Gomorra

Go get your #$%^ing shine box!






Ok so this is a mafia movie unlike any you've ever seen. The movie is all about the Camorra. The Camorra is a hyperviolent criminal organization entrenched in the local politics, economics and social issues of the Italian provinces of Naples, Scampìa and Secondigliano. The Camorra are so ruthless and so decentralized that they are almost impossible for authorities to combat.

This movie tells the stories of five people who are affected by the Camorra showing how even people who are not criminals themselves often can not help but be tied to Camorra run enterprises. The direction is subtle and not a lot is spelled out for the audience. Still, the plot is pretty easy to understand. It does move more slowly than an American film would, but it also gives more background which helps a great deal in understanding why the Camorra are as large a problem as they are.

Another thing the film does well is show how the illegal actions of a small group of people an ocean away can have moral implication for us here in the U.S. The Camorra's involvement in the tailoring houses that produce haute couter dresses for the rich in our country are one example.

Here is the trailer.

The acting is good and one gets the feeling watching the film that a real glimpse behind the criminal curtain is being presented. Like most foreign films about twenty minutes could have been cut and it would have moved things along a bit better, but you can't have Falstaff and have him thin.

Rent this movie if:

1. You are into foreign films.
2. You are into gangster films.
3. You like watching dudes get shot.

Buy this movie if

1. You are a gangster film completist.
2. You are planning on taking over your neighborhood, illegally dumping toxic waste, drug dealing, loan sharking and politician bribing and you want to see how it is done.
3. The tanning salon scene.

If you are interested in buying this DVD here is a link to Amazon where you can get it at a reasonable price:

The Blind Side

I laughed, I cried, I tried to move in with a rich white lady.



Ok so if I said I did not like The Blind Side I would be lying to you. Being a hard bitten cynic all it really takes is the schmaltziest storyline having to do with a poor kid doing good and I am hooked like big mouthed bass. If this is also you, then rent this movie now, even before you finish reading this review. You may forget this movie in a week, but while you watch it you will be glued to it.

Why would you forget this movie so quickly? Let’s just say that it belongs to that group of movies based on a true story which you know was dramatically altered to make it more of a Hollywood movie. Things just fall into place in the film which are really complex. I mean if I need to go grocery shopping I have to run to the bank, organize two people’s schedules and take work calls the entire time. The family in the movie seemed to posses a magic wand which made their adoption of a gigantic black adolescent a pretty simple affair.

In short it is a feel good movie staring an attractive Sandra Bullock. It will not tax your brain cells or make you worry about much of anything. There are a few chuckles in the movie and no matter how much the story was changed the basic story did happen so you can hang your hat on that, I guess.

The acting was okay in some cases crappy in others. I’m talking to you, NCAA lady and boy who played precocious little boy. If you are alone rent it, cry, cheer and then tell no one of the two hours you spent in front of this movie. If you have a lady friend it would not be a bad movie to watch especially if you then go on to adopt a large black boy of your own. That will get you laid for sure.

Rent this movie if:

1. You are into inspirational sports films.
2. You have a milfy thing for the Bullock.
3. You are a sucker for the sap.

Buy this movie if:

1. You are a promise keeper.
2. You need to watch the movie twice in order to figure out that rich people have this superpower called money that pretty much let’s them do whatever the fuck they want with no advance thinking or possibility of suffering from repercussions.
3. Bullock, Bullock, Bullock!!!

If you are interested in buying this DVD here is a link to Amazon where you can get it at a reasonable price:

Good Hair

In my ongoing efforts to try to resusify and revivitate dvdestroyer in a larger attempt at dominating the internet and as a result all media I give you another post. This time I will be discussing Good Hair. In this documentary director Jeff Stilson and Chris Rock examine society’s views regarding the hair African Americans.

The documentary moves along quickly enough and provides a great deal of information I did not know specifically in regards to the time, expense and widespread use of weaves. The other areas the documentary illuminated were the size of the black hair market (gigantic), the international trade in Indian hair and the practice of using hair relaxers.

The best scene in the film is when Chris Rock tells this poindextery looking scientist guy that black women put sodium hydroxide in their hair. This after the scientist demonstrates how incredibly dangerous the chemical is. The scientist just stares at rock dumfounded.

This scene relates to the central theme of the movie which is that “good hair” is largely thought to be straight hair which is a subjective value judgement largely influenced by racial attitudes in media. The idea is not a new one, but in conjunction with all of the facts regarding how much black women spend on making their hair straight it is presented in an interesting and thoughtful way.

You should rent this movie if

1. You like a good documentary.
2. You like Chris Rock
3. You are even considering getting your hair relaxed.

You should buy this movie if:

1. You need to complete your collection of movies in which Paul Moooney has a scene.
2. You are not smart enough to watch a documentary and understand it the first time.
3. Actually that one scene with the scientist is pretty funny.

If you are interested in buying this DVD here is a link to Amazon where you can get it at a reasonable price: