Mary Elizabeth Winstead – We Are Movie Geeks

THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE (2025) – Review

Did you think that the only movie remakes out this year were THE ROSES and THE TOXIC AVENGER (not counting the three live-action remakes of animated features)? Of course not, since the trailer for THE RUNNING MAN seems to be attached to nearly every movie at the multiplex. That one’s nearly three weeks away, so how about a “re-do” of a film that’s not quite as old as the Arnold classic? Now streaming is a new spin, truly earning the often noxious marketing phrase “re-imagining”, on a kinda’ campy thriller from 1992 (naw, it can’t be over 30 years away). So what has changed, and what remains for this take on THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE?

For one thing, the 2025 “model” begins with a flashback, probably about 15 years ago, as a blonde pre-teen watches a two-story suburban home go up in flames (and we hear the screams of those trapped inside). Then we’re back in the present as very pregnant lawyer Caitlyn (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is taking on a new pro bono client at a free legal advice center. Former child care worker Polly (Maika Monroe) is dealing with a shady landlord. Soon after their meeting, Caitlyn goes into labor, and gives birth to a baby girl, Josie. As the weeks progress, it becomes clear that Caitlyn has “too much on her plate” with the new addition, rebellious pre-teen daughter Emma (Mleiah Vega), and returning to her law firm. Hubby Miguel (Raul Castillo) implores her to hire some domestic help. Almost on cue, Caitlyn soon bumps into Polly. The two hit it off and the harried new mom gets the info and a solid reference for the ex-client (who lost her apartment). Polly is a welcome addition, attentive to Josie, and bonding with Emma. And then things go “sideways”. Everyone gets food poisoning (could Polly have spiked the main course). Then Polly breaks a big house role, giving Josie retail formula rather than Caitlyn’s breast milk. Eventually, Polly moves into the guest house next to the pool, but things don’t get back to normal. Are Caitlyn’s prescription meds (for a mental health condition) not working (another concern for Miguel), or did Polly tamper with them? Is it postpartum paranoia, or does the seemingly sweet Polly have a secret agenda?

Much like the original, this take really relies on of the power dynamic “tug-of-war” between the two main characters, and the film’s producers have cast two very interesting actors who have had great experience in the thriller genre (or genre films in general). The biggest emotional arc is given to Caitlyn, and Winstead expertly lets us see her growing mania after establishing the lawyer/mom as a “hands on” parent with a complex past. At just around the half-way point, Winstead takes her energy from stroll to trot to a furious, frantic gallop that pulls us along in her wake. This contrasts well with Monroe, perhaps best known for her lead in the indie horror gems IT FOLLOWS and LONGLEGS, who almost makes Polly a blank slate, her dead-eyed stare during confrontations with Winstead allow us to project all manner of sinister schemes onto her. However, we get to see a bit of her darkness at a dinner party when verbally chided by Caitlyn’s old best pal Stewart, played by the always engaging Martin Starr (forever Bill Haverchuck, class of 82′). He’s a sneering elite, who reveals a kind heart not only with Caitlyn (oops, don’t want to spoil). Castillo does his best with the underwritten role of the often thick hubby, who is either a witness or impediment to the long-awaited “throw-down”.

Taking the directorial reigns from the late, much-missed Curtis Hanson is Michelle Garza Cervera, in her second feature after many shorts and TV episodes. She keeps the pace steady, eschewing any flashy effects, save for the opening flashback. There’s a good use of LA locales, though Cervera is often a bit heavy-handed in contrasting the “haves and have-nots”. The often radical “re-imagining” is engineered by screenwriter Micah Bloomberg, who strips away many of the problematic elements (there’s no Solomon here in any form) of the 92′ story from Amanda Silver. And yes, many of the cheesy camp of the first is excised, but some interesting ideas are explored (Polly seems more into seducing Caitlyn than Miguel). Making first daughter Emma a few years older provides a chance to explore the often tumultuous clashes with mothers (another power struggle). Still, time hasn’t been kind to the subject manner since basic cable TV has been “strip-mining” the original film countless times over the years, with endless variations of the “wife/mother defending her happy home against the twisted interloper” (much as with the many clones of FATAL ATTRACTION). That’s a shame, since the two leads are such an interesting pairing, and are worthy of a more original tale than the still-familiar THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE.

2 Out of 4

THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE is now streaming exclusively on Hulu

BIRDS OF PREY (AND THE FANTABULOUS EMANCIPATION OF ONE HARLEY QUINN) – Review

By Marc Butterfield

BIRDS OF PREY (AND THE FANTABULOUS EMANCIPATION OF ONE HARLEY QUINN) tells the tale of Harley Quinn’s break up with The Joker, and how she comes to work alongside four other female characters to take down a common enemy, The Black Mask.

As a long-time fan of DC Comics, I’d say that director Cathy Yan kept the characters pretty close to their comic roots; Harley has gone from villain to anti-hero, Huntress’ origin is spot on, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead has her portrayal nailed, while Rosie Perez delivered us a Renee Montoya that is exactly as many comic book fans always thought she would be (and I am not normally a Rosie Perez fan). Black Canary is a little bit of a departure in both look and origin, and that is probably good, since a white chick in fishnets calling herself “Black” anything is not only not PC, but also maybe a little dated and silly, but they kept her powers the same, and used them conservatively enough that it didn’t feel like the metahuman was running the show. Jurnee Smollett-Bell has such a great voice, and may come off more natural than the others at times, thanks to her not over acting the role. The biggest change to the characters is Cassandra Cain, and that’s only because she seems too young and doesn’t have the backstory at all.

There are a bunch of other characters, but Ewan McGregor absolutely slays it as Roman Sionis, doing a scarily great job at being psychotic, I mean just flat-out nuts, in a way that’s both amusing and scary at the same time. Casual audiences probably haven’t heard of Black Mask, a Batman villain introduced in 1985, but they won’t likely forget him by the end of this movie.

It’s hard to tell you more than that, without inserting spoilers, but lets attempt it. Harley is still funny, and crazy, yet shows glimpses of exactly how smart she really is, and in a very “Deadpool” kinda way, breaks the 4th wall multiple times (there are more than a few similarities to Deadpool and Harley that are noticeable). The director does a pretty good job of knitting the four sub-stories together eventually, although all of the jumping from present to past could probably have been reduced a little. The only character that wasn’t fleshed out enough was Cassandra Cain, but Elly Jay Basco made her both streetwise and vulnerable, though it’s very hard to see her as Batgirl or Orphan, two of her comic hero names in the future. Who knows.

Birds of Prey would be a great franchise with Perez, Winstead and Smollett-Bell, since these 3 had great chemistry and were so different from one another that it has a real girl power vibe, without it feeling forced, and was multi cultural enough to make everyone feel included, and the characters build each other up nicely.

All in all it is a good movie, and certainly an action franchise-ready offering. Spend your money here, you won’t regret it. It’s a wild ride and a lot of fun, enough that you won’t feel cheated by spending the money now rather than waiting to NetFlix or Redbox it.

2 out of 4 stars

Margot Robbie And BIRDS OF PREY Cast Take Over Hollywood & Highland With A Night of Music and Mayhem In “Harleywood”

On Thursday evening Warner Bros. Pictures took over Hollywood & Highland with A Night of Music and Mayhem in “Harleywood,” hosted by the cast of BIRDS OF PREY (AND THE FANTABULOUS EMANCIPATION OF ONE HARLEY QUINN) with after party at The Dream Hotel.

The ‘Harleywood and Highland’ promotion will be an interactive space with, ‘stunning visuals, courtyard activations, photo and video opportunities for all’ on Friday, January 24 and Saturday, January 25 from 10 AM to 10 PM each day.

The movie is set to hit theaters and IMAX on February 7.

Robbie looked gorgeous in a little back dress with hot pink pumps and a sparkling diamond choker.

Robbie, who reprises the role as well as produces the film, says, “The most exciting thing for an actor is to have choices with your character, and you can really do anything when you’re playing Harley Quinn. With some roles, you can react one or two ways; with Harley, it’s more like 20, and every one of them makes sense for the character. That is really liberating and creatively stimulating.”

For that reason, among others, even while she was still filming her first turn as the fanfavorite anti-heroine in “Suicide Squad,” she recalls, “I knew that I definitely wasn’t ready to stop playing her, that there was still so much yet to be discovered and explored on screen.”

The night also featured musical performances by Birds of Prey soundtrack artists Charlotte Lawrence, Doja Cat and a DJ set by Whipped Cream.

Doja Cat, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Charlotte Lawrence, Ella Jay Basco, Megan Thee Stallion, Margot Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Margot Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Ella Jay Basco

Preorder the soundtrack, available on February 7, now: https://birdsofprey.lnk.to/PREORDER

You ever hear the one about the cop, the songbird, the psycho and the mafia princess? “Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” is a twisted tale told by Harley herself, as only Harley can tell it. When Gotham’s most nefariously narcissistic villain, Roman Sionis, and his zealous right-hand, Zsasz, put a target on a young girl named Cass, the city is turned upside down looking for her.

Harley, Huntress, Black Canary and Renee Montoya’s paths collide, and the unlikely foursome have no choice but to team up to take Roman down. In the Warner Bros. Pictures film, Margot Robbie (“I, Tonya”) returns as Harley Quinn, alongside Mary Elizabeth Winstead (“10 Cloverfield Lane,” TV’s “Fargo”) as Huntress; Jurnee Smollett-Bell (HBO’s “True Blood”) as Black Canary; Rosie Perez (“Fearless,” “Pitch Perfect 2”) as Renee Montoya; Chris Messina (“Argo,” TV’s “Sharp Objects”) as Victor Zsasz; and Ewan McGregor (upcoming “Doctor Sleep,” the “Trainspotting” films) as Roman Sionis. Newcomer Ella Jay Basco also stars as Cassandra “Cass” Cain in her feature film debut.

Directed by Cathy Yan (“Dead Pigs”) from a script by Christina Hodson (“Bumblebee”), the film is based on characters from DC. Robbie also produced, alongside Bryan Unkeless and Sue Kroll. The film’s executive producers are Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman, Geoff Johns, Hans Ritter and David Ayer. Joining Yan behind the scenes was a creative team comprised of director of photography Matthew Libatique (“A Star Is Born,” “Venom”); production designer K.K. Barrett (“Her”); editor Jay Cassidy (“American Hustle,” “Silver Linings Playbook”) and editor Evan Schiff (“John Wick Chapters 2 & 3”); and costume designer Erin Benach (“A Star Is Born”).

The music is by Daniel Pemberton (“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”).

This film is rated R for strong violence and language throughout, and some sexual and drug material.

birdsofpreymovie.com

Contributed by Melissa Thompson and Michelle Hannett

THE THING (2011) Now Available on Blu-ray From Mill Creek Entertainment

THE THING (2011) is now available on Blu-ray From Mill Creek Entertainment

From the producers of Dawn of the Dead comes the chilling prelude to John Carpenter’s cult classic film. When paleontologist Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) travels to an isolated outpost in Antarctica for the expedition of a lifetime, she joins an international team that unearths a remarkable discovery. Their elation quickly turns to fear as they realize that their experiment has freed a mysterious being from its frozen prison. Paranoia spreads like an epidemic as a creature that can mimic anything it touches will pit human against human as it tries to survive and flourish in this spine-tingling thriller.

A prequel to the John Carpenter classic from 1982!
Based on the novella “Who Goes There” written by John W. Campbell in 1938 who has been nicknamed “The Father of Modern Science Fiction”
Mary Elizabeth Winstead has recently been seen in 10 Cloverfield Lane and the FX series Fargo and will be starring opposite Margot Robbie in the upcoming Harley Quinn spinoff movie.
Joel Edgerton has been both behind and in front of the camera for such acclaimed films as The Gift, Loving and Boy Erased.
BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE: Feature-length commentary, Deleted/Extended Scenes, Featurettes and Theatrical Trailer!

WAMG Giveaway – Win Tickets to the Advance Screening of GEMINI MAN Starring Will Smith

GEMINI MAN is an innovative action-thriller starring Will Smith as Henry Brogan, an elite assassin who is suddenly targeted and pursued by a mysterious young operative that seemingly can predict his every move. The film is directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ang Lee and produced by renowned producers Jerry Bruckheimer. David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger. Also starring are Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen, and Benedict Wong.

GEMINI MAN opens everywhere October 11th, but lucky St. Louisans will have the opportunity to see it in advance! There is a screening Tuesday October 8th at 7pm and We Are Movie Geeks has plenty of tickets to give away! Just leave a message below with your email address and we’ll contact you later this week. It’s so easy!

GEMINI MAN Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen, and Benedict Wong and is rated PG-13

ALL ABOUT NINA – Review

*Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Common in ALL ABOUT NINA. Photo credit: Thomas Scott Stanton. Courtesy of The Orchard ©*

ALL ABOUT NINA focuses on a woman trying to break into the male-dominated world of stand-up comedy, but Eva Viva’s feature film debut is really about a woman living with the legacy of abuse. One of the odd things about this film is that it is essentially built like a romantic comedy about the gifted but struggling comic, but then makes turns that are neither comic nor romantic but raw and real. What rescues this uneven, head-twisting film is Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s wickedly funny yet heartbreaking performance as the comedian, Nina.

There is good and bad in ALL ABOUT NINA but the intentions are good. It starts out more dryly comedic but switches to darker tones as we learn more about Nina.

On stage, Nina is bold, with bitingly-funny, frankly-sexual routines delivered with bravura. Off stage, she is more of a mess, throwing up after every performance and being very guarded in her interactions with people. Her sexually-charged stand-up draws men to her but she rebuffs them all, avoiding commitment and even conventional dating, preferring to simply pick up unsuspecting partners for one-night hookups. Despite that, she is nonetheless harassed by an abusive ex-lover (Chace Crawford). Struggling in her career and personal life in New York, Nina relocates to Los Angeles, to audition for a spot on a TV comedy show, Comedy Prime, a move that is supposed to be temporary.

Her agent finds her a place to stay with another client, Lake (Kate de Castillo), a very California, Reiki-practicing author. The film has a little fun with the culture shock of the native New Yorker in LA but it soon turns its attentions to romance, when Nina meets Rafe (Common), who is a man unlike any she has met before. However, this film has larger ambitions than romantic comedy, which into gets to shortly after these two connect.

A major strength of the film is the ensemble work of Winstead and Common, who together have a believable, warm chemistry. There is a quirky charm to the both of their characters, as they start to explore the possibility of a relationship. They both have their issues to deal with, and a large cultural divide to bridge, but the appealing connection they make has us rooting for them.

Another strength is Winstead’s stand-up routines, which are gritty, sexy, and acidly funny. Her ability to balance that on-stage persona with Nina’s more reticent off-stage one in a thoroughly convincing fashion is much of what makes the film watchable.

Honesty is a big theme in stand-up, with comedians and producers pushing for more honest, raw and edgy material. Everyone in this film talks about being honest, and Nina does too, but in fact, she has things she doesn’t want to share – deep, dark things. The film uses what happens to explore how much honesty we really want and the line between a kind of “truth or dare” honesty and real, sometimes shattering truth.

Some of what this film contains is very hard to watch but Winstead’s strong performance helps ALL ABOUT NINA say what Vive’s film is there to say. But the major reason to see ALL ABOUT NINA is the remarkable Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

ALL ABOUT NINA opens, Friday, Oct. 12, at AMC Chesterfield.

RATING: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

THE HOLLARS – Review

Well, we were just looking at a family “drama-dy” from Japan, OUR LITTLE SISTER, so let’s turn our multiplex jet airliner right around and head back to the states. Our destination is the good ole’ heartland of the US of A, and lots of laughs and tears are in store. Now this family unit is a bit older than the SISTER quartet, with two sons well past their twenties along with their spouses, and ‘exes’. Oh, and this time out the parents play a big part in the story. Speaking of airliners, the big box office winner last week was the true tale of flying heroics SULLY, directed by actor Clint Eastwood. Well, this film is also directed by an actor, John Krasinski (he’s in front of the camera, too). This is his first time helming a film since 2009’s BRIEF INTERVIEWS WITH HIDEOUS MEN, his directing debut. John’s got a way to go before surpassing Clint’s impressive film-making resume’, but he shows even more promise with this second effort, THE HOLLARS.

Let’s touch this plane down in central Ohio, right at the Hollar family home. Eldest son Ron (Sharlto Copley), recently divorced, out of work, and now living in the den, is in a panic early this morning. The upstairs and downstairs bathrooms are occupied by Mama H, Sally (Margo Martindale) and Papa H, Don (Richard Jenkins), and nature is calling. When Don catches Ron “improvising” in the kitchen, they hear a racket above. The men find Sally sprawled on the bathroom floor, nearly unconscious. Now we dash from there to NYC and the office cubicle of prodigal Hollar son John (Krasinski), as he scribbles a cartoon while worrying about his future fatherhood. Suddenly his very pregnant girlfriend Rebecca (Anna Kendrick) is there to inform him that his mother has had a seizure, and his flight home is booked. When John arrives at the hospital, he learns that Mom has a brain tumor that will require major surgery in just a few days. But there’s more family drama. Brother Ron is stalking his ex-wife, concerned about his two pre-teen daughters now that ex, Stacey (Ashley Dyke) is seeing the church’s youth pastor, Rev. Dan (Josh Groban). Oh, and the job Ron lost was at his pop’s heating and plumbing business, which is going under. Plus, the nurse taking care of ma is John’s old high school classmate Jason (Charlie Day), who is married, and has a baby with, John’s old sweetheart Gwen (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). As John nervously awaits Rebecca’s due date, he must somehow deal with this very stressful homecoming.

Despite pulling double duty, Krasinski delivers a subtle, nuanced performance as the harried, often exasperated returning son. He seems to know exactly when to recede, to let his co-stars shine (no doubt a good habit he acquired during his long stint on NBC-TV’s “The Office”), often becoming a classic “straight man” to the off-kilter characters. But he’s not always the calm in the storm as Krasinski shows the worry and anxiety on his face and in his darting eyes. One of the more pleasant surprises is the wonderful comic turn by Copley (hey he was pretty funny in the opening, pre-prawn scenes in DISTRICT 9) as the desperate doofus, Ron . Though he’s such a foul-up, it’s hard not to sympathize with such a doting daddy. And this South African native really nails the American accent. Day effortlessly bounces between aggressive blowhard and twitchy paranoid hubby as Jason, a guy still nursing old school grudges who wants to rub John’s nose in the fact that he’s got his former flame, but is terrified she could be taken from him. Kendrick and Groban turn in great supporting work, along with comedy vets Randall Park (THE INTERVIEW) as Sally’s doc and Mary Kay Place (THE BIG CHILL) as Don’s pull-no-punches CPA sister.

This cast is terrific, but the film truly belongs to the heads pf the Hollar clan, played by two “old pros” who deliver some of their best work in their long careers. Jenkins as the faltering father is a constant wonder as Don goes from blubbering despair to defiant anger upon hearing the wrong remark. Life seems to have this weary man in a choke-hold, destroying the business that has sapped his years, then threatening to take away his rock, the true love of his life, the woman he very affectionately calls “Chief”. Marindale is a lovable force of nature as the stubborn, although scared matriarch Sally. Still, as the countdown to the operation goes forward, she only thinks of the men in her life and how to inspire them to keep moving. In one of the film’s most powerful scenes, the impending surgery prompts her to share a thought with John, one she’s probably never spoken aloud, that hits her son like a wrecking ball. And when they come to wheel her out of her room, to make that long trek down the hallway…it’s truly heart-wrenching, a scene that many Academy members will hopefully recall at year’s end.

The screenplay from James Strouse never hits a false note, sprightly balancing the laughter and tears. The small town “everybody knows everybody” feel is captured by Krasinski who paces the film expertly, making a brisk 90 minutes zip by. The locations are lovely with Mississippi standing in for Ohio. Krasinski is compiling a most impressive list of movies, but this will be tough to top (it’ll be interesting to see what his next choice will be). Families everywhere will find they’ve got a lot in common with this delightful lovable foursome, THE HOLLARS.

4.5 Out of 5

THE HOLLARS opens everywhere and screens exclusively in the St. Louis area at Landmark’s Plaza Frontenac Cinemas

SWISS ARMY MAN Starring Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe On DVD and Blu-ray On October 4

“My names Manny and this is my best friend Hank. I used to be dead and he brought me back to life.”

Bring home the bold and original adventure of a lifetime when SWISS ARMY MAN arrives on Blu-ray (plus Digital HD) and DVD (plus Digital), October 4 from Lionsgate.

Golden Globe^® Nominee Paul Dano (Love & Mercy) and Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter franchise) star in the “bold and original” (Chicago Sun-Times) Swiss Army Man,arriving on Blu-ray (plus Digital HD) and DVD (plus Digital), October 4 from Lionsgate. Written and directed by acclaimed music video directors Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan (collectively known as DANIELS) in their feature film debut, the “wild and inventive” (The Huffington Post) storyfinds a hopeless man stranded in the wilderness who befriends a dead body and together they go on a surreal journey to get home. Winner of the 2016 Sundance Film Festival’s directing award and a New York Times Critics’ Pick, Swiss Army Man also stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead (10 Cloverfield Lane) and features music by Manchester Orchestra members Andy Hull and Robert McDowell.

Hank (Paul Dano) is stranded on a deserted island, having given up all hope of ever making it home again. But one day everything changes when a corpse named Manny (Daniel Radcliffe) washes up onshore. The two become fast friends, and ultimately go on an epic adventure that will bring Hank back to the woman of his dreams.

The Swiss Army Man home entertainment release includes a music-less audio track along with Q&A with the filmmakers, two behind-the-scenes featurettes, audio commentary with DANIELS and crew and deleted scenes. The Blu-ray Disc of Swiss Army Man will feature a Dolby Atmos^® soundtrack remixed specifically for the home theater environment to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead. Swiss Army Man will be available on Blu-ray (plus Digital HD) for $24.99 and DVD (plus Digital) for $19.98.

BLU-RAY/DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

Q&A with Filmmakers
“Swiss Army Man: Behind the Scenes” Featurette
“Making of Manny” Featurette
Deleted Scenes
Audio Commentary

Check Out The First Trailer For John Krasinski’s THE HOLLARS

Sony Pictures Classics has unveiled the trailer and poster for THE HOLLARS, directed by John Krasinski. The film opens in New York and Los Angeles August 26th.

THE HOLLARS stars John Krasinski, Margo Martindale, Richard Jenkins, Sharlto Copley, Anna Kendrick, Charlie Day, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Josh Groban and Randall Park.

John Hollar, a struggling NYC artist is forced to navigate the small middle-American town he left behind when news of his mother’s illness brings him home. Back in the house he grew up in, John is immediately swept up in the problems of his dysfunctional family, high school rival, and an over-eager ex-girlfriend as he faces impending fatherhood with his girlfriend in New York.

From a script by Jim Strouse that is at turns hilarious and heartbreaking, John Krasinski’s second feature is a poignant look at the bonds of family and friendship.

SWISS ARMY MAN – Review

For many, Summer is a time to “get away from it all”. That’s been a theme for lots of movie characters over the years. Robert Redford in ALL IS LOST and James Franco in 127 HOURS escaped the rat race to explore the world solo, but both getaways lead to disaster (we just saw that last weekend with Blake Lively in THE SHALLOWS). Of course, solitude is often not a choice, but the result of fate. It perhaps started with Robinson Crusoe (made into several films), the idea of one or two people (or the seven TV folks on a “three-hour tour”) stranded on a desolate island. SWEPT AWAY was an Italian flick and an American remake, but the recent epic adventure that most movie fans would recall might be 2000’s CAST AWAY, This new film explores similar themes, but while Tom Hanks had a volleyball named Wilson as company, Paul Dano has the SWISS ARMY MAN.

We first encounter Hank (Dano) as he is literally at the end of his rope, just seconds before he steps off a mini-cooler to hang himself. A boating mishap has dumped him on a deserted island, and the isolation has turned to hopelessness and despair. But as Hank takes one last look at the beach, he spots something washing up on the shore. It’s a body. Upon closer inspection, Hank discovers that this man he names “Manny” (Daniel Radcliffe) is deceased. As Hanks resumes his fatal mission, he sees that Manny is stirring, quivering with flatulence (the recent dead contain a whole lotta’ gas, it seems). Utilizing some recovered items, Hanks rides atop Manny as if he were a methane-powered jet ski, all the way to a huge land mass. Hank then lugs Manny through the forest and discovers that the “stiff” has many unforseen uses (hence the film’s title), from water fountain (maybe a fire hydrant) to weapon. Then, wonder of wonders, Manny begins to talk to Hank (helping croon Hank’s theme song, “I’m F..king Crazy”). The two discuss life and love since Manny’s memories have been erased (death’s pretty traumatic on your noggin’), as they trudge through the wilderness, hoping to find civilization.

Dano carries much of the film (along with a pre-revived Radcliffe) as a man who finds a reason to live as he teeters on the edge of doom and despair. He bounces about the film frame, almost like a whirling dervish, as he bursts out of the suffocating cocoon spun by his past existence. At times he’s a teacher, then a parent as he connects with a corpse. Hank’s patience is sorely tested as he is bombarded with questions from his new companion. The usually expressive Radcliffe superbly suppresses his emoting, his face frozen into a half-wink as the child-like Manny. For the film’s first act, he’s mostly a prop, wrangled and tossed through the foliage. Despite the limits of the role, Radcliffe conveys much of the story’s complexities with expert precision, often while being toted around like a sack of spuds. Though she’s listed in the ads, Mary Elizabeth Winstead (10 CLOVERFIELD LANE) is mainly a silent image spurring long discussions between Hank and Manny until the film’s last moments.

This is the first feature film from the creative team listed as Daniels (Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), two vets of cable TV comedy and short subjects. They inspire great performances from the duo, while staging several terrific action (with side-splitting slapstick) set pieces. The first thirty minutes or so is very engaging as Hank and Manny discover each other. Unfortunately the opening momentum isn’t maintained as the Daniels indulge in too many “jump cut” montages and philosophical discussions. Far too much time is devoted to Hank’s meticulous “sets”, carved out of the landscape (oh, it’s a bus…okay). We’re so worn down that an attack by a “force of nature” merely reminds us of a much better sequence in recent Oscar-winner. The tale finally screeches to a halt with a most confusing and unsatisfying final scene. SWISS ARMY MAN will make for long post-screening debates for adventurous film fans, but it’s a unique and ultimately frustrating viewing experience, a compelling idea stretched beyond the point of interest. Still hats of to the Daniels for making a story about a flatulent corpse that’s better than anyone expected.

3 Out of 5

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