Red State

Written and Directed by: Kevin Smith

There's a lot I want to say about this movie, but very little of it is cohesive. Here goes anyway.

1. This film has two distinct halves. The first half is ostensibly a "horror" film, but the pacing slow and deliberate for that to work. The second half is more action-drama oriented, and better overall.

2. There was a lot of drama regarding Kevin Smith's strategies for funding and promoting this movie - most notably his attempt to auction it off at Sundance. That's all well-documented elsewhere. My only comment is that, although Kevin Smith may have felt he needed to be a bit of a showman to sell this movie, I feel that the movie was pretty darn good on its own.

3. By far, "Red State" is the most cinematic of Kevin Smith's films. The camera actually moves in some sequences (contrary to his usual stationary style), and some scenes use interesting angles to add to the effect. I mean, I'm not some kind of cinema snob, but as a Kevin Smith fan these changes and effects were very noticeable. It's nice to see him work outside of his comfort zone.

4. The climax of the film is fantastic. I can't comment on it much without giving it away, but I will say that it's not predictable. At all.

5. There are a couple of pretty gruesome sequences, though the actual gore is limited. Rather, it's the idea of what is being done which is what is most disturbing. This film is not for the faint of heart.

As a Kevin Smith fan, I recommend this movie. It's pretty good (hard to say "enjoyable"), though it does fall short of being great. Being prepared for the movie is key, especially knowing that the slow beginning pays off later, so keep that in mind.

The Fighter

Directed by: David O. Russell

Written by: Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson (screenplay)

Written by: Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson, Keith Dorrington (story)

In the world of boxing movies, eventually they must all be compared to "Rocky." Against "Rocky," though, most other boxing films are bruised and battered before being knocked out. "The Fighter," though, manages to match up with "Rocky" - pound for pound - and might be a true contender for the crown of Best Boxing Film.

"The Fighter" tells the true story of boxer Mickey Ward (Wahlberg) and his contentious relationship with his family, especially his junkie brother Dick Eckland (Bale). Ward's mother (Leo) seems to only care about reviving Eckland's boxing career, and uses Ward's talents to mainly promote Eckland. But as Ward's career starts taking off, his girlfriend (Adams) warns him that his family is only holding him back.

Obviously - based on critical reception - the film's cast was amazing. Everyone - including Amy Adams (about whom I'd had my doubts) - was completely believable as the real person. Bale, shedding weight to match his character's lifestyle, is superb. Leo perfectly nailed the nasty, manipulative mother role. Even Wahlberg managed to play a strong but passive character, showing how torn he was between his loyalty to his family and his opportunity to live his dream.

What makes the movie great is that the it portrays not just a boxing drama but a family drama. Everyone has a junkie brother - some literally, most figuratively. Everyone struggles to win their mother's affection. Everyone sets out to carve their own path. Everyone must choose between their family and their spouse. These struggles are not merely struggles of contemporary society, but struggles that all humans face. These problems can be traced back to the early biblical stories in Genesis. (Cain and Abel competing for God's favor nicely parallels Ward and Eckland competing for their mother's affection.) Mickey Ward's story is only a medium - a vessel - for the battles we all face within ourselves and with our families.

And, to boot, it's got some great boxing scenes.