Cornfed’s Movie Talk

DRUGSTORE COWBOY (1989)

The only good thing about this movie was the name. And of course Matt Dillon. Only watchable as eye candy.

***1/5 FF’s

COME AND SEE (1985)

An excruciating look into WWII, specifically Nazi war crimes, through the eyes of a young Belarusian boy. Originally called KILL HITLER, but changed to the less aggressive, more ominous title of COME AND SEE as a nod to end-days described in the Book of Revelations. Florya leaves his mother and sisters to join Resistance fighters after uncovering a rifle buried in the sand. He quickly becomes disillusioned with ideations of glory as the atrocities of war rage around him; sparing no man, woman or child.

While the events of the film may seem gratuitously violent and cruel, they are based real events that took place not just once, but 628 times as Nazis burned through Belarus, decimating 25% of the population.

The viewer is immersed into Florya’s world, including audio changes for the remainder of the movie after he survives a bombing and several scenes where the actor/actress speaks directly into the camera. Real rounds were also used on set as well as unprofessional local actors to add to its authenticity.

It’s been called “the only anti-war movie every made” which is interesting enough since another argument is that no anti-war movies are ever made because by nature they glorify war; or, in other words, a true anti-war movie makes for a very unpleasant watch. In COME AND SEE, there is no happy ending or even validation for the protagonist. Much like reality, the common people affected are left with little to nothing and at a cost so great there is no recovery. For foot soldiers the journey is unrelentingly paved with one horror after another and characters like Florya, who started fresh and naive, are left a withered shell of their former selves—if they are left at all.

*5/5 FFs. Hard watch, but an important piece of cinema. **BiG TRIGGER WARNING: disturbing content throughout including war crimes, rape, and the real death of a cow.

Free with subtitles on YouTube, don’t both with the dubbed version.

GOOD TIME (2017)

A film by the Safdie brothers (creators of Uncut Gems, the 2019 crime drama starring Adam Sandler). I found this movie after seeing a pic of Robert Pattinson with bleached hair and a pierced ear I knowing I had to check it out. It’s now one of my favorite movies. The protagonist, or more aptly antihero, Connie, played by Pattinson, entangles his mentally handicapped and hearing impaired brother Nick, played by director Benny Safdie, in a bank robbery. Things go awry and Nick is jailed at Rykers Island while Connie goes on the run and plots Nick’s rescue. From there it is a fast paced trip to destruction, fueled entirely by Connie’s narcissism and willing abuse of all those around him—ranging from family members, friends and kind strangers, to fellow criminals.

Despite his antisocial tendencies, Connie is charismatic and seemingly loved. I even found myself rooting for him even though he’s clearly a degenerate piece of shit, but everyone has known a master manipulator and often it’s not until we’ve been used and abused that it becomes apparent.

There may be something to say about white privilege here too; ie Connie tromping through the world like he owns it while characters like Crystal, the 16yo black girl, is questioned by the police just for being present.

Jennifer Jason Leigh also has a fun lil part with a lot of screaming.

Lastly, and interestingly enough, there are no bullets fired in the movie, despite violence throughout and taking place in NYC.

****5/5 FFs, I really liked it.

Not currently available to stream, but purchasable on YouTube or however you get your movies.

Let’s hear it for the Magical Negros! The ‘Magical Negro’ or ‘Super-Duper Magical Negro’ is a common fiction trope that is both racist and somewhat hilarious in which a black character has some sort of super power which he or she uses to help a white protagonist with little to no regard for their own needs or wellbeing. These stock characters often sacrifice themselves unrealistically for the white characters. Stephen King is the guiltiest of all for using this trope. Key and Peele also did a hilarious skit about it. Here’s a few examples:

1. John Coffey, The Green Mile

2. Dick Hollorann, The Shining (even worse in the Kubrick film because at least he lives in the book)

3. Mr. Chubbs, Happy Gilmore

4. The blind man, O Brother Where Art Thou? (on wiki it says the guitarist is too, but I disagree)

5. The psychic, Jeepers Creepers

6. Mr. Bloom, the Twilight Zone.

7. Mother Abigail, The Stand

8. Morpheus and the psychic, The Matrix

9. Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost, from what I’ve heard, but I haven’t seen it. If true that makes her count to 2 since she also played Mother Abigail in The Stand remake.

Now that you see it you’ll be forever watching for the Magical Negro!

I also want to point out that I do like many of these characters, especially Dick Hollorann. While it is racist, I’d like to believe it didn’t come from a place of hate, rather a place of misunderstanding and underrepresentation of black people in movies/literature. What do you think? Interested to hear some opinions.

TRUE ROMANCE (1993)

If you have never seen this movie and can handle Christian Slater for more than 2 hours hit it up ASAP (that said I actually liked Slater much more in this movie than I have in other roles). It’s a violent romantic comedy about a call girl, an oddball maybe schizophrenic cinephile, and a suitcase of stolen cocaine. Featuring the insane cast of: Patricia Arquette, Christian Slater, Gary Oldman (picture a menacing version of ‘Alien’ from Spring Breakers), Christopher Walken, Brad Pitt, Samuel L Jackson, Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Michael Rapaport, and James Gandolfini.

Since the screenplay was written by Tarantino I’m guessing the only reason I hadn’t heard of this movie before is the cheesy name—not to mention the cheeseball trailer, good lawd. Do not be deterred! It’s hilarious and unexpectedly gritty.

***4/5 FFs

DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (2013)

The plot follows McConaughey, a homophobic Texas cowboy who is diagnosed with AIDS, and his unlikely partnership with fellow AIDS patient Rayon (Leto), a drug addicted trans woman. Together they hustle unapproved drugs from Mexico that extend the lives of many patients in the 80’s AIDS epidemic.

For such a heartbreaking topic, the movie still ends feeling like a success.

SNOWTOWN (2011)

Biographical crime drama about the Australian ‘bodies in barrels’ case. I had prior knowledge of the story as a true crime follower, but wasn’t prepared for the sheer rawness of the film. Serial killer John Bunting charms his way into the home of a single mother living in Adelaide with her four sons then uses the guise of hunting pedophiles to persuade sexually abused young men to assist in his brutal torture killings. One of his accomplices is his girlfriend’s 16 year old son, Jamie.

Daniel Henshall was terrifying and convincing as the master manipulator and sadist responsible for the deaths of 12 people, not all of which we see. Lucas Pittaway also gives a heartbreaking performance as Jamie, who ultimately participated in the murders, but remains sympathetic through most of the movie. He later became a key witness for the prosecution.

It’s a slow build that effectively creates a believable portrayal of what happened when at risk people were influenced by a violent sociopath.

Not for the faint of heart (or stomach).

Free on YouTube.

***4/5 FFs

THE VOICES (2014)

Ryan Reynolds plays an awkward, lonely, and very mentally ill man who lives with his pets—a mastiff and an orange tabby. His psychosis manifests in his animals with the dog being kind and encouraging and the cat being devious and manipulative (both hilariously voiced by Reynolds). Eventually it all goes to hell, but thanks to a surprising performance from Reynolds, you’re still kinda rooting for the poor guy. Also starring Jenna Kendrick and Gemma Arterton.

***4/5 FFs

THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT (2018)

Starring: Matt Dillon, Uma Thurman, Riley Keough, and Bruno Ganz

Just as pretentious and extremely graphic as can be expected from director Lars von Trier, this film follows the life of Jack, a serial killer and narcissist who obsesses over the creation of his house. The narrator, Virgil, eventually leads Jack through hell (Dante’s Inferno style) after he builds a house made of his victims corpses.

I didn’t like this movie much. Like I said, I found it a little too pretentious and even for all the violence and symbology, it didn’t spur much emotion (except for one particular ‘eww’—post hunting scene, ykwim?).

Also there’s particular violence against children so TRIGGER WARNING before watching

Matt Dillons still a hottie, Uma Thurman is great as ever. Lars, we get it you’re sad and twisted.

THE BROOD (1979)

Evil children spawn from their mothers.. belly I guess? It’s weird, gross, and oddly terrifying.