Unlike some reviewers here, I do not give out 9's and 10's like free coupons to Chili's, so I'd like to believe that when other readers see that I've given such high marks to a film, that it definitely deserves it.
I finally saw RED STATE on VOD last night, based on buzz from friends and on the toned-down trailer for it I saw on YouTube. Other than that, I didn't know much about the film, saved for what I assumed it would be like. In fact, before seeing any kind of promotional material, all I had heard was that Kevin Smith was going to make a "horror movie" for his next film, and being more than familiar with his previous body of work, I couldn't even begin to imagine what that end product might look like. DOGMA was probably the closest thing he'd ever done to a "genre movie" as far as I could tell.
WOW. Looks like great writing and direction travels well, no matter where you're going with it.
No spoilers posted to see here, people - I will let other posters accept that dubious task. What I WILL say is that not a single cast member here 'phones it in.' John Goodman does work as good as (if not better than) things he's done for the Coen Brothers, (and it wouldn't surprise me if they're fans of this flick.) Kevin Pollak, Stephen Root, Kevin Alejandro, Anna Gunn...it doesn't matter how big or small the role is - everybody is "on" here.
But aside from the three "teen" leads (Michael Angarano, Nicholas Braun and Kyle Gallner) who are all amazing, I have to give the lion's share of the kudos to two of the scariest people in the cast.
Melissa Leo, whose portrayal will have even Piper Laurie giving her props, is terrifying as "Sara", the crazed mother/protector of a group whose views are completely twisted by their misguided, misinterpreted faith, and Michael Parks as "the Reverend Abin Cooper," who knew he had a once-in-a-lifetime role and ran with it like Jesse Owens at the Olympics. This is a portrayal no one will soon forget once they've seen it - I only hope that the Academy will feel the same way for his sake.
Some people will call this film "extremist", some will call it 'garbage', and some will have even more choice names for it that can't be repeated here. But NOBODY, I am willing to bet all the money I have in this world, will ever say that "it doesn't go quite far enough." Congrats to Kevin and the cast and crew for turning out what should be one of the most talked-about and viewed films of this year.
I finally saw RED STATE on VOD last night, based on buzz from friends and on the toned-down trailer for it I saw on YouTube. Other than that, I didn't know much about the film, saved for what I assumed it would be like. In fact, before seeing any kind of promotional material, all I had heard was that Kevin Smith was going to make a "horror movie" for his next film, and being more than familiar with his previous body of work, I couldn't even begin to imagine what that end product might look like. DOGMA was probably the closest thing he'd ever done to a "genre movie" as far as I could tell.
WOW. Looks like great writing and direction travels well, no matter where you're going with it.
No spoilers posted to see here, people - I will let other posters accept that dubious task. What I WILL say is that not a single cast member here 'phones it in.' John Goodman does work as good as (if not better than) things he's done for the Coen Brothers, (and it wouldn't surprise me if they're fans of this flick.) Kevin Pollak, Stephen Root, Kevin Alejandro, Anna Gunn...it doesn't matter how big or small the role is - everybody is "on" here.
But aside from the three "teen" leads (Michael Angarano, Nicholas Braun and Kyle Gallner) who are all amazing, I have to give the lion's share of the kudos to two of the scariest people in the cast.
Melissa Leo, whose portrayal will have even Piper Laurie giving her props, is terrifying as "Sara", the crazed mother/protector of a group whose views are completely twisted by their misguided, misinterpreted faith, and Michael Parks as "the Reverend Abin Cooper," who knew he had a once-in-a-lifetime role and ran with it like Jesse Owens at the Olympics. This is a portrayal no one will soon forget once they've seen it - I only hope that the Academy will feel the same way for his sake.
Some people will call this film "extremist", some will call it 'garbage', and some will have even more choice names for it that can't be repeated here. But NOBODY, I am willing to bet all the money I have in this world, will ever say that "it doesn't go quite far enough." Congrats to Kevin and the cast and crew for turning out what should be one of the most talked-about and viewed films of this year.