out to kill again. Brooks reluctantly agrees. Now personally, I'm not a fan of Dane Cook. I thought he was a wrong choice for this movie, my point being proven when it seemed obvious that he was trying to be the "comic relief", in a movie where none of that is needed, nor should be allowed. You'll see what I mean.

Mr. Brooks tries balancing his home life, where he begins to have problems with his daughter, who's growing up too fast it seems, and his night life, driving around looking for more people to kill with his alter ego Marshall in the back seat and photographer Smith (Cook) up front. On the trail of his killings is Detective Tracy Atwood, played with a hard-nosed intensity by Demi Moore. Atwood follows a puzzle of clues and blood, looking for Brooks, who is known to authorities as the "thumbprint killer". She has her own problems to deal with, including the divorce she's going through and the fact that one of her prisoners has escaped from custody.

The movie keeps your attention, and Costner's portrayal of an emotionless man with many skeletons in his closet is the heart of the film, and at times brilliant. William Hurt as the alter ego Marshall complements Costner well; they play off each other greatly and its an interesting display of two minds becoming one. "Mr. Brooks" is arguably one of the most well-written screenplays I've seen come to life, and the performances of Costner, Hurt and Moore only help increase the emotion of it.

Its enjoyable, thrilling, and keeps you inthralled until the last shot.

"Mr. Brooks" just killed your weekend boredom.

Keep 'em laughing,
Derek

Phoenix & Wahlberg Own The Screen

"We Own The Night" (2007)
Directed by: James Gray (Little Odessa, The Yards)
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Robert Duvall, Eva Mendes, Alex Veadov
Running Time: 117 minutes
Rut's Rating: 3.5/5

Family loyalty is put to the test in "We Own The Night", a suspenseful drama that focuses on two brothers from opposite ends of the law, set against the backdrop of New York in 1988.

Bobby Green, played with scary-good intensity by Joaquin Phoenix, is a nightclub manager with dreams of making it big. He's confident, but not quite bordering on arrogant. Bobby may have a joint every once in awhile, but even he's oblivious to the drug dealers and violent criminals who hang out in the club. He loves his girlfriend Amada, played by Eva Mendes, giving an average performance. Phoenix is an acting machine; he didn't just play Johnny Cash in "Walk The Line", he became him. And its no different here. Phoenix shows a side of his acting ability that we don't see from most actors of his generation, and its damn impressive.

On the other side of the spectrum is Bobby's family. Brother Joseph Grusinsky, played by Mark Wahlberg, and father Burt Grusinsky, played by Robert Duvall, are police officers in the NYPD, and warn Bobby that there is a drug war going on, and that sooner or later, he's going to have to choose a side. Duvall is impressive in his role; he's a veteran and you really see that fatherly bond he has with Joseph, and the strained one he has with Bobby. Wahlberg is equally impressive, if not more, but I got the feeling he was pretty much playing the same role he had in "The Departed", minus the Boston accent. Granted, he was nominated for an Oscar in that role, but we don't need to see the same thing twice. Still, he's great and his scenes with Phoenix are fiercely intense.

"We Own The Night" sort of reminds me of "The Departed". It deals with the good versus the bad, betraying trust, knowing where your loyalty lies, Hell, even the theatrical trailer I first saw back in August had me thinking it was a secretly-made sequel. But it doesn't intentionally try to be that film. Director James Gray creates a tense, realistic atmosphere where you don't know who's around the corner and your closest friend could be your nearest enemy.

The only negative thing I have to say about this film is that its predictable at times. When one thing happens, I saw the next thing happening in my head. That's not to say that the film is terrible, far from it, because when something tragic happens it still shakes you. The other thing is that I would have liked to see Wahlberg more. You'll know what I'm talking about in the first 30 minutes of the film. A few more scenes with his character would have made for a more balanced view between Bobby/Joseph.

Besides that, the film is enjoyable. I especially liked the soundtrack, and Joaquin Phoenix is fast becoming one of my all-time favorite actors. He's dedicated and takes this role seriously. I read that between takes on the set, Phoenix would get into character by hurling insults at Robert Duvall in order to create a realistic tension between father and son. Duvall was upset, of course, but that just makes for a more tense confrontation on the silver screen.

You'll enjoy "We Own The Night" if you appreciate great, suspenseful performances by dedicated actors. The story is intense, violent, yet somewhat predictable, but that's not exactly a downfall. There's real drama in this film and I think that's missing from a lot of run-of-the-mill movies.

Til next time,

Keep 'em laughin',
Derek

This Isn't an Election, It's a Steel Cage Match!

This coming Wednesday's provincial election is the culmination of weeks and weeks of mud-slinging verbal abuse between Sask Party Leader Brad Wall and Sask NDP Leader Lorne Calvert. As shown in last Tuesday's debate on CTV, Calvert and Wall can't seem to get along and should probably never be kept in the same room together. Sask Liberal Leader David Karwacki, meanwhile, comes off as the little brother who wants to do what his older brothers are doing. While Calvert and Wall fight it out with accusing TV ads and smear campaigns, Karwacki simply takes his message to the voter and asks them to make a choice. Maybe that's the genius of it, maybe it'll be his downfall, I don't know. Personally, I think the Liberals will be lucky if they even get a seat on Wednesday night.

Let's take a critical look at that TV leader debate. First off, why did the producers of this think it was a good idea to put all three men in the same room? What were they going for? A distinguished version of Springer? When someone was able to get six seconds in to talk on his own, one or both of the others threw their 2 cents in and went on a separate rant. Karwacki looked like a well-dressed referee as Wall and Calvert traded verbal fists left and right. Overall, I thought the whole thing came off as unnecessary and childish at times. Don't get me wrong, it was one of the most entertaining things I've seen in awhile, but ultimately it didn't serve as a platform for voters to make up their minds before Election Day.

I'm not sure what's gonna happen on November 7. I'm still not sure on who I'm gonna vote for. I think the best thing for every voter to do is ask themselves, "What Saskatchewan do I want to live in?" Visit the websites, look through each party's respective platforms, and make your choice.

'Til next time,

Keep 'em laughin',
Derek

Zombie and Ozzy Please 12,500 Strong

A huge crowd of 12,500 rock fans packed into the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon on Wednesday, October 24. I was among the die-hard fanatics and we were there for one reason and one reason only - to see what was hyped to be a monumental, pulse-quivering, earth-shaking rock concert. Rob Zombie and Ozzy Osbourne did anything but disappoint us.

The show started at about 7:20, 10 minutes early. Pretty taboo for a rock concert to start early. The opening act was In This Moment, a new heavy metal act with a blonde-haired goddess of a lead singer named Maria. She wore a frilly, Alice in Wonderland-type dress but was anything but innocent, headbanging with the best of 'em and armed with a screaming voice that could rival Axl Rose in his heyday. In This Moment were impressive and played for about 25 minutes before the tech crew came out and started assembling Rob Zombie's stage, which consisted of a 6-foot tall drum riser decorated in monster heads, as well as skulls and several ghoulish puppets. It was an incredible visual.

Zombie hit the stage shortly after, making his entrance through the mouth of a monster above the drum riser and launching into his setlist, which included songs like "Sawdust In The Blood", "American Witch", "Living Dead Girl", "More Human Than Human", and "Superbeast". Zombie was ANYTHING but a "supporting act" as the 12,500 strong went nuts for him. I was there more to see Rob than Ozzy myself and I wasn't left disappointed. Zombie played for over an hour and his show consisted of amazing visuals and hot women who danced to several of his songs. He even made his way into the crowd and the fans welcomed him with open arms. Clips of B-grade horror movies and some of Zombie's own material played across several monitors and the use of flame pots helped make the packed house go even crazier. At one point, Zombie talked a bit about his recent hit remake of "Halloween", stating that he was amped to be in the same city where Michael Myers is from. "You know why I'm f***in' amped? Cuz that motherf***er Tyler Mane is FROM Saskatoon, man!" Zombie said. This of course made the crowd go nuts yet again. A cheap pop, yes, but an effective one. Zombie continued to play, darting around the stage like a wildman and pretty much showing me my ticket price was worth it. He ended his set with "Dragula" as thousands sang along, bringing and end to an incredible set. I proudly wore my "ZOMBIE" baseball cap and chanted along as Zombie said goodnight. It was loud, it was explosive, it was incredible, and there was still Ozzy Osbourne to come.

When the Ozzman did hit the stage, the energy level picked up where Zombie left off, bringing all of us to our feet with "I Don't Wanna Stop". Osbourne actually looked genuinely excited to be there, as he launched into classics such as "Crazy Train" and "Bark at the Moon". He also did a few songs from his new album "Black Rain". They weren't very recognizable to everyone inside CUC but, really, we didn't care. Ozzy shows that he's still got it and looks to be enjoying the rock star life even as he approaches his 59th birthday in December. Guitarist Zack Wylde was a madman, shredding through Ozzy's songs and performing a solo that had me thinking of the likes of the late Jimi Hendrix and Dimebag Darrell. In the end, Osbourne had us all singing along with "Mama I'm Coming Home" and finally closed the show with "Paranoid".

Overall, the show was a blast. Worth the ticket price no matter where you were sitting, in my opinion. I'd love to go again if Ozzy decides to come back to Saskatoon, and definitely plan on seeing Rob Zombie the next time he brings his solo show to Prairieland Park.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give the entire concert an 8.5. Rob Zombie's fans were satisfied, Ozzy's satisfied, and the entire thing just made for a smorgasbord of heavy metal, the way it should always be.

Too Much Time On Their Hands

For many, the SkyTrail in Outlook is a place that people can go to unwind. Take a walk, relax, snap some great-looking photos. Its especially beautiful in the summer, when you can walk across it as late as 9 or 9:30, and you'll still have the sun at your back and many fellow neighbours and town residents waving and saying hello as they pass you or you pass them.

Sadly, what happened on Wednesday night, October 17 was anything but friendly.

Vandalism was the name of the game, and the target was SkyTrail's entrance. More specifically, the brick structure on the right side of the entrance. Vandals with too much time on their hands decided to go Berlin and tear down the wall-like structure, which begs the question, what the Hell was the point? Do the people involved think they're "cool" for doing this? A real badass? Honestly, I bet they do.

"Hey man, we like TOTALLY brought that thing down!"
"TOTALLY, DUUUUDE!"
"Yeah man, so let's, like, go back to your house and listen to EMO while writing our pretentious, "dark" poetry!"
"GNARLY!"

Give me a break. You are not cool. This is not cool. All you've managed to do is upset your parents, grandparents, and many Outlook residents. If being a complete jackass with too much time on your hands is what you were going for with this, then let me congratulate you on a job well done.

We're all very proud of you.............hehe, RIGHT!

And they say children are the future...

A Balanced View of Present-Day Chaos

"The Kingdom" (2007)
Directed by: Peter Berg (Very Bad Things, The Rundown, Friday Night Lights)
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, Ashraf Barhom
Running Time: 110 minutes
Rut's Rating: 3.5/5

With the times that we live in, one might think that a film like "The Kingdom" is in bad taste or the general public "just isn't ready for a film like this." In my opinion, you couldn't be more wrong. This well-told story of an unforgiveable act of terrorism grips you from the start and doesn't let go. It serves as a way of telling us, TEACHING us, that life is unpredictable and every second counts. Director Peter Berg has created a story that reflects society in all its brutal realism. This film could have easily taken the right-wing, white-people-good, foreigners-bad route, but it doesn't let itself become that. Instead, it shows two different nations struggling for peace and safety in a world that perhaps doesn't have it.

Jamie Foxx stars as Ronald Fleury, leader of an elite FBI team. When nearly 100 people are killed in a violent explosion, Fleury and his team travel to Saudi Arabia to investigate who is behind the brutal slayings. While there, the team partners with Saudi officials, led by Colonel Faris Al Ghazi, played wonderfully by Ashraf Barhom in a role that I believe could by Oscar-worthy. Both teams feel each other out at first, sometimes having a bit of conflict. Ultimately, both teams begin to unravel the mystery behind the bombing and work together. Foxx is born for this type of role. He's calm, collected, and his performance shows that. The rest of his team consists of Grant Sykes, played by Oscar winner Chris Cooper; Adam Leavitt, played by Jason Bateman. He's the somewhat "comic relief" in scenes that perhaps are deemed too dramatic. And Jennifer Garner as Janet Mayes. Honestly, I'm not a fan of hers at all, and it looked to me that Garner didn't have a clue what she was doing in this film. She does a lot of crying and covering her ears when guns fire. Do actual FBI agents do that? As well, Jeremy Piven plays a PR executive intent on keeping things going smoothly and without any troubles. I love Piven, but he's pretty much just playing Ari from "Entourage" here. But hey, that's probably what PR people are like anyway. And look for a cameo from country music heavyweight Tim McGraw as a grieving husband whose wife was killed in the bomb blast.

"The Kingdom" has a message, and usually I hate it when movies try to do that. People go to the theater and the multiplex because they wanna stuff their faces with overpriced snacks, kick up their feet and forget their everyday problems for an hour and a half, two hours, whatever. But I found the message in "The Kingdom" to be right. Almost accepting. This isn't a movie that shoves the issues or politics in your face. It just shows you that they're happening all around you, that the world doesn't stop because of your own problems. There's a scene in particular involving Foxx's character Fleury and the son of a man killed near the beginning of the film that I found incredibly emotional. It also isn't the only time Fleury encounters a father-less boy.

This film obviously isn't for everyone. If you like period dramas with guys in white wigs and women in puffy dresses, this isn't for you. But if you want a clenching, pulse-pounding story that doesn't pull the wool over your eyes and tells it like it is, then you'll enjoy the film.

Don't let the papers and CNN give you the news all the time. Enter "The Kingdom".

The Western Genre is Infused with Life Again

"3:10 To Yuma" (2007)
Directed by: James Mangold (Cop Land, Identity, Walk The Line)
Starring: Christian Bale, Russell Crowe, Peter Fonda, Ben Foster
Running Time: 117 minutes
Rut's Rating: 5/5

The Western genre has pretty much been dead for the past decade; the last great one IMO was 1993's Tombstone. Its managed to live on in TV movies and the occasional network mini-series, but feature film cowboy pics intended for theater distribution have been few and far between, until now.

3:10 To Yuma is an adaptation of the 1953 short story published in Dime Western Magazine, as well as a remake of the 1957 film of the same name. Directing this incredible film is James Mangold, a reliable storyteller who recently helmed the Oscar-nominated Johnny Cash biopic Walk The Line. In my own opinion, 3:10 To Yuma should be able to get an Oscar nod for Best Picture, seeing as how 2007 has been pretty scarce for films worthy of the Academy's attention. The recent Summer of Sequels only produced a handful of entertaining films, but none really worth any major awards.

Christian Bale co-stars as Dan Evans, a rancher low on income and low on respect from his teenage son, William. Evans has his land raided by debt collectors and his barn burned to the ground for missing land payments. To ease his financial and family situations, Dan agrees to transport a prisoner to catch a train to Yuma prison. That prisoner is legendary outlaw Ben Wade, played by Russell Crowe. Wade is a confident lawbreaker who plays mind games with Evans and his group while on the way to catch the train. Along the way, the group encounters deadly obstacles, including a band of Indians, other law enforcers who want to collect the reward for Wade's departure, and Wade's own group of thieves and murderers intent on rescuing their boss. This makes for some exciting scenes of suspense, as well as some great-looking gunfights.

Bale and Crowe hold the film together, as their characters rarely leave one another and the dialogue between the two is engaging and suspenseful at times. Its different seeing Crowe as the "bad guy", but he seems to revel in the role and takes it very seriously, in a performance that is Oscar-worthy. Bale should be nominated as well. His take on Dan Evans is gritty and emotional, and I really liked the chemistry he had with his on-screen son, especially near the end of the film.

Rounding out the cast is Ben Foster as Wade's right-hand man, Charlie Prince. Cold and conniving, Prince is almost trying to make a name for himself. And look for the legendary Peter Fonda as Byron McElroy, a man who has a past with Ben Wade. As well, comedic actor Luke Wilson has an uncredited cameo that has to be seen to be believed.

3:10 To Yuma is everything you could want in a western film. Its gripping, action-packed, well-written, and emotional. Those last 5 minutes are incredible and even left me nearly wiping a tear away. Call me a wuss all you want but this film suspends your disbelief like no other film this year.

For incredible story-telling and reinvigorating the American Western, I give 3:10 To Yuma a 5/5. It gave me so much more than I was expecting, and I believe it'll do the same for you.

Bullets, Babes and a Boatload of One-Liners

"Shoot Em Up" (2007)
Directed by: Michael Davis (Monster Man, Eight Days A Week)
Starring: Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti, Monica Belluci
Running Time: 86 minutes
Rut's Rating: 5/5

Explosive. Action-packed. Fast-paced. Hysterical. So ridiculous and tongue-in-cheek that the filmmakers had to have a smile on their faces every day on set. But here's the thing - this movie KNOWS that it's over the top. It KNOWS that audiences don't need to take it seriously. "Shoot Em Up" is a satire, almost a parody of all those bang-bang action flicks from the 80's and 90's. It needs no plot. Just a hero with someone to save, and a bad guy intent on killing that someone. Its almost a "leave your brain at the door" instruction for movie-goers. But if you love action, one-liners aplenty and bullets flying, "Shoot Em Up" is right up your alley.

The movie opens with Smith (Clive Owen) waiting for a bus in a crummy neighbourhood. He sits, munching on a carrot, (something he does A LOT of in this film), and waits. Just then, a pregnant lady walks past him, almost running, trying to get away from the man behind her holding a gun. Smith sees him, sighs, and comes to her rescue. What follows is a huge shoot-out with many cronies lead by Hertz (Paul Giamatti). Smith manages to deliver the baby but the mother dies shortly after. He's now thrust into the role of protector as he escapes the gun battle after having a staredown with Hertz.

Smith visits a friend, a prostitute named Quintano, (Monica Belluci). He tries to get her to take the baby off his hands so he can figure out why bad guys want the child dead. She refuses and ends up going with Smith. They pack up and retreat to Smith's hideout, and this results in yet another gun battle. It seemed to me that with each gun fight, more and more details were revealed about the plot. What it actually IS about I won't say, you'll just have to see it yourself. Either that, or you just won't care. I didn't find myself giving too much of a damn; all I saw was a man trying to protect a baby from bad guys, and that was good enough for me. And I think it was good enough for the filmmakers. The actual plot behind it seemed to be thrown together at the last minute while writing the screenplay, but that's OK.

"Shoot Em Up" is like watching your friend play a video game. The hero has his task, goes from Point A to Point B in order to unravel the informative details, and blows anyone in his path away. Its fun, mindless entertainment, just like a video game. Director Michael Davis must be a gamer, and had to be playing something like "GTA: Vice City" or "The Punisher" when he came up with his premise and ideas. Whatever he did, it works.

Clive Owen is very enjoyable as Smith. He has fun with the role and looks to be a great fit as a leading action star. Paul Giamatti is perfect as the hilarious bad guy Hertz. I don't think any other actor could have been used here except him. He's on-edge, spastic and quick with one-liners. Any scene involving Giamatti and Owen is full of chemistry and you can't wait to see what these two will do to each other next. You can tell that they're having fun and that makes the movie more enjoyable.

You'll enjoy "Shoot Em Up" only if you understand that its a satirical look at violence and action movies. There's no point in trying to blast the movie for being ludicrous and over the top, because everyone who had a hand in producing the film knows it already. See it if you love action. See it if you love the classic good guy/bad guy confrontations the way they used to be. Or see it if you just want to see a gun fight take place while sky-diving.

For whatever reason, just see it. You won't be disappointed. You'll be grinning by the time you leave the theater.

Finally, a teen comedy done RIGHT!

"Superbad" (2007)
Directed by: Greg Mottola (TV's "Undeclared", "Arrested Development")
Starring: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Seth Rogen, Bill Hader
Running Time: 114 minutes
Rut's Rating: A HUGE 5/5

In the last ten years or so, comedy has been sliced into about three categories. Each one has its ups and downs, depending on the material written and the actors cast. They are, in no particular order:

1. The low-budget, quirky, no-real-plot-but-it-will-attain-cult-status comedy, (Dazed and Confused, The Big Lebowski, Napoleon Dynamite)
2. The repetitive let's-pick-a-random-sport-and-throw-random-homoerotic-jokes-in comedy, (Dodgeball, Talladega Nights, Blades of Glory)
3. The R-rated youth coming-of-age comedy, (American Pie 1,2, & 3, Road Trip, Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle)

Those are all well and good, in fact there are a few movies mentioned that I really love. But sometimes, a movie comes along and sets the bar higher. Or in the case of "Superbad", takes the bar and hurtles it into space.

Written and produced by the same guys who gave us "The 40-Year Old Virgin" and this past summer's "Knocked Up", "Superbad" takes a look at the last month of high school for best friends Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera). Virtually inseparable, these two spend their days day-dreaming about girls and college, and spend their nights hanging with their friend Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). They're outcasts who choose to do their own thing and never attend parties. This might lead you to believe that they're losers but you'd be wrong. Seth and Evan define what it's like to be a teenager in this day and age, with their shared anti-social behavior and co-dependency on one another. To me, there were always several different groups of kids in high school. The party animals, the artists, the goody-goody A-plussers and the let-it-ride dreamers observing everything. Seth and Evan are the dreamers, the guys you see in the hallway just hanging by themselves. Sure, they're not at all the parties, they don't have girlfriends, and they may not be kings of the school, but they're not looked down on by everyone.

For me, "Superbad" gets high school right in that sense. Watching the movie, I definitely saw more than a few resemblances to my own days as a student at OHS. I saw a few faces that resembled my fellow classmates, but I won't mention names. The movie take a simple approach rather than throwing a bunch of ill-conceived jokes or gags in. What you see is hilarious, and yet believable at the same time. Feeling uncomfortable talking to girls? Check. Being a high school kid who's attending a 20-something bash and feeling way over your head? Yup. Mad that your friend is ditching you for college in the fall? Mmhmm. Its the little things in this movie that make it believable and hysterical at the same time. For Seth and Evan, their goal is simple - score liquor for a house party that just might ensure the affection of the dream girls in their lives. Sounds easy, right?

Jonah Hill and Michael Cera give funny, honest performances as Seth and Evan. Newcomer Christopher Mintz-Plasse is hysterical as Fogell, or "McLovin" as you'll see from watching. Seth Rogen and Bill Hader round out the male cast as police officers Michaels and Slater, respectively. After Fogell is injured in a liquor store robbery, the cops take a liking to him and he ends up hanging out with them for about 75% of the film. Rogen and Hader are hilarious and I love some of the one-liners they give. Rogen and his friend Evan Goldberg wrote the screenplay when they were 13, and the movie's lead characters are named after them.

You might love "Superbad", you might hate it. You might even connect with it as I did. In my opinion, this is the funniest and best comedy I've seen all year, even in the last few years. This makes anything that Ben Stiller or Will Ferrell did seem amateur and half-assed. Its a movie about teens, yet its smarter than most things involving adults.

See "Superbad". Release your inner "McLovin".

"Halloween" Remake a Fitting Tribute to Original Classic

Ruttle's Reviews

"Halloween" (2007)
Directed by: Rob Zombie (House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil's Rejects)
Starring: Tyler Mane, Malcolm McDowell, Brad Dourif, Sheri Moon, Daeg Faerch
Running Time: 109 minutes
Rut's Rating: 5/5

In 1978, director John Carpenter introduced movie audiences to the slasher flick; a silent, indestructible psychopath named Michael Myers was arguably the first in a long line of horror film icons to adopt the "crush, kill, destroy" mentality. Myers is a mask-wearing mute who escapes from an asylum to return to his hometown, so he can find his baby sister.

Now in 2007, horror fanatic, musician and outlaw director Rob Zombie has taken the reigns of the franchise. His take on the story is different, but fitting. Zombie shows us the background of this future mass murderer, revealing a childhood immersed in disturbing surroundings. His mother is a stripper, his older sister neglects him, and his step-father is the very definition of sleaze. Michael doesn't seem to let his home life get to him, but its easy for the audience to feel sympathy for him. Yes, that's even knowing what obviously lies ahead in the film.

On Halloween night, young Michael finally loses it. He brutally murders his step-father, his older sister and her boyfriend. Yet he spares the life of his baby sister, holding her in his arms until his mother and then the authorities arrive. What follows is the next chapter in Michael's life; spending the rest of his days at a mental hospital. He has daily sessions with Dr. Samuel Loomis, played by Malcolm McDowell. Loomis has ease talking with Michael, there isn't any visible tension there, but when the subject of Michael's horrendous murder streak comes up, Michael seems to shrug it off or says he can't remember doing it.

For the next 17 years, Myers remains locked up, spending his days making masks and growing to a hulking size. Loomis gives up on treating him, and instead writes a book detailing the murders and his sessions with Michael.

Finally, while being transferred to another wing of the hospital, Michael escapes, killing all of the guards escorting him and making a break for it. He returns to his hometown of Haddonfield on Halloween day, intent on tracking down his baby sister Laurie. This third act of the film is an ever-constant tribute to Carpenter's 1978 original, complete with almost identical cinematography and the familiar score. While watching Michael kill person after person, I found myself only seeing the 10-year-old boy again, as opposed to the present-day, nearly 7-foot behemoth. You never see the adult Michael's face and maybe that's why I only saw the young boy. You just might find yourself doing the same thing.

"Halloween" is, in my opinion, a well-done tribute to the classic original. Obviously, some aspects are different and the tone of the story is altered, but that's the nature of the beast in this hyperspeed Facebook generation. Rob Zombie shows us that what's old can become new again, and that's a rare thing to do in Hollywood these days.

The performances are fitting, as are the actors who display them. Malcolm McDowell is a perfect fit as Dr. Loomis, and Daeg Faerch is scary-good as young Michael. Saskatchewan's own Tyler Mane is a great choice for the adult Michael. While he has no dialogue, Mane perfects the mannerisms and body language of this psychotic-yet-sympathy-enducing killer.

People will argue, people will debate, but see the film for yourself. For those who lost faith in the horror genre, "Halloween" is a blood-soaked miracle in disguise.

Ruttle's Reviews: The Archives

Partners in Paris

"Rush Hour 3" (2007)
Directed by: Brett Ratner (Rush Hour 1 & 2,
X-Men: The Last Stand)
Starring: Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, Max von Sydow
Running time: 90 min.
Rut's Rating: 4/5

Opposites still attract in the latest installment of the "Rush Hour" franchise. Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker return to their respective roles of Inspector Lee and Detective James Carter, in the second sequel to a hugely popular and successful movie series. In their latest adventure, Lee and Carter travel to Paris to do battle with the Chinese Triad, a Mafia constituency. When the Ambassador of China is assassinated and the clues lead them to Paris, Lee and Carter get mixed up in the dangerous group and someone from Lee's past may be a part of it.
The formula in "Rush Hour 3" is simple, yet effective. Take a by-the-book, mild-mannered, Chinese martial-arts practicing officer, pair him with a loud, bombastic, wise-cracking African-American detective, and throw them both into a murder or kidnap plot. Audiences have obviously loved the pairing; the first two films in the series made over $350 million combined. These films may not exactly be on the level of something like "The Godfather" or "Heat", but sometimes you just want a movie that allows you to sit back, kick up your feet, and forget about all your problems for about 90 minutes, and that's what the "Rush Hour" movies give you.
You can tell that Chan and Tucker have fun with their roles; some of the dialogue comes off as being improvised, but it works because of the off-beat chemistry of both actors. Detective Carter is loud, over-the-top, and in my opinion funnier than ever. At times, it isn't exactly what Chris Tucker SAYS that's funny, per say, but HOW he says it. And Jackie Chan is, as always, a great straight man to Tucker's style. Also, the impressive stunts and action scenes that Chan still pulls off are a testament to his dedication and persistence. It would have been easy for Chan to suggest a stunt double, but a true professional, he decided to once again go his own. And the results are impressive once again; watch for a great-looking car chase in the streets of Paris, as well as a fist-fight at the top of the Eiffel Tower as just two examples of the action in this movie.
If anything, the only fault that I saw in "Rush Hour 3" was that it was too short. It clocks in at about 83 minutes when the end credits start rolling, as well as the pre-requisite blooper reel to accommodate them. I would have liked another 10 minutes or so put into it, maybe some character exploration or another cool car chase or action sequence. But maybe that's what made the franchise successful in the first place - they set up the plot, throw Lee and Carter into some crazy shenanigans, give us the action, give us the funny, give us the ending, and they're out. It's not a bad thing, really. I just really liked the film and wanted to see more of it.
If you've seen the previous two "Rush Hour" films, or just like mismatched partners in an action movie, much like Riggs and Murtaugh in "Lethal Weapon", then you just might like this third adventure. Funny, explosive and action-packed, the traffic doesn't slow down in THIS rush hour.

Ruttle's Reviews: The Archives

Britain Gone Bad

"Hot Fuzz" (2007)
Directed by: Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead)
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Timothy Dalton
Running time: 121 minutes
Rut's Rating: 4/5

Hard-nosed London police officer Nicholas Angel (Pegg) is a man always on the lookout for crime. A keen eye with an impressive arrest and conviction record, he is seen as a threat to the other low-profile, ho-hum members of the force and is sent to the quaint, sleepy little village of Sandford, where he is paired with a bumbling partner named Danny Butterman, played by Nick Frost. When a series of grisly "accidents" begin to claim the lives of village residents, Angel and Butterman take it to the streets and investigate what they believe could be murder.
"Hot Fuzz" is the latest film from the trio of director Edgar Wright, and actors Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. These three brought us the instant classic "Shaun of the Dead", and fans of that film would definitely take a liking to this one. What they did for the zombie-flick genre in "Shaun" they do for the over-the-top action-movie genre in "Fuzz". The film is brilliantly written and you can tell that director Wright and actors Pegg and Frost are big fans of explosive, gun-toting action. As well, Pegg and Frost have that same great chemistry we saw in "Shaun of the Dead", a sort-of Abbott and Costello relationship. Frost's portrayal of Danny Butterman is believable and hilarious; the innocent, puppy-like enthusiast and the perfect opposite for the no-nonsense Nicholas Angel. Danny's love of gunfights and action movies, ("Bad Boys II", in particular) are dismissed by Angel as a childlike fantasy, but that may soon turn to reality when they investigate the supposed "accidents" happening around town.
The main suspect that Angel and Butterman investigate is grocery store owner Simon Skinner, played by Timothy Dalton. The former James Bond has fun with the role, and is a good choice in casting a possible murderer. As well, the legendary Bill Nighy (you know him as Captain Davy Jones from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films) has a neat cameo as the Chief Inspector of Angel's former precinct in London. It seemed to me that all the actors were actually enjoying being in this film, which is a rare thing in Hollywood these days, with all the over-wraught promotion, studio deals and lucrative contracts. These people just got together and made a movie that is entertaining, funny, and very well done. It actually seems to come off as a bigger-budget version of a student film, because of the laid-back-yet-dedicated feeling of it, instead of just some A-listers phoning it in.
There also just seems to be something about British humor that is so appealing to North American audiences. Growing up on Monty Python and Mr. Bean may have helped, but after watching a movie like "Hot Fuzz", something mainstream and undeniably American just doesn't seem AS funny as it was before. You laugh, but it's not a hearty put-your-whole-face-into-it sort of laugh. Writers and directors could learn a few things from these talented Brits; maybe something like Saturday Night Live would be funny again if these guys took a turn writing and directing sketches.
If the combination of great action & comedy is your thing (it's OK, raise your hand, it's my thing too), then "Hot Fuzz" is just for you. In an age of mainstream movies with A-list celebrities who like to think they're funny, this one actually IS.

Ruttle's Reviews: The Archives

More Than Meets The Eye

"Transformers" (2007)
Directed by: Michael Bay (Bad Boys, The Rock, Armageddon)
Starring: Shia LeBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, Jon Voight
Running time: 144 minutes
Rut's Rating: 5/5

Autobots and Decepticons finally engage in an explosive on-screen battle in "Transformers". It's a dream come true for any fan who grew up watching the animated TV series, bought the action figures, or simply engaged in some playground debate over who was the better leader - Optimus Prime or Megatron.
The story centers on a young man named Sam Witwicky, played by Shia LeBeouf. An independent outcast, Sam goes to an auto dealer with his father looking to buy his first car. He comes home with a yellow Camaro for $4000, and takes it out for a test drive. Coming across a party, he sees Mikaela, a girl he knows from school, played by Megan Fox. He offers her a ride home, and what we see is the usual movie cliche of loner-wants-girl, girl-sort of-resists-yet-thinks-he's-charming sort of thing. But it plays out nicely because both LeBeouf and Fox have great on-screen chemistry, and there's just something that's very likable about these two.
Meanwhile, higher-ups in the United States military forces have big problems on their hands. Mysterious machines and weapons attack bases and are assembling for a war against the human race. Scientists and experts are brought in from around the world to try and figure out what these things are, but they can't seem to wrap their heads around it. White House Defense Secretary John Keller, played by Jon Voight, issues very little information to the media, as everyone scrambles to determine what kind of threat they are facing.
Sam is sleeping, meanwhile, when his car suddenly comes to life and drives away. Sam chases after it, and Mikaela follows him as the chase ends up at a wrecking yard. Suddenly, a police cruiser transforms into a robot and chases after Sam, and out of nowhere, his Camaro also transforms and does battle with the evil robot before destroying it. Scared at first, Sam and Mikaela come to realize that this now 30' tall Camaro means no harm to them, and this is when the entire Autobot army assembles. Goose bumps appear on your arms as the robots you admired as a kid come to life on the big screen. Sam and Mikaela are speechless as these normal vehicles change shape in front of their eyes and stand before them. Finally, a blue semi truck appears and transforms, introducing himself as Optimus Prime. The Autobot leader then introduces the rest of the gang, and tells Sam and Mikaela the origins of their race, as well as the plans being formed by the Decepticons - a race of ruthless, human-destroying robots.
So with an army of robots that have their backs, Sam and Mikaela set out to stop the Decepticons from annihilating the human race. As you can guess, this results in some great-looking action and battle sequences involving good robots and bad ones. Director Michael Bay is known for loving explosions and special effects, so you can bet that both are in huge supply here. Personally, I'm not a big fan of him, because it seems like he substitutes story and character development with overblown effects and CGI. But yet, with "Transformers" he has finally hit a good balance. It's a great story and it's very easy to become immersed in it; you find yourself cheering out loud for the Autobots to win their battles with the Decepticons, and feeling a bit sad when one of the good guys have fallen. And for once, the CGI looks realistic, which helps you believe that its all the more real.
"Transformers" is the very definition of a summer action blockbuster. With a great human cast to complement the Autobots and Decepticons, as well as some great special effects and CGI, it's sure to please even the most hardcore fan base. Maybe heroes really do come as robots in disguise.

Ruttle's Reviews: The Archives

Yippee Kay-Aye...

"Live Free Or Die Hard" (2007)
Directed by: Len Wiseman (Underworld, Underworld: Evolution)
Starring: Bruce Willis, Timothy
Olyphant, Justin Long
Running time: 130 minutes
Rut's Rating: 4.5/5

Returning to the movie franchise that made him a household name, Bruce Willis is back as Detective John McClane in the fourth installment of the "Die Hard" series. This time around, he finds himself battling a computer terrorist organization that is systematically shutting down the economic structure of the United States.
Any fan of the "Die Hard" movies knows that McClane has always had an on-again, off-again relationship with his estranged wife, Holly. Well, by this point they are now officially divorced, and John now has a rocky relationship with his daughter Lucy, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. After a confrontation at the beginning of the film between the two, McClane is summoned to pick up a computer hacker named Matt Farrell, played by Justin Long. Farrell may know some things about the terrorist organization, so the FBI sends McClane to get him. It's at Farrell's apartment that things get a little explosive, as terrorist enforcers burst into the apartment and start shooting up the place, looking to eliminate Farrell. McClane and his new sidekick escape and the action is only getting started.
"Live Free Or Die Hard" gives us that nostalgic feeling of what action movies used to be like. Pyrotechnics, stuntmen, and car chases that seemed to go on forever, but you never wanted them to end. And I think it's only right that a sequel to a beloved action franchise that started in 1988 use those kind of techniques. So many film crews and directors rely on CGI and other effects to pretty much MAKE the movie for them, and it always seems to come off as too over-the-top and unrealistic, not to mention expensive. There's no sane reason why a movie like "Evan Almighty" should cost $175 million, but it does. Less is more, people.
This is the first film in the "Die Hard" series to have a PG-13 rating, while the previous three were rated "R". Some die-hard fanatics of the franchise (pun INTENDED!) might be a little peeved at that, and to be honest I wasn't thrilled about it, either. John McClane is a regular, blue-collar every-man who can curse up a storm when things don't go his way, but that part of his personality is a little scaled back in this one. Yet when you think about it, it was the right thing to do for business. Having an R-rating can seriously hurt an action movie these days, and then there goes the box office dollars. Director Len Wiseman was smart with this one; he substitutes C-words and F-bombs with car chases, incredible stunts and very impressive action sequences. And the formula proved to be a huge success, as "Live Free Or Die Hard" has earned over $110 million since being released on June 27.
Like every "Die Hard" before, Bruce Willis gives a great, pedal-to-the-metal performance as the wise-cracking hero, John McClane. Willis has had a long, storied career and is a huge favorite among millions, so it's nice to see that he would return to this franchise instead of letting the studio pick some pretty boy in a remake. Uggghh, makes me shudder just thinking about it. As the wide-eyed, computer hacker sidekick Matt Farrell, Justin Long gets the job done. He's nerdy, spastic, and complements the jaded McClane well. Timothy Olyphant plays Thomas Gabriel, the leader of the computer terrorist organization. Olyphant is arrogant, vindictive, and a good choice to play bad-guy to Bruce Willis.
If you love action, Bruce Willis, that guy from the Mac commercials, or you just want to see a police car collide with a helicopter, then "Live Free Or Die Hard" is for you. It stays true to the feeling of the previous films, and still keeps that 1980's-90's action flick mentality. They don't make 'em like this anymore.

Ruttle's Reviews: The Archives

In celebration of this film's long-overdue release on DVD, this week's review is dedicated to a movie that I grew up watching. This is the film that made me a huge fan of mythical creatures and monsters, and no doubt played a role in turning me into the horror film fanatic and filmmaker that I am today. Ladies and gentlemen......The Monster Squad.

Dracula, The Wolfman, & Scary German Guy

"The Monster Squad" (1987)
Directed by: Fred Dekker (Night of the Creeps, TV's Tales from the Crypt)
Starring: Andre Gower, Stephen Macht, Jon Gries
Running time: 82 minutes
Rut's Rating: 4/5

An assortment of monsters come together and plot to find a mysterious amulet that will grant them the power to rule the world, but not if a group of young teenagers have anything to say about it. Horror blends with adventure in "The Monster Squad", and while the dialogue and acting may be cheesy, this is simply a fun, straight-to-the-point movie that is easy to enjoy. Think "The Goonies", but with more of an edge.
Sean Cranshaw (Andre Gower) and his friends Patrick, Horace, Rudy, and Eugene spend their days reading and talking about monsters. Little do they know that Dracula, played by Canadian actor Duncan Regehr, has arrived in their small town and plots to rule the world with the power of a mysterious amulet. To do so, he recruits the help of legendary monsters Frankenstein, the Mummy, a lizard-like swamp creature, and the Wolfman. Actor Jon Gries is one of the more known actors in this movie, (you know him as Uncle Rico in "Napoleon Dynamite"), and he plays the innocent, tortured man who turns into a howling werewolf during the full moon. I have to say, even though this movie is 20 years old, the make-up effects used in making the Wolfman are top-notch and in my opinion, this is exactly the way a werewolf should look. The physical features of a wolf, but standing on two legs and wearing the ripped, tattered clothes of a man.
The gang finds out about this world domination plan with the help of a German neighbour, who helps translate the book that Sean brings him. It is the diaries of famed monster hunter Abraham Van Helsing, and it details the story behind the mysterious amulet and the battle of good and evil for control of the world. Banding together, the teenagers map out a plan and set it in action.
"The Monster Squad" is a movie that you either love or hate. There is no in-between. You either write it off as wasteful, teenage drivel or accept it for the cheesy yet enjoyable movie that it is. It doesn't take itself too seriously because it knows that its pure fantasy, but that's OK. Its horror for teenagers, so you aren't going to see blood and guts all over the screen, like you seem to in almost every supposed "horror" film in this hyper-speed Facebook generation.
As I mentioned before, this was a movie that almost raised me when I was a kid. I loved it back then, and I still do today. On July 24th, it is FINALLY being released on DVD, in a 20th Anniversary Special Edition package. Loads of special features, new interviews with the now-adult cast, and vintage behind-the-scenes footage. Being a fan of the film for as long as I have, this is one that I'm definitely picking up for my ever-growing collection.

Ruttle's Reviews: The Archives

Have You Seen This Before?

"Deja Vu" (2006)
Directed by: Tony Scott (Top Gun, The Fan, Man on Fire)
Starring: Denzel Washington, Val Kilmer, Jim Caviezel
Running time: 128 minutes
Rut's Rating: 3.5/5

The title almost tells you to pay attention. "Deja Vu" isn't your typical shoot-em-up, blow-it-out popcorn flick. Sure, there IS a nice amount of that, but its the reasoning behind all of it that makes you pay attention, and it was this aspect of the film that I really loved.
Denzel Washington is Doug Carlin, an ATF agent who tries to uncover the mystery behind a horrific act of terrorism; a ferry carrying over 500 people, including sailors, crewmen and their families, explodes in New Orleans. Sometime later, Carlin is shown the body of a young woman who looks to have died in the massacre, but she was found an hour BEFORE the explosion. How can this be? Carlin tries to put all the pieces of the puzzle together, but something just doesn't add up. Meanwhile, he is joined on the case by FBI Agent Pryzwarra, played by Val Kilmer. Carlin's skills impress him, so he invites him to join Pryzwarra's special surveillance team.
At this point, "Deja Vu" sort of transforms from a crime drama into a sci-fi action film. The team's method of criminal surveillance is mesmerizing; a special program in which they're able to view events that have already happened. Think of your local convenience store's surveillance camera, only with the ability to view everything in a room at any angle you can dream of. But there's a catch; once something has happened, you can't go back and view it again, so there is no rewinding. The possibility of having such a program exist is interesting to think about. With this method, the team tries to track down the young woman, only in a time warp period of days ago, when she was alive. They link the woman's death to the person who planted the explosives on the ferry, and from this point, it's all about pin-pointing the fine details in how, where, and when it all goes down.
Denzel Washington relishes in this kind of role; mysterious, but yet down to earth. He doesn't try to pretend to understand this weird, futuristic surveillance program. His only concern is trying to prevent what happens, and finding the person responsible for it in the first place. Fans of his are sure to like him in this role, but I have to say that I liked him a bit more in director Tony Scott's other Denzel-starrer, "Man on Fire". Val Kilmer, meanwhile, has fun with his role, even if its pretty much the straight-and-narrow "play by the rules" kind of cop role. But Kilmer rarely disappoints in any role he takes and this is no exception.
Personally, the stars of this film aren't necessarily the actors themselves. Yes, they're a big part of it obviously, but it's the premise that takes centre stage. And anyone who knows me and my love of film probably knows my stance on CGI, but I have to say that the visuals in this movie are incredible. There's one scene in particular where Denzel's character is chasing someone on the freeways and roads of New Orleans that uses a split image, and it comes off really good on-screen.
Director Scott is known for his explosive yet personable films. With this one, he's created a story that simply leaves you thinking, "What if?" What if authorities could develop a technology to go back in time? What if murder could be prevented in this way? It may all seem a little over-the-top for some people, but "Deja Vu" is a film that simply asks for your attention. But don't worry; its not like its something you've seen before.

Ruttle's Reviews: The Archives

Lifeless Eyes, Like a Doll

"Jaws" (1975)
Directed by: Steven Spielberg (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan)
Starring: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss
Running time: 124 minutes
Rut's Rating: 5/5

It's the original summer blockbuster. The film that made you scared to go in the water, wash your hands under water, or even drink a large glass of water. Decorated filmmaker Steven Spielberg was only starting to get his feet wet (pun intended!) when he made this legendary movie, and it ended up making him a household name. We all know the tale; a huge great white shark terrorizes the residents of a small island community called Amity, and it's reign of terror isn't ending anytime soon.
In what has been described as director Spielberg's "quintessential film", the use of underwater POV (point of view) shots is done very well. Using this technique, we're aware that this is the shark, moving slowly but destructively, looking for it's next victim. The numbing and brilliant score from composer John Williams (DUH DUH......DUH DUH DUH DUH......) only makes these shots all the more suspenseful. We may not actually SEE the beast, but we know it's there, simply waiting.
As for the human side of things, the film stars Roy Scheider as the Amity Police Chief, Martin Brody. He and his family are new to the island, having moved from New York, and ironically, he is afraid of the water. Scheider is a good fit for the role; Chief Brody is a man faced with a horrifying threat, and a community that looks to him for action. But he isn't alone. Richard Dreyfuss is Matt Hooper, a shark expert brought in by Brody to try and identify just how big of a problem Amity Island has. Dreyfuss is a fine choice for the role; a little nerdy, yet knowledgeable. He and Scheider have good chemistry and complement each other well. And finally, there is the hard-edged, moonshine-drinking shark hunter, Quint. He is without a doubt my favorite character in the film, and he is played with scary-good authenticity by the late Robert Shaw. Quint is a man who you can easily see has lived a hard life, yet his character doesn't command a "woe is me" attitude. Just wait until Quint's introduction in the film; you'll see that this man simply commands respect. Also, his story of the U.S.S. Indianapolis, (in which sharks killed over 700 men who were stranded in the ocean in 1945) is haunting and an incredible piece of storytelling.
And so, with the Fourth of July approaching and a town of people that live for the beach, the stubborn, greedy Mayor is dead-set against a full investigation into the shark attacks, for fear that people will run off and go somewhere else instead of spending their tourist dollars in Amity. Murray Hamilton plays Mayor Larry Vaughn, and with his cheesy suits and eyes filled with dollar signs, he is a great antagonist. Chief Brody and Hooper just can't seem to convince him that they have to close the beaches to ensure the safety of everyone. The Mayor only changes his mind when Amity's Fourth of July celebrations get cut short when the shark shows up and kills a man - all in plain view of everyone on the beach. From there, Brody and Hooper track down Quint and the three of them set sail, in search of the killer great white.
From there, it becomes almost a game of hide-and-seek. The three men sit, patiently waiting. Hooper steers the boat, Quint sits in his fisherman's chair, and Brody throws chum in the water for bait. When Hooper and Quint aren't looking, the shark suddenly springs up and shocks Brody nearly to death. Quiet and backing up slowly, he utters to Quint those infamous words that are synonymous with this film, "You're gonna need a bigger boat." At approximately 25 feet long and a weight of three tons, Brody's words ring true. The shark plays mind games with our heroes, showing up whenever it feels like it, seemingly coming from all directions, and dragging the boat further out to sea. It's only a matter of time before the beast does enough damage, ramming the boat and trying to leap onto the back end. When it starts to show signs of sinking, it's up to the three men to destroy the shark quickly before they become lunch, in a dramatic, explosive conclusion that keeps your eyes glued to the screen.
"Jaws" is the definition of a classic film. It may have been released over 30 years ago, but it stands the test of time. Steven Spielberg and crew may not have known it at the time, but they were setting the standard for any filmmaker who wanted to tackle the horror/suspense genre, myself included. For most of the film, you don't even see the shark. It's that old saying, "Less is more." All you need to get that feeling of welcoming dread is that POV shot and the infamous score. I know that for the longest time after seeing the movie, and even sometimes now, I can still hear it whenever I'm near a river or lake.
Duh duh........duh duh duh duh......