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The Thing (2011)
Neither Fish Nor Flesh
There are some movies that leave out certain details, asking the viewer to fill in the blanks where no clear information is provided - and the 1982 version of 'The Thing' was one of those movies. Along with the infinitely debatable conundrum at the end that posed the question "Was Childs infected?", there was a section at the start of the film that begged to be elaborated on - namely, "What happened to the Norwegian team?".
In the 2011 version of 'The Thing', rookie director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. attempts to tackle the question - but sadly gets a little confused with his delivery of the answer. Let me say at this point, that I loved the 1951 original "The Thing From Another World" and John Carpenters 1982 version equally, but unlike a lot of people who have left a review here, I didn't walk in expecting miracles. Lucky for me, because I didn't get any.
Let's start with the positives. Location wise, it looks exactly as the 1982 version did, complete with long, badly-lit corridors traversing the Norwegian base, kennels and such like... but I'm afraid that's about it.
Technically, it's adequate - but regarding the selling point (The Norwegian camp), the director seems to have had a change of heart about what it was he was trying to make. A confused, mish-mash of original plot hybridised with an almost beat-for-beat remake attempt, makes for very frustrating viewing - and I guess the most frustrating aspect of this film is this: no risks whatsoever have been taken.
Few people would have dared taken a classic such as 'Alien' and tried to equal, nay, improve on it - but James Cameron did it and did it with such aplomb it's quite literally scary. The director and his team had the chance to really take this by the horns and create a completely different entity to 'The Thing' from 1982 - instead, they played it so safe you'll find yourself begging for the film to reach it's patchy finale.
Acting wise, it's not great - in fact, it's not even good. Some of it is downright hammy. The CGI is laboured and in my humble opinion probably shouldn't have even been applied to this canvas. The monster itself looks suitably grotesque at some points and utterly bizarre at others.
So, would I recommend it? Well, if you've got nothing better to do on a Sunday evening and it appears on one of your terrestrial channels, it's appropriate fayre - but I wouldn't pay the admission price. A real disappointment because it could have been so much more had the director and his staff decided to tear up the rulebook and created a brand-new, second-hand tale of isolation and terror - instead of trying (in parts) to emulate one of the greatest horror movies ever made. Many have tried, most have failed, and I'm sorry to say that this one falls into that category.
3.8 / 10
Harry Brown (2009)
A Bleak Perspective?
Looking through the reviews of Harry Brown, there are a lot of references to Death Wish, Taxi Driver and a myriad of Mike Leigh movies. This is no bad thing, as all the aforementioned are held in great esteem by the majority of 'serious' moviegoers.
And I guess that's a good word to describe Harry Brown. It's a serious film that tackles quite possibly the biggest social issue in the UK today - youth crime. While others simply sit by and hope the antagonists will 'go away', Harry (Michael Caine) becomes the unwilling representative of his community - and with Marines experience, even at his twilight age it is evident that none of his training has evaded him.
Harry sets out to wreak vengeance on those who have taken the life of his long-time friend, and who inadvertently caused him to miss being at his wife's side before she died in hospital - and he certainly doesn't pull any punches.
The basic premise covered, let's get to the meat and bones of it. While there are some rather hackneyed techniques on display here (notably the 'washed out' look that permeates the whole film, RE Seven, etc) and the seemingly pointless 'middle-class copper trying to justify her existence by putting herself in harms way' character, the film really is a treat.
Caine does what he does best, carrying the other actors and story with such ease that you forget that the notion of a pensioner taking on a gang of ruthless, relentless street thugs is preposterous - in fact, he makes it completely plausible and believable. There are some superb performances here, the backdrop is truly bleak and the direction and cinematography as a rule is top notch stuff.
This film will certainly make you sit up and pay attention from the outset, and there are lots of issues tackled here - from homosexual prostitution for drugs to murder for kicks. The idea of police turning a blind eye to local vigilantes isn't a new one and is re-enforced here.
It's a bleak perspective, but one that will ring bells with most viewers. Superb stuff. 8.3/10
2012 (2009)
Hackneyed & Tired
What to say. I was looking forward to seeing this film, because despite my disposition for really deep and meaningful fayre, like most people I do love a good old disaster movie. Is it bigger than The Day After Tomorrow? You bet. Waaaay bigger. Is it bigger that Independence Day? Sure is. Is it as good as either? Urm...
2012 serves only to show that no matter how much ego, money and contrived patriotism you throw into a project such as this, it simply can't work because the engine itself is seriously flawed. Emmerich has certainly succeeded in making the biggest (in every possible sense of the word) disaster movie in the history of film - but that doesn't help one jot here.
The actors seem almost uncomfortable with the roles, and I'm finally coming round to the idea that John Cusack hasn't had a bad deal regarding parts in the past, but simply makes excruciatingly bad decisions. Danny Glover plays possibly the single most contrived US President ever seen on screen - it's cringeworthy to the point of vomitus.
There's no plot, no sense of direction other than getting right down to the CGI fireworks, it has utter contempt for the real world both physically and factually, and possibly the worst aspect of this movie is that it constantly tries to tug your heartstrings with bile-inducing clichés and schmaltz.
That said, the CGI really is something to behold at times - but it does beg the question that if Emmerich was given a tenth of the budget and told to step away from the 'bang-bang machines', would the result be any good? Well, if you take away the CGI out of this equation, what you have is quite possibly the biggest B-Movie ever made - and that is no exaggeration.
So, all in all - I don't recommend you waste your hard earned/stolen cash on this. If you really need to see it, wait for the DVD or BD to surface for less than the price of a McDonald's very soon - because I'm afraid this one is destined for the bargain bucket in a supermarket near you, very, very soon.
I'm giving this 4.3 out of 10 - and three of those stars go directly to the guys who toiled over the CGI machines, wondering what they had done to deserve this. Truly a disappointment.
Into the Wild (2007)
Questioning Existence
Sometimes you put a disc in the player and you're unsure as to whether or not you are going to enjoy the film coming up, despite numerous fantastic reviews. Into The Wild was one of those for me.
I needn't have worried. Within 10 minutes, I was glued to the screen, watching a fantastic story unfold before my eyes - and then it was over. The best movies have a tendency to do that. They immerse you with such force that you literally lose track of time, and this film is a fairly lengthy affair.
Most people will have questioned their existence at some point in time, I guess it's in our nature to do so - but not many will have gone to the extremes that the main character does - he quite literally goes through hell and high water, trying to prove to himself (and possibly to everyone else) that life is so much more fulfilling when you take a chance and break the mould - despite the motivations for doing so.
A true story, lovingly followed to the letter (literally) by Sean Penn and his ensemble of faithful cast and crew, Into The Wild is one of those movies, that despite it's not-so-Hollywood ending, leaves you with a reason to rekindle a little faith in humanity - and perhaps a tear in your eye.
I rate this at 8.2 out of 10. It's original, refreshing and utterly watchable - perhaps multiple times. Brilliant stuff.
Star Trek (2009)
A Fantastic Addition To The Franchise
My brother openly and publicly LOVES Star Trek. Can't get enough. I'm one of those 'secret trekkies' who really enjoyed TNG and the majority of the movies. I'm glad to say that I wasn't disappointed with the latest offering.
Being a huge fan of LOST, I was salivating when I heard that JJ Abrams was directing. He really does pull out all the stops here. Big effects, big sounds, great acting, great direction, fantastic script, and finally, finally - a close-up look at 'the Kobayashi incident', talked of in previous outings, but nothing more.
I could go on forever about this film, but there are soooo many reviews to plunder, I'll let you go about your business now. Just do yourself a favour and get a copy of this on Blu-Ray if you want the full effect, or at least DVD.
A straight 8 from me. Great stuff!
The Hellstrom Chronicle (1971)
Fascinating 70's Pseudomentary Fayre
Only by chance did I manage to find out about this hidden gem, and I'm glad I did. While many disaster movies of late seem to put the emphasis on earthquakes, tidal waves, meteor strikes, fires and floods, The Hellstrom Chronicle looks at a perfectly plausible demise for the human race - itty bitty insects.
And while it may sound like some sort of joke, the case for such a scenario is well documented here. There is a degree of dramatisation involved, granted, but there's no getting away from the fact that given the right set of conditions, mankind could be faced with pestilence or famine on such a huge scale that it threatens their very survival.
Bear in mind that this feature was made in 1971 - so excuse the big hair, tweed jackets and not-so-high-definition images - but nonetheless, there are some jaw-dropping sequences that make you say 'HOW did they get that shot?', despite it's thirty-something age.
I also need to add that it's extremely difficult to get hold of - as far as I know, it isn't available on DVD, although you may be able to find it on VHS or BETA at a thrift store - so if you see it advertised in your TV guide one week, be sure to set the timer.
Fascinating, if a little dated, stuff.
Knowing (2009)
Start As You Mean To Go On
I recall a time when Nicolas Cage was a really decent actor. These days he seems to be cashing in on this frankly, bygone reputation. Knowing is one of those movies that starts really rather well, but ends up sitting on the fence. A religious nut's wet dream, it goes so far off it's original course that it forgets it's own identity altogether and literally makes it up as it goes along.
There are some nice pixelated effects during the film, but it isn't enough to carry it through on the strength of this. Again, while it does well at first, it is let down by someone at the studios giving carte blanche to the CGI guys, who really do push things so clearly beyond the capacity of their tools that a good deal of the effects look unreal and plastic. Less definitely would have been more here.
Nicolas Cage puts in yet another lacklustre performance here, content to do 'just enough' to warrant his over-inflated pay cheque, while the other actors and actresses are frankly average or at worst, forgettable. The soundtrack does enough as do the sound effects, but the real problem here is the script and screenplay - when it works, it works well and keeps the viewer intrigued, but when it doesn't it's almost unwatchable.
So, all in all, an average film that reminded me of so many mainstream movies of late. It works for a while, but when the initial intrigue has faded and deeper questions are being asked, it simply refuses to give a straight answer and reverts to type. I'm rating Knowing at 6.0 out of 10, because it genuinely does start well - just turn it off after about an hour and you wont be disappointed. Shame.
American Beauty (1999)
The Greatest Story Ever Told
Everyone has got one. For some people it is The Godfather, others it is Apocalypse Now, and for some it is 2001: A Space Odyssey. Regardless, everyone has got a favourite film. American Beauty just happens to be mine. I've seen this movie more times than any other, and every time I watch it I love it more and more. There is always something new to see and something new to learn from it, like life itself.
When whoever it was that quipped the now age-old adage 'they don't make them like that any more', they didn't account for American Beauty. It is without question a 'modern' classic, yet it seems to span the ages of cinema with such frightening ease that it could have easily been made 10, 20, 50 years ago. It takes all that is good about cinema and encapsulates it in 122 minutes.
It's so difficult to describe exactly what makes this my favourite film of all time, but I'll try. Every nuance, every idiosyncrasy, every scene, shot and sound blends so delicately and perfectly with the last and the next that you often forget you are watching a film. Suspension of disbelief doesn't even begin to describe what the viewer is subjected to on this remarkable journey of an unremarkable man, who just wants another chance to live life before it leaves him behind for good.
It's the myriad of human feelings, emotions and traits on show that make American Beauty what it is. It's tragic, hilarious, gut-wrenching, spine-tingling and awe-inspiring all at the same time. The characters are hewn of solid granite, so incredibly well developed and matured that you know at least two or three in real life. The direction is nothing short of majestic, the camera work sublime and the script is proof of the theory that at times, life imitates art.
There is no point in describing what happens during the running time, because to be perfectly honest, it's been done a hundred times on these boards. What I will say though is that this film may well leave you asking a thousand questions of yourself and others after watching it, and on the flip side, many questions you had already asked are answered. It is a film about the human condition, the human spirit and human endeavour. It works on levels that 99% of other films cannot even begin to aspire to. If you haven't yet had the pleasure of watching it yet, I implore you to do so today - you certainly wont regret it.
I'm rating this movie at 9.4 / 10 - the highest rating I have ever given to any film. Spellbinding, devastating stuff.
Drag Me to Hell (2009)
Off The Wall
If you're anything like me, then you remember the good old days of Betamax. If you're quite like me, then you knew of an old video rental place that would hire 'video nasties'. If you're just like me, the first one you got your hands on was The Evil Dead.
It was the stuff of legend - the horror movie that most parents wouldn't let their teenage kids watch - under NO circumstances. Perhaps it was the demonic voices. Perhaps it was the pencil scene. Perhaps it was 'that scene' involving the tree. Who knows. Nonetheless, we got to watch it anyhow - and boy did we rave on about it when we did.
Some 28 years on (yes, I know) and it is still considered (and rightly so) as one of the best horror flicks the world has ever seen. Then there was Evil Dead II, which was just as good but with a little more humour, then Evil Dead III which was just as good again - but this time completely off the wall.
And I guess you could sum Raimi up like that - a little off the wall. He loves to scare you witless, then make you laugh a little, just before scaring you out of your seat again. So when I heard rumour that he was 'going back to his roots' with Drag Me To Hell, I licked my lips in anticipation. Despite several attempts to watch this in the theatre, I never got the chance. Nonetheless, I have finally managed to watch it on DVD - the question is... what's it like?
Well, fans of the Evil Dead franchise (if there is such a thing) will be squealing with delight over this outing. Imagine that Betamax was still in your living room. Imagine that little video store was still open for business and imagine the guy who works there just hired you a copy. Sit back and prepare to jump more often than a cricket for the next couple of hours.
The look and feel of the movie is very much that of an age gone by - it relies on the simpler vehicles to get what it wants from the viewer, namely misdirection, REALLY loud noises and the now trademark 'Raimi Slant' camera angles to create a feeling of vertigo. There is a nice combination of CGI and prosthetic work here, but sadly no plasticine (if you know, you know).
There is plenty of viscera - be it blood, maggots, bile or other unknown, unearthly liquids - and it makes for a whole lot of fun. The humour that is sadly lacking in some of Raimi's later outings has returned with a vengeance here, he clearly has missed grossing people out and then making them belly laugh right after.
The acting is deliberately confused and dizzy, and the backdrops are straight out of a 50's horror movie - you almost expect Cushing or Karloff to walk out onto set at any moment. The overall feel is that of impending doom at every turn and it doesn't give the viewer a moment's rest from the outset - which is something I have personally missed in horror films of late. Did I mention the soundtrack and effects - sheesh...
And so to the plot. What plot? Who cares! This is a SAM RAIMI movie for goodness sake! Girl gets cursed, chaos and madness ensues... THAT'S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW! Yes you'll see the end coming, and yes you've read the script before you've heard it - but I am not rating this movie on it's 'artistic contribution' or 'aesthetics' - I'm rating it on the basis that it really does do what it says on the tin - and that is scare the bejeebus out of you!
So, a final note to all horror fans out there - if you haven't caught a viewing of Drag Me To Hell yet, I advise that you do it - NOW. If you wondered what all the fuss was about with The Evil Dead series, but are a little wet behind the ears - double march to your local store pronto.
And finally to Mr. Raimi (if you're reading) - please, please, PLEASE make more horror flicks and show the pretentious wannabes that claim the throne these days how it's REALLY done.
Enough of my yakking. I rate Drag Me To Hell at 8.1 / 10 - and that is a meaty score for a meaty movie. Awesome stuff!!
Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)
Taken For Granted
Now here is something that is close to my heart. An animation film based on 1950's sci-fi fodder - it's just got to work. Or has it?
Thankfully, yes it does. As film lovers in the digital age, we have become so spoilt for choice over the last ten years, what with Toy Story, Finding Nemo and Wall-E to name but a few - that we are quick to knock films of this genre with even the slightest flaw - forgetting the time, patience and effort that goes into producing one of these modern day miracles.
Monsters Vs. Aliens isn't a classic by any stretch of the imagination, but is ludicrously good fun if you're a fan of science fiction. There are too numerous references to list here, but needless to say if you've ever watched a black and white sci-fi flick, you'll recognise plenty here.
Technically, the film holds it's own, and at the same time manages to resist the temptation to overwhelm the viewer with flash/bang trickery. The monsters all have their own endearing qualities that children and adults alike will love - while the aliens thankfully fall into the category of 'so smart they're stupid' that made the likes of 'Mars Attacks!' so much fun. The vocal acting is competent and manages to keep disbelief at bay for the best part.
As mentioned before, MVA isn't great great - but it's not bad bad either, and there are plenty of animations that fall into that category that really do get a bad time in the press, simply for not being a Pixar movie. All aside, kids will love this - and if you're a big kid like me, you'll love it too. Good stuff!
Bronson (2008)
Art & Punishment
Being a huge fan of prison movies such as Chopper, Ghosts Of The Civil Dead and such like, I was quite looking forward to seeing Bronson - the story of self-titled sociopath and all-round hard-man Charlie Bronson - and I'm not quite sure how I felt about it to be perfectly honest.
Now, I'm a strong believer in convention and everything in it's right place and all that stuff. Bronson, however, does attempt to break the mould - but unfortunately, I don't think it knew how to put it back together again. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed a good deal of art-house movies in the past - but then, they were dealing primarily with art for art's sake. This is the story of a convicted sociopath and attempted murderer.
You can see my dilemma can't you.
While the film skirts around fact, most of it seems content to further glorify the kind of behaviour that got Bronson into trouble in the first place without much thought for anything else. The lighting and sets are very Kubrickesque, the acting very Lynchian. At times it rather makes you feel like you've eaten the wrong type of mushroom gathered on that field trip.
That said, it's entertaining enough but it does seem to try a little too hard to be something that it really was never meant to be - ironically, this is indicative of Charlie Bronson too. There are genuine moments of hilarity (the 'art' teacher scene is frankly unforgettable) and the 'split personality on stage' scene is majestically performed. All in all though, it seems a little fractured with the direction constantly going off on a tangent and staying there just a little too long.
I'm giving this 6.1 out of 10 - but with the right people behind this project, it could have been so much more. Pity.
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Tarantino's Finest Hour... So Far
Finally, after weeks of wanting to see Inglorious Basterds, I finally got to watch it. Firstly, let me say that this is no Reservoir Dogs or Pulp Fiction - it's far too mature a film for that. What you have here is a raw, unadulterated two hour and something cinematic experience that will have you on the edge of your seat for the best part.
Fans of war movies will adore it, fans of Quentin Tarantino's work will revere it. Those who have worked tirelessly over the years to remove this sort of film from cinemas will be despairing - for if it were the 1980's, this would have been cut to ribbons, or perhaps even banned.
Nonetheless, it's compelling stuff. The characters have been so well developed and spliced together that suspension of disbelief is almost instant. The first ten, nail biting minutes in which Colonel Hans Landa (aptly nick-named 'The Jew Hunter') carefully interrogates a French dairy farmer, are perhaps among the finest suspenseful cinematic moments I've ever watched - and it's this feeling that something awful is about to happen that permeated the whole film, with no real let up save for the occasional break for some humorous banter - which only serves to lull the viewer into a false sense of security.
The film as a whole has pretty much everything going for it - a great cast, a fantastic soundtrack, an awesome script and direction to die for. The running time literally flies by, and before you know it, you've been thrust out onto the cinema lobby wondering why it didn't last just another hour longer. As mentioned before, this film strikes me as a real coming-of-age for Tarantino, who has often been accused of being something of a two-hit wonder in the past, with the likes of Jackie Brown and Death Proof being disregarded by many critics.
Inglorious Basterds is not only Tarantino's finest hour to date, it may yet prove to be his masterpiece. It's a much more mature effort from QT than has been seen before - even though there is plenty of darkly humour to be found - and the characters really are so set in stone that it's impossible to get them confused, perfectly played and carved with such finesse that the viewer immediately identifies with at least one from the word go.
A word of warning, however. Basterds is not for the faint of heart - there are scenes of scalping and mutilation that may make some a little queasy - but none of it appears to be gratuitous, in fact on the contrary. Sgt. Donny Donowitz (a.k.a. The Bear Jew) has returned to Germany to wreak revenge on Nazi platoons who happen to cross his path - and revenge happens to manifest itself in the form of a baseball bat. The scenes involving the 'Bear Jew' administering his own special brand of punishment are extremely graphic as is much of the film. But don't let this put you off.
Inglorious Basterds is a superb cinematic effort, and no expense has been spared. For purists, it may be a little too 'fairytale like' - but for the laymen, it will provide you with more than enough bang for your buck. Make sure you buy enough popcorn - if you can stomach it, that is.
I'm giving this 8.4 out of 10, rounded down (please IMDb, install a more sophisticated scoring system). Go see IB today - fantastic stuff!
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)
A Bowlful Of 3D Fun!
Computer-generated animation flicks are six to the penny these days - some good, some bad, and some downright ugly - but I'm pleased to say that Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs really does hit the spot.
So - Sony unveil their all-singing, all-dancing, 'powerful enough to rival the mighty Pixar' animation kit - but the question is... is it?
On this evidence, the answer is... perhaps. Bear in mind there are TWO versions of this film - namely 2D and 3D. I, perhaps like yourself, had read and watched frankly average reviews based on the 2D version, as many theatres will not be showing the 3D version - and to be perfectly honest, this DOES matter.
As a standalone 2D film, not much stands out from the crowd here - the animation is good, perhaps as good as Pixar in parts, but that isn't enough to warrant whooping and cheering from the aisles. The story itself is a little thin, the voice overs do enough to make it work - but again, nothing to write home about. BUT...
...Don those 3D glasses, take a seat (preferably one of those expensive leather ones at the back) and prepare to be truly DAZZLED. What looks ordinary and laboured at times in 2D transforms into something straight out of a bag of multi-coloured candy, kaleidoscopic and fresh. I don't think I've ever seen so much depth and colour on the big screen ever. At times the film is truly jaw-dropping - talk about shock and awe.
OK, So what's the deal? Sony showcase their new kit, but neglect the plot and acting talent in order to show off it's real jewel in the crown, namely the 3D capacity? You got it.
It's been attempted on many occasions, and has rarely worked - Pixar themselves enjoyed a little fame with the 10 minute Shrek short - albeit in anaglyph format - but apart from a few moments, it looked as if they were trying too hard. Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs has taken the 3D guideline book, ripped it up and thrown it out of the building - looking silly in a pair of geeky 3D specs will never be the same again.
And it seems Pixar, THE genuine animation article for what seems like time out of mind now, have decided to run with the ball too. A genuine 'anything you can do' battle seems inevitable with the re-release of Toy Story in 3D imminent. Can they pull it off? Only time will tell.
Back to Sony. While the animation hardware looks more than capable of giving Pixar a run for it's money in years to come - it's not quite there yet. But forget all that, if you have kids, you are a kid or you're a kid in an adult's body that secretly wished 3D would finally get the chance to grow up - your dreams, all of them, have been fulfilled.
Fantastic, spellbinding stuff - look for a theatre that is showing the 3D version, and get there today!
District 9 (2009)
The Gaza Strip Of Alien Flicks
This movie ticks all the right boxes - great direction, competent acting, realistic SFX with a story and plot that harks back to the good old days of cinema.
Perhaps the most interesting (and overseen) aspect of this film is the social commentary that permeates throughout. The 'aliens' are shown as the lowest of the low, with barely enough intelligence to breathe of their own accord, barbaric and happy to live in squalor, trading weapons and sex for drugs... which just happens to be cat food - go figure.
This stereotypical view mirrors many minorities in western culture - and the decision to base this film in South Africa is an inspired choice, given the troubles the country has seen since the sea-change it has endured in recent times.
The aliens appear cockroach-like, seemingly wandering aimlessly around District 9's wasteland, as if they are missing a vital piece in their social jigsaw puzzle. They are not without humour however, or a misguided intelligence that at times disproves the human view that they are merely pond-life (the derogatory term 'prawns' is the racial slant of choice).
The humans are anything but - the lower castes relishing in their new found status, demonstrating furiously at the fact that District 9 and its inhabitants are even allowed to exist, oblivious to the fact that they were, until the arrival of the aliens, tarred with the very same brush by those with a higher status - the social domino-effect is on full display here.
Its a brave man who takes on the issues highlighted here and applies it to a sci-fi movie - but Blomkamp has really pulled an ace out of nowhere with this. At the time of writing this review, District 9 is rated at #49 on the all-time list, but I'm not in total agreement with this. While it is a fantastic watch riddled with dark humour, moments of unease that make it difficult to watch and some great dialogue - District 9 doesn't, in my opinion, shine a candle to the likes of Blade Runner, Donnie Darko or The Matrix. However, it is worthy of a straight eight out of ten from me.
Don't let this review distract you from going out and watching this movie, however. It will appeal to all but the most cynical viewers of sci-fi and cinema as a whole - and is a fantastic addition to the genre. I must add that along with others, hope this remains as a piece of film that stands on its own merit, not needing to rely on a sequel to reiterate a story that is more than adequately told here.
Great stuff, extremely refreshing and gutsy. See it today!