Bonapartess Reviews

The Dog Problem (2006)

Absolutely brilliant work

[10/10 · 29 August 2007]

If I had kept the reviews and comments in mind, I would've never rented this film, but I went with my gut and the fact that Ribisi is amazing and am so impressed with this movie. I loved this movie so much I'm bothering to leave a comment which in itself, for me, is unusual.

This sweet, poignant, simple, and heartbreakingly realistic movie is about a man who buys a dog at the advice of a therapist to improve his life. That's the straight-forward surface story. But as the story progresses, you really start to realize and appreciate the massive similarities between the dog and the main character, and the plight the dog and the emotional growth of the man. No matter what the movie is about or how far-out it is, it should connect with the viewer emotionally, be so realistic to everyday feelings it's scary, make you view you own personal life in a more open-minded revelatory way, and make you consider what life is all about. This is definitely one of those movies.

Based on other reviews and comments, this movie isn't for everyone's tastes. But to me, this is the kind of movie that makes the hundred other semi-interesting but ultimately disappointing movies viewed before it pale in comparison. It's a gem that makes you happy you saw it. It was absolutely brilliant and I loved it.

The Devil's Rejects (2005)

in-freaking-sane

[10/10 · 13 November 2005]

Devils Rejects is one of the creepiest, depraved, most chilling horror movies I've ever watched. I am not a casual horror movie watcher and I have seen a ton of scary movies. A scary movie isn't necessarily always scary. Devil's Rejects is scary. It actually made me cringe several times. I think I said "Good Lord" in disgust several times, and I've watched darn near everything out there. It's a movie that stays with you after it ends and makes you feel kinda ashamedly voyeuristic during. The feeling that you shouldn't be watching this, to me, marks a true horror gem. It isn't mindless violence either, (spoiler) Zombie wants no pity felt for the sadistic bad guys, because the bad guys get it in the end by a vigilante cop nearly as twisted as them.

Thank Goodness for someone like Rob Zombie to make a true horror movie. Not a cookie cutter cliché driven one-liner spouting crappy two hours....you know, the kind you sit through feeling jipped because it ain't scary like you thought but has it's redeeming points. Even really good horror movies leave you improving on them after they're over, thinking this or that should've been done, or this or that would've made it better, but still have certain creepy memorable scenes. Devils Rejects sucks you in from beginning to end and is c-r-e-e-p-y, and would leave anyone hard-pressed to try to improve on it.

It's near-perfect. And I only say "near" because a horror fan always searches for that one better. But if that better one comes along, I'll eat someone's hat.