DAILY CALL SHEET: MARCH 31, 2018

Robot Overlords (2014) Autocratic automatons place humans on house arrest and quickly decommission any violators. Teenage pals pull a Red Dawn. TIL: "Law has the character of law to the extent that it accords with right reason." If it doesn't do that, we're not obligated to obey.

Your daily dose of culture courtesy of Wild Beasts (1984) - "Either we are adrift in chaos or we are individuals, created, loved, upheld and placed purposefully, exactly where we are." - Elisabeth Elliot

And finally, I was watching Mister Roberts again and just couldn’t resist tweeting out this quote.

Mister Roberts: Okay, okay. Any minute now you'll start quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Lt. Doc: That's a lousy thing to say!

For some fun listening to people both rag on and defend Emerson and his version of transcendentalism, be sure to hop over to this ten year old thread on the Catholic Answers forum.

DISAGREE AND DIE-HARDER: Another 50 Best Films of All Time - Part 2

To celebrate Slaughter Film's 300th podcast, Forest has taken on the painstaking task of chronicling ANOTHER 50 of the very best film of all time!

CONTINUE READING

Breathe (2017)

When it comes to playing CGI characters, there's nobody like Andy Serkis. That is his kingdom and he has proven that many times over the years, especially in War for the Planet of the Apes. But when it comes to directing, he is not the guy. Maybe he doesn't have enough experience or he just doesn't have it, but Breathe, his directorial debut, is far from being a great achievement. 

The story is that of Robin Cavendish (Andrew Garfield), a tea leaf distributor who falls for Diana (Claire Foy). They get married and travel to Kenya where Robin contracts polio. Diana, pregnant with their child, refuses to let him die and will help him become an advocate for the disabled.

People love inspirational movies, especially if based on true stories, so I guess that's the reason why Serkis picked this story to make his debut. Unfortunately, he told the story in such a sappy way that the film ends up being familiar and flat. 

The film focuses on Cavendish's decades-long battle with polio and his refusal to be limited by the disease. The problem is that it only shows Cavendish's triumphs. Serkis avoids almost completely his struggles, pain and suffering, which doesn't make the story feel very genuine and authentic. Instead of giving the film a more serious tone, Serkis opted for a humorous tone that doesn't really work here as there isn't a lot of drama to soften to begin with.

Breathe, however, does show how powerful love and human psyche can be. It shows that with determination, courage and persistence you can achieve a lot in life, no matter the adversities and odds. All this does though is making of Breathe just another inspirational movie that doesn't stand out from the others and fails to be emotional.

Bleecker Street, STXinternational

The acting, on the other hand, is pretty good. Andrew Garfield does a good job as Robin Cavendish although his facial expressions are a little contrite at times and don't always convey the feelings they are supposed to, and so does Claire Foy as Diana. But neither of their performances is that emotional.

There's nothing left for me to say other than two film came to my mind while I was watching this, The Theory of Everything and The Sea Inside. They are both telling stories of disabled men, but they both do a way better job in all the aspects, direction, script and acting.

DAILY CALL SHEET: MARCH 30, 2018

Attack of the Killer Donuts (2016) Of course, it's stupid. It does, however, have C. Thomas Howell fighting man-eating pastries. What other movie gives you that? TIL: Along with their built-in spiritual lessons, this seems like another good reason to stick to Hot Cross Buns.

Your daily dose of culture courtesy of Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) - "To wear the crown of peace, you must wear the crown of thorns." - Gordon Lightfoot

Galaxy Quest (1999)

I always snubbed Galaxy Quest as I believed it to be some dumb Star Trek parody and I didn't want to waste my time watching it. Recently though I learnt that Sam Rockwell is in this so, yeah, I had to check it out. I wasn't wrong about it being a Star Trek parody, but it's a brilliant one. 

Galaxy Quest is the name of a TV show very similar to Star Trek cancelled 18 years earlier. Now the stars of the show, Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen), Gwen DeMarco (Sigourney Weaver), Alexander Dane (Alan Rickman), Fred Kwan (Tony Shalhoub), and Tommy Webber (Daryl Mitchell), are making a living signing fans' autographs and being cast in awful store openings. But things are about to change when the Thermians, good-natured and intelligent aliens, arrive and, having mistaken the show to historical documents, take them into outer space to save them from the ruthless Sarris (Robin Sachs).

I kinda hate to say this, but this film's plot is way more interesting and engaging than half of the Star Trek movies. It does have some holes here and there and it's not always plausible --sci-fi movies aren't supposed to be though--, but it takes such funny and weird turns, it keeps you glued to the screen. 

The characters aren't anything new. They are just a bunch of stereotypes with no development whatsoever. Each of them has their own distinctive personality trait but that's it. I have to give the writers credit for making them so humane and so little heroic; this way it's easier to identify with them and care about them.

DreamWorks Pictures

What's truly outstanding about Galaxy Quest is the performances delivered by every single member of the cast, that's what makes the film so fun. Tim Allen is amazing as Nesmith, a Shatner-like character, Sigourney Weaver is so good at making fun of Ripley, her character in the Alien series, Alan Rickman is flawless as Alexander Dane, a Shakespearean actor stuck in a stupid role, Tony Shalhoub and Daryl Mitchell also are amazing. There's someone who steals the scene --and I'm sure I'm not the only one of this opinion--, it's Sam Rockwell. Okay, I love him so I could be biased here but he is beyond amazing in this. He is hilarious as Guy, a silly, fearful actor. And he is absolutely adorable. 

Then there's the humour, the element that surprised me the most. It is not the crude, vulgar and bathroom humour I was expecting. Instead, it is very funny, at times smart even, and makes the film very enjoyable. Also, the dialogue is brilliant and there are so many memorable lines.

SHORT TAKE: READY PLAYER ONE

Reviews of Ready Player One are already emerging analyzing the film as either a commentary on over-commercialization and pop culture obsessiveness, or the inevitable outcome of such. That's understandable. This is a Spielberg film after all, and given that he is one of the premiere filmmakers of our age, surely any work of his must be worth picking apart. Right?

Eh, maybe not. As illuminating as such intellectual explorations of the movie may be, they might be missing the point. Simply put, Ready Player One is just Spielberg having some fun. This is the type of film where a bunch of folks got together and said, "Hey, wouldn't it be neat if Batman and Hello Kitty walked by each other on the street?" And you know what? It is pretty darn neat.

Sure, that's about all there is to it. The story of a poor kid who has to solve a virtual reality riddle before the obligatory big evil corporation does in order to save the world’s favorite MMPOG is dirt-simple. It never really gets more complex than the video games upon which it is modelled. In fact, the narrative pretty much plays out just about the way you expect it will after watching one trailer. And as for the characters, both in their real world and digital forms, they are not what you would call deep. Not even a little.

Not much of that matters, though. In the end, it's all just Spielberg and his crew having a blast, and it's contagious. Anytime the story drags, there's plenty going on at the edges of the frame to keep your mind busy. Come on, you know you want to see Marty McFly's Delorean race Kaneda's motorcycle and the Bigfoot monster truck as much as the next person. However, if that just doesn’t sound artsy enough for you, don’t worry. There's an amazing Kubrick-centric centerpiece that's worth the price of a ticket all by itself.

You know, there’s a cool old story about about St. Teresa of Avila regarding having fun. She and her fellow nuns were assembled for their daily recreation time when one of the sisters spoke up and criticized the whole relaxation thing as a waste of time. They should be in their rooms doing something more productive like praying, the nun insisted. “Go to your cell and contemplate then,” St. Teresa retorted, “and we will make merry with the Lord here.”

Ready Player One has much that same attitude. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” isn’t just another reference the movie drops, it’s a guiding philosophy. If you want serious adult Spielberg, he’s still out there in Schindler’s List, Munich, and any number of other films, and no doubt he’ll show up again in the future. For this movie, though, the old auteur just wants to make merry. You can either stay in the theater and make merry with him, or you can go back to your cell and attend to more serious matters. Go ahead, I’ll join you there when fun-time is over.

(NOTE: I have not read the book, have no intentions of reading the book, and so have no vested interest in how much the film differs from the book. If you have read the book, your mileage may vary.)

DAILY CALL SHEET: MARCH 29, 2018

Tenement (1985) Ragtag band of renters improvise weapons to fend off a drug-fueled gang during a 24-hour siege. Mean spirited musing on the nasty NYC that was. TIL: The Church allows whatever force is necessary, even lethal refrigerators, to save lives from an unjust assailant.

Your daily dose of culture courtesy of Super Kid (1994) - "One on God’s side is a majority." - Wendell Phillips

DAILY CALL SHEET: MARCH 28, 2018

The Astrologer (1975) InterZod agent uses astrology to find the Antichrist and the new Virgin Mary. Weird, wordy, and proof positive that everybody in the 70s was on drugs. TIL: Stuff like astrology shows a desire for power over time, history, and other people, so it's right out.

Your daily dose of culture courtesy of Cyborg 2087 (1966) - "Of all the tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive." - C. S. Lewis

Thursday Movie Picks: Television Edition: Non-English Language TV Series

This being the last Thursday of the month --see you next year, March--, it's time for another TV-themed Thursday Movie Picks (the awesome weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves). I guess last year's was a success so we are doing another non-English language TV series week. As you probably know, I'm Italian aka I watch non-English series all the time. Unlike last year when I went with three German series, this year I'm taking advantage of it and doing theme within a theme. 

Don Matteo (2000- )

It follows Don Matteo, a Catholic priest living in the town of Gubbio, in central Italy, who is mostly known for investigating local crimes. If it wasn't for him, the carabinieri (they are kinda like police) would never catch the killers/criminals. I loved this. It was fun and entertaining. Then it all became too predictable (the plot of some episodes are copied straight from movies. Like there was this episode once it was basically a mediocre version of Memento) and boring  I stopped watching. 

Provaci ancora prof (2005- )

It follows Camilla Baudino, a high school teacher who often finds herself involved in crimes and investigates them with her friend/lover, police chief Gaetano Berardi while trying to take care of her cheating husband and her daughter. This one I still watch. It's not as good as it used to be but it's still fun to watch. 

Un passo dal cielo (2011- )

It follows Pietro, the head of the forestry police who investigates the crimes in the small town of Innichen/San Candido in South Tyrol. This one is okay, but it got better in the latest season when they changed the leading actors (I can't stand Terence Hill). The thing I like the most about this is the scenery, simply breathtaking. 

Delhi Belly (2011)

If I knew what it meant, I probably would have never watched Delhi Belly. Or maybe I would have, after all, it's listed as a dark comedy and I love those. Anyway, I'm glad Sid suggested it to me. It's not the best Bollywood movie I've seen (I haven't seen a lot though) but it isn't that bad. 

The story revolves around three flatmates and friends, Tashi (Imran Khan), Arup (Vir Das) and Nitin (Kunaal Roy Kapur). Tashi is engaged with Sonia (Shenaz Treasury), a flight attendant who agreed to deliver a package for a friend but then asks Tashi to deliver it. Tashi asks Nitin to deliver it, but since he's indisposed, he asks Arup. He messes up, delivering the wrong package at the wrong place and soon the three find themselves hunted by a gangster (Vijay Raaz) and his men.

Calling it a story though is a bit of an exaggeration since you don't know where it's going since the 40-minute mark is hit and after that there's still no plot, only a lot of s#!t happening and some useless subplots (I'm talking about the romances, the whole landlord blackmail subplot actually has a reason to be there).

Luckily, director Abhinay Deo was able to set such a fast pace that not only prevented the film from being a sequence of dull moment after another, but made the predictable and ridiculous storyline exciting to the point that you can't take your eyes off the screen. The score also fits the film very well. 

UTV Motion Pictures

On the other hand, there's the humour. It's far from being great. As suggested by the title, Delhi Belly is indeed loaded with toilet humour and raunchy jokes and they don't always work. Also, the dialogue is pretty vulgar. But the ridiculous situations the characters find themselves into are well used and they are funny. Not all of them though.  

The actors are those deserving most credits here, especially Imran Khan. Although he looks like he's sleep-walking through the movie, he has enough charm to make you care about his character, and his dance number at the end of the movie is quite fun. And Vijay Raaz is pretty awesome as the gangster. 

PODCAST 301: The Driller Killer & Color Me Blood Red [Suffering Artist Edition]

This week the Horror Duo take a look at a pair of films about painters who suffer for their artistic visions. Forest discusses Able Ferrara's gritty indie directorial debut, The Driller Killer - about a man who kills bums with a battery powered drill. Cory covers yet another Herschell Gordon Lewis film, Color Me Blood Red, which is the third of his Blood Trilogy.

CONTINUE READING

The Fate of the Furious (2017)

Furious 7 wasn't a great movie. It was quite a mess, to be honest, but at least it provided a nice ending to this worn-out franchise. What I'm trying to say is that The Fate of the Furious wasn't necessary at all. They made it anyway because these are the movies that make money which is why they made another mediocre action flick.

Dom (Vin Diesel) and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) are on their honeymoon, enjoying their 'normal' life. All of a sudden, a mysterious woman (Charlize Theron) seduces Dom and makes him betray his family, and the old team must team up with Mr. nobody (Kurt Russell) and Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) to bring Dom back home. 

The plot is quite absurd and ridiculous, which isn't anything new with this franchise, but it's also poorly developed, filled with so many plot holes it makes you question whether you are watching a Fast & Furious movie or not, and, in spite of the many twists, it never manages to surprise. The thing is that the twists are revealed too quickly and that they are rather predictable. Also, the connection with the previous storylines felt forced. 

The plot, however, has never been this franchise's greatest strength. The characters have. Unfortunately, here they aren't that good. Paul Walker's Brian O'Connor isn't around anymore and you can feel his absence, and the other characters are kinda ruined. There are a lot of new characters just showing up with no characterization, and a weak villain with unclear motives who still manages to stand out because of Charlize Theron's decent performance. 

Universal Pictures

There were some characters that managed to shine through, Dwayne Johnson's Hobbs and Jason Statham's Shaw. Although the first has become some sort of Hulk, and the latter kicks asses ever when he's carrying a baby, they get more screentime, they have a nice chemistry and they make the film a little bit more enjoyable as they bring some humour in.

In addition to Theron, Johnson and Statham, The Fate of the Furious also has good action sequences, especially those involving Johnson and Statham. There are too many explosions though and the action wasn't always exciting. The music is pretty good too. 

Then there's the opening sequence in Cuba. It's very well done, beautifully paced and with great cinematography. It was kinda useless plotwise, but it was fun and easily the best part of the film. 

The Disaster Artist Movie Review

The Disaster Artist (2017)

Rent The Disaster Artist on Amazon Video // Read the novel
Written by: Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber (screenplay by), Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell (based on the book "The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room, The Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made" by)
Directed by: James Franco
Starring: James Franco, Dave Franco, Ari Graynor, Seth Rogen, Alison Brie, Jacki Weaver, Zac Efron, Josh Hutcherson, June Diane Raphael, Megan Mullally, Jason Mantzoukas
Rated: R
Watch the trailer 

Plot
When aspiring film actor Greg Sestero meets the weird and mysterious Tommy Wiseau in an acting class, they make their dreams come true.

Verdict
If this wasn't rooted in fact, I wouldn't believe it. If you don't know Tommy Wiseau, you'd think this is some kind of wild parody. The movie is never less than entertaining, providing a surreal look at what it takes to make a movie while redefining the definition of famous.
Wiseau is mysterious, awkward, and supremely confidant. He never let a setback stop him from achieving his undefined goals.
Watch it.

Review
Opening in 2003, The Room became a so-bad-it's-good cult classic. This provides a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film and the friendship between the director and star who propelled it as the movie frequently feels like a parody.

You wonder how accurate this is, and I know how weird Wiseau can be. Is he really this odd? Does he really talk like that? He's definitely unique and Greg is bewildered by Wiseau. It's easy to be confused by the enigma that is Wiseau, even watching this and knowing Wiseau's reputation I wasn't sure what to think. In a typical movie Wiseau would be an alien imposter. He's unfamiliar with pop culture, he's strange, and awkward.

In one scene Greg's mother doubts Wiseau's age, sarcastically stating, "I just turned fourteen." Wiseu replies in earnest, "Uh, happy birthday." It's a funny scene because you know Wiseau is serious.

This borders on parody. Wiseau is determined to make a movie despite having no knowledge of the industry. Greg helps guide him in what's required to make a movie. Wiseau has no reason to do this and no vision, he just wants to make a movie and somehow he has all the money to make it happen. He spent six million to make the movie and came no where close to making it back. No one knows where Wiseau got his money, in this film or in real life. No one knows where he's from, not believing his Louisiana claim.

I laughed out loud multiple times. This movie is bonkers. In the scene where Wiseau, playing a character in his movie, kills himself, it's the oddest attempt at acting I've ever seen. Even watching this and knowing the movie got made, you wonder how. It has to come down to Wiseau's determination. You couldn't intentionally act as poorly as Wiseau does, and that's baffling considering he thinks he's giving an Oscar worthy performance. James Franco does a great job recreating The Room and inhabiting Wiseau.

You could ask why Greg would attempt this journey with Wiseau, but Greg was chasing a dream and Wiseau promised to fulfill that dream. The premiere of the film is awkward as the cast and crew realize just how bad of a movie it became. They squirm in their seats before finally succumbing to laughter. You feel bad for Wiseau. This was his dream and it got squashed. I'm sure he can't understand why people think the movie is funny, but few movies get such strong reaction, good or bad. He took it in stride and changed his stance, stating he intended to make the film a comedy.

DAILY CALL SHEET: MARCH 27, 2018

R.O.T.O.R. (1987) Prototype robo-cop goes rogue and fixates on terminating one woman. Its really buff inventors try to intervene. TIL: The Church does not oppose the death penalty if it's the only possible way to keep people safe. Executing traffic offenders doesn't qualify.

Your daily dose of culture courtesy of Creepshow (1982) - "A room without books is like a body without a soul." - G. K. Chesterton

Abacus: Small Enough to Jail (2016)

This year I really committed to watching all the Oscar nominees for Best Documentary Feature and therefore, though I wasn't crazy about its subject, I watched Abacus: Small Enough to Jail.

This documentary centers on the Abacus Federal Savings Banks, a small, family-owned community bank in Chinatown, New York. Accused of mortgage fraud by Manhattan's District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr., Abacus became the only financial institution to face criminal charges as a result of the 2008 financial crisis.

Not only it's not my cup of tea but I know very little about this topic and all I know is quite confused. I was hoping Steve James documentary would make it a bit more clear for me, but it didn't.

While Abacus: Small Enough to Jail works well as a portrait of a family who was unjustly given the blame for what happened --the fact that they put the blame on a small family bank and did nothing to the big fishes, and the way these people were treated really angered me--, it's an empowering story that shows how powerful a community can be, and works as a reminder of how messed up the justice system in the United States is, when it comes to making things more clear for something who doesn't know a lot about this subject, it fails.

The documentary introduces all the "players" and explains how each is associated with the bank and the family, but the way it's presented is mediocre, to say the least. A lot of scenes --mainly those in which the members of the family talk over each other but say nothing at all-- are a distraction from the subject.

Also, this is not the most engaging documentary I've seen. Actually, this is probably the less engaging. I lost interest many times and I had to take several breaks before finishing it. It's not terrible, it's just forgettable. And, in my opinion, doesn't deserve the Oscar nomination.

Paul, Apostle of Christ Movie Review

Paul, Apostle of Christ (2018)

Watch the trailer 
Written by: Andrew Hyatt (screenplay by), Andrew Hyatt and T.J. Berden (story by), based on The life story of Bart Millard
Directed by: Andrew Hyatt
Starring: Jim Caviezel, Olivier Martinez, James Faulkner, Joanne Whalley, John Lynch
Rated:PG-13

Plot
Risking his life, Luke ventures to Rome to visit Paul, the apostle bound in chains and held captive in Nero's darkest prison cell. Haunted by the shadows of his past misdeeds, Paul wonders if he's been forgotten as he awaits his grisly execution.

Verdict
It's easy to see this movie's lofty ambitions, and at the same time exactly how it falls short. It never makes that emotional connection. We don't see the characters do much as there is a lot of conversation. The action that does occur happens off screen, and even when we see the plot begin to unfold, it's an awkward execution that leaves you disappointed.
Skip it.

Review
There is a lot of talking in this movie. The majority of the movie is Paul and Luke talking quietly in Paul's jail cell. While the last half hour has more agency, there are a lot of missed opportunities.

I expected this would delve deeper into Paul's entire life with flashbacks as he's in a jail cell nearing the end of his life. I hoped it might dig deep as he contemplates whether it was worth it. While there is little question he believes it was, that query pushes the viewer to question what they've seen, though biblical based movies are rarely so subtle.
Paul has an amazing story, from persecuting Christians, to his conversion on Damascus road, but this focuses just on his last days in a jail cell as Luke transcribes his story.

We see a quick scene of Paul's persecuting days while is little more than a character with an expression of anguish. We this clip a couple of times before Paul wakes up quickly. I get the implication Paul is haunted by his past, but the movie doesn't underscore the point. It uses the most common of tropes.
Damascus road is a quick blurry shot as he loses his vision  and then Paul blind folded. It's underwhelming as that moment is the key to Paul. The movie never explores what makes him tick, though he does state his ideology often.
James Faulkner does a great job in a limited role. He has the screen presence, but he doesn't get many chances to really act. He just has to sit in a cell looking morose.

Luke is played by Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus in The Passion of the Christ. At first I thought he was reprising the role, but he plays Luke.

Mauritius's accent was a big strange, the actor is French, but he was the only one with that accent and I frequently had trouble deciphering certain words.

 

Many scenes prepare us for action or some kind of larger set piece before the movie cuts away just as anticipation set in. I have to assume it's a budget issue, but so much of this movie felt like what a typical movie leaves on the editing room floor so to speak.

This doesn't develop the characters well. There are sub plots meant to drive home Paul's message of peace and kindness but it doesn't execute them well. If i didn't know Paul and the tenets of Christianity I'm not sure this movie explains enough. Though I don't think it was intended to convert, but more to bring a bible story to the screen.

It reminded me of Risen (read my review), a bible adjacent, historical fiction about a Roman soldier searching for the truth about Jesus Christ. The movie wasn't without faults, but it told a well known story with a fresh perspective. It avoided bluntly telling us the message until the very end where it explicitly states what we should get out of the movie. Paul, Apostle of Christ doesn't spell out the message, but we don't see enough of Paul doing. Parts of this story come from the Bible book Acts, but there isn't enough action in this movie. Seeing Paul implement his generosity and kindness works much better than him telling us it's a pillar of his faith.

Also Watched - Tomb Raider, The Disaster Artist, I Tonya

Also Watched - Tomb Raider, The Disaster Artist, I Tonya
Tomb Raider (2018)
Lara Croft, the fiercely independent daughter of a missing adventurer, pushes herself beyond her limits when she discovers the island where her father disappeared.

The Disaster Artist (2017)
When aspiring film actor Greg Sestero meets the weird and mysterious Tommy Wiseau in an acting class, they make their dreams come true.

I, Tonya (2017)
A look at the life and doomed career of ice skater Tonya Harding and her connection to one of the most infamous sports scandals in American history, the assault on rival Nancy Kerrigan before the 1994 Winter Olympics.

Kodachrome Netflix Movie Trailer

Kodachrome (2018)

Kodachrome debuts April 20

This is set during the final days of the still photo development process called Kodachrome. The imminent closing of the last Kodachrome Kodak facility is the ticking clock for a father-son road trip to Kansas to reach the lab and develop the memories on their rolls of film before they are lost forever.

Ed Harris, Jason Sudeikis, and Elizabeth Olsen star.

It was reported on September 11 that Netflix bought this at the Toronto film festival for $4 million.  

DAILY CALL SHEET: MARCH 26, 2018

Project: Metalbeast (1995) Military creates werewolf with armored skin, because nothing could possibly go wrong. Something goes wrong. TIL: Medical experiments involving humans can be permitted if certain conditions are met. Creating indestructible lycanthropes doesn't meet them.

Your daily dose of culture courtesy of When Nature Calls (1985) - "To love another person is to see the face of God." - Victor Hugo

And in case you missed the (literally) big news, the City of Tokyo has unveiled its brand new Godzilla statue. Now there’s a government that has its priorities straight.

Happy Birthday, Martin McDonagh!

On this day, 48 years ago, a little boy of Irish descent was born in London, it was playwright, screenwriter and director Martin McDonagh.

He started his career as a playwriter, in the late 1990s, with six plays separated in two trilogies, all located in and around County Galway, where he spent his holidays as a child. He was successful right from the start, and year after year, play after play, he gained the status of one of the most acclaimed living playwrights in Ireland. 

But I haven't seen any of those which is why I'm going to talk only about his brilliant films, starting off with his first movie, the 2004 short Six Shooter which earned him an Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film in 2006. It tells the story of a recently widowed man (Brendan Gleeson) who finds himself on a train in the same carriage as a couple who has just lost their son and an annoying cynical young man who arouses his fellow passengers. It's a simple and yet brilliant film about grief and people dealing with death in very different ways.

In its 30 minutes, you can spot all the elements of McDonagh's unique style. Rapid dialogue, politically incorrect characters, realistic and gory violence, twisted dark humour, exaggerations, unpredictable stories with interesting and shocking twists and turns, wonderful balance between humour and drama, and beautiful photography.

Brendan Gleeson, Martin McDonagh and Colin Farrell - In Bruges (2008)

It's four years later, in 2008, that McDonagh has the chance to bring all that to the next level with his first feature film, the one that made me fall in love with his work, In Bruges. This one follows two Irish hitmen (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) who are sent to Bruges, Belgium, where they are waiting for ordered by their ruthless boss (Ralph Fiennes), and it's brilliant. It once again revolves around death only this time it focuses one's consciousness and principles. And it's an explosion of violence --it does, however, show how pointless and absurd it is. 

2012 is the year of Seven Psychopaths, another amusing and witty dark comedy dealing with death that follows an alcoholic screenwriter (Colin Farrell) who is struggling to come up with an idea for a new screenplay and becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his friend (Sam Rockwell) kidnaps a gangster's (Woody Harrelson) beloved dog. This is McDonagh going a little Hollywood-style as the action has a much bigger role than it had in his previous film(s). This, however, doesn't make it any less enjoyable. 

Martin McDonagh and Colin Farrell - Seven Psychopaths (2012)

And then 2017 came and so did Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. It follows Mildred Hayes, a grieving mother seeking justice for the rape and murder of her daughter who makes the bold move to purchase three billboards and uses them to directly accuse the chief of police (Woody Harrelson) of having done nothing to catch the killer. An immature policeman (Sam Rockwell) gets involved and a war begins between Mildred and the law enforcement. This is arguably McDonagh's best yet as well as my favourite of the bunch. It's dark, twisted and thought-provoking, it has one of the greatest endings in cinema history which makes it one of the most powerful films of recent years, and fantastic dialogue. McDonagh delivers a flawless combination of drama and comedy and he is able to get genuine laughs while building tension and suspense.

Martin McDonagh and Frances McDormand - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

But most of all, There Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri has complex, developed and believable characters. Mildred is McDonagh's first real female character. Until now, his female characters were all paper-thin and not so relevant to the story. Instead, Mildred is a strong, developed character and arguably one of the best McDonagh has written so far.

Ultimately, I feel like Martin McDonagh's are the kind of films you either love or hate, and I absolutely love them. I don't know what the future holds, but I hope it's more brilliant films for us and more recognition aka awards for him. 

Six Shooter (2004)

I never watch short movies. There isn't a reason behind it, I just don't. But when I had the idea of writing a piece for Martin McDonaugh's birthday, I figured I should watch Six Shooter, his Oscar-winning short film. 

Six Shooter tells the story of a recently widowed man, Donnelly (Brendan Gleeson), who founds himself on a train in the same carriage as a couple (David Wilmot and Aisling O'Sullivan) who has just lost their son for coth death and an annoying and cynical young man (Rúaidhrí Conroy) who arouses his fellow passengers with rude and offensive behavior. 

It's a very simple an yet brilliant and quite disturbing story about people dealing with death in very different ways. It's developed in such an interesting way and its 30 minutes will deliver several shocking twists and surprises. The plot is exaggerated --it's something you would expect if you have seen anything from McDonagh-- and yet it's believable and keeps you glued to the screen. 

McDonagh was also able to fit in the short running time very interesting characters with a good (for its running time) characterization and development. The most interesting characters are of course Donnelly and the young man. The first is the only one in all the acts of the film, but he is some sort of viewer, he doesn't have control over anything. Things happen around him and there's nothing he can do. The young man, on the other hand, is only in the second act but he is at the center of the action. The performances from Brendan Gleeson and Rúaidhrí Conroy make them even more compelling.

Magnolia Home Entertainment, The Works

Just like McDonagh's feature films, Six Shooter too has the right balance between comedy and drama and the black comedy is spot on. Of course, if you don't like dark comedy, you won't find this funny, but if you do, you'll spend some quite hilarious 30 minutes watching this. There's a story told by the young man about a cow with trapped wind that is random and bizarre as it is hilarious. The short is worth watching for that scene alone. 

The camera-work is very nice, especially on the train, and manages to keep the tension up. The scenery is also very beautiful --thank you, Irland-- and the photography is breathtaking. 

DAILY CALL SHEET: MARCH 25, 2018

Star Odyssey (1979) Human/robot boxing matches, mop-topped clone armies, droid suicide pacts! All that, and yet it's still just a terrible Italian Star Wars ripoff. TIL: Imitation may be flattery, but flattery has a selfish motivation, so it's best to avoid it. Like this movie.

Your daily dose of culture courtesy of End of the World (1977) - “Honestly, if you're given the choice between Armageddon or tea, you don't say 'what kind of tea?” - Neil Gaiman

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)

If there's something I remembered about Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron before rewatching it --other than the romance between the two horses-- was liking it when I was a kid. Now all I can do is wonder how this movie even get an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Film.

Spirit (Matt Damon) is a young Mustang which grows up to become the leader of his herd. One day, out of curiosity, he deciedes to explore a camp of cowboys but he is captured and a vicious Colonel (James Cromwell) tries to train and break him. It's will the help of a young native man Little Creek (Daniel Studi) that he manages to escape and the two embark on a journey together. 

The story is simple and straightforward and really nothing we haven't seen before. It also unfolds very slowly and it isn't the most compelling of the stories. And yet it's a sweet story about an animal with so much heart, he will fight for his freedom and the others no matter what. It's the type of story that touches many important themes --love, hope, courage, freedom, slavery-- but doesn't explore them as it should.

If there's something Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron deserves to be praised for is the dialogue, its lack of it. When it comes to animated film, talking animals are everywhere but not in here. The film's animal characters don't speak human, they communicate with each other (and with humans) through sounds or body langauge, and it really works here. Matt Damon's narration of Spirit's points of view works well too.

DreamWorks Pictures

As for the characters, there isn't a lot of work there, but at least they are likable and you really root for them. The villain is a whole different story. In my opinion, he doesn't have enough screen time to be really effective. He is forgettable. 

The animation isn't that great either. It leaves a lot to be desired to be honest but overall it looks nice and it catpres the feel of the old west well.