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The Box starring James Marsden, Cameron Diaz & Frank Langella

Posted on March 30, 2010 Written by ripitup

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The Box with Cameron Diaz and James Marsden
The Box with Cameron Diaz and James Marsden. Frank Langella gives creepy and mysterious a whole new meaning. So what would you do to get $1.000.000?

1976. A black box is dropped at the house of Norma and Arthur Lewis (Cameron Diaz and James Marsden), a happily married couple with a kid. They have the house, the car, the careers and things seem quite perfect in their front. Well, there are some problems. NASA employee Arthur fails to get his chance to become an astronaut and the private school Norma is teaching at -and their son goes to school to- cuts off his scholarship. And there is the almost life-long disability that has been bothering Norma, her constant limping due to her 4 cut-off toes. What comes in the form of a suggestion however is something they never could have anticipated.

A mysterious old man – Arlington Steward – with an extremely disfigured half-face appears at the door. Norma invites the man in, both shocked and intrigued. As it turns out, this is the man who dropped the mysterious black box at their door and he has come with a proposition. The box has a red button. If the couple presses it within 24 hours, someone they don’t know will die. And they will receive $1.000.000, if she and her husband don’t tell anyone. He leaves Norma shocked. Arthur doesn’t really take it seriously. But after a while, “what if” questions start to surface. What if that man is serious? What if they will actually be paid $1.000.000? Are they ready to be responsible to be responsible for someone’s death?

Eventually, money and financial troubles win over conscience and the button is pushed.

It turns out Arlington meant everything he said. But will their act have other consequences? Who the hell is Arlington Steward? Why are there so many people around them acting weird? Where does the money come from? Will they ever be safe?

Now, this movie has one of the most interesting premises I have ever run into. I found myself glued to the screen, wondering about Arlington, the money and feeling shocked at the fact that both Norma took the man seriously and easily pushed the button. How could a seemingly good person be that reckless of someone else’s life? The movie is slowly-paced, intending to build the tension and curiosity. While I can’t say I was bored, I couldn’t find the exciting explanation I was waiting for in the end. What happened and why will be shown to you to a certain extent. However a lot will left to your imagination and interpretation.

The screenplay is based on a short-story by Richard Matheson, called Button, Button. The movie is written for the screen and directed by Richard Kelly, writer and director of the cult hit Donnie Darko. While Darko is better-paced, I was more intrigued by The Box.

I am looking forward to read Matheson’s story and see how much/what Kelly left out.

I should say it is always good to watch Marsden and Frank Langella really crept me out.

6.0 on IMDB. I guess I can say 6.5-7 for some parts and 6.0 for other.

Favorite Line

Norma Lewis: What happens now? Will you make the offer to someone else?

Arlington Stweard:Yes, Mrs Lewis. And you can be sure it will be made to someone you don’t know.

Favorite Scene

Last conflict for the Lewises. My favorite part of the whole movie.

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: Button Button, Cameron Diaz, Donnie Darko, drama, Frank Langella, James Marsden, Richard Kelly, Richard Matheson, sci fi, The Box, the box movie, the box movie review, thriller

Donnie Darko starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore & Patrick Swayze

Posted on July 15, 2009 Written by ripitup

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donnie
Jake Gyllenhaal in Donnie Darko. Spooky. Intriguing. Irresistable. Yes, this is a good movie.

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze, Jena Mal0ne

Written and Directed by: Richard Kelly

This is one weird movie. And having seen it for the second time, I mean this in a good way.

It was a friend’s birthday and we got him a mid-sized figure of the Bunny-rabbit Frank from the movie.

For those of you who haven’t seen it, here is Frank:

500full-donnie-darko-poster Don’t worry. You do get to know what’s with the weird suit, where (most of) Donnie (J. Gyllenhaal) ‘s troubles come from.You will however probably be left with some questions in your head so I suggest the director’s cut.

The plot is too complicated to give it justice but let’s just say Donnie is a troubled upper-middle class teenager who isn’t exactly on great terms with his family. Things get creepier when he starts to see the images of this man-sized rabbit that talks to him and directs him- it even saves Donnie’s life. So Donnie starts doing things that could get him in trouble. So he has to deal with weird teachers (with the exception of the science teacher and the English teacher (Drew Barrymore), the sexual frustrations of an adolescent, the intensity of his feelings for the new girl, his sanity,questions about the possibility of time travel and his psychiatrist… It’s fun, dark, thrilling and well-shot. The music is pretty cool and the plot is original. At least I haven’t seen the same elements combined like this and have a good result.

donniedarko18nd
Donnie (Jake) and the cool Englih teacher (Barrymore)
Donnie and Gretchen (Jena Malone)
Donnie and Gretchen (Jena Malone)
Donnie and a really weird yet crucial character
fondue_donniedarko_wideweb__470x299,0
Donnie, Gretchen asleep and Frank

10_-Donnie-Darko-2001_imagelarge

What the hell is the rabbit doing with Donnie? I find the answer to be original. I don’t think it is as brilliant and breath-taking as the 8.3 ranking it got from the IMDB voters but I think it is a solid 7.5

Give it a shot. Or just watch it again.

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: Donnie Darko, Drew Barrymore, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, movies about time- travel, Patrick Swayze, Richard Kelly, time travel

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