Down in the Valley

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 12/8/06 w/ Additional Edits & Revisions.

Written and directed by David Jacobsen, Down in the Valley is the story of a cowboy who meets a rebellious teenage girl as they begin a torrid relationship as he copes with the modern world. The film is an exploration into a man who finds himself in a world where he tries to play cowboy as he faces the darker realities of the modern world. Starring Edward Norton, Evan Rachel Wood, Rory Culkin, David Morse, and Bruce Dern. Down in the Valley is an enchanting yet uneven film from David Jacobsen.

Arriving onto the San Fernando Valley, a cowboy named Harlan (Edward Norton) enters into the strange, vast world filled with gas stations, shops, and cars. To Harlan, it's a mysterious world as he lives at a motel and takes a job at a gas station. Meanwhile, a rebellious, 17-year old girl named Tobe (Evan Rachel Wood) also feels lonely since she lives with her father Wade (David Morse) and her shy, 13-year old brother Lonnie (Rory Culkin). Since Tobe doesn't get along with her father, she often goes out with her friends including April (Kat Denning) where on the way to the beach, Tobe meets Harlan at the gas station. An attraction immediately happens as Harlan joins Tobe and her friends to the beach where they fall in love. After introducing Harlan to Lonnie, Wade becomes uncomfortable at Tobe's new relationship with Harlan.

After a night in the town driven by Ecstacy, Harlan and Tobe's relationship becomes passionate which makes Wade uneasy. Even when Harlan and Tobe decide to go horseback riding where the horse's owner named Charlie (Bruce Dern) accuses Harlan of theft. After Wade deals with Charlie, he forbids Tobe to see Harlan again. Still, Tobe's love for Harlan remains strong as she has to go San Diego for the weekend to be with her friends. Harlan however, tries to live without Tobe for the weekend often pretending to be in some Western or writing a letter to a man named Joe. Hoping for Tobe to return on the day she was supposed to, he finds Lonnie where he takes Lonnie shooting since Wade owns some authentic guns. Upon returning home, Wade finds Lonnie with Harlan and threatens to shoot him if he doesn’t leave his family alone.

Learning what Wade had done, Tobe meets Harlan where she asks him to leave the family alone till Wade cools down. With his cowboy fantasy starting to blur with reality, Harlan gets in trouble as he gets kicked out of his hotel while trying to steal things hoping to win Tobe back. Still, Harlan finds himself alienated by the modern world as he remains stuck in the Old West. After meeting Tobe after some time away from her, he plans to make an escape with her but Tobe isn't sure what's going on. After an accident, Harlan's vision of the Old West begins to collide with reality as he tries to kidnap Lonnie and have a confrontation with Wade, who finds out some troubling news about Harlan from an investigator (Geoffrey Lewis).

Films about reality against fantasy does often require strange fantasy sequences but for what writer/director David Jacobson goes for is an internal conflict in a man who has a love for the West but finds himself alienated by the modern world. While the film is largely inspired by the work of the legendary Terrence Malick, notably Badlands, the film does have the same poetic imagery and dialogue in terms of what Harlan is in and in his relationship with Tobe. Despite the Malick-esque imagery and imagery, the film's script is very flawed. While some can figure out the tense relationship between Wade and Tobe, there's no back story into their tension. Plus, the first half of the film is a love story while the second half becomes a modern-day Western where they're both interesting but makes the film to be uneven. Despite a lot of wonderful imagery, scenes, and everything else, Jacobson doesn't seem to know what kind of film he's making though the performances do remain consistent with its Badlands-like tone.

Helping Jacobson in his unique vision is cinematographer Enrique Chediak whose wonderful photography of many of the film's exterior settings, notably the hills of the San Fernando Valley is breathtaking as well some night sequences that shows the nightlife of Los Angeles in all of its glory. Production designer Franco Giacomo Carbone and set decorator Robert Greenfield do fantastic work in providing the idea of the West in a fantasy sequence for Harlan while showing the colorful and modern look of Los Angeles. Costume designer Jacqueline West does great work in creating the cowboy look for Norton while giving Evan Rachel Wood some wonderful dresses.

Editors Edward Harrison and Lynzee Klingman does wonderful work in providing a rhythmic, stylized editing that gives the film a nice flow and feel. Sound designer Scott Sanders does some great work in the film's sound, including a scene where Harlan goes to a synagogue that reveals his alienation. The film's haunting score is filled with wonderful guitar work from Peter Salett that brings a sense of suspense and atmosphere to its varied sequences. The soundtrack is largely filled with dreamy mixes of music ranging from mariachi to old-school Western songs as well as cuts from Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Calexio, and two great tracks from Mazzy Star where the vocals of Hope Sandoval provide some of the film's most haunting moments.

The film’s cast includes some wonderful small performances and cameos from Ira David Wood IV, Kat Dennings, Ty Burrell, Elizabeth Pena, and Geoffrey Lewis as an investigator. In a small role, Bruce Dern is great as a haggard ranch owner who is suspicious of Harlan’s motives and understanding of Wade’s control issues. David Morse is excellent as the strict, caring Wade who is trying to talk to his children while dealing with Harlan as Morse does some outstanding work in the scenes he's in. Rory Culkin is amazing as the shy, scared Lonnie who tries to seek some kind of adventure and confidence as he often relies on his sister and Harlan since his dad isn't around much. Evan Rachel Wood is fantastic as Tobe as this young woman who copes with growing pains as she falls for Harlan while having a hard time dealing with Harlan's eccentricities. Finally, there's Edward Norton in a brilliant performance as Harlan as this troubled man who seems like someone that is out of step with the times as he wants to play cowboy in a world that is very complicated as it is this very fascinating mix between fantasy and reality.

The Lions Gate/ThinkFilm Region 1 DVD of Down in the Valley presents the film 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround & 2.0 Stereo sound in 16x9 widescreen presentation. The DVD also brings trailers to not just this film but The King w/ Gael Garcia Bernal and William Hurt, I Love Your Work by Adam Goldberg, and other films. Two big special features are on the DVD. The first is a 21-minute Q&A session with Edward Norton and director David Jacobson as they're interviewed by Rolling Stone film critic Peter Travers. In the interview, Jacobson talks about the collision of fantasy and reality and how the San Fernando Valley has a mystique concerning the West. Edward Norton talked about getting the script in 2003 and wanting to work with Jacobson as the two developed the project and both wanted Evan Rachel Wood for the role of Tobe after seeing her in thirteen in which the two widely praised her as well as the other actors as Norton was laid-back in the interview.

The second big special feature is a nine-minutes worth of four deleted scenes. The first is an extended opening sequence involving Tobe and Lonnie on a bridge in which Lonnie causes an accident. The second is a deleted scene where Harlan looks for a new hat and buys the white dress that Tobe would wear. The third is touching scene involving Lonnie and Wade about an incident in where Lonnie professes his innocence. The final scene is an extended sequence of a supposed fantasy scene where Harlan talks to a cowboy played by Ty Burrell.

Down in the Valley is a superb yet flawed film from David Jacobsen that features top-notched performances from Edward Norton, Evan Rachel Wood, Rory Culkin, and David Morse. While it is uneven in its exploration of fantasy and reality, it does manage to bring in some compelling ideas about the complications of the modern world. In the end, Down in the Valley is a stellar film from David Jacobsen.

© thevoid99 2015

Blue Steel

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Bigelow and Eric Red, Blue Steel is the story about a rookie police officer who falls for a man who she thinks might be her stalker. The film is an exploration of a woman who finds herself in a strange love affair while investigating a series of gruesome murders by someone with .44 Magnum. Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Ron Silver, Clancy Brown, Elizabeth Pena, Kevin Dunn, Richard Jenkins, Philip Bosco, and Louise Fletcher. Blue Steel is a chilling yet mesmerizing film from Kathryn Bigelow.

The film is about a rookie New York police officer who loses her badge following a robbery in which she kills a robber who had a gun pointed at her as the robber’s weapon wasn’t found in the crime scene. During her suspension, she meets a commodities broker where they have a relationship as she is unaware that he has the gun from the robbery and is a psychopath who has been killing people all over the city. When one of the bullet shells features her name, Megan Turner (Jamie Lee Curtis) is re-instated as a detective where she aids in the investigation where she makes some chilling discoveries about her new boyfriend Eugene Hunt (Ron Silver). Particularly as she discovers about his troubled state of mind as he continues to evade the police in this strange cat-and-mouse game.

It’s a film that is definitely a thriller of sorts but with an antagonist who could be mentally ill but also has this strange obsession towards Megan and the robbery she was in as he becomes entranced by the power of killing someone. The film’s screenplay does play into some of the aspects that is expected in a suspense film. Notably in Megan becoming involved in the investigation of these murders as she is baffled by why a bullet shell has her name. Though she is new to her role as a cop, she is still determined to do what is right though her encounter with the robber early in the film showcases not just her inexperience but also how dangerous she could be. She also has to deal with the fact that her father (Philip Bosco) isn’t fond of her being a cop while Megan is often very cagey about why she wanted to be one.

The character of Eugene isn’t a conventional antagonist as he is someone who seems like a nice guy but there’s something about him that is off. Since he witnessed the robbery that Megan was involved in and became entranced by the 44. Magnum. He is this man who is amazed by the power of killing someone as he shoots random people for kicks as he would struggle with his identity which could play to the fact that he is mentally ill. After his encounters with Megan and their relationship suddenly takes on a creepy turn, it becomes clear that Eugene is much smarter and more dangerous than Megan and the police force realize as he is unpredictable in his movements. Even as he would go to places that would play into Megan’s emotions as she is someone with a lot of emotional and mental scars forcing Megan to deal with Eugene at the risk of breaking the law.

Kathryn Bigelow’s direction is truly hypnotic in not just the way she presents late 80s New York City where it is still this unpredictable city but also from the perspective of a police officer and the man she would later deal with. Much of the dramatic compositions that Bigelow would create are very simple with its use of close-ups and medium shots as well as infusing some humor into a few scenes. Yet, she is still emphasizing on its suspense to build up some of the terror that occurs such as the film’s robbery scene where it is all about Megan confronting the robber and the impact that it would have where Eugene would see the gun and later hide it. The usage of montages and dream-like sequences would play into some of the emotional state of Megan as it would also add some suspense into the hideous actions that Eugene would use.

While some of the violence that Bigelow presents are quite gruesome including the scenes of Eugene just killing someone. It’s the intimate moments such as Eugene’s surprise appearance at the home of Megan’s parents that is just uncomfortable to watch. It’s a scene in the third act where Megan is already aware of how dangerous and unpredictable Eugene is as he is there to watch TV with the parents about the killings where Megan knows that one wrong move and everything can go to shit. It’s one of these moments where Bigelow can infuse a sense of psychological wits and play with the rhythms of the suspense where its climax is similar to a Western shootout. Overall, Bigelow crafts a very powerful and rapturous suspense film about a cop going after a psychotic killer.

Cinematographer Amir Mokri does excellent work with the film‘s stylish cinematography with its use of lights and shades for some of the film‘s interior settings while giving some of its exterior scenes a look ranging from grimy to chilling in some of its scenes at night. Editor Lee Percy does brilliant work with the editing with its use of montages, rhythmic cuts, and some slow-motion moments to play up some of the film‘s action and suspense. Production designer Toby Corbett and set decorator Susan Kaufman do nice work with some of the set pieces such as the precinct building that Megan works at to the restaurants and such where she and Eugene go to in the film‘s first half.

Costume designer Richard Shissler does terrific work with the costumes where much of it is pretty casual. Sound editor Richard King does amazing work with the film‘s sound to play into some of the tension that occurs in the suspenseful moments as well as the moments of violence. The film’s music by Brad Fiedel is fantastic for its largely ambient score to play into some of the drama and suspense.

The casting by Risa Bramon Garcia and Billy Hopkins is great as it includes some notable small yet memorable performances from Tom Sizemore as the robber that Megan confronts early in the film and Richard Jenkins as Eugene’s lawyer who tries to stop the investigation. Elizabeth Pena is terrific as Megan’s friend Tracy who tries to assure Megan over her issues as a cop while Kevin Dunn is superb as Megan’s superior who is a hard-ass authority figure but becomes aware that Megan might be right about Eugene. Philip Bosco and Louise Fletcher are excellent as Megan’s parents with Bosco as the disapproving father and Fletcher as the more supportive mother who Megan knows is being abused by her husband which adds to Megan’s emotional issues. Clancy Brown is brilliant as Detective Nick Mann who leads the investigation over the mysterious murders where he would also believe Megan about Eugene as he would later become a target.

Ron Silver is fantastic as Eugene Hunt as this very disturbing individual who has a charming and nice side when he’s with Megan early in the film but is matched by this very dark and unpredictable side of him that allows him to kill people while doing things that he might be unaware of what he’s doing as it’s a very chilling performance from Silver. Finally, there’s Jamie Lee Curtis in an astonishing performance as Megan Turner. Curtis brings a lot of intensity and emotional weight to her role as a rookie cop dealing with her inexperience while realizing that the man she’s dating is a killer as it’s one where Curtis allows herself to be a badass as well as being someone who can navigate this strange cat-and-mouse game.

Blue Steel is a remarkable film from Kathryn Bigelow that features an incredible leading performance from Jamie Lee Curtis. Along with a strong supporting cast and a captivating take on the idea of stalkers and a look into the mind of a killer. The film is definitely one of Bigelow’s finest work to showcase her knack for suspense and action. In the end, Blue Steel is a spectacular film from Kathryn Bigelow.

Kathryn Bigelow Films: The Loveless - Near Dark - Point Break - Strange Days - The Weight of Water - K-19: The Widowmaker - The Hurt Locker - Zero Dark Thirty - The Auteurs #29: Kathryn Bigelow

© thevoid99 2013

The Incredibles

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 10/18/05 w/ Extensive Revisions.

Superheroes is something everyone seems to love. Whether it's Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, or Wonder Woman. The idea of them fighting against evil for the sake of good is something everyone can root for. Still, if there was anything that comic book readers loved about them, it was the fact that each superhero can bring something like a flaw in which the character can be more relatable in terms of its humanity. That was something Spider-Man and its sequel director Sam Raimi along with Christopher Nolan of the recent film Batman Begins have found. Spider-Man and Peter Parker struggle with the every day life of their existence while Bruce Wayne struggles with the death of his parents and his fears that would lead him to become Batman. This was something animated film director Brad Bird seemed to love. One of the masterminds of such Pixar/Disney computer-animated hits as Toy Story/Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life, Monsters Inc., and 2003's Finding Nemo, Bird returned to his format in 2004 for his next project, The Incredibles.

Written and directed by Brad Bird, The Incredibles is about two former superheroes who are forced into retirement after a series of lawsuits who now live in a domestic lifestyle with their children, who also have superpowers. When the father is called for help, he comes out of retirement only to find himself captured as his wife and children come to save him and the world. Basing on ideas from The Fantastic Four comic as well as other superhero stories, Bird creates a wonderful family film filled with dazzling animation and human characters that audiences can relate to and enjoy watching. With the voices of Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Elizabeth Pena, and Jason Lee. The Incredibles is a spectacular masterpiece from Brad Bird who makes an accessible, entertaining family film that satisfies its core audiences as well as superhero fanatics.

Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) prides in being a superhero with super-strength as he is about to marry the elastic-reaching Elastigirl (Holly Hunter).  What should've been a great time is shattered when Mr. Incredible is sued for injuring a man trying to kill himself.  In turn, a slew of lawsuits forced superheroes to go out of business.  Mr. Incredible returns to his original name Robert Parr as he becomes an unhappy insurance salesman who has to deal with an angry boss (Wallace Shawn).  While his wife Helen has settled into role of being a housewife with three kids, Robert isn't happy.  Even as their two older kids in Violet (Sarah Vowell) and Dash (Spencer Fox) each have their own powers while the baby Jack-Jack still hasn't attained any.  The only other superhero Robert and Helen talk to is Lucius Best/Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) who reluctantly does hero work with Robert at times.

With Robert having his own issues about his dour work-life, he meets a mysterious woman named Mirage (Elizabeth Pena) who asks him to stop a robot in a remote island for a secret mission.  Robert accepts the part as Mr. Incredible as it gives him some happiness as he turns to legendary costume designer Edna Mode (Brad Bird) to create a new costume.  When accepting a new mission from Mirage, he battles a new robot that is under the control of a man named Syndrome (Jason Lee) who is revealed to be a former fan of Mr. Incredible.  During his battle with Syndrome, Robert learns what happened to other former superheroes as he's eventually captured.  After learning what Robert had been doing, Helen meets Edna who has created new suits for Helen and the kids.  Helen reluctantly goes into a mission to save Robert as she learns that Violet and Dash hid in the plane as they're attacked by Syndrome's missiles.  

Though Helen and the kids were able to survive and make it to the island, Helen goes on a mission to save her husband while Dash, with his super-speed, and Violet, with her invisibility and to project force fields, fend off against Syndrome's forces.  After the whole family learns what Syndrome is up to with his robot, it's up to the Incredibles to save the day.

The formula of the superhero film is predictable but for a family feature, it's expected and it works. Bird's approach like the previous film versions of Batman and Spider-Man was to show superheroes with flaws and humanistic qualities. The film's story has a lot of ideas of dysfunctional families, boredom over the corporate world, and how pride can really overshadow what's really important. Aside from a lot of the dramatic textures of the film, it's got a lot of humor and action. Bird brings in some action that is in the level of action films but they’re used in a fun way. Bird's direction is filled with a lot of moments where the film is a lot of fun with characters that everyone can relate to.

It's in Bird's writing and directing that gives the film a feeling that the audience can relate to. A teenager who feels very insecure, a man who feels like a failure, a boy who wants to use his powers to be in some group, and a woman who is in denial by living in a role. Plus, you have a villain in the film who is very arrogant but is extremely funny as well as someone who knows how to push people and expose their weaknesses. It's smart writing that appeals to a mass audience while giving the characters some great development.

The film in its digital, computer animation is wonderfully done with every detail on the characters from their hair to their expression. Even with a nod to old school Disney two-dimensional animator Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas who both make cameos in the film. The film looks amazing from its animation style to the detail in the production from production designer Lou Romano and art director Ralph Eggleston along with the trio of cinematographers in Andrew Jiminez, Patrick Lin, and Janet Lucroy who all do an amazing job of the lighting. The editing of Stephen Schaffer works well and in style along with the sound design of Randy Thom. One great element of the film is Michael Giacchino that has a nice jazzy, upbeat score that has a nice theme that gives the film a nice feel and rhythm.

The choice for the voice casting is inspiring, notably Brad Bird in the role of Edna. Originally was given to Lily Tomlin, Tomlin felt Bird got the voice right by himself that he ended up voicing the character. Edna in every scene is a scene-stealer with her talk about why she hates capes and her love for superheroes. Wallace Shawn makes a great cameo as Robert Parr's boss along with Pixar regular John Ratzenberger and Dominique Louis as enemies of Mr. Incredible.  Elizabeth Pena is excellent as the sliver Mirage who coaxes Mr. Incredible to get into an experiment. Jason Lee gives the right voice and tone for the crazed, arrogant Syndrome with his desire to destroy the supers and be the only superhero with his gadgets.

Samuel L. Jackson is the epitome of cool as Frozone as he delivers one of the most hilarious lines in the film as he gives many superhero fans a real need for a cool, African-American superhero. Sarah Vowell brings the right tone to the insecure, angst-ridden Violet while Spencer Fox gives the right energy for Dash. Holly Hunter is perfect for Elastigirl with her fiery personality and maternal role. Craig T. Nelson is also perfect as the pride-driven and frustrated Mr. Incredible.

For fans of Disney/Pixar films and superhero films will definitely enjoy The Incredibles. Led by the creative mind of Brad Bird and his team, this film is certainly another classic film in the collection of previous Disney/Pixar collaborations. The film has enough action, drama, and comedy that will make anyone desire for a sequel to the film. For a family audience, this is one film to enjoy since it's about family and their dysfunctions and their ability to work together. For a film that has something for everyone, The Incredibles is the film to watch.

Pixar Films: Toy Story - A Bug's Life - Toy Story 2 - (Monsters Inc.) - (Finding Nemo) - Cars - Ratatouille - WALL-E - Up - Toy Story 3 - Cars 2 - Brave - Monsters University - Inside Out - The Good Dinosaur - (Finding Dory) - (Cars 3) - Coco - Incredibles 2 - Toy Story 4 - (Onward) - Soul (2020 film) - (Luca (2021 film)) - Turning Red - (Lightyear) - (Elemental (2023 film)) - Inside Out 2 - (Elio) – (Toy Story 5)

© thevoid99 2011