The Skolney Blog

1994: There were better movies that could be considered the first truly 90s movie. There may have even even earlier ones. But I'm not sure anything came before Natural Born Killers that couldn't have snuck in in, say, 1989. Oliver Stone's singularly gonzo exploration of modern media's exploitation of violence is not one of my favorite films of 1994. But there had never been anything like it, and I'm still not sure anybody has even been able to make something like it since. Famously based off an early screenplay by Quentin Tarantino (it was heavily re-worked by Stone), the film stars Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis as Mickey and Mallory Knox, a married couple who become notorious serial killers and media stars. There isn't a lot of plot here. We actually don't see that many scenes of the Knoxes killing people. I think a Tarantino version would have had more of that. Stone's interest here is more in showing how the media makes stars of these...

In Theaters: TRAP This M. Night Shyamalan film follows the pattern of a lot of his works. The premise is good, the execution for a while at least hooks you, and then the 3rd act arrives. What's unique here is that I both thought the 3rd act went completely off the rails, yet I enjoyed it anyway. And I really liked the entire concert-set part of the film. I am totally on board with the Josh Hartnett renaissance, and you know, Shyamalan's daughter being such a big part of the film is not a problem. She's gorgeous and can sing a little.  BORDERLANDS One of the flops of the year, this video game movie has an eclectic cast and lots of colorful costumes and sets. I know nothing of the game, but the movie clearly was meant to be a new Guardians of the Galaxy or Suicide Squad. But for some reason this property (and a large budget) was handed to Eli Roth, a filmmaker whose body of work is both largely terrible and does not at all indicate the ability to do this kind of film. Fitting...

Natalie Portman has been my favorite actress for almost 30 years now. It's a fandom that has long since settled into her just being my favorite actress, but during some periods in the past bordered (or crossed it) on fanatical. The last truly through the roof era of Natalie fandom began with Garden State. Obviously back then I was dialed in completely to all of her projects, so I always knew when she was doing something. I don't have an exact recall for when this particular movie first hit my radar, but I know I didn't know what to make of it.  She was starring in a movie directed by Zach Braff. Who the hell was Zach Braff? I knew OF Scrubs, but didn't watch it. I only watched it when Mandy Moore was on it ("that is SO funny"). It was a pivot to indies. Natalie had done all studio fare up til now. And as summer 2004 went on, she had really had just one significant role (Attack of the Clones) in 4 years. I was still helping run a Natalie message board at this t...