MONOLITH: Follow the Black Brick Road

MONOLITH (Blu-ray)

2022 / 94 min

FROM WELL GO USA

Review by Mr. Bonnie😺

In Monolith, Lily Sullivan plays the only on-screen character, who’s never named and simply identified in the end credits as The Interviewer. She’s a journalist who soiled her reputation by publishing an incendiary story without verifying her sources. Moving back into her parents’ house, she now hosts a podcast where she skeptically entertains conspiracy theories and regularly takes calls from a variety of crackpots.

A cryptic email puts her in contact with Floramae, a former housekeeper who recounts events from 20 years ago, when her employers fired her and kept a mysterious black brick she found while working there, later selling it to an art dealer. Floramae is convinced the brick was actually meant for her, and for reasons she can’t explain, losing it changed her life. The Interviewer contacts the art dealer next, who explains that many others have acquired similar bricks, each with markings that seem to be intended for those they end up with. 

None of these people know exactly how they came in possession of a brick, though it’s revealed later in the story. So is the ultimate purpose of these bricks, which I won’t reveal here. What transpires is an interesting, sometimes ominous one-sided investigation by The Interviewer, who becomes increasingly distraught when it connects to her personally. 

Maybe using Gorilla Glue to stick all this up was a bad idea.

For the most part, Monolith is engaging lo-fi sci-fi built around a dedicated performance from Sullivan. Taking place almost entirely within the confines of a house, it’s driven by intriguing ideas and intelligent writing, though the denouement might be seen as sort of a letdown, since it bears more than a passing resemblance to the basic concept The Ring…with a little Invasion of the Body Snatchers tossed in. 

But as they say…sometimes the journey matters more than the destination. As such, Monolith gets high marks for methodically building tension and establishing its only character as more than a simple investigator (without giving too much away, one ultimately might even see The Interviewer as the villain). Derivative conclusion notwithstanding, this Australian film is a great example of thought provoking, horror-tinged sci-fi on a limited budget.

EXTRA KIBBLES

MAKING-OF FEATURETTE

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director Matt Vesely, writer Lucy Campbell and producer Bettina Hamilton

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THE CONTENDER: The White House Has A Bowling Alley?

THE CONTENDER (Blu-ray)

2000 / 125 min

FROM ALLIED VAUGHN

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Mr. Bonnie😺

Allow me to recap my favorite scene from The Contender…

President Jackson Evans (Jeff Bridges) must select a new vice president because the previous one just died. He passes on the most popular choice, Jack Hathaway (William Petersen), who just made heroic headlines by attempting to rescue a woman trapped in a submerged car. He prefers Laine Billings (Joan Allen), a woman senator.

When Laine and her husband arrive in Washington for a meeting, the President happens to be rolling a few frames in the White House bowling alley. 

First of all, I didn’t know the White House even had a bowling alley. Second…is this scene intended as an homage to Bridges and his greatest role, The Dude in The Big Lebowski? Probably not, but I like to think so. It’s also kinda fun to imagine this is ultimately what became of The Dude once those pesky George H.W. Bush years were over.

The president abides.

Anyway, Bridges is the best part of the movie, which is about the opposition Laine faces from congress during the approval hearings led by conniving Republican chairman Sheldon Runyon (Gary Oldman). With help from ambitious young senator Reginald Webster (Christian Slater), Runyon digs up dirt on Laine from her wild college days and leaks it to the media during the hearings. Riding his moral high horse, which includes condemning her stance on abortion rights, Runyon’s true agenda is clearing the way for Hathaway to be selected.

Overall, The Contender tells an interesting story and features a lot of excellent performances. Both Bridges & Allen were nominated for Oscars, but Sam Elliott as Chief-of-Staff Kermit Newman is just as noteworthy. And what more can be said about Oldman? He’s deliciously hateful here as a (very) thinly veiled example of the agenda-driven Republicans we regularly see on TV, tearing apart rivals over personal indiscretions that have nothing to do with one’s actual job performance.

In fact, we’ve seen a lot of this stuff play itself out in the real world. It’s no accident this film was released amidst a similar White House scandal and the trivial hearings related to it. Not a hell of a lot has changed in Washington or the media since then. Some could argue it's even worse.  Thus, The Contender may not seem quite as provocative as it did 24 years ago, playing more like a summative analysis than cautionary commentary. Still, it’s an entertaining film with one shocking revelation: There’s a bowling alley in the White House. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

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Revisiting CONTAGION In 4K (And Hindsight)

CONTAGION (4K UHD)

2011 / 106 min

FROM WARNER BROS. / #InPartnershipwithWB

Review by Mr. Bonnie😻

If life does indeed imitate art, at least we aren’t yet talking about Deep Impact.

I must have seen Contagion a half-dozen times, but it was only while doing this review that I noticed this cryptic message during the end credits: “It’s not IF, but WHEN,” along with a web link that apparently offered more info. That link doesn’t work anymore, but considering all that’s transpired since 2011, maybe it should.

Oh, Contagion…how prophetic you turned out to be.

Now that we’ve actually lived it, watching the film today is an interesting experience. It’s clear that screenwriter Scott Z. Burns didn’t cook this story from scratch. For a movie once simply intended as cautionary entertainment, its jargon, scientific accuracy and narrative eventually played itself out in the real world, albeit with less apocalyptic implications (being a disaster film at heart, Contagion naturally presents a worse-case scenario). This movie was serving-up terms like ‘novel’ and ‘social distancing’ before most of us even knew what they were.

Unlike The Andromeda Strain’s sci-fi trappings and Dustin Hoffman’s action heroics in Outbreak, what makes Contagion especially unnerving (now historically relevant) is its grounding in reality. With no main protagonist (like most of Steven Soderbergh’s best work), it chronicles the rapid spread of a lethal virus – labeled MEV-1 - from the perspectives of specialists, doctors from the CDC, victims and everyday folks subjected to quarantine. We see the breakdown of services we usually take for granted, mass graves, false information spread by conspiracy theorists and the overall fragility of our society.

When you show up late on Coupon Day.

But despite the terrifying scenario, ruthless proliferation of the virus and staggering body count, Contagion is ultimately an optimistic film. The authorities know what they’re doing, methodically attacking the pandemic with all the resources at their disposal without dealing with petty politics (too bad that didn’t happen in real life). And the one character who does exacerbate the problem, touting conspiracy theories and fake cures, ultimately faces consequences for his recklessness. That never really happened in real life, either.

While some of the dimmer bulbs and COVID deniers of the world will still view it as science-fiction, Contagion remains one of the greatest  - and scariest - disaster movies ever made. Due to the large ensemble cast, it’s a little light on character dynamics, but the pace, plausibility and urgent tone keep it compelling (punctuated by Cliff Martinez’ propulsive score). 

For its 4K UHD release, Contagion gets an excellent video upgrade, which nicely preserves Soderbergh’s intentionally muted color palette. The audio is identical to the Blu-ray, which is fine for such a dialogue-heavy movie. It still sounds good, especially during the outdoor and crowd sequences. Unfortunately, no new bonus features are included. Considering how prophetic the film turned out to be, one would think a retrospective “I told you so” documentary would be amusing.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - The Reality of Contagion; The Contagion Detectives; Contagion: How a Virus Changes the World. Like the film, watching these in insight puts a different perspective on them.

DIGITAL COPY

THE BLACK MASS: Don't Judge A Book (or a film) By It's Cover

THE BLACK MASS (Blu-ray)

2023 / 82 min

FROM CLEOPATRA ENTERTAINMENT

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

In this case, you definitely shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, which suggests The Black Mass is some kind of slasher film. The box art features a collage of the film’s more photogenic female cast members and a silhouette of a mysterious killer, along with a synopsis that carefully avoids who and what it’s really about.

The Black Mass is not another modern horror movie in the vein of Scream and its ilk. It’s about notorious serial killer Ted Bundy. More specifically, the film is an account of one particularly infamous 24-hour period in 1978 when he stalked and attacked several girls from a Florida sorority house. Not only that, the entire narrative is presented - almost literally - from Bundy’s point of view. 

The film follows Bundy (Andrew Sykes) around in his VW Beetle as he methodically targets potential victims, sometimes initiating friendly banter, as well as lengthy segments when he’s peering through the sorority house windows to observe the largely anonymous female characters. For the most part, their conversations and activities are intentionally mundane (and barely audible), save for one hallucinatory shower sequence that reflects Bundy’s view of violence as a sexual act.

Herbie Goes to Florida

We don’t really learn much about Bundy beyond his actions. In fact, it isn’t until late in the film that he’s even clearly shown, after already committing the gruesome murders. It's a conscious creative decision that renders the lengthy voyeuristic stalking sequences especially unnerving. Director Devanny Finn (who also has a supporting role) obviously realizes that she’s not going to reveal anything about Bundy that hasn't been documented in countless other books and movies. The film is simply a reenactment of that horrific night.

At no point does The Black Mass look or play like a horror film, nor are there any twists, surprises or character revelations. However, it’s extremely well made, with believable performances, outstanding attention to period detail and a cinema vérité style that instills dread in nearly every scene. The murders themselves are lengthy and brutal, more intended to horrify, not glorify.

Though I can certainly understand why The Black Mass is marketed as a thriller, that’s sort of misleading. This is an uncomfortable film to endure, which is appropriate, considering the subject matter. And despite a nearly complete lack of sensationalism, suspense or meaningful character exposition, the film is morbidly fascinating.

EXTRA KIBBLES

IMAGE SLIDESHOW

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THE MOON Walks a Fine Line

THE MOON (Blu-ray)

2023 / 123 min

FROM WELL GO USA

Review by Mr. Bonnie (the bastard)😺

Walking a fine line between the plausibility of Gravity and the silly spectacle of Armageddon is Korea’s The Moon. But even though this stranded-in-space epic requires an increasing suspension of disbelief, it’s pretty entertaining. 

Five years after a tragic space disaster, South Korea is making a second attempt to land on the moon. But during this voyage, solar flares disrupt most of the on-board systems. Two of the crew are killed, leaving the least experienced one, Hwang Seon-woo (Do Kyung-soo), on his own. Meanwhile, mission control coerces former flight director Kim Jae-guk (Sol Kyung-gu) out of seclusion to talk Hwang through restoring the systems to survive. Still reeling from the previous tragedy, for which he feels partially responsible, Kim has a personal stake in bringing Hwang back home alive.

However, Hwang decides to complete the moon mission himself, which results in further peril when a meteor storm cripples his lander. Realizing they are now unable to rescue Hwang with their own resources, Kim implores his estranged ex-wife, Moon Young (Kim Hee-ae), who works at NASA, for assistance. But despite her efforts, the other NASA bigwigs sternly refuse…at least until one of Hwang’s radio transmissions is leaked and goes viral on social media. 

Hwang forgets where he parked.

For the most part, the film is exciting and suspenseful, boasted by excellent special effects and - once things get rolling - a lively pace. For a while, Hwang’s dilemma is similar to those in such classics as Apollo 13 and Gravity. It does grow sillier as it goes along, though, especially the sequences taking place on the moon, which might even elicit a few chuckles. But by now, we’re invested enough in the story to just roll with it.

While Kim is a well-realized main character - played with appropriate pathos by Kyung-gu - some others are either needlessly stupid (including Hwang) or over-the-top caricatures, such as the two perpetually screaming Korean officials. Worst of all is NASA's deputy director, who threatens and sneers like a Bond villain (hamfistedly establishing NASA as the bad guys).

Still, The Moon is a lot of fun. We don’t buy everything we see and hear, but the film is well-directed, looks great and features solid performances (save for Paul de Havilland’s hilariously distracting one-note turn as the aforementioned NASA man). Alternately gripping and outlandish, at least it’s never boring.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - Behind the Scenes; Character Bios.

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THE SWISS CONSPIRACY: Janssen Does Janssen

THE SWISS CONSPIRACY (Blu-ray)

1976 / 87 min

FROM FILM MASTERS

Review by Mr. Bonnie😼

I’m old enough to remember David Janssen. Not in his most famous role - the original Richard Kimble in The Fugitive - but he was a television fixture throughout the 70s. Resembling Clark Gable after tying one on, Janssen always came across as a guy whose regular diet consisted of martinis and cigarettes (you could practically smell him on the screen). Those vices eventually got the best of him at the age of 48.

But really, he always looked 48, including his earlier roles. Not only that, his humorless expression and gravelly delivery almost never changed. One had the impression his on and off-screen persona were exactly the same. While he may not have been gifted with a lot of range, there was something about Janssen that made it hard to take your eyes off of him. I don’t know if I’d call it charisma, but his naturalistic approach to acting was oddly appealing. Maybe that’s why he always stuck with it, even in movies. 

Speaking of movies, he appeared in a ton of them, sometimes as the star, more often in key supporting roles. Few were all that memorable, especially those he did in the '70s, where he basically showed up to do his David Janssen thing. There’s little to differentiate David Christopher, his character in The Swiss Conspiracy, from his roles as Steve in Two-Minute Warning or Tom Colt in Once is Not Enough. 

David Janssen suffers for his art.

Still, Janssen is the best part of The Swiss Conspiracy, a nearly forgotten relic directed by Jack Arnold, most remembered for his ‘50s-era creature features but who'd since found a lot of work in television. Some nice Swiss locations notwithstanding, this plays a lot like a TV movie…maybe even a lost episode of Harry-O (a series starring Janssen). That isn’t necessarily a strike against it, but the pace, performances and production are generally perfunctory…and sometimes a little sloppy (such as when co-star John Saxon gets shot and continues to scream long after closing his mouth).

Though occasionally convoluted, the plot is kind of interesting, with David Christopher hired by a Swiss bank to protect several clients being blackmailed. If they don’t pay up, their shady doings will be exposed. However, circumstances become even more dire when some of those being blackmailed are murdered. Along the way, David dodges assassins, races through the Alps in his Ferrari, hops in the sack with client Denise Abbot (Senta Berger) and clashes with angry mobster Robert Hayes (John Saxon). It’s all in a day’s work…for Christopher and the grizzled actor playing him.

Arnold ups the wattage a bit for the climax atop a snowy Swiss peak, featuring a nifty twist that the viewer may not see coming (but at least it ain’t a red herring). Elsewhere, The Swiss Conspiracy is simply an agreeable product of its time, with its ‘70s aesthetic, jazzy score, familiar faces (including Ray Milland & Elke Sommer in thankless roles) and David Janssen in the part he was born to play…which is David Janssen. For those of a certain age, that’s probably enough.

EXTRA KIBBLES

A THREE DIMENSIONAL FILMMAKER - An affectionate bio on director Jack Arnold.

JACK ARNOLD: THE LOST YEARS - Another featurette about the director.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By historian Robert Kelly & podcaster Daniel Budnik.

SUPPLEMENTAL BOOKLET - Includes an affectionately written essay, “The Swiss Conspiracy: A Gem You Probably Haven’t Seen,” by Lee Pfeiffer.

FEAR IS THE KEY: Fast, Fun...and Largely Forgotten

FEAR IS THE KEY (Blu-ray)

1972 / 104 min

FROM ARROW VIDEO

Review by Mr. Paws😺

What are we to make of John Talbot?

In the opening act alone, Talbot (Barry Newman) raises hell in a Louisiana diner, gets arrested and escapes during his trial, shooting a cop and taking Sarah Ruthven (Suzy Kendall) hostage. Then he steals a car and leads the police on a harrowing 20 minute car chase. That chase is easily the action highlight of the film, rivaling those in such classics as Bullitt and The Seven Ups.

The mayhem ends only after Talbot is captured by Herman Jablonsky (Dolph Sweet), who turns Talbot over to Sarah’s millionaire father for the reward. It turns out Ruthven and his shady partner, Vyland (John Vernon), have plans for Talbot’s deep sea salvage skills, mainly his ability to operate a submersible. 

But right from the get-go - partially because of the prologue - the viewer doesn’t quite trust what they’re seeing. Something tells us Talbot’s not the violent criminal he seems, which eventually bears itself out as the plot unfolds. What he and others are really up to is part of what keeps Fear is the Key compelling after we catch our breath from the slam-bang chase sequence. 

Offensive driving.

In fact, it’s almost like watching two different movies. The first half is reminiscent of the cult classic, Vanishing Point, which was released the previous year and briefly established Newman as sort of an antihero. The second half plays more like a Bond-type thriller, albeit on a lower budget. Even Roy Budd’s jazzy score evolves into something sounding more like John Barry. And hey…isn't that none other than Ben Kingsley (with hair!) as one of Vyland’s henchmen?

Too bad hardly anyone remembers this one. It never became a classic...or even a cult classic. Hell, I didn’t know anything about it until checking out this Blu-ray from Arrow Video. Fear is the Key is a forgotten gem that deserves the audience it never found back in the ‘70s (in the U.S., anyway). The extended car chase alone is worth the price of admission, but while the rest of the film may seem a little anticlimactic, it’s a highly entertaining adaptation of one of Alistair MacLean’s more unusual novels.

EXTRA KIBBLES

NOTE: Free Kittens Movie Guide was provided with a promo disc for review purposes. Physical supplemental material included with the final product (booklets, artwork, inserts, etc) were not available for review.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF SPY GAME - Visual essay by critic Scout Tofoya, who provides a lot of great context.

PRODUCING THE ACTION - This 30-minute interview with associate producer Gavrik Losey is sometimes a little rambling, but he has a lot of great anecdotes about the production.

FEAR IN THE KEY OF BUDD - Historian Neil Brand discusses Roy Budd’s jazzy score.

BAYOU TO BAY - A collection of archival interviews with various crew members.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By critic/filmmaker Howard S. Berger.

TRAILER

POSTER, BOOKLET AND NEW COVER ART (not reviewed)