Film Review: The Exorcist (1973)

Screened in the comfort of my own home, 9pm showtime. Movie Theater Snacks: Nothing. This was a serious viewing, as you’ll soon find out why…

Watching The Exorcist for the first time was extremely important to me, I feel like my entire life built up to this Halloween night.

The mangled face of possessed Regan is something that has haunted me for years and has scared me for as long as I can remember. When I saw her face for the first time (I was so young, I don’t actually remember where or why. A commercial maybe? I have no clue) but it terrified me.

Growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, my parents and everyone around me always labeled this as the worst movie imaginable. Foul, crude, and disrespectful, saying it went completely against God’s good word. On top of that, my parents were just plain strict with everything entertainment-wise. Without them even realizing, they were building this movie up in my head as being untouchable, and I wanted to watch it even more.

I told my good friend all about this “journey” towards watching it. Then, three years ago he bought it for me for my birthday (that really fancy 40th anniversary blu-ray set hell yeah). Why I didn’t watch it until now, I don’t remember. Who cares. But I’m very, very happy I watched it at this point in my life. Three years ago, or even sooner than that, my childhood JW-guilt would have crept in, and I would potentially, most-likely, maybe, possibly, felt differently. That is, to the point that I wouldn’t have enjoyed it.

Tonight, I felt a Christian mindset come back into my thinking for the first time in years. Of course Father Karras and Father Merrin are the good guys. Regan brought the Devil into herself by playing with a demonic toy (again, my parents warned me if I ever THOUGHT about using a ouija board, demons would come into our home). She was guilty, but also needed to be saved. It was extremely weird, but it felt it. A Christian fear, something I didn’t think I’d ever feel or worry about again. I’m happy I watched this film now. Far off enough that I could watch it and genuinely enjoy it, but still close enough to my old life that the voice of my parents were in my head, shaming me for toying with demons and Satan’s entertainment.

On this devilish Halloween night, I just watched a new favorite movie.

Film Review: Suspiria (2018)

Screened at Regal in Union Square, 2:40pm showtime. Movie Theater Snacks: Small Diet Coke and some Peanut M&M’s, which is very unlike me. I never drink soda.

One Suspiriorum, Two Italian directors, Three Mothers, and a Dozen Witches.

I had no previous feelings towards this new remake of Suspiria. On one hand, I adore Dario Argento’s original 1977 film, but knowing that an equally impressive filmmaker Luca Guadagnino was directing this new film, I had no fear that he wouldn’t do a good job.

The story is the same: a young American aspiring dancer dreams of being part of a world renowned dance company based in Berlin. While she is accepted, happy and ready to begin learning, there is a mysterious foundation holding up this famous dance company that she, nor anyone, is prepared for. The 2018 remake is nothing like the original film, and thats a great thing.

An underlying feeling of dread and anxiety permeates the entire movie. Even when something normal or mundane were happening on screen, you just felt anxious as if something not quite right is going to happen. And guess what? It doesn’t. Fifty Shades of Gray star Dakota Johnson is absolutely wonderful in the film. Her basic and normal every-day-woman character is so blasé and average that she undermines your senses when her “time” to “shine” eventually comes to the screen. She’s the real star of the film, and you don’t even realize it until it’s too late.

But that’s not to say that Tilda Swinton isn’t the powerhouse she always is. Swinton plays not one, not two, but three characters in the film. The leader of the dance company Madame Blanc, who choreographs the “rituals” and routines. Josef Klempere, a psychotherapist who becomes interested in the dance company when one of his patients tells him it is run by witches. And finally Mater Suspiriorum herself, Mother Markos, the witch living beneath the academy in search of a new body. With Tilda Swinton’s sensational acting, on top of the incredible makeup used in the film, I truly didn’t know it was her playing all these characters. When the credits roll, they even fake these characters by putting fake actors names. The character of Doctor Josef Klempere is named in the credits as Lutz Ebersdorf. Very, very interesting.

My highest recommendations go to 2018’s Suspiria. It’s unlike anything Hollywood is making today. It’s horrifying, anxious, sad, and downright beautiful. It’s a piece of cinema that will be remembered for years to come.

Film Review: A Star Is Born (2018)

Screened at Regal Kaufman in Astoria, 10:15pm showtime. Movie Theater Snacks: Snickers Ice Cream Bar. Words of advice, don’t eat ice cream at the movie theater. Toooo messy.

A Star Is Born, but is it really Lady Gaga?

Two weeks before the movie came out, I had bought my tickets for A Star is Born. I was ready. Beyond excited. Although I was unfamiliar with the many adaptions of A Star Is Born: the 1937 original, and the 1954 and 1976 remakes, I was stoked to see Lady Gaga on the big screen. Who doesn’t love Lady Gaga? If you don’t, you’re lying to yourself. Admit it.

Although I haven’t seen the remake from the 50’s or the 70’s, I did wonder, how could Lady Gaga compare to Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand? I know she’s massively successful with her phenomenal voice, but she’s following in the footsteps of two of music’s greatest legends. Boy was I wrong.

DSC_2077.dng — Bradley Cooper & Lady Gaga, in the infamous scene, singing *Shallow*

A Star Is Born is a Star of a film. It’s extraordinary. It’s fantastic. It’s stellar. It’s perfect. I was wrapped up from the moment it started, following Jackson Maine walking from backstage out into a roaring crowd, cheering him on as he picked up his guitar and started rocking. It doesn’t take very long until we meet Lady Gaga’s character, Allison, who is the only female singing onstage at a drag bar. Jackson Main, looking for a drink, stumbles into the right bar at the right time. They meet, and thus begins our incredible journey.

The music slaps. Cooper and Gaga’s song Shallow was stuck in my head for days after I left the theater. The first time we hear the song is in a parking lot at 4am. Ally belts the tune out acapella, but it’s just as powerful. Soon after, we get to hear the song played by a full band and sung by Ally and Jackson both. It’s a great moment in the film that fills your body with chills.

Lady Gaga was already a star following her music career, obviously, but now we know she’s a star on the big screen. Bradley Cooper’s direction is precise and fluid. (Even though, admittedly, you can tell he’s a first time filmmaker.) A Star Is Born should be seen by everyone. It’s going to be a hot movie at next years Academy Awards.

Film Review: Invasion of The Body Snatchers (1978)

Screened in the comfort of my own apartment, somewhere around a 10pm showtime. Movie Theater Snacks: None. I was still full from dinner. Crazy.

I had recently watched the original Invasion of The Body Snatchers from 1956. I got to build a 35mm print at work and quality test it before the official audience screening. I loved it. It was atmospheric, wonderfully shot, and very well written. I immediately became interested in watching the 70’s remake.

Slowly, day by day, people across San Francisco are changing. Not physically, but their loved ones can just sense that something is off about them. More and more people are being taken over by this unseen force, becoming emotionless beings, and nobody knows why or what is going on.

From the moment the film starts, I quickly realized it was scene-for-scene, moment-for-moment a direct remake of the original. I was taken aback by how closely it resembled the first, wondering why it didn’t try to live on it’s own. But I was quickly proven wrong. The film may be extremely similar to it’s source material, but it showed me how individualistic it really is. The movie isn’t just a carbon replica of the original film, ya know, like the alien creatures in the story, but it stands on it’s own as an incredible exercise in terror.

The movie hits the ground running, wasting no time getting into the story. And even faster than that, the horror begins creeping under your skin. The person you love the most may no longer be themselves… Honestly, I don’t know what’s more terrifying than that. This remake took me by complete surprise. I wasn’t expecting this film to be as good as it was, but it’s a truly captivating movie. And, crazy enough, I’d say it justifies remakes.