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Reviews
Quarantine (2008)
"Quarantine pushes the senses... making Blairwitch look like Gilligan's Island..." - Tom Millan "Kindred Gem Films 1998"
Great acting in this psychological and literal "horror fest". Jennifer Carpenter's performance was riveting with a final score of excellent... All of the other actors, no exceptions, were well versed and played their roles with the utmost sincerity and intrigue- they were more than believable. Great directing as well in this feature as they paid extreme attention to detail, leaving no stone unturned when it came to all of the technical audio and visual aspects of this film.. Jennifer Carpenter, infamously known as Deborah Morgan on "Dexter", does a 180 degree turn in this film to play an innocent and excited TV reporter caught in a horrific situation. Her and her camera man tag along with firefighters who end up at an apartment which soon ends up becoming infested with a rash of rabies driven psychos. The film is extremely visceral and dark. As well done as this movie was I thought some of the madness and dark elements of the film went over the top. It was overdone. What is horrific of the film is not only the literal elements, but the psychological features it provides. The viewer is powerless to stop the mayhem that unravels around the characters and may even desire, more than once, to jump into the screen to rescue the characters- bringing them back into the safe haven of the living room. But that doesn't happen. With the extreme anger and rage between people, plus confusion, fear and panic- the viewer is helpless as bodies begin to drop by viral infected savages. These are some of the elements that can cause visceral stress to some viewers and should seriously not be viewed by the faint hearted. Some viewers may even get sick.
Another psychological element of the film which can be stressing and perhaps troublesome to some is the threat of a real outbreak of biological terror by some strange religious cult. This is quite prevalent with examples of David Koresh and the Branch Davidians, or the Manson Family of the 1960's, or the religious cult in Japan who tried to release a doomsday virus in the subway system some years back.
The makeup and stunts are extremely believable and the extreme violence and emotion is not to be underestimated in this film. This film does not mess around. The beginning is slow paced, giving the viewer the chance to know all of the characters and grow somewhat attached to some, depending on the viewer. Make no mistake: once the film picks up speed be prepared to go on a visceral, gory, disturbing and extremely violent roller coaster ride- which won't stop until the very end.. The viewer becomes helpless to stop the onslaught of increasing tension, hostility and violence which, to some viewers, may only increase their depression levels. The viewer is powerless to stop it.
This is why the film is so well done. It is not for everyone. "Quarantine" tests the senses and pushes the viewers emotions over the edge. That's raw and real the acting and directing is. I docked a point because as I said before some of the elements are overdone. This is the third film I have seen which uses the "Blairwitch" style of film making which entails a "one eye" view from the camera. "Cloverfield" was another film which used this style- another film which was well executed in my opinion. Giving the movie a bad rating because it freaked you out is not a proper rating. Rate the film on it's artistic merits. Rate the film when it comes to the writing, directing, acting and technical avenues such as sound, lighting, blocking etc.
I was impressed with this film. Four stars of five.
Tom Millan "independent film director/ actor" Kindred Gem Films 1998
The X Files: I Want to Believe (2008)
"X Files 2 is a rare sequel that packs an originally impressive style..." - Tom Millan "Kindred Gem Films"
First off, when I learned of the title "X Files: I Want To Believe" I wasn't impressed with the title and would have been more impressed at a more surrealistic title like "X Files: After the Resurrection" or something like that. I prejudged the movie long before its premiere which usually isn't a good idea. Titles aren't everything even though they can be good catchers and grabbers. But... I'm not docking points from this film because if the title- so don't worry about that.
On my way to see the film I figured I owed it to the film to give it the benefit of the doubt. I thought that I would end up giving it a 4 out of a 10- some sort of tanked rating. I was wrong. Surprisingly, I was not only wrong, I was dead wrong. The entire film was an unexpectedly different turn and lived up to its premise of a stand alone film. I won't say anything to give away the film's intention. I will say that I don't agree with some of the bad ratings this film has received. To say the least, this movie was under rated. However, I suspect that the movie will develop some sort of cult status by those who admire the epic in time.
This film is different by far, but keeps it's "X Files" style in dark stand alone episodes. I admired the dark feel and seriousness of the film as well as the lighting and overall mood. Mark Snow gave a dark feel in his music as he has always done in the X Files episodes- he has always had a good spin and style about how the score gets executed on film. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson did well- your usual Mulder and Scully match up. The rest of the cast, in my outspoken opinion, was acceptable, if not, commendable. Billy Connelly did exceptionally well as a warped but convincing priest with visions.
Some people can't accept the way X Files has gone and deny the changes. That's life- change is change- and that's reality- that's the way it is- without any sugar coating.
Even though it isn't better than it's 1998 predecessor "X Files: Fight The Future", it's close enough to being "as good". My best advice to creator Chris Carter is if he does another sequel, he would best do it in the alien conspiracy genre - not the type of alien 'super men' he did in the last two seasons- but more of what he did in the 1990's with a deeper apocalyptic scope. This I feel would be necessary since UFO sightings and topics of aliens are buzzing, cutting edge and red hot right now- like never before.
As for this film, I found it quite impressive and well worth my time and money. In fact, I know that I will see this sequel more than once- and that rarely happens. This flick has backbone and I, along with some other dark film makers I'm sure, admire that. There's an old saying which is "you can't please everyone". Well, due to the under ratings of this sequel I would turn around and say "you can't disappoint everyone". "X Files: I Want To Believe" is raw, real, unpredictable and original. I give it a 9 out of 10. ****1/2 stars of 5.
- Tom Millan "Kindred Gem Films 1998"
Blade (1998)
""BLADE" is still the finest vampire film I have ever seen.." - Tom Millan "Kindred Gem Films 1998"
Now I have viewed many styles of vampire films. Some of them leaned more towards the horror side, while others leaned towards action and others towards drama. Before "Blade" premiered on August 21st of 1998, "From Dusk Till Dawn" was the ultimate revolutionary vampire movie of the 1990's. It made "Interview With The Vampire" look like a "church choir sit in"/ "vampire chick flick"- which, by the way, was a drag to watch. Once I saw "Blade", I knew fully well that this film, never mind the sequels, had a strong and solid place on my top ten list of "Best Movies Of All Time".
Director Stephen Norrington does a stupendous and extra ordinary job of weaving and orchestrating the choreography within this vampire action horror. All of the acting by Snipes, Kristofferson, Dorff and countless others was well done. Wesley Snipes plays a half man/ half vampire who is known as a "Day Walker" because he can function not only nocturnally, but during daylight hours unlike the any other vampire. He became this due to the fact that his pregnant mother was bitten by a vampire before giving birth. She died of course but the infant was already infected. Blade was then born into this world and later trained by a cancer ridden smoker Abraham Whistler, played by Kris Kristofferson. Whistler, apparently had battled vampires long before his encounter with Blade. Therefore when he discovers Blade's unique and extra ordinary abilities he mentors him and trains him in martial arts and a vast array of weaponry to create the ultimate vampire slaying machine.
Stephen Dorff plays Deacon Frost, a young and over zealous vampire with a huge chip on his shoulder. He is in disarray with an occult society of vampires who exist underground as a board of directors to somehow integrate with human society- as a tolerant perspective. Of course Frost creates a rebellion to overthrow this "tolerant" vampire government of dullards in suits. Frost believes that a prophecy of a vampire god will come as expected and cause havoc everywhere thus violently pulverizing whatever he can to make the prophecy. Frost wishes to become this blood god.
The original score and music in this feature all fit into the right spot. From beginning to end this film is packed with fancy camera shots and excellent editing. The action is "in your face" and "straight to the point". It's quick, fast and visceral in some sections. I still maintain that "Blade" is the finest and most revolutionary vampire film ever made. "From Dusk Till Dawn" would be my second choice. Never mind the sequels to "Blade" and "From Dusk Till Dawn". Even though I gave "Blade" a top rating and "Blade II" a 9 out of 10 (4 1/2 stars of 5) the third "Blade" was a 0 (no stars). Don't even get me started on "Blade III" or "Blade Trinity". All I'll say is that it should have been called "Blade Zero".
"Blade" gets 5 stars of 5.
The Michelle Apts. (1995)
"An Original 10..." - Tom Millan "Kindred Gem Films 1998"
This film was well written, well acted, well directed and well lit. Even the score seem to connect perfectly with this dark comedy. I found this movie to have its strange mix of wit and dark humor which blends perfectly. This is one bizarre tale of an auditor from Revenue Canada who enters a strange town, with strange inhabitants and one strange apartment complex.
We have a mix of small town inhabitants with sadistic humor and odd behaviors as we see this Revenue Canada outsider become unfortunately intertwined within the lust, greed and corruption that surrounds this small tightly knit community with arcane behaviors. This is a drama/ dark comedy that isn't for everyone. However, if you like dark and strange cult like films, I'm sure that you'll find "The Michelle Apartments" as one of those films. If you are for more happy and brightly atmospheric films, this film may not be your ticket. Hats off to all the actors who did a good job in this film.
Elevated (1996)
"Elevated" Is A Raw and Solid "10"- Tom Millan "Kindred Gem Films 1998"
This film shows, in a crystal clear sense of purity, that you don't need a lot of money to make a good film. The talent behind the acting, directing and writing are the valuable keys in making a good film. "Elevated" has an excellent execution of that talent which, in some scenes and visuals, remind me of a couple of my films- "Blue Window" and "One Named Clarence". Suspense and chaos run amok in this film as we have the actors fight against the odds in an elevator that is up to no good. Paranoid thoughts ring true to this movie which gets the viewer wondering as to what is going on. The editing on top of the directing is well done. The lighting is well executed and the acting is visceral and well played.
Like some of my films, it has unpredictable twists and turns including one bizarre ending. I thought the one scene near the end, which contained all of these silhouetted figures run towards the elevator in slow motion was quite an interesting scene- a cool scene and again quite similar to my style of film making. I saw this film in 1998 on Showcase with my room mate. This film was on a series that documented short films. He, a writer, thought that this movie was a good view as well.
Brimstone (1998)
""Brimstone" is rough edged, smooth, original and clever- a burning 10."- Tom Millan "Kindred Gem Films 1998"
"Brimstone is a burning 10."
I thought this series, as short lived as it was, is a 'gem within a gem'. It was a highly stylized drama/ fantasy flick. Hats off to the cast as they all played their parts well. Too bad audiences didn't take to the shows and "Brimstone" got canceled- I guess audiences don't have taste. Some silly blooper show was put in its place and I was fuming when I found that out.
Mainstream audiences unfortunately aren't interested in surreal and complex thrillers like "Brimstone". They want something they can understand and identify with which I, as a director, don't care much for unless I'm in the mood to take them by the hand and explain things they can identify.
Each writer has a sense of style and this can be seen in "Brimstone". There is of course the corny humor in the show which just that- corny. The seriousness of the characters is magnificent and well spun up.
But, the mainstream audiences didn't go for it. This is why I shoot movies for myself and not them. Like my films, "Brimstone" is an acquired taste and develops a cult following much like "Spike Of Love", "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me" or "Gross Total".
"Brimstone" should have been given a fair chance.
Tom Millan "Kindred Gem Films Corp 1998".
Red Dragon (2002)
"Vastly inferior to the entire Hannibal Lecter series."- Tom Millan "Kindred Gem Films 1998"
Don't even get me started on the inconsistencies of this film compared to "Hannibal". The directing was one dimensional. The writing was good but poorly executed by director Ratner. Performances by Hopkins (Hannibal) and Keitel (Crawford) were good but not good enough to save the film as it drowned. The technical was for the birds- the music and visuals looked and sounded like a rushed 'made for T.V. movie'. People found "Red Dragon" to be better than "Hannibal" because "Red Dragon" was more simple and less gory. Sorry but those kinds of reviews are void. "Hannibal" was a deeply refined and complex movie that people just didn't get- especially the Academy Awards. Ed Norton bombed badly, compared to William Petersen who played FBI agent Graham in "Manhunter".
The continuity of "Red Dragon", seeing as how it took place in 1987, also drifted from actual continuity requirements. The film should have taken place in 1986 as did "Manhunter" and people should have dressed more like the eighties styles of clothes,hair, etc. There was no smoking in the film. None. Hmmm. Funny. For a film that takes place in 1987, where smoking was still a norm and everywhere including on Graham and Crawford, how oh how there was a subtle "no smoking" "2002" policy in the film. It boggles my mind to no end as 'non smokers' have nothing better to do with their time like saving the environment or something. Enough of this "health Nazi"/ "anti smoking" garbage. If you do a movie that takes place in a certain era, for God sakes, have the continuity FIT the era without any 21st century political garbage. Then the epilogue, the worst scene in the film, gives "credit" and "discreet" worship to the 'vastly and extremely over-rated' "Silence Of The Lambs". Absurd. What ever happened to being a "stand alone" film? How did Will Graham go from a believable and rough edged/ focused cop in "Manhunter" (played by William Petersen) to an 'unconvincing'/ 'pencil necked'/ 'squeaky voiced wimp' in "Red Dragon" (played by Ed Norton)?? Norton is a good actor, but not here. "Red Dragon" is a sloppy, poorly directed, poorly acted (except Keitel and Hopkins) cheesy remake. Erase this entry into the Dr. Lecter series, please. Maybe, Ratner should re-edit the film and turn it into a satire of the series like "Silence Of The Hams". "Red Dragon" is simply garbage. Erase it from the series.
Tom Millan "Kindred Gem Films 1998"