review by Josh Keown Pro
The Faculty 1998
Watched Jul 18, 2012
Josh Keown’s review:
"So they've just been setting us up over the years with their E.T.'s and their Men In Black movies, just so no one would believe it if it ever happened."
-Stokely 'Stokes' Mitchell (Clea DuVall)
To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from this. Even WITH Robert Rodriguez at the helm. Yes, he made the truly magnificent Planet Terror and Sin City, but he also subjected us to Spy Kids 3-D and Sharkboy & Lavagirl (By the way, if you haven’t seen it…don’t.). As it happens, I was nicely surprised. It’s not a particularly novel idea (Body Snatchers, anyone?), but it’s got that terrific brand of Rodriguez humour from his better films. Swell cinematography too.
It’s also got a stellar cast, as most of RR’s films do. Elijah Wood, Josh Hartnett, Salma Hayek, Piper bloody Laurie, Famke Janssen, and Robert Patrick. Hell, it’s even got Usher. Now how’s that for hip and trendy? All of them give great performances, even the typically average Clea DuVall, who is brilliant here.
The script is suitably upbeat and ‘down with the kids’, as they say, and the fact that it doesn’t take itself too seriously makes it an enjoyable little Sci-Fi horror flick.
VERDICT; A tired, overused plot is injected with Rodriguez adrenaline and a witty script. It’s light hearted, simple fun. It’s swish and current and cool (or was, for the 90’s). Rodriguez is all the rage. I’m going to stop using this lingo now.
3.5/5 or 7/10
Comment?