Theater: Wonder Woman(Awesome *** 1/2 out of ****)
Home: Yoga Hosers. Was very disappointed. There was funny stuff in it like Ralph Garman's impersonations and the Nazi bratwursts were cool, plus there was one plot element that I didn't see coming going into the movie, but I guess the reviews were right that it's Kevin Smith's worst film. I probably still like it was more than the average person though, or Mallrats for that matter.
Into the Forest (2015) 8/10
I've been steadily going through A24's catalog of movies ever since being impressed with seeing It comes At Night 2 weeks ago. Like other Indie films that they've distributed that've garnered colitical acclaim (Moonlight, The Witch, Ex Machina), the film with such a little budget is able to still craft a compelling story. The movie is about two sisters adapting to life after the power grid goes out on the West Coast. They adapt to living on the land after the passing of their father, learn to depend on each other, and face the hardships that comes with the breakdown of society. Ellen Page gives a standout performance as the more ingenious survivalist minded sister, and she carries the film and the weight of keeping her sister alive and sane after her rape. A very gripping film that's a worthy mention in A24's notable movies.
The Rover (2014) 7/10
Guy Pearce plays a tormented man in the Australian outback haunted by his crimes and looking to get his car back after its stolen. Robert Pattinson plays second wheel as an abandoned brother as one of the car thieves who assists Guy's character in getting his car back/revenge. If you have previously dismissed Robert after the terrible Twilight films, his portrayal of a slow but dedicated friend to a man who is unafraid of death/hellbent on revenge may change your mind. The movie is bleak and even with its limited budget (another A24 film), it does well by showcasing the desolation of the Aussie outback and what one man will do for closure.
The Dark Crystal (1982) 6.5/10
I saw this as a child and decided to revisit it god knows how many years later after watching it on VHS. The sets still hold up (the sprawling shots of the valleys, the rocky cliffs during the fight with the soldiers, and the desolate landscapes of the Skeskis). Unfortunately, this is really one of the main reasons I stayed with the film. The story seems to run on a convoluted mess of happy accidents (he magically stumbles on another one of his race when supposed all seeing mystics can't??), the dog puppet was annoying, Chamberlain was irritating, and overall it just suffered from the typical trope of get the Macguffin that would later become commonplace in the genre. The puppet designs were unique/memorable, the sets were great, and the scenes where the Skesis/Mystics fused was an interesting scene as well. It was good for its time but will probably serve as nothing more than a nostalgia piece or something to show your kids.
The Harvest (2013) 7/10
I was a little bit skeptical of checking this out given my experience with a previous terrible IFC movie (The Devil's Candy). But this is more of a psychological thriller with horror elements than a straightup horror film. The movie being about a crippled boy who befriends a social misfit with trouble adapting to her new home. The boy of course being unable to walk due to overmedication and a dark family secret that leads to his Munchhausen suffering mother for being suffocating in her overprotectiveness to the point of harm. Seeing the children bond was the strong point in the film, and of course the performances from Michael Shannon and his estranged wife who are hiding skeletons in their closet. If you liked Misery you'd be a fan of this.
My Son, My son what have ye done? (2009) 7/10
A David Lynch film with Willem Dafoe and Michael Shannon about a mentally deranged man stabbing his mother with a saber. The movie is told through a series of interviews/flashbacks all with the surrealist touches and quirky dialog Lynch exposed me to on Twin Peaks. A very unique film