When it rains, it really does pour. This statement applies to both life in general and the absolutely miserable weather we've been having since last weekend, which it supposed to relent by this weekend. Since the outdoors certainly had nothing to offer, I've spent most of my time at the movies, which is generally the focus of this week's column.
MOVIE MADNESS
After a very weak summer blockbuster season, there are finally quite a few decent movies in the theaters. I finally got around to seeing some of the films that were on my list.
"Let Me In" is based on "Let the Right One In," a Swedish horror film released in 2008. I found "Let the Right One In" available for instant play on Netflix and was surprised to discover that the American remake surpasses its foreign, original counterpart, which is so often not the case. The major plot points are the same, with scenes recreated word-for-word, but "Let Me In" cuts away the erroneous details, leaving behind the melancholy, haunting and romantic story that stayed with me long after I left the theater. I'm adding it my long list of favorite vampire films.
"The Town" centers on a group of young bank robbers from Charlestown, a neighborhood in Boston, Mass., representative of the film's opening claim that Charlestown has produced more bank robbers than anywhere in the nation. (According to some articles I found, this claim has been disputed). Doug MacRay (Affleck) is a blue collar guy with a father in prison who is the leader of his bank-robbing crew. MacRay had screwed up any previous chances to change his life for the better but a chance meeting provides him with an opportunity to turn things around; unfortunately, the FBI (lead by Jon Hamm, better known as Don Draper from "Mad Men") is desperate to finally take his crew down. It's fairly good film with a handful of exciting and touching moments, but never quite fully engaging. It's hard to get behind a supposed "criminal mastermind" who makes so many senseless mistakes.
The narrative, however, could have been much improved. Why do these Owls of Ga'Hoole have to take everything so seriously? I'm not even sure who the movie was meant for some parts would be too disturbing for children, it would be too juvenile for teens and it's not complex enough for adults. The only way to make the story serviceable would be to dub it over, a la Woody Allen's "What's Up, Tiger Lily?"
WATCH THIS
It's high time to get into the Halloween spirit. Turner Classic Movies is paying homage to Hammer Film Productions, a British production company that made many great horror movies between the 1950s and 70s. The recently-revived Hammer was behind "Let Me In" and is also producing an upcoming remake of "The Woman In Black" which will star Daniel Radcliffe ("Harry Potter"). TCM's Hammer Horror Fest will be on every Friday in October, starting at 8 p.m. This week's movies include "Plague of the Zombies," "The Devil's Bride," "The Reptile" and "The Gorgon."
WHAT'S HAPPENING
GET OUT OF TOWN
There is an interest in absurdity and chance behind what she is doing. She incorporates a narrative into her performances, along with assorted video projections and costumes. Blectum is also half of noted electronic duo Blectum From Blechdom with Kristin Erickson. Ric Royer, Al Larsen and UVB-76 are scheduled to play as well. The doors open at 9 p.m. Soundlab is located at 110 Pearl St.
April Diodato is the OBSERVER Lifestyles editor. Give her the dish on what's happening at adiodato@observertoday.com
