The first month of 2013 has come and gone, so now is as good a time as any to look at the rest of the year and see what kind of stuff is scheduled to come out and what is worth anticipating and actually waiting for. Sure there are going to be plenty of nerd-o’s out there who are dying to see “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” and everyone wants to see “Iron Man 3,” no matter how bad “Iron Man 2” was all those years ago. Anyone who knows me knows that I eagerly await Zack Snyder’s “Man of Steel,” but that’s no surprise, plenty of people are anxious to see that thing.Continue Reading …
Review: ‘Bullet to the Head’
Adapted from a French graphic novel, “Bullet to the Head” is an action movie that works as something of a throwback to the action films of the late 70s and 80s, though it has its fair share of modern touches to bring it in line with modern action movies, for both better and worse.
The story is some nonsensical mess about an aging hit man named Jimmy “Bobo” Bonomo (Sylvester Stallone, The Expendables 2, Rocky Balboa) who does a hit as contracted and then immediately gets set up by his employer, which results in the death of his hit man partner for whom Jimmy Bobo seemed to have some sort of affinity. So he sets out to find out the who’s and the why’s of the whole set up and to kill whomever is responsible. This includes the gigantic rival hit man Keegan (Jason Mamoa, Conan The Barbarian), and they build up nicely to the eventual one on one battle between the two assassins (and as shown in all the trailers and commercials, it’s an axe battle. Because why not). And to liven things up, out of town cop Taylor Kwon (Sung Kang, Fast Five) shows up and offers to help Jimmy Bobo get some answers in exchange for a tour through the criminal underworld so he can find the guys that set everything up. Because why not.Continue Reading …
Review: ‘Warm Bodies’
When can we put this zombie thing to bed, at least for a little while? Looks, I was super into zombies like everyone there for a hot minute, and then I was done with them, and that is when “The Walking Dead” aired on the television and this zombie thing somehow got even more popular. But you can all feel it, right? The end? Because when we’re down to movies about zombies who re-learn how to live and fall in love, I am pretty sure we’re scraping the bottom.Continue Reading …
Netflix pick for 2/4/13 – ‘Bubble’
“Bubble” is a small Steven Soderbergh experimental movie, squished between “Ocean’s 12” and “The Good German” and “Ocean’s 13,” an all digital movie back when that was actually an experiment, in the foul year of our Lord 2006, and populated with non-actors, who give naturalistic performances that border on stilted, all telling a very small drama that takes place in a small town doll factory (hence the creepy poster).
Also adding to the experimental nature? Most of the dialogue was improvised (again, by non-professional actors), the actors in the movie used their real homes, and when this film came out it was released simultaneously on DVD, in theaters and through video on demand services, which is a practice that is far more common now, but hey, someone had to blaze that trail.
It’s a short, interesting, well made movie, made with an obviously small budget, and it definitely fills in some interesting gaps in the overall body of work compiled by master filmmaker Steven Soderbergh.Continue Reading …
#4 – Crespoetry in Motion
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In episode 4 of Cinema Crespodiso, Orlando movie critic, writer and all around good guy Chris Crespo ignores the Super Bowl and instead delivers the movie goods. Accompanied by show number two man Drewster Cogburn and special guest Rocket Scientist Matty J, the trio delve into the new Netflix Instant Pick of the Week (one of those experimental digitally-shot Soderbergh flicks), and between the three of them they review Bullet to the Head, Warm Bodies, John Dies at the End, Holy Motors, and the first episode of the Netflix original series House of Cards. They get down in the Crespodisco and then they enter the Crespodome, and the show is sprinkled with a few on-the-spot Crespoems, so it truly is Crespoetry in motion! Enjoy the Cine-madness and tell your friends!
Review: ‘Holy Motors’
“Holy Motors” is an arty French satirical dark comedy, and goodness is that a lot of quirky baggage for one movie, yet here they are, daring to be as arty and as French and as wonderfully weird and off the wall as possible. Those out there adverse to such whimsical and sometimes maddening storytelling will find much to dislike in this movie, while conversely those who seek out different and strange movies will stumble across an embarrassment of riches in this twisted journey of one man going about his day’s work.
The best way to see this movie (or just about any movie, in my opinion, which is why you are here to begin with), is with as little information beforehand as possible. That way there are no expectations and nothing is spoiled and the movie can take it’s time in showing it’s cards. If at all possible, bookmark this review and see the movie first and then come back here and read the rest. You’ll have a more bewildering yet exciting and ultimately fulfilling experience, trust me on that one. And this is the internet, so it is not like this review is going to go anywhere. We’ll all still be here when you get back.Continue Reading …
Review: ‘Parker’
Jason Statham as Parker in ‘Parker’
Who ordered the half-baked Jason Statham movie? We got a big steaming order of generic, run of the mill Jason Statham movie here, we know somebody must have asked for this thing, right? From the director of “Ray” and “An Officer and a Gentleman?” Because that makes sense. That must be the only reason why this latest in the long string of bland, interchangeable Jason Statham action movies was actually made. Are guaranteed $7-10 million opening weekends and middling at best critical responses enough to do it? Cause that’s what his movies like “Safe,” “Killer Elite” and “The Mechanic” bring in, and “Parker” is no different.Continue Reading …
Netflix Pick for 1/28/13 – ‘Collapse’
This week’s Netflix Pick of the Week is the very well-made documentary Collapse, of which I already wrote that –
“Collapse is a great film, one of the best of 2009, and should be required viewing for anyone out there who rather help build lifeboats than not acknowledge that the Titanic is sinking.”
I also called it a great horror film based on the film’s subject and his foreboding message and the great, tense atmosphere they get out of a guy in a chair talking about peak oil and fiat currency. And even if you don’t agree with what the guy is saying or don’t buy it and think it is all just ridiculous conspiracy theories and whatnot, it is still a very fascinating film and in the simple way it is put together, it become pretty compelling quite quickly. So enjoy this most documentary about the imminent collapse of the society as we know it.Continue Reading …
#2 – Preview of 2013
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In episode 2 of “Cinema Crespodiso,” Orlando movie critic Chris Crespo and co-host Drew go over this week’s Netflix Instant Watch pick, they review “Broken City” and “The Last Stand” while recapping the weekend’s box office results, they look at new movies on DVD and in theaters like “End of Watch,” “Parker” and “John Dies at the End,” and then finally they enter the Crespodome, where they preview the slate of films set to come out in 2013. It’s a packed episode so get down on it!
#1 – The Crespodome
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In the debut episode of Cinema Crespodiso, Chris and Drew discuss the Netflix Instant Pick of the Week, they review Gangster Squad and Zero Dark Thirty during the recap of the weekend’s box office results, they look ahead to the new movies on DVD and in theaters this week, and then they enter the Crespodome, where they go deep with a review of the films of 2012 and then a quick rundown of the recent Oscar nominations. It is a packed episode so butter up that popcorn and get comfortable!