Reviews

Not to be confused with the other film called "Broken" I reviewed back in April of this year. This "Broken" was released by Dimension Extreme back in 2006 at the height of the torture porn craze. Riding the coattails of the "Saw" and "Hostel" Movies, this low budget British import is all kinds of nasty, but in the end is not all that interesting. The film is also supposedly based on a true story.

Like a lot of horror movies were given a gruesome opening scene that gives you a taste of what's to come. We are then introduced to Hope (quite the metaphorical name), a young woman out on a date having a good time. She returns home to say goodnight to her 6 year old daughter and goes to sleep only to wake up buried underground. The story is then structured into days she is held captive my a mysterious psychopath. After Day 2 she is dug up and tied to a tree, similar to another victim from the opening scene. A razor blade has been sewn up in her abdomen leaving her not choice but to dig it out, and cut her self free from the tree. The make-up and effects are supremely disgusting all through the film and are the main reason to watch it in the first place. Unfortunately like a lot of horror movies the story and characters are weak and poorly drawn. The plot is very thin and predictable with only the final scenes being somewhat original.

The unnamed male psychopath takes his victims into the woods and sets up camp. He chains Hope to a tree and trains her to be his slave but not in any sexual way. After a few days he tests her loyalty and another few times she tries to escape but all things lead back to the camp and Hope being physically and mentally beaten and abused. About 10 days in the Man brings back another girl, a teenager who won't stop whining and crying, she really tests the viewers patience. This is kind of strange in that you really want the girl to die, just so she would shut the hell up. The man does gets fed up with her and cuts her tongue out. It's only a matter of time before the women hatch a plan to escape and the Man's reign of terror come to an end. Like I mentioned before the ending is a little different that what you'd expect, as it takes an extremely cruel twist in the spirit an extremely cruel movie.

One of the great independent films of 2003 and one of my personal favorites, "The Station Agent" introduces us to the exceptionally talented Peter Dinklage. Although upon first impression most people will only notice his 4 foot 5 inch frame, his deeply brooding and thoughtful performances rival any actor working today.

Finbar McBride, or Fin, is a solitary man who works at a hobby shop repairing and working with model trains. One day his friend and the stores owner Henry falls over dead, presumably of a heart attack. Fin is lost in despair, Henry however has left him a small but abandoned depot station to him in his will. With nothing tying him down Fin moves into to the Newfoundland depot station. Just across the way is an oddly placed food truck called Gorgeous Franks and its lone operator Joe, played by Bobby Cannavale. Joe is a friendly and energetic man who's intrigued by Fin arrival. Although not looking to make friends Fin eventually comes around and allows him to hang around with him. Also upon arrival Fin has a few run ins with Olivia, played by Patricia Clarkson. She doesn't make that good a first or second impression for that matter as she almost runs him over with her car, twice. Olivia is a friendly but slightly frantic, painter who is separated from her rich husband, Joe however has had his eye on her for quite some time.

Writer and director Tom McCarthy creates this world for these characters that is based in small town reality. Fin has a number of encounters with a curious little African American girl as well as a possible girlfriend in the form of the young and beautiful librarian, played by Michelle Williams. Although the heart of the story is the relationship between the three friend Fin, Joe, and Olivia. All are damaged in their own way and looking for something real. Finn fights with loneliness and alienation, while the return of Olivia's husband throws her life into an angry spiral. Joe is full of life and charisma, but misses his son, who lives with his mother. "The Station Agent" is a wonderful film, skillfully acted on all fronts with a deeply heartfelt story of a marginalized man trying to find his place in the world.

Although a lot of people now know Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister on "Game of Thrones", please take a moment to watch "The Station Agent".

It has been nearly 10 years since the release of one of the greatest zombie movies ever made. This film started the infectious zombie craze that still lingers today. I'm taking about Edgar Wright's "Shaun of the Dead" starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. A cult fan boy film from the start "Shaun's" mix of dry British humor and graphic zombie violence has made it's claim as one of the best. Its a romantic comedy with zombies. It's a buddy picture with zombies. It's many things to many people, but above all it's just a fun movie.

Simon Pegg plays Shaun, a regular guy who likes nothing more that to spend time with his friends at the local pub called The Winchester. His best mate is Ed an overweight and crude but harmless schlub who has been friends with Shaun since primary school. Liz is Shaun's way to hot girlfriend who is fed up with there stale and predictable relationship. Shaun also lives with his older and more put together brother who tells him to "Get your s**t together!". Shaun works as a supervisor at an electronics store with a bunch of unmotivated chowder heads who don't pay any attention to him or what he has to say. To round out Shaun's circle of people is his kind but spacey mum and cold and stern step father Phillip, played by Bill Nighy.

After a long night of drinking at the Winchester, Shaun's usual surroundings start to look a little off. Unknown to him and Ed it seems that the zombie apocalypse has struck. It's kind of hard to notice these things when everybody acts like zombies in their everyday lives. Shaun and Ed finally come to the conclusion that something is not right and hatch a plan to rescue their friends and family and find a safe place to wait out this annoying apocalypse thing. The premise is simple but extremely well done. The script is packed with several memorable one liners and gags that make it fun for multiple viewings.

With their true to life characters and the smart insightful dialogue, filmmaker Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg, seem to be channeling Kevin Smith and his debut film "Clerks". Along with 2007's "Hot Fuzz" and 2013's "The World's End" these three film created the "Cornetto Trilogy". A Cornetto being an ice cream cone something like a Drumstick, that appears in each film. If it isn't already obvious "Shaun" is a movie that should be bought and watched regularly.

Daniel Day Lewis is one of the greatest actors of his generation. His talent, craft, and commitment to his roles are second to none. Nominated for Best Actor five times by The Academy Awards taking home 3 golden trophies. For "My Left Foot (1990)", "There Will be Blood (2008)" and "Lincoln (2008)". One of his lesser known roles was in the small independent film "The Ballad of Jack & Rose (2005) Directed by his wife Rebecca Miller. It's a story about the relationship between a father and daughter living off the grid on an island off the east coast.

Camilla Belle plays Rose the tomboyish teenage daughter who has spent her entire life on the island, sheltered from the rest of the world. Her mom had left the family when she was only five years old and has grown up alone with her father all these years. Jack is the last remaining hold out of an old hippie commune on which they live, unable to let go of the past and his strong ideals of how a society should behave. It's1986 and land developers are starting to infiltrate his sacred island, his battle is mainly with Marty Rance (Beau Bridges). For Jack this means War, but his declining health and lack of support make it an impossible task. Nobody can stop progress. The future will come whether you like it or not.

With Rose getting older, about sixteen or so, Jack is forced to think about the future and what will happen when he dies. He starts to feel guilty for keeping Rose away from modern society and what will happen to her when she's on her own. Jack does go to the mainland now and then to shack up with Kathleen (Catherine Keener), a single mother of two teen boys, who is currently living in her mothers basement. They've know each other a while but their relationship has never too serious. To hopefully benefit Rose, Jack pays Kathleen to quit her job and move her kids to live with him on the island. Jack's "experiment" is a bumpy road and awakens feeling and emotion that will change all of them. Rose's emotional state becomes a little erratic to say the least, as Kathleen has now taken over most of Jack's time, this causes her to lash out and rebel in some extreme ways. Not to mention the introduction of two teenage boys. Rodney, is a self conscious and sensitive guy who is questioning his sexuality, while Thaddeus is a skinny womanizing rebel, played by Paul Dano, who also stars opposite Daniel Day Lewis in "There Will be Blood". Jack is surprised and shocked by what he see's in Rose and has to confront the fact that nothing lasts forever and that he has to let her go and experience the world, even if she might get hurt along the way. Operating on a budget of 1.5 million, this is prime example of how a strong story along with strong actors can make a great film.

The grimy and disturbing 80s horror classic gets a new look with help from modern horror icon Alexandre Aja. Adding to the intrigue is the casting of Frodo himself, Elijah Wood, in the role of the disturbed knife wielding manic Frank.

The story is relocated from the streets of New York to Los Angeles and Frank is more of a presentable and attractive guy than the sweaty overweight version played by Joe Spinell in the original. Another major difference from the original is that the whole film is shot entirely from Frank's point of view. Although we do see his face a number of times in reflections. All of these changes work in the retelling of a man who stalks the streets murdering and scalping women. The up close and graphic opening scene sets the tone for what shapes up to be a quality remake.

Like a lot of severely deranged killers Frank has some unresolved mommy issues and takes it out on his victims. With his mother now dead he owns and operates her Mannequin store. This is where he meets Anna, a photographer who conveniently enough is shooting mannequins for an up coming exhibit. Like in the original Frank see's Anna as his last chance to live a somewhat normal life. Although it doesn't take long before he is back on the streets stalking his next victim. The P.O.V shooting style gets us a glimpse into Frank's disturbed mind, from his hallucinations and anxieties to his loneliness and despair. Director Franck Khalfoun's use of mirrors and reflections, and the way his shots are composed are rare for a horror movie. For its budget and everything that could go wrong, they really made quite the film.

Elijah Wood's portrayal of Frank also gets high marks as he doesn't force anything, and doesn't play "insane" but is just a normal guy, who just happens to murder people. A lot like Anthony Perkins in "Psycho". He is a frightened and lonely guy who suffered terrible emotional and physical abuse from his mother as a child. All of this repressed anger and rage surfaces at night when he must go out and kill his "mother" over and over again. After every kill he takes their scalp and some piece of clothing and puts it on one of the mannequins in his bedroom. In the end his thin cover of sanity is blown with Anna, and his mannequin friends want a piece of him too.

Whenever director Eduardo Sanchez's name is brought up the words "co- director of the Blair Witch Project" will inevitably follow. The two sided coin of being responsible for a complete shake up of the entire film industry, but then spending the rest of your career trying to recapture former glory, also known as The "Shyamalan Effect". As a solo director he followed up with the mediocre "Altered" in 2006 and the unwatchable "Seventh Moon" in 2008. So when "Lovely Molly" came around in 2011, needless to say expectations were pretty low, and after a bit of hesitation, I found the time to see it. I can honestly say that this is by far his best film. The characters, the story and just about everything put on screen it is right on. "Blair Witch" in itself was not a great movie, but its effects on how films are made and marketed are still felt today. Conversely "Lovely Molly" is not going to have the same effect, but is a far a better film.

"Lovely Molly" owes the majority of its success to Molly herself, played by Gretchen Lodge. A young woman looking to reclaim her life after a battle with drug addiction and a brutal childhood. A newlywed who moves back to her childhood home with her husband Tim (Johnny Lewis), a truck driver. Molly works as a shopping mall janitor with her supportive sister Hannah (Alexandra Holden). Maybe moving back to her childhood home was not such a good idea, as her mental state takes a steep dive as repressed memories, hallucinations, and ghostly encounters meld into one terrifying situation after another. There are your classic horror clichés' of creaking doors, investigating noises in a dark and such, but Lodge's fearless and dedicated performance puts this film above others. It falls into the category of slow burn psychological horror, which can sometimes be code for stupid and boring, but the story and characters (mainly Molly) are given time to develop. Although it does have its share of horrific imagery it doesn't lean on.

A big part of the storyline involves Molly's creepy video diary of her stalking around her neighbors, and wandering in the woods. Yes, sort of "Blair Witch-esque". She seems to be possessed during these nightly escapades. The opening of the film shows her on the other end of the camera with a knife to her throat wanting all of it to end. Is everything that happens to her real or is it all in her disturbed mind? This is the main question the film asks and some people will not like the answer. But I think Sanchez did the right thing in how he chose to end the film. After a repeat watching Molly's story really is a lot deeper that what lies on the surface.

One of my favorite films of 2013 was the indie film "Short Term 12" directed by Destin Cretton based on his previous short film of the same name. It's the story of a group home for wayward teens and the counselors who work with them, but words and labels can't do it justice. It's simply a perfect film with deeply felt performances throughout. The filmmakers bring such authenticity to it that it feels like it could be a documentary.

We follow Grace, played by Brie Larson, an early twenty something girl, as she leads most of the groups activities. She is in a relationship with fellow counselor Mason (Peter Gallegher Jr.) that they try to keep on the down low in front of the others, but everyone seems to know. We are also introduced to a new counselor named Nate (Rami Malek) who like most people initially has a rough time fitting in. Trying to make a good first impression on these kids is nearly impossible and when he calls them "underprivileged" Marcus, the eldest of the group, is deeply offended by the term. It really is like a slap in the face to all of them. Although Nate didn't mean anything by it and is good guy at heart he has a lot to learn.

Short Term 12 offers these kids unconditional love and support and a safe place for them to just be themselves. All of the residents, through no fault of there own, have ended up at there and must wait out their time until fate revels itself or they turn eighteen and must leave. All of the teens are well crafted multi-dimensional characters as complicated and real as it gets. Sammy, Luis, Marcus and the new girl Jayden are the main teens we follow throughout the film. Through their struggles they've built up these thick walls in order to keep everybody out and It's the counselors job to slowly but surely chip away at these walls and try to make a connection. Sammy is no more than 10 or 12 years old and has lost his only family in his younger sister. He might either be autistic or depressed but is really battling though some tough times for such a young age. Like all of the residents Luis is a good kid but a victim of circumstance. Marcus is a deeply complex man who soon turns eighteen and still fighting through some fierce emotional issues. The abuse by his mother has left deep emotion scars, but he seems up to challenge to reclaiming his life. Jayden is the new girl and almost a carbon copy of what Grace was like when she was her age. Jayden sparks something inside Grace that force her to deal with her own brutal past. Life is now pushing Grace to a boiling point as her past, present and future all collide and she must make decision that will affect her life forever.

Over the past few years Director David O. Russell has struck Oscar gold with "Silver Lining Playbook" and "American Hustle". Attaching rising mega stars Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper to both hasn't hurt either. Back in the late 90s Russell's first commercial hit was the Gulf War action/satire/adventure "Three Kings" starring a platoon of rising stars including George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube. Obviously they were all known but Clooney was coming of TV's "E.R." and Wahlberg and Ice Cube we're mainly known for their music careers.

The story is stationed in Kuwait at the end of the Gulf War in '91. Saddam and his forces have been sent packing. With no major fighting the American troops are painted to look like a bunch of bored teenagers looking for any action they can get into. Many wondering why were there in the first place. Here's a not so subtle hint, they have a lot of oil, and the first President Bush was protecting his investments. American forces are preparing to get the hell out of the desert when Barlow (Wahlberg), Vig (Spike Jonze) and Elgin (Cube) find a map to one of Saddam's stolen gold bunkers hidden in a surrendering Iraqi man's ass.

Clooney plays Archie Gate a special forces guy who when not screwing the media, literally, is just waiting out the war so he can retire from active duty. Gates come across the guys and the map and decides they can make a quick and quiet in and out strike to snatch the gold. But of course things happen and they underestimate the danger of their secret operation.

Their plan to just grab the gold and run hits a snag when they witness Saddam's Republican Guard soldiers brutalizing and killing civilians. They can't help but get involved in their struggle, but being only a small unit they quickly get in over their heads. They eventually find the gold, but gold is really heavy and can be quite cumbersome to transport. Things get serious were Barlow is taken hostage and Vig is hurt. They get help from the locals but its going to cost them. The action is amazing as well as the visual style from overly bright and bleached out colors of the desert to the sound design. There is also a dark satirical thread throughout as well as more overt humor. It's a fun film all around.

"Three Kings was the pinnacle of the first part of David O. Russell's career as his next film was the unbelievably awful existential film "I Heart Huckabees". It took six years for his next film and a return to form with "The Fighter". Russell is an extremely talented director and will always be interested in his upcoming films.

The 2009 Australian film "In Her Skin" is based on a true story of a mentally unstable woman and her obsession with a neighbor girls perfect life. Its a story of two families dealing with heartbreak, class structures, self esteem and who is to blame.

Guy Pearce and Miranda Otto play Mike and Elizabeth Barber the upper middle class parents of Rachel, a 15 year old Dancer, who goes missing after accepting a job from an estranged older friend named Caroline, played fearlessly by Ruth Bradley. The girls exist at opposite ends of the class and popularity spectrum. Rachel is young and beautiful with and equally beautiful boyfriend. She has two loving parents and a normal home life. While Caroline, who is in her early to mid 20s, lives alone in an apartment always on the brink of some kind of mental breakdown. Her parents are divorced and her father has long given up hope of having a "normal" daughter. He has had learn to just deal with her craziness after having to bail her out of situations her whole life. Caroline works a dull and dreary office job with little to no motivation to do anything more with her life. Rachel has been a sort of obsession and role model of hers every since she babysat for her years back. An idealized version of what she wish she could be. Caroline feels trapped and cursed to roam the earth in her overweight and unattractive body. She is unloved and unwanted. We can only watch as the clock ticks forward to an enviable breakdown.

After Rachel doesn't return home one afternoon. Her parent start to worry and call her friends and the dance studio with no luck. They go to the police but are devastated to be told that Rachel must have ran away or is just out on a bender and will probably show up in a day or two. With all of the other more important cases, they can't be wasting their precious recourses on a missing teenage girl. Mike and Elizabeth do eventually find an investigator dedicated to finding what happen to Rachel and it all leads back to Caroline.

The film is uniquely structured in that it is split up into three sections dealing with the individual characters view points and personal struggles. After a brief intro we start with a title card "Mike and Elizabeth", Then go on to "Caroline", then finally "Rachel". The resulting story is raw, honest, and heartbreaking. It is superbly acted by all involved and unlike most Hollywood studio movies doesn't offer any easy answers.

"Autopsy" was apart of the After Dark Horror Fest 3 which was a collection of eight movies released in 2009. Keeping with my current theme of movies featuring insane doctors and medical madness, "Autopsy" fits the bill with mixed results. With an extremely simplistic plot and generic characters, all the movie has to offer is shock value. Most of it is pretty creative and gross but still unable to support any sort of story.

A group of college kids are partying at Mardi Gras having a fun time, but when they get back on the road to wherever they're going next they accidentally hit a man in a hospital gown who comes running out of the woods. A few moments of panicked arguing and finding out their cell phones can't get any reception an ambulance shows up out of nowhere. Hesitant at first but the paramedics take the kids back to an eerily empty Mercy Hospital to get checked out. An older nurse runs the show up front as Dr. Benway takes care of thing behind closed doors.

In typical horror movie fashion they are quickly split up, some just wander off to explore the dark and spooky building, while others are taken by the orderly to be fodder for the doctors experiments. Emily is the girl we follow the most and will undoubtedly be the final girl who will have to fight for her life against the doctor and other crazies. When things start to go bad Emily is able to call for help and a lone police officer shows up. Its no surprise that he doesn't last more than a few scenes before he is taken out.

The character of Dr. Benway is pretty weak and uninspired for being the main bad guy. He is not scary, threatening, or all that interesting. He has a very thin and clichéd back story and most it leads up to a few shocking gore filled scenes at the end. The gore and effects as I have said are pretty good, but this is a strictly by the numbers horror film that will drift off into obscurity. One final note for those interested the film was scored by Joseph Bishara, who has most recently done the two "Insidious" movies.

"Pathology" is another med school horror flick like the previously reviewed "Anatomy", except Americanized and in English. Before the credits a title card displays the Hippocratic Oath, then brings us into the life of young Dr. Ted Gray, played by Milo Ventamiglia". An extremely smart robot, I mean human, who graduated from Harvard medical school and just got back from a Unicef tour in Africa.

Pathology is the study of the cause and effects of disease. Figuring out what killed a person and why. Ted accepts a position at a prestigious pathology program and must once again leave his fiancé for a long period of time, which she seems pretty okay with. Ted is introduced to the other students who amount to the cool kids at any high school. A tight knit group of immature cocky kids who try to outdo each other at everything. Early on we get a big dose of dissected corpses and gross out jokes, but Ted seems to be taking the high road (at first anyway). He is ethical in the treatment of the cadavers and shows up a lot of the other students with his far out theories of how certain people were killed.

Ted's loneliness finally gets the better of him and he finally joins the ranks of the "cool" kids and they introduce him to their secret game. Each of the students has to try to commit the perfect murder. While the others must find out how it was pulled off. Needless to say the story and so-called plot are absolutely absurd. Not to mention the added spiciness of several sex scenes, although not with any of the dead people (darn). Although sometimes done in the same room as dead people. Mmmm it must smell good in there, sexy.

Ted is not the good guy and hero he is originally made out to be as he is easily seduced into violating his ethics and morality for a few cheap thrills. When things really start to get serious and his life and career are in jeopardy he goes to extremes to protect himself and then some. Just like life though nobody is perfect and to protect a way of life or an image some will go to extreme lengths.

"Pathology" is not a good movie but it has a bunch of sexy people doing sexy things with a dash of gore. If that's all your looking for than by all mean watch it, but know you have been warned.

"Fruitvale Station" is a ripped from the headlines true story of Oscar Grant whose murder at the hands of a Bay Area Transit security guard set off riots and cries of racism. Oscar and a group of friends were returning home from celebrating the arrival of 2009 when a fight broke out on a subway car. The group was singled out by the all white security guards as the instigators. Things quickly escalated to the point that one of the guards ends up shooting Oscar in back, while another guard had him pinned down on the pavement.

The film opens with one of the many cell phone videos taken of the incident and the stunned silence after a gun goes off. We are then taken back to look at the life of Oscar Grant and how senseless and unnecessary his "accidental" killing was. The security guard who pulled the trigger though he had grabbed his tazer instead and ended up serving less than a year in prison.

Michael B. Jordan has gotten rave reviews for his portrayal of Oscar, a twenty-two year old man getting his life back together after serving time for dealing drugs. He has a young daughter with his current girlfriend Sophina and family is everything to him. His mother Wanda is played by Octavia Spencer the Academy Award winning actress from "The Help". Not only is it New Year's Eve but also her birthday and everybody shows up at her place to celebrate. Oscar is a complex and conflicted character who deep down wants to be a strong responsible young man, but too often takes the wrong paths to get try and get there. He loses his job at the grocery store for always being late, then contemplates going back to dealing, but thinks better of it. As he struggles to come up with a plan for his future, he can only deal with the present. Sophina still believes in him even though he has cheated on her in the past. The most important thing in both of their lives in their daughter Tatiana. Who at the end of the movies ask when here Daddy is coming home?

First time director Ryan Coogler brings to the screen an authentic and heartbreaking story of the life of a young black man being taken down by a society that only sees him as a stereotype and not a human being. "Fruitvale" is nominated for best first feature at this years Independent Spirit Awards and has won or been nominated for several other awards. It's currently available on multiple formats and is a must see!

The British independent film "Broken" broke through in the UK in 2012 with a quite a splash, winning a number of awards. The film however has sort of flown under the radar as it wasn't released in the US until last Summer by Film Movement. Its the dramatic coming of age story of an 11 year old girl affectionately named Skunk. She is played by first time actor Eloise Laurence, who gives a remarkably real and thoughtful performance. This is also the first feature film for director Rufus Norris.

Skunk lives within a cul-de-sac in suburban London with her Dad Archie, played by Tim Roth, and older brother Jed. Her mother ran off with another man years back. They have a live in nanny, Kasia, who serves as a sort of mother or big sister figure. Cillian Murphy also puts forth a strong performance as Mike, Kasia's boyfriend and Skunk's crush. The stories of the three families within the cul-de-sac are all compelling and well integrated into Skunk's world. We open with Skunk talking to Rick, an older friend but mentally unstable neighbor, who out of nowhere get a savage beating from Mr. Oswald, the fiery father of a trio of foul mouthed daughters who are also without a mother.

Adding to the many difficulties of adolescence, Skunk also has diabetes. She could be bitter and angry about her situation, but is very resilient and strong. She is adventurous, inquisitive and full of wonder, where as the girls next door are petty, vile, and just plain unpleasant. The two families are dealing with similar issue in very different ways. While the third family, Rick's Family, tries to keep to themselves and protect there son from the world. Rick is a volatile man child. He has a gentle and sweet exterior that fights with his inner rage and turmoil. After becoming to much of a handful for his parents to deal with he is put up in a hospital. Skunk see the good in him, the longing to be normal and accepted.

The final 30 minutes will keep you on the edge of your seat with a an intensity that is hard to find. I know that sound a little clichéd, but the filmmakers took such care in developing the story and building its characters that the ending just works on every level. You won't be disappointed.

A high point in the career of Phillip Seymour Hoffman was his Oscar winning portrayal of Truman Capote in the 2005 Bennett Miller film "Capote". Hoffman's transformation into the flamboyant and controversial writer was striking in that he completely lost himself in the role and seemed to virtually channel Capote's spirit. From the voice, the mannerisms, and everything in between this was Hoffman's role of a lifetime.

"Capote" tells the story of how he wrote his most famous book "In Cold Blood", the true story of a quadruple homicide in rural Kansas in 1959. Together with his research assistant Harper Lee, who would write a modern masterpiece herself in "To Kill a Mockingbird", it took Truman 4 years to write. Although the story only encompasses about four years, we are given and very intimate look at the life of Capote. Who he was, his thought processes, and much more. All of this would not have been possible with out the amazingly authentic portrayal by Hoffman.

Two men are eventually arrested and convicted of these brutal murders, Perry Smith and Richard Hickok. To get access to the men, Capote bribes the warden and begins a sort of strange relationship with Perry. Truman is very empathetic to Perry's life and upbringing. He humanizes him to the public and helps him get a new Lawyer and possibly a new hearing. Capote's motives and ethics are one of the driving forces of the film. He is writing a true crime novel, but personally influences the events to fit a sort of story line. Although he exploits Perry for his story, he has trouble holding back some very strong feelings for him.

While the men are on death row and keep getting stays of execution, Capote is driven to the brink of collapse since he is unable to finish his book until they die. During this time Perry's pleas for help go unanswered as Truman is unable or unwilling to help anymore. He needs to be done with this book and Perry.

At the end of the film we are told that after writing "In Cold Blood" Truman Capote never finished another book and died from alcoholism in 1984. It's amazing movie although a very slow burn and meticulously put together. It's a character study like no other.

Not to be confused with the 2013 Oliver Stone movie "Savages", 2007's "The Savages" stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney as brother and sister dealing with their aging father. The story is all too familiar to some as the baby boomers continue to age it's up to their children to care for them. The film is written and directed by Tamara Jenkins in a very honest and sincere way that will resonate with many people.

We start out in the warm and sunny senior utopia of Sun City, Arizona. Lenny Savage, played by Philip Bosco, is the elderly antagonist in a story that starts out with a "bathroom incident". Not to long after that his girlfriend of many years literally drops dead. Since he was living with her and her kids can't stand him he is kicked out to fend for himself. His daughter Wendy Savage lives and works in New York City as a struggling author and playwright who is having an affair with an older, balding, and more importantly married man. Her older brother John Savage lives in Buffalo, he writes, teaches, and has PhD in philosophy. Both sibling are single and muddled in mid life crisis territory when they receive a call to come and do something about there estranged father. Lenny was a terrible father and their mother left the family when they were little, so it is quite amazing to see how relatively normal Wendy and John turned out. They meet at Wendy's place, then board a plane to Sun City.

Lenny has dementia and is pretty dependent on others so they make the big decision most people dread. They have to choose a nursing home were they prey on peoples guilt. Wendy asks John "Are we horrible people?" They each deal with things in their own way. Wendy feels enormous guilt, while John can only think of what his father did to him as a child. Can he forgive the abuse? Are they doing the right thing?

"The Savages" is also darkly comedic. The indignities of getting old and the many awkward moments that ensue. While bringing Lenny back to New York, they have quite the embarrassing moment on the plane. Later on at a coffee shop they have a very tough and awkward conversation about what to do with him when he eventually dies. The film is a rare and realistic approach to death and how it affects the living. It forces Wendy and John to get together and work out there problems which eventually brings them closer together. Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance earned him the Award for Best Male Lead at the Spirit Awards, while Laura Linney nabbed a Oscar Nom for best supporting actor. Tamara Jenkins also got a nod for best screenplay.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman's death at the grip of drug addiction has taken another supremely gifted artist from this world. Hoffman's work in film and sage will be sorely missed. From his everyman looks to his grasp of the human condition he was definitely a king among men. For my next bunch of reviews I'll focus on many of the smaller independent films that Hoffman so often shined.

In 2001's "Love Liza" a man struggles to deal with the sudden suicide of his wife (Liza) and his personal spiral into some deep dark places. The examination of his life and his questionable future The film was directed by Todd Louiso and co-stars Kathy Bates and Jack Kehler. It also won the Screen writing Award at Sundance.

Wilson Joel is your typical geeky web developer who comes home to find his wife has killed herself, leaving him with a bunch of unanswered questions. Was it his fault? How could this have happened? He is consumed with grief and looking for a way out he starts huffing gas fumes to get high. Instead of food he keeps a red plastic gas can in his fridge. "Do you smell Gas?" is a question heard more than once.

The plot revolves around a suicide note that he can't bring himself to open. Wilson's mother in-law, Mary Ann (Bates), grieves the loss of her daughter and her relationship with Wilson is pretty awkward to say the least. Does she blame him? Everybody at work is very supportive of his situation but after one of the many lies he tells a new "best friend" is forced upon him. Thinking that Wilson is into radio control planes, Denny (Kehler) a real enthusiast, comes over so see his plane. Wilson wants nothing more than to be alone and huff gas, passing out wherever he may be. He is going down a tough road and needs a friend, but most people are not willing get him the help he really needs. He buys a plane from a hobby shop and starts to huff the special fuel that they run on. Him and Denny have some fun together at a Radio Control competition and discuss his situation. He has to read the letter eventually but when? and where?

Wilson finally has to deal with these pent up feelings and frustrations and decides to open the letter. "Love Liza" is fantastically cast and acted, its a character piece that really hits hard. Although it does have its comedic moments. Hoffman's performance is superb and like a lot of his roles you can see the real person behind the character. "Love Liza" is available on DVD, so search it out and give it a watch.

Laughter is the best medicine in this early 90s horror film. "Dr. Giggles" is like an updated '50s style mad scientist B-movie. Larry Drake of "Darkman" fame plays Dr. Evan Rendell a sort of third rate Freddy Krueger who spouts off cheesy one liners at every opportunity.

Dr. Rendell escapes from the mental hospital that has been keeping him and goes back to the small town that killed his murderous Doctor father. Out for vengeance he hides out in his families abandoned old house. The story fills in all of the usual horror elements. We follow high school girl Jennifer, played by Holly Marie Combs, who has a faulty heart valve. Jennifer's mother died in the hospital with what was suppose to be a routine operation and now has had to deal with her evil step mother. Keeping with old horror clichés the first kids to feel the wrath of Dr. Giggles were the black characters. Although Officer Reitz the main cop hunting Giggles is black and he survives. Sex and drugs are also off limits it you intend on surviving.

Jennifer eventually becomes the main target of the Doctor and she must fight for her survival not only from him but from her own failing body. The horror films of the early 90s are all pretty bad. Coming off the magical decade that was the 80s, the genre seemed to have run out of gas, until Wes Craven brought it back from the brink with "Scream" in 1996. Although "Silence of the Lambs" is always referred to as a thriller or a drama. It was the best horror movie of that period.

"Dr. Giggles" is very 90's in its fashions, hair styles, and music. It hits every just about every know horror cliché, but is still a sort of cult classic for being so bad. It's cheesy and stupid but still strangely entertaining.

With its off the charts creep factor and brutal violence, the low budget 1980 slasher "Maniac" was an early classic in a decade of memorable horror films. What makes this film so utterly disturbing is the performance by Joe Spinell as Frank aka the Maniac. His homely look and doughy physique gives him a very relatable everyman kind of quality. He walks besides you on the street and is unnoticeable in a crowd, but he is completely and utterly insane.

Frank Zito lives in a small apartment with a bunch of female mannequins which he dresses up with his victims clothes. As a final touch he scalps his victims and nails the bloody matted hair to the bald mannequins. The creepiest element of the movie is its use of sound. We constantly hear Franks heavy breathing like some obscene phone call. His rambling thoughts are played as a voice-over on a number of scenes. You are literally in the mind of a killer.

Like a lot of movie madmen Frank has serious mommy issues. His mother was a prostitute who brought numerous men into there apartment to conduct her business. Frank was also beaten and abused as a child. When is mother dies suddenly in a car accident, it sends Frank over the edge into a madness he will never come back from. His victims are primarily prostitutes who he gleefully strangles and scalps. One day in the park he meets Anna, a fashion photographer, who shows and interest in him. He sees Ana as his one last shot at a normal life. He is a perfect charming gentleman around her, but how long can this last? Apparently not for long as he dispatches one of her models while she's taking a bath in her unlocked apartment. Talk about making it easy for him.

The special effects were done by the legendary Tom Savini who has the bizarre job of making his own head explode. He has a small acting part in the film credited as "Disco Boy" along with "Disco Girl" are making out in a parked car when the Maniac starts peeping. He eventually hops on to the hood and shoots him point blank in the face with a shotgun. Savini's head explodes in a gruesome slow motion scene that foreshadows a scene to come in Cronenberg's film "Scanners". Unable the control the crazy beast within Frank loses Anna and falls into a sort of death spiral.

"Maniac" is truly a carnival of insanity all the up to the gory end.

This German horror film from 2000 stars Franka Potente, the breakout star of the 1998 film "Run Lola Run". It answers the question how do they really get the bodies for those amazing Body Worlds Exhibits? Real human bodies injected with a plastic like substance leaving their muscles and vital organs on display in amazing detail.

Medical horror movies seem hit a nerve, so to speak, as they prey on primal fears that everyone can relate to. All the way back to the original Frankenstein, medical horrors have been a staple of the genre. The environments are cold and sterile with lots of stainless steel instruments from scalpels, saws, and drills. Putting you life in the hands of a possibly insane stranger, is their anything else more scary? Yes there is being operated on while still awake! Ahhhhh!

Paula is a bright med student who gets accepted to the prestigious Heidelberg Medical School who discovers the existence of a secret society. Heidelberg opens its new state of the art anatomy wing where the students have access to all the corpses they can handle. But when Paula recognizes a guy who ends up on her table she starts to investigate his death. She finds a mysterious tattoo on his ankle and a very unusual blood sample. It is found to have a sort of plastic polymer in it. Paula's investigations lead to a ancient secret society called the Anti-hippocratics. All doctors take a Hippocratic oath to help patients, but not this group. Their research is paramount as they use live people to practice on and learn from. Putting aside medical ethics for "the greater good".

Although this movie is pretty dark and disturbing, their are several moments of dark humor that lighten the mood a bit. The effects used are pretty awesome and the highlight of the movie. It does however suffer from a poor script and doesn't hold up to a reality check. "Anatomy" is and intense and graphic ride that is worth at least one watch. The Body Worlds exhibits that continue to travel around the world did originate in Germany but thankfully use willing donors.

The body modification sub culture is sort of the like the old time carnival freak show. People surgically mold, sculpt and pierce their way into something else but the person on the inside stays the same. The 2012 film "American Mary" features Katherine Isabelle, the breakout star of 2001's "Ginger Snaps", as a Med student who finds herself performing body mod surgeries that she finds out is quite good at.

Being a poor college student Mary Mason answer's a Craig's List style ad for a sleazy strip club owned by an even sleazier younger guy. During her "interview" something goes terribly wrong outside and Mary if offered $5,000 to do some impromptu surgery on some guy. She is freaked out but does it. Word gets around to the underground body mod culture and she is approached by some pretty strange characters to help them finish their work. Isabelle plays Mary perfectly, she is desperate enough too take these strange jobs, but is still grounded and very professional. She provides a desperately needed service to the extremely rich who believe she is an artist who works in the medium of skin.

She is first pursued by Beatrice who has transformed his/her body into Betty Boop. After completing a surgery on her for $10,000, her friend Ruby comes calling next. Rudy is transforming her body to look like an anatomically incorrect Barbie Doll and has a few things cut off and one thing sewn up. The film has a darkly comedic thread throughout. Ruby, Beatrice and the others are all portrayed as good people on the inside, but different on the out. While the exact opposite is true about the other so-called normal people.

Back at school Mary is invited to a swanky party thrown by one of the big shot surgeons, but she has unknowing just stepped into the lions den. She is drugged and raped by the surgeon, but little does he know the unique skills that Mary has recently acquired. Mary exacts swift and painful revenge upon the Doc. Making him her test subject for new procedures, keeping him alive and aware the whole time.

"American Mary" is full of interesting unique characters and well played throughout. It was written and directed by the Soska twins, Jen and Sylvia, who also play parts as customers to Mary. They bring a real sense of authenticity and care to the film, that would have been lost had it been done by anybody else.

Zach Braff from "Scrubs" fame brought this indie classic to the screen in 2004. He wrote, directed and starred in the critically acclaimed film about a man who returns home to New Jersey after a ten year absence to attend his mothers funeral.

Braff plays Andrew Largeman, a struggling actor living in L.A. whose only big part has been playing a retarded quarterback in a cheesy movie. His father is a psychiatrist who has been treating him for most of his life. Prescribing all kinds of meds that have put him into a fog, moving through his life as a sort of emotional zombie. His mother was a paraplegic and how she became that way is the event that has shaped Largeman's life. Upon returning home he meets up with people he knew in high school. Mark, played by Peter Sarsgaard, still lives at home. He digs graves and scams the local hardware store for money. Nothing changes in the old neighborhood. Everybody goes about their business and every once in awhile a guy like Andrew Largeman is able to escape and try to make something of his life. Although one guy in the neighborhood did made it big by inventing silent Velcro. Largeman is just as lost and messed up as everyone else.

Soon enough everything is about to change. While in a doctor's office waiting room Largeman meets Sam, played by Natalie Portman. An almost too perfect local girl who we find out has epilepsy. Their relationship builds over the course of the film to a satisfying but somewhat clichéd ending. "Garden State" has a great overall feeling to it. The characters a very real and down to earth. They feel like your own friends and are quite relatable. It's the timeless story of one man's journey to find his place in the world and to reconcile his past. Its about Largeman coming to grips with what his dad had put him through as a child and being able to move forward. It is the quintessential indie film with a great soundtrack that on awards in itself. Take the journey with Andrew Largeman and watch "Garden State" tonight!

It starts with a look and the unforgettable song the "The Blowers Daughter" provided by Damien Rice. Walking the busy streets of London two people lock eyes and make an instant connection only to have it end in near tragedy. Dan, played by Jude Law, is eyeing Alice, played by Natalie Portman, only to have their flirting session end when Alice is hit by a car. With only a few cuts and scrapes, Dan waits with her in the E.R. and they get to know one another. Alice is a former stripper who just moved to London from New York after a break up, while Dan is a struggling writer and journalist who currently writes obituaries.

"Closer" is Directed by legendary Mike Leigh and adapted from the play by Patrick Marber. Its the story of 4 characters that all get involved with each others and make each other rather miserable. Along with Dan and Alice we have Larry (Clive Owen) the dermatologist and Anna (Julia Roberts) the photographer. We jump ahead a little bit and Dan has completed his book and is getting his head shot taken by Anna. Although he's in a relationship with Alice, he can't help but fall in love with Anna. She is also into him but doesn't want to hurt Alice. Angered Dan sets up a prank that ends up backfiring on him. In a very funny scene that is probably taken straight from reality, Dan poses as Anna in sex chat room and strikes up quite the filthy conversation with Larry. Knowing that Anna will be at the Aquarium he set up Larry to meet her where another very funny and awkward scene takes place. Through that meeting Anna and Larry fall in love and eventually get married.

All of the characters get their fill of jealousy, anger and betrayal but Dan gets the worst of them all. He is tormented and played around with by all three. He is weak minded and easily manipulated. His lack of loyalty and pure jealousy costs him Alice not once but twice. Once he inadvertently introduces Anna and Larry he dooms his chances forever with her. Larry is the exact opposite, he is like a caveman with an overactive sex drive. He is smart and will stop at nothing to get what wants. Ana is a down to earth fine art portrait photographer who falls in love with both Dan and Larry and must make a choice, but it seems like it has already be made. Alice is a strong independent woman who is looking for a new start in London but after her first break up with Dan she goes back to her old ways. Alice is a mysterious character and the one we know the least about. Anna is jealous of how young and beautiful she is and this is probably why she is into Dan. Alice is many things, a tease, a flirt and a manipulator. After a bitter argument, Larry goes to a strip club where Alice is working. Since Larry is quite obsessed with her he pays for a private dance and she plays the part perfectly. "Lying is the funnest thing a girl can do with her clothes on" she says at one point. The story ends seemingly as it should almost like fate has intervened and told these characters what should happen next. We close with more "Blowers Daughter" and Alice? walking the streets of New York looking as beautiful and as confident as ever.

Cannibalistic humanoid underground dwellers or C.H.U.D's are the hideously deformed mutants living in the sewers of New York City. Although back in the eighties it wasn't that much better on the surface. Like many of the 80s horror movies I've reviewed this one has also become a cult classic. From its B-movie style monsters to its dirty and sleazy depiction of the big rotten apple.

George Cooper is a fashion photographer who lives with his girlfriend/model Lauren in a small apartment in the city. She gets pregnant and they have the should we or shouldn't we talk about weather to keep the baby. They give a very strong pro choice message and she chooses to keep the baby and that's all were ever hear about it. Professionally George is in kind of a rut and is looking to break out of it. He got his start in photography by documenting homeless people in the sewers. So he decides to revisit his roots and meets A.J. , played by Daniel Stern, a young and energetic soup kitchen owner. People have been disappearing and they set out to find answers. This movie made me think a lot about the Clive Barker story then movie "Midnight Meat Train" which has a similar plot involving a NYC photographer discovering horrifying people within the endless sewer tunnels. Although Barker's story is pretty hardcore and violent, while "C.H.U.D" has more of a comical side to it.

George and A.J. find out that the nefarious city employees have been storing nuclear waste in these tunnels until they can move it somewhere else. Its too late as it has started to change the sewer people into the C.H.U.D.'s who hunger for human flesh. When the C.H.U.D's start appearing on the surface the city they must be dealt with. The C.H.U.D's themselves look like guys in big slimy latex suits with glowing yellows eyes and are kept mostly in the shadows for obvious reasons.

With the NYPD now on the job we go inside a cafe and meet a couple of New York's finest eating breakfast with one of them being played by the yet to be famous John Goodman. The city plans to gas the sewer to kill off the C.H.U.D's but our heroes are still down there. Will they survive both the C.H.U.D's and the NYPD? This is a fun and schlocky movie from the 80s horror vault that is available for your viewing pleasure on Netflix watch instantly.