Trash Humpers

Film Review by Kam Williams

Headline: A Blair Witch “Found Tape” Whodunit for the Geriatric Set

You know how The Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield were horror flicks shot from the perspective of victims who left behind a videotape as the only evidence of what actually transpired? Well, now from somewhere in rural Tennessee we have Trash Humpers, the most bizarre movie you’ll see this year, guaranteed, maybe ever.
The film is the latest offering from Harmony Korine, whose last picture, Mister Lonely, was a bittersweet drama revolving around a Michael Jackson impersonator struggling to make a living performing on the streets of Paris. This gross indulgence in the uncertain sits far afield from that relatively mundane affair, for it mostly features po’ white trash, how can I put this politely, mating with garbage cans and other inanimate objects.
Thus, the title “Trash Humpers” is certainly a case of truth in advertising, since the trio of senior citizen zombies at the center of the action remain pretty much in heat for the duration of the adventure, not that there is even the rudiments of a story to follow. And if they can’t find a dumpster or a recycle bin to rub up against, it seems like any substitute will do, such as the side of a house, especially at a window, so they can peer inside like Peeping Toms while getting off.
Here are some of the other highlights you’ll witness en route to the anticlimactic conclusion of this incessant affront to basic human decency. A redneck in a Confederate flag shirt drops his pants to have his way with an oak tree. A woman carrying a cake with lit candles walks into a bathroom and starts singing “Happy Birthday” to a constipated geezer asleep on the toilet. Zombies aimlessly ride bicycles around town with dolls attached to the rear tires. Three hookers in g-strings kneel on a bed in the doggy position patiently waiting to be mounted by the sex-crazed codgers. And so forth.
The bizarre scenes are really merely a series of non-sequiturs edited together despite having little to do with each other, the only common thread being those constantly-copulating, darned title characters. Along the way, it’s very difficult to discern whether what you’re watching derives from chutzpah or sheer genius. Maybe it’s a little of both. Perhaps the point is to poke fun at normal folks inclination to behave in conventional fashion, given how one of the monsters pauses to explain, “We don’t follow and rules. I can just smell the pain of all the people trapped in their day-to-day lives.”
In the end, Trash Humpers proves to be less a scary, “found tape” whodunit than a jaw-dropping shocksploit with one very weird agenda.

Very Good (3 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 78 Minutes
Distributor: Drag City

Shanghai Red (CHINESE)

Film Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Grieving Widow Reluctantly Dates Ardent Admirer in Cross-Cultural Romance Drama

 

                Meili Zhu (Vivian Wu) was inconsolable in the wake of the murder of her husband, Lian Wei (Kenny Bee), because she had not only suddenly lost her life partner, but would now have to raise their 7 year-old son, Bebe (Lu Yao), alone. Obviously, we all mourn differently and, in the case of this grief-stricken widow, the loss triggered a passionate reaction that rose to the level of a lust for revenge.

And, as she matter-of-factly states at the outset of Shanghai Red, “Sometimes you must do the honorable thing by dishonoring yourself.” So, ordinarily-modest Meili uncharacteristically donned a clingy, crimson dress to pose as a call girl for an escort agency. But this is all a part of her plan for vengeance, as her very first client is her late hubby’s business partner (Roger Yuan), whom she suspects was behind the slaying. Upon entering the hotel room, Meili removes her oversize sunglasses to reveal her true identity to her prey right before pumping him full of bullets.

Unfortunately, crime still does not pay, since Meili narrates this tawdry tale of love and betrayal already behind bars, where all she has to look forward to is periodic visits from her handsome lawyer (Son Hong-lei). For, somehow, Meili always manages to turn the tables on her ineffective attorney during his interrogations so that they end up discussing his troubled marriage instead of planning her defense strategy. Thus, this fascinating flashback flick unfolds in a rather unorthodox, non-linear fashion, with the femme fatale at the center of the story enjoying a jailhouse flirtation when not gradually unraveling the multilayered mystery which led to her imprisonment.

We learn that Meili began having second thoughts soon after the shooting, when she went to visit her Feng (Ge You), the man who had supplied her with both a motive and a murder weapon. “You wanted revenge, I just made it possible,” he protests, washing his hands of any culpability. Meanwhile, Meili, who prefers to focus on being a good mother to her increasingly troubled son, finds herself haunted by visions of her ex’s ghost and by the guilt of having committed such a violent act.

Then, the answer to her prayers arrives in the person of an American businessman who hires her as a translator. For Michael Johnson (Richard Burgi) is instantly smitten with Meili and is ready to assume the role of surrogate husband and father figure.

Although the attraction is mutual, Meili has reservations, because of their cultural differences. Plus, it doesn’t help that Bebe’s wise old babysitter Wei Ma (Zhengwei Tong), who had adopted Meili after her parents died, repeatedly discourages her from dating a foreigner.

Juxtaposing a litany of opposing thematic elements, ranging from honor vs. disgrace to tradition vs. modernization to trust vs. duplicity, Shanghai Red shapes up like a modern morality play of Shakespearean proportions. The movie marks the directorial debut of Cuba-born Oscar L. Costo (Vivian Wu’s real-life husband) whose cleverly-concealed script is guaranteed to keep you guessing up to the whopper of a revelation at the conclusion of this endlessly-intriguing whodunit.

 

Excellent (4 stars)

Unrated

In English and Mandarin with subtitles.

Running time: 119 Minutes

Studio: Indican Pictures

Queen Latifah: The “Just Wright” Interview

with Kam Williams

Headline: Just “La”


Dana Elaine Owens was born in Newark, New Jersey on March 18, 1970, the second child of Lance and Rita Owens, a police officer and a schoolteacher, respectively. The versatile entertainer first found fame in the world of hip-hop upon the release of her debut album “All Hail the Queen” while still in her teens. As Queen Latifah, she has since enjoyed an enviable recording and concert career featuring seven solo CDs plus countless collaborations with colleagues across a spectrum of musical genres.
“La” added acting to her repertoire in 1991, when Spike Lee cast her in Jungle Fever. Next, she made House Party 2, following that up with critically-acclaimed appearances in The Bone Collector and Brown Sugar. But it was for her breakout role as Matron Mama Morton in Chicago that she became the first rapper to land an Oscar nomination.
Latifah has been a bona fide box-office attraction ever since, starring in such hit movies as Bringing Down the House, Hairspray, The Secret Life of Bees, Mad Money, The Perfect Holiday, Barbershop 2 and Beauty Shop, to name a few. Meanwhile, among her impressive TV credits are stints on such sitcoms as Living Single, The Fresh Prince and Spin City.
Here, she talks about her new movie, Just Wright, where she gets to play the title character for the first time ever opposite Common as her love interest. Directed by Sanaa Hamri (Something New), the romantic comedy’s talented supporting cast includes Paula Patton, Pam Grier and Phylicia Rashad.


Kam Williams: Hey, Queen Latifah, I’m honored to have this opportunity to speak with you.
Queen Latifah: Please, just call me, La.
KW: Okay, La, what interested you in Just Wright?
QL: Actually, it was kinda something we just created from scratch. What we wanted to do was make was a romantic comedy that was both sexy and romantic and had some emotion, but at the same time wasn’t just a chick flick. And that had some action, some energy. And that’s where the whole NBA component came in with Leslie Wright, my character, being a big basketball fan, and a daddy’s girl. One of the ways that she and her daddy bonded was by his taking her to the games because he didn’t have a son. That made a really big fan out of her. So, the overall goal was to make a movie that was family friendly, but that at the same time had some action, some edge and some sexiness to it.
KW: Children’s book author Irene Smalls asks, what was it like being directed by Sanaa Hamri and working with Common and the rest of the cast?
QL: Oh, man, it was amazing! Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to work with. It was a true team effort. There’s no way we could have done this independently of one another. Sanaa was the perfect choice because she had a great vision for the film from the moment she first read the script. We interviewed a lot of different directors, but her take on it was something that we appreciated because she assured us that she planned to bring a certain style and taste to the production, that it would be elevated and classy, and have cools shots that would make everyone look really good onscreen. I think that she managed to pull it all off, and I’m really proud of her.
KW: Erik Daniels says, “I know you used to play a mean game of basketball back in the day.” [La played power forward on a high school team that won the NJ State Championship twice.] He was wondering whether you still find time in your busy schedule to shoot around at all.
QL: I do. Whenever a ball is around, you can’t help but pick that thing up and shoot it. You know what I mean?
KW: Yep.
QL: I was never the best player on the team, but I do love basketball and I have no problem shooting the rock. My body is not exactly as limber as it used to be in high school, obviously, but I still enjoy a good game of basketball.
KW: Erik also remembers that Spike Lee gave you your start in movies in Jungle Fever when he cast you as a waitress at Sylvia's Restaurant. He wants to know whether you’ve had an opportunity to dine there again.
QL: Oh, I’ve eaten at Sylvia’s a million times. I ate there before I got that job, and I’ve eaten there plenty of times since. She’s a staple in Harlem, and I’m happy that Harlem has enjoyed a Renaissance in recent years, so that she could be a part of it.
KW: Recent college grad Laz Lyles asks, do you think Just Wright will help revive the black romantic film?
QL: I think you definitely see true black love in this film. And I hope that it helps to revive the genre, but I can’t say whether it will be a catalyst for that. But Just Wright isn’t a romantic comedy just for black folks. I think anybody who watches this movie is going to fall in love with the idea of love again. You get to see a strong male in Common’s character, Scott, and two completely different female leads in my character, Leslie, and Paula Patton’s, Morgan. And we also get to see them sort of be family and go through the types of things many families go through, yet still find love in the end. That’s the realistic image that we wanted to portray, not broad stereotypes with one swipe of the brush. We’re painting our pictures as vividly as possible.
KW: Professor Mia Mask asks, what about acting do you find most challenging, and do you think the range roles for black women in Hollywood are improving?
QL: I approach the film business the way I feel about self-esteem. It’s something that has to be maintained. That’s kind of how I feel about positive roles in Hollywood. They have to be maintained. You have to purposefully, intentionally try to make the right type of films. And the more people that do that, the more things will continue to improve. Absolutely!
KW: Mary V. Bell asks, since you seem so together, she wonders if there’s anything you’re insecure about?
QL: I’m not always so together. Like I said, it’s not just a given, but something that has to be maintained. I’m as flawed as anybody else. I have my ups and downs, and people around me to help me fight through it.
KW: Bobby Shenker says, “I love Queen Latifah! She is the Empress! Tell her I can’t wait to see her bio-pic about Bessie Smith.”
QL: We’re working on that, Bobby. They’re writing that script right now for HBO, and we’re trying to make that happen.
KW: Reverend Florine Thompson asks, what is your favorite way to express yourself spiritually?
QL: To go to church.
KW: Her follow-up is, what cause are you most passionate about?
QL: I’m passionate about children, particularly, whether it’s education, HIV prevention, treating HIV and AIDS, or protecting young girls from being molested.
KW: Yale Grad Tommy Russell asks, do you think the Obama administration is doing enough for the Gulf coast in the midst of the BP oil rig disaster?
QL: Well, it’s obviously a daunting challenge, but I think he’s the right guy to tackle the problem because he’s very passionate about the environment. In general, I believe our president and his administration are doing the best they can with the mess they’ve inherited. I think they’re doing a pretty good job, considering how many different things in the country need to be fixed. So, we not only need to support him now, but for another four years so he can complete a lot of those tasks.
KW: Finally, Carmela Reimers asks, “Do you feel as beautiful as I think you are?”
QL: I don’t how beautifully she thinks I am.
KW: She says, “Very!”
QL: Well, thanks. I do think I’m beautiful after I get off the treadmill, when I’m real sweaty with no makeup. That’s when I feel I’m at my sexiest.
KW: Well, thanks again for the interview, La, and best of luck with Just Wright and your other upcoming projects.
QL: Thank you, Kam.

5-11-DVD Releases

by Kam Williams

Headline: Top Ten New DVDs of the Week

Legion


Edge of Darkness


Daybreakers


The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: The Complete Fifth Season


My Wife & Kids: Season Two


Ruthless People/Down and Out in Beverly Hills/Outrageous Fortune Combo Pack


The Awkward Comedy Show


Dark Nature


The African Queen


Toy Story 2: Special Edition

Iron Man 2

Film Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Downey Delights with Charm and Derring-Do in Swashbucking Sequel


What makes Iron Man stand apart from other comic book screen superheroes is the savoir faire of the title character’s debonair alter ego. Billionaire inventor Tony Stark is always quick with the clever quip, whether reacting flirtatiously to the arrival of a new employee (“I want one!”), impulsively entering the Monaco Grand Prix (“What’s the point of owning a race car if you can’t drive it?”), or dismiissing an insufferable adversary (“You look like you have friends in low places.”).
This makes the movie a delight to watch not only during the obligatory fight sequences but the rest of the time as well. Credit in this regard must go to by Robert Downey, Jr. for lending an abundance of natural charm to the role and to director Jon Favreau for ostensibly encouraging his star’s inclination to augment his scripted lines with lots of inspired ad-libs.
Besides Downey, other returning cast members include Favreau as Stark’s chauffeur Happy Hogan; Gwyneth Paltrow as his employee and potential love interest Virginia “Pepper” Potts; Leslie Bibb as reporter Christine Everheart, Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson; and Samuel L. Jackson in an expanded capacity as General Nick Fury. And foremost among additions to the A-List ensemble are Don Cheadle who replaces Terrence Howard as Stark’s pal Lt. Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes; Mickey Rourke as his nemesis Ivan Vanko; Sam Rockwell as his business rival Justin Hammer; and Scarlett Johansson as the inscrutable temptress Natalie Rushman.
The sequel picks up right where the original adventure left off, with Iron Man serving as a formidable deterrent to those even thinking about causing trouble anywhere on the planet. Because his identity has been revealed, Stark is soon subpoenaed to testify in front of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Subcommittee by a showboating Senator (Garry Shandling) demanding that he share his secrets with the military. But the suspicious genius inventor, feeling that he has successfully privatized world peace, refuses out of a concern that the state-of-the-art technology could fall into the wrong hands.
Meanwhile, half a world away, Ivan Vanko, a maniacal Russian physicist with a personal grudge to settle with the Stark family, is meeting with frustration while working on his own impenetrable suit of armor. His limited resources and lust for revenge conveniently dovetail with the needs of munitions manufacturer Justin Hammer who has plenty of money but not the know-how to compete with Stark Industries.
This straightforward setup hints at the inevitable battle royal between the forces of good and evil. En route to that spectacular, special effects-driven showdown, expect to be engaged by a variety of intriguing subplots revolving around everything from Tony’s failing health to Rhodey’s loyalty to Pepper’s promotion to CEO to Natalie’s true identity.
Overall, a satisfying sequel signaling a promising start of the summer blockbuster season. Just be sure to hang around clear through to the end of the closing credits for a big clue about which Marvel superhero might be adapted to the big screen next.

Excellent (4 stars)
Rated PG-13 for profanity and intense sci-fi violence.
In English and French with subtitles.
Running time: 125 Minutes
Distributor: Paramount Pictures

Paul Mooney: It's The End of the World DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams

 

Headline: Paul Mooney Concert Flick Shot at Strip Club

 

For this hilarious concert flick, comedian Paul Mooney brought his irreverent standup act to The Lodge, a gentleman’s club located in Dallas, Texas. With so many scantily-clad strippers and waitresses walking around, this made for a very distracting backdrop to the goings-on onstage. In fact, the DVD includes a 10-minute featurette entitled “The Ladies of the Lodge” devoted to a parade of topless entertainers.

But I digress. The real reason to check out this film is for Mooney’s unique brand of humor. While the content is funny, it often feels a little stale, since it was obviously taped a while ago. So, jokes about Hilary Clinton’s campaign antics, Janet Jackson’s bad breakup, Mel Gibson’s anti-Semitism and an explanation why Brad Pitt will never leave Angelina Jolie feel outdated.

Still, a lot of it works, when not addressing topical material. For example, general quips about pedophile schoolteachers and violent gangsta’ rappers are always in order. While I certainly laughed a lot, I’m not sure how heartily I ought to recommend a flick where the most memorable moments arrive when a naked woman serves the star a glass of water.

 

Very Good (3 stars)

Unrated

Running time: 88 minutes

Studio: AMS Pictures

DVD Extras:

Legion DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams

Headline: God Cast in Unusual Role as Villain in Apocalyptic Horror Flick

How often do you have a film where God’s the villain? Very rarely, indeed. However, just such a novel scenario provides the intriguing premise for Legion, a blasphemous, apocalyptic adventure designed to delight the atheist demographic. The movie marks the directorial debut of Scott Stewart who assembled an A-List cast to serve as sacrificial lambs for the sake of his high attrition-rate horror flick. That talented ensemble includes Paul Bettany, Dennis Quaid, Tyrese, Charles S. Dutton and Lucas Black.
The story unfolds a couple of days before Christmas when the Archangel Michael (Bettany) arrives in L.A. on a mission from God to eradicate mankind from the face of the Earth, because the Lord has lost faith in the human race. Lucky for us, Michael decides to defect and to fight the army of fellow angels arriving in his wake.
Meanwhile, in the Mojave Desert, there are some strange goings-on at a truck stop diner prophetically-named Paradise Falls. There, we meet about to pop Charlie (Adrianne Malicki), a mom-too-be who shares a nearby trailer with auto mechanic Jeep (Black). He’s an ardent admirer, but not the father of the baby. Underachieving Jeep has mostly been a big disappointment to his dad, Bob (Dennis Quaid), the widowed owner of the rundown service station/restaurant. The only other employee on the premises is Percy (Dutton), the greasy spoon’s one-armed chef.
The fun starts when an elderly woman on a walker (Jeanette Miller) inexplicably exhibits superhuman strength before taking a big bite out of the neck of another customer (Jon Tenney). As it turns out, this possessed demon is actually out to abort Charlie’s unborn infant, who might very well be the Second Coming of Christ. Fortunately, streetwise Kyle (Tyrese) happens to be packing heat, and he blows granny away, making the bug-eyed observation that, “The bitch just walked on the ceiling.”
From this juncture forward, the tale telescopes in on the people’s valiant struggle to survive as they barricade themselves inside the diner to brace for the onslaught of a holy horde led by the Archangel Gabriel. With the help of Michael, who’s got guns and ammo, the ensuing battle royal between good and evil gives humans a fighting chance against God.
It’s a wonderful life where every time you hear a whelp ring out, another angel gets his head blown off.

Good (2 stars)
Rated R for profanity and graphic violence.
Running time: 100 Minutes
Distributor: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Extras: “Creating the Apocalypse - Behind the Physical Effects,” “Humanity's Last Line of Defense - The Cast and Characters,” and “From Pixels to Picture - A Look at the Visual Effects.”