HEAVY METAL // A FILM REVIEW OF "ALIEN OUTPOST"

BY MATEO MORENO

It seems that every film nowadays is taking the "documentary feel," the "of the moment" style that takes us behind the scenes within the movie, no matter what genre of film it is. And so ALIEN OUTPOST does the same, taking us into the not so distant future after a group of aliens have invaded. We see through the eyes of the soldiers in Pakistan who have survived this onslaught, talking directly to the camera, as well as see the footage that the "documentary" crew has picked up. It's a Sci-Fi "Restrepo (the great 2010 documentary following soldiers in Afghanistan)" but only with character types and broadly drawn archetypes instead of juicy plot development.

Jabbar Raisani directs a ragtag crew of soldiers who, as we're told in the opening moments of the film, is an alien race attacked earth in the year 2021. They slaughtered an uncountable amount but were chased off the planet. In their haste, they left behind thousands of "Heavies," as they call them here, and the soldiers now are always on the lookout for them, telling stories of them and often revealing that they've never actually seen one or only saw one briefly. Following them is a camera crew to capture all of the action. The "Heavies" don't show up right away, but once they finally do (usually at a distance) the body count begins to quickly build within their own.

Raisani has an interesting concept but the follow-through feels much more like a draft concept than a feature film. The Alien invaders aren't that cool and often feel, uncomfortably, like a thinly veiled version of an Afghan soldier. Some of the acting is pretty solid but the story often is a jumbled mess (why exactly are the Pakistan locals fighting those protecting them from the Alien invasion?). A few visual nifty tricks can't make up for the fact that this shoestring budget of a film ran out of ideas before they started shooting. Raisani may have had a clever idea, but his critique of the Iraq war has all the gentleness of a bludgeoning hammer. However, if you love watching shaky camera shots of soldiers yelling, "Go! Go!" and don't care too much for plot, then you may delight in this Outpost.

MATEO'S GRADE: D+

Written by Jabbar Raisani, Blake Clifton Directed by Jabbar Raisani

Starring Adrian Paul, Reiley McClendon, Rick Ravanello, Douglas Tait. CONTENT ADVISORY Adult Language, Violence

FINAL THOUGHTS: ALIEN OUTPOST has a good idea locked away in storage and might have made a nifty short film. But there's just not enough to justify a 90 minute running time.

MATEO MORENO is an actor, playwright, and director. He owns and runs TheArtsWireWeekly.com and has had several of his plays produced in the New York area and the Midwest. He is currently working with Boomerang Theatre on a short play piece and spends his days working on Broadway hits like MATILDA and IT'S ONLY A PLAY. He resides in New York City.

NYFF52 REVIEW: GONE GIRL

BY MATEO MORENO

For anyone and everyone who is worried that the new film adaptation of GONE GIRL won't live up to your memories of the novel let me reassure you: Director David Fincher has crafted one hell of a film here. Sleek and mysterious, pulsating and riveting, it's truly a mark of filmmaking wonder. Luck for us, the film adaptation is done by the novel's writer herself, Gillian Flynn, and she captures the wonder that sat on those pages with sharp and clear strokes. To those who haven't yet read the thrilling page turner, the story follows Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) and his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) as they move from Manhattan to Nick's childhood home of Missouri. One evening, Nick returns home to an open door, shattered glass, and Amy is nowhere to be seen. Amy has suddenly disappeared. The police, led by Detective Rhonda Boney (Kim Dickens) and Officer Jim Gilpin (Patrick Fugit), begin searching for answers and Nick turns to his sister Margo (Carrie Coon) for support. But what exactly, if anything, is Nick hiding? What will the police find? What did happen to Amy? Well if you've read the novel, you may think you know, but Flynn has shaken up the third act here, so even you are in for a treat.

Fincher creates a world and atmosphere here that is intoxicating; thrilling, bleak, and simmering with mysteries at every turn, with a swelling media circus encompassing everyone. Switching between each day Amy is missing and pages of her diary recounting their life together, GONE GIRL captures you from minute one. Affleck is perfect; quiet and powerful here as a smug man who has trouble convincing the public of his compassion. Pike's performance brims with wonder as we piece together who Amy really was. Carrie Coon turns in fantastic work here as Nick's twin sister Margo. And the large supporting cast, from Kim Dickens to Patrick Fugit, Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry (yes, THAT Tyler Perry) all shine from each moment to the next. Kudos as well to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for their haunting score. Even as you learn this town's dirty little secrets, Fincher and Lynne keep you guessing and keep their narrative hand gripping your throat. GONE GIRL does not disappoint, it transcends.

VERDICT: A MUST SEE

Based on the novel by Gillian Flynn Screenplay by Gillian Flynn Directed by David Fincher Starring Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Carrie Coon, Kim Dickens, Patrick Fugit, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry. CONTENT ADVISORY: Adult Situations, Adult Language, Graphic Violence, Nudity

BOTTOM LINE: Fans of the novel will be pleased and those who haven't read it will go pick it up. Another excellent offering from the master that is David Fincher.

NYFF52 REVIEW: JAUJA

BY MATEO MORENO

To fully explain JAUJA, the new uber-experimental film by Argentinian filmmaker Lisandro Alonso it would take a man who was...well... Lisandro Alonso. Made up of increasingly beautiful landscapes, scant traces of dialogue, and visions of an earth who's terrain is so mountainous and ongoing, it almost feels like another world. It's the first time Alonso has worked with a co-screenwriter (poet Fabian Casas) and he sets his entire film on the shoulders of Viggo Mortensen and the round bordered 4:3 frame every sequence is set against. It's an unnamed period in time, late 1800's so it seems, and starts off introducing Mortensen's Captain Dinesen and his 15 year old daughter Ingeborg (Viilbjork Agger Malling). He's joined up with a Spanish troupe ready to make this part of the world "civilized land." One night, Inga takes off into the darkness with her soldier boyfriend, Dinesen sets off on his own to find her and bring her back home. Though where home is may be a question all on its own, as they are mainly drifters, heading from one place to the next. From here on, little dialogue is spoken (save for a few mumbles and yells here and there) as we follow Mortensen from landscape to landscape on his quest to find his young daughter.

I'll admit that there is much of JAUJA that I didn't quite get, or even like. For the most part, the entire middle section of the film truly tried my patience. But just as I was ready to give up along comes a strange and unhinged third act that pulled me back in and even brought shades of "David Lynch" to mind. Director Lisandro Alonso is not making a movie for the masses here, and he doesn't care to. Instead he's crafted a film that's beautiful, confusing, pretentious, and beautiful. To say that it all makes sense after one viewing would be a lie. But should you reward the film with your patience, and I'm on the fence if you should, you will be treated to a subtle, wonderful performance by Mortensen and a dizzying of an ending. Just make sure you've had eight hours of sleep before you sit down in a darkened theatre to experience it.

VERDICT: ON THE FENCE

Written by Lisandro Alonso & Fabian Casas Directed by Lisandro Alonso Starring Viggo Mortensen, Viilbjork Agger Malling. CONTENT ADVISORY: Adult Situations, Adult Language, Brief Nudity

BOTTOM LINE: JAUJA is original, for better or for worse. Head in with an open mind, or don't head in at all.