fairbrother’s Film Reviews

201 Films have been rated or reviewed by fairbrother.

Glengarry Glen Ross (1992): Mamet\'s bleak, bitterly funny tale of life at the bottom of the capitalist paradigm only gets better with repeat viewings. The entire cast are in WOW–mode, but Lemmon emerges the unforgettable stand–out as an all–time classic chump.
Splice (2009): The Frankenstein story cries out for cloning–era treatment... All the ideas are here, but there\'s a whiff of cheese throughout, and the film can\'t decide whether its sincere or tongue–in–cheek; as a result its never truly scary or thought–provoking.; DVD ~~$19.95~~ $14.95
Wisconsin Death Trip (1999): An American Gothic oddity; subject matter ranging from the absurd to the abominable is exquistely filmed for mood rather than narrative, and it plays, and lingers, like a dream (or a history class co–taught by Nick Cave and Garrison Keillor... seriously).
Gridlock'd (1996): Strong leads and humane script give it freshness amongst the drug–streetlife genre: unexpectedly poignant and funny (the duo's "stabbing" scene is hilarious), it may not fully satisfy... but it does linger with you long after.
Little Shop of Horrors (1986): It shouldn't work... but Oz finds a perfect kitsch–harmony to hold the story's humour and heart (and minimal "horror") together. Great fun. Moranis and Greene are terrific; the "Skid Row" number one of my all–time favourite musical sequences.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The (2003): A bit more effective than successive Hollywood horror–remakes, but still essentially redundant: flashy rather than stylish, unpleasant rather than unnerving. A spectacular wet T–shirt scene for Biel fans... anyone else should hire the original instead.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The (1974): There are few films which more aptly define the term "horror movie": gritty atmosphere permeates both the comic–humour and escalating hysteria throughout. A lo–fi marvel, a cinematic icon, and still a nerve–shredding rollercoaster ride.
Shutter Island (2010): Wilfully berserk in style (mashing pulp and gothic cliches with flambouyant indulgence), yet sadly pedestrian in content. Highly–polished and not without entertainment value, but too long and predictable to truly thrill.
Dave Chappelle's Block Party (2005): Irresistible fun. Dave is in good, loose form all the way; the music is, to quote the 'Kast, spottieottiedopalicious (um, "very good"); the energy they generate amongst the crowd is positively infectuous. A feel–good flick without the pap.
Lost, The (2005): Left me cold and shaking. Sivertson (chanelling Lynch) conjures mood and tension with dreamy sound and image, yet his characters remain rooted in dirty, banal "reality." That the ending is a foregone conclusion is precisely what makes it so disturbing.

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fairbrother’s Film Reviews