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The Basics: 'Used Cars' and Satisfying Endings

By William Goss (Subscribe to William Goss's posts), Posted Mar 26th 2011 5:00PM
Filed under: Columns, Cinematical


Drew McWeeny of HitFix contributed a series of columns about the essential titles that any film fan ought to be familiar with, and I used to respond with my own thoughts in a timely manner. However, I've been working on this entry of The Basics since August of 2010, so it's fair to say that it will be my last post as part of the series... in addition to serving as my last post as part of the Cinematical staff.

I imagine that you have some questions.

If you're wondering what "The Basics" is, I implore you to go back and read that preface again, if not the four posts preceding this one. If you're wondering where "The Basics" went, well, it went on my back burner for far too long. If you're wondering where "The Basics" is going, keep your eyes on Drew's own corner of the internet, as he intends to bring the series back, and soon.

In the meantime, I recommend checking out Jacob Hall's like-minded column here, "Where Everyone Has Gone Before." This whippersnapper's been writing circles around me for a while now, and I encourage you all to continue reading his work...

But not before you finish reading mine, damn it.
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'Our Day Will Come' SXSW Review: Redheads on the Run

By William Goss (Subscribe to William Goss's posts), Posted Mar 22nd 2011 5:15PM
Filed under: Reviews, SXSW Film Festival, Cinematical, Festivals


When we first meet Remy (Olivier Barthelemy), he is both literally and figuratively bruised. He is ostracized from his soccer team, shunned by his family and even mocked online. Then again, he is a redhead, and in the world of Romain Gavras' 'Our Day Will Come,' he's one of many persecuted based on the color of his hair. Patrick (Vincent Cassel) knows his pain, and these two strangers partner up for a road trip to their idea of the promised land -- Ireland -- and cause much mayhem along the way.
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'Beginners' SXSW Review: I Love My Dead Gay Dad

By William Goss (Subscribe to William Goss's posts), Posted Mar 22nd 2011 9:45AM
Filed under: Reviews, SXSW Film Festival, Cinematical, Festivals


This is 2003. This is Oliver (Ewan McGregor). He is an artist whose work nobody appreciates. This is Hal (Christopher Plummer). He's a cancer-stricken widower who has come out of the closet at the age of 75. He is Oliver's father. This is 'Beginners,' Mike Mills' semi-autobiographical follow-up to 'Thumbsucker' and an artistic effort that I, for one, failed to appreciate.

See, Oliver is fine with his dad being a homosexual, even if boyfriend Andy (Goran Visnjic) doesn't believe that's the case. He's more troubled by the implication that his parents had a loveless marriage over so many years, making Oliver all the more concerned about his reluctance to commit to a relationship while in his late 30s.
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'Kill List' SXSW Review: Their Sanity in Someone Else's Sights

By William Goss (Subscribe to William Goss's posts), Posted Mar 21st 2011 9:10AM
Filed under: Reviews, SXSW Film Festival, Cinematical, Festivals


Well, it's official: Ben Wheatley is Mike Leigh with a far bigger set of huevos. The man's naturalistic approach gave his directorial debut, 'Down Terrace,' a dark comedy about a crime family, surprising dramatic heft, and with his follow-up, 'Kill List,' Wheatley takes his filmmaking in even bolder directions.

Jay (Neil Maskell) hasn't worked in eight months, and his unemployment and general lack of social graces are taking its toll on his marriage to Shel (MyAnna Buring). His pal Gal (Michael Smiley) has an assignment, though, if Jay wants it -- local work this time -- and after a particularly heated dinner party, Jay decides that maybe getting himself out of the house and back into the swing of things would be for the best.

It seems fair to say that Jay and Gal happen to be hitmen, and that the "Kill List" of the title is their target roster; to reveal much more would be criminal, as it becomes steadily apparent that our two professionals may be in over their heads with this particular assignment.
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'Limitless' Review: This is Bradley Cooper's Brain on Drugs

By William Goss (Subscribe to William Goss's posts), Posted Mar 18th 2011 3:30PM
Filed under: Reviews, Cinematical


Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) is a writer, which is to say that he's a loser. His girlfriend, Lindy (Abbie Cornish), has just thrown in the towel, and who can blame her? But Eddie just bumped into his ex-brother-in-law, a drug dealer with a new pill to push. It's called "NZT," it's clear, it's allegedly FDA-approved, and it allows the user to take full advantage of their brain's capabilities (as opposed to the rumored 20% we only tap into now).

In essence, it transforms Eddie into Bradley Cooper, a beyond-suave math whiz who's finished his novel with ease and is now the toast of Wall Street. The drug's benefits are -- wait for it -- 'Limitless,' but it's not without some side effects...
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'The Beaver' SXSW Review: The Good, Not Great Depression

By William Goss (Subscribe to William Goss's posts), Posted Mar 17th 2011 2:00PM
Filed under: Reviews, SXSW Film Festival, Cinematical, Festivals


It seems like a marvel that 'The Beaver' actually exists. Before any of Mel Gibson's off-screen behavior even happened, the suggestion that an A-list star would willingly play opposite a hand puppet seemed more like a fake film than a legitimate premise. Then again, there was a time when the likelihood of seeing Jimmy Stewart star opposite a giant, invisible rabbit had to have seemed equally spare.

Jodie Foster's third feature as a director won't garner the same validation that a Pulitzer Prize would bring, despite a well-regarded screenplay by newcomer Kyle Killen that famously topped Hollywood's Black List of the best unproduced scripts. It's an occasionally ham-fisted story tenderly helmed by Foster and performed by her cast, and its merits will undoubtedly be overshadowed by the considerable parallels to its star's recently troublesome reputation.
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'Bridesmaids' SXSW Review: Girls Just Want to Have Fun

By William Goss (Subscribe to William Goss's posts), Posted Mar 16th 2011 10:00AM
Filed under: Reviews, SXSW Film Festival, Cinematical, Festivals

'Bridesmaids' was presented as a work-in-progress; director Paul Feig prefaced the screening by explaining that, short of color timing, proper credits and a missing sound effect, the cut shown at SXSW would very much resemble the theatrical version, opening May 13.

The laziest comparisons will lump 'Bridesmaids' in with the recently rowdy likes of 'The Hangover,' but it deserves to sit on the same shelf as '9 to 5' and any other comedy that allows a capable female ensemble to take the reins without being stifled by rom-com routine (which isn't entirely absent here).

Annie (Kristen Wiig) is a former business owner now biting her tongue, barely, at her jeweler's job as the happy couples come in; contending with inconsiderate sibling roommates (Matt Lucas and Rebel Wilson); and settling for being the impersonal hump-buddy of a rich tool (Jon Hamm). She's unhappy at work, unhappy at home, and now left in the lurch when her best friend (Maya Rudolph) announces her engagement and effectively pits Annie against Helen (Rose Byrne) for maid-of-honor duties.
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