Screen Scenes

 

“The Salton Sea” Directed by DJ Caruso
Starring: Val Kilmer, Danny Trejo, Vincent
D’Onofrio

Told from the perspective of a paranoid tweaker on a quest for
vengeance, “The Salton Sea” cleverly creates a
disorienting on-screen high, exposing the viewer to the effects and
consequences of crystal methamphetamine first-hand. From the
darkened slums of downtown Los Angeles to the dry deserts of the
Imperial Valley, the primary storyline in “The Salton
Sea” stretches across Southern California to follow Parker in
his quest to discover what forces were behind the killing of his
wife, Liz (Chandra West). Along the way, when Parker naively
relies on his contacts to help him out, he realizes that some of
his friends may have interests of their own. While the story is
indeed more elaborate and far reaching than a short synopsis may
cover, any further revelations would take away from the
effectiveness of the film’s plot twists. Although
disorienting at first, “The Salton Sea” explains itself
bit by bit over the course of the film, throwing in snippets of
Parker’s past until all the threads are woven together to
create a coherent storyline that is playful at times, yet
chillingly real. Director D.J. Caruso’s brilliant
cinematography recharges the tired, played-out perspectives which
plague most movies dealing with narcotics, and the film gleans with
an originality that immediately stands out from many of the other
cookie-cutter films of today. Fans of Christopher Nolan’s
“Memento” should especially enjoy watching “The
Salton Sea.” Not only because of its structural similarities,
but also because of its strong reliance on an intense
character-driven plot, skillfully executed with an ensemble cast
that includes Danny Trejo and Vincent D’Onofrio. The unique
freshness found in “The Salton Sea” should be enough to
quench anyone’s thirst to see a new movie that differs from
the standard Hollywood norm. However, for those who find comfort in
seeking mind numbing, multi-million dollar big-budget films, this
is a movie that should be better left to those unafraid to take a
chance.

CJ Yu  

“Life or Something Like It” Directed by
Stephen Herek Starring: Angelina Jolie, Edward Burns, Tony
Shalhoub

What if a crazy homeless man named Prophet Jack said you only
had one week to live? Would you eat everything in sight, not take a
shower, and have one last run at romance? This is precisely the
direction Angelina Jolie’s bleached-blond character Lanie
Kerrigan takes in “Life or Something Like It.” In the
film, Jolie ditches fighting monsters from her Lara Croft days to
tackle comedy. Jolie plays an over the top, self-centered reporter
up for an exciting job offer. She truly believes her life is
perfect, meaning a great job, a baseball superstar fiancé, and
a fancy house. However, cameraman Pete Scanlon (Edward Burns) wants
her to see life from a different angle. He gets his wish during an
interview with Prophet Jack (Tony Shalhoub) who reveals to Kerrigan
that the Seattle Seahawks will win, it’s going to hail, and
she’s going to die. From here, Kerrigan begins to re-evaluate
the meaning of her shallow life all the while strutting around in
high stilettos and designer suits. In the midst of it all, Scanlon
and Kerrigan’s child-like quarreling turns into cuddling.
Kerrigan’s interactions with Scanlon and Prophet Jack are the
most comical to watch. Scanlon and Kerrigan’s sarcastic
remarks to each other range anywhere from witty to downright silly.
The chemistry between the two is not much more than what is found
between siblings, but then again, for Jolie this relationship is
almost equivalent to a true romance. Although the script is
littered with cheesy lines, Jolie proves she is a good actress by
being the best superficial princess she can be. She steals every
scene, probably due to her blinding hair color or her honest
attempt at a comedic role with a dash of drama. “Life or
Something Like It” offers a unique story and an adequate
amount of laughs. It’s not the best in romantic comedies, but
how many times have you seen Angelina Jolie away from her usually
dark roles?

Mayra Marquez

“Freshmen” Directed by Tom Huang Starring:
Tomy Huang, N.D. Brown, Kurt Kohler

Traditionally, college movies suck. With lame plot lines and
vapid dialogue, they usually stereotype college students as frat
jocks or bimbo sorority girls with the geeks, Goths, and psychos
somewhere in the middle. There’s never really been a movie
about what truly goes on in college. This is what Tom Huang tries
to provide in “Freshmen.” The film is about the
intertwining lives of four people at Los Angeles University as they
deal with claustrophobic dorm rooms and incoherent professors, as
well as cultural and racial differences. Though the plot sounds
trite, the treatment of this independent flick actually hits the
rights cues in setting up a believable college environment and
convincing characters. The director, writer and actor of the film,
Huang, uses improvisational techniques with his actors and a stark
documentary style in his film in order to create a sense of
realism. Though some individuals in the movie derive from stock
characters such as the studious uptight Compton-raised black female
Tonisha (N.D. Brown) or the privileged sheltered East Coast white
guy Rick (Kurt Kohler), the development of cultural and racial
tension between these characters are well done and compelling. The
script usually knows how to play off those dramatic scenes with
off-the-cuff humor, such as the interaction between two
baseball-crazed fans interspersed throughout the movie. The story
also dissects lesser-known themes embodied by San Ling (Tom Huang),
when he tries to reconcile his Americanized Billy Joel-obsessed
self with his Chinese heritage. The plot of the film may follow a
little of bit of what’s already been done, but it’s so
refreshing with such honesty and sincerity that it makes the whole
experience of watching “Freshmen” enjoyable.

Mary Dang