Blogcritics Author: Chris Gesiakowski

DVD Review: Nightmare Detective

Chris Gesiakowski — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:09:23 EST

What's the verdict on cult director Shinya Tsuakamoto's latest offering?
The rickety "Se7en meets A Nightmare On Elm Street" premise of Nightmare Detective involves a killer who possesses the ability to enter the dreams of those desperate to commit suicide. Once inside, he manipulates the situation, forcing his victims to dispose of themselves in brutal fashion. However, this killer (known only as 0) is not...

DVD Review: The Hunting Party

Chris Gesiakowski — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 07:08:29 EST

Richard Shepard's The Hunting Party is a taut jaunt through a truly absurd real life happening.
The Hunting Party is Richard Shepard’s follow-up to the magnificent 2005 film The Matador. You certainly wouldn’t have a hard time realizing both films were directed by the same man upon viewing them, as they have a number of things in common. Both feature instantly likable characters, a distinct dialogue style, and a dazzling use of...

DVD Review: Zodiac - Director's Cut

Chris Gesiakowski — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 22:03:37 EST

David Fincher's invigorating second wind commences with an obsessive masterpiece.
David Fincher’s Zodiac was supposed to be released in late 2006 in order to be considered for the Academy Awards. Paramount, the studio behind the film, felt it ran too long in its early incarnation of three hours and eight minutes, and requested it be trimmed down. Fincher, having final cut, eventually got the sucker down to roughly two...

Movie Review: Joshua

Chris Gesiakowski — Sun, 6 Jan 2008 15:46:57 EST

George Ratliff's follow up to Hell House, his extraordinary 2001 documentary, is a crackling unorthodox horror sizzler.
George Ratliff has been on my radar ever since he created the 2001 documentary Hell House. It took a look at the actual creation of a hell house by Trinity Church in Texas. A hell house is a church-produced haunted house filled with depictions of sin, the torments of hell, and finally a glimpse of heaven. Strange sh*t. The film is immensely...

Movie Review: Walk Hard - The Dewey Cox Story

Chris Gesiakowski — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:41:59 EST

The musical bio-pic gets the finger. On December 21, be prepared to rock out with your Cox out!
Lawrence Kasdan has contributed some pretty great stuff to the film world. Besides writing Raiders Of The Lost Ark and having a hand in The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi, he’s also directed a number of films (including Mumford, my favorite Jason Lee flick). Additionally, Lawrence is a family man. He has two sons, both of whom...

Movie Review: No Country For Old Men

Chris Gesiakowski — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 17:21:56 EST

The Coen Brothers return to form with one of the best films of the year.
Welcome home, Coen Brothers. It's nice to have you back. After sitting through the likes of The Ladykillers and Intolerable Cruelty, followers of The Brothers Coen are finally reminded why they became fans in the first place. No Country For Old Men is their finest film since Fargo. In some ways, it may even be the superior of the two. The...