What to Watch: Halloween 2013 Edition

Here are some movies that may help you have a scary Halloween.

Streaming (Netflix): V/H/S and V/H/S/2

These indie, found-footage horror anthologies are uneven but fun. They both consist of frame stories where someone finds and watches video recordings made by people who unwittingly found themselves within horrific situations. There are monsters, aliens, cults and other horror standbys. They feel very low budget but polished, and the effects and creatures are effectively presented. The sequel received better reviews but both have great moments joined with less successful ones. Some of the stars and makers reunited for recent indie slasher You're Next. 

Streaming (Netflix): Silent House

Elizabeth Olsen stars in this indie remake of Uraguayan horror film La Cusa Muda. She plays a girl terrorized by something mysterious in her family's vacation home. Inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's Rope, the directors designed the film to appear as a single, very long take (they actually edited together several, still impressive 12-15 minutes takes). SH received mediocre reviews due to a sense of tedium and an unsatisfying third act, but may be worth a look for its great atmosphere and Olsen's performance.

Streaming (Amazon Instant, Netflix): Paranormal Activity 3 and 4

This is the first year since 2009 that audiences can't go to theaters for PA's found-footage scares. To get your fix, you can take a look back the series' attempt to change up the formula (3) and the tired entry that many consider the series' low point (4). Lucky for fans, there are two PA films expected in 2014. The demon leaves the suburbs for a Hispanic community in PA: The Marked Ones, which was delayed to January. PA5 will likely return to the original, increasingly complicated storyline.

Streaming (Amazon Instant, Netflix): Scream 1, 2 and 3

Except for the recent fourth installment, Wes Craven's classic, self-aware slasher series is available for streaming. The first two are clever, fairly thrilling, and often credited with revitalizing Hollywood's once-declining interest in horror. The third reminded many of the routine slashers that the series mocks.

On DVD: The Conjuring

This story of paranormal investigators assisting a tormented family was a surprise hit. The marketing and hype really exaggerated its scares, but the creepy mood and suspenseful pacing made it a refreshing alternative to the bloody and gory slashers that have recently dominated the genre.

In Theaters: Carrie

Like the sequel The Rage: Carrie 2 and the 2002 made-for-tv film, the latest adaptation of the popular Stephen King novel is largely considered inferior and unnecessary when compared to the Brian De Palma's 1976 attempt. That being said, it sounds like Chloe Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore give decent performances as the tormented telepathic teen and her terrible mother. It's the month's only horror release due to the delay of Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones.

Review: Ender's Game

Release date: November 1, 2013
Running time: 114 minutes
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Hailee Stanfield, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis
Who to see it with: Political science fiction fans

Lee:

Book adaptation Ender's Game is set in a future where smart children and teens are trained to fill the ranks of the military in preparation for a war with an alien race called the Formics. For some odd reason, Colonel Graff (Ford) is looking to find the fleet's next commander among the youth, and strategic and clever "Ender" Wiggin (Butterfield) seems especially promising.

Ender's unusually cold character is much more interesting than the others, who basically are around enough only to serve as partners or foils in his battle school trials. Some of his later character developments seem fairly sudden. The explanation of a particularly important event makes little sense. (I haven't read the book, but it feels like a necessary plot point was told in a different, less satisfying way.) EG feels like a lengthy prelude to a second film until very late in the story, like a military story that almost entirely takes place at boot camp. Nothing's wrong with that when boot camp is the meat of the story, but EG's battle school offers little more than an interesting protagonist, some cool visuals and a decent story about a rebellious teen clashing with peers and authority. The ending makes past events more complex, in retrospect, but it doesn't change the way that EG's plot mostly plays like a rough boarding school in a cool setting. It's much more intriguing than the rest of the film, which is fine with its pretty good special effects and fun, but standard school conflicts. From what I know of the book's ending, it seems to be simplified in a way that more easily leads into a film sequel, arriving at a similar destination while losing some of its impact. Ender's Game is a decent, sci-fi twist on military school drama with a few complex themes and an unusually complex teen protagonist.

Rent

Review: Dallas Buyers Club

Release date: November 1, 2013 (limited)
Running time: 117 minutes
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner, Denis O'Hare, Kevin Rankin
Who to see it with: Fans of McConaughey's recent dramatic roles

Lee:

In Dallas Buyers Club, homophobic, hard-partying cowboy Ron Woodroof (McConaughey) is shocked upon receiving an HIV-positive diagnosis in 1986, a time when the virus was nearly universally associated with homosexual men. Told he has very little time left, Woodroof's research into alternative treatments reveals a lucrative business opportunity of questionable legality, an opportunity that brings him closer to sassy transsexual patient Rayon (Leto) and a concerned doctor (Garner). McConaughey and Leto transformed themselves for their roles. McConaughey dropped over thirty pounds to attain his frail look. Typically lean Leto became even leaner and convincingly employs feminine mannerisms as in his cross dressing role.

McConaughey makes Woodroof into a fairly charming asshole who believably changes without abandoning the core of his personality. He doesn't suddenly become a saint, but he gains sympathy as his prejudice softens. He cleverly uses his stubbornness and slick charms when his business attracts attention from the FDA. Woodroof and Rayon's witty personalities and banter provide more laughs than you'd expect from an AIDS drama, often hiding their sadness outside of their most defeated moments. The FDA conflict is used to criticize the limitations and business side of the pharmaceutical industry, but does so without fully endorsing Woodroof's potentially dangerous denouncement of conventional doctor wisdom. Matthew McConaughey's brash but sympathetic performance and Jared Leto's troubled sidekick are the highlights of Dallas Buyers Club.

Rent it.

Trailer: X-Men: Days of Future Past

The trailer for the new Bryan Singer-directed X-Men movie has finally dropped and it looks amazing.  The movie appears to be an attempt to bridge the two X-Men film threads: the original X-Men and the surprisingly good X-Men: First Class. The trailer hints at a few story points: Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is asked by Professor X (Patrick Stewart) to travel back in time and prevent a catastrophe that leads to a future war. Because he's going back in time, he starts in the older X-Men universe but ends up in the X-Men: First Class time. Because of this, he meets many of the characters from both films. The star-studded cast of X-Men: Days of Future Past includes Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender, Evan Peters, Ellen Page, Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Hoult, James McAvoy, Anna Paquin, Peter Dinklage, Halle Berry, Ian McKellen, and Patrick Stewart. I personally loved X-Men: First Class and think this movie looks like a great way to incorporate my favorites from both films. Also, the trailer looks freaking amazing! Make sure to check the movie out on May 23, 2014. 

What to Watch This Weekend: October 25, 2013

You can check out The Conjuring on DVD if you're in the Halloween spirit, but we have some other suggestions.

In Theaters: All Is Lost

This is a minimalist story about an unnamed sailor (Robert Redford) who becomes lost at sea after an unexpected collision. AIL provides little background into the sailor aside from brief, early voice-over, instead focusing on his increasingly desperate struggle to keep his damaged yacht afloat in an unpredictable ocean. There's even less dialogue than the limited amount found in other survival films like Castaway and Gravity. Some say it's one of 77-year-old Redford's strongest, most physically demanding roles.

On DVD: The Way Way Back

This coming-of-age story is about an awkward teen who spends much of his summer avoiding his family by going to a beach town's local water park. The occasional dramatic portions of the story often feel familiar, but the relatable protagonist and often hilarious writing make much of the story a fun reminder of the awkwardness of being a teenager. Sam Rockwell is great as the playful water park manager who takes the boy under his wing.

Streaming (HBO GO until 11/30/2013): Notes on a Scandal

Judi Dench plays an unusually nasty role as lonely, obsessive spinster Barbara in this twisty drama. Barbara is a teacher who finds herself drawn to new, much younger teacher Sheba (Cate Blanchett). When she learns a secret that would ruin Sheba's life if revealed, she slyly uses that information to bring them closer together. Watching Barbara manipulate Sheba into this "friendship" is unsettling, uncomfortable and absorbing. It gets a bit melodramatic towards the end but I appreciate that Barbara, despite her disturbing actions, is portrayed as a complex, troubled character rather than a mere villain. Both actresses received Oscar nominations.

Streaming (Netflix): We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks

If The Fifth Estate left you wanting more insight into Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, you can check out this documentary. It coldly explores Assange's rise from ambitious hacker to notorious whistleblower and his unusual behavior, assisted by interviews with disillusioned former colleagues. It's more sympathetic when looking into the motivation and fate of the source of WikiLeaks' biggest scoop, Bradley (now Chelsea) Manning.

Review: Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa

Release date: October 25, 2013
Running time: 92 minutes
Starring: Johnny Knoxville, Jackson Nicoll
Who to see it with: Candid Camera fans who get the appeal of Sacha Baron Cohen and Jackass but think they're sometimes too shocking

Lee:

Bad Grandpa is a departure from the formula of the last three Jackass films. Instead of simply stringing together a series of disconnected pranks and stunts, BG connects its jokes with a plot about a disorderly grandfather and grandson's road trip. A heavily made-up Johnny Knoxville does most of the comedic work, but Nicoll is charming as his rude, less over-the-top sidekick. The plot is thin but actually develops a convincing bond between the initially distant relatives.

The pair's unusual behavior gets funny reactions from unsuspecting witnesses in ways like Sacha Baron Cohen's characters, but their actions are generally more lighthearted and slapstick rather than provocative. They leave unsuspecting witnesses hysterically laughing and humorously confused almost as often as they make them uncomfortable. BG is better described as a semi-scripted, loosely connected series of fairly bawdy hidden camera jokes rather than a Borat-like mockumentary. Jackass fans who wouldn't have minded more of the same immature horseplay and outrageous behavior will be most disappointed. The Jackass crew is absent except for Knoxville and the most extreme actions here pale in comparison to the other films' shameless heights. Some pranks have great setups and hilariously reactive audiences. Others feel uninspired, too stupid or underutilized for comedic purposes, especially a lengthy one near the end that seems designed for the narrative's conclusion rather than for laughs. The film's final big prank is funny but feels a bit too similar to the climax of another comedy (naming it would be a spoiler). Bad Grandpa's discomforting, hidden comedy antics and thin plot should broaden its appeal beyond the typical Jackass audience but disappoint longtime fans.

Rent it.

PS - Scenes play during the credits that show unseen footage and shed some light on the production process. You'll probably won't expect a few of the names in the short cast list.

Review: About Time

Release date: November 8, 2013

Running time: 123 minutes

Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Lydia Wilson, Lindsay Duncan
Who to see it with: A fan of romantic dramedies, especially British ones.

David:

About Time tells the story of a boy named Tim (Gleeson) whose male family members have the ability to travel back in time. He finds out about this amazing talent on his 21st birthday and decides to use it to find love. He quickly meets Mary (McAdams) and begins an unusual courtship where he attempts to make every moment perfect. Tim quickly learns, however, that you can't change everything about the past, and sometimes the best parts of life are the ones that are outside of your control. 

I knew I would love this movie because of it's pedigree; I'm a huge fan of romantic dramedies in general and British ones in particular. About Time is infused with British charm and a dry wit that you quickly fall in love with. The cast is relatively small, mostly consisting of Tim's family and Mary, which allows you to spend a lot of time with the interesting and quirky main characters and get a fairly deep understanding of them. They're fleshed out and kept entertaining by some clever writing. This writing also allows the scenes to stay interesting even though you might have already seen the event once before. What I liked most about this movie is that the length of the film allows it to explore many aspects of life. By dealing with some of life's sadder events, it becomes more than just a simple story of a man falling in love with a woman. As Tim experiences life, he begins to appreciate more of what life is about, and starts to understand what should be changed and what should simply be accepted and enjoyed. My favorite moments were ones when Tim asks Mary what she would change about a certain event and she says she would change absolutely nothing. About Time tells a wonderfully original story that explores how much of life is simply beyond your control. It has a great British charm, clever writing, and an endearing story. 

Watch it.