Do you know your breaking point? It might be tested in Straw Dogs. This a remake of 1971 British film of the same name which is based on a novel called The Siege of Trencher’s Farm. The remake is moved to the deep south of America to a town in Blackwater, Mississippi but the same class clashes occur. L.A. screenwriter David Sumner (James Marsden) and his small town wife Amy (Kate Bosworth) return to Amy’s “backwater” hometown and their relationship immediately gets shaken up by the locals and their traditional ways. They move back to fix up Amy’s late father’s barn and enjoy the simple peace and quiet so David can write his movie on Stalingrad, a major battle of World War II and a blunt foreshadow of what was to come.
The original Straw Dogs is remembered for its amazing climatic ending and the remake follows suit. The whole movie builds up the tension between all groups of characters and each character themselves. Every audience member has to sit through each tormented episode and painful scene as the problems with assimilating and acceptance keep escalating. David may foolishly try and fit in, but Charlie (Alexander Skarsgård) and his boys (Rhys Coiro, Billy Lush, Drew Powell) aren’t having it. Amy gets aggravated with David doing too little or not what she expects. And there’s a subplot with the mentally retarded town idiot, Jeremy (Dominic Purcell) and town drunk Tom (James Woods) aka Coach. You know that straw is going to break at any moment. Watching all these character’s interactions is a treat as their shot extremely well – most noticeably, the menacing look of Rhys Coiro.
Rhys Coiro is looking at me ;x
The acting was great from all ends. I really liked the visible confusion of Charlie when he gets his way but doesn’t get his way. The same goes for the transformation of David who “doesn’t need a lesson on how to be a man.” James Woods is a scary drunk who can flip on you at any instant and his subplot counterpart Dominic Purcell is somewhat emotionally void in his curious and blank stares until he realizes he’s done something wrong. I bet you could watch the movie on mute and still understand everything that was going on based on the character’s acting. Kate Bosworth is incredibly sexy and you can understand what the whole fuss is over with her ex Charlie and the local men of town.
David Sumner (James Marsden) and his wife Amy (Kate Bosworth) in Straw Dogs
The writer/director, Rod Lurie, makes sure every audience member reaches their breaking point in Straw Dogs. There will be a moment in the film where you just can’t take it anymore. May that be you’re fed up with the film, fed up with the characters or fed up with the scenario. It doesn’t matter, you’re not going to like the feeling – but there is a feeling which means Lurie did his job…and quite well. The movie reminded me way too much of I Spit On Your Grave which had almost the same exact premise sans the husband and eventual siege. But still, you get the sweet sweet revenge in the end and the whole audience will have a collective gasp and say “OHHHHHHHH!” If you’ve seen the original, you kind of know what’s coming, if not, you’re in for a surprise. I liked the remake and if you can deal with reaching your breaking point, you may too.
We didn’t get a holiday movie for Christmas this year, but now we get one for Easter. Hop is an overload of cute, adorable, and feel good goodness. Following E.B., a privileged bunny who is next in line to become the Easter Bunny, Hop is about following your dreams, being selfless, and pooping jelly beans. It’s a wonderful movie for kids and if you aren’t a kid, it’ll turn you into one for 90 minutes. There’s nothing fantastic about Hop, but all together it’s a great little movie that will leave you with a metaphorical cavity. So sweet.
With such an amazing cast including some of today’s best comedians, how could this comedy turn out so shitty? (pun intended) Death at a Funeral goes for the quirky everything that can go wrong does go wrong feel but ends up with a plain old movie that’s as stiff as the body in the casket they’re having the funeral for. Chris Rock, playing Aaron, has been living with and supporting his father, mother (Loretta Devine), and wife (Regina Hall) who is trying to get pregnant. Martin Lawrence is Aaron ‘s younger and much more successful brother Ryan who everyone adores…except, of course, Aaron. Joined by the rest of his family, Aaron tries to hold a service for his late father but one thing leads to another and you’re supposed to laugh.
