BIRD BOX

BIRD BOX - A

A well written, well directed, well acted film. While I think it is mislabeled as a horror and incorrectly hyped for its scares, it delivered as a psychological thriller, full of suspense and action. Danger a better description than fear. Urgency a better description than terror.

Ambiguity was used well and appropriately. Keeping the force at a realm of possibilities rather than narrowing it to a certainty, created a greater sense of urgency. Created a fascination of curiosity, eager to see what happened next.

The romance in this film while not necessarily needed, was also not misplaced, forced or hokey. It had potential to be, but through proper pacing and transition felt genuine and natural.

What was most impressive about the writing was the arch of the characters and the ability to let the story create its own moral without being didactic. Spare the spoil, the selflessness of the selfish clever, believable and effective.

Performances were superb. Sandra Bullock was a great lead. John Malkovich, B.D. Wong, Trevante Rhodes and the rest of the cast were very good.

I would think traveling around blindfolded would present a few more difficulties than what it did. Seemed to always walk in the clear. Perhaps it can be justified through off screen experience but birds surviving all that time, all that distance and all that turmoil? Sorry not buying it.

Really though, those nit picky details are my only real complaint about the film.

You're always looking for good work done by female directors Jaret Morlan. Well, here you go.

With A QUIET PLACE being centered around sound and this film being centered around sight, I can't help but wonder if maybe the wisest move would be to try and make one now centered around smell.

MAC AND ME

MAC AND ME - D

This was bad. Really bad. Yet here's the thing, it didn't start to get bad until about 50 minutes into the film. Yes, it was the Dollar store version of E.T. from start to finish, but the first half of the film was at least tolerable. The characters were somewhat interesting. The development between the characters and their relationships on the verge of intriguing and for a kid who's never acted before or since, Jade Calegory really carried his scenes well.

Then at the 50 minute mark the family takes a trip to McDonalds and like a rushed sandwich sloppily put together, too much grease and not enough hamburger, it becomes a complete mess. The central relationship between Mac and Eric receives the least amount of attention. While in the first part of the film, they at least tried to develop a bond between the two characters, the second half completely loses focus.

It felt so forced and so rushed, that any attempt at genuine feelings and sincere reactions is ruined with an uncomfortable awkwardness. While the film did succeed a few times in its attempt for humor, it was 0 for all in any effort for anything touching or heartfelt. The second you even began an attempt, it was ruined by a cheap special effect or a moment meant to be sincere that instead came off as disingenuous and cheesy.

It's like the first half of the film they were actually trying. A real attempt at making something good. Then in the second half of the film, the towel was thrown in and they said the Hell with it. Rather than try and differentiate between E.T. they instead took the word ripoff to a whole new level.

This film was a shameless product placement for McDonalds and Coca-Cola that felt like a fifty minute film, followed by a fifty minute commercial. Now that I think about it, older commercials from the late 80's occasionally had more depth and better character development.

What saves this film from an F, is again the performance of Calegory and whether they were intentional or not, the random moments of humor.

Lastly in reference to one of the final scenes, it does seem like it would be easier in this country for an actual alien from outer-space to gain citizenship and a license than it would be for our neighbors in Mexico. I guess the MAC's color of skin must have been white enough for them to pass.

KILLING GROUND

KILLING GROUND: D+

A disturbing film, relying solely upon shock value and a few gruesome deaths in order to keep its audience occupied. A few matches are lit, but no fire ever burns long enough to interest you in the characters beyond the simplicity of who you want to win and who you want to lose.

Whereas German seems psychopathic through nature, it hints that Chook was molded into the monster he became. German kills without hesitation. Chook has hesitation but as to why, it's never explained or even examined. It would have been interesting to see his back story or at least allude to it in some fashion. Instead we're given nothing.

There's also not much character development for protagonists either. Only a slight suggestion that in a time of crisis Sam is impulsive and reactive whereas Ian is analytical and reluctant. More so a subtle statement of a weak male and a strong female, be it political or sociological.

The ambiguity of the baby at this point was moot. In reality in the Australian outback, especially with hungry wild pigs around, a baby wouldn't have survived on its own. Not in that environment, not for that long. To even assume that it, now with injuries would continue to survive is preposterous. To leave the fate of the baby unknown and furthermore to not acknowledge it as a concern of our survivors is ridiculous. His safety was a biding priority. It would be the first thing on their mind.

The directing of the film was sloppy. The transitions between the here and now were done poorly. It was hard to tell present time from past time. Sometimes it was impossible.

Acting is the one area I'll give the film some credit. Not crazy about the mumbling ways in which they spoke to one another. It wasn't always easy to make out what they said. Yet, Harriet Dyer gave a good enough performance that she should be recognized for her efforts in a film that had nothing else going for it.

Damien Power wrote a shit script full of errors and problems, and somehow or another was able to direct it into something even worse than what he had written. I suppose in a way, that must be concluded as talent.

This movie sucked.