Hot Fuzz (April 7th at the CWRU Film Society, Strosacker Auditorium)

[HOT FUZZ screens April 7th at 7:00 pm and 9:30 pm at the CWRU Film Society, Strosacker Auditorium)

Review by Charles Cassady, Jr.

Usually it's the worst cultural offense whatever, to my way of thinking, but you know...if they did an okay but unnecessary Americanized remake of the Britcom DEATH AT A FUNERAL, maybe a Yankee refilming of 2007's HOT FUZZ wouldn't be so bad either. Mainly because more American viewers in this probably-would-be-smarter-if-they-hadn't-revolted-in-1776 country might finally get UK director Edgar Wright's high-concept joke, one which (even with Wright and cast members coming red-hot off the success of SHAUN OF THE DEAD) seemed to elude some audiences and even critics here, when the schtick happened with British actors and English locations.

Jackboots on Whitehall (now available on home video)

[JACKBOOTS ON WHITEHALL is now available on home video.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

In the recent documentary MARWENCOL we meet Mark Hogancamp, a man trying to cope with the mental and emotional problems (including amnesia) brought on by a severe beating. He does so by creating a village out of dolls and carefully detailed models that he places in a World War II setting.

JACKBOOTS ON WHITEHALL looks a lot like Hogancamp's imaginary town come to life. The film is set in an alternate version of World War II where the Nazis take over London. The flesh and blood cast, which is a veritable who's who of British actors, lend their voices only; the on-screen action is brought to life using animated action figures. I doubt there was any direct influence, but the visual similarities are strong enough that you can't help but compare if you're familiar with Hogancamp's unusual vision.

Death at a Funeral (Feb. 4 at Strosacker Auditorium, CWRU)

[DEATH AT A FUNERAL screens Friday February 4th at 7pm, 9pm and 11pm at the Case Western Reserve University Film Society in the Strosacker Auditorium.]

Review by Charles Cassady Jr.

The DEATH AT A FUNERAL showing this weekend courtesy of the CWRU Film Society is not the competent but unnecessary "Americanized" version of two years back, directed by Neil LaBute with a largely-black cast. This one is the 2007 original, directed by the oft-underrated Frank Oz (who, despite a solid c.v. of films with the Muppets, Bill Murray, Steve Martin and even Robert DeNiro, will never be forgiven by the geekiarchy for that STEPFORD WIVES remake). Fleeing Hollywood, Oz works here in his native England with a mostly UK ensemble, settings and vibe that evoke the flavor of stuff you might remember being produced by George Harrison's illustrious Handmade Films back in the 1980s, maybe with a Python or two in the cast. The late Graham Chapman would have fit in particularly well (and not necessarily in the coffin).