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Reviews
Crank (2006)
Oh man, so deliciously bad!
I don't know how else to describe this, besides "deliciously bad". When I saw the preview I said "That is the perfect premise for an action flick", and it is. It's 80+ minutes of pretty much non-stop action, with it just ramping up to be more and more ridiculous. It's pretty much Grand Theft Auto 3, on the big screen, which is sure to have plenty of people up in arms, but I was amused.
My biggest gripe was with the amateur-looking on-screen maps and text. When I think about it, I guess it's the best or at least easiest way to keep everything moving, but it looked like something made on a home computer.
It's hyperviolent, so be warned. It wasn't ever too serious though, and everyone is expendable, so I can't say I really cared.
Would I recommend this? It's a popcorn flick - see it with your friends, to laugh, cringe, and...do whatever you do when you see a good fight or action sequence, together. It's definitely not a date movie - believe me when I tell you that if you try to play the love story angle, things will play out poorly. But if you want a ridiculous 80 minutes of fun, go for it.
Bad Boy Made Good: The Revival of George Antheil's 1924 Ballet Mécanique (2003)
Excellent Documentary About A Weird Man And His Weird Music
I saw this film last night at its Boston-area Premier (at Tufts University), and it was excellent. I was not expecting to be terribly interested by the subject matter, so I was delighted to find that the film was very enjoyable. Bad Boy Made Good is a look at George Antheil, a composer in the first half of the century, whose performances prompted standing ovations, catcalls, and riots, often all three at once. The story focuses around what is perhaps his most famous piece, The Ballet Mecanique, a piece of music written in 1924 that couldn't be performed as originally intended for 75 years, when the technology finally caught up. This film is an interesting look into Antheil's life.
The producer, Paul Lehrman, was at the showing to answer questions and he indicated that the film will be at film festivals around the country - if you get a chance, see this film.