Film Forum

Episode Recap

Episode 2

April 19, 2005

Films Reviewed: Millions and The Amityville Horror (2005)

Commentary: Art Imitating Life, in a bad way

Featurette: Behind the scenes of The Amityville Horror (2005)

Regarding Millions:

Matt: Danny Boyle, the man that gave us movies about heroin addicts and zombies, delivers probably his most personal film yet.  Two young English boys discover a sackful of stolen pounds and debate over what to do with the money.  The child actors don't realize they are actors, and the story unfolds naturally.  This is the best kind of family film around and has something to say about the power of faith (and the world fiscal system).  Four stars!!

Aron: I have to agree with Matt about the child actors.  Their performances were very natural.  Also, the film uses its special effects to the full tilt without being overdone.  It really is a sweet date film or family film to see as a matinee.  Not the four star film Matt thinks it is, but really good nonetheless.  Three stars.

Average Rating: ***1/2  (out of ****)

Regarding The Amityville Horror (2005):

Aron: It's a good looking film.  It's reasonably well acted and boasts some good special effects.  But this "remake" of the 1979 horror "classic" just didn't scare me at all.  But you can do worse.  Two and a half stars.

Matt: I agree with Aron on the not being scary part.  In fact, that's why the film failed for me.  Sure, the acting is good (especially the child actors, whose stock has improved a great deal over the past decade), but the film relies too heavily on the tried and true horror movie clichés.  And what is it with the creepy girls in horror films?  Give me a break.  One and a half stars

Average Rating: **  (out of ****)

Commentary: Last week, eleven San Antonio movie fans thought it would be fun to re-create a scene from The Road Warrior and try to hijack a tanker truck.  This led to all eleven fans being arrested and a cancellation of a sci-fi film marathon.  Aron and Matt took a look at other copycat items from films, such as the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan from Taxi Driver and the subway robberies from Money Train.

Featurette: Behind the scenes of The Amityville Horror (2005), starring Ryan Reynolds, Melissa George, Phillip Baker Hall and that really creepy house in Long Island