Instant Reaction: In a World... (2013)

In a world where comedy is becoming uninspired and derivative, a new hero has arrived to breathe life into the genre. Her name is Lake Bell...

Hopefully you added appropriate emphasis and pauses while you read that. 

Ok, let me explain my cheesy intro. In a World… is a comedy with a rather unique concept, one that’s sure to please film buffs: Since the death of voice-over legend Don LaFontaine, the cliché words “in a world” have never been uttered during the opening of a film trailer. But a new wind is about to blow. It seems Hollywood is ready to revive the phrase which, as we’re told, is an extremely big deal for anyone who sweet talks a mic for a living. Every hilariously egotistical voice actor in the business dreams of a chance to fill the shoes of the late LaFontaine -- and if not, at least this is a fresh idea for a comedy.

In a World… is unexpectedly original and super charming, putting the talents of auteur writer/director/star Lake Bell on display in glorious fashion. If this is a sign of what’s to come for Bell, we may finally live in a world where someone other than Wes Anderson has the exclusive rights to make quirky comedies for hipsters. But only time can tell us for sure.

Directed by: Lake Bell
Starring: Lake Bell, Fred Melamed, and Demetri Martin

Movie Review: All is Lost (2013)

I’m known for liking experimental films that sacrifice entertainment value in order to explore something interesting. I knew what I was getting into when I sat down to watch All is Lost, a film featuring Robert Redford trapped on a sinking boat. I expected to see largely only Redford on screen for the entire film, and I even expected some stretches to be uneventful. But what I didn’t expect was that I would be bored to death for the entire duration, only to have the film conclude itself in the worst way imaginable.

Movie Review: American Hustle (2013)

There’s something glorious about the chaos of American Hustle, a comedy-crime drama that’s both hard to watch and unbelievably compelling at the same time. Director David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook, The Fighter) has crafted one of the most fiercely entertaining films of the year; it’s both intense and downright hilarious from beginning to end, taking pride in its ability to create memorable moments, scene after scene. 

The energy level that Russell is able to maintain on screen is astonishing. American Hustle takes you on a ride and doesn’t let go, keeping you drawn in through all its insane twists and turns. I was never sure how I should react to what I was seeing, but I think that’s the point. The movie teases the audience, compelling you to laugh or empathize with its characters, only to tear away your fleeting reaction in the next frame. It’s as if Russell is scolding us for attempting to feel anything deeper than what’s presented. Every serious moment is followed with something comical; every moment of humor is wrapped in a layer of depression, and that’s just how it’s supposed to be. This is a film that lives in the moment. 

Movie Review: Shadow People (2013)

 

I’ve experienced night terrors, episodes of sleep paralysis, and other sleep disturbances for most of my life. As I’ve gotten older, I don’t worry about them too much; however, the science behind dreams still fascinates me. It’s the types of nightmares I would sometimes experience -- images of shadowy figures that enter my room at night -- that are the subject of Shadow People, a low-budget horror film that delivers more confusion than scares. A great effort was made by the marketing team to make you think this movie is real, but without an effective payoff, the docu-fiction approach of the film fails to hit the mark – in fact, it comes nowhere close.