The Announcement

AIDS is the medical story of our generation. It appeared as a modern-day plague, became a death sentence, then evolved into a tragic yet chronic and manageable disease. And for all of that Earvin "Magic" Johnson was there. I didn't follow basketball and I knew about his announcement. November 7, 1991. Other than a lady who spoke at an assembly at my junior high, he was the only person I knew who had AIDS/HIV. And yet, over the years, he didn't...die. I saw this today to understand why.

What I got was so much more, focused on his uplifting spirit. At first I wasn't sure about having Magic narrate his own film, but ultimately as a story of optimism there's no better choice. And for the record, he takes the exact same cocktail as everyone else lucky enough to have insurance and treatment.

The Announcement
2012, 75 minutes, directed by Nelson George

The Imposter

Thirteen-year-old Nicholas Clayton disappeared from his San Antonio home in 1993.  Three years later, a 23-year-old French imposter claimed to be him, having been kidnapped and held as a sex slave.  His hair color didn't match, his eye color didn't match, and he spoke English with an accent.  And yet you won't believe how far it goes...

The Imposter
2012, 95 minutes, directed by Bart Layton

[REC]³ Génesis

 When you're whole premise - demonic zombie infestation film with shakey cam - becomes a cliché, what should you do?  For Paco Plaza, the answer is kick it out, literally in this case, and fortunately not that long into the film.  This leaves the third installment of the [REC] franchise (Quarantine per the U.S. remake) with a very different feel than the first two.  It, too, has lost the claustrophobic charm of its predecessors, set this time in the spacious buildings and grounds of a reception hall.  It's her wedding day, and nothing is going to keep the bride from her groom.  This isn't a demonic zombie film.  It's a love story.  With demonic zombies.

[REC]³ Génesis
2012, 80 minutes, directed by Paco Plaza


Scott, people don't ask questions during your Q&A for a reason.  First off, you ask 60% of the questions yourself.  Then when you cajole a question from the audience, you take the gist of it, come up with a different question of your own, and "restate" it to the director so he'll answer your version.  And you interrupted the director while he was talking to put words in his mouth!  Twice!

The Cabin in the Woods

Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon don't want anyone to talk about this film.  It's hard not too because it was fucking awesome.  You think you have it figured out?  Oh no you don't; check out this.

What happens when five young college students set off for a weekend alone in the woods?  Mayhem of course.  If you would ever watch a horror comedy, make sure you watch this one.

"This came from a place of love.  Joss and I just love horror movies." - director Drew Goddard at the world premiere Q&A on opening night of SXSW 2012.

The Cabin in the Woods
2012, 105 minutes, directed by Drew Goddard




"No, no, no.  It's not an angry raping tree.  It's an angry molesting tree." - Drew

Outbreak

I think this is the first film I've ever seen with Dustin Hoffman in the lead role.  In truth, he struggles somewhat as an archetypical "good guy" without a character to absorb.  He stars as USAMRIID agent investigating a new disease that has appeared in sub-Saharan Africa.  As it spreads to the United States, he struggles to find the source, save his wife, and fight the establishment determined to suppress the spread through any means necessary.

Outbreak
1995, 127 minutes, directed by Wolfgang Petersen

The Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations

In this direct-to-DVD installment of the Butterfly franchise, Sam is a psychic detective for Detroit PD, who has a time travel ability vaguely similar to that of Evan from the first film.  This time, though, he has a knowing sister and friend/professor who help him with his jumps, so long as he sticks to the code and never affects his own past.  But when the sister of his murdered first girlfriend needs his help to prove the innocence of the man sitting on death row for the crime, his jumps starts to unravel his life.  Each time the death count grows, and the police think he's the murderer.

Unfortunately the true criminal is apparent half an hour into the film, what with the no-so-subtle repeated dialog about his past choices.  Unlike in the first film with Evan, though, this time Sam has a solution that can put everything right...

The Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations
2009, 89 minutes, directed by Seth Grossman

The Butterfly Effect

My review of this is mostly spoilers.  Sorry.

I prefer films with happy endings.  Shallow, I know, but I don't watch a movie so I can make some haughty film critic pronunciation on its worthiness in the cinematic arts.  I want to lose myself in another world for a little while, to have an opportunity to see what it's like to be someone else.  Such sessions end better if they end well.

So why am I not satisfied with this one?  Ostensibly it ends as well as it could.  Everyone's happy.  Sort of.  Maybe the guy who gets the girl in the last scene shouldn't be an extra?

I watched the director's cut.  I would have enjoyed another hour of film if they could have kept the roller coaster going long enough for him to find a better solution.

The Butterfly Effect
2004, 120 minutes (director's cut), directed by Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber