Willard
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Movie Reviews of Willard
Movie Review: Tear it up
Summary: 5 Stars
There is much to be said about a film that can make the audience care for rats. There is even more to be said about a film that has Crispin Glover as its lead. Glover plays Willard, a quiet, unassuming man who has become used to being trampled under the world's bootheel. He lives with his ailing mother in a house much too large for such unhappy people, he works for the man who stole his father's business. A business that still bears his family's name. Willard can talk to rats. I'm sure many people have done so throughout time, either with a yell of indignation at a rodent invading their home or with a murophobic scream while standing on a chair. However, I doubt any of those people ever had the rats obey. The only other horror film performance I've seen this year of similar caliber was that of Sid Haig in Rob Zombie's House of 1,000 Corpses. The level of sincerity in every frame with Crispin Glover is astonishing, his morose demeanor is disturbing, the gaunt appearance brings to mind a living Edward Gorey sketch. You will never see a better transition from sorrow to rage in a film. Unless you go back to some of Jack Nicholson's earlier work (ie. The Shining).
It's not all Crispin Glover mind you, R. Lee Ermey plays Willard's boss to a despicable T, and the cast of rats are impressive. Ben and Socrates are perfect in their roles ( which of course is due to great animal handling and some nice camerawork). Overall this film comes across quite nicely, with some genuine creepiness and nice photography. However, it seems that Crispin Glover could probably read the ingredients of a soup can and do an impressive job. For fans of the weird this one's for you.
Movie Review: Fantastic remake!
Summary: 5 Stars
Willard Stiles (Crispin Glover) is the son of a wealthy dead factory owner which is now ran by a friend of the family named Mr. Martin (R. Lee Ermy) and has a sickly mother (Jackie Burroughs). He is a very lonely worker of a man until one day he saves a white rat as he starts to have an obsession with rats to train them what to do including one large rat nicknamed Ben which he dubbed. Now it seems that he is using them as a weapon for his anger and revenge against the people who like to push him as he is falling out of his mind.
A truly excellent remake of 1971's cult classic is one of the best yet underrated remakes in recent memory of the horror genre. Glen Morgan (Final Destination) fame was at his peak when he did this re-envisioning of one of the most underrated movies. The casting was perfect including Crispin Glover taking over the role of Willard originally played by Bruce Davidson and i also like how they made a tribute to that movie with this one using references of Bruce Davidson in a painting as the dead father of the title troubled figure. This one deals with the madness of being lonely and the obsession of certain animals can lead to certain dangers that could drive you mad.
This DVD offers both widescreen and fullscreen versions with audio commentary, alternate and deleted scenes with optional commentary, a documentary, featurette, music video by Crispin Glover singing Michael Jackson's famed "BEN" song with optional commentary, Trailer, TV Spots and DVD-Rom features.
Movie Review: Woof Woof
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie kicks ass. Glover is a genius (but everyone knows this already). And the scene with the little dog is just lovely. My neighbors had a dog like that (used to drive me crazy), though after I saw the movie, they moved (funny coincidence). His emotions were so on with that part. Sad to say, that's exactly what I would have done and thought. But really. This is the movie that brought me out of my sleep and initiated me into the wonder of Crispin Hellion Glover. And the rats.. the rats.. Reminded me a tad of the Lovecraft story "Rats in the Walls", which is very cool. I wish I had magic powers to control rats like that. Also, this movie has wonderful atmosphere and the mother is freaky. Glover got a nomination for this, I believe. This is such a unique movie and part, especially for a talent such as he. Only thing is the director seemed a little overobsessed with Psycho, which is both cool and disturbing. Also, I wish they had just kept it rated R and shown all. Nothing should be censored. It does have the feel of an older movie from that era though (Hitchcock, Psycho, etc). Something I especially enjoyed about it.
Oh, and the tearing of the newspaper. Nice. "Tear it up.. tear it up".. =) I also like the sound of the ice cream truck in the background after mummy dies and the clock and forshadowing of Ben's foot. That little sequence was especially nice. The last scene is great too. I think it was better that way and I agree with Crispin that they all live on somehow. Lovely, lovely movie.
Movie Review: The Year's Best Film
Summary: 5 Stars
If you were expecting a "cool, killer animal" film, do not see this movie. If you were expecting a carbon copy of the original horror cult classic, do not see this film. The new "Willard" is not a bloody, slasher movie, despite how the trailers make it out to be. "Willard" is an intelligent, psychological thriller/drama about a lonely man (played excellently by my new favorite actor, Crispin Glover [another film he was great in was "Bartleby",...) who befriends a little white rat named Socrates, only to find that not only can he communicate with the rat, but the rat can send his communications off to the hundreds of other rats living in Willard's basement. He soon develops a great friendship with Socrates, and uses the rats for revenge. One of the other rats is a humongus fellow named Ben who desperately wants to be part of Willard's and Socrates' friendship, but Willard shuns Ben, and only uses him when he needs him. Well, I don't want to go into too much detail, but a sort of love triangle evolves with Willard, Socrates, and Ben. There is also a thing going on with Willard's mother, who lives with him, and Willard's horrible boss. Willard's and Socrate's relationship is truly endearing, creating a beautiful film. This film is perfect if you love rats, hate them, or just like Crispin Glover, as he really shines here. It is enhanced with very cool cinematography (with very little CGI- Ben is somewhere around nine pounds and he is a *real* rat), and good music. A must see!Movie Review: Csrispin Glover is "Overly" Perfect for the role as Willard
Summary: 5 Stars
Crispin played the role of George McFly perfectly in Back to the Future, and he respectfully found the opportunity to finally do it now in Willard. As george McFly, he had one of the most ingenious roles ever, and I have always wished he was wrtten into the second and third films of Back to the Future more legitimately. Did you see him on Conan OBrian? What a geunine innocent, the coolest guy ever. It's as though any interaction he has with the public is an exposure on his lifestyle, so simlar to the movie. So yes, I think he fits this role as Willard, perfectly. There needs to be a jump-start to a new era of respect for his acting, and as other highly respected actors in Holywood, scripts need to be written specifically for Crispin Glover, simply because of his incredible unique presence on film and in front of the media.Willard is definitely going to attract cult classic viewers and hopefully the larger public eye. Of course saw the movie on Sunday having only the person I came with and 1 other couple in the theater, but I hope it still stands well in the box office.
In any case, the characters are "overly" exaggerated in style and it fits. His boss is "overly" and uncontrollably bullish, his mom is "overly" gross and old, the girl is "overly" innocent, caring and naive, the rats are just "overly" abundant, and Willard for sure is "overly" confined and whacked out of his gourd. The coolest movie out right now for sure.