Category: Entertainment

Old Man 2 AKA OM2 (2023) The Asylum Style Version of Sisu

Mark Battle’s Old Man 2 can be seen as an The Asylum style version of Sisu, on a low-no budget. For those not in the know, Z-Nation, Sharknado and many other schlock filled products are all the result of Asylum. In some ways very similar to the old Roger Corman days.

*Side Note: Both The Asylum and Corman have had bonafide hits. Z-Nation managed to reach heights of genius in several episodes, and quite a number of Corman’s films have taken on iconic status.*

Synopsis

Buster

Buster (John Mason in his first role) AKA prisoner 911 escapes captivity and goes in search of his old friend Doc (played by Battle). On his journey, he battles cybermen sent by his old adversary Dr Radley (Fabio Falorni).

Dr Radley and two henchmen

Discussion

Mason acquits himself well in his role. In fact, all the actors play this action/comedy straight as a string. This adds to the film’s enjoyment factor immeasurably. Battles does well with his low budget feature despite a few problems.

It is interesting to note, that with the old man wig, Mason looks like Lee Marvin. This illusion is shattered the moment he speaks but until then the resemblance is amazing.

Everything about Old Man 2 works. Many times in spite of the low budget. Battles has managed to entertain with his The Asylum style version of Sisu.

*Side note: Sisu is set in WWII Lapland. The protagonist is an old man, a veteran who finds gold and heads out of the wilderness to put it in a bank. He runs into Naxis. The old former soldier is nigh on indestructible. Buster may not be looking for gold, but he is looking for his lost friend.*

Robocop on the cheap

we hate to mention it, but

Before we head on over to the “hate to mention it” portion of the review, we would like to praise Battle on this shooting locations. It is also imperative to mention that the creator of Old Man 2 does almost everything in terms of “backstage” tasks. The only things he did not do on the film was music and makeup. A real cottage industry kind of guy.

There were some things that were noticeable. (This is the “We hate to mention it.) During several scenes, the actors were trembling/shaking. It looks like those winter settings in the snow were pretty difficult to endure. Kudos to all the folks who gave their best with no heat.

The length of that cigarette in the field encounter. That thing must have been six inches long.

the verdict

There appear to be nods and winks to various films. The opening sequence could be a nod to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The last cyberman created by Dr Radley could well be a nod to Robocop. Whether these were intentional or not, they certainly felt like “homages” to other works.

Watch the trailer below and see what you think. We give it a solid 3.5 stars out of 5. What can we say? We liked it, warts and all.

James May: Our Man in India Brit Passion for Travel

James May Our man in India

 

I have to admit being a huge fan of the James May: Our Man in…a series that feeds that Brit passion for travel through the ages. May became a household name on Top Gear but has branched out into other types of television programs.

Journalist, TV presenter and broadcaster, Alan Whicker was the man about the planet from the ’50s. He is and forever will be the “king” of travelogue presenters.

Those who went before

Alan Whicker

Whicker had a clever and witty approach to his world travels. The man interviews abroad included dictators and tyrants. He went literally everywhere. If Whicker was the king of travelogue world, then Judith Chalmers was Queen. Although her travels were more of the holiday variety. From Bognor Regis to the South of France.

Her foray into the world of travelogues were specifically aimed at the average British family’s yearly holiday (vacation) crowd.

The face that launched a thousand holidays.

Michael Palin (Yes, the one from Monty Python’s Flying Circus, et al) became the next “Alan Whicker” he joined the travelogue set. He spent a number of years as the latest British globe trotter. Palin came across as the slightly bemused “every man” who went to exciting locations. He could be called a pretender to the throne that Alan Whicker more or less invented.

From the flying circus to the Sahara

And then there was may

There have been other presenters, performers and broadcasters to take on the role of travelling super star but none have quite matched the popularity of Alan Whicker. Although, it must be said that James May just might climb up to reach the heady heights of pretender to Whicker’s throne.

May manages to convey the same sort of Palinesque everyman traveller. For a man who, self admittedly, was a bit of a waster till he was 42, he could understandably fill the “man on the street” role. He is amusing and like Palin, has that bemused view of the rest of the world.

*Side note: When I worked in a juvenile prison in the UK, Palin came to give the lads a pep talk, if you will, to push the youngsters into the right direction. I was desperate to attend this talk (as chaperone) at something called the “JAC Center.” At that time I loathed the place and my higher ups, remembering this, posted me someplace else that day. I don’t think I’ve ever quite forgiven them.*

india

May is currently visiting India. He is just as typically English in this iteration of the James May: Our Man in… as he was in the other two global visits. His style of presenting in the first two seasons is still there. He intermingles well with the locals and seems to have an affable connection with the film crew and director.

He is quickly becoming the next Michael Palin. Chalmers, ITV annoyingly fired her when she got “too old,” need not worry about losing her crown. May will never be that Bognor Regis chap. His presence on foreign shores satiates the British yearning for travel, or as they called it back the old days, colonization.

Amazon are showing all seasons. The third, May’s travels in India, is halfway through. This is good stuff. Check the trailer and then the show.

the trailer

Protanopia (2024) Raw Rob Zombie Hold the Humour

All images courtesy of Timothy J Cox

Protanopia (2024) feels a little like raw Rob Zombie, hold the humour. (Think House of a 1000 Corpses on acid. I am not talking about plot here, but filming style.) Matthew Mahler writes and directs this offering. The just over one hour film presents itself as a tense and grim take on horror. It is about a “special” house and its pull on the current inhabitant; Alan Roscoe Jr (Played to perfection by Timothy J Cox) who is a deeply disturbed fellow.

Protanopia means colourblind

This film starts with the disappearance of a young woman. We see her running in the dark. Her brother starts dreaming of Alan’s house. A detective questions the brother; Luke (Anthony Carey) and we are treated to the sight of Roscoe Jr cutting his grass in a bathrobe. He finds mutilated remains in the lawn. Reaching into his robe pocket he collects the fly covered animal.

Alan then feeds the thing to his house.

Fast forward to what appears to be the monthly meeting of the neighborhood watch group. Alan is uncomfortable with his new role as President. Janice (Paula Mahler) is a b***h.

As the film progresses Luke’s dreams become nightmares and Alan becomes more unhinged. *By the film’s end, I never found a connection to colourblindness. Although, there is the use of red and green filters in some scenes and this could be the meaning behind the title.*

Detective “No Badge”

Where do we go from here

Protanopia does have some splendid moments. There is a scene with Alan Sr that, barring the overlong expositional moment, that is definitely creepy. There is another where Luke is trying to run down the hall. The FX used were spot on and anyone whoever had one of those “running dreams” were literally in Luke’s shoes at that moment.

Red/Blue Luke

Cox holds Protanopia together. His journey as Alan Jr runs the gamut. He even manages to make this disturbed and driven man an object of sympathy. Carey pulls his weight as the brother trying to find answers. And Paula Mahler manages to make us hate her the moment she goes into the house.

However.
All images courtesy of Timothy J Cox
Alan Jr

To be honest, this was not quite my cup of tea.

But.

This was clearly a labour of love. Mahler puts himself into his work/passion. I loved To Be Alone (2017) with its up close and personal look at death and grief. There were things that I really liked about Protanopia, just not enough to make me a fan. Unfortunately, the movie is slow. The one hour 13 minute run time felt much longer. I literally had to take breaks. *Although to be fair, this is more of a “me” problem. Everything I have been watching lately moves at “trotting” speed vs walking.*

Raw Zombie VS Rob Zombie

As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, there is a semblance of Rob Zombie going on here. I hasten to add, again, not in terms of plot but the shooting style and visuals made me think of Zombie, in the raw. And with no humour. I am a self-confessed fan, although after The Devil’s Rejects, the bloom has sort of fallen off that rose.

While I did not fall hard for Protanopia it still earns a 3.5 stars out of 5. A lot of work went into this film and it shows. It just did not move me. I am a nut about horror films, have been since those old Hammer days, but this offering left me cold.

It is worth checking out though. The performances of Cox and Carey almost demand it. Kudos to John Mahler as Alan Roscoe Sr; you really put the wind up with that piano scene.

Trailer

Watch the trailer and see what you think. The most important part of any review is to leave it to the viewer/reader. Do not take my word for it, watch it to see if it floats your boat.

Nobody is Crazy: World Cinema Treat

All images courtesy of Federico J Arioni.

Nobody is Crazy is an award winning world cinema treat from Argentina. Writer/director/editor and actor Federico J. Arioni gives us a paradoxical tale that could almost be seen as a Schrodinger’s Cat moment. Arioni also plays “Nobody” in the film.

However, Nobody is Crazy is really a quantum theory experience that deals specifically with time travel. Although this travelling story is a combination of love story, living with mental illness, and growing up.

synopsis

A young man (Rafael; played by Manuel Gutierrez) suffers from OCD. He is an orphan, adopted by new parents who then divorce. Rafael lives with his mother.She is desperately trying to get Rafael to deal with his OCD. Rather than attend school, Rafael is being farmed out to different psychologists. The last one the boy sees suggests attending a support group. It is at this setting that he meets Nobody.

Nobody is a self proclaimed time traveler. The two hit it off and Rafael has found a new friend.

Nobody and Rafael

Rafael starts ditching the support group sessions. He meets instead with his newfound friend and they spend a lot of time together. As they move around the city, they meet Daria. The young woman is rollerblading and she is drawn to the two young men. They start hanging out together.

Daria

Quantum physics

Nobody is Crazy is an absorbing film. As it was filmed in Argentina, it uses subtitles to translate what the characters are saying. This does not distract from the story. Rafael narrates the film. From the very start, he tells the viewer that something is going to happen. If it does not then he himself is crazy,

He tells the story from his point of view. This is a dialogue heavy film. From Rafael’s constant narration, to the interaction between the three main protagonists, all the characters have a lot to say. It is, however, necessary for the tale being told. Everyone gets to tell their story,after a fashion, even Rafael’s mother.

Rafael and his mother

time travel

Nobody tells Rafael that there is no time travel machine. He vaguely explains how he is able to travel in time. This entire film is reminiscent of Looper and its very short take on time travel.

*Older Joe: I don’t want to talk about time travel because if we start talking about it then we’re going to be here all day talking about it, making diagrams with straws.*

We do not need to know the mechanics behind Nobody moving in time. He mentions a mute man with an unlit cigarette. Is this a McGuffin? Quite probably. The entire plot device, about traveling through time, could well fit this trope. But it feels off balance and a little trite, to write off Nobody’s mute man as a misleading plot device.

There are things never dreamt of

There is a splendid twist to this film. Arioni sneaks up to the finale of Nobody is Crazy. There are little hints as to the outcome, but, this does not get in the way. Indeed, it helps keep us a little off balance. As we balance possible scenarios, the film keeps us guessing, almost to the very end.

Arioni is splendid as the mask wearing stranger who enters Rafael’s life. His time travelling character is fun, mysterious and compelling. Gutierrez is spot on as the teen with so much on his metaphorical plate. Wheeler does a great job in her first role as Daria. This trio, when they are together, manage to entertain.

Wrap up and trailer

Nobody is Crazy is an award winning film. Watching the film, it is easy to see why. Cinematographer Jonatan Robledo makes each frame a luscious feast for the eyes. Arioni edits the film with panache and the rest of the crew outdo themselves. The subtitles will bother those who have issues with world cinema not “dubbed.” However, the delivery of the actors make the subtitles almost superfluous.

Have a look at the trailer and then catch this film. Nobody is Crazy has finished its worldwide festival run. It is available on Tubi and for those who despise commercials, it can be rented or purchased on Amazon.

Bound (2023) Debut Film Touches the Heart

All images courtesy of Isaac Hirotsu Woofter.

Bound is set in a dysfunctional world filled with dysfunctional people. It touches the heart and makes the audience think. It also entertains. Isaac Hirotsu Woofter is offering up his debut feature film on the Festival Circuit.

Woofter serves as writer and director for this one. Cinematography is credited to Maximilian Lewin and Jake Simpson. Bound is powerful and compelling. It follows the emotional pain of several characters. Bella, played magnificently by Alexandra Faye Sadeghian, escapes her familial prison. She heads to nearby New York City, a presence of its own in this tale, to be an artist.

Bella is sheltered and angry. Her overprotective step father Gordy (Bryant Carroll) has been a poor influence on his stepdaughter. At the start of her journey, Gordy is a villain. Later, we learn more about the man she hates.

flawed

All the characters and their lives share one thing. They are all flawed, just like the rural area they inhabit and the big city nearby. Woofter chooses to show us the intricacies of each character. He also places Bella in the underbelly of The Big Apple. A place that allows her to survive. It is, in all likelihood, the only place she could have fit in.

Bella and Bandit

Bella encounters a number of displaced and dysfunctional people in the alleyways and crowded streets of New York. She has no place to sleep and learns quickly of the charitable and uncharitable nature of her new neighbours.

Meanwhile, back at the home she left behind, her mother and stepfather are still having problems.

It’s a small world after all

Yeva

Bound goes a long way towards the adage that the world is a pretty small place. Not too unlike the old Disney ride, everyone that Bella comes in contact with has some connection to her home.

Geordy

a whole lot of shakin’ going on

Bound has a lot of sub-plots going on here. This is a pretty sad slice of life on the table. Everyone has problems, a lot like real life, and most of them are afraid to leave bad things behind. We discover, just like Bella, that life connects in strange and unhappy ways.

Woofter has woven a tale of grief, struggle, drugs and best intentions. Not every character is what they seem and Bella meets a number of folks who are kind and helpful.

the good

Ramin Karimloo is Owais
Owais
Marta
Standrick

And the bad

Gordy confronts Donnie

And the cute

While the legacy of good old Uncle Walt (Disney) is not in danger of being usurped here, Bella’s erstwhile companion; Bandit, brings some much needed love. The creature is cute, and could well be a ferret or a flying squirrel, but this furry little animal is addictive to watch.

the message

Bound may well be a hard trudge at times, but in the end, the message it conveys is that no matter how dysfunctional the world and its inhabitants are, life goes on. That living is learning. Woofter has outdone himself in his first effort. The film is addictive, no pun intended, and a solid 4.5 stars out of 5. It loses a half a star due to the overloud soundtrack music.

Bound is a winner. We loved everything, almost, about this film. The actors, the settings, the cinematography and, last but not least, the editing. Check out the trailer below and see what we mean. Watch this as soon as it comes off its festival run.

the trailer