16 February 2011

2010 Movies: #28 & 27

Ref: Mulhern

#28 Four Boxes

When a famous financier told me about the premiere of this movie, how could I turn it down? Even though I cower in the corner at all manner of frightening and objectively-not-so-frightening films, I couldn't miss out on the red carpet event of the season. I just figured I would bring a Mulhern with me so I'd have an arm I could clutch when appropriate.

I was terrified on a regular basis throughout Four Boxes. Mind you, nothing terrifying happened - at least, not right away. But the bleak setting (MN - ha!), the macabre career, the questionable moral compass and the little creepy coincidences combine to create a sense of foreboding that emerges well before any of the "scary stuff" kicks in. You just know that something bad is going to happen, but with twist upon twist, you're never certain of what that bad thing will be or where it will end.

I loved the fact that at the film's close, *vague spoiler alert* everything came together in a way that changed my view of everything that came before. Now, if only LR had made it past the cutting room floor.

I plan to see this one again - it's even available on Netflix!

#27 Scott Pilgrim v. The World

Another critically panned movie that I thoroughly enjoyed, in part because I really like saying, "Knives Chau!"

I liked the aesthetic of this film. The comic book/graphic novel/video game style was well-executed, in a way that seemed so specific to the current generation. When we were watching it, B and I talked about how the 1UPs and exploding coin people and restarted levels worked without explanation only because they are part of our cultural lexicon. The battles were creative and the characters were all wry and witty.

I agree with B's assessment of the Cera-saturated market, even though his character here represents somewhat of a departure from previous iterations. It's too bad this movie may have suffered for it.

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