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Will Last House On The Left be better than the original? Is Terminator: Salvation the summer movie people are most looking forward to? Is anyone surprised by Dancing With The Stars enduring popularity? 411's Leonard Heyhurst and Larry Csonka debate these and other subjects in week 168 of 411 Fact or Fiction: Movies/TV!
Hello! Welcome back once again to the 411 column sure to set nerves on edge, Fact or Fiction!
This week marks the two-year anniversary of my taking over the column. Hooray, me! I'd like to thank everyone that has made this possible, from my higher-ups here at 411, to all the staffers that take part week to week. It's been a lot of fun to be sure, and I hope that all feel the same way.
To mark this momentous occasion, I managed to wrangle up a couple of big guns this week. Leonard Heyhurst, who was the man who hired me on to 411 in the first place, and Larry Csonka, 411 co-webmaster and a man you don't want to mess with. Let's see what they have to say for themselves…
1. You expect Last House On The Left will be better than the original.
Leonard Heyhurst: Fiction. It's rare that a remake is as effective as the original, especially in the horror genre. While the remake does look interesting from the trailers, going more for suspense than ‘torture porn.' However, in this case, the original was a very raw, very brutal horror film for the period. This actually looks like it might be a step back from that. Technically speaking, it probably will be a better movie, but it won't be as groundbreaking and won't develop as strong a cult following. This will be just another installment of trying to use a familiar name to make dough.
Larry Csonka: Fiction. Yeah, I am just burnt out on the whole remake, reboot, reimagining of shit lately. It seems like every other news post I make in movies is about a remake, reboot, reimagining of SOMETHING! Leonard hits the nail on the head. Technically and special effects wise, sure it likely be vastly be superior, but I cannot see it eclipsing the original.
Score: 1 for 1
2. While you think that NBC's new series Kings has an interesting premise, it won't be enough to get you to tune in.
Leonard Heyhurst: Fact. There's not a lot of current television I watch, unless it's on USA. Kings does look different from anything else on television right now and very creative. That right there will probably doom it to an early death. I don't NBC has done a great job in explaining the series, because I doubt many could tell you what it's about. If they can't do that, they won't want to watch it. It's sad that rarely the original survives the television landscape.
Larry Csonka: Fiction. I will agree with Leonard on a few things. I don't watch a ton of current TV, sure I have my shows, but for the most part I like to stick to my VDD collection of shows, which is always growing. I will also agree that it does look different that just about anything else currently on TV, and while that MAY doom it to an early grave, I will tune in. Sure it may suck, there's a good chance of it. But I am interested to see the modern day take on the monarchy that they have planned. I think that it will be clear after an episode or two if it will work or not. Actually I will likely have my opinion after the two-hour premiere. But there is enough to get me interested to check it out.
Score: 1 for 2
3. Terminator: Salvation is the summer movie you're most looking forward to seeing.
Leonard Heyhurst: Fiction. I'm looking forward to Inglorious Bastards, Star Trek and Public Enemies more. Terminator: Salvation does look exciting and a new turn in the Terminator series that might prop it up for another trilogy. Christian Bale's blow up on the set won't hurt it much, as the old saying goes any publicity is good publicity. Yet, I think this might be too loud and too reliant on special effects. Remember how low tech the first one was. True the second one was filled with cutting edge technology for the time, but it was integrated into the plot. Blowing up robots for the sake of blowing up robots does not a great movie make, see Transformers.
Larry Csonka: Fiction. Nothing against Terminator: Salvation, and I agree with Leonard again in that it looks interesting and will likely serve to begin a new trilogy of films. Hell I am looking forward to the movie and will actually go and see it when it comes out. But for me, the film I am looking forward to the most is the new Star Trek film. I am a self-admitted Trekkie. I own the movies, and I own almost all of the series on DVD as well. I don't have high hopes for the new version as much as I am interested to see how they work it. That has me interested and that is why I am looking forward to the film so much.
Score: 2 for 3
Switch!!!
4. You're still amazed and surprised by Dancing With The Stars enduring popularity.
Larry Csonka: Fiction. Not at all. While some may, the show offers a lot of things to many people. Fist of all you have the reality show buffs. While it isn't the Real World or Survivor, it is an interactive show that pulls people in and causes them to form an attachment, which makes them vote. Secondly you have people that like dancing. My mother in law loves the show and follows it like a religion, as do many friends her age. Thirdly they play to several demographics, like adding in sport stars. This gets ESPN and other outlets to cover the show, hence giving it more promotion and attention. That partially gets a guy like me interested. But what gets me and many others is the HUMILIATION factor. Who doesn't want to see someone that is or was famous make an ass out of themselves? So no, I am not amazed at all that the show is still popular.
Leonard Heyhurst: Fiction.I really have to agree with everything that Larry said. It's a show that engages and filters into the popular conscious on many different levels. If I can look into my crystal ball, I think we might be on the other side of the show's peak popularity. Looking at the cast list this year, there wasn't one person that piqued my interest. Even last year, I was intrigued by Ted McGinley, Susan Lucci and Cloris Leachman. They also seem to be falling into very specific categories with who they get. There's always a former NFL player anymore, a hot chick, someone they know who will be a train wreck. So, no, I'm not surprised by the popularity, but the ride won't last forever.
Score: 3 for 4
5. You would like to see a biopic of the pioneering rap group N.W.A.
Larry Csonka: Fact. As a musician, I usually am interested in bio films on popular musicians. Also, I really enjoy bio pieces overall. I love the biography channel and am always catching shows on there. And then you take a group like N.W.A with such a rise and fall story, and the interest level goes up. Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and Tomica Wright will all be a part of the production of the film. This will either prove for a very true telling of the story, or revisionist history, which is my only concern.
Leonard Heyhurst: Fact. I don't know a whole lot about this project. I do agree with Larry that having the members of the group and others close to the group involved could be a good or bad thing. Usually this leads to revisionist history, because people want to look good and some things are just too painful or embarrassing to reveal. The recent Notorious was cited to be pretty decent and interesting by reviewers, if not a cut above, and this will probably turn out the same way. To return to the original question, yes, I would be interested in seeing such a film due to the history, controversy and musical importance of the group.
Score: 4 for 5
6. You don't have high hopes that Race To Witch Mountain will be any good.
Larry Csonka: Fiction. For a few reasons. First of all I liked the old Witch Mountain films, they bring back some good memories of watching them with my mother. Secondly, sue me, I am a fan of The Rock Dwayne Johnson. While all of the movies he has been in haven't been great, I have personally enjoyed his performances, as he makes the best out of a bad situation when need be. I have checked out all of his movies, and the man just delivers good performances. And finally, to kind of go back to point number one, I am looking forward to checking this out with my daughter. She loves The Rock as well, The Gameplan is a HUGE hit with her, and when she saw the commercial for the film, she immediately wanted to see it because of him. It may not be a GREAT film, but I am sure it will be good and that Hana and I will have a good time watching it.
Leonard Heyhurst: Fiction.Once again, I have to agree with a lot of what Larry said. For what the movie is intended to be, and that is a fun family targeted action adventure film, it should be at least serviceable. Disney
always puts a technically good product together and Johnson always does his best no matter the project. He's instantly likable and charismatic and there is something about him that oddly children can relate to. I look for Witch Mountain to do well enough at the box office to launch a sequel and other similar movies with Johnson. Is an Apple Dumpling Gang not far off in the Rock's future?
Final Score: 5 for 6
Bonus Non Fact or Fiction Question: What is your favorite movie of all time?
Larry Csonka: TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE. This was a hard one. I am a huge fan of The Godfather, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and too many films to name to be honest with you. Since I work from home, I watch a ton of movies, some good and some bad. But recently, Hana wanted to watch Transformers, cartoon Transformers. So I introduced her to a film I hadn't seen in some time, TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE. Not only did numerous childhood memories come back to me, but sharing the experience with her was so great. You would have thought that this was the coolest thing to ever happen to her the way that she reacted to the movie. So while it may not be the greatest film of all time, it has become my favorite, again, just because Hana loves it so much. We now watch it at least once a week.
Leonard Heyhurst: My favorite all time movie is The Color of Money. The script is by my favorite screenwriter, Richard Price. His key assets are smart and specific dialogue, which really shines here. Every character speaks differently, but all with a unified feel of the "world" in which they inhabit. Phrases are turned in such a way that nearly every word out of Eddie's mouth is quotable. The mantra of the movie is said by him early on, "pool excellence is not about excellent pool." It's that type of simple logic that fills the movie and is the wit of Eddie's wisdom.
Paul Newman finally won an Oscar for reprising his role of Eddie Felson from The Hustler. A sympathy win or not, Newman underplays to a fantastic degree and conveys so much in body language and facial expression, even when you can't see his eyes behind rose-colored glasses. Newman's facial reactions when Vincent is trying to talk Julian into another game early on are priceless. One can see his amusement and the wheels in his mind turning.
This is one of Cruise's best performances as it plays up his natural qualities, namely being a smarmy dork who you know would be dangerous if he had a clue. Then at the end when he gets one, Cruise turns that twinkle in his eye and grin on his face to something almost scary. Cruise and Newman have nice chemistry between one another. Every film has a turning point and that chemistry really helps to set off the one here, which occurs where Eddie and Vincent are playing each other in the run down pool hall. The dialogue and direction are pitch perfect, but it's how Newman and Cruise deliver their lines and play off of each other that clues one into the fact that the film is about ready to take a shift. Eddie is starting to get the old feeling for the game back, while Vincent's natural cockiness and mean streak starts to creep through.
The cinematography is smooth as silk with a real snap and flow to it. Early in the film there's a shot of Vincent breaking a rack that zooms in slightly that has a seamless jump cut to a zoom on Eddie. It's timed so tightly with the sound and motion of the break that the two shots have such a flow into each other. That's just masterful workmanship. The film is constantly dark and smoky, but never dank and so black you can't see the backgrounds. There are lesser directors who have no idea how to light just right to get that clarity of visual while still obtaining the right mood. A lot of critics at the time thought that Martin Scorsese's direction was a little flat, but I think it works well and is one of his most understated efforts. He knows he has a strong script and actors and lets them stand alone while doing the little technical things that allows both elements to shine.
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