Tag: Demi Moore

THE SUBSTANCE (2024)

~ jbg ~ Leave a comment

Written & Directed by: Coralie Fargeat 

Cinematography: Benjamin Kracun  

Editor: Coralie Fargeat, Jerome Eltabet and Valentin Feron 

Cast: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid

A fading celebrity decides to use a black-market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.

Whatever you might have heard about this film you are not entirely ready for where it takes you. 

Again this is one of those films that is best to go. Into blind. Which allows for surprises and plenty of discovery. 

It has equal parts David Lynch, David Cronenberg, and even a bit of Stanley Kubrick in style, but director Coralie Fargeat manages to make it her own.

As there are symmetrical shots and angles. Colorful production design, and plenty of gore that at first seems artistic until it truly gore for the gusto in the third act. At certain points it feels like science fiction, but more a cruel satire that truly becomes a horror movie. It also feels French and European while taking place on American soil. 

it’s amazing, disturbing, uncomfortable, and beautiful. That truly seeks to disturb, disrupt, and challenge. Which for some will make it all the more stronger. 

The film offers a full-blown assault on sensibilities and your senses. It manages to build a world while revealing so little and having limited spaces and locations. 

It haunts you afterward. Each time you think about the film, you want to go back to see if there is anything you missed. as you want to study the film. It’s that intricate, and pristine 

It’s not only the effects that are scary or disgusting but the characters. Dennis Quaid as The lead character’s manager is always his over-the-top stylish suits and seems like he cares. He twists lives in his client’s backs and eats sloppily and disgustingly. 

The film is a tale of feminism and the perils of aging for women and how they are treated in the world but especially in Hollywood and the spotlight. This film explores what some are willing to do or forced to do who choose to want to stay in the spotlight. How cruel they are treated for even trying.

It’s also a tale of greed, how there is never enough time, and how quickly it can be stolen or used. When you are younger you always think you have enough time and still want more and are more prone to be jealous that you will even betray your own best interests. How at times a person can lavishly sacrifice just to have the spotlight to themselves even as it does damage to themselves. Not playing by the rules and regretting. Losing sense of oneself.

Self-hatred giving up on yourself for others to prosper. As you feel your life isn’t worth living anymore. Too much work not enough benefits. Needing the adoration to feel worthy. 

Demi Moore gives one of them. the best performances of her career. While getting one of the best roles of her recent career. This is the perfect movie for her to make a comeback. Even as critically as most of the characters treat her. She still looks extraordinarily beautiful. The horror is that for so many years Ms. Moore has been the model for what was seen as perfect and beautiful that many women aspired to be like or look like and now here she is not considered good enough. 

It also offered her the most range in a role. Yet it also, feels familiar or like a reality she might be facing only magnified. As the film shows how aging especially for women is seen as a horror in society and how many of them have resorted to some kind of substance be it surgery, fillers, creams or ointments to try to keep their youth or look youthful. Even as it becomes a violence against themselves. Taking themselves down the. Face the reality they find themselves in. Trying to reach or keep an idealized version of themselves and literally buying into it 

At certain points, it feels like a TALES FROM THE CRYPT movie. Which only reminds the audience of Demi Moore’s appearance on that show in an episode. By the end, it also reminds the audience of another production that she was part of the animated Disney film THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. 

You could also throw in some RE-ANIMATOR. As well as the story THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. As well as THE GAME, DEATH BECOMES HER, THE TOXIC AVENGER, FIGHT CLUB, and SECONDS. With those ingredients, she used them to make something piercingly original 

It even tackles eating disorders. As when she can’t really punish or fight her double. She strikes back the only way she knows how overeating bad food. as she robs her of her youth. 

Vanity destroying yourself to give yourself more time. Almost like an addiction the same as a vampire uses blood to survive and stay young or at least keep up appearances. Usually preying on the young here it is reversed. 

As the younger self has all the promises or is given promises of course she becomes more selfish hoping to live just a bit longer. 

This film by the end becomes a fable of addiction to the limelight of fame and attention and how lonely it can become once it begins to fade. Even though you have a following how quickly they can abandon you and if you are never prepared for your eventual downfall. You have truly nothing left. How these rules seem to apply mostly unfortunately to women. Hollywood is a fickle mistress. 

Grade: A 

PLEASE, BABY, PLEASE (2022)

~ jbg ~ Leave a comment

Directed By: Amanda Kramer

Written By: Amanda Kramer and Noel David Taylor

Cinematography: Patrick Meade Jones 

Editor: Benjamin Shearn

Cast: Andrea Risenborough, Harry Melling, Demi Moore, Karl Glausman, Ryan Simpkins, Jaz Sinclair, Dana Ashbrook, Mary Lyn Rajskub, Alisa Torres, Cole Escola

Newlyweds Suze and Arthur become the dangerous obsession of a greaser gang that awakens a sleeping quandary into the couple’s sexual and gender identities.

This film is certainly original. It plays like an homage to biker movies of the 1950’s a bit with the gangs of WEST SIDE STORY and THE WILD ONE thrown in. Though the film Dwells on the homoeroticism of the times while being a send-up and satire of them. That offers the characters not as misunderstood but actually very violent and unrepentant.

As the story of the film is a throwback that works. As a kind of lgbtq west Side Story 1950-inspired set. Though supposedly modern. That seems to be more about repression and a bit of fetishization. As well as being free of gender norms. Though showing the hardships of dealing with it in a supposedly repressed society. 

Where everyone seems to be doing it in the shadows themselves. While also seeming to take a look at and send up the time it depicts. Making it more of a camp romp. Though it seems like a farce it tackles these subjects head-on and in a brave and revelatory way. That goes a long way for representation and not as a fetish of any kind. 

We are with a couple who are witnesses to a murder by a street gang. Who seem to invade their lives and territory more and more. It awakens a wanting feminization for the male in the couple and more of an aggressive masochistic side in the female of the couple. 

Demi Moore has an extended cameo that comes out of nowhere but adds to the action. As her character becomes very important overall.

The film is exciting as you watch it. As the audience never knows what is going to show Next. So we are on our toes. The film is campy and avant-garde at the same time. As the film seeks to say something, but the message always seems a bit off. Yet never quite reaches a level of true awe. 

Grade: B-

CORPORATE ANIMALS (2019)

~ jbg ~ Leave a comment

Directed By: Patrick Brice  Written By: Sam Bain Cinematography: Tarin Anderson  Editor: Christopher Donlon 

Cast: Demi Moore, Ed Helms, Jessica Williams, Karan Soni, Nasim Pedrad, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Jennifer Kim, Calum Worthy, Martha Kelly, Dan Bakkedahl, Leland Orser 

Team-building trips are the work of the devil. And if you think that’s not true, try telling it to the staff from the edible cutlery company run by the self-centered Lucy Vanderton, sent on a day-trip that ends with all of them trapped in a cave; an ideal scenario for labor unrest to literally lead to cannibalism.

The cast is better than the material and this feels like SUPERSTORE the movie is only way darker and with a smaller cast.

It reminds me of a failed cynical web series combined into a feature that never got a chance

Maybe I liked it as it is a Film that feels sitcom-ish and has the right cynical attitude that while it doesn’t quite work as a satire of that was its aim but shows the pettiness of a group who do manage to at first turn on one another but form a group synergy by the end. Out of necessity. 

Seeing Demi Moore tackle Comedy is a welcome fix that she hasn’t ventured too often and while she fails to impress she is game and has fun with the role. As it is called upon for a star and outlandish. Sharon stone was originally supposed to play the part and she would have fit the role better but with Demi Moore is mroe unpredictable and off-center which prepares you for the film really 

Though it is to the film’s benefit that she is here as the star. She draws an audience and plays the role broad. You trust her to pick good quality material and considering the cast is recognizable as talented yet no superstars yet. She takes center stage as kind of the leader even if she is an albatross as we come to see her but the others shine around her while orbiting around her 

While Ed helms is one of the bigger names attached in the cast he isn’t In It for long then the movie is just shy of 90 minutes. 

Not recommending this movie for everyone but I had fun With it and believe most audiences will too. As It isn’t the most energetic but a film that entertains

Written by Sam Bain of the British sitcom PEEP SHOW fame (Which I will admit to being a fan of)  it has that funny yet dark sensibility of characters who appear normal at first but are secretly selfish and petty who let that show once there are no rules. Kind of the same attitude he brings to the film FOUR LIONS screenplay. 

It also helped lift me out of a bad mood. In the end, this film amounts to A broad comedy in a small space. that is more low-key. 

Grade: C+

NOTHING BUT TROUBLE (1991)

~ jbg ~ Leave a comment

Directed By: Dan Aykroyd 
Written By: Dan Aykroyd & Peter Aykroyd 
Cinematography: Dean Cundey 
Editor: Malcolm Campbell & James R. Symons 

Cast: Chevy Chase, Demi Moore, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Taylor Negron, Raymond J. Barry, Brian Doyle Murray, Daniel Baldwin, Valri Bromfield, digital underground 

A financier agrees to take the lawyer to her business meeting. On the way, they run a stop sign in a small town in the middle of nowhere and are arrested. But all is not as it seems: the courthouse and the “prison” are a maze of zany booby- traps and deadly contraptions. The antics of the captured couple as they try to escape from the mad judge and his bizarre family make up the rest of this unusual film.

This film should be a cult classic for all the craziness all around. That if someone remade it and could make it work it would be noteworthy. 

This is what happens when writer/director/ star Dan Aykroyd is let loose. As there are no Kenny if ideas all around and set pieces plus room for broad comedy. That stays outrageous and yet is never quite funny and ruthlessly mean-spirited. Though considering the cast this should be much better

Chevy chase seems like he just showed up and is discovering everything as if it was the first time. He seems uncomfortable and tired. As his behavior doesn’t Really match the Tone of the film. It’s bad enough but he seems like he is going to be the one who sinks it.

Demi Moore seems here to be the beautiful damsel in distress. Not to mention the eye candy. She seems more the big named co-Star female lead and a bombshell in her tiny wardrobe.

John candy seems more embarrassed. Like he only did this as a favor and a hefty paycheck. Dan Aykroyd seems to be the only one really into this movies wavelength and his character

The hip hop group Digital Underground comes out of nowhere to cameo and add an impromptu music performance.

The film comes off as a violent live-action cartoon. That literally has a cartoon-type ending. That is gruesome yet tries to stay somewhat light hearted

I am not the biggest fan of Chevy chase and once again seems on autopilot or not engaged. He actually hurts the film. As not being engaging or interesting. She is barely a character.

This film is grotesque even when it doesn’t need to be. It’s hard to believe. Especially with a healthy budget. Other than cast and elaborate set design and sets being built to the judge’s house.

Though should have known that other than the stars this film is Amy for mainstream audiences no matter how broad it plays.

This could have been salvaged artistically. If maybe a More experienced director took hold. Who also would have known to work on the script and make the film appealing in some sort of way. Not totally gross out the audience for a comedy.

This film plays like an extremely first draft. No one puts in any energy or excitement except Dan Aykroyd. Whose comedy can be a fun experiment (DOCTOR DETRIOT) crashes and burns (NEIGHBORS) or works with collaboration (GHOSTBUSTERS) here this was a doomed project that might have had a chance with a more gothic dark visual stylist like Tim Burton.

Can’t even give the film credit for being artistically weird it on another level it’s just sloppy. Even with an amazing production design by William Sandell. That is a messed up playground in hell all Its own. has the scope of a bigger film. Yet the mindset of a smaller one. As the film is pretty bad but inspired and original. 

The film is too dark to be so Goofy. It would have been more effective if allowed to go to a full R-Rated as it would feel more dangerous instead of the sanitized PG-13.

At least the film gave Digital underground a hit for the soundtrack. This might be one of the few successful things to come from this movie.

As well as the big screen debut of Rapper/Actor Tupac Shakur. 

GRADE: F