To say Roulette is dark film would be an understatement. The film holds nothing back as it shows the story of how three different individuals all arrive at the same place, rock bottom. Director Erik Kristopher Myers first began to create buzz with his script Smilers, but with studio’s not willing to take a chance on the inexperienced director, he decided to take on a new project to develop and promote his abilities. Roulette came along and using independent financing he was able to get the project created on a shoe string budget. The production value suffers, but it does make the film feel very authentic and sincere. By segregating the movie into three separates character portions, he allows the film to move at a brisk pace while keeping important items connected around the idea of suicide and what drives humans towards these self destructive actions. Roulette is far from a perfect film, but given the circumstances it is a very impressive achievement.

Dean, Richard, and Sunshine meet at a group therapy sessions for people with a history of suicide attempts. As the group comes together to find the strength to resist, the three decide they might need a smaller group to find the strength to go through with it. Secluded at Dean’s house the three bring out a bottle of booze and a gun and begin to question each other as to why they are there through a game of Russian Roulette.

Dean was fresh off a successful marriage proposal and recently had purchased a dream home when a mysterious disease because to impact all facets of his life. Richard is an unhappy corporate drone that has recently been passed over for a promotion. He turns to drinking to cope and it soon begins to destroy his work life and his relationship with his wife. Sunshine comes from an ultra-religious family that causes her to be questioning of her blossoming relationship with an artist. An unplanned pregnancy causes everything to quickly unravel as her personal beliefs become deeply conflicted. As the story of how there lives fell apart becomes more serious so does the game of Russian Roulette.

Roullete‘s takes three fairly straight forward predictable tales of depression and blends them together well, creating real connections with the characters while maintaining a mysterious overtone throughout. The pacing of the film is superb and really allows the director to tease the viewer with only pieces of the story to keep the suspense at a high level. The low production value is not over-whelming and for the most part it does not take away from the film experience. The acting is uneven, Mike Baldwin does a nice job as Dean, appearing to be the most assertive and in control of the three characters. But Will Haza and Ali Lukowski seem to struggle at times to transition properly. There characters emotional development seems jagged and as the scenes become more intense it becomes more prominent. Will Haza has a tough assignment as Richard is the loudest and most pathetic of the three characters. Ali Lukowski as Sunshine was probably my least favorite story-line, it felt too cliche and the conclusion to her story was extremely disturbing and could have been handled with a little more subtlety.

Roulette is a tough film. It is a great idea, well executed, but can be overwhelming at times. The constant feelings of depression and hard realities in this film make for an intense experience. It is easy to see why there is so much interest in Erik Kristopher Myers work, he clearly has a lot of talent as a director and storyteller. Roulette is a clever independent film that delivers despite the limitations.

Watch the trailer for Roulette:

Everyone has that friend. The guy that’s always too loud, too drunk, makes fun situations better, makes serious ones unbearable, and is strangely predictable in their obnoxious behavior. Lumpy (Tyler Labine) is that guy. After causing a sad, drunken scene as the best man at Scott (Justin Long) and Kristin’s (Jess Weixler) wedding Lumpy drunkenly wanders into the desert and dies from a head wound he received while…well, drunk. But is there more to the story? For all of Lumpy’s shortcomings, he is a decent guy trying to put his life together, and it takes a tragedy for his best friend Scott to see the big picture with his hard-partying friend. Best Man Down mashes a bunch of genre’s together to come up with a funny, entertaining, and surprisingly emotionally touching film.

The tragedy of Lumpy’s death not only casts a dark shadow over Scott and Kristin’s wedding, but it also forces them to cancel their upcoming honeymoon as Scott feels it is his duty to make sure his friend is properly buried. Both Scott and Kristin essentially write off Lumpy as a down on his luck loser that while a loyal friend, will never really amount to anything meaningful. As they head home to Minnesota to plan the funeral it becomes very clear that Scott does not know his alleged best friend as well as he thought. A mysterious number on Lumpy’s phone leads the new couple to Ramsey, a distant teenager growing up in a dysfunctional home. Scott and Kristin assume the worst but soon discover Lumpy and Ramsey have developed an innocent meaningful friendship, and that Lumpy was truly trying help create a better life for this young woman.

The acting in Best Man Down is one of the strongest qualities found in the film. Justin Long shows nice range as the level-headed Scott, trying to do what he thinks is right for his friend. Tyler Labine is a blast to watch on the screen. He is energetic and fun as you would expect from the role, but shows a lot of emotional depth during several powerful scenes between Lumpy and Ramsey. The real star of the movie is Addison Timlin as the 15-year-old Ramsey. She conveys a lot of maturity and has a very natural chemistry with the older actors. While the title is Best Man Down, her screen presence really leaves you feeling that she truly was the main character of this story.

Ted Koland crafts a clever script that takes a really simple story and lets it naturally unfold. The film has some nice bright funny spots that help keep things in perspective when dealing with the darker, more dramatic tones of the film. Some sub-plots are unnecessary and sort of bog down the script at times. A needless addiction issue with Kristin is hinted at throughout the movie but then is too quickly resolved. Some of the characters in Best Man Down felt contrived and under-developed. I wish the script had spent more time focusing on Lumpy, especially his interactions with Ramsey. Both of those characters were wildly entertaining and could have helped bring more understanding to their fragile relationship.

Best Mad Down is a solid first film from writer/director Ted Koland. The script wanders a bit, but it still packs an emotional punch. The Minnesota scenery is a nice touch as every character shivers the second they get outside, which many people from the area can relate to. If anything this movie will help bring awareness to the misunderstood sub-culture of fat, hairy, loud, drunk guys.

Best Mad Down trailer:

Jeff Nichols’ latest film is now finally hitting the theaters after nearly a full year since its warm receptive premiere at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. Mud centers on two teenage boys who end up befriending a fugitive that is looking to dodge the men who are out looking for him. Nichols elects to bring back the lead from his previous thriller (Take Shelter) Michael Shannon, but gives him a much smaller role in this film. The lead in Mud is given to Matthew McConaughey, who has been on an amazing ride of films as of late, and dominates the screen the moment he appears. This film just solidifies the fact that Jeff Nichols is a director to keep an eye out for in the future.

Mud (Matthew McConaughey) just can’t seem to catch a break. Just as he is getting settled into his new home in a boat that is stuck in a tree, the appropriately named Mud’s world is invaded by two young boys. The developing friendship is less than ideal, but both groups are sincere and honest with each other, and both have much to learn from the situation. Jeff Nichols finds a nice niche yet again with his original take on the coming of age story. Mud pulls many elements together nicely to mark a solid third film for the young director.

Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) are young, poor, and best friends. The spend most of their free time working odd jobs with family members and dreaming of an easier life. They live on a river in the backwoods of Arkansas and despite their outcast appearance are intelligent and well meaning. While exploring one day, they stumble across Mud, a dirty, mysterious figure living in an unusual circumstance. The two groups decide to form a loose business relationship and the boys soon learn there might be a more dangerous side to their new friend.

Mud‘s screenplay blends a lot of nice dramatic elements and, despite some slow pacing, really hooks the viewer in. The acting is phenomenal on a lot of levels. Matthew McConaughey takes over the film the second he appears on screen. Mud looks like a cartoon character, but is portrayed with a nice subtlety that makes the audience instantly finds themselves sympathetic to his cause. He has made mistakes, but deep down is a good man. The two young friends are portrayed well, they are well meaning, but generally don’t understand the world around them. Their relationship with Mud becomes the most straight forward aspect of their life as they struggle through the tough life lessons of adolescence.

Mud suffers from uneven pacing and while the climax is thrilling and well executed, the final few minutes seem out of place compared with the themes and mood of the rest of the film. Despite some flaws, Mud is a clever film that really hits on a lot of positive notes. Jeff Nichols is steadily developing his craft, and definitely looks to be a big time director in the near future.

Oscar Nominated Animation Shorts Reviews

Adam and Dog
Adam and Dog tells the story of the blossoming relationship between a dog and a Neanderthal that hits a speed bump when the Neanderthal gets a girlfriend. This was probably the most ambitious of the shorts and while beautifully designed, the story fell flat and at 16 minutes long, felt too slow at times.

Adam and Dog

Fresh Guacamole
Fresh Guacamole offers intriguing insight into the lost innocence of a generation disillusioned with a callous society the defines success with capitalistic ideals…just kidding. This two minute short involved a man making guacamole using ingredients that morphed into quirky toys and objects. It was fun and thoroughly entertaining and the animation was incredibly life-like.

Fresh Guacamole

Head Over Heels
Head Over Heels is about an aging the couple that live in a strange house. The relationship has fallen apart so drastically that the husband now lives on the ceiling, while the wife remains on the floor, and they barely interact. Short story short, it is about the rediscovery of their love, back when they were “head over heels” for each other. I felt this was the best concept of all the animated shorts, and it was very funny as the old couples routines were very cute (think Up but add a woman). This was my second favorite of the shorts, and if Paperman hadn’t been so good, this would have been my pick for the Oscar.

Head Over Heels

The Longest Daycare
The Longest Daycare shows Maggie Simpson being dropped off at an Objectivist daycare, and then spending the rest of her day trying to save her new pet caterpillar. The Simpsons, as usual, seamlessly blend intelligent jokes with simple cartoon comedy and create a fast paced, entertaining, but largely forgettable short film.

The Longest Daycare

Paperman
Paperman tells the tale of a chance encounter at a train station that leaves a man desperately trying to reconnect with the women who caught his eye. When his attempts flounder, fate itself decides to ensure they meet again. It’s truly amazing how Disney can create instantly charming characters, the guy and girl seem relatable and you truly root for them to meet throughout the film. This animated short executes on all levels, it was funny, endearing, and whimsical.

Paperman

What will win

Paperman is the clear front-runner this year and for good reason. The other nominates such as Head Over Heels had more depth and stronger concepts, but Paperman plays it mostly safe with excellent execution.

What should win

Paperman

Stagecoach is an old-school movie in every sense of the word. The characters are stripped down, traditional, Western stereotypes. The plot is a straight-forward race through hostile territory, with drunk doctors, a pregnant woman, a dubious banker, and, oh yeah, a shoot-out at the end. It was John Ford’s first Western using sound, John Wayne’s first highly acclaimed role, and the first Western shot in beautiful Monument Valley, Utah, and all of these elements truly elevated this film to a true classic.

The film begins with a stagecoach, naturally, about to depart through the Wild West, with Geronimo leading aggressive Indian attacks against white settlers in the area. The travelers include, a pregnant army wife trying to reach her husband, a banker who just stole $50,000 from his own bank, a drunk doctor, a whiskey salesman, a Marshall, a prostitute, a southern civil war vet, and of course the legendary local cowboy, the Ringo Kid. As the going gets tough, the characters start to come together and get on each other’s nerves at the same time. With all of the building tension surrounding each character and the ever present threat of an Indian attack, once they reach their destination, the Ringo Kid aims to settle a score with a trio of brothers who killed his father and brother.

Stagecoach is a truly entertaining film, with many memorable characters, and scenery. John Wayne steals every scene he is in, and his entrance is legendary in every way. The incredible, sweeping landscapes are contrasted nicely by the confined stagecoach. Despite all of the wide open space, the characters are forced to stay close to each other, for better or worse. The film really has good balance, each character is important and developed, there is great pacing between the action and the buildup, and there is even a hint of romance that really seems natural.

Stagecoach is one of the most definitive Western films of all time, from which all other Westerns borrow or flat out copy. Despite the fact the film was made over 70 years ago, it is still an exciting, thrilling movie that any film fan could still enjoy. This film is where it all begins, and a must see for any Western fan. The only reason this movie doesn’t get a 10 from me, is it’s just not as good the true Western elites such as The Searchers or The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

Prometheus is an ambitious, entertaining film from Ridley Scott that ultimately falls flat due to an overextended plot that becomes convoluted in the second half of the film. The film is set in the same universe as Alien (1979), which Scott also directed, and contains many similarities (female lead, untrustworthy androids) but is more of a stand-alone film than a direct prequel. With expectations sky-high due to an intense trailer and Ridley Scott’s track record with science-fiction, Prometheus aimed to reach those expectations with a philosophical story that has potential, but is marred by an incomplete story, and uneven pacing.

Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) are archeologists that have recently concluded that a variety of different cave drawing portraying humans worshipping God-like figures pointing to the stars is a map to the home planet of some sort of alien race. Enter the dubious corporation of Weyland Enterprises to fund the voyage to the mysterious planet under questionable premises.

Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron) is the corporate stooge who questions the point of the mission. It’s hard to describe too much more of the plot without giving anything away, but there are several plot twists (some interesting, some not) and, believe it or not, there are in fact aliens on this planet.

The main problem with Prometheus is that it tried to do too much on too many levels. It tries to tow the line of an entertaining thriller while still being taken seriously as an exploration of the deeper questions of life. Many pivotal scenes feel rushed and several plot points are unresolved in order to bring the film running time in at a marketable two hours.

Characters drift in and out, and there is no real connection. Michael Fassbender gives an excellent, interesting portrayal of David the android, but most of the other actors didn’t really get a chance to flesh out their characters. The existential parts of the plot, while interesting, seem forced and unsatisfying, it just never reaches that point where the film really drives home an interesting, original concept.

Prometheus is a good film, and definitely worth a watch if you are any sort of a science fiction fan. It does not meet the lofty expectations but still brings enough of the table to leave the viewer thinking about the film afterwards. I am really hoping there is an extended Directors Cut that possibly develops out the plot and characters a little more completely, but until that happens, this film gets a mediocre review.

Disclaimer: I am a huge Ridley Scott fan, and my expectations were through the roof for this film.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is a very complex Western that pits a traditional gun-slinging setting with a reformist mindset and the resulting tensions are intriguing and exciting. The movie stars two of the biggest stars ever, Wayne and Stewart, as conflicting protagonists with different views of how to handle a ruthless outlaw. The depth of the main characters immensely adds to the drama as the plot builds to a satisfying finish.

The film starts out with an aging senator from Washington returning to a small town in the West to pay respects to a deceased friend. The town’s newspaper editor is dumbfounded as to why a big wig from Congress would travel so far to attend the funeral of an unremarkable rancher. The story of how the two men met is told through flashbacks set nearly 30 years ago in the same small town.

Jimmy Stewart is Ransom Stoddard, the future senator, and freshly graduated law student bent on opening a small practice in the fairly lawless town of Shinbone. His stagecoach is robbed by the ruthless Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin) who operates with impunity as the local sheriff is a fat, drunk man who is visibly scared of Valance. Ransom wants to bring the man to justice, but local ranch hand (John Wayne), the local hero, knows the only way to deal with a man like Valance is with a gun. The two man battle ideologies, Liberty Valance, and for the heart of a local women (Vera Miles).

The film is all about contrast. Jimmy Stewart is a small, intelligent, well-spoken lawyer from the East. John Wayne is a large, respected, local cowboy. The townsfolk respect both men in very different ways. One represents the changes of a modernizing, growing Western town, while the other symbolizes the traditional, independent, cowboy way of the old Wild West. The ideal of law enforcement, the town sheriff, is a travesty of authority, easily manipulated and scared. Even the title is a contrast, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance seems like a straight-forward spoiler title, but even that is called into question as the plot twists and turns, as each man becomes more polarized.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is the kind of intelligent Western that can really draw in a viewer and is an excellent choice for a movie fan looking to start enjoying Western films. Great acting and direction sets an entertaining pace which makes it easy to see why this movie is considered a classic.

Stars and Satellites is the sixth album from the Duluth based bluegrass band Trampled by Turtles. The band has spent years fusing bluegrass with elements of country, folk, and a unique style of acoustic speed metal. Trampled by Turtles’ live show has garnered quite the reputation of being an intensely, entertaining show at dive-bars, music festivals and everything in between. Their latest CD marks a great step forward in song writing as their newest material takes the band to great emotional depths and introduces their most intricately written songs yet.

The most recognizable song is the epic “Alone” which starts slowly, with a brooding, deliberate start that explodes into a passionate, heartfelt finish dealing with loneliness of heartbreak and life on the road. “Risk” is a fun, energetic musical piece that really showcases the talents of banjoist Dave Carroll. The band plays exceptionally well, using the mandolin and violin to really bring depth and tone to the slower songs like “High Water“ and “Beautiful“. The only negative I can find is that some of the lyrics sound like what would happen if Nicholas Sparks wrote a western, just too many love clichés dealing with isolation and a broken heart.

Signs and Satellites is another excellent, multi-faceted CD, with fun, fast paced songs, and deeply moving ballads. It compares very favorably to their two previous albums Duluth and Palomino. The song writing continues to develop while still allowing the band to stretch their jam-band influenced instrumental wings.

A must listen for any fan of bluegrass, country, folk, progressive rock, metal, and just about any other style of music not found on MTV.

Talk about timely reviews, approximately 6 months after the movie was released in theaters, and one month after it was released on DVD the world will finally get to hear my much anticipated thoughts on the film. After years of dismissing Harry Potter as a silly children’s series, this 25 year old, chiseled, classically good-looking, professional accountant was swept up by the fascinating wizarding world. It was just too hard to ignore a series that has sold a bazillion copies, and had been a cultural phenomenon for 10 plus years. The books are amazing; JK Rowlings has created an incredible universe that sucks in both kids and adults. I am only truly lucky too not have discovered this series growing up, had I been younger, I guarantee I would have been that kid using spells in class, reading during recess, and realistically asking my teacher if magic was scientifically possible.

I promised myself I would only dedicate one chapter to the film series as a whole. I knew the movies would be just one interpretation of the novels, and in no way would it match up to the way I perceived the books. But as a whole, I have truly enjoyed each and every movie on very different levels. The majority of the film series criticism comes from what was left out of the novels. Many of the novels were over 700 pages long and there was just no way to put it all on the screen, a common problem with all films adapted from novels.

I personally enjoyed the earlier films because they had much simpler source material to cover. As the books progressed, the films became more and more disjointed as confusing plot points had to be condensed or all together left out. I personally feel Alfonso Cuaron’s The Prisoner of Azkhaban was the best film, as it transformed the series from an entertaining children’s series, to a much deeper, darker story, without losing any of the original charm.

As the seventh movie starts, Voldemort is on the rise, he has slowly been gaining power and support as the ineffectual Ministry of Magic has stumbled in their attempts to address the growing threat. Harry Potter and his two close friends, Ron Weasley, and Hermionie Granger, have decided to abandon their seventh year at Hogwarts and go on the run. They search out Horcruxes, pieces of Voldemort’s soul, in an attempt to finally destroy the dark lord. After Ron’s older brother’s wedding is interrupted by the bad guys, Harry and his friends go off the radar to avoid capture. The characters feel lost as Harry’s old school teacher and mentor, Albus Dumbledore, only left a series of mysterious clues and ambiguous plans. The trio feels alone and frustrated, as the pressure starts to mount, they have few allies and they struggle to identify, find, and destroy the remaining Horcruxes.

I was very excited to learn that Warner Bros. had officially decided to break up the complicated epic, that was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It truly allowed the first part to be a journey film, in which the true elements of each character are given time to grow and develop on screen. Few elements of the book were cut out as there was just so much more screen time to let the story breathe. Director David Yates, doing his 3^rd Harry Potter film, has put forth his best effort so far, the film is exciting, and visually impressive, yet the frustration and wandering of the novel is conveyed perfectly. The action is intense, the acting has really matured, and the vast characters and dialogue are masterfully condensed into a very focused, entertaining film. A very entertaining animated segment detailing the Tale of the Three Brothers is very concise and well executed. The only major criticism I have of the film, is that the other elements of the wizarding world are lost in the film, as it solely focused on the three characters and their pursuit of Horcruxes. Updates on Hogwarts, the growing threat of attacks on muggles, and the rise of death eaters in the ministry are largely left out.

Hardcore Harry Potter fans will not be disappointed. It is an exciting and faithful adaptation that really captures the essence of the book. Casual fans will enjoy it, as it is visually appealing and is definitely one of the better Harry Potter movies. If you have never heard of Harry Potter, well, I don’t know why you would start with the seventh movie. You will probably not like it as you will really not understand any of the characters or story, and you will probably just lump it in with Twilight, dismiss it, and make fun of anyone who does like it, and you probably have no imagination…or soul.