Alive Inside

Alive Inside is a documentary by first time director Michael Rossato-Bennett, and it is spectacular. You think you have some idea what this film is about going in thanks to the trailer, and for the most part you would be correct. Look deeper however and you'll see that this doc is also a commentary on how the world today treats the elderly and the sad state of affairs of the multi-billion dollar a year nursing home industry. This film made me laugh, made me cry, and it touched my heart in such profound ways. That is why I give Alive Inside five buckets of Killer Korn.








Everyone in the world should see this film. EVERYONE!!! I say that because there is a good majority of us that have or have had grandparents in their lives. There is a small number of people who have never known that privilege and that is tragic, and they should see this film too. Michael Rossato-Bennett was asked to tag along with Dan Cohen one day as he went to a nursing home armed with a few ipod shuffles and headphones. Dan wanted Michael to capture what happened when the music was introduced to those with dementia and Alzheimer's. On that first day Dan and Michael met a withdrawn man by the name of Henry. He was a man that no one could reach, there was no engaging him in conversation, they couldn't even get him to tell you his name. After the headphones were placed on him and the play button was pressed, Henry exploded in song and movement and sang along to the gospel music that was filling his heart and soul. Suddenly Henry was answering questions and letting you know about who he was and what music meant to him. It was miraculous and Michael, who was supposed to only accompany Dan for a day ended up following him for three years after seeing Henry's transformation.

Dan Cohen, founder of the non-profit Music & Memory (MusicandMemory.org) is not in the medical profession, he is not a doctor of any kind, nor does he work for a nursing home. Dan is now a social worker who spent his life in the computer industry. He had an idea and went about seeing if it would work. He wondered what happened to people who were seemingly gone from the world, who withdrew from everything and everybody, when you re-introduced them to music. People like Louise, Henry, Mary-Lou, and Nell all showed Dan how life altering his idea truly was. Dan then figured that someone would take this idea and run with it and amazingly nursing homes wanted nothing to do with it. That's when the film takes a darker tone and begins to reveal all that's broken within that industry.

With thought provoking interviews by Bobby McFerrin, Oliver Sacks, and other prominent neuroscientists, caring staff, and loved ones, Alive Inside is a movie that should not be missed. With a great score by independent artist Itaal Shur and great camera work by Michael, you will not only be touched by Alive, you will be entertained as well. From this movie it is obvious that the pharmaceutical companies have nothing in their stockpile of medicines that can do what music can do, and it's obvious that music is the key to everything. With that being said, if you are looking for new music, different music, off the beaten path music then visit my music blog, TastyTunes. I assure you it will expand your musical horizons. Alive Inside is the best documentary of the year so far in my book and when you go I know afterwards you will be more than thankful you saw it. I know I am. I'll see you at the theater! 

A Most Wanted Man

A Most Wanted Man, the latest film from director Anton Corbijn sadly has the unfortunate distinction of being the last film of the very talented and enigmatic Phillip Seymour Hoffman's career. It is a cold, calculating spy thriller of a film which is at times both gripping and humorous. The performances are top notch and Mr. Hoffman practically blows anyone who shares the screen with him away. I will say this, if you are a Phillip Seymour Hoffman fan then this movie rates FIVE bucket's of Killer Korn, for he is spectacular. If you are not a fan, if you always could take him or leave him then A Most Wanted Man drops to three buckets. Still a solid movie, but a better one if Mr. Hoffman is your cup of tea.







I became aware of Anton Corbijn thanks to his last film, the George Clooney vehicle The American back in 2010. I thought that movie was impressive and while George acts the same in almost every single movie he's been in, I thought Anton got the best performance from him other than Soderbergh's Ocean movies. Little did I know that I had been a fan of Anton years before that thanks to his music video background. Three of my favorite bands, Metallica, U2, and Depeche Mode have had a number of videos helmed by Mr. Corbijn. Then he did a movie I caught on cable one night that fascinated me called Control and though I still wasn't aware of him, I liked his style. It's that style A Most Wanted Man is completely immersed in. While he doesn't wow you with spectacular shots or use imaginative camera angles, Anton Corbijn's style is a straight ahead, non stop, coming at you juggernaut which is what any film adaptation of a John Le Carre spy novel needs. It doesn't need distractions or subterfuge, those won't do. It needs to grab you by your imagination and not ever let it go and that's just what this film does.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman plays Gunther, the head of a German intelligence agency in Hamburg. He runs a small knit but very effective team of agents who seem to work perfectly together. His rival, Karl is played by Franz Hartwig and the two don't trust each other and they border on hating each other. Gunther is on the trail of Issa, played by Grigoriy Dobrygin, an escaped convict from a Russian gulag. Gunther wants to know why Issa has turned up in Germany and wants to bring him in for questioning. Karl wants Issa for himself and seeks to snatch Issa off the streets and away from Gunther. The big surprise for me regarding this film was the cast. Robin Wright, the only one that can hold her own next to Phillip plays Martha Sullivan, the US Ambassador to Germany, but who is really a high ranking CIA operative. Rachel McAdams, who's seemed to have found her niche overseas plays the good intentioned lawyer Annabel Richter who of course has taken on Issa as a client. Then there is also the amazing Willem Dafoe as banker Tommy Brue, a man with close ties to Issa's family and has a lot of money sitting in his bank in an account started by Issa's father. Gunther wants to use Issa's money to get close to a philanthropic man who he suspects is a jihadist and funneling money to terrorist organizations named Abdullah, played by the great Homayoun Ershadi. That's when things go horribly wrong for pretty much everybody.

A Most Wanted Man isn't a feast for the eyes. It's a drab looking film who's leading man is a chain smoking slob of a man who seems uncomfortable in his clothes. Instead of that Wanted Man is a feast for the mind. It's move and counter move, a game of chess with people as the pieces and Germany as the chess board. The music by composer Herbert Groenemeyer helps keep the tension tight throughout the film but doesn't distract at all. Herbert scored Anton's The American and while I truly enjoyed that score, this was a better marriage of music and image, a job well done. I would highly recommend Wanted Man if you want to see an actor at his best, one who will most undoubtedly receive an Oscar nomination and may even get his performance rewarded with a statue. If you don't care about that then I would still rush out to see it if you like great acting and even better storytelling, and I'll see you at the theater.  

Trailer Alert: Mad Max Fury Road

Here is it Kornheads, the first real look at the Mad Max "reboot", Mad Max: Fury Road that's set to hit theaters on May 15th, 2015. This time around there's no Mel Gibson or Tina Turner, instead we get to see the wonderful Tom Hardy as Max and equally as wonderful Charlize Theron playing Imperator Furiosa. Now I'm having a hard time thinking of this movie as a reboot since the man that directed the original Max trilogy, George Miller, is back almost 30 years later directing this one. Since it'll have the same look, feel, and taste as the first three can it really be called a reboot? I'm seeing it more as a re-imagining myself. Take a look at the trailer and let me know if you agree with me. Personally I can't wait to see it, what about you Kornheads? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Trailer Alert: The Walking Dead

Are you a fan like me? Are you looking forward to the upcoming season like I am? Well the trailer to season 5 of The Walking Dead premiered at Comic Con and it looks intense (though that word just feels to...small). It seems like the gang is going on a little road trip this season with the psychos from Terminus as they seek to find a cure to this particular zombie apocalypse. Rick looks like a man that is truly on the razors edge, wide eyed and as crazed as ever and back to leading the group. The new additions from last season are all here as well and are now part of the "family". Judging from this peek into the future, on October 12th it looks like this season is going to be one hell of a ride. Enjoy!

Trailer Alert: Fifty Shades of Grey

Okay, it's finally here! The trailer for Fifty Shades of Grey has dropped and I know quite a few people who are looking forward to this movie. I also know many who have no desire to spend a dime to see it. I don't know if this trailer will change the minds of anyone, but I have to admit that the trailer is far better than I thought it was going to be. Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, this movie being her first full length feature film, Fifty definitely has a crisp, sharp look to it along with a slight feeling of the Pierce Brosnan Thomas Crown Affair remake. Fifty has not been a smooth production to say the least with actors accepting one minute and then dropping out the next, but it appears Sam brought it across the finish line. Now the question is, is it a winner? I have not read the books so I am wondering if the trailer holds all the essence of the first novel or is there more to be seen than just what the trailer reveals. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Spoiler Time: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Welcome Kornheads, this is a new aspect of Killer Korn I am introducing. It's a segment to the blog where I am going to talk about a particular movie complete with spoilers. That being said, if you don't want to know what Dawn of the Planet of the Apes has in store for you, then stop reading right now.



Dawn was directed by Matt Reeves and this is just his third film and it seemed like it. Handing a director who had only done two movies previously a production budget of $170 million dollars is akin to someone knocking on my door, handing me a helmet, and telling me to pilot a fighter jet. The downfall in my opinion was the script. The plot holes were massive and really made this film difficult for me to thoroughly enjoy. There's a moment where the humans give Caesar's wife human antibiotics, now call me crazy but if there was a worldwide pandemic, where in the world would the humans find antibiotics? And why and how would they work on an ape?

The biggest problem of this film was the humans being relegated to footnotes. There is NO sense of true desperation, no moments of anguish, and they were ALL one dimensional. There were no character arcs, no journey's, no evolution in any of them whatsoever. The humans are the same people they are through the film from the moment you see them to the end of the movie. And when it comes to the apes, all the male apes can talk and fight and are far more nuanced where the female apes say nothing, do nothing, and are stuck to the background. Outside of Caesar's wife, the female apes were nonexistent.

There were a ton of character stereotypes that dragged this movie down in my opinion. Jason Clarke's Malcolm is righteous and good right from the start. He needs no convincing on how good, kind, compassionate, and amazing Caesar is. Kerri Russell's Ellie was completely under utilized, Malcolm's son seemed like he suffered from some neurological disorder and had the mentality of a four year old. They all could have been written better.

What I did love had nothing to do with the story (which was weak) and had more to do with moments in the movie. When Koba tells Caesar what "human work" had done to him grabbed me. When Koba takes fellow ape Ash and kills him because Ash wouldn't kill a human was shocking. When Maurice stood up to Koba when Koba went after Malcolm's son made me smile. And when Koba played the stupid monkey with the two humans only to get the better of them and kill them with their weapon was intense. Yes I know all those moments involved Koba but he is what made this movie even remotely compelling. Without him this movie falls completely apart. The motion capture graphics should win this movie a technical Oscar, they are that impressive and the high point of the movie.

There were scenes in the trailers that weren't in the movie and that was upsetting as well. The scene where Jason Clark is yelling into the woods, "I need to speak to Caesar!" is not there. Part of Gary Oldman's speech about how the humans spent "four years fighting that virus and then another four fighting each other, it was chaos" is also missing along with a few others. I don't know about you but I hate when that happens, it feels like a bait and switch to me. I gave this film three buckets of Killer Korn in my review but just barely.

The next apes film has been announced and the director who has now only directed three movies is helming the next one though this time Matt is writing it as well. Here's hoping he crafts something better than what was handed in for Dawn.

So tell me Kornheads, what did YOU think of the movie? Did you love it, like it, or was it meh? Let me know, I'd love to hear your opinion.  

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the latest movie from director Matt Reeves is an enjoyable movie if you don't care about character arcs, growth, or going on a journey with those characters. If none of that interests you then you may truly come to love Dawn. However, if those things matter to you then you may find this movie lacking. It's a superior film over it's predecessor and I still thought it was only slightly better than average. I give it three buckets of Killer Korn.










Matt Reeves is a talented director, I want to state that up front. I enjoyed his movie Cloverfield immensely but I skipped his American version of Let The Right One In entitled Let Me In, so I was intrigued by what he would do with Dawn, only his third feature film release. I think he was let down by a few things, mainly the script. Penned by Mark Bomback, Rick Jaffa, and Amanda Silver, Dawn supposedly takes place ten years after Rise of the Planet of the Apes and the apes, under Caesar's rule are flourishing. Caesar has apparently taught the apes sign language and they communicate rather prolifically both in sign and verbally. They wonder if there are any humans left, they have concerns about family, unity, and they live by the philosophy that ape does not kill ape.

My primary issue is how uneven the movie is. While it focuses on the apes primarily, the actual humans in the film are basically just a footnote. One dimensional characters that never evolve, rise above, or change the way they think from the second we meet them to their last breaths. I didn't care about them at all, about whether they lived or died, or if they were going to be successful in their mission that took them into ape territory because the movie builds no compassion for them.

Making up the human contingent was Jason Clarke as Malcolm, Gary Oldman as Dreyfus, Keri Russell as Ellie, and Kodi Smit-McPhee as Alexander. I think they were saddled with a script that didn't allow them to play with any emotions except fear. There was no desperation, no real sense of loss or urgency, and no trauma from them which hurt the movie in my opinion. Andy Serkis played Caesar and unlike in the last movie where he reigned untested, this time he has to deal with a vicious and cunning rival seeking the leadership position of the apes in the form of the angry, human hating Koba played by Toby Kebbell. That was a lot of fun to watch but while Matt did what he could to keep the momentum going, this movie seemed to be at least twenty to thirty minutes too long. Clocking in at two hours and ten minutes, there were a lot of things this movie could have done without.

Dawn did satisfy the ape/human confrontation anticipation on every level. When Caesar and crew show up in force at the human compound, it was a whole lot of fun to watch. Massive plot holes notwithstanding the movie had it's thrilling and compelling moments and my favorite was when Koba explained to Caesar that he knew all too well what "human work" consisted of. Koba's story was gripping and it directly challenged Caesar's philosophy of family and murder.

The film had a great look courtesy of veteran cinematographer Michael Seresin. There were some shots that were just jaw dropping good. The score by Oscar award winning composer Michael Giacchino left me hollow, but in all fairness to him this movie didn't really need music. He added some nice tender musical touches to a film that had very little tenderness to it. After seeing this film I have NO idea where they'll take the next movie (which has already been announced) since I feel Dawn showed us everything there was to see. What I know is I am happy I don't have to write the next film and I feel sorry for whomever pulls that assignment. I'll see you at the theater

Trailer Alert: Unbroken

Hey there Kornheads, the trailer for the new Angelina Jolie directed film Unbroken has hit the web and I have to admit, it looks enthralling. My only concern is I hope they didn't show us the best scenes in the trailer. I hate when that happens. Unbroken is the true story of Olympic Champion and WWII POW survivor Louis Zamperini. The trailer indicates that the film chronicles his life from bullied youth to his prison camp, with some Chariots of Fire like moments thrown in for good measure. This is Angelina's second time in the directors chair and though I didn't see her first film, In The Land of Blood and Honey judging from the trailer it looks like she knows what she's doing. Based on the bestselling book by Laura Hillenbrand and with a screenplay written by the multi-talented Joel and Ethan Coen this story sounds incredible. What do you think Kornheads? Love it, like it, or indifferent?

Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Hey Kornheads, so the teaser trailer for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 entitled "Unity" has been released and I love it. I think it encompasses the true spirit of the story and the look is on point. The marketing campaign for this movie couldn't be better quite honestly. It's definitely seeking to build the anticipation for the movie to a feverish pitch with the doling out of teaser trailers. Just two weeks ago the first teaser starring President Snow and Peeta hit the web, now we have Snow, Peeta, Johanna, a phalanx of armed soldiers, and Jeffrey Wright as Beetee as well. This not only looks good but it also feels right. Check out the teaser below and let me know what you think Kornheads. Love it, like it, or indifferent?

MarkEricEntertainment

Harry Potter fan?

Hey Kornheads, are you a Harry Potter fan? Are you a member of Pottermore.com? If so then J.K. Rowling has a treat for you. She has published a short story on her site that contains an older Harry, Hermione, and Ron as they watch the Quidditch World Cup (coinciding with the actual soccer/futbol World Cup).

I am not a fan of Pottermore.com so I can't read the story but from what I've read on it, it seems really interesting and entertaining. Now Rowling has said she won't be writing anything anymore about Harry and the gang but you never know, she may pen another short, get the bug, write something longer, and voila a new movie is in the theaters before you know it. It could happen. Check out the buzzfeed article below for more information Kornheads.

MarkEricEntertainment

Info on the Potter short.

Life Itself

Life Itself, the latest film from acclaimed documentarian Steve James is a loving tribute to a towering man of principle and talent. Based on the book of the same name, Life Itself centers around the last days of Pulitzer Prize winning writer Roger Ebert. It is a heartwarming, funny, and ultimately tragic film filled with love, respect, and admiration. That's why I am giving Life Itself five buckets of Killer Korn.











Life Itself is the second best documentary I have ever seen (I won't get into the first one here), but even as the second best it is absolutely phenomenal. It is an engaging story of a man who knew just what he wanted to be since he was in single digits. Many know Roger Ebert through his TV show with fellow/rival critic Gene Siskel, At The Movies, where those two men debated passionately about movies once a week. I was an ardent fan and tuned in whenever the show aired. This movie however showed me another side of Roger I did not know. I had no idea he was a recovering alcoholic and met his wife Chaz at an AA meeting. I had no idea Roger wrote the screenplay for the movie Beyond The Valley of the Dolls, and I was shocked to learn that the reason Gene Siskel's name came before Roger's on their show was due to a simple, yet competitive coin flip.

Life Itself chronicles Roger's life from almost birth to death and all stations of his life in-between. It spoke to his carousing at the local bar after work and dealing with the hangovers the following day, to how he poured himself a scotch and soda, went to bed, pulled the covers over his head and never drank again. His friends were interviewed at length, everyone from directors Martin Scorsese, Werner Herzog, Ava DuVernay, and Ramin Bahrani to his fellow newspaper men from his paper The Chicago Sun-Times. Those chosen to be in this film spoke glowingly and eloquently about the rotund and charming movie critic. Life Itself spoke on his marriage to a Black woman, Chaz and his cantankerous relationship with Gene. It explored a life well lived by a man who taught so many. Roger showed me to hold true to the strength of my convictions regarding movies and to be brave enough to stand on my own with my sole dissenting opinion if need be. For that I will be forever grateful.

Shot by Dana Kruper, Life Itself was sliced together from Roger's early days to his last days and it was seamless. The music by Joshua Abrams was sparse but splendid. It held both the right touch of emotion be that sorrow, happiness, love, or hilarity and I take my hat off to him. This was a movie I did not want to end. I truly enjoyed getting to know Roger Ebert and I am saddened at the fact that I will never get to meet him, but I am thankful to him for all he's done for me and the world of cinema. Rest in peace Roger and I'll see you at the theater.  


MarkEricEntertainment

Gone Girl

Hey Kornheads the latest trailer for David Fincher's newest film has just dropped and it looks fantastic. I am a very big fan of Fincher's and I await each new release by him with heightened anticipation and his adaptation of Gillian Flynn's novel Gone Girl looks like it won't disappoint. Again teaming with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, the Oscar award winning duo who scored Fincher's last two films, the social network and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo will surely bring a score to the table that will only raise the tension times ten. Starring Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Tyler Perry, Neil Patrick Harris, and Kim Dickens this movie looks like it will definitely entertain. Take a look at the trailer and let me know what you think.



MarkEricEntertainment

Rian Johnson? REALLY???

Hey Kornheads, have you heard who's going to be directing Star Wars episodes 8 and 9? Unfortunately it won't be J.J. Abrams. He's just setting the table by pulling the cast together and getting the story in line and so forth. I have amazing faith in him to do that mainly because he's writing this movie with a Star Wars alum and all around talented scribe, Lawrence Kasden. Lawrence wrote such classics as The Big Chill, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Silverado, Grand Canyon, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. Abrams couldn't have picked a better guy to help put a story together for Episode 7. The problem in my opinion arises with 8 and 9.

Have you heard of Rian Johnson? You may not have but if you saw the mediocre Looper, The Brothers Bloom, or his exceptional first film Brick then you have some idea who he is. I hated Looper, I found it corny and downright stupid. I didn't like The Brothers Bloom either for that matter. I did however LOVE Brick (which was the only reason I saw those other two movies), so I know Rian is somewhat talented. However, he's only done three full length movies in his career, and now the powers that be are about to drop their 4 BILLION dollar baby in his lap.

He's tasked to not only direct but write Ep's 8 and 9 as well, and if Looper is any indication of one thing, it's that he's going to need some help. I hope he can pull it off, I sincerely do because I am really looking forward to where the next trilogy goes and what it has to say. Hopefully it goes somewhere mindblowing and it speaks in a clear, engaging, and enjoyable voice. Don't fuck this up Rian!

MarkEricEntertainment

Earth To Echo

Earth to Echo is the first full length feature film from director Dave Green. It's a solid debut in my opinion though I could have gone for less shaky camera pov. It's a mash-up of many of my favorite childhood movies like The Goonies, E.T., and The Explorers. The stereotypes are all in place which is fine. I was originally going to give this movie 2.5 out of 5 buckets of Killer Korn due to the overwhelming amount of shaky cam, but I'm going to give it 3 delicious buckets of Killer Korn because it earned it.










Earth To Echo is straight out of the milieu of E.T. and The Goonies and when you make a film using the templates of those two classics, you can't go wrong. There are other elements of other movies scattered about but those two comprise the heart and the soul of Echo. It's the story of three best friends in middle school and it takes place on the last night they may ever spend together thanks to a planned highway displacing the residents of the quiet suburb the kids live in. There is Tuck, played by newcomer Brian Bradley who is the leader of the trio, Alex played by Teo Halm, the charming but quiet foster kid who longs for stability, and lastly there's weird Munch played by Reese Hartwig. He's the skitterish, clueless brains of the operation. Together the three friends make quite a trio and hate the fact that they'll soon be separated. Tuck seemingly wants to be a Youtube sensation and records EVERYTHING (hence the shaky cam nonsense) and one day all three boys phones go haywire.

On their last day together they decide to lie to their parents and embark on a journey in the middle of the night a la The Goonies. They follow a map on those haywire phones that leads them to a barn where they find something that looks like a pod. They spend a few hours communicating with the it (a 1 beep for yes, 2 beeps for no kind of thing) and they find out that it's an alien that wants to get back to it's ship so he can go home. The alien named Echo, because it can repeat your ring tone back to you, is also being hunted by a mysterious organization that smacks of E.T. Echo guides the kids all over town finding parts that it can use to help get it stronger and back to it's ship. One of those pieces is in the bedroom of the prettiest girl in their school named Emma, played by Ella Wahlestedt. The threesome becomes a foursome and Echo leads them right back to a very familiar spot.

The plot holes are massive and are hard to miss, but you don't really care because the movie is enjoyable. Besides it's a kids movie and kids could care less about plot holes. The true beauty of this film in my opinion is the diversity of the cast. In a role where it could have gone to someone white and no one would have batted an eye, Tuck is African American. That made me smile and hopefully other directors and casting directors will follow suit and cast more African Americans in the future. There is a cinematographer though I think he got paid for not doing much. Maybe there is a serious technique to shaky cam that I just don't know about but if there isn't then Maxime Alexandre got paid for nothing. Scored by Joseph Trapanese, the music sounded like something the group Explosions From The Sky did for the film Friday Night Lights. Trapanese is a talented composer but if this score seems familiar to you it's because it sounds entirely like someone else's music. That being said, I enjoyed Earth To Echo, it was a trip down movie memory lane for me and I really enjoyed the ride.

MarkEricEntertainment

Star Trek 3. Disaster In The Making????

Okay, I have a review to do but this first because when I first heard it, I pretty much brushed it aside because I couldn't believe it. Call it denial or whatever, I thought it was a joke and went on with my life. Well it wasn't a joke, it's the read deal and it's one hell of a gamble.

The reason I call this a gamble is because the production budget for Star Trek Into Darkness was $190 million dollars. When you add the marketing budget the money spent for that movie was definitely over $200 million dollars. It made it's money back earning over $467 million dollars worldwide. Star Trek Into Darkness was directed by J.J. Abrams which is one hell of a commercial film director and there was thought he would come back for Trek 3. That is not happening thanks to another little franchise with the word star in it so Paramount has decided to put this massive franchise into the maybe incapable hands of a man that has NEVER directed a movie before.

You read that right. A man that has NEVER directed a movie before in his LIFE is helming Star Trek 3 which will more than likely have a budget over $200 million dollars again.

This guy is Roberto Orci and he is the man pegged to take on this project. Now he has been involved with the Trek series writing the previous two films. Is that the reason to drop this into his lap, because he was already involved? I don't know but I am not hyped for Trek 3 because of this news and if it sucks, THIS IS WHY!!! You read it here first. See you at the theater.

MarkEricEntertainment