Tag: Jake Busey

CRAZY EYES (2012)

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Directed By: Adam Sherman 

Written By: Adam Sherman, Dave Reeves and Rachel Hardisty 

Cinematography: Sharone Meir 

Editor: Sam Bauer 

Cast: Lukas Haas, Madeline Zima, Jake Busey, Tania Raymonde, Ray Wise, Valerie Mahaffey, Moran Atias, Ned Bellamy, Laura Piro, Regine Nehy 

Zach is guy for whom the party never ends. But when he meets the girl he nicknames “Crazy Eyes,” the inability to have her, combined with family matters, are signs that his idle life might be due for a change.

This seems like it’s supposed to be a romantic tale. While it has a good cast, by the end you dislike most of the characters.

It can be seen as one man’s journey to find the truth. He’s so unlikeable that it’s hard to truly feel sympathy or feelings for him.

The main character is a trust fund kid. Who is also a player and an alcoholic. Who knows and believes that all around him are only after him to support or pay for them. Which the movie shows to be true for the most part.

The film mainly revolves around his fascination with a woman who goes on dates, makes out with him, and constantly sleeps with him. Though there is no sex involved.

Which he seems to be determined to do. Though not above sleeping with other women while he tries to get her. She is a major drinker herself and seems to have mental problems. Though never clearly defined. They seem to support one another from their bad decisions to the next impulse.

They each have friends that revolve around them. Who are there only to bounce thoughts off of and show they know others who might be worse off than they are. A bartender and lingerie designer. Who seems more interested in the lead to find her dreams and lifestyle.

There is even a character who just seems to be here as eye candy and temptation but doesn’t come too much. As she is just another unlikeable character in the mix. We do get to meet his parents which offers some depth and a bit of an explanation. 

there is a kind of twist by the end that somehow makes all the characters seem worse and justifies the lead somewhat. Though leaves it open-ended as to what has changed if anything in his life. It offers one of the most unfortunately downtrodden and realistic endings. 

If it weren’t for the cast I don’t know if I would have bothered finishing the film. As it seems so far teaching and kind of like a tangent against Los Angeles and its bar culture to a degree. As well as relationships. The film is very misogynistic and angry. Even though it tries to seem laid back.

The directing is all over the place and dark. The lead always wants to go to the bar or for a drink as his come-ons seem a bit much and overbearing. Though while not against drugs his character mainly indulges in alcohol. This film feels like a lighter version of BARFLY. Without any of the charm.

Luckily for a film that seems focused on sex, there is very little of it or any nudity. Though that might be disappointing to some. At least it would serve as a distraction from what we have to sit through. It would also offer a release which this film seems dedicated to not delivering on any of its points. 

What is truly disappointing is the movie has the goods and talent to be a better film but seems like it’s so indulgent that it seems doomed to fail.

One wishes the movie was more about Madeline Zima’s character. 

Grade: D

HELD UP (1999)

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Directed By: Steve Rash

Written By: Jeff Easton

Story By: Erik Fleming and Jeff Easton

Concept By: Greg Edwards 

Cinematography: David A. Makin 

Editor: Jonathan Chibnall 

Cast: Jamie Foxx, Nia Long, Barry Corbin, John Collum, Michael Shamus Wiles, Eduardo Yanez, Julie Hagerty, Sarah Paulson, Roselyn Sanchez. Dalton James, Jake Busey, Natalia Cigliuti, Gary Owen 

What should have been a romantic getaway turns into one hilarious debacle after another when Michael’s woman dumps him in the desert where he gets carjacked by a teenager and he is taken hostage in a stickup at the local Sip and Zip.

I have seen this movie more times than I have wanted to. As this was a movie they played at the movie theater I worked at in my 20’s and stayed around for quite a few weeks.

This film showed Jamie Foxx was a major talent and needed better scripts because he is obviously better than the material he is working with here.

The film is likable enough though the cast prospers over the simplistic and silly script. As they are all willing and energetic to throw themselves into it. 

The film is a low-grade comedic prejudicial tale with a hostage situation in the middle of it. 

What’s worse is that it doesn’t even necessarily work to Jamie Foxx’s strengths. Whereas you could’ve put anybody in this role if anything, it shows somewhat range for Jamie Foxx that he can play more of a straight comedic role rather than be over-the-top comedic.

The film is watchable as every few minutes it throws in a joke or gag to keep it lively and cute. Even if at heart the situations of the film revolve around expectations, stereotypes, and racism.

While it is made for an urban audience where the Caucasian characters are more like yokels. 

The film isn’t much to look at visually. The look is usually dull and lacks style but works for the limits of the material and locations.

As the film definitely wants to be more of a comedy with a star at its center yet offers a kind of ensemble all around. Though it’s never quite specific so that it keeps seeming to try to swing and sometimes it gets to hit but it’s never quite a homer. It strikes out more times than it plans.

Jamie Foxx seemed stuck in these types of movies. This is more a starter starring movie but was the type he kept being offered that was more grade-C material. Not even B material that they should have been getting at the time. As he was a proven talent. In other words, while he makes it work. The filmmakers could have cast anyone in the role. He just so happens to make it more his own. As he is the most impressive aspect of the movie. Luckily eventually Hollywood would give him a chance and he just kept running with it after to bigger and better.

Grade: C

THE STONED AGE (1994)

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Directed By: James Melkonian
Written By: James Melkonian and Rich Wilkes 
Cinematography: Paul Holahan
Editor: Peter Schink 

Cast: Michael Kopelow, Bradford Tatum, China Kantner, Renee Ammann, Clifton Collins Jr., Kevin Kilner, Taylor Negron, Art Chudabala, David Groh, Jake Busey 

Determined to avoid another night of driving aimlessly around Torrance in the Blue Torpedo, Joe and Hubbs set out on a quest for fine chicks. Their paths soon cross with Tack, from whom they learn about a pair of radical chicks hanging out near the Frankie Avalon place. Over Joe’s objections, Hubbs worms Tack out of the deal, and the pair take a slow ride toward their destiny.

The trailer for this movie drag me in as it was so hilarious at the time that this was a must-see and I have to say definitely not disappointed.

I am probably remembering it as better than it probably is but I generally like this movie as I saw it when I was a teenager and to me, it was a straight-to-home video classic 

This is truly the 1980s suburban teenager dream party film as it is actually nasty funny witty at some points and actually just generally kind of fun. It never overstayed his welcome and it keeps moving forward in the kind of buddy comedy and of itself, only the buddies are already friends at the beginning of the film. This is just like watching their misadventures throughout the situation of the night.

As it had the rebelliousness of a teen movie, even though you could tell, nobody was really a teen in the movie, and it seem more of a throwback to maybe a more certain California suburban lifestyle. They don’t make movies like this at all anymore, which is why it stays memorable whereas at the time it might’ve been just another and this film is rude and crude and not afraid to offend anyone, nor does he go out of his way to do that either.

It’s also generally unrepentant when it comes to the material of the film, which really feels like a throwback to the 1980s teen sex comedy. Only there is a lot of talking about sex in the idealization of women as sex objects, but there isn’t that much actual sex there is nudity. 

Renee Ammann seems to be the sex object of the film that all men or most of the men desire throughout, she is the bombshell that brings all the boys to the yard literally but what I really liked was the ridiculous side characters and the comedy between them and how ridiculous they were. As she is treated like this precious object or treasure, that is meant to be held possessed, and had. Then discover while she is good, looking, she’s human, and not necessarily all that special.

Of course, by the end the main character realizes that it’s not all about sex it’s also about who you get along with, and who has a better personality, and you just generally vibe with, as far as chemistry. as he is more the romantic of the two, and though his best friend is a jerk. They still remain friends until the end. 

Think of this as a harder edge and less out their version of DUDE, WHERE’S MY CAR, and movies like that?

It’s also how I discovered the song Don’t Fear the Reaper by Blue Öyster Cult before it was heavily used again in the movie THE FRIGHTENERS. It also helped me to discover and appreciate the band also. Before they became legends with the infamous Christopher Walken, Will Ferrell Saturday night live cowbell sketch.

The film can be seen as two friends on a quest that never really goes out of anywhere that they are unfamiliar, but seeing it in a new light, and facing up to the challenges that they come upon on this quest. As after all, it’s about the journey, not the prize. They even learn something about themselves.

This is a general R-rated teen sex comedy. That’s a throwback and I appreciate it for what it is. It doesn’t try to be anything more. I mean the title loans to tell you what you’re in for so while it’s not great cinema, it is at least entertaining for the audience that would want to see a movie called The Stoned Age. And do not believe it to be a sequel to Encino Man. Which one of the actresses actually had a small role.

It’s just fun lowbrow humor. A fun, cold comedy that came from a short film and was intended to be the first of a trilogy starring the two main characters. 

You can look at it as a nostalgic throwback to dumb or stoner comedies along the lines of Pauly Shore, movies, or the dude where’s my car type.

Grade: C+

STARSHIP TROOPERS (1997)

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Directed By: Paul Verhoeven 
Written By: Ed Neumeier 
Based on the book by: Robert A. Heinlein 
Cinematography: Jost Vacano 
Editor: Mark Goldblatt & Caroline Ross 

Cast: Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, Dina Meyer, Clancy Brown, Jake Busey, Michael Ironside, Neil Patrick Harris, Seth Gilliam, Patrick Muldoon, Dean Norris, Rue McClanahan, Marshall Bell, Matt Levin, Brenda Strong, Amy Smart, Greg Travis, Dale Dye

In the distant future, high school kids are encouraged to become citizens by joining the military. What they don’t know is that they’ll soon be engaged in a full-scale war against a planet of alien insects. The fight is on to ensure the safety of humanity.

a film about and presented in parts as a war propaganda epic, but it’s also an out-and-out war film. As well as a melodrama that all feels like a video game. As it also has a science fiction element.

This is an epic war film that focuses more on the battlefield and action than anything else. It ultimately becomes a satire on war films. 

The film follows a group of high school students who sign up for military service for various reasons though the love triangle introduced at the beginning seems to show that each of them signed up to follow the other. These will be the ones we mostly stay with throughout. So that it has a coming of age and mildly romantic element. Which is the only time the film has any sweet moments.

Most of the characters come from Buenos Aires and are mostly caucasian. As the story goes along we are introduced to various characters most of them look straight out of a soap opera and are visually appealing. Which only strengthens when it comes to melodrama. It also clues you into who will most likely survive.

Even though the film does throw in plenty of surprises it also serves up plenty of cliches it manages to also throw in some ridiculous measures of subversion. Like seeing Neil Patrick Harris famous at the time mroe for playing teen doctor DOOGIE HOWSER on television. As a high-ranking military scientist and strategist prone to wearing German SS army gear as a uniform without any swastikas and when the main character of Johnny Rico is punished for insubordination, his punishment is to get whipped and he is punished when applying the whipping is an African American man. 

The film is hyper-violent and gory. Even the boot camp scenes manage to have death and plenty of violence. 

Once the battle begins we see the soldiers fight off against the deadly enemies bigs that’s right the enemy is giant insects. So that when there is violence against the enemy there is carnage but mostly goo rather than blood. Only when Humans are killed is there really bloody gore. 

When it comes to the style scenes grand and small there is so much action in battles and in casualties that is where it more feels like a video game other than in the premise. So while not based on one this is an early example of what a movie based on a video game should feel like. Before, where they feel like they could easily interchange. 

The film knows that this is pretty much a campy big-budget B-Movie that doesn’t take itself deadly seriously. It knows what it is and offers the audience thrills and chills, but knows it is there more to entertain over all else. 

It knows how far-fetched the premise is but makes you care and get involved anyway. It has breaks of propaganda where it shows news reports, commercials, and ad campaigns that are all overacted. Which not only like Director Paul Verhoven’s previous film ROBOCOP satirizes but also manages to world build and give background information of how this war is affecting all aspects of life on the battlefield.

The film is hard-edged and dark throughout. Even when it comes to its humor. 

It’s obviously a film that could only be made at the time it was. As it asks us to watch a war film that doesn’t really have any political agenda and is more born out of entertainment than being too serious and to show off special effects but not make it overbearing and what the film focuses on.

This is a film that at times is easy to forget about but feels like a film of a different time. It’s a film where you won’t forget the first time you see it and it might come off as silly at first but the more you think about it the more Impressed you are by it 

Even though most of his films have been wild and structured. This film seems to be one of the bigger films of Director Paul Verhoeven’s career where he seeks to go more full balls to the wall. Rather than trying to be too subtle or create a more intimate atmosphere. While not necessarily a classic along the lines of TOTAL RECALL or ROBOCOP which he directed. He doesn’t embarrass himself or shows any restraint even as this comes off as one of his more mainstream and crowd-pleasing films. 

As I will admit when I first saw it in theaters I felt it was ridiculous but kept me entertained. 

That seems to be more for a blockbuster audience and not so much the artistic crowd. 

Grade: B