Hey folks... Harry here, you don't really get two directors more different than Renny Harlin and Christopher Guest. I'm sure you have you're own opinions of each, but here we have a preview of both of their's next films. He enjoyed the films at varying levels - and both are very much at an early stage of their productions. Here ya go...
Hey Hey,
As a prologue to my review I'd just like to state that over the past month I have been on one of the greatest runs of my life in regards to the theater. Movies like these don't come around very often. In most recent order I've seen CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND, 25TH HOUR, BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, GANGS OF NEW YORK, THE TWO TOWERS, and last, but not even close to least, ADAPTATION. You can tell how incredible a run is when a Scorsese film is your least favorite of the bunch. Needless to say, damn-near anything would dissapoint after this run of movies but I'm not one to pass on a free movie, so...
I just got out of a test screening for the new Renny Harlin flick, MINDHUNTERS, a few hours ago. And you know what? I decided to share my thoughts. So here we are...
Brief summary: A group of potential FBI profilers are sent to a deserted island in order to take part in a highly elaborate training excersise. You know what the ironic thing is? These profilers began to suspect that this is more than a routine excercise, and they, in fact, are the ones being profiled. You know why they suspect this? Well, I'll tell you why. Because all sorts of people done up and get themselves killed.
The players: Val Kilmer, Christian Slater, Kathryn Morris Jonny Lee Miller, LL Cool J, Patricia Velasquez, Clifton Collins Jr, Will Kemp and Eion Bailey.
Reaction: I must say I almost didn't see this flick because I had little time in between class and this showing (and, I'll be honest, I wasn't sure if Renny Harlin could help sustain this run of great movies I was on). But I went for it anyways. Mainly because my brother is quite the avid Val Kilmer fan, and having seen THE SALTON SEA before him, I figured I should keep the streak alive and check this little ditty out before him. I really liked THE SALTON SEA and Kilmer's performance in it, but unfortunately I can't say the same thing about MINDHUNTERS. Kilmer, along with many other likeable characters didn't really get a chance to shine. Due in most part to the fact that the script didn't allow them to. Twas a shame, but you know what? I got over it. Because the script had plenty other goodies to offer in their place.
In fact some characters got more play than I would have liked, while others got the shaft, but at least they all did the best with the roles offered to them. The script, however, made up for this minor injustice in its sharp dialogue. There were plenty of good lines to keep the film light (and by "light", I mean "light" for a serial killer movie), and it's a good thing too. Because if this film tried to take itself somewhere serious I wouldn't have come with it. Instead Harlin, and a few screenwriters leave me knee-deep in popcorn, where I belong.
This is a pure popcorn flick, but what elevates it from other popcorn flicks is the fine array of actors on board, and the smart writing. Sure, it still bends reality every now and then but I forgive it, because I don't necessarily look for reality in this type of movie. I look for something different from the countless other films like this. Luckilly, I got something unique.
In most who-dunnit, serial-killer movies we have characters that lack the mind-skills. That's right, mind-skills. The type of characters that do exactly the opposite of what the audience yells at them to do. You know the type. The type of character that would assume a killer is dead and the type that runs into the kitchen with all the knives instead of out the front door. In MINDHUNTERS they are supposed to be wildly intellectual, and they do appear smart enough for me. With the exception of one killing, I can't imagine any victing that could have avoided their death. It makes you feel good watching a movie where the characters don't dick around too much, and luckilly there is minimal dicking around in this movie.
The killer's identity was well-shrouded as well. I didn't see it coming from the first frame of the film where most movies like this would show a line-up of people smiling while one man frowns in a very sinister fashion. It's little touches like that that kept me into this movie. Also the pace was just right. It didn't slow down for unneeded reasons, and it didn't turn to shit at the ending. An ending which adheres slightly to formula, but still entertained me (especially a certain underwater sequence).
All in all, I'd say it was some good pure, old-fashioned, well-made, stir-fried, uncut entertainment. I'd give it a whirl if you're in the neighborhood.
On a side note, I also saw a test screening for the new Christopher Guest movie A MIGHTY WIND a while back. I agree with some who've written about it saying it could have benefited from a few less characters. But I enjoyed the hell out of it regardless. As of now (could change upon repeated viewings) I would put it ahead of BEST IN SHOW, but behind GUFFMAN and TAP. And If I ever make it in the business, I'll say it right now, I'm going to give one Mr. Fred Willard more work, because he is one of the most consistent thieves when it comes to stealing movies. He continues to break my funny bone in such way that I dont' mind wearing the cast. A few suggestions for the movie might be to actually include more Christopher Guest, I don't know if he is shy, but he is damned hilarious in this, and I wish he had more screen time. Also, the film is a bit short. I'd&! nbsp;include some of the countless deleted material I know Mr. Guest has laying around.
But then again, why trust me over Christopher Guest. He is a comedy legend, and I am just a common, lowly, no-good...
Goondock Saint
