FilmBender: sh*tfaced on movies

"From Dusk Till Dawn" and the walk of shame home

 

Salma Hayek scorches the screen in her stripper scene in the film From Dusk Till Dawn.  This role may represent the first time you've seen her here in the U.S. though the director, Robert Rodriguez, also cast her opposite Antonio Banderas in an earlier film of his made for the states, Desperado (which was a re-make of his notorious low budget thriller El Mariachi).

Other babes in the flick are Juliett Lewis and Kelly Preston, but besides Salma (who alone makes the film worth watching), the movie is really noteworthy because of the mix of writer (and co-star) Quentin Tarantino and the famed director (Robert).  You'll get outrageous in this one, and you'll get eye-popping visuals that bleed with the reds of a weathered seat cushion in a house of prostitution.  Quentin can't really act, but his presence is interesting.  George Clooney also co-stars and kills it as always.  Watch the movie trailer and read on because...

"Pulp Fiction" is a cool mystery

There's at least a gazillion reasons that Pulp Fiction is the coolest movie ever made.  I am not stating that it's the best, but after fifteen years of testing, the coolest.

Before I simply list a few, I thought I'd start out by saying that a "conspiracy" email went viral detailing all the mysterious little things in the film that go unexplained... this email nicely wrapped up all the issues with credited analysis and put a bow on everything including the Ving Rhames back-of-the-neck Band-Aid, the glowing briefcase, the biblical quotes and the shots at point blank that, er, miss.  Here's a hint of these related theories.  I'm sure if you Wikipedia or Google this stuff you'd find much more.  Wish I could find that old email for you.  It was from '95 or something.  The movie spawned my first viral email.  Cool.

As always for famed director Quentin Tarrantino, he picks an original and punchy soundtrack of eclectics and stuffs the cast with unique actors portraying distinctive roles.  Harvey Keitel, Rosanna Arquette, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis, Eric Stoltz, Rosanna Arquette, Tim Roth, Ving Rhames, Christopher Walken, Steve Buscemi, and ultimately, John Travolta -- introducing, redefining, solidifying and resurrecting.  Totally cool.

"2 Days in the Valley" could kill just about anyone

Ok... so although there is a snobby art dealer in 2 Days in the Valley as well, the movie is actually jam-packed with everything you need to make a kick *ss Friday night movie -- Charlize Theron nude (and she is smoking hot in this movie), a cat fight between Charlize and Teri Hatcher, hit men, twists and turns and enough violence to make even Quentin Tarantino blush.  Killer movie.

Not to focus on the babes here, but Charlize looks the best she ever has (even with her clothes on) all slinked up in her lingerie or absolutely decked out in her groovy white jump suit.  And she's totally dangerous to boot -- a far cry from a United Nations messenger of peace.

The plays-sleazy-so-easy James Spader is her assassin boyfriend and with Danny Aiello, Keith Carradine, Eric Stoltz, and Jeff Daniels rounding out the cast, you'll thank me for tipping you off on this gem of a quirky, interwoven, crime thriller.

FilmBender is Funny Movie Reviews.  Check out the trailer, rent the movie, and God forbid, stay away from the Valley.

"Jackie Brown" is one Super Flyght attendant

Cleverly reviving blacksploitation superstar, Pam Grier, and familiar gritty copster, Robert Forster, along with contemporary actors Robert De Niro, Bridget Fonda, Chris Tucker, Michael Keaton and Samuel L. Jackson is a stroke of Quentin Tarantino genius.  And the execution is equally as kick *ss too.

Case in point: Tarantino brings the most out of Samuel.  It was obvious in Pulp Fiction but here in the far lesser-known Jackie Brown he still shines on with bravado.  Watch the movie and also pick up the sound track (also something Quentin seems to kill at) to hear one of the best scenes and deliveries in movie history... Samuel's "Beaumont-classic-case-of-him-or-me speech."  Unbelievable.

Sure... there are drugs, double-crosses, handguns, bongs and a stand-up dog-style 30-second quickie kitchen sex scene in broad daylight -- just a few of the Tarantino touches audiences come to know and expect.  Bridget is my kinda lady... half-baked and fully-baked at the same time.  This is my kinda movie... sucka.

"True Romance" is a freaky one-night stand with a true cast of characters

Patricia Arquette is the hottest and sweetest snaggletooth trailer-trash wh*re you've ever seen in True Romance.  She loves a common Christian Slater who's among other incredible characters like Gary Oldman's frightening shotgun-totin' Rasta coke king that they rip off.  Christopher Walken is a Sicilian mob boss who is chilling to say the least, but stealing the dialog from him in this film is Dennis Hopper -- quite possibly delivering the Hungry Man frozen dinner of all final words in his double-wide.

Lots of other great stuff in here like James Gandolfini, Michael Rapaport, Val Kilmer's Elvis silhouettes and Brad Pitt with his Honey Bear bong.  And there's one of those climactic endings like they recently had in the end of the second season of Weeds where all the bad guys end up in one room all pointing guns at each other all at the same time.  That would s*ck.

From Quentin Tarrantino's fingers and Tony Scott's eyes, this movie is a crime thriller you'll surely fall in love with.  I'm gonna smash my face into a mirrored closet door for sayin' that... so flippin' stupid.  Totally hung over.  And this blogging sh*t ain't easy... couldn't get to it for a week... will try to stick to it.  Or at least stick my finger down my throat.