Tag Archives: Bradley Whitford

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The Cabin in the Woods – Review

“Make sure you see The Cabin in the Woods before it’s spoiled for you,” my friend warned after he saw it in the theater. It was a warning I heeded. I avoided all discussion about the movie from then until now, having just recently seen the movie on DVD. I avoided anything and everything about the movie in fear of accidentally reading one sentence too long and having it spoiled. I didn’t even know Chris Hemsworth was in the cast until he appeared on screen.
To those of you who haven’t seen the movie yet, I would recommend heeding my friend’s advice. A big part of what makes Cabin in the Woods work is the twist behind the movie, so try to have that not ruined for you if you can.
Like Scream, Cabin in the Woods is a good deconstruction of the horror movie genre. And Bradley Whitford is awesome in it, in his snarky Bradley Whitford way.
SPOILER WARNING: I plan on discussing that twist directly after this awesome poster.


 

Okay, the only people left are those of you who have already seen Cabin the Woods, right? Good.
This movie is a big metaphor about making horror movies, right? We, the audience, are ancient demons they’re trying to appease. I liked that the crew had every type of horror villain available to them in their subterranean holding cells. I also really liked that the projects being done in other counties reflected what horror movies are like there, like the ghost-children in the Japanese project.
I just wished they went further with it. Once Dana and Marty make it to the base, the movie sped along to its finish. I wanted to know more about this place. Yes, too much exposition is bad. But, I think a little more would have served Cabin in the Woods well.
Overall, Cabin in the Woods didn’t live up to the hype for me. I feel like I just lost a little geek cred by saying that. I thought it was good, but not great. It’s definitely entertaining and I would recommend people see it. But don’t go in with your expectations set very, very high.
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On The Couch #22: An American Crime

Wow, I really wish I looked up the info on this movie before starting it. I went into it blind. I was up late and it was on TV. I missed the title, so I had no idea what I was watching, but it took place in the 60s and Bradley Whitford played a lawyer, which is enough for me to not reach for the remote.

Bradley Whitford is a JK Simmons level actor.

Then Ellen Page came on the screen. I thought I was in for a teenage coming of age story. Juno in the 60s! Yay!

I was so wrong.

I realized this as soon as Catherine Keener burned her first cigarette out on Page’s arm. Keener plays a woman so effed in the head crazy that Annie Wilkes from Misery has been quoted as saying “That lady’s nutty.” Keener’s kids are just as whacked as their mom. If you ever wondered where the children of the corn came from, it was this house.

This is not a date night movie. It’s also not a movie to watch while eating food. This movie is very raw and holds few punches in showing how Indiana mom Gertrude Baniszewski (Keener) and her kids physically and mentally tortured their neighbor Sylvia Wilkes (Page) without mercy. The only person scarier than Gertrude is her pint-sized son Johnny, who burns and beats Sylvia with a very creepy smile on his face. That kid still gives me nightmares.

It’s also a very good movie. Keener, Page and Whitford are all excellent. If this is the role that got Ellen Page noticed by Hollywood, I can understand.

The saddest thing about this movie is that it’s based on a true story. It scares me that people in real life can do to each other what the Baniszewski family did to Sylvia and Jenny Wilkes.

I recommend seeing this movie, just don’t expect me to watch it again in the near future.