Johnny Got His Gun (1971)

'Powerful antiwar' film—at least that’s what they say.  What I stayed around for a crazy mess.

When You're Strange: A Film about The Doors (2009) // The Doors (1991)

Followers of the Lizard King will revel in the original footage found in the newest documentary of the Doors.  When You're Strange director Tom DiCillo looks into the iconic American band exposing new insights, debunking myths, and examining what made them tick all with Johnny Depp’s narration. He is able to quantify why I find so very fascinating. It goes beyond the poet shaman, it is their music—the mystic, melodic sound courtesy of flamenco, blues, and jazz influences. The beat held by Ray Manzarek’s piano bass and his signature Vox organ create the ground for John Densmore’s blues drumming that weaves in and out among Robby Krieger’s finger-styled lead and rhythm flamenco guitar.

Jim Morrison was a broken genius who numbed in pain with drugs and alcohol. His persona became larger than life. That is more than apparent with the footage included here dated from 1966-1971. What is more tragic is how obviously frustrated Densmore, Manzark, and Krieger are; yet they take no action, going so far as to play right on through Morrison’s alcohol induced haze.

DiCillo gets it right where Oliver Stone gets it wrong…

Val Kilmer’s performance as Morrison is unwavering and eerie. The subtle nuances—the shift in his gaze, the near pirouette of his stance, the way he holds his mouth—it’s uncanny. But that is where it ends. Kilmer (and the audience for that matter) is in for one never-ending drag. The transcendent elements are there, as are important period elements, but Stone’s biopic is self-indulgent. The film is essentially one long trip, a mash-up of Morrison’s demonized life that serves no other purpose but to sensationalize.

British Favourites: Death at a Funeral (2007)

Death at a Funeral is a delightfully odd-ball black comedy.  Very much in the vein of their forefathers (Monty Python, anyone?), nothing is off-limits here.  In the wake of an American remake that is nothing but a horrible comedy with black people, I feel compelled.

The British do it better.

 Fans of dark British humor and odd comedy will enjoy this rather peculiar movie. David (Matthew Macfayden) is nervous about his father's funeral wake. He is delivering the eulogy even though his brother, Robert (Rupert Graves) is a famous writer. But when a strange midget (Peter Dinklage) appears and threatens to expose the recently deceased patriarch's extramarital gay affairs lest David and Robert pay him off, the brothers take matters in their own hands.

Frank Oz directs this madcap piece filled with a virtual no-name {to me anyways} and mostly British cast. Led by Macfayden {Pride & Prejudice} like you've never seen, Death at a Funeral is an insane romp. The far-fetched plot is a perfect medium for some great individual performances. Alan Tudyk (A Knight's Tale, 3:10 to Yuma, Dodgeball) as the boyfriend who is unknowingly macked-out on acid, gets a perfect opportunity to shine and steals the show. Macfayden is a straight-laced foil to his co-stars. Graves, Dinklage, Kris Marshall, Andy Nyman, Daisy Donovan, and Jane Asher {Paul McCartney's one-time girl friend} all have moments that induce side-splitting laughter.

Family relations are always complex. Sibling rivalry is just the beginning in this British farce where family turmoil ultimately threatens to overshadow the funeral. Despite it all, a heartfelt eulogy is delivered.

Death at a Funeral is NOT for everyone. If you like your humor quick, dry, un-PC, and British, then this is for you. From the moment the wrong body is delivered to the front door, Death at a Funeral is a spot-on comedy.

You've Got Mail (1998)

Funny, I don’t remember You’ve Got Mail being this sentimental. It’s disgusting really, but somehow, I always manage to fall in love with Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) in the end.

12 years later and You’ve Got Mail continues to be the standard by which romantic comedies are measured. Rom-coms have evolved—rightly so—and this one is dated. The iconic, now archaic ‘you’ve got mail’ and dial-up modem is a trip.

As I see it, You’ve Got Mail is a decent romantic comedy (I like Kate & Leopold better) that begs one question years later. Whatever happened to Meg Ryan?!

Nine Dead (2009)

Completely reminiscent of Unknown (which is WAY better—that doesn’t say much), Nine Dead is a mediocre drama that only succeeds in being stereotypical. Spend your time on something better. Like Memento.