The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things--Review

This is Asia Argento's adaptation of J. T. Leroy's book of the same name.  But don't be fooled by the title--there is no deception here, just a very bad mother.  Jeremiah (the abused and neglected son of Sarah) should know that he is not truly loved in this film.
This film, when watching it, should illicit an emotion from you.  You should feel angry! Upset! even ready to call the producers up and ask why this was made!  Well it was made because it is suppose to make you feel this way.  You should realize that children are treated like this around the world.  Not every child, but those unfortunate ones are.
Here is a little about the story:
Jeremiah is brought back into the world he was taken from by social workers.  Sarah, Jeremiah's mother, doesn't seem too excited over having him, but has some how managed to get him back from his foster parents.  I have a friend who automatically thinks that Sarah looks and acts like Courtney Love.  I think she believes that is how Courtney Love is toward her children.  Anyways...
Sarah, after a failed attempt to feed Jeremiah spaghetti-O's for lunch (which I might add was the only can she had in the cabinet, and that there was no other food, also the Spaghetti-O's ended up all over the wall), Jeremiah runs away to where she has to come and get him.  After that she gathers his stuff up into a trash bag and they leave.  Sarah proceeds to get Jeremiah high so she could control him better.
Well there are a string of men and most of the time Jeremiah would sleep in the car.  There are other times Sarah would make Jeremiah act like a girl, but she never truly called him her kid.  She had always said he was her sister.
Well to cut this short--There is drug use, a rape, lot lizards, truck stops, religion, more abuse, and finally the crazy tweaked out ending.
Did I like this movie--yes.
Why?--because I am glad I didn't live this way and when I think I have it bad I watch this and realize I don't.  Also I like to see others reactions when they watch the movie, because they can't believe I actually watch this stuff.  I'm not the monster here--Sarah is.



The book is equally graphic, but not in order like the movie.  I say that you should read the book and then watch the movie to get the full effect of what you are seeing.  Plus there are a few scenes in the movie that don't explain what it means--like the birds--but it does explain it in the book.

Both of these items the book by J. T. Leroy and the movie are available on Amazon.com.

The Killer Inside Me--Review

The Killer Inside Me was a very good movie (I have to say).  It is based on Jim Thompson's book of the same name, which was written in 1953.  The movie stars Casey Affleck as the gentleman, yet brutal, Lou Ford.  Lou Ford has a dark past which is awaken when he meets prostitute Joyce (Jessica Alba), where the two have lots of sex (and when I say sex I mean its a lot of sex and masochistic as well, hence when he spanks her with his belt and in one scene strangles her with it-nice).  Lou is supposed to run Joyce out of town because she is having sex with a union leader's son, whom Lou hates with a passion over what they did to his brother some years ago.  Can we say revenge!  

Well the set up is done and Lou has his own plan, even though he has made Joyce believe that they are going to run off together.  I shy away from giving you more details but this is actually an excellent movie.  I was surprised at Casey Affleck's performance.  He pulled off the part so well.  He had a great combination for sounding and acting like a sweet Texas gentleman, and then suddenly display this violent dark side, which made him come off as creepy.

Jessica Alba was good as well, showing more skin than I am use to seeing from her in any of her other films.  But her character was so naive and accepted the fact that she was a victim, unlike women now who would fight back.  

As for Kate Hudson's character Amy, the typical good girl--who wants a husband and loves Lou a lot.  Her character was smart and knew about Lou's dark side, but didn't care--because she loved him and wanted to be with him regardless.

This is typical Hard-boiled Noir! Great in all areas.  The ending was fantastic (well only if you understand what noir is and how movies or books like that end).  I will give you a brief example of a noir-film/book: The characters in a noir hate their surroundings.  They long to escape the trapping of their life and will do whatever it takes to get out.  They will also do whatever it takes to not go back to that old way of life as well. This may result in the character killing themselves and whomever is with them.  They also don't think what they have done is wrong.  They feel justified with the results--so a few people have to die for me to survive, so-be-it-kind-of-attitude. Nihilistic all the way.  

I suggest you keep an open mind when watching the movie and explore your dark side a little.  If you are a film student this is a great example of noir.  I am glad this movie was made in this year, because if it was made in the fifties then there would be a lot cut out.  I am also glad they didn't try to adapt it for modern times.  It would have become possibly silly and dry.  They would have to have a great director to modernize this movie or any other noir film.  They have tried but without success.

I hope you like this review and feel free to go to Amazon.com where both the book by Jim Thompson and the movie are available for purchase.  Thank you.

A possible cover for my book "BANG"

TV Heart Attack - Bang Bang Bang Music Video