Gary Wolcott's "Mr. Movie" column has appeared in the Tri-City Herald since 1992. The Tri-City native now lives in Portland, Ore., and watches about 250 movies each year. This member of Portland's association of movie critics, Far From Hollywood, believes movies are made to be seen on theater screens and should be seen there and not on television screens. Have a question for Mr. Movie? Click on "Add Comment" below. Mr. Movie has joined Twitter. Follow him here.
Carmikes Kennewick theater is one of them. It kicks off Carmikes annual independent film series and is done by first-time writer/director and editor Matthew William Jordan.
More first-timers should be this good.
Jordans cast, with the exception of Anna Chlumsky, is largely unknown. Chlumsky, as film fans will remember, did the 1990s kid flick My Girl and also got raves for her work in this years highly praised but little seen comedy In the Loop. Though theyll never win Oscars or other movie awards, Jordans no-name cast has chemistry and they have a blast with his quite original take on relationship angst.
Zach Hanks Sam checks into a motel to commit suicide. His rambling, self-pity soaked note as to why is written on a roll of toilet paper. Rescued by his near-psychopathic brother, Sam works his way toward personal redemption with help from an imaginary psychiatrist, the brother, friends that live at a Cheers-like bar and the motels maid who responds to his whining with her own message on the same toilet paper roll.
My Sweet Misery gives Carmikes series a nice jump start. It takes the boredom of the well-worn premise of marriage break-up to brand new places. Jordans film puts a unique spin on dialogue, highlights the story with some inventive cinematography and one outrageous twist after another.
Jordan is a talented writer and director who proves that you dont need big stars and a multi-million dollar payroll to make a great movie. His film is the best of this weeks openings.
And you cant beat that Carmike only charges $5 to see each movie in the independent series.
Outside of Star Trek and Quentin Tarantinos Inglourious Basterds, it will likely be the most fun youll have in a theater all year.
Mr. Movie rating: 4 1/2 stars
Rated R for mature themes and language. It opens Friday, Oct. 16 at Camike Cinemas.
5 stars to 4 1/2 stars: Must see on the big screen
4 stars to 3 1/2 stars: Good film, see it if it's your type of movie.
3 stars to 2 1/2 stars: Wait until it comes out on video.
2 stars to 1 star: Don't bother.
0 stars: Speaks for itself.
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Together and separately, they navigate their way through a brilliant whodunit packed with intense and delicious twists and turns.
'Contraband' a rare January movie that doesn't tank
Studios dump movies in January.
This month is when the biggies released between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day begin to fade and the studios begin dribbling award-worthy art films out to smaller markets.
On a company team-building outing, a cast of unknowns -- with the exception of David Koechner ( The Office ) -- end up on a bridge being renovated.
Nicholas D’Agosto’s character, Sam, has a premonition. He panics and everybody piles off the bus. They run for safety, the bridge does a spectacular collapse and everyone lives.
'My Week with Marilyn' elevates Michelle Williams' career
As a snapshot of history, My Week with Marilyn is fascinating.
Take that thought another step into good movie territory, and My Week with Marilyn isn’t that great. It’s not bad, but this is not a story that will wow you.
What does grab your attention are the great performances that dot its landscape and will have you leaving the theater jaw agape.
When a movie sits on a shelf for a year after the original release date is set it’s usually the kiss of death.
Plot flaws, bad acting, zero marketing budget and a host of other problems plague them.
This is not the case of the now-released The Debt or for last week’s Don’t be Afraid of the Dark . The official reason for the delay of both films is not plot problems or a marketing budget but the sale of distributor and art house fave Miramax.
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