The Box
Director: Richard Kelly
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Frank Langella, James Marston
Out now on DVD
Plot: Based on Richard Mattheson’s short story entitled “Button, Button”, The Box is a sci-fi thriller filled with mystery and murder and a whole heap of cash. Norma and Arthur Lewis (Diaz & Marston) live a relatively normal life in 1976 America but their lives change dramatically when Arlington Stuart (Frank Langella) – a former employee for NASA – leaves them a mysterious box. Inside the box sits a single button, which, when pressed, will result in the death of someone unknown to the couple. It will also result in them gaining $1 million in cash. But things don’t turn out to be that simple.
Mini Review: Well-paced thriller with an excellent moral dilemma at its heart. The supernatural elements may take one-step too far into the bizarre but that’s what Kelly is famous for and it never enters the realms of sci-fi absurdity. Great performances from Langella, Diaz and Marston make the film more personable and add to the mystery that oozes out of every minute. The film starts with one moral dilemma and ends with an even bigger one. Enjoyable and thought-provoking, if not a little confusing, The Box is well worth a viewing.
Score: 4/5
Where the Wild Things Are
Director: Spike Jonze
Starring: Max Records, James Gandolfini (voice), Forest Whitaker (voice), Catherin O’Hara (voice)
Out now on DVD
Plot: Based on the classic children’s book by Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are follows the imaginative world created by Max (Max Records) after fleeing his home following an argument with his mother. Dressed only in a flannelette cat costume, Max embarks on a journey through a strange world filled with various creatures that he befriends.
Mini Review: It may be based on a children’s book but this is by no means a children’s film. It’s family friendly, yes, but the issues dealt with will more than likely be lost on younger viewers. The ‘Wild Things’ vary in personality and represent emotions that everyone is bound to have felt at some point in time. It passes through the entire spectrum of human emotions and it’s hard not to sympathise with everyone involved. Max Records makes an amazing debut with a performance that never loses its importance or affect. Supporting voices from the likes of James Gandolfini and Forest Whitaker are superb, giving each character a very-defined personality. The costumes and effects are amazing and the decision not to go completely CGI adds even more depth. Funny, moving and utterly entertaining; Where the Wild Things is a must.
Score: 5/5