Willard
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Movie Reviews of Willard
Movie Review: Absolutely brilliant, if you're one of the few...
Summary: 5 Stars
As soon as I saw the trailer for Willard I got chills of excitement. Seeing Crispin Glover taking on this role was genius as it seemed to be the perfect vessel for his eccentric talent, though I also knew the film would not draw a large audience. The best ones never do. I was surprised to hear Glover was far from the first choice. It seems like a natural selection.
Having grown up in the 70's seeing the original film on late night TV, the primary selling point to me for this remake was Glover. I never found the rat-lover story exceptionally intriguing but with this casting it put such an excitement in me. I couldn't wait.
The weekend Willard opened shortly followed a personal trauma that left me in a lingering black mood and I hoped this film would remind me that I wasn't completely alone in the world, that there are others that enjoy and create the same things that appeal to me. I walked in the theater that afternoon to the absolute perfect setting. I was the only one there. I anxiously sat waiting for the film to start, hoping no one else would come in to bother me. The lights dimmed and the movie started with me the sole viewer. From the second the music started and the credits rolled I got a chill that remained for the duration of the film. What an amazing experience this was. Glover was, as anticipated, absolutely brilliant. The bits of wicked humor just added to my assumption that this film will not appeal to the average dullard going to see the latest Adam Sandler trash. When the mother decided to start calling Willard 'Clark' I about died. I didn't expect laughs from this film but, thankfully, the laughs I got were witty and intelligent. Glover plays the misfit Willard, a character that would probably make anyone uncomfortable if you met him in person but when you view his home life and other surroundings you can't help but sympathize with him. Since the movie's plot has been well covered I will just mention that I left the theater feeling 100% satisfied with what I saw.
The day the DVD was released I snapped it up. After loving the film a second time I watched the 73 minute documentary added to the disc. What a wonderful insight this was. It was so sad to see how poor the test screenings went. You could see the disappointment and frustration growing on director Glen Morgan's face with each slap from the ignorant public. This is what really burns me. A director dares to steps outside the standard Hollywood formula and the response he gets from the test audience is that it should be more like every other Hollywood film. I'm so bored by films that are nothing but last weeks big hit with a different setting, and occasionally different actors. I can guess most things before they happen and the predictability is stagnating. This film was amazingly original with a lasting effect. I was very pleased to see New Line sticking by their film, allowing the director to only make the changes he wanted to. The new ending they added retained it's dignity and did not detract from the film at all. My only complaint is they should have included the original R rated version as the "Directors cut" on the DVD as well.
By the end of the documentary the director looks a bit worn and drained. He was proud of his film, as he should be, but just terribly disappointed it made little public impact. I felt so bad for him I just wanted to give him a big hug. I hope he reads these postings from numerous fans of the film and takes comfort that while his film did not find an audience on its initial release, it's doing quite well at building a devoted cult following on video. I hope he continues to make films that he enjoys and not what Hollywood thinks he should. It seems the few negative remarks here are from people that think it wasn't very "scary". I enjoy a good scare myself but I also enjoy a smart film built on atmosphere and story, not effects. But then what do I know, my favorite film is The Stepford Wives (the original, not the horrid Hollywood remake).
Movie Review: Classic Darkness
Summary: 5 Stars
Let me mention that this is, among most standards, a 4-star film. However, I give it 5 stars for three reasons:1. The bar says that 5 means you love it, and I certainly loved it.
2. This is a 5-star DVD.
3. Crispin Glover is perfect for the role.
I'm not a fan of Crispin Glover (nor a non-fan) as I'd never heard of him before "Willard." However, I certainly know him now. He is perfectly fit as the role of Willard, a disturbed, lonely, pitiful, and creepy young man who's heading nowhere in life. He lives with his aged and diseased mother, who's night cries are more disturbing than the rats of the film.
The rats, originally a target needing to be exterminated, become Willard's friends after he rescues one from a glue trap. He names it Socrates and befriends it. While in one instance this could seem like a simple pet, it is immediately seen as desperation when Willard is brought to tears simply by the rat's return after freeing and feeding it.
Away from home, Willard is bullied and tormented by his boss, Mr. Martin, who built the manufacturing company they work at with Willard's father. He harasses Willard about his tardiness, his lack of confidence in his work, and how Willard and his mother remain in their home after his father's death. As the harassment continues and Willard's relationship with the rats grows stronger, he begins to have thoughts of revenge.
There's more to the story than that, with Willard's life further complicated by the friendliness of a young female co-worker, as well as the disturbance to his friendship with the other rats by a challenger among them, a large brown rat he names Ben.
"Willard" is a very atmospheric remake (yes, remake. Complete remake. Willard's father being painted as the character of Willard from the original movie is a tribute and nothing more.) The tones and colors of Willard's home are all dark and eerie, seeming to glow with earthliness as well, like a cave. The camera angles are superb for fleshing out the characters and the director isn't afraid to give straight on angles instead of just the typical diagnols.
As for the acting, I'm not sure what everyone is complaining about. Everyone seemed to give a solid performance, including the rats. Speaking of the rats, there are few CG shots in the movie, a relief when thinking of what could have happened. Most of the shots with the rats are used with live animals, and the shots that are CG are done well and only when needed.
The DVD (I'm becoming a steady fan of New Line with each release of theirs) has a decent share of extras. There's a Making-of feature that is over an hour long, as well as a documentary on rats. There is a full-length commentary of the film by the director, producer, and main actors, as well as commentaries for the music video and Deleted Scenes. The music video is very bizarre to say the least, but Glover's singing talent is highlighted in it.
The Deleted/Alternate scenes are interested, as well as the reasons for their changes. Much of the changes are simply the removal of curses (which, admittedly, were used in a bit of excess) to keep the film at a PG-13 rating. I suppose this was done to allow a wider audience range, but considering the dismal theatrical returns, I doubt it would have mattered much. There is also more gore in these scenes, an aspect that probably should have remained, as it wasn't very graphic. Finally, there's the original ending and an extended ending, both of which should be watched with the commentary tracks on.
All in all, this is a great DVD for a very good movie. Tension is well-built, with moments of humor thrown in at the right times, and a style of darkness that should give this film a loyal following as a dark classic. You'll certainly enjoy it for what is had... as long as you don't mind the rats.
Movie Review: The best film so far this year...
Summary: 5 Stars
True, as of this writing it's only March, but that still doesn't stop the fact that of all the movies released so far in 2003, "Willard" is most definitely the best. Dark, gloomy, and very weird, this dark comedy centers around Willard (Crispin Glover), a young man with a crummy job, a nagging mother that still lives with him, and a rat problem in his basement. It's clear when the movie starts that Willard has been going crazy for quite some time.When we first meet him, it's a surefire bet he is no longer mentally secure. Soon, he has befriends the rats in his basement. He talks to them, feeds them, and gives them commands which they obey. He opens a bag and says "in," and they scatter into the bag. He says "out" and they go out. Are the rats super-smart, or is Willard an expert on rats?
He decides to use the rats to get payback for the years of yelling he has recieved from his boss. But things get strange when Willard makes friends with a girl at the office, who has a small crush on him. The rats are multiplying and taking over Willard's house. How much longer can he keep his secret, let alone control of the rats? Complicating this is super-rat Ben, who becomes the leader of the rats and, eventually, Willard's worst enemy.
A misconception of this movie is that it is a horror film. It's far from it. This is a dark comedy not about super-intelligent rats, but about Willard, the insane man who controls them. Crispin Glover is excellent as Willard. He's dark, grim, yet occasionally funny. The film takes on the feel of a Tim Burton movie and it's a wonder he didn't make it himself. You could almost say this is the best Tim Burton film in years!
This is an extremely well done film and is definitely going to be up there with the other great films yet to come out this year. I strongly recommend this to anyone looking for something a little different. Those disappointed by the lackluster "Death to Smoochy" should take note: this is the antidote.
Movie Review: Golden Age of Grotesque
Summary: 5 Stars
Every now and then, I just have to punch in something that confuses the allmighty recommendations.
Not that I haven't actually seen this movie. Got it recently, from a tag sale I believe (thanks Jen). Like a lot of people, I was fascinated by the McFly character way way back, then got a bit more intrigued by Glover's ridiculous appearances on talk shows. I remember him in a hideous polyester suit, maybe the Carson Show, Glover was babbling about how his hideous polyester suit belonged to his father in the 70's. And that's all he talked about until Carson whoever went to commercial. Far out, pal. Now, just on that data alone, you can see how, years later, it might be fairly irresistible to see Crispin Glover in Willard. Especially if you're at the age that just slightly missed the original movie 'cause you were a little too young, or something. And I enjoyed my used copy of Ratman's Notebooks by Stephen Gilbert, too. Plus I personally have grown to appreciate what a cheap suit can do for ya. I mean, me. As I was saying, all that matters really is this 2003 remake of Willard is simply the perfect starring vehicle for Crispin Glover. Not many of those, right? And, unlike the sterner Wizard of Gore, Willard is not actually horror gore but rather atmospheric kitsch of the highest order. Really a lovely production (and the bonus of "Ben" with Crispin really in his Weimar Republic glory). Here is where a mouse of a man learns to become a real rat (note his twitching nose in the innumerable closeups). That said, I do believe Glover's continued dalliance with the gothic / outsider thing is a little, well, didn't all that go out with songpoems, Xanax and Eightball comics? Recalling how McFly's narrative was one of triumphant transformation, doesn't it sorta make sense to consider getting Glover into something unexpected again. Like the remake of CinderFella!
No, I haven't been in the medicine cabinet again.
Movie Review: CRISPIN CRITTERS
Summary: 5 Stars
It's always baffled me that when Academy Award nominations are made, the "horror" genre is sadly overlooked. They think, "How can an actor in a horror or science fiction movie compare with a classical drama or action movie?" There have been some tremendously wonderful performances from actors in films like WILLARD. Crispin Glover's eerily deranged performance as the title character is brilliant. If anyone can embody the warped psychology of Willard, Glover is the one to bring it to its most adequate fruition. From the moment we meet Willard, we can tell he is a loner, a young man trapped in a world of silence, loneliness, self flagellation, and a mother he loves/hates. Once he befriends Socrates and the other rats, he becomes more of a person, feeling comfortable with friends that appreciate and obey him. Glover's demonic outbursts work mainly because we can feel and sense the rage he's holding in, and when it explodes, it's with a demon's wrath. Glover shines in this role, and should have been considered for an Oscar.
The rest of the cast is superflous, although R. Lee Ermey's turn as Frank Martin as Willard's heartless boss, is one of this usually deadpan actor's best. Laura Harring is good as Cathryn, who wants to be Willard's friend; and Jackie Burroughs is frighteningly effective as Willard's possessive mother.
As for the rats, what can I say? I don't know why people come down so hard on CGI effects. Modern technology has allowed films to give us the "image" of something horrible. They looked real enough for me, and I would rather have had that than an inappropriate attempt to corral a thousand real rats.
The inclusion of Michael Jackson's "Ben" while the rats mercilessly pursue and devour Scully the cat is both repulsive and brilliantly executed.
WILLARD is much better than the original and deserved more praise than it got.