Hey folks, Harry here with the latest from the man with the smoke filled world... The weather report on our man Massawyrm is that the ovecast lungs will soon be partly cloudy and that one day in the future... those lungs will be sunny and clean... Will the Massawyrm kick that cankerstick? Will he? Word has it that love is an ingrediant in this forecast of the end of the 40 a day and 40 a night cig life that this huffer of nicotine air. Also in the Wyrm's life is these here two movies. I haven't seen MONTE CRISTO, but I have seen MOTHMAN and folks, I dug hell out of the MOTHMAN. Regularly I despise, despise Richard Gere flicks, but he's really really good in this one. Very very good. Now here's da Wyrm!
Hola all. Everyone’s favorite Chain-smoking, Dr. Pepper swilling, Indie schilling film geek for the masses here with a look at this weekends solid line up of flicks. Something interesting has happened. For some reason, only God and certain studio execs know why, there are actually really good, fun as all hell movies being released. In January. January for Christ’s sakes. What the hell?!? I’m not supposed to be having this much fun in January. But what do you know, I am. For all of you out there who want to see some solid, fun movies this weekend, you’re in luck, because we have been given both “The Count of Monte Cristo” and “The Mothman Prophesies”.
Now the thing about each of these flicks is that the ad campaigns for both have led many to believe that this weekend’s population of Suckville will be up by two. Neither have really seemed gripping and both have led to constant ribbing by my housemates (myself included) which include pointy-fingered “Count on revenge!” and raspy whispered utterances of the word “Chapstick”. But oddly enough, both are really fun theatrical rides worth the trip to the Cineplex. Aside from crappy marketing campaigns, each are also hindered by the fact that they are adapted from long standing works (One fiction; one, well, undecided). Oddly enough, I am familiar with both works, I love both works, and the films’ deviate from both works; and you know what, I don’t care. Really I don’t. Not that I don’t hate it when a movie breaks away from a good book and then becomes something else entirely. Usually I do. But this time, in both cases, the movie broke away so well that I really didn’t care at all. I was taken for a ride and I loved almost every minute.
First this week I experienced the fun that is the Count of Monte Cristo. This was just pure historical adventure frolic that out does most recent attempts at the genre (Brotherhood of the Wolves excluded, as it is something of it’s own entirely and blows every modern attempt at historical adventure out of the water.) While it does not hold true to the book (something that Hollywood holds as a standard when it comes to the works of Dumas) it is really enjoyable nonetheless.
The editing and cinematography of this film are fairly dull, not at all bad, but not nearly as gritty, alluring and cutting edge as the likes of Gladiator or BotW. However, it’s never distracting either and does it’s job of delivering clear shots of the action and the principals. What really sells this film is it’s casting, a fantastic array of talent who never falter for a minute.
James Caviezel, while not seeming like leading man material, really proves himself otherwise here. As the title character (sort of) he treats this role with real finesse, stretching his chops over several distinct periods in Edmund Dantes’ life. There are distinct mannerism changes as we watch him transform from ignorant innocent to maddened prisoner to vengeful plotter to regal Count. The beauty of his work here lies in the subtlety of each change. Every version of the man has a different look in his eyes, a different posture, radically different expressions; we don’t just watch a character develop, we watch him grow. But all the while Caviezel underplays it, never once really forcing you to notice the changes. The progression is very natural and a pleasure to watch, and yet since he is surrounded by such great talent his acting doesn’t seem impressive unless you’re paying attention. It’s a good, solid performance that works perfectly for the film, but doesn’t overpower it.
Richard Harris turns in another great performance, this time as the priest who befriends Edmund in prison and helps him on his way. There’s really not much to say about this role. It’s Richard Harris and he is as impressive as always. He really shines here, proving once again that he is the cream of the crop of the elder statesmen actors.
Of course there’s a great supporting performance by Luis Guzman who, although he doesn’t display any real range with this role, gets by on the fact that he is, and always will be, Luis Guzman. The Guzman is just cool as all hell and seeing him as Edmunds right hand man is pure fanboy pleasure. I mean, it’s the Guzman, and he’s a sailor and he gets in a knife fight. What else do you want? What else could you want? Guzman. In a Knife Fight. Cool.
And last, but certainly not least, we have Guy Pierce who has officially passed the Massawyrm Litmus of Truly Gifted Actors (or the MLOTGA if you’re into the whole brevity thing.) There are many great actors in the world, but only a select few of them can play convincing heavies while maintaining the ability to play both the lead and character roles in other films. Many wonderful actors have embarrassed themselves badly trying to play villains. Guy Pierce, however, proves yet again that he is a man of a thousand roles. From the moment we meet him he is despicable. Yes, you can clearly see it’s Guy Pierce, but gone from your eyes is any sense of likeability whatsoever that has so often come with many of his other roles. He hit’s the screen and you hate him. Think Alan Rickman (circa 87 – 91) or Peter Lorre. He is slimy, evil and scheming and wears such on his countenance. You just look at him in this film and you know you hate him.
Pierce’s delivery here is spot on. Never for a moment does he seem to be struggling with being the heavy. Never is he cartoonish nor garish in his portrayal. He just assumes this role like every other he’s ever done and wears it like a second skin.
So yes, it has strong performances, but what of the story and it’s pacing? Well, The Count of Monte Cristo is the grand daddy of all revenge adventure stories. No, there’s nothing really original to be found here, just pretty standard stuff, but it’s sewn together so well and moves so smoothly that you never get bored and you never feel like the movie is just rehashed, tired or stale. But if you’re looking for something deep or gritty, avoid this. The Count of Monte Cristo is just solid, cheer along with the movie, popcorn and nacho fare. If you want to have some fun this weekend, something chock full of action, intrigue and oh yes, Luis Guzman in a knife fight, then this is the movie for you.
However, if something creepy and chilling is more your taste, then The Mothman Prophesies might just be right up your alley.
Now before I go any further I need to separate the audiences of this film here, because there will be two very different groups of people going to see this film. Primarily the audience will be your average filmgoer going to see a spooky film. The other audience will be those who are conspiracy buffs who know all about (or at least something about) the truth behind the events surrounding the Mothman. Now for those folks I must say this upfront: This film does not accurately portray the events of November and December 1966. If you’re looking at this as a docu-drama you will not be happy with what you find here. However, while it does eschew the truth (or supposed truth) quite a bit, the mood and tone of the film is perfectly crafted to really convey the power of the Mothman Myth/Fact. This film is very creepy and doesn’t distort any of the qualities, abilities or myths about the Mothman. Now, for those of you conspiracy buffs or Mothman enthusiasts who know all about the Mothman and really must know what changes were made in order to decide whether you should see it or not, I have spent the better part of this evening after seeing the film pulling books off the shelf and doing research on the subject (something I kept myself from doing beforehand because I wanted my vague memories of the subject to remain vague so I could enjoy this as a film and not a docu-drama). The following paragraph is a SPOILER HEAVY breakdown of the events of 1966 vs. what appeared in the film. I implore those of you who do not know the story to go in unaware and not read the following paragraph.
SPOILERS!!!!!!!
Okay Mothman fans, here goes. John Klien is an amalgam of John Keel and Woodrow Derenberger. The film only mentions one of the 3 repeated prophesies: the bridge collapse, and it is never prophesied as a power outage. The bridge collapse occurs at night rather than noon and kills far less than the over 100 who actually perished. The Pope’s stabbing and Robert Kennedy’s assassination are never mentioned (this takes place present day rather than in ‘66). There is no mention of the toxicity of the town, the cattle mutilations, UFO sightings, or Men In Black. Indrid Cold is the name of the voice on the phone talking to Klien, but He/She/It never mentions being an alien from the planet Lanulos. This pretty much sticks to Keel’s interpretation of the events being mystical rather than extra-terrestrial. However, as previously mentioned, all of the events surrounding the Mothman and Indrid Cold (who may very well have been the Mothman) are pretty spot on. The physical manifestations on witnesses, the weird sounds on calls, the weird lights. All accurately portrayed from the reports.
END SPOILERS!!!!!
Okay, so about the film as a film. It’s a wonderfully spooky delight. Gere sheds his pretty boy nice guy image that has clung to him like so much rotting flesh in his last several films and takes on the roll of the everyman reporter. He’s definitely solid and really seems genuinely lost in the oddity of his situation. Laura Linney in turn plays her role as the skeptical local law note perfect. The two really play well off each other.
The basic premise is that Gere is a journalist who ends up in a small town when very strange events start happening that somehow tie into his wifes death. Working together with Linney, a local yokel police officer, they investigate the mystery of the Mothman.
The Mothman Prophesies derives most of it’s power however from the editing and cinematography. There are some particularly jarring moments that create genuine startles without relying on the supernatural to pull those jump scares off. The editing of real life occurrences in this eerie setting hits you like a fist at times while the supernatural elements keep you intrigued.
One of the things I really respect about this film is that there are several points where it seems like you’re being taken down familiar roads commonplace to this type of film and yet the director seems to say “Sorry, just passing through. We’re not really going there.” And they don’t. Obvious ploys to jerk at the heartstrings of the audience are ignored and the tragedy of the situations are never over dramatized to milk a tear or two out of you. This film sets its mood and never deviates from it.
While it does deviate from the real tale on many points, the bulk of this film is based on the mythology surrounding the Mothman, which makes this film really scary. Not the type of scary when your sitting in the theatre, but the type of scary that creeps you the fuck out when you step outside for a smoke after dark. Why? Because despite the fact that this is a film, the Mothman might be real. There are certainly many people who believe it does exist, several of whom have claimed to see it. Or hear it. And ultimately, whether you believe in it or not, it’s definitely something to roll around in your skull.
This film serves as both a great horror/thriller (in the same vein of horror as The Sixth Sense and Stir of Echoes) and as a great think piece. No doubt many people upon seeing this film will investigate the books and websites devoted to the Legend of the Mothman. And that’s something I personally think is really cool. It’s certainly rekindled my interest in the subject and at the same time I look forward to watching this film again. It’s a cool film with a great premise that really pays off. Well worth your time if you enjoy a good spine-chilling theatre experience.
Well, folks. I’m sated. Both these films hit the spot for me as I hope they do the same for you. Until next time, friends, smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em. I know I will. Oh, and never answer the phone if it’s unplugged. Just a bad idea all around.
