Elephant in the Living Room (2010)

Directed by Michael Webber
Starring Tim Harrison and Terry Brumfield
Runtime 96min. - Rated PG
4 Stars (out of 4)

"Elephant in the Living Room" is available on DVD or $3.99 V.O.D including
Amazon, Vudu, or YouTube.

Michael Webber's "Elephant in the Living Room" reinforces a belief that I've always had. What I didn't realize is that I may be in the minority on the issue. Personally, I don't think people should own dangerous exotic pets. It isn't just that they should choose not to, they should legally be banned from owning them. Not only are people allowed to own lions, tigers, and bears (wait for it) in most states, but at least 7 states require no permits and have no laws regarding ownership. That should make you say, "oh my".

The Avengers (2012) - A Negative Review

Directed by Joss Whedon
Starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood
Runtime 143min. - Rated PG-13
3.5 Stars (out of 4)

There are currently 497 external reviews posted to IMDB along with 1,057 user reviews. Those numbers render whatever I have to say pretty much pointless. So let me start out by saying that the film was a lot of fun. It was one of the best theater experiences in the past few years. You all know why; effects, humor, aliens, superheroes. There's no sense in me rehashing the other 1500+ reviews by gushing over Joss Whedon's best film to date, so let's focus on something different, the negative. I want to explain where the other half-star could have came from.

The Sunset Limited (2011)

Directed by Tommy Lee Jones
Starring Jones and Samuel L. Jackson
Runtime 91min. - Not Rated
3 Stars (out of 4)

Here's a film based on a play by Cormac McCarthy, the writer of "The Road" and "No Country for Old Men". This is a sharp turn from those two novels/movies, but it does have in common a grim view of the human condition.

The film has only two actors, Samuel L. Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones. Their names are never given, they are only credited as "White" and "Black". I'll give you one guess which actor is black and which is white. The trailer gave me the idea that this was to be a classic battle between an atheist (Jones) and a believer (Jackson). In truth, its more of a "minimalist vs. nihilist" battle.

Collaborator (2011)

Directed and Written by Martin Donovan
Starring Donovan and David Morse
Runtime 88min. - Not Rated
3.5 Stars (out of 4)

"Collaborator" is available for $5.99 on ITunes, Amazon Instant and Vudu.

I didn't know what to expect from this film. I hadn't even seen a trailer when I rented it from Amazon. All I knew is that it was written and directed by Martin Donovan, and featured Donovan and David Morse in the starring roles. I reasoned that was enough to give it a try and that reasoning proved fruitful.

This is the 2nd review in a row that features a struggling writer of screen and stage. The struggles for Robert Longfellow (Donovan), however, are much more external than my previous subject. The film opens with Longfellow's most recent stage-play being brutally mocked by some local radio hosts who take pleasure in the pain of others. The play is the latest in a string of critical failures and Robert is beginning to feel the effects.

2nd Take (2011)

Directed by John Suits
Starring Tom Everett Scott and Sarah Jones
Runtime 103min. - Not Rated
3 Stars (out of 4)

2nd Take is available for as low as $3.99 on ITunes, Amazon Instant, and YouTube.

They say all good writing is autobiographical in some way. I think that's the case for "2nd Take", which is very tragic. The screenwriter chose to write about a screenwriter who's writing about a screenwriter. It'd take hard evidence to convince me that the story is totally fictional. It appeals to nostalgia with its constant referencing of "Casablanca", which I publicly endorse as the greatest film of all time.

Peter (Scott) owns a storage and shipping facility not unlike a U-Haul franchise. His clientele seems to be made up entirely of hookers, which I find fascinating. I suppose it's convenient for them to store their belongings and then walk to the corner. It's hinted in the movie that they might be using their storage space for unsanctioned purposes; drugs, sex, sleep. Peter is in no place to judge since he's a frequent partaker of their services. He doesn't have sex with the prostitutes; he just sleeps next to them and holds their hands. I thought this might lead to some Patrick Bateman-like activity, but it's quite the opposite. Peter doesn't even get angry when he wakes up and finds a hooker stealing from him. He convinces her to give back the object because of its sentimental value. This behavior is a big clue to Peter's personality and his past. Tom Everett Scott plays the character with bottled-up emotional turmoil and a perpetually straight face. It's the decisions of the character that give him away.

Blue Ridge (2010)

Directed by Vince Sweeney
Starring Eric Sweeney and Audra Glyn Smith
Runtime 90min. - Not rated
Star Rating...5th Amendment!!?

"Blue Ridge" is available on Vudu, Itunes and Amazon Instant.
It's also screening in select theaters.

I'm going to invoke my 5th amendment rights in terms of a star rating for this film. It's been filmed in Craig County and Roanoke, Virginia. Since I spend at least 40 hours a week in Roanoke, I am always grateful for a movie to be made there. I couldn't give an unbiased grade to the film and I don't want to make filmmakers feel unwelcome in my hometown. Therefore, I abstain. Instead I'll just discuss my thoughts on the film and allow the reader to project whatever tone they choose.

"Blue Ridge" follows the exploits of J.T., a tire salesman and handyman whose entire world exists on an isolated patch of mountainside. I got the feeling that we're supposed to be sympathetic to J.T. I certainly wasn't. He seems to be a nice enough guy. He likes everyone except homosexuals, Mexicans, blacks, feminists, yapping dogs, and people who talk on phones. Now that I think about it, he really only likes one person, Sara.