brianmmerrill Reviews

Young Adult (2011)

Arrested Development is THE point

[7/10 · 15 March 2012]

I actually know at least a half dozen women like this, who are absolutely certain their best days came and went 20 years or more ago.

And the alcoholism, annoying provincial parents in denial, inner fantasy life, and stunted emotional growth are all way too familiar. It's sadly funny that her writing career feeds this arrested development in that she writes to an audience of emotionally immature teen girls.

Too bad all the similarly afflicted women I've known could find a job that so matches their lack of emotional development as the lead in this movie has found. She uses her good looks to "get over" and to get away with more than anyone should ever be allowed simply because she's beautiful.

The last conversation with Sandra (Matt's sister) demonstrated that for every bitch beauty queen, there's at least one wallflower wannabee.

If nothing else, this movie does a good job of showing that you really shouldn't judge a book by it's cover.

Melancholia (2011)

Utterly unlikable characters

[6/10 · 15 March 2012]

It's funny when you welcome the demise of the world just to insure that these two, self-absorbed sisters die in the end.

The only thing that would have made it better was if they'd shown their horrible mother (played quite well by Charlotte Rampling) disintegrated as well.

With all his recent heroic roles, it's nice to see Kiefer Sutherland portray a mostly unlikable character to good effect.

Camera work was excellent, Ms. Dunst is in fine physical form. Also, to her credit, it's hard work playing a stunningly beautiful, yet unlovable part.

At least Charlotte Gainsbourg was restricted to being merely annoying vs. destroying male genitalia as she attempted to do in Antichrist. Now this woman knows how to portray reprobate to perfection.

For the last bit of irony; the male child, who I suppose I should have felt some measure of sympathy for, I was truly ambivalent to. Sad since the attitude of not giving a damn was what was so annoying about Justine and the Mother.

It ends well, with the destruction of the planet insuring there will never be a scenario that would lead to a sequel. The 6 of 10 is charitable, Kirsten's "melons" and the fine camera work kept it from getting a 4.

Rabies (2010)

Like Magnolia but most everyone dies!

[8/10 · 6 March 2012]

I watched this movie expecting a typical, B grade slasher vibe. Instead I found it full of ironic humor, no attempt to arrive at a happy ending, the courage to kill off any character regardless of whether that character would be focus group friendly or not.

I'd be willing to bet that the only non-human victim gets the most sympathy in its demise.

Pretty women, decent to good acting, nobody is truly awful as you find in nearly all low budget movies, the dialog flows naturally, no extended whining or Smith/Linklater verbal diarrhea to be found.

Cool Flick!