The Film Jockey reviews: "Scream"

In dedication to the release of Scream 4 in less than 3 months, I am going to be reviewing "Scream!"

As I stated in my previous article regarding the Scream franchise, these films brought a new and original twist to the horror genre. Kevin Williamson wrote the script and Wes Craven took on the project as director. Together they made a great team and created a legendary horror film.

Scream opens up with one of the most memorable scenes of horror movie history, and my favorite opening scene of all time. The film opens with Drew Barrymore as Casey, a young girl alone in a big, but not typically creepy house. The phone rings and she answers it. It's a strange man on the other end, but she dismisses it as a wrong number and hangs up. Shortly after, the phone rings again. The man says he wanted to "apologize" but Casey's not buying it. She hangs up again. Eventually, the man continuously calls her and begins harassing her over the phone with death threats and such. Without spoiling anything (which everyone should have seen this movie already, so there shouldn't really be any spoilers) I will move on. This scene is so greatly directed by Craven. He creates a really scary atmosphere with this house and the character of the "voice." The build-up of tension is great and it keeps your eyes glued to the screen. All of this leads up to a great finale (as far as opening scenes go), as Casey is directly confronted with the Ghostface killer.

Now, moving onto the film itself. Scream centers around the character Sidney Prescott (played by Neve Campbell). Sidney is a little more than your average high school girl. We discover that Sidney's mother Maureen Prescott was supposedly raped and murdered one year ago by a man named Cotton Weary, whom Sidney sentenced to death row with her testimony in court. Following the death of Casey, the whole community is in an uproar and local media makes connections to the death of Sidney's mother. Most of this speculation is done by Gale Weathers (played by Courteney Cox) who is the local "tabloid twit." Quickly enough, however, Sidney finds herself as the target of Ghostace. Helping Sidney through this is her best friend Tatum (Rose McGowan) and Tatum's big brother/town deputy Dewey Riley (David Arquette). As Sidney tries to find out who is trying to kill her and why, she discovers some shocking secrets about her mother that she didn't know before.

All in all, this film has something that most other horror films lack. That "something" is substance. It's got real characters, real backgrounds and relationships to go with those characters and a great plot that doesn't just involve an unrealistic villain who can't die. This villain is a very real threat. Without spoiling anything, we find out that the killer has a very close relationship with Sidney, and in more ways than one. There is motive, but there isn't at the same time. Yes the killer(s) are psychotic, but they've also got their reasonings behind it. This always makes for an exciting twist when the killer has a real relationship with our protagonist. It gives the story that substance I'm talking about. After almost 2 hours of watching our heroine get attacked and nearly murdered, we better have a damn good revelation at the end for why it's been happening. And that is where Scream becomes smarter. Williamson had his story well thought out when he wrote it.

With that being said, everyone needs to see this film! Not only horror fans. Everybody in general loves a good horror flick sometimes, and this really is one of the best.

Anne Hathaway "Rises" to the challenge of playing Catwoman!

So as I mentioned in my article a few days ago, there were three contenders to take over as one of the two new leading ladies in "The Dark Knight Rises." Well, one of those ladies has been officially announced as being added to the cast! Anne Hathaway will be playing Selina Kyle aka Catwoman in the new Batman movie!

I know in the previous article I mentioned how I wasn't too crazy about seeing Hathaway, Biel or Knightley take on any role in the film, but the more I think about it, the more I think Hathaway will make a pretty good Catwoman. I can just see her as being a sly and sexual villain to taunt Batman. Like I said I'm really not a big Hathaway fan, but I am very anxious to see how she does as Catwoman. I think she'll pull it off!

The Film Jockey reviews: "Black Swan"

My second review, in honor of Natalie Portman winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress about an hour ago, is going to be Black Swan.

This film instantly shot up to one of my top ten favorites. I almost don't feel worthy to be reviewing it, but I'll hopefully do it justice.

As a modern take on the story "Swan Lake," Black Swan focuses on Portman's character Nina. Nina is a shut-in of sorts, living in New York with her single mother. When she wins the lead role in the Swan Lake production, Nina expertly portrays the White Swan. However, she becomes very pressured when she fails to successfully portray the much darker role of the Black Swan. Her instructor Thomas, played by Vincent Cassel, gives her several pointers on how to "loosen up" in order to more easily fit into the role. An example of these pointers he gives her is to "go home and touch yourself." Very dedicated to her craft, Nina works hard and takes these pointers from Thomas. However, she also finds herself being corrupted by her peer Lily, played by Mila Kunis. Lily portrays the darker side that Nina is striving to become in order to be the Black Swan. In a desperate attempt to fit into this character, she gives into Lily's corruption. Nina begins to hallucinate about things and she eventually can't tell what's real anymore.

Without spoiling anything, I'll move onto my review. Portman gives a mind-blowing performance as Nina. Obviously she's been getting a large amount of praise from critics and fans alike, and as I previously mentioned, she just won the Golden Globe for Best Actress tonight. Aronofsky is a great director and he, obviously, did a great job with this film. I like his very dark tone that he traditionally creates in his films so well, and Black Swan is no exception for that tradition. Mila Kunis also did a great job as the party girl Lily. I hope she gets an Oscar nomination for her role. All in all, there is just so much going on in this film that it's hard to really talk about without spoiling anything. I've always personally felt like ballerina's are stereotyped for their lack of eating and their hard work that they put into their craft. This film definitely enforces those stereotypes, but it's such a great story about the character of Nina. We slowly see her spiral out of control and become a completely different person. I really love the hallucinations that she has throughout the film too. It becomes hard for her to tell what's real and what isn't. And as the audience, we really get sucked into the story as we are never aware what is real and what she's hallucinating. The hallucinations are a great symbolic touch which really portray how she is completely becoming the Black Swan. Figuratively and literally.

In conclusion, this film is undoubtedly one of the best of 2010. I highly suggest everyone see it if you're into dark drama like this. Portman's performance alone is worth the 9 bucks for the movie ticket, but you also get a great story with other great performances as well. However, DISCLAIMER!, there is a pretty intense sex scene between Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman. So if that kind of stuff offends you, I would avoid it.

"Scream 4" looks guaranteed to have you SCREAMING!!! - UPDATE!!!

If anyone knows anything about me, it's that I'm a HUGE horror fan! (Hence Leatherface wielding his chainsaw in my background). As an aspiring writer/director, I just love the energy and the emotion behind (good) horror films. Although I even find entertainment in the really bad horror movies that don't require thinking. Just killing! Anyway, I always credit this love of horror to the revolutionary film franchise "Scream."

Of course the film was released in 1996, so I was only 7 years old at the time. No my parents did not allow me to see it at the age of 7. I think I was 8. Anyway, I saw it for the first time and I was immediately hooked. I loved the opening scene from the first time I saw it. I actually got scared the first few times I watched it. The creepy voice of Ghostface and the atmosphere that Craven created is really chilling.

So, unless you were born yesterday, or have been living under a rock for the last decade and a half, you have heard of Scream. In an era full of crappy horror films with no real substance as far as characters or plot, Scream re-invented the genre with its' smart script by Kevin Williamson and the amazing direction from Wes Craven. The film also made history with the previously mentioned opening scene featuring Drew Barrymore as Ghostface's first unlucky victim. Although I'm not a huge Drew fan, she did a great job in the opening scene.

With all that being said, Scream 4 is being released this April 15th!!! 3 months! I have personally been following the whole production since summer via a great blog site called www.scream-trilogy.net. Today, the full trailer for Scream 4 was released and it looks awesome! The teaser was released a couple of months ago, but this one is a full 2 and a half minutes! We get a lot of juicy info that we didn't get in the first one.

With Scream 3 being a bit of a disappointment, Scream 4 looks legitimately scary! Craven looks like he's really put his all into this film, and I am ecstatic about seeing all of these new characters thrown into the storyline. Newcomers include Emma Roberts (above), Hayden Panettiere and Adam Brody among a few others.

So without further adieu, do yourself a favor and watch the Scream 4 trailer! And don't forget to check it out on April 15th!!!

UPDATE! - The link I posted above no longer carries the embedded video of the new Scream 4 trailer...However! The HD version is available in much better quality at www.apple.com/trailers/weinstein/scream4 !!! ENJOY!!!

The "Dark Knight" needs TWO new ladies!

Well, with "The Dark Knight Rises" pretty much on the down low for a while, it's been said that Anne Hathaway, Jessica Biel and Keira Knightley are going through the testing process to take over as one of the TWO new female leads after Rachel Dawes bit the dust in "The Dark Knight." There are also a couple of other names being thrown around such as Naomi Watts, Gemma Arteron (Prince of Persia) and Eva Green (Casino Royale), but those three are strictly rumors for now. The actual

characters have not been confirmed as of yet either, so it's still a mystery as to who the new actresses would actually be playing in the film.

I personally don't think that the three going through the

testing process really fit into a film of this genre.

Hathaway would probably be my first choice. She's a good actress when she wants to be, but she has some personal mannerisms that make you say "Yep, that's Anne Hathaway." I always find myself catching onto these whenever I watch her in any film. I think they need an actress who can completely transform into the character without any of their own personal characteristics to take away from the experience.

Biel, well, she's a whole other story. She's kind of a crappy actress, but I've mostly liked her in action roles. She definitely kicked @$$ in Blade: Trinity, and she's very good when it comes to being an action star because of her athletic build. But, judging by the character of Rachel Dawes in the first two films, I think they'll need someone who can carry a pretty heavy dramatic role, and I don't think Biel can handle it.

And last but...probably least there's Knightley. I don't really like her as an actress. She just plays the same characters all the time. The only time she ever stepped out of the romantic/love type role was for "Domino" (2005) and, although I like that movie, there was

nothing outstanding about Knightley's performance. I don't see her being a huge contender for this film.

With that being said, I think they need a new lineup of possible leading ladies. I actually think Gemma Arterton would be a great addition to the cast. Although she got her start in a couple of crappy movies (Prince of Persia, Clash of the Titans) I think she has great potential to be a serious actress.

As far as the story goes, I just hope they don't make the same mistake as with Spider-Man 3 by cramming way too many storylines into one film. But I have the utmost faith in Christopher Nolan. He's a phenomenal filmmaker.

So what do all of you guys out there think about the line-up for leading ladies?

The Film Jockey reviews: "Thirteen"

For my first ever review as The Film Jockey, I will be reviewing one of my personal favorites, "Thirteen" released in 2003. You might be wondering, "Why is one of his favorite movies about a couple of teenage girls gone wild?" I respond to this by saying, this film is not just about crazy teenage girls running amuck.

Directed by Catherine Hardwicke (most known for directing the film adaptation of "Twilight"), "Thirteen" focuses on a young girl named Tracy (Evan Rachel Wood) who lives with her brother and her divorced mother Mel (Holly Hunter). Living in a makeshift home of sorts, Tracy seems to have been brought up with a good head on her shoulders despite her family's paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle. When we are first introduced to Tracy, she's one of the "good girls" of her school. She does well in her classes, wears pigtails, dresses cutely and has a great relationship with her mother. She also seems to be among the minority, as her school consists of a very diverse population. So, right off the bat, we see that Tracy is in a very pressured environment. One day at school, Tracy notices the popular girls, led by Evie Zamora (Nikki Reed). Seemingly desperate to join the popular girls, we follow Tracy on a dark and rapid descent into popularity as she will do anything it takes to be friends with Evie. First comes the stealing and lying, then comes the all out bad behavior. She begins to do drugs, like acid, and drinks irresponsibly. On top of this, her relationship with her mother goes from great to basically non-existent over night. She yells, disrespects and lies to her mother at any given moment. All of this leads to a shocking confrontation between Tracy, Evie, Mel and Evies cousin/guardian Brooke (played by Deborah Unger).

Co-written by Nikki Reed and Catherine Hardwicke, the film is based on real life experiences of Reed herself at the age of 13. Although it is a story that is all too familiar, a girl caught in the midst of peer-pressure and teenage angst, it is driven by the performances of Wood, Hunter and Reed. Wood absolutely outshines her co-stars as she flawlessly portrays Tracy's transformation from good girl to wrist-cutting troubled teen. Hunter also puts on a fantastic performance as we feel nothing but the utmost empathy for her as a recovering alcoholic mother who struggles to put food on the table for her family. Hardwicke is truly at the top of her game with this film, as her handheld/documentary style camera-work makes for fascinating storytelling. The cinematography portrays a gritty realistic vision that intrigues the audience as we witness Tracy's dark descent. Watching Wood and Hunter clash as mother and daughter is nothing short of captivating. However, Reed's performance should not go unnoticed as she also delivers a flawless portrayal of a rebellious and corruptive teenager (although Reed states that the Tracy character is based on herself).

Overall, I recommend everyone to see this film at least once. If not for the story itself, at least for the performances. Wood completely indulges the audience and the scenes between Wood and Hunter are something that should not be missed. This character driven story is an unforgettable one.

Deja Reboot: One bad "Nightmare"

When "A Nightmare on Elm Street" was first released in 1984, the film's villain Freddy Krueger struck fear in audiences around the nation. It contained an original story that hadn't been done before and a new kind of villain that could torture you and physically kill you in your dreams. Director Wes Craven was genius to bring this new twist of horror to life. Not to mention Robert Englund made a very terrifying Freddy Krueger. As previously mentioned, the thing that made the original so terrifying is that we'd never seen a villain like Freddy before. When we think of sleeping, we think of being at peace and it is our one time to ultimately relax and let go of all of our worries. However, this film takes that away from us. Craven took something that the body needs to physically function (sleep) and made it a place to be feared. On top of that, "Nightmare" was also a great film in general because of its' relatable characters and the complexity of Freddy himself as a character.

That being said, the remake was a semi-faithful adaptation in the visual sense, but it did manage to try and tie up loose ends that might not have been made clear in the original. In other words, there was an amount of over-exposition. Exposition is good, over-exposition is bad. The story behind Freddy in the original is that he was a child rapist and the parents of the town hunted him down and killed him. In this case, it was Nancy's mom describing to us what had happened, which explains why Freddy is trying to kill Nancy (our heroine). However, it is not made clear why he is killing her friends. The remake takes it one step further by trying to connect all of the characters in order to explain why Freddy wants to kill them all.

Here is where the reboot fails. It tries to take an original story and add to it so much that it ends up adding too much. There is no sense of mystery. The lack of mystery does not end there though. In the original, Freddy's face is kept mostly in the shadows until the end of the film. This adds a very creepy atmosphere to the film and makes Freddy's character even more frightening. However, in the remake, Freddy is completely exposed. There is no attempt to hide his mangled features in order to taunt the audience. (not to mention the "new" Freddy did not look nearly as frightening. He looked like an animal.)

In conclusion, the reboot was not quite as bad as I expected to be, but the original trumps it by a long shot.

New Column...

So I know this blog is still brand new, but I'm already starting a new column! It's called "Deja Reboot" in which I will compare original movies to their more recent remakes. My first comparison that I'm going to review will be...

Finally! The Mortal Instruments is coming to the silver screen!

I know this is a little late because the news was released a couple of weeks ago, but if any of you have heard of the young adult fantasy book series "The Mortal Instruments," it's officially been picked up to be made into a feature length film! Lily Collins (The Blind Side, Priest) has been cast to play the red-headed heroine Clary Fray. The director will be Scott Stewart who directed Collins in the upcoming "Priest" and also directed the 2010 film "Legion."

The storyline revolves around a 15-year-old girl named Clarissa (Clary) Fray. One night, her mother is mysteriously kidnapped from their home by a terrifying creature. This event sets off a suspenseful and exciting journey for Clary as she discovers secrets that have been hidden from her about her family and her destiny. Along this journey, she battles terrifying demons and other mythical creatures along side the mysterious Shadowhunter Jace, who also has a hidden past of his own.

I have to admit, I was a little skeptical when I first saw that Collins was going to be playing Clary. But after watching the "Priest" trailer, she looks like she'll be able to hold her own in a film of that genre, and she has the right look of what I picture Clary to be. However, I'm still a little skeptical about the choice of director. Of course he has some familiarity with the genre, but as a huge fan of this book series, I want it to be good. Legion wasn't all that great, and I'm still anxiously waiting to see Priest later this year. Either way, it can't just be another "Harry Potter wanna-be." If it's going to be a successful film franchise it has to be able to stand on it's own two feet. It has to be unique and create a new and fresh atmosphere that we haven't seen before. It can't just imitate what's been done in the past with book-to-movie adaptations. But, as we all know, Hollywood's main goal is to make the money. So I'm crossing my fingers and praying that they make good decisions. But hey maybe I'm just pessimistic. I mean Chris Columbus never directed any outstanding films but then he did a great job with the first two Harry Potter films. And he mostly stuck to directing comedies before that. At least Stewart has some experience in the same genre as The Mortal Instruments.

For you "The Mortal Instruments" fanatics out there...what's your opinion on the casting and director choice?

On DVD tomorrow...

January 4th, 2011:

"Machete" - Directed by Robert Rodriguez

Starring - Danny Trejo, Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez

"The Last Exorcism" - Directed by Daniel Stamm

Starring - Patrick Fabian, Ashley Bell

"Dinner for Schmucks" - Directed by Jay Roach

Starring - Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, Zach Galifianakis

New year, new movies, new blog!

As I mentioned up above, this is my blog dedicated to movie reviews and movie news. Every Sunday night I will create a new post reviewing a movie (good or bad) that I have watched within the previous week. In addition to this, I will also post any of the most recent movie news that I discover throughout the week. My first review will be next Sunday, January 9th. Stay tuned!