Before 'Age of Ultron': Crash (1996)

At long last, a Film about Sex, Car Crashes and James Spader.  Yes, while most of you have certainly rediscovered Mr. Spader in the wake of the one-two punch that has been The Blacklist and Avengers: Age of Ultron, he made alot of weird-ass Films.  I was SOOOO tempted to do Secretary, but this one is more obscure.  Today's Film is Crash, the 1996 Film about Auto-Erotica and not the one about Racial Tension.  This Film's Director hasn't been blacklisted by Scientology- yet!  In this Film, a pair of people discover that they share a unique fetish: car crashes.  Natural reaction, right?  Can this relationship work out or are they bound for disaster?  To find out, let's try to skip past the sex in this NC-17 (remember when that was a thing?!?) release by David Cronenberg...

Told in a roundabout way, we learn about this blond lady and her husband (Spader).  He's a Screenwriter and kind of weird.  She's in an open marriage with a weirdo.

After hitting another car (by driving like a moron), he ends up in the Hospital & meets this brunette and a strange man (Elias Koteas).

Koteas has some weird hobbies.  For example, he stages a recreation of the Crash that killed James Deen for an audience, because...um...Cronenberg.

Holy crap- this is based on a Book too?  The 1970s- what a Decade.

Spader learns that the woman (Holly Hunter) has a history of being in Car Crashes...which doesn't bother him.

Spader, his wife (Deborah Unger), Koteas and Hunter get involved in some freaky stuff like sex in a Car Wash...

...and the pair of Koteas and Spader hooking up.  Who said that people with a Car Crash Fetish can't be progressive?

Koteas finally meets his end in a Car Crash- shocking, I know.

Spader and Unger continue to the Auto Erotica, however, and survive the next Crash.  They have passion in their sex for once, however, so they plan to keep it up (no pun intended).  The End.

Alright then.  As usual, Cronenberg delivers with the crazy and twisted.  This one was treated like the creepy kid with the neck brace trying to find a Table in the Lunch Room when it came out.  Hell, even Cannes was wary of it!  Seeing it in 2015, I can understand it.  I don't necessarily agree with it, but I can see it.  This one is sometimes described as a high-class Porn Film.  To be fair, there is alot of sex in this one.  I kind of glossed over that stuff when watching it, so the Film sped along well because of it.  Fun Fact: James Spader apparently has really bad vision, so when you see him in Films without glasses, he can't see shit!  That must make seeing your Co-Stars naked alot less fun.  If you can get past the freaky sex stuff in here, there is some nice Character work by all.  It is definitely not for everyone- no ifs, ands or buts.  Ultimately, this is just Cronenberg being Cronenberg.  If nothing else, it inspired an Episode of Drawn Together (that I already covered)...

Next up, Dario Argento and his Film marred by a Lawsuit.  Did Adrien Brody get paid or do I pay?  Stay tuned...

Before 'Age of Ultron': Fur- An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus

More like 'Before people remembered Robert Downey Jr.'  Today's Film is Fur, a faux Biopic of sorts of famed Picture Artist Diane Arbus.  They key thing is that this Film comes from 2006.  While he wasn't exactly a nobody at this point, Downey's stock rose 1000% in 2007 when Iron Man became a hit.  So, with that in mind, it is interesting to see what he was doing right before that.  The Film *sort of* tells the story of Arbus' rise to becoming a Photographer.  It was 'inspired by' a Book about her life and just kind of made up events.  The idea is strange, admittedly.  Arbus' work is full of Photos of people that don't normally get photographed, so this 'explains' how that came to be.  It is all sorts of weird, but that's kind of the point.  So if you want to know about Diane Arbus, read a Book.  If you want to see a weird Story somewhat inspired by her work, read on...

Diane Arbus is married to a nice man (a Photographer) and has 2 kids.  Why does she feel strange?

She seeks adventure and fulfillment.  She seeks the bizarre.  She finds it in their upstairs neighbor...

It turns out that he is a former Freak that suffers from a Disease that makes him constantly grow hair, making him look like a Werewolf.

However, the man (Downey Jr) is actually quite classy and exactly what she was looking for.

In some super-arty shit, she starts watching his Home Movies and ends up seeing memories from her past.  So...so arty...it hurts...

The Neighbor introduces Arbus to a whole new world of 'deviants' that intrigues and inspires her.

Her Husband starts out supportive, but presses her to not abandon her life for this.  Oh and he's jealous of the 'Wolfman.'  Look at that beard!

She eventually is about to see the real man behind the hair and take his photo...but he dies that day.

He leaves behind a coat he made (of his own hair) and an inspiration to photograph the unique.

...which is what she does, as the Film leaves us with her (and her out-of-focus body double) at a Nudist Colony to take some Photos.  The End.

Weird, but pretty good.  For what it is worth, I liked Fur.  It is not the kind of Film that I usually watch.  For one thing, it Stars Nicole Kidman and I think this is the first Film of her's I've seen in...Lord knows how long.  Second, I'm not big on these kinds of obtuse, arty Films.  That's what I use Bob for.  Regardless, I still kind of liked it.  I can't say that I connected to the Characters as much as they wanted and was as thrilled with the choices that they made as they were.  The Story is just plain odd, but also a bit distant.  You have to really feel for Arbus and understand her situation, but I never quite did.  It is Shot, Acted and Written well enough.  I can't complain about any of technical stuff, but I just never quite got into the Film overall.  Shortly after seeing it, I already begin to think of it as 'that weird Film I watched.'  Ultimately, that's what it is- some weird Film you watch.  If you like Arbus' work and want to see a crazy theory behind it, it is fine.  Otherwise, it just serves to show you what I feel like some mornings when I haven't shaved in a few days...

Next up, a final 'Age of Ultron' Review that also connects to a previous Post.  If you thought Smothering was a weird fetish, you ain't seen anything yet.  Stay tuned...

Before 'Age of Ultron': The Iceman (2012)

What do you know- another good Movie!  Today's Film is The Iceman, a 2012 True Crime Film.  It is not to be confused with the recent Film from China called Iceman.  It is also not to be confused with the Marvel Comics Character currently controlled by Fox Studios.  That's not to say that there isn't a Comic Book connection here.  The Film Stars Michael Shannon, an intense Actor known well for his portrayal of 'Zod' in Man of Steel.  On top of that, Chris Evans- aka The Human Torch from The Fantastic Four Films and Captain America from 4 Films (so far)- appears in this one.  On a more minor note, James Franco appears in one Scene and he did the same in The Green Hornet.  What is the Film actually about though?  It is the Story of a Contract Killer for the Mob through the 1970s and 80s.  Shannon is really intense here, even by his own standards.  How good is this one?  Well, it is good enough for me to have to try to make something funny out of it.  Let's see how that turns out...

Shannon is Richard Kuklinski, a man working a lowly-job for a Mobster until he proves himself.

When he does, he becomes a Contract Killer.  He...seems way too calm about this, hence the name.

Seriously, he doesn't even question anything!  He won't kill women or children though.  Yea, I guess.

Hey look- James Franco.  I won't SPOIL things...but don't get too used to him.

Hey look- the reason I watched this Movie!  Chris Evans plays another Contract Killer who ends up working with Shannon to kill people and make the bodies nearly untraceable.  Nice wig.

Shannon's killer works for his growing family over the years.  I hope they appreciate all the murder- I know I do.

Shannon's killer makes some enemies over the years.  Will things work out?  Who will live?  To find out, watch the Movie.  The End.

Good stuff- dark, but good.  The whole thing is really a Character Piece.  These kinds of Stories either work for you or they don't.  It worked for me.  The key here is Shannon, who is just so damn intense!  He really sells you on this.  I don't have to tell you that he's a good Actor by now, right?  Everyone in here does a good job, honestly.  Franco is good in his one Scene.  Ray Liotta is good here.  David Schwimmer is even pretty good as a mustachioed Jewish Gangster.  I really liked Evans here, as he plays a guy that is far from his flawed Hero in Puncture and miles worse personality-wise than Captain America!  I won't SPOIL his worst moment, but you will know it when you see it!  This is honestly a good, dark Film that fans of True Crime Films will like.  While it has Cap, The Human Torch and is called Iceman, it is just missing Blade...

Next up, a classic Tale about a Writer gone crazy.  Should I be worried or excited?  Stay tuned...

Before 'Age of Ultron': Chaplin

Unlike yesterday's Biopic, there is no murder.  Hurray!  Today's Film is Chaplin, a Film that has been sitting on my shelf for Months begging for me to see it.  I finally did.  This Oscar-nominated Film is, as you probably guessed, the Biopic of Charlie Chaplin.  Sorry, Ben Chaplin.  If you don't know, Chaplin was a world-famous Actor in the Silent Era, a more controversial figure later in life and a target in his latter days.  What's important is that this Film helped show that Robert Downey Jr was more than just some Comic Actor.  Remember him in stuff like Weird Science?  How about Saturday Night Live (in one of the least-liked Seasons ever)?  This is the one that made people stand up and take notice.  If he hadn't all of his personal problems, who knows where he'd be at now?  That's not to say that he hasn't gotten over them and done pretty damn well, of course.  By the way, this was Directed by Richard Attenborough.  To film snobs, he's the guy who made Gandhi.  To 98% of the people in the World, he's 'Richard Hammond' from Jurassic Park.  Does that help?  The question now is this- is the Film as good as people say?  To find out, read on (silently)...

We see young Chaplin getting into showbiz (sort of) quit early as she shows a talent as a child.

He works his way up from the Streets to the Cruise Liner and finally to Film.  Along the way, he loses touch with his ill Mother and a would-be-love-interest.

Instead of just going through the Story- which you can easily look up yourself-, let me talk about who's in this one.  Twenty-years before he'd play Errol Flynn, here is Kevin Kline as Douglas Fairbanks.

Weird, right?

Chaplin's first wife is, well, jail-bait (their words) and she's...Milla Jovovich?!?  Weird.

The Framing Device for this Tale is Chaplin going over the Story with his Ghost Writer played by Anthony Hopkins.  There is your first Marvel connection...although they have yet to meet in a Film.

As time goes by, the Star known as Chaplin tries to get political with The Great Dictator.  This draws the further ire of Herbert Hoover and Americans against getting into the War (in 1936).

Chaplin goes through spouses and Films before making his last one in 1952- Limelight.  This comes during McCarthy's reign of terror in the Senate and his Return Visa is revoked, leaving him exiled from America!

It takes 20 years for him to be able to make a return visit when he's given an Honorary Oscar.  He finally gets respect again at age 83!

The Movie is nice enough to give you a wrap-up for all of the real people and admit that Hopkins was a made-up Plot Device.  That's alright.  The End.

A good Movie- plain as that.  What did you expect me to say?  The thing was Nominated for a few Academy Awards and won a BAFTA or two.  Weirdly, Richard Attenborough wasn't nominated for Best Director and this wasn't up for Best Picture.  Mind you, it was a pretty stacked year- including Unforgiven, Howard's End, Scent of a Woman, The Crying Game and A Few Good Men.  Still an odd omission if you ask me.  To make matters worse, other people in this Film would be in Films that would win the same year!  Hopkins was in Howard's End, which beat Chaplin for Best Art Direction.  This was also the year that Marissa Tomei won Best Supporting Actress for My Cousin Vinny, while also playing a small role here.  This was apparently also the year that they ran a Tribute to Women Montage...while nominating no Female Directors and giving an Oscar to the Film where the Female Lead is revealed to not be a lady (The Crying Game).  I'm just saying.  All of this is mentioned to show how this Film was really good, but apparently came out when people wanted to like everything else better.  It's okay- I still like it alot.  Downey Jr deserves lot of honor for this performance, even if they do make him look like Jon Stewart at one point...

Next up, I take a break from the Avengers-related stuff for Cinco De Mayo.  I found something that combines Texas, Mexico and a (likely) terrible Monster Movie.  Stay tuned...

Immediate Response: Avengers- Age of Ultron

You had to know that I was going.  You had to know that I didn't want to wait.  I didn't...

The Good

* This thing is big, loud and fun when the Action comes.  The money is all on-screen and well-spent.
* The new additions- Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Vision- are all well done.  Each one gets some good moments to shine, even among Cap and company.  Same with the villains.
* Ultron is absolutely brought to life by James Spader.  He really does 'play' the Character, rather than just being a guy you hear doing the voice.  Well done stuff!
* All of the Characters you already know get some nice Arcs and Development.  Cap is still Cap, but isn't white-bread.  The angle with Black Widow and The Hulk is neat too.
* The Humor is a nice addition to a Film with some dark Sub-Plots and overtones.  Good balance.
* Side-note: it is nice to see War Machine back.  No Iron Patriot get-up this time either.
* It is neat to see that key parts of the Plot relate to the ENTIRE History of the Characters like Stark.
* As a personal thing, I like the use of South Korean locations and a Character from there.  It isn't China, so good for them!
* Nice Mid-Credits Teaser.

The Bad

* Not much to complain about here, so....

- Um, I guess Ultron shows up a bit too quickly...maybe.
- I would have liked to see someone from Agents of SHIELD here (but I can accept it just fine).

So yeah, this one is just damn awesome.  No real complaints from me.

I will admit that there is alot for people to catch up on, but the Film does a pretty good job of introducing all of the important stuff.

If you were on the fence, get off.  This one is freaking great!

Before 'Age of Ultron': Dahmer (2002)

Am I doing this as an excuse to get attention?  Yes.  Is this leading me to watch Films that I should have already done though?  Yes.  Besides, why are you going to complain- you don't pay me!  So...anyways, today's Film is Dahmer, a 2002 Film that helped put Jeremy Renner on the map.  For once, it paid off to kind of look like a Serial Killer.  Sorry, Scott Thompson.  While this was by no means his first work, Renner's early work is not all that well-known.  Monkey Love?  Fish in a Barrel?  A guest-spot on The Net TV Series?  All good, notable stuff.  Incidentally, Renner was also in 2003's S.W.A.T., which got a Direct-to-DVD Sequel later with Gabriel Macht.  Macht was infamously in The Spirit and that kind of killed his big-screen career.  His Co-Stars in that Film- Scarlet Johansen and Samuel L. Jackson.  Sorry, but Renner's Super-Hero Film with them made like a billion dollars.  Where was I?  Oh, right.  In this Arty and Indy Film, he plays famous killer Jeffrey Dahmer.  This is not so much of a Biopic as it is a series of random 'snapshots' of his life.  In contrast to other Films, they leave you to fill in the rest.  While this Film made Renner, will it also make for a good Film?  To find out, read on...

Jeffrey Dahmer is just a nice, normal guy who works in a Chocolate Factory.

...but then why does he convince this guy to go home with him and drug him on his couch?

Yeah, he's a psycho.  He drills a hole in the guy's head, but he lives and actually wanders away the next night.

The Film briefly touches upon the racial issues in the City that lead the Police to trust a suspicious Dahmer over the black ladies in the Streets...but only briefly.

To be 'arty,' this one plays fast and loose with the time-line.  In one bit, we see him not enter a Bar.  After that, it segues into a montage of him going there, drugging and raping guys until he's kicked out.

Yes, 'Hawkeye' just raped like 10 guys.

The two key Scenes involve Dahmer as a youth in 1978 (with his anachronistic Car) finding, seducing and finally killing his first victim.

...while the other involves what may be his last potential victim.

Interesting post-script: the person this is based on (Tracey Edwards) became homeless and is now in Jail for beating another man to death.  Okay...maybe that's more creepy than interesting.

As part of the film's 'Arty' nature, it doesn't end with an arrest or a conviction.  Instead, it ends with a younger Dahmer walking into the Woods.  Alright.  The End.

Good, but definitely not for everyone.  First off, it was great to see that this wasn't an Ulli Lommel Film.  Most of the Films about Serial Killers you see out there are his.  BTK Killer.  Son of Sam.  D.C. Sniper.  Thankfully, the only connection this Film has to that crap is appearing as background footage in Gacy- a Film surprisingly not made by Lommel.  The big catch here is that this Film is very 'Arty' and stylized.  It doesn't go in Chronological Order, jumping around in Flashbacks constantly.  They only cover about a 14-year period, so they don't have to do too much make-up work for Renner.  Instead, they just change his clothes, hair and glasses.  He even has a 'porn stache' for one Scene!  If you come in looking for the salacious stuff, there's not much of it.  If you are looking for an Arty take on the case, you don't see alot of the real case.  That said, you get alot of insight into Dahmer and the reason that he became what he was.  There are alot of details not included- including a time when he masturbated in public (in front of kids!) and his alleged cannibalism- for whatever reason.  Renner is damn good here.  He's so good that this apparently got him the gig in The Hurt Locker years later.  If you can deal with the dark subject matter and want to see Renner in a dark role like this, it is a must see.  Another moment not in the Film- the time that he fought a Ninja!

Next up, a step in an entirely-different direction for a Robert Downey Jr Biopic.  Before its Director was in Jurassic Park, he made this.  Stay tuned...