If I had a readership, I would apologize for my absence. As it is, I'll just resume whispering into the abyss. Now where was I? Yes. Following ho-hum reviews when it ran in theaters, "1408" enjoyed a wave of critical reconsideration when it arrived on DVD that persuaded me against my better judgement to give it a chance. But let's just acknowledge the 800 lb. gorilla. You can't make a movie, let alone a Stephen King movie, about a haunted hotel without coming up short against "The Shining." There's no unifying logic here that explains what force is at work other than, as Sam Jackson's hotelier exclaims, "...it's an evil fucking room." But more like an evil fucking prop comic, the room throws gag after tired gag at Cusack, hoping something will resonate and send him bounding out the window. But the frights aren't scary, with the single exception of a "gotcha!" at the end, which inexplicably takes place after the action has moved beyond the hotel. And there's a confusing detour late in the movie that climaxes with a wide-eyed, mugging Cusack shot in 360 degree rotation that reminded me of the goofy old Wayne's World segue, "noonil, noonil, noonil, noonil." But I can only blame myself. If I'd done my homework, I would have noticed that "1408" was directed by the same guy who brought us this disappointment.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
14...oh, wait.
If I had a readership, I would apologize for my absence. As it is, I'll just resume whispering into the abyss. Now where was I? Yes. Following ho-hum reviews when it ran in theaters, "1408" enjoyed a wave of critical reconsideration when it arrived on DVD that persuaded me against my better judgement to give it a chance. But let's just acknowledge the 800 lb. gorilla. You can't make a movie, let alone a Stephen King movie, about a haunted hotel without coming up short against "The Shining." There's no unifying logic here that explains what force is at work other than, as Sam Jackson's hotelier exclaims, "...it's an evil fucking room." But more like an evil fucking prop comic, the room throws gag after tired gag at Cusack, hoping something will resonate and send him bounding out the window. But the frights aren't scary, with the single exception of a "gotcha!" at the end, which inexplicably takes place after the action has moved beyond the hotel. And there's a confusing detour late in the movie that climaxes with a wide-eyed, mugging Cusack shot in 360 degree rotation that reminded me of the goofy old Wayne's World segue, "noonil, noonil, noonil, noonil." But I can only blame myself. If I'd done my homework, I would have noticed that "1408" was directed by the same guy who brought us this disappointment.
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1 comment:
You needn't apologize for your absence, ever.
But please, please never abandon this blog. It's too good. You're too good. Like, Magna Carta good.
And you do have readership: me.
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