Castor-5

Let me start off by saying what will most likely p*ss off a lot of people: I never liked the original. Yes, tell me to burn in hell for saying it, but only a few things worked for me in the original (the girl shoved up on the hook while Leatherface killed her boyfriend in front of her and the dinner scene). I won't deny the influence the film had on the genre - this was a very different style made with a small budget. It looked good, had a descent cast and a director that was fully capable - but when it comes down to it, I never could understand how easily these characters got themselves into the situation they did. Because of that I could never really care for them at all. Sorry, but I've given the film two chances now and I still don't like it at all.

On to the remake, it was what I always wanted out of the original. It was very shocking and jump out of your seat at parts - but the characters were well developed enough this time for me to actually care what happened to me. The visuals in this one worked so much better - not just the cinematography (which is top notch) but the look of everything and the characters especially. They even added dimension to Leatherface that was mostly taken from serial killer Ed Gein (the original touched upon this, but didn't establish it as much as done here), and the second mask he wears would scare the living s**t out of me if I were in that girls position.

If you want to find a slasher film that is actually jolting, chilling, and disturbing as all hell, check it out. This is a lot bloodier than most movies though, so be warned.

Well Rob Zombie finally got this off the ground and good for him - I'm surprised after seeing it that someone actually picked it up. Yes this is the film that was released to the MPAA 4 times before it got an R rating and you got everything you'd want here - blood, guts, torture, etc. To my surprise, I have to give Zombie credit behind the camera - this is actually a pretty well made film. Sadly, however, I never understood this kind of genre. I'm a fan of the more psychological horror film and not the torture horror film. The problem I have with this kind of movie are the fans of them that like it because they are unsettling and very disturbing. Many say "this is what horror should be." I guess that works for some but not for me. Why? Because I don't like films that make me feel very uncomfortable and disturbed? No, if the film is well done and is saying something like society (A Clockwork Orange comes to mind) then I'm all for it. But the problem I have for horror films like this is plain and simple - it takes no talent whatsoever to release this kind of product. What's so hard about finding an actress that can scream her lungs out and beg not to be tortured to death in front of our eyes for an uncountable amount of time? Showing sharp objects rip through skin with blood pouring out constantly? Then showing the left overs? None whatsoever. Any kid with an understanding on how make-up works can go ahead and make his version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre after saving up his allowence for a year. Like this kind of thing or not, just don't consider it brilliant cinema when any deranged mind out there can do the same thing without any hesitation. Zombie does indeed show talent beyond this - the film is well shot and the look of it is quite impressive. But when you're just going to result to the same kind of thing at the end of the film - why bother?

I wanted to write this review as fast as possible to be the one with the first slice on Pieces of April. Judging by the reaction from it's premiere, this may very well be one film you will hear more and more about as the year rolls along, or being one of the big winners this year. In short, Pieces of April is quite fantastic.

April (Katie Holmes) is the oldest daughter in her family, living with her boyfriend Bobby (Derek Luke) in a horrible district of New York. She can barely wake up on Thanksgiving morning even though her family is making the drive up to her apartment for dinner. As the day starts, she begins to cook and decorate for people she is not even sure will show since the family seems to despise her with only bad memories. But her mother Joy (Patricia Clarkson) is dying and would like to spend the holiday with the entire family, no matter how she feels or what the rest of the family thinks. As the day continues, the family is well on their way and April faces the trouble of an unworkable kitchen and mostly unwelcoming neighbors in hopes to make the day meaningful for all of them.

Peter Hedges wrote and directed this film with the goal of making one of the most beautiful and heartful films for his mother, and he mostly succeeds. Hedges is known very well for his outstanding screenplays (What's Eating Gilbert Grape, About A Boy) and this one is just as good as his work in the past. As a director, he makes a few mistakes along the way by giving the audience a few misunderstood vibes and scenes that don't flow as well as others. Being shot on DV, some could be turned off by the look or camerawork (which wasn't a problem for myself) as it doesn't look nearly as good as it would on film. But in the end, Hedges has made such an emotionally accomplished film that creeps up on you until the very end when you realize how great the movie truly is.

The entire cast is great here. Oliver Platt and Patricia Clarkson are the perfect choice for the father and mother, and the chemistry between them is very believable and moving. Derek Luke is a rising star with Antwone Fisher and he is every bit as important to this film as he is there. The scene when he meets April's family for the first time is just priceless. Then there is Katie Holmes. This could be one of the best performances people may see in all the films at Sundance. Katie has proven herself as a talented actress in the past in films that aren't even that good. Here, Peter Hedges has given her wonderful material that can really show off her talent, and her talent is well above most actresses at her age. Many critics have already stated that her possibilities in her acting career are endless and, after seeing her perform this well, I hope that remains true.

Pieces of April is a fine piece of cinema and one of those gems at the Sundance Film Festival that is worth waiting in line for hours to see.