The Keeper (2009)

Steven Seagal (Against The Dark, Urban Justice, Cockpuncher) isn’t even trying anymore. This film reworks his far superior Hard To Kill with touches of Man On Fire.

If you want a laugh, read his entry on imdb that starts, “Steven Seagal is a striking, somewhat boyishly handsome looking (often with ponytail), and usually impeccably dressed action star”.

I think Grant Morrison said it better in The Authority.

Outlander (2008)

I was in the mood for some Viking action, so I grabbed Outlander and prepared myself for hairy men fighting each other.

Kainan (James Caviezel – The Prisoner, Highwaymen) is an alien astronaut who crash lands on Earth (referred to as an abandoned seed planet) at Norway in 709AD. On board his ship is a “dragon” creature called a Moorwen. Kainan finds himself treated suspiciously by the locals, caught between warring Viking clans, including Ron Pearlman (Mutant Chronicles, The Devil’s Tomb, Hellboy 2, The Last Winter) and his very big hammer, and trying to kill the monster.

This film borrows liberally from the original Planet of The Apes, Predator and the usual sword and sandal epics. The Viking sets and costumes look great, the CGI monster does not. This would have been a much better movie if it was shorter and had more Viking action.

Jennifer’s Body (2009)

At first glance, Jennifer’s Body looks like another teen girl possessed by a demon goes on a killing spree movie. But it’s more than that. The pairing of writer Diablo Cody ( Juno , United States of Tara ) and director Karyn Kusama (Girlfight Aeon Flux) gives this film more character than the usual teen kill fest. It also has more to it than a scantily clad, blood soaked Megan Fox. Although you wouldn’t know that from the film’s publicity.

Anita "Needy" Lesnicki (Amanda Seyfried – Veronica Mars, Mean Girls) is not the prettiest or most popular girl at school, but her best friend, Jennifer Check (Megan Fox – Transformers, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People), is. They are out one night when Jennifer ignores her friend’s advice, runs off with a touring rock band, becomes possessed by a demon, and starts seducing and killing people. No one will believe Needy when she tries to explain what is going on, so she sets out to fix the problem herself.

Jennifer may be the titled star, but the story revolves around quirky outsider Needy, who is stronger and more astute than people realise. There is sex and violence, but the film is laced with comedy and clever dialogue that creates a level of complexity above and beyond the usual for the genre. Juno meets Carrie.

Edgeplay a film about The Runaways (2004)

The Runaways looked great and rocked hard, but what really went on behind the glamorous leather and satin imagery? I wanted to know more in preparation for the hip, new Runaways biopic, so I went back to this recent documentary.

The Runaways second bassist, Vicki Blue, directed this film and assembled the original band members, drummer Sandy West, singer Cherie Currie, guitarist Lita Ford, and bassist Jackie Fox, as well as being in front of the camera herself. The film also includes their original manager, Kim Fowley, Cherie’s mother, Suzi Quatro, and others that were involved. It’s a story of sex and drugs and rock’n'roll and exploitation and scheming and ambition.

Edgeplay is low key and very personal. Vicki (now known as Victory Tischler-Blue) lets her subjects talk and they do not hold back, explaining in detail and honesty what happened in The Runaways. It’s emotionally intense, but not all the experiences were bad. Cherie lets us know how good Joan was in bed, and seems happy with that knowledge. Sandy is particularly upset about the demise of the band. She died in 2006, making her dreams of a Runaways reunion impossible. A sad end for a ground breaking musician.

It is a fascinating and informative film that is let down by a lack of editing (there are times it drags and is repetitive) and abysmal direction (the camera has a habit of roaming off its subject for no purpose). It’s also let down by Joan Jett’s absence and her refusal to allow any of the music she owns the rights to be used in the movie. What is a musical documentary without the music? All we have is some live footage of The Runaways performing two cover versions. That does not help capture the mood of what is going or show how talented these women were. Thankfully the subjects and their candour make for engrossing viewing regardless of the film’s shortcomings.