3D’s Need to See: Heist Edition
My movie recommendation for you this week is the 2001 heist film titled, accurately enough, “Heist.” I’m a fan of heist films in general (you may notice me highlighting more of them in the coming weeks), and this one caught my eye because of its excellent cast, which includes Gene Hackman, Delroy Lindo, Danny DeVito, and Sam Rockwell.
The film revolves around a band of thieves, led by Hackman, who are forced by a gangster (played by DeVito) to perform a gold heist. Of course, if you know anything about heist films, you know that the plot is less important than how the heist is executed and the twists and turns that ensue.
It’s important to tell you that this film is written and directed by David Mamet. This is both a blessing and a curse. If you like Mamet and his trademark style of telling a story (not to mention his extremely distinctive dialogue), then you will like this movie a lot. If you aren’t the biggest Mamet fan, then this movie will start to irritate with its twists and turns.
For me, it was enough to see these great actors in a heist film. Also, I have a special liking for Ricky Jay (who makes one of his frequent appearances in Mamet’s films here) because of his expertise as a historian of magic and sleight of hand artist. So, if you like heist films and have never seen this one, why not give “Heist” a try?
—3D
3D’s Need to See: Halloween Edition
Well, it’s Halloween, so I have to get serious with my horror movie recommendation for today. No more horror/comedies or camp cult films. No, today’s recommendation is one of the bleakest and darkest films I’ve seen in a while. Fittingly, it is called “30 Days of Night.”
Based on a graphic novel (emphasis on graphic), this is a movie that takes vampires to one of their goriest and scariest incarnations. In other words, don’t you dare watch it if you like the vampires in “Twilight.” There is nothing sparkly or romantic about the bad guys in this film.
The movie is set in a small town in Alaska that is going through 30 days of darkness because of the time of year. Mostly, I like this film because of the setting. Not only is it interesting to see vampires in the snow, but this film eliminates the out of daylight. In most vampire films, you just have to make it till the sun comes up, but in this film, that is a very, very long time.
If you like dark, gory films and haven’t given this one a chance, then you need to see “30 Days of Night.”
Happy Halloween!
From 3D
3D’s Wednesday Video Spotlight: Episode 19
Well, loyal readers, this is it. This is the last episode of “Red vs. Blue: Recreation.” I’m sure there will be a mini-series or something to get us through the long winter months until the next Rooster Teeth series. If so, I will try to keep you posted here.
The DVD of this series is now available to order from Rooster Teeth and the “RT Shorts” that I have been posting here are also getting their own DVD. Rooster Teeth releases are always packed with special features, so I’m sure they will be a good deal for those of you who are interested.
Please enjoy, but watch out for flying obscenities.
—3D
3D’s Need to See: Behind the Mask Edition
Well, it’s another horror movie recommendation for you this weekend, but this one is just a little different. It falls squarely into the category of horror-comedies. And believe me, “Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon” is one of the funniest slasher movies I’ve ever seen.
It tells the story of an aspiring serial killer, his mentor, the plan he has to perpetrate a horror movie type massacre, and, of course, the documentary crew that is following his attempts. Yes, you read that correctly. “Behind the Mask” is a satire of slasher movies, and it is told through the conceit of a documentarian following the main character as he stalks and later attempts to kill his chosen prey.
Once you buy into the movie’s premise, it is endlessly clever as it sends up the various cliches of the horror genre. It even includes horror legend Robert Englund (a.k.a. Freddy) as the “Ahab” to the titular Leslie Vernon. (Want to know what an “Ahab” is? Watch the film. It’s just one of the helpful horror movie terms defined for you.)
So, if y0u’re in the mood for a slasher movie, but you’re tired of the same old predictable stuff, why not try a different kind of movie. A movie that will explain to you just exactly why the handle of the ax the heroine is swinging at the killer ALWAYS breaks or why on earth the foolish young teenagers will think they can hide in the barn. If you want to know the answers, you need to see “Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon.”
—3D
3D’s Wednesday Video Spotlight: Chapter 18
It’s time once again for your weekly Rooster Teeth videos. There’s a new “RT Short” this week, along with a new chapter of “Red vs. Blue: Recreation.” Please enjoy with caution.
—3D
New Releases for October 20, 2009
Hey loyal readers. 3D is here to update you on the new releases in DVD, CD, and Books this week. The “Transformers” sequel is sure to do big business this week in DVDs. Country star Tim McGraw has a new CD out, and in books, Patricia Cornwell has a new book in her long-running Scarpetta series.
Here are the new releases by format:
Dvds:
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”
“Cheri”
“Numbers: The Complete Fifth Season”
“Blood: The Last Vampire”
“Fawlty Towers: The Complete Collection Remastered”
“It’s Garry Shandling’s Show: The Complete Series”
CDs:
“Southern Voice” by Tim McGraw
“Natural Forces” by Lyle Lovett
“I Told You I Was Freaky” by Flight of the Conchords
“A Mediterranean Odyssey” by Loreena McKennitt
“The Long Way Home” by Terri Clark
“Liebe Ist FurAlle Da (Dix)” by Rammstein
Books:
“Too Big To Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System—And Themselves” by Andrew Ross Sorkin
“The Scarpetta Factor” by Patricia Cornwell
“SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance” by Levitt and Dubner
“What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures” by Malcolm Gladwell
“Knockout: Interviews with Doctors Who Are Curing Cancers—And How to Prevent Getting It in the First Place” by Suzanne Somers
—3D
3D’s Need to See: Big Bad Edition
Hey there loyal readers. This week I’m continuing my horror movie recommendations for the month of October. As I stated last week, I’m trying to suggest some stuff that you might not have seen or heard of (as an alternative to the many great horror movies you’ve seen tons of times already).
My movie recommendation this week is the 2006 film “Big Bad Wolf,” and it will not be for everyone. For one thing, it is definitely adult viewing so don’t let the kids see it. For another, serious horror buffs may not respond to the campy tones of the film, but for me they made the film great fun.
This movie starts with your typical horror setup as a group of teenagers become trapped in a cabin in the woods and are picked off one by one by a werewolf. However, this situation lasts for less than half an hour, and from that point on the film develops into something else entirely. Oh yeah, and did I mention that the werewolf talks? (Yes, while in wolf form.) Thus, the camp factor.
Even if you don’t enjoy it, you have to admit that the filmmakers took some bold and unexpected risks with this film. I would recommend it for that alone. I love a good horror movie (and a bad one and a mediocre one…), but it does get tiring to see the same thing over and over. So, anytime someone tries to shake things up, I’m all for it. That’s why I say, if you’re into this sort of thing, you might want to give “Big Bad Wolf” a try.
—3D
3D’s Wednesday Video Spotlight: Chapter 17
3D is back once more for your weekly dose of Rooster Teeth madness. This week brings chapter 17 of “Red vs. Blue: Recreation,” which I believe should be wrapping up soon. So enjoy the comedy insanity while you can.
—3D
3D’s Need to See: Desperation Edition
Hello loyal readers. 3D is back for your weekly movie recommendation. Since it’s October, I thought I’d do horror movies for you until the end of the month. However, these will not be famous, popular horror movies. Nobody needs to be told how awesome those are. Instead, I’ll be recommending some stuff that you might not have heard of or given a chance.
I’ll start out with something at least a little familiar this week: an adaptation of a Stephen King book. “Desperation” was done for TV back in 2006, so if you’re worried about gore, you shouldn’t be. It is more of a spooky, psychological film.
I will admit the film is uneven and has some problems; however, I highly recommend it and I can tell you why in two words: Ron Perlman. I’m a Perlman fan in general, and he gives an inspired performance in this film. (On a side note, he’s also quite funny in the commentary track commenting on why so many of his roles require his face be covered in prothestics.)
In fact, the big problem with the film comes when his character in no longer on screen. Even then, you have the likes of Tom Skerritt and Charles Durning to carry the rest of the film. So, if you’re bored with all the horror movies you’ve seen over and over, why not give something new a try. I promise Perlman at least will not disappoint
—3D
3D’s What to Do in Oklahoma: Rifftrax Edition
Hey loyal readers. 3D here with a recommendation for your evening’s entertainment. The “Rifftrax Live!” event that was screened in Oklahoma several weeks ago is being rebroadcast in theaters across the state again tonight at 7:30. For theater and ticket info, please click here.
Here’s the press release:
Who knew that the worst movie ever made would be so popular! The original evening of live riffing captured on August 20th will be rebroadcast to movie theaters nationwide for one night only. Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy (Tom Servo) and Bill Corbett (Crow T. Robot), now of RiffTrax.com, are even better on the big screen!This event is hosted by Veronica Belmont, the Host of Tekzilla on Revision3 and Qore on the PlayStation Network, with Musical Guest Jonathan Coulton—singer-songwriter and internet superstar—and a special segment by Rich “Lowtax” Kyanka of Something Awful. To find out more about RiffTrax, visit www.RiffTrax.com.
This encore event will feature the new short, Flying Stewardess, and non-stop hilarious riffing on a COLOR version of “Plan 9 from Outer Space”- a 1959 science fiction/horror film written, produced and directed by Edward D. Wood Jr. Don’t miss your last chance for an exciting evening of riffing, zombies, aliens, cheesy performances, wisecracks, laughable special effects and more!
Everyone Loves (More) Free Stuff …
All event attendees will receive FREE exclusive digital goodies including the Flying Stewardess downloadable short, an autographed digital photo of the guys, three songs by the RiffTones and an animated short of the failed Plans 1-8! A URL and code will be revealed on-screen at the end of the encore event.
—3D
