Minute44 - Dan Schonhaar

So I had this thought when reading the comments you left on my top 5 alien movies post. When a number of you said that you’d never watched my number 2 spot (Dark City) I thought I could easily post a hand full of recommendations each month for you lot to go and see. I figured it would not only make for some good content, but it would also get me watching more new movies. I’m not going to stick to a genre or any particular era. just movies that I like and I think you should check out. So, here’s my first selection.

In the Mouth of Madness (1994)

This movie is difficult as hell to get hold of on DVD, or even VHS. Believe me, I’ve tried… for years. So you can either wait til it comes on TV again (It does every so often, late at night.) or order it from the states if you have a multi-region DVD player. Either way I’d say it’s well worth it. This little gem of a horror flick is directed by John Carpenter and stars Sam Neill as John Trent, an insurance investigator hired by a publishing company to track down their star horror author, Sutter Cane who has disappeared on the eve of his latest release. What Trent finds however is a Cane who has descended into madness and created a town out of his own twisted imagination.

In spite of it’s flaws, In the Mouth of Madness remains a success as far as I’m concerned. The originality of the story grabs your interest and between Sam Neill and a plethora of WTF gore effects, it stays grabbed right until the wonderfully over the top twist ending.

Empire Records (1995)

Not really very obscure but, in my eyes, very much overlooked. Empire Records follows a group of young misfits who work at the eponymous record store in the wake of Lucas (one of the store’s employees) stealing $9000 in an attempt to quadruple it in a casino and raise enough to save the store from being bought out by corporate giants, Music Town.

If you’ve never seen Empire Records you should go and check it out now. If you have, go see it again and treat yourself to 2 hours of the best teen comedy ever made. The cast is a knock out and the soundtrack is simply one of the finest ever put together. Join the team at Empire Records through their day of ups and downs and enjoy one of the best feel-good movies ever.

Training Day (2001)

Again, this one did have quite a big theatrical release but I feel it is very much overlooked, despite winning an Oscar. Training Day is probably my all time favourite cop movie and stars Ethan Hawke and Denzel Wasington. Jake Hoyt (Hawke) is given one day to prove he has what it takes to be drafted into an elite narcotics division of the LAPD. He has to spend this time with the head of the division, Alonzo Harris (Washington) who, as the film progresses, is revealed to be as crooked as they come. Hoyt must make a choice, turn his back on the biggest opportunity in his career and put the corrupt unit away or join them and become the thing he swore to protect the city against.

Sure, in parts it can get a little cheesy and I could have done without the cameos from Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre but even with these things, the movie more than stands up. The tension in some scenes is thick enough to cut with a knife and the conclusion will not disappoint. On a side note; if you watch this and really enjoy it, try Street Kings (my review). Not as good but well worth a watch.

Bully (2001)

Based on a true story, Bully tells the tale of a group of friends who plot to murder one of their group after years of his bullying ways. In the midst of this plot each friend is faced with the thought of what would/could happen if they go through with their plans. The movie was directed by master of the controversial teen movie, Larry Clark (Kids, Ken Park) and stars Nick Stahl as the eponymous bully, Bobby.

“Watching them is like watching school children hijack their own school bus and accelerate toward a brick wall: watching the crash in slow motion, fascinated and helpless, seeing the expressions on their faces change, seeing them looking at one another, saying “it wasn’t my idea, I didn’t do it, I didn’t mean it” as the gap closes. The conclusion is devastating.” – IMDB User stebmarc

I’ve only seen this once but I’m meaning to watch it again soon. It was engaging, thought provoking and, in some places, truly frightening. Its message, some years ago would have only applied to kids in America but with the surge in knife and gun crime in the UK, Bully is becoming more and more profound as it begs the question; “Do you know where your kids are right now?”

The Last Supper (1995)

Not loved by everyone, The Last Supper tells the tale of a group of frustrated young liberals who give in to the temptation to murder right wing pundits based on their political opinions following a frightening encounter with a very violent, right wing drifter played by Bill Paxton. As the group become more and more comfortable with their habit the reasons for the killings become more and more arbitrary until the slightest disagreement becomes a death warrant.

Starring Cameron Diaz, and Ron Pearlman, The Last Supper is a very much tongue in cheek look at the flourishing young liberal mindset and how, if left unchecked could be as dangerous as the right wing fundamentalists they struggle against. Check it out if you have a particularly dry, dark sense of humour.

So there you have it folks, five movies for you to seek out and devour this month. I’d love for you to come back and tell me what you thought of them or, if you’ve already seen them let me know if you agree or disagree with my recommendations.