Vampires looking better in '30 Days of Night' thriller
Written by Tim Riley
Saturday, 20 October 2007
30 DAYS OF NIGHT (Rated R)
You can tell Halloween is just around the corner when gory, bloodthirsty vampire movies seek to take a big bite out of the box office. “30 Days of Night,” for those unaware, is a miniseries of horror comic books that tells the tale of vampires enjoying a month long buffet in Barrow, Alaska, which is the northernmost hamlet in the Western Hemisphere. Due to its geography, this isolated village is plunged into total darkness for at least 30 days during the winter. This, of course, makes the place the ideal vacation spot for hungry vampires, who have no fear of imminent sunlight.
Legendary horror film producer Sam Raimi, who also has a long resume of writing and directing movies in the genre, employs the services of David Slade (“Hard Candy”) to direct “30 Days of Night.” The press notes say that Slade started his career as a journalist, later moving into directing. One is tempted to ask where he went wrong. Apparently, he didn’t go wrong with this movie, unless the director gets the blame for hiring some of the actors, particularly the lead character of Sheriff Eben Oleson (Josh Hartnett).
Hartnett has the unfortunate distinction of having even less thespian skill and charisma than Ben Affleck. His wooden style of acting is not a complete hindrance here, where his primary function is to remain somewhat stoic and laconic in carrying out his police duties. But then it works against him when having to sort out his marital problems with estranged wife Stella (Melissa George), involuntarily stranded due to the missing the last flight out of Dodge.
The premise of “30 Days of Night” is as simple as the graphic novels upon which it is based. The vampires show up in Barrow as if they had 30 day passes to Disneyland. The first telltale sign of something amiss in the tranquil frozen tundra of Alaska are the brutal slayings of all sled dogs and a smoldering pile of cell phones. As darkness falls, only the hardiest band of citizens stays behind in Barrow for a month long candlelight vigil. The cunning, bloodthirsty vampires, led by ultra creepy Marlow (Danny Huston), relish a month of free rein, and they quickly set things in motion by snacking on a few people whose disappearance won’t be noticed right off.
A scraggly, mysterious stranger (Ben Foster) wanders into town, babbling incoherently in apocalyptic terms and issuing vague threats that increasingly rattle some of the townsfolk. This guy looks like he spent a couple of months wandering aimlessly on Skid Row, drinking Jack Daniels by the case and without once taking a hot shower. Even when ensconced in a cell, the Stranger unnerves Sheriff Eben’s younger brother Jake (Mark Rendall) with psychobabble that makes Charles Manson practically coherent by comparison. It doesn’t take long for you to wish that the vampires might turn on their informant.
The fun parts of this movie are when the vampires go absolutely bonkers in their full-scale attacks on hapless victims. For the most part, they are virtually indestructible and possess physical strength normally reserved to superheroes. Because they appear invincible, you are left to wonder when the townsfolk will figure out their Achilles heel. Maybe it has something to do with grandma growing medical marijuana in a potting shed. In any case, Sheriff Eben and Stella fitfully try to keep alive the dwindling population, as they hide Anne Frank-style in an attic.
Sluggish at times, “30 Days of Night” nevertheless overcomes some of its dull spots by turning out some terrific vampire action. The undead creatures really do look menacing, unlike vampires seen in other movies. The vampires here don’t look like fashion models in GQ, wearing nicely tailored suits. These guys mean business, bearing their fangs in the ultimate bloodlust. For the horror freaks, blood and gore are rampant in “30 Days of Night,” and the film works well enough to elicit some real emotions and passion. You could do worse in this Halloween season, like seeing the umpteenth version of “Saw.”
DVD RELEASE UPDATE
The Pink Panther cartoon character is one of the coolest ever. There, I said it.
Thus, I am looking forward to the November 6th DVD release of “The Pink Panther: A Pink Christmas.” The coolest feline in cartoon history stars in this family favorite holiday special, which debuted in the final days when the cartoon series ran from 1969 to 1979.
Along with other features on the DVD, there’s “Pink Panther: Pink at First Sight,” when our penniless hero takes a messenger job on Valentine’s Day.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
CLEARLAKE – When Wild About Books opened in April the owners thought adding local art to the bookstore would be a great idea.
When we invited the community to share their art in the bookstore, we thought we would meet a few talented artists. We found out that there is an enormously creative community of artists in our community and we want to celebrate it! This is your chance to meet one of the artists that have their art in the bookstore. You can ask questions about their art and art process. You will see some unfinished pieces and works in progress.
The artists currently showing and selling their art in the bookstore are:
Constance Blackwell's Japanese folk tale art are currently being shown in the Bay Area, but her prints and other mediums are available for view and purchase.
Mary Beth Alternader’s art selections show the range of this artist moving from watercolor to oil and acrylic paints, but also in themes as well, you will see still life, landscape and many local birds.
Cathy Davis, her giftable items range from decorative wine bottles to delicate sculptures.
Donna Crawford, known to many as the “Bag Lady,” her one-of-a-kind purses, bags and totes are made from amazing fabrics and colors.
Rosemary Dontje’s polymer clay creations can be special ordered for amazing conversation piece gifts.
Raul Gilbert, photographer has captured photos of Lake County and more.
Andi Gletty currently is displaying gift cards from her colored pencil prints, many with a spiritual theme.
Local gourd artists Queenie Moon and Rebecca Stark have many fine creations.
Doug Marble’s wooden inlaid sculptures have made great bookend gifts for book lovers.
Internationally known weaver Sheila O’Hara’s The Flockettes, Egyptian dogs and stunning landscapes are on display.
Zack Peters is the book store muralist and current window painter, his tie-dye shirts are currently for sale.
Amanda Rawlings is our Enchanted Lass whose dragonfly and fairy jewelry and bookmarks are wonderful gifts.
Robert Roberts, local cowboy artist, you may recognize a barn or two from his pencil or pen and ink drawings of barn art.
JP Sarlande’s watercolor drawings are breathtaking showing the color brilliance of our Lake County skies.
Thomas Yuhas is a well-traveled photographer who is currently showing photo art he has taken over the years.
Wild About Books will host an artists reception beginning at 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, at the bookstore, 14290 Olympic Drive, Clearlake.
If you want to experience art in different mediums all in one location, join us in celebrating our local talent. This wonderful event will bring community together in sharing art.
For more information, please call 707-994-WILD (9453).
If you are interested in selling your art through Wild About Books, please contact Ellen Lundquist at 707-994-9453.
LAKEPORT – The Lake County Arts Council will hold its annual meeting on Sunday, Nov. 18, at the Lakeport Yacht Club, located at 15 Fifth St., from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Celebrate, with other members, 26 years of the Lake County Arts Council bringing art and culture to Lake County.
This is a good afternoon to learn more about the many activities of the Arts Council, become a member or volunteer for one of the activities.
Lake County Poet Laureate Sandra Wade will grace the group with a reading and Mel Taylor on keyboard will enhance the afternoon's festivities.
For additional information, please contact the Main Street Gallery at 263-6658.
The setting is 1988 Brooklyn, but the overall tone and temperament are that of a darker New York of the 1970s. “We Own the Night,” owing its title to the motto of the NYPD street crimes unit, has taken great care to come up with something exceedingly gritty and gloomy, with bad weather apparently cooperating to cast gray shadows.
There’s also a dark cloud over the Grusinsky family, where one brother has severed the familial ties to long careers in law enforcement. Initially, “We Own the Night” gives the impression that this is the story of one good brother pitted against an evil one, but it’s a more complicated scenario, which essentially explains why the undercurrents of sibling rivalry make for some brooding melodrama.
Deputy police chief Burt Grusinsky (Robert Duvall), a decorated veteran, is justifiably proud of his son Joseph (Mark Wahlberg), who is moving up the ranks of the force. Together, they are leading an effort to bust up the drug trade being run by the Russian mafia in Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach.
On the trail of drug dealers, they put the El Caribe nightclub in their sights, a place managed by Bobby Green (Joaquin Phoenix) on behalf of a Russian fur importer. It turns out that Bobby operates under his mother’s maiden name so that familial ties to his crusading brother Joseph and highly visible father Burt are concealed. Being the son of a top cop probably wouldn’t sit well with his boss, who takes a hands-off view to the presence of menacing drug-dealing thug Vadim (Alex Veadov), who uses the nightclub as his home base.
A raid on the El Caribe by Burt and Joseph causes friction with Bobby, who indulges in some recreational drugs with his friends, but otherwise steers clear of any illicit transactions and keeps a distance from the criminals frequenting his club. Flying into a rage, Vadim threatens reprisals against the cops, and soon thereafter, a masked gunman attacks Joseph outside his home, sending him to the hospital in a critical condition that requires months of recovery. The hit on his brother causes Bobby to return to the fold, and he offers to help the police in a sting operation to take down the drug ring.
Bobby’s willingness to go after the thugs results in serious complications. For one thing, he’s conflicted about adapting to the police culture, especially since he’s viewed suspiciously by some of the brass. For another, his sexy Puerto Rican girlfriend Amada (Eva Mendes) is put needlessly at risk and his partying lifestyle comes to an abrupt halt, and this leads to more tension since Amada is not keen on ending up trapped in hotel rooms under the watchful eye of security details.
But trouble is brewing in even larger proportions when Vadim breaks free from confinement and must come after the perceived snitch to squelch testimony at a trial.
“We Own the Night” hardly qualifies for groundbreaking new work in the police procedural genre. The dialogue is not exactly riveting and original, while some situations appear so far-fetched as to stretch credulity to the breaking point.
Nevertheless, “We Own the Night” manages intense performances from its leading characters that keep the whole business worth watching. Mark Wahlberg and Robert Duvall bring the right amount of intensity to their predictable roles of upstanding police officials.
It’s Joaquin Phoenix who owns the movie, as he consistently maintains the proper note of being believably conflicted even when situations around him conspire to diminish the credibility of a formulaic police story. Phoenix’s turn may not be enough to make “We Own the Night” a memorable crime drama, but it will suffice to keep this film afloat for a reasonably diverting entertainment.
DVD RELEASE UPDATE
Just around the corner, on Nov. 6, MGM Entertainment is releasing the “James Bond Ultimate Collector’s Set,” a four-volume pack to include all 21 James Bond films, including the recent “Casino Royale.”
There are 42 discs in all, with one special features disc for each film. This will be the third time, in recent memory, that a complete edition of the James Bond films has been released. The only difference this time around is that all the films are sold in one package, not separate volumes.
So far, it is hard to detect any difference in the special features that may not have been available in the recent “James Bond Ultimate Edition,” which was available for purchase in four separate volumes.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
