Smell The Cult

2041-09-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

Movies Added:	TV Shows Added
J. Edgar	The Tripods
The Quiet Earth	The Trip
Haywire	The Event
Gothika	The 4400
	Family Guy
	Falling Skies

J. Edgar

2012-02-02T09:43:00.000-08:00

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Year:	2011
Country of origin:	USA
Director:	Clint Eastwood
Genre:	Political biopic
Starring:	Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Watts, Armie Hammer
Rating:	4/5
IMDB link:	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1616195/

Tagline:	The Most Powerful Man in the World
Favourite line:	"Lower the treble, son, you didn't call this meeting, I did."

On the face of it, a biopic about J. Edgar Hoover seems about as appealing as smearing beef paste on your balls then lying, spread-eagled, before a hungry hyena.
But this is a Clint movie, so prejudgements must be tempered.

The plot:
J. Edgar Hoover, the man who brought the world the concept of modern policing through his directorship of the FBI - fingerprints used to catch villains, crime scene evidence treated with respect and collected rigorously, forensics employed to build criminal cases - was a troubled sort.
To the world, he appeared a brash, self-confident man, albeit one with the odd nervous tic but, behind closed doors, secrets permeated that would have been his ruin; the very odd relationship with his mother, his OCD tendencies and, most importantly, the unconsummated romance with his closest male friend.
The movie plays out the pivotal events of his life, from fledgling law enforcement employee, through his prolonged stint as head of the FBI, right through to the final moment of his death.

And very interesting it all is, too.
DiCaprio, as Hoover, is a study in ‘mannerism’ acting, be it the voice, the way he holds his lips or the tics and twitches that blight him. From the bad old days of Titanic, I think it’s fair to say DiCaprio has come a very long way indeed, and is now a destination actor down here at Smell the Cult HQ: with his name attached to a movie, we are almost certain to watch it.
Eastwood’s trademark laconic approach to direction is in evidence. Apparently, he uses no more than three takes before moving onto the next scene, which gives his movies that lazy feel that is so remarkable, but occasionally means a slipshod sequence or two slips through, but that’s not the case here.
Politically intriguing, with rock solid performances, the tale of a fascinating time in America’s history is well realised, save for the rather ludicrous ageing makeup which, frankly, looks bloody preposterous in places, particularly Armie Hammer as Clyde, Hoover’s ‘close friend.’
Speaking of friendship, special mention must be made of that unconsummated love affair between the two men, for it is just about as touching a relationship as you are likely to see anytime soon.
Truly, brought a lump to the throat.
An efficient piece, then, but hardly Eastwood’s most important work of recent times.
Solid.

The Quiet Earth

2012-02-01T14:06:00.004-08:00

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Year:	1985
Country of origin:	New Zealand
Director:	Geoff Murphy
Genre:	Sci-fi paranoia, Isolation
Starring:	Bruno Lawrence, Alison Routledge, Pete Smith
Rating:	4/5
IMDB link:	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089869/

Tagline:	No tagline
Favourite line:	Joanne: "I wouldn't ride with you if you were the last man on Earth." Api: "I'm working on it."

Underground cult sci-fi from New Zealand, here.

The plot:
Zac Hobson is a fairly normal sort.
Well, he's a scientist, but let's not hold that against him.
One day he awakens, and all is quiet. Venturing out into the street, he discovers he is alone.
Utterly alone.
Exploring further he comes to the conclusion that he is the last man left alive.
Then, a stranger.
A woman, attractive, too.
How can this be?
Are they really the last two people on the planet?
No, they’re not, for another stranger appears, a man this time, big and burly - competition for the woman’s affections.
Will Zac keep hold of the new found love?
Is the disappearance of the population connected to his scientific experimentation?
Could Zac, indeed, even be God himself?

Esoteric and existential, this is a slow, sombre affair, the budget allowing little in the way of action or adventure. Instead, a tale of unrelenting bleakness is developed, with Zac slowly going insane in a world he simply can't cope with.
Or is this insanity?
Is it not, in fact, what each and every one of us would do in his position?
Exploring themes touched upon in more well known fare, notably The Day of the Triffids and the mega-budget Will Smith vehicle I Am Legend, this is interestingly introspective and a real slow-burner that will, ultimately, make you question your very existence.
Liked it a lot, have to say.

Haywire

2012-02-01T14:06:00.003-08:00

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Year:	2011
Country of origin:	USA / Ireland
Director:	Steven Soderbergh
Genre:	Slick actioner
Starring:	Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, Michael Fassbender
Rating:	4/5
IMDB link:	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1506999/

Tagline:	They left her no choice.
Favourite line:	"You shouldn’t think of her as being a woman. No. That would be a mistake."

That Steven Soderbergh churns 'em out, doesn’t he?
Only three months ago we were treated to the really rather good Contagion - something of a departure for the Ocean's Eleven helmsman - but here he is back on more familiar territory.

The plot:
Mallory waits for Aaron in a diner, staring at the frozen world beyond the window.
Aaron arrives, seeming none too pleased, demanding she get in the car with him.
Mallory refuses, so Aaron throws scolding hot coffee in her face and, in the blink of an eye, the pair are fighting like animals.
An onlooker tries to help, but Mallory doesn't need the help, not until Aaron is incapacitated, so she asks the stranger for his car.
The pair drive off, and Mallory begins to tell her tale to the stranger, a story of betrayal, broken promises, intercontinental espionage and brutal violence.

With the feel of an older film - think something from the 70's; The French Connection, perhaps, or The Conversation - this meanders along, the director confident enough to linger on shots where other, less capable men would have inserted a cut shot, a fast edit, a montage, something, but no, Soderbergh just lets the camera gaze on, unblinking.
With a veritable posse of acting talent on display - Ewan McGregor, Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, Michael Fassbender - they all do just fine, but the notable talent here is Gina Carano as Mallory, in real life an ex-MMA cage fighter who has only appeared in one other movie, and that in a fairly minor part. Her acting chops are perfectly acceptable, but it is the prowess she shows in the action scenes that really grabs the headlines. No surprise, I guess, but still great to see a relative unknown outmuscling the big hitters.
Not the best movie you'll see this year - heck, maybe even this week - but if slick, accomplished action is what shakes your barley, give it a squiz.

Gothika

2012-02-01T14:06:00.001-08:00

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Year:	2003
Country of origin:	USA
Director:	Mathieu Kassovitz
Genre:	Hollywood horror, Psychological horror, Poor horror
Starring:	Halle Berry, Robert Downey Jr, Charles S. Dutton, Penélope Cruz
Rating:	1/5
IMDB link:	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0348836/

Tagline:	Dr. Miranda Grey Is An Expert At Knowing What Is Rational, What Is Logical, What Is Sane... Until The Day She Woke Up On The Other Side.
Favourite line:	None worth mentioning

Hollywood tries to gek orl scairy in this psychobabblke yawn-a-thon.

The plot:
Halle Berry (yes, that's right) is a doctor in a mental institution.
With the perfect life, apparently, suddenly her world is torn apart when she is involved in a car accident:
Crossing a bridge one stormy night, she spins off to avoid a young woman in the middle of the road. Awakening, she finds herself incarcerated in the very institute she used to work at and, worse yet, her husband is dead.
Can this all be real?
Is she being manipulated?
And does anyone actually believe that Halle Berry passed her medical exams?

Ultra-slick, as polished as a teenage boy’s bell once broadband has been installed, this actually made me feel physically sick.
Everyone is so fucking perfect, so fucking beautiful to look at I couldn't really concentrate on the plot. Not that there was much to focus on; once the initial setup is over and done with, the rest of the movie is a 'run around and scream' affair, Berry doing her best impression of Jamie lee Curtis but, because she isn’t a post-op transsexual, she didn't quite deliver.
One of the least psyched out psyche thrillers I've seen in some time, this bears vague comparison with 2011's Dream House.
Only that was far superior.
Blandness personified, then, from the fear cavity that is major Hollywood movie-making.
Just shit.

The Tripods

2012-01-31T10:38:00.005-08:00

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Transmitted:	September 1984 - November 1985
Country of origin:	UK
Genre:	British sci-fi, Alien invasion, Low budget sci-fi
Starring:	John Shackley, Jim Baker, Ceri Seel
Rating:	3/5
No. of seasons:	2

Fondly remembered children's science fiction series from the early eighties.
Based on the novels of John Christopher, this was a BBC production.

The premise:
100 years in the future, the Earth has been overtaken by giant machines: Tripods.
Mankind barely survives, thrown back to medieval times in terms of technology and, with The Tripods controlling the population through some form of hybridisation technology, it seems nothing can stop the tri-pegged nightmares.
When a pair of unlikely sorts decide to rebel against the controlling process, fleeing their English village, perhaps they will become the saviours of mankind, saviours whose voices have yet to break, and whose balls have yet to sprout any hair.
Yep.
Could happen!

From what little information is available, it seems each season was based on one of the novels, the idea presumably being that the show would run to four seasons but, in reality, only two were ever shot, though a script for series three apparently exists.
With a tiny budget, even by BBC standards at the time - remember those wobbly Doctor Who sets? They looked like Jurassic fucking Park compared to this - it was always going to be a struggle to bring something so epic onto the small screen.
With sporadic acting - some of it is laughably poor. And I watch Troma movies! - a crushingly slow pace, and not particularly likeable characters, this isn’t something which has aged particularly well.
There are some plus points, though.
The title sequence, along with the title music, is cool as fuck. Retro, highly stylised and quite original, they are well realised.
The Tripods, when they do make their all too seldom appearances (again budget, we suspect) are efficient enough. Giant, three footed mecha-bots that can't help but bring to mind the fabulous artwork from the Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds album, a slab of progressive deliciousness from the seventies.
Far from perfect, then, but for fans of cult TV, and for those interested in the history of science fiction, a reasonably important show.

Find an episode guide here

The Trip

2012-01-31T10:38:00.003-08:00

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Transmitted:	November 2010 - December 2010
Country of origin:	UK
Genre:	Mockumentary, Personal conflict, Professional rivalry
Starring:	Rob Brydon, Steve Coogan
Rating:	5/5
No. of seasons:	1

Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan play exaggerated versions of themselves.

When Coogan is offered a job by The Observer to travel the north of England, taking in the finest cuisine at top rated restaurants in order to write a series of articles, his heart is set on his girlfriend accompanying him. When she refuses, he is compelled to call on Brydon to be his travelling companion for the week.
Almost instantly, the pair begin to grate on each others’ nerves and, each day, the same ritual is followed: travel to the restaurant through the stunning wilderness of The Lake District or the Yorkshire Moors and other such beautiful locations, eat and, during, attempt polite conversation that swiftly descends into criticism and mockery of the others' career and respective talents.

And damned funny it is, too.
Though not as vicious or acerbic as, say, Coogan's Alan Partridge material or Brydon's Annually Retentive stuff, still this has real wit.
The bitterness of the banter, particularly from Coogan's point of view, is always interesting, but this really sparkles when the pair of them riff off each other, bursting into impromptu improvisations and comic tableau; the Ray Winstone bit had me in physical pain.
A brave concept, especially for Coogan as he comes across as terribly embittered and miserable, this is a real gem.
I watched the lot, back to back, so that must say something about the quality.
Great.
Find an episode guide here

The Event

2012-01-31T10:38:00.001-08:00

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Transmitted:	September 2010 -May 2011
Country of origin:	USA
Genre:	Alien invasion, paranoia, conspiracy
Starring:	Jason Ritter, Sarah Roemer, Ian Anthony Dale, Zeljko Ivanek, Blair Underwood, Laura Innes
Rating:	5/5
No. of seasons:	1

Complex, action packed, politically charged series that, criminally, has been cancelled after just one season.

The premise:
In the 1940's, an alien craft crashed in Alaska. Imprisoned, the aliens look identical to human beings, the key difference seeming to be their long lives, possibly their immortality.
Not all of the aliens are caught, though and, secretly, those that evaded capture have been working to push forward mankind's technological achievement in the hope that, one day, they may return home.
Skip to present day, and a new President survives an assassination attempt when a passenger jet is diverted from crashing into his location via some kind of portal. Alien technology, of course.
The President, now aware of the aliens, and of the prison facility still operating in Alaska, frees them. But not all are prepared to work for the good of co-existence and, when news comes that their world is in jeopardy, suddenly the aliens' motives become very different indeed.

And it's gripping stuff.
Taut as a chastity belt beneath a nunly cassock, this blends high drama with fast-paced action.
Lots of gunplay, lots of people shouting, lots of histrionics, all well handled.
Added to this, the political machinations, both of the aliens and the humans; power struggles, deceit, betrayal, all present and correct.
With cliff-hangers that leave you breathless, gagging for more, how on Earth this was not picked up for a second season is a genuine mystery, and perhaps yet further evidence of the dumbing down of TV audiences.
Complex, multi-layered and intriguing?
No thanks.
Give us Desperate Scousewives and Britain's Got Talent, instead.
Fucking idiots.
Quality science-fiction, then, with a contemporary setting, this is sci-fi 'normals' can enjoy, too, I suspect.
Excellent TV.

Find an episode guide here

The 4400

2012-01-31T10:37:00.005-08:00

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Transmitted:	July 2004 - May 2008
Country of origin:	USA
Genre:	Alien conspiracy, Paranoia, Superpowers
Starring:	Jacqueline McKenzie, Joel Gretsch, Patrick John Flueger, Conchita Campbell, Chad Faust, Richard Kahan, Mahershala Ali, Billy Campbell
Rating:	3/5
No. of seasons:	4

Since 1946, 4400 people have vanished from the face of the Earth, each being scooped up by a flash of blinding white light.
Now, in 2004, a comet approaches Earth, acting very strangely.
Fearful of alien involvement, the governments of the world open fire, but to no avail.
Descending from the heavens, the comet comes to rest over a lake in America - wouldn't you know it - and is revealed as a ball of white light.
Suddenly, the ball explodes, sending out a pulse of energy powerful enough to knock over the eyewitnesses and, when the mist clears, the 4400 vanished have been returned en masse.

A neat set up, and one followed up by some strong storylines and decent dialogue. This is an ensemble piece and, though the first season is only five episodes long, still the writers were able to draw you in and make the viewer invest emotional involvement with these people.
Ripe with religious allegory, this is intelligent stuff, written mainly by those responsible for Star Trek: the Next Generation, so the sci-fi credentials are certainly strong.
Lasting four seasons, this garnered quite the cult following, and season 1 certainly titillated sufficiently to guarantee us watching the remainder here at Smell the Cult HQ.

Find an episode guide here

Family Guy

2012-01-31T10:37:00.003-08:00

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Transmitted:	January 1999 - Present
Country of origin:	USA
Genre:	Animated series, Dysfunctional family, Brutal cartoon violence
Starring:	Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Mila Kunis, Seth Green
Rating:	5/5
No. of seasons:	10 and counting

Seth MacFarlane's riotous animated series almost never made it past its first season.
With poor viewing figures in The States, it was only when the show was released on DVD that things took off. Similarly to 24 more recently, the UK audiences led the way, leading to record DVD sales for an animated series and more attention turned to it back home. A second season was commissioned and, surviving a further cancellation – resulting in one of the finest in-jokes in TV history, as Peter Griffin kicks a new season off by listing all of the shows that need to be cancelled in order to ensure Family Guy's survival, each and every one of them having indeed been cancelled - it's now ten seasons in and in fine form.

The premise:
Meet The Griffins, a dysfunctional family that, outwardly at least, appear normal. But nothing is normal, here.
Peter is a ghastly slob, who seldom thinks about anyone but himself, and certainly little about his long suffering wife Lois.
Brian, the alcoholic dog who hankers for writing as his trade.
Meg and Chris, the kids, each with their personal demons, including Chris' own very real demonic monkey, which lives in his closet.
Then the star of the show, Stewie the baby, the megalomaniac infant with designs on his own mother's life; plotting, scheming, even building a time machine, he's determined the bitch will die.

Turning a vicious eye on the underbelly of American society, everything is ripe for ridicule, here.
More Doug Stanhope than Michael McIntyre in terms of content, this is acerbic, adult-oriented content that, at times, makes one gasp, unable to believe they've just done what they've just done.
Twisted, dark and crucially, very, very funny, this is rock solid stuff and kicks The Simpson's out of the ballpark in every single way.
Just great.

Find an episode guide here

Falling Skies

2012-01-31T10:37:00.001-08:00

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Transmitted:	June 2011 - Present
Country of origin:	USA
Genre:	Alien invasion, Post invasion, Military divisions
Starring:	Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgood, Drew Roy, Will Patton, Colin Cunningham
Rating:	4/5
No. of seasons:	1 and counting

Set in the aftermath of an alien invasion, we follow a band of survivors, some 200 strong, as they struggle to eke out an existence, evade the alien menace and, hopefully, strike back at the invaders.
A Steven Spielberg production, this fuses family melodrama with straight science fiction reasonably effectively, though, on occasion, it does tend towards the mawkish.
With a ten episode run for its first season, this was something of a grower - truthfully, I was about ready to ditch it after two episodes, but I'm glad I stuck with it.
A second season is expected Summer 2012 and, with a killer cliff-hanger for season 1, this is a series with great potential, just so long as they can tone down the 'family values' shtick.
Reality sci-fi, then.

Find an episode guide here

The X Files

2012-01-26T01:21:00.003-08:00

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Transmitted:	September 1993 - May 2002
Country of origin:	USA
Genre:	Paranoia, Alien invasion, Cult classic
Starring:	Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny, Mitch Pileggi, William B. Davis, Nicholas Lea
Rating:	4/5
No. of seasons:	9, plus 2 movies

Possibly THE show of the 90's, this was one of those odd moments in TV history whereby a genre specific, cult show hits the mainstream big time. Of course, once the sheep are told by their chosen newspapers that they should be watching it, they follow faithfully and, in this case, it can only have been damaging.
The first three series are stunning: Original, thought provoking and frightening, but once it was realised that it was popular, the experimentation and self congratulation began.
Still to see the last two seasons in truth (and whether I will ever get round to it is determined by whether I am ever house bound for a few months at some point due to an incapacitating illness), but the first three series are simply superb. Tense, dramatic and intelligent, with some of the best atmospheric music outside of an Italian Giallo movie, this started out just great. There's still some merit in series 4 through 7, but the hits are less frequent than before.
I guess the good times can never last for long.....

UPDATE - Finally got round to watching Season 8 and, wow, I was blown away. Defying all expectations, the series really returns to form as new FBI Agent John Doggett, played superbly well by Robert Patrick, joins the fray. He's the skeptic and, in a reversal of her original role, Scully is the open-minded believer.
Frank Spotnitz and Chris Carter appear to handle most writing duties, which explains the lift in quality as, crucially, the intensity of the first three seasons is back, as electrifying as ever.
A great revival.

Find an episode guide here:

The Wire

2012-01-26T01:21:00.001-08:00

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Transmitted:	June 2002 - March 2008
Country of origin:	USA
Genre:	Police drama, Realism, Ensemble cast
Starring:	Dominic West, Sonja Sohn, Lance Reddick, Wendell Pierce, Seth Gilliam, Frankie R. Faison, Larry Gilliard Jr, Wood Harris, Idris Elba, Andre Royo, Jim True-Frost, Michael K. Williams, Domenick Lombardozzi
Rating:	5/5
No. of seasons:	5

Simply superb police drama series set in Baltimore.
The plot of the show (the first series at least) is simple enough: A known drug lord, Avon Barksdale, is in control of most of the drug flow in the city, and it is the task of the Narcotics Division of the Baltimore Police Department to bring him down.
But that summary does little justice to this TV show. This deals in complexities, in subtleties, in relationships, in betrayal and greed and loyalty and revenge, and all of the other aspects of life that make our existence so interesting and yet, at times, so utterly grim.
Relentlessly depressing, shockingly violent at times, this is a show where the police are as bent as the crooks, the villains have emotions and doubts about their actions, and nothing is black and white.
The creator, David Simon has actually described it as a televisual novel, with each episode a chapter in the book, and he's not too far wide of the mark.
Compulsively engaging, unflinchingly realistic, and with an extraordinary cast, this is a blueprint for how any drama series should play out.
Mesmeric television.

Find an episode guide here:

Wallace and Gromit

2012-01-26T01:20:00.010-08:00

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Transmitted:	December 1989 - December 2008
Country of origin:	UK
Genre:	Claymation, British eccentricity, Movie parodies
Starring:	Peter Sallis, Gromit
Rating:	4/5
No. of seasons:	4 30 minute episodes, plus 1 feature length movie.

Wallace is a bumbling inventor, constantly dreaming up one ridiculous contraption after another. He is also obsessed by cheese, and seems content to eat it with every meal.
Crackers and Wensleydale being his meal of choice.
Gromit is his trusty canine companion who, it soon becomes clear, has an intellect far in excess of his master. Together the duo fight crime and evil wherever they encounter it.
Amazing stop motion animation and one of the cutest characters to grace the screen (Gromit that is, in case I am unclear), these half hour episodes can be enjoyed by all ages.
Great stuff.

Find some more details here:

V (2009)

2012-01-26T01:20:00.009-08:00

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Transmitted:	March 2010 - Present
Country of origin:	USA
Genre:	Alien invasion, Conspiracy and paranoia, Remake of a cult classic
Starring:	Elizabeth Mitchell, Joel Gretsch, Morris Chestnut, Morena Baccarin, Laura Vandervoort, Scott Wolf, Mark Hildreth, Charles Mesure
Rating:	4/5
No. of seasons:	2 and counting

For those of a certain age, the very mention of V: The Miniseries brings a nostalgic glisten to the orboids, with fond memories of hamster chomping reptiles masquerading as mankind's best friend, half human, half reptilian hybrids and Freddy Krueger as a cute and cuddly Visitor.
Indeed, V: The Miniseries and V: The Final Battle, the conclusion of the miniseries still stand up today as fine pieces of socially aware science-fiction, albeit with a kitsch value attached to the special effects, the fashion sense (Marc Singer's nut hugging jeans have to be seen to be believed) and the simplicity of the storyline at times.
Spurt forward near thirty years and, at last, a remake is upon us or, as the besuited teats that infest the corridors of TV studios the globe over would have it, a reimagining. The basic setup is identical as, suddenly, from nowhere, giant spacecraft hove into view over every major city in the world. The series' focus is on the craft hovering above - I want to say Los Angeles, but I think that's because of the original series. If anyone knows different, please let me know - New York which is home to the Visitor leader, Anna, played by the eminently lickable (sic) Morena Baccarin, last seen as the Companion Inara in Joss Whedon's short lived Firefly series.
As in the original, many humans accept the V's at their word, actively supporting them by taking part in various projects of theirs whilst others, known as The Fifth Column, take up arms against them, hoping to expose them as the cold blooded reptiliacks that they are. With modern special effects to spice things up, a more convoluted, more plausible storyline (for a sci-fi show about lizards invading Earth, that is) and more realistic fight scenes and the like, this is an effective update that still manages to retain the overall feel of its forebearer.
With a reasonably short initial run, it has been confirmed that it will return for a second series after favourable audience figures which is good, as this shows real promise and could yet turn out to be a genuine classic.

Find an episode guide here: