The Box

Hauntingly Familiar

The hard part about watching a film about the 70's is enduring the terrible fashion of that era. In "The Button," I find myself back in the 70s, trapped in a world of sideburns, yellow televisions, polyester, and plaid. Watching the trailer, the first thought that came to mind, was the old "Monkey Paw" story I learned as a kid. However while watching this movie based on a short story by Richard Matheson ("I am Legend," "What Dreams May Come," "Somewhere In Time" and many others) I had strong feelings of déjà vu and about half way through this Sci-Fi, moralistic tale, I realized that this is a remake of a 1980's "Twilight Zone" episode. My bad, for not remembering that this film is a remake before I watched the DVD. When picking a film that is a remake, I have a tendency to get distracted, not with differences in the versions but with silly things like prices, inflation, pop-culture, and that remakes try much too hard to explain a plot that needs no explaining.

This version of The Button, we find ourselves in 1976 Virginia at 4:45 in the morning and Norma and Arthur Lewis (Cameron Diaz and James Marsden) awake to the sound of their doorbell ringing. Norma opens the door to find that she is a victim of "ding-dong-ditch," and that a person left them a gift. The first fact that one notices is that Cameron Diaz, looking a bit more mature, sporting a southern accent and is dressing more mom-ish for this role. The box at the door is, of course, the infamous button. Locked in a domed glass half-bubble, the button, accompanied by a note, indicating that a Mr. Steward will visit the Lewis family at five that afternoon, they go about their day. Her husband, Arthur (Marsden), we find is a rocket scientist for NASA, and Norma is a teacher at a private school. Immediately we are treated to a brief philosophy session with a two-minute introduction to Jean-Paul Sartre's "No Exit," foreshadowing that this film will be reaching into some deep territory. A compelling short story, once again becomes complicated with the addition to the storyline of Norma's damaged right foot. Arthur, Norma's husband, is literally a rocket scientist, a rejected astronaut, who in the time of inflated NASA spending can afford to make his wife a prosthetic foot. The story plods along a bit as we learn all this before the return of the creepy looking, facially deformed, Arlington Steward (Frank Langella). Writer/Director Richard Kelly attempts to elaborate on the original Matheson story by adding detail, painting a picture that, unfortunately, diverges from an Adam and Eve tale of choices, consequences, and responsibility, to a "Body Snatcher's," pod people, alien possession film. Realizing that his movie was getting out of hand, Kelly starts to reel the story back into line by having Steward give the morally lost Arthur and Norma a choice to make.

The weakest part and one of the most salient facets of filmmaking is the story line. Richard Kelly directed "Donnie Darko" and he is the writer of "Domino" and is a talented artist, however, for some reason he decides to delve into existentialism philosophy, which perhaps is not what the audience is expecting and are not pleasantly surprised. Perhaps if this were an original story Kelly could take more liberties with the material, however, in this re-imagining of a solid and well remembered short story we feel led astray. I did like the photography and the bleakness obtained by using the film devoid of color accenting the philosophic atmosphere that Kelly was attempting to obtain. The film's score is highly reminiscent of the "Twilight Zone," although this may be intentional, or perhaps even an homage, the music is distracting.

Movies are avenues of escapism for the masses, during the Great Depression of the 1930's, people still found money to go to the movies, to escape. This is not an escapism film. Richard Kelly wants us to think, however, the audience shouldn't have to think that hard when watching a film. Some of the paths that Kelly leads us down are too complicated. If you want a science fiction story with a deep philosophical message perhaps this film is for you; otherwise you may want to take a pass on "The Box."

Movie Data

Genre:  Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Year:   2009

Staring:  Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella

Director:  Richard Kelly

Producer(s)  Richard Kelly, Paris Kasidokostas Latsis, Dan Lin, Kelly McKittrick, Sean McKittrick

Writer: Richard Kelly, Richard Matheson

Rating:  PG-13

Knight and Day: Everything Happens For a Reason

I usually take pages of notes during a movie to assist in writing the review; in the case of "Knight and Day," it wasn't necessary.  "Knight and Day" is an action adventure film with a little romance and stars Tom Cruise ("Mission Impossible") as Roy Miller, a super spy who supposedly went rogue, and Cameron Diaz ("Charlie’s Angels") as June Havens, a classic car restorer.  The two bump into each other at the airport, and that’s where the fun begins.  I didn't write a lot during the movie for two reasons; first a lot happens so fast (it’s hard to write in the dark); and most of what happens is classic "Mission Impossible" and or "Charlie’s Angels" plot and action adventure.  Most folks, who come to see this picture, will either come to see Cruise; or they come for Diaz and if you go for either; you won't be disappointed.

"Knight and Day" is more complicated than the "Killers," released earlier this year, with more plot twists and turns in the first half of the movie than the "Killers" had throughout the whole film.  June Havens (Diaz) is on her way to her sister’s wedding and for some reason is carrying spare parts for a vintage car she is restoring.  Before going through security, she runs into to Roy Miller (Cruise).  The audience is given a third-person point of view of the run-in via some FBI operatives watching on the security cameras.  After going through security and having all her car parts inspected by airport workers the two bumps into each other again.  FBI agent Fitzgerald played by the ever-so-charming bad guy Peter Sarsgaard (Flight Plan) decides that the airplane flight booked exclusively for Cruises character in an attempt to kill or capture him, to allow Diaz's character June to come aboard.  During the flight, the spies take action while June is in the bathroom and Miller kills all aboard including the pilots.  Cruise and Diaz are tied together for the rest of the movie like, well, night and day.  The actual plot revolves around a battery hidden in a tiny medieval knight statue. Designed by a genius kid out of high school by the name of Simon Feck played by Paul Dano ("There Will Be Blood"), the battery can light up a small city, and, therefore, is of significant value to the wrong side, whoever that may be.

It’s been along time Tom Cruise has starred in a comedy ("Tropic Thunder" doesn't count), and now that he is back, I think he should hang out a while before going back to action drama.  The thing I noticed about Cruise is his maturity, in the way he played the over the top spy character Roy Miller.  Cameron Diaz is not a superspy in this film, and although her romantic comedy days are not quite finished yet, she also seemed confident in her acting abilities rather than just eye candy.  Cruise and Diaz seemed together seemed to have more chemistry than Kutcher and Heigl in the "Killers."  The chemistry works because of the relationship built since Diaz and Cruise's last movie together, Vanilla Sky.  Not coming off as cocky at all in this film, it is difficult to see how Cruise's character develops throughout the film.  Usually Cruise's characters start as arrogant smart-asses with a chip on his shoulder; then Tom is taught some lessons in life; then his characters have an epiphany of some sort, and Tom Cruise's characters go from being a jerk to being likeable.  For example, check out any films from the 80's like "Top Gun," "Days of Thunder," "The Color of Money," and "Rain Man," as they all have the formulaic Tom Cruise character development.  We even get a glimpse of Tom as he adjusts his sunglasses directly into the camera a-la "Risky Business."

Director James Mangold's last action film includes 2007's "3:10 to Yuma," which was a fast-paced western remake.  In "Knight and Day," Mangold seems to partially remaking "Mission Impossible's" action scenes while trying to recreate the character development that he got while making "Walk the Line."  This may partially be because of the script delivered by the film’s writer of credit, Patrick O'Neill, which although contains many more twists and comic one-liners, and seems to be more in line with an Indiana Jones film than anything Mangold has directed to date.  In some ways, O'Neill's script seems to mock both Cruise and Diaz in subtle ways, like the "Risky Business" scene I mentioned earlier.  In some scenes, Diaz has that "Charlie's Angels" look about her just under the surface of her "Sweetest Thing" persona.  Giving the characters a break in the action scenes to develop both their characters and eventually a relationship made this film easier to swallow in the story development department.  I liked "Knight and Day: mostly because the light-hearted story moves quickly, making the two hours I spent at the movies left me excited and hopeful that the film’s two stars still have long careers ahead of them.

Movie Data

Genre: Action, Comedy, Romance

Year:  2010

Staring:  Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Jordi Mollà, Viola Davis, Paul Dano 

Director: James Mangold

Producer(s): Todd Garner, Cathy Konrad, Steve Pink

Writer: Patrick O'Neill

Rating: PG-13

Running Time: 109 minutes

Release Date: 6/23/20110

Originally published on Associated Content on 6/24/2010 by Robert Barbere

Shrek Forever After: Review

R eported to be the last of the Shrek films, "Shrek Forever After" completes the franchise with this charming, but cautionary tale of being careful of what you ask for -- and read the fine print.  Starring the returning voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, and the multi-talented Walt Dohrn providing several voices and stars the film's bad guy, Rumpelstiltskin.  Paramount released "Shrek Forever After," in both a 3D version and a non 3-D version, although purely a personal choice, I would go with the 'non 3D' version.

"Shrek Forever After" provides a quick back-story of how Princess Fiona (Diaz) is cursed, and locked up in a tower by a fire-breathing dragon.  How her parents the King and Queen voice by John Cleese and July Andrews, respectively are about to allow Rumpelstiltskin to trick them into signing away the Kingdom of Far Far Away over to him.  At the last moment, a herald brings them news that Shrek lifted Fiona's curse.

Rumpelstiltskin, with the taste of power in his grasp is now out for revenge on Shrek.  Moving forward to nowadays, Shrek, Fiona, and their three baby ogres go through the day-to-day routines that make up life.  Activities like feeding babies, changing babies, fixing outhouses, and the daily tour bus of fans watching as Shrek takes a mud bath, all of which are driving him crazy.  Looking back at the days as a bachelor, when he could roam free, scare villagers, and have no responsibilities, Shrek longs for those days to return.  At the pivotal scene, after losing his temper at his kid’s birthday party, Shrek makes the mistake that we all sometimes make by saying something he will regret later.  Unbeknownst to Shrek, from behind a pile of garbage Rumpelstiltskin is lurking and hears Shrek's lament.  Shrek, telling Fiona that he wished he never saved her from the tower and lifted her curse; he starts a long and lonely walk home.  Taking advantage of the situation, Rumpelstiltskin lays in wait for Shrek to come down the road and as he fakes an accident with his carriage.  After his 'rescuing,' Rumpelstiltskin invites Shrek in for some food and an ‘eyeballtini,’ loosening him up while talking Shrek into signing over to him a day from his life.  As we all do in life, looking for that easy way out of problems, Shrek signs the contract, laden with many clauses and fine print. Rumpelstiltskin and the carriage disappear, and Shrek is left to figure out what life is like in The Kingdom Of Far Far Away as he was never born.

Not as funny as the first three films, "Shrek Forever After" is still an enjoyable movie to see with the kids during the matinee times.  The story is uncomplicated, and is a play on the It’s a Wonderful World theme, as Rumpelstiltskin says, "how’s that for metaphysical paradox?"  The jokes are mediocre, and missing the same power that the previous films had.  The character that kept the movie going was Rumpelstiltskin voiced by Walt Dohrn.  Dohrn also provided the voice of the Priest and the one of the Ogres.  At the end of the film while taking note of the credits I also noticed that he also contributed screenplay material, was a story artist, and wrote the "Birthday Bash" song that all the characters sang in the film.  Musically the film had plenty to offer in the way of hits; from The Carpenter’s "Top of the World" at the beginning to Maxine Nightingale’s "Right Back Where We Started From" at the end.  The film includes Donkey singing some of our favorite tunes, like Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," and James Taylor's "You've Got A Friend," while pulling the cart with the captured Shrek and doubling as a car radio.  The animation is excellent and need to watch this movie in 3D is unnecessary.

This is a family movie and everyone  will find something to enjoy "Shrek Forever After."  I found the film to be charming and story, although simple, easy to sit through for an hour and a half.  While watching this film, the notion came to mind of a baseball game, after eight innings of play, and you are scoring well ahead of the other team, as a coach, you decide to bring up from the bullpen one of your less experienced pitchers and let him have a go at it.  It seems that DreamWorks Animation decided to just that and selected director Mike Mitchell to have a go at it.  My advice, as I have stated before is to watch the non 3D version, as I don't think it is worth the extra three dollars for the pair of glasses.  I already wear prescription glasses and having placed another set over mine is a hassle.  Take the kids, go to the matinee times in your area, watch the regular version or, if you prefer, the IMAX version and enjoy Shrek for the last time.

Movie Data

Genre: Animation,  Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Year:  2014

Staring:  Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Walt Dohrn, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, John Cleese

Director: Mike Mitchell

Producer(s): Teresa Cheng, Gina Shay

Writer: Josh Klausner, Darren Lemke, William Steig (novel "Shrek!")

Rating: PG 

Running Time: 93 minutes

Release Date: 5/21/2010

Published on 5/23/2010 at Associated Content by Robert Barbere