By Christopher k. House

Life Animated was the opening night film at the 2016 Milwaukee Film Fest. The film, an inspiring documentary about an autistic boy who learned how to communicate through Disney animated films played before a packed house. Based on the book by Ron Suskind about his son Owen, Academy Award winning director Roger Ross Williams chronicled Owen's life with well crafted storytelling.

When Owen Suskind was a young boy, he was diagnosed with Autism. One day, he stopped communicating with words to his family. when Owen started repeating words quoted form a Disney film, his father then realized his affinity to the animated films. Roger Ross Williams who won an Academy Award for his short documentary "Music By Prudence" crafts another Academy Award worthy film with Life Animated. Flat out, I loved this film.
 

Owen is one of the most likable people chronicled in a documentary I've seen in a long time. There is an innocence about him, an aura he emits that makes you like him and care about him. 

The amazing fact is that that Owen has memorized every single Disney animated film he has seen. Able to recite and quote word for word is a remarkable task for anyone. That alone would make a great documentary. Owen even turned his passion for Disney into a special Disney club for other's who share the same passion. Owen leads the club of friends with wit and humor. It is one of the highlights of the film watching these interactions. 

With home video footage, Williams is able to tell Owen's story and how he has progressed. From the beginning to current day, his journey is detailed. Owen pulls on our heart strings when he is away from his beloved girlfriend and we cheer for him when he is on a job interview. The documentary does more than just explain how he learned how to talk through Disney films. It really is the story of Owen and Owen's story is a great one.

Rating A

By Christopher K House

Blair Witch surprised everyone with it's mere existence. "The Woods" from Adam Wingard (V/H/S, The ABC's of Death)was expected to be another entry in the over crowded found footage genre. In reality it was a stealth sequel to 1999's massively popular "The Blair Witch Project". Blair Witch packs no punches and gets right to story, opening with a minor refresher of the original film. The film makers just expect you know the whole story and go from there so. The original film centered on 3 documentary film makers who ventured into the woods to uncover the story of the Blair Witch. All 3 of them disappeared and one of them, Heather's brother decides to set out to find her all these years later. Not sure why 17 years later, he thinks she is still alive living in the forest living on nuts and berries but just go with it folks.

James (The Walking Dead's James Allen McCune) sets out with his friends, who we know will al just be fodder for the film's titular title character. The group visit the people who found the footage the previous crew shot in the original, to get a better idea on the location to search. Of course, horror formula dictates these fodder must join the crew on their search because, it's cool and it's a horror film. 

All of the characters in the film follow the same horror typecasting so there isn't anything new here. Written by frequent Adam Wingard collaborator Simon Barrett (Your Next, The Guest), Blair Witch is not a bad film it just isn't a great film. It lies somewhere in between.  The original film left a lot of questions, the sequel answers 'some' of these questions but unfortunately leaves more new questions behind. Is it possible there will be yet another sequel? probably if this one makes a profit, sure why not.

One by one, as the film progresses the characters are picked off in new, imaginative ways by a mysterious creature. We never did get to see it in the original, we do here but it's underwhelming and kind of stupid. That's not to say 'Blair Witch' fails, it doesn't. There are plenty of scares to be had and, it's a nice change of pace to have an actual adult 'R' rated horror film from a big studio. Wingard crafts a fine piece of horror cinema it just doesn't do anything new or original and found footage is a stale genre. See it for the scares.

Blair Witch  Rated C

Directed by Adam Wingard
Written by Simon Barrett
Produced by Jess Calder, Keith Calder

Starring
James Allen McCune - James
Callie Hernandez - Lisa Arlington
Corbin Reid - Ashley
Brandon Scott - Peter
Wes Robinson - Lane
Valorie Curry - Talia

Blair With opens nationally September 16th

by Stephen Milek

Westerns are one of the oldest movie genres. The Great Train Robbery of 1903 pretty much set the template for all the Westerns that followed. While the massive popularity Westerns had in their heyday have fallen there is a mini resurgence in the genre. And Hell or High Water is the latest to try to modernize it. What is fascinating about the movie is they took everything you expect in classic westerns and set it in modern times. It has Cowboys and Indians, bank robbers, poker, shoot outs, and an old no nonsense sheriff. It's all set in a Texas dealing with the current financial crisis.

By Christopher K House

Not many film reboots have caused the internet to seethe with anger than the Ghostbusters reboot. The 1984 Ivan Reitman/Harold Ramis comedy quickly became an iconic film and a beloved classic today. With a lackluster sequel released a few years later, the franchise went silent. Rumors about a Ghostbusters 3 popped up every so often but, no one really took them seriously. When Sony announced there would be a reboot with a new cast, fans lost their minds. When the studio announced Paul Feig was directing with an all female cast, the internet exploded in a misogynistic explosion of hatred. The film's trailer quickly set a record as the most disliked video on YouTube, the stars were attacked on social media, the film was certain to be doomed before it even released.  Then, the film opened...

And, it was pretty darn good.


Paul Feig and company were able to craft a film that was able to pay homage to the original while maintaining it's own identity. The film opens in an old, spooky mansion during a tour conducted by Zach Woods (The Office, The Heat) a shady tour guide who learns that the mansion he pretends to be haunted might actually really be haunted. This opening scene, while no where near as iconic as the library scene in the original set the mood and it felt right.

Enter Erin (Kristen Wiig) a college professor hoping to get tenure only to have her paranormal past resurface. Abby (Melissa McCarthy) has been selling a book the two wrote about the paranormal that Erin would like to forget. When Erin confronts Abby to ask to remove the book from the internet, the wheels start spinning. Along with Holzmann, the friends confront a ghostly spirit. With a renewed faith in the supernatural, Erin decides to return to paranormal research.

Unbeknownst to the trio, Rowan (Neil Casey) has a plan to bring the ghost dimension to our world. The bad guy and the meat of the story in this reboot is different from the original. The issue is, it's not that great or original. At best, it's meh. What makes the film work is the performances. This is especially true of their dim witted secretary, Kevin (Chris Hemsworth) and the fourth member of the group, Patty (Leslie Jones). Hemsworth really shows his comedic chops as Kevin, a performance that will be remembered.

There are some scenes that are removed from the original and some characters have nods too like the Staypuft Marshmallow Man and of course, Slimer is in there too. The cameos by the original cast were very well done and, respectful to the original film. The one missing member is Rick Moranis who declined to participate.

The special effects have been a source of discussion as well and, while they are overly CGI they aren't horrible. Of course this won't replace the original film and, it's not meant to. You can still pop in your Ghostbusters Beta tape if you want to relive 1984. It doesn't mean you can't enjoy this hilarious comedy with a new take. Put away your preconceived notions and you may find yourself enjoying a film you made your mind up against months before release.


Rating A-

By Christopher K House


James Wan returns to his horror roots after helming the blockbuster Fast and Furious 7 with The Conjuring 2. Wan, who began his career with the genre defining SAW has become one of the preeminent modern "masters of horror" but, does The Conjuring 2 live up to his past frights? Absolutely.

The Film picks up after the "true events" of the first film with a young girl in the UK suffering from an unknown anomaly. The assumption is that the girl is "possessed" so, the local priest calls for the help of renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga return) to aid and assist the family. The actual real story of what happened is, of course heavily dramatized and the true or false nature of the story is debatable but, let's approach this for what it is, a horror film meant to entertain and scare the audience. Put on your suspension of disbelief hat at the door to fully enjoy the film, don't dissect if it happened or not.

The first film was a surprise box office hit largely due to the couple, Ed and Lorraine. People quickly became fascinated by the real life husband and wife team of ghost busters who did it before it was cool. With their collection of "possessed items" collected from years of investigations the film rekindled the public's fascination for "haunted house" films.  The sequel continues that same theme that almost feels like a remake of it's predecessor. The same formula is reused here family in trouble, reluctant Lorraine follows determined Ed to aid troubled family, the couple bond with the family and the climax. Usually this wouldn't work but, Wan and crew were able to make it feel fresh.  Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga turn in another fantastic performance with great chemistry and a cool vibe as the Warrens.

Janet Hodgson (Madison Wolfe) is the girl at the epicenter of the paranormal activity. She speaks in tongues and is changing rapidly as the Warrens arrive. As in the first film, Lorraine senses the evil presence in the house and calls it "The gate to hell". As if that didn't hook you the "evil presence" is a ghostly nun. The one major fault of the film is the nun is never explained or fleshed out, only a trapped spirit of an elderly man in the home is explained. Whether that was intentional or not is debatable as the nun origin story spin off was recently announced, just like Annabelle the doll in the first film who got her own spin off, The Conjuring 2 will get IT'S own spin off as well.

Great horror films like these from a big studio are rare in these days of PG-13 rated teenage horror romps. The PG-13 rating of course makes more money for the studio with a wider audience but, this film opened to huge box office success which in turn will hopefully pave the way for more great horror films. Of course, with that success will come more sequels and spin offs are inevitable. Sadly, the great things that made the first 2 Conjuring films will fade eventually. Until that time, enjoy this chapter in the saga, it's a hell of a ride....Into the "gates" of hell.


Rating A+

by Stephen Milek

Welcome to Happiness is opening in 10 cities on Friday, and will be playing daily at the Time Cinema in MIlwaukee through May 26th. The movie is also available on iTunes, Amazon, and most cable, satellite, and internet on demand platforms.

​Welcome to Happiness is a quirky fantasy film about two worlds. Woody (Kyle Gallner) is the gatekeeper between the two worlds. In his closet is a tiny door that strangers  go through.  Before each person gets to his apartment there is a mysterious printer prints questions for Woody to ask.  Sound strange? Well it is. Yet the film pulls you in. The door is a mystery at first. Not even Woody knows what's behind it. Yet strangers keep coming.  The first time he meets someone who had gone through the door and come back raises even more questions.  He learns that the door helps people fix their regrets.  This makes him very jealous because he has regrets himself.  Along with Woody the film follows two other guys Nyles (Brendon Sexton III) and Ripley (Josh Brenner) who are struggling with depression. Each one is at a different place in their journey but all of them are looking for happiness.  

The movie is filled with interesting and colorful characters.  Besides the three main guys there is the mysterious Moses played by the great Nick Offerman and the always fun to watch Keegan-Micheal Key as Proctor.   While I would like to get to know more about some of the characters (especially Key's Proctor and Molly Quinn's Lillian) they are just eccentric enough that you go along with it.  Writer/Director Oliver Thompson creates two contrasting worlds..  A "real" world and the dreamlike world that people enter when they go through the door.  But what I love about the movie are the philosophical questions it asks.  What does make people happy? What makes people sad? What do you do when you hit rock bottom? While there is no mention of religion the movie does have a spiritual feel to it.  When we learn what is behind the door it challenges the audience to think about what they regret and if it's worth holding on to it.  Maybe the view is too simplistic but it definitely gives you something to think about.  

Writer and director Oliver Thompson and Producer Bay Dariz were kind enough to answer a few questions for our 10 Question feature.  Check it out below.  The film is playing in select cities (including Milwaukee) now and available on VOD platforms.  

Overall
I enjoyed this film.  I loved the characters and the contrast between the two worlds.  The cast is amazing and each one looks like they are having fun in their roles.  If you get a chance definitely check it out.  
B+

​MMT:  Bay you are from Milwaukee and Oliver you are from Detroit.  How did you guys meet?
 
Bay: We met through a mutual friend soon after Oliver moved to LA four years ago, and started out collaborating on music. We quickly found out that we both wanted to make movies, and shifted our energies there.
 
MMT:  Oliver, the movie is definitely a unique fantasy film.  How did you come up with the story? And was it always going to be a fantasy film?
 
Oliver: Yes, the script began with the simple idea that a guy would have a magic door in his closet, I didn't even know where it would lead I just knew he would act as a "gatekeeper", so from the initial spark there was already a fantasy element to it.  
 
MMT: Oliver, you mention in your director’s statement that all three men are orphans. Did this come from a personal place or just something you felt would work well in the story?
 
Oliver: I never think about it very consciously, but it seems to be a theme that keeps reoccurring in my writing.
 
MMT:  You also mention that the idea was spawned from a conversation you had about horror movies. How did horror movies inspire this film?
 
Oliver: The conversation in question was actually about not wanting to make a horror movie!  We were trying so hard to get various horror related projects off the ground with no success, so I decided in that moment to write something that was completely opposite and see if it had better results.  It worked!  Like when George Costanza decides to act against every impulse and things start turning around for him.
 
MMT:  The cast is very impressive. How where you able to get such big names like Nick Offerman, Frances Conroy, and Keegan-Michael Key?
 
Bay: Kyle Gallner and Molly Quinn were both longtime friends of mine and became involved very early on. They had relationships with some of the other actors, and we also had an incredible casting director named Lauren Grey. Personal relationships helped us get actors to read the script, but ultimately everyone who signed on just really loved the material and wanted to play in our sandbox with us.
 
MMT:  Bay, before you became a producer you were an actor. What made you want to move into a different role? Was it hard to adjust? Did you have any thoughts about playing a part in it?.
 
Bay: I really love acting, but like most actors I just wasn’t getting the roles I wanted. Initially, producing was supposed to be more of a gateway to creating future acting opportunities for myself, but producing is so challenging and creatively fulfilling in other ways that I actually love it more than acting. I actually had an acting gig right after we wrapped, and it was a harder adjustment going back to being on set as an actor and not being in charge. I think I’ve found my calling as a producer.
 
MMT:  What movies were your inspirations for your film? It did feel like Being John Malkovich was at least a little influence?
 
Oliver: The two biggest influences on the script were actually TV shows, "Lost" and "Twin Peaks."  I think the whole thing started with the idea that it would be fun to make something mystical like Lost, and then I funneled it through some of the quirk and hyper-realism of Twin Peaks.  I don't remember thinking about "Being John Malkovich", but I'm a big Charlie Kaufman fan so it's probably always on my mind to some degree.
 
MMT: The movie feels like it has a lot philosophical influence, but no mention of religion. Just curious if it was conscious decisions not to have any mention of religion or if it just wasn’t part of the story you were telling?
 
Oliver: Philosophical and spiritual themes are definitely at the core of the movie, and religion very easily becomes part of that broader conversation, so I think those themes exist.  But it seemed better to not address them head on and let each person interpret it for themselves.  So to answer your question, I think the spirituality that religion can provide is definitely part of the story, but it didn't seem necessary or appropriate to address it specifically. 
 
MMT: What do you hope people get out of your movie? There is obviously a point you are trying to make what is it?
 
Oliver: I don't know if I really was trying to make a point.  The line "Everything happens for a reason" can probably be taken away as the thesis statement of the movie, but that wasn't something I thought about while writing.  I just hope people enjoy it.
 
MMT:  The film is opening up in select markets this weekend. It's exciting to have an indie film like this opening up in Milwaukee. Have you had much contact with other filmmakers in Milwaukee? Do you have a sense of what the film scene is like in Milwaukee?
 
Bay: It was always important to me that we play in Milwaukee if we could, because I know there’s an appetite for smart, independent films. When I lived in Milwaukee, I used to be one of the people going to the indie theaters every week to see everything that was playing. Many of my collaborators here in LA are from the Midwest (Oliver is from Detroit, our cinematographer Justin Talley is from Minneapolis), but I haven’t yet had a chance to get plugged into the Milwaukee film scene. I’ve been saying for a long time that I want to go back to Milwaukee and shoot a film there, so hopefully I’ll start making those connections soon.

By Christopher K House

Full disclosure here, The Hike is a film that played at the 2016 Milwaukee Twisted Dreams Film Festival and this writer was one of the co-directors that hand picked this film so, I may be a bit biased. But, right off the bat I will tell you this is one heck of a ride.

The Hike is the work of writer, director, producer and star, Dave Fugett. It tells the story about an estranged couple that decide to go on a hike in the mountains and try and reconcile or decide to divorce. The setup is a long one as we learn more about the couple Brooke (Monica Olive) is the wife that has had enough of her husband Derek's (John Beland) drinking and excuses. Derek just wants to reconcile with his wife and rejoin the family with their young daughter but admits he hasn't stopped drinking.

Soon after, the film takes a dark turn as unexpectedly, Derek is shot in the foot. Confused, Monica tries to seek help so, upon returning to their vehicle, she meets a helpful stranger named Grady, played menacingly enough by Dave Fugett.
Grady offers help which Monica accepts, instead Grady kidnaps the couple and over the course of the rest of the film submits them to sadistic mental and physical torture.

The first thing that stands out is the superior acting in the film. Indie films are hit or miss when it comes to this department but, Fugett nailed it with his choice of actors. On why he chose to play Grady, he said in a Q&A after the film screened "If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself". And it worked. Grady was a despicable character we hated and wanted revenge on. The character had no back story to speak of and we didn't need one, we knew all we needed to know in a short time. The film had a flow to it that unraveled itself similar to some of the best thrillers. The characters felt real and organic, the chemistry was there and worked remarkably well.

What made the film is the fact that it's formula is one of the best a thriller like this can have, it can actually happen. The scariest things in life are the things that can happen to anyone at any time. We know we aren't going to be hacked to pieces by Jason Voorhees but, we don't know if we will run into a Grady on our next camping trip.  

The one drawback is the film has is it is a bit too long. Clocking in at just over 2 hours, it is long for a thriller like this. The first act dragged at times. Once we are introduced to Grady, the film really picks up but, we wait a while for that to happen. The scenery was beautiful compared to the stark contrast of the cruel torture Grady inflicts on the couple, both mental and physical. The overall production value was excellent and should be commended for it, One other thing to note was the soundtrack, it used licensed music. A very rare thing for an independent film but, Fugett admitted music was important and he felt the cost was worth it. This also helped us relate to the characters because we knew the songs, we didn't hear made up royalty free music we have no attachment with, it made everything more "real".

The Hike is currently making it's festival rounds so, if it comes to your area, make sure you see it, this is one film that will stick with you for a long time. Those are after all, the best films, ones that infect your mind.

Rating A-

For more info on the film and where it is playing be sure to keep up to date and bookmark the website HERE

by Stephen Milek

MAJOR SPOILERS IN REVIEW
 
If you are looking for a spoiler free review check out Chris’ review here.
 
After years of anticipation Captain America: Civil War has arrived.  I have to admit that I had my concerns for this film.  There has never been a superhero movie of this magnitude, with 12 superheroes and at least 2 villains it seemed like a recipe for disaster. I thought it would suffer from what I call The Batman and Robin Syndrome. Batman and Robin set a precedent that each superhero sequel had to have more heroes and more villains.  This usually causes the whole movie to collapse. Spider-Man 3, The Dark Knight Returns, and Avengers: Age of Ultron each suffered at least a little from this syndrome.  So the question going in was could Civil War avoid it? The answer to my amazement was for the most part yes.
 
Quick non spoiler plot synopsis if you don’t already know. After an incident in Nigeria involving a small group of Avengers where civilians were killed there is international pressure to create an oversight for superheroes. A guilt stricken Tony Stark feels that it's the correct course of action while Steve Rogers feels any oversight will limit the good they do because everyone has an agenda and it’s not always for the best. This philosophical difference turns into a physical altercation when Captain America refuses to sign the accords and is deemed a criminal for rescuing Bucky. 

Continue below for more

By Christopher K House

The summer movie season is upon us and Captain America -  Civil War kicks it off with a CGI filled bang.

There will be minor spoilers here because I feel I need to explain and expose some of the glaring plot holes that infest this (almost) great film.

We start off in 1991 with then brainwashed Bucky Barnes violently intercepting a speeding vehicle to steal a blue goo which we have no idea the meaning of but, we will eventually, right? It's a Marvel movie everything will make sense? Right?

by Christopher K. House