Chip Kaufmann’s Pick: “The Changeling”

The Changeling (1980)

Now that The Woman in Black has successfully added itself to the small but impressive canon of ghost story movies (see review this issue), I thought it would be appropriate to choose as my DVD pick this month the film which is considered the Mt. Everest of ghost story movies. That film is Peter Medak’s The Changeling (1980) which is not to be confused with Clint Eastwood’s Changeling (2008) starring Angelina Jolie, which is not a ghost story at all.

The film stars George C. Scott as a recently widowed NYC composer who rents an old mansion in Seattle in order to accept a teaching position and try and get his life back together. At first the house seems ideal but slowly odd sounds occur, things happen and Scott finds himself driven by unseen forces to uncover a dark secret from the past.

Melvyn Douglas, in one of his last film appearances, plays a powerful U.S. senator with a skeleton in his closet that he doesn’t even know about. Scott’s wife, Trish Van Devere, is a local real estate agent who wants to help Scott get to the bottom of the mystery. Character actor John Colicos is also impressive as a hostile police inspector who hinders Scott’s actions.

Director Medak, who is best known for the outlandish Peter O’Toole film The Ruling Class pulls out all the stops in crafting an old school ghost story using the time honored techniques of moody photography, effectively sinister music, quick edits and sound bites that startle the viewer without showing much of anything. In the middle of the film, a séance sequence that brings the ghost to light remains unforgettable once it has been seen.

Made for a small company and out of print for many years, The Changeling is now readily available at a ridiculously low price if you want to purchase it. You can rent it locally or obtain it from Netflix as well. If you enjoy chills as opposed to gore with a few twists and turns along the way, then it doesn’t get much better than this. If you liked The Woman in Black, you’ll love The Changeling.

Michelle Keenan’s Pick: “The Guard”

The Guard (2011)

The Guard was, without a doubt, one of my favorite movies films of 2011. It is the kind of film that I’ll revisit periodically and roar with laughter each time. It was also one of the most overlooked movies of 2011, at least on this side of the pond. It’s now available on DVD, and I hope it will enjoy a larger audience now that it’s on the small screen. I’ll site St. Patrick’s Day as an excuse to recommend it to you this month, but really no excuse is needed. It’s just cracking good fun.

For me, The Guard was the most enjoyable and laugh-out-loud funny films to come down the pike in a good while. Written and directed by John Michael McDonagh, brother of Martin McDonough, The Guard drew comparisons to Martin’s 2008 critically acclaimed but also much overlooked film In Bruges. While John Michael displays a similar flair for dark wit and peculiar characters as only the Irish can do, The Guard offers far more levity and is more readily digestible than In Bruges.

The film stars Brendan Gleeson (who also starred in In Bruges, ergo drawing some of the comparisons) as Gerry Boyle, a rather unorthodox, non-conformist police sergeant in rural Connemara. When a drug smuggling investigation inadvertently teams straight laced, by-the-book African American FBI agent Wendel Everett (Don Cheadle) with Segeant Boyle, hilarity and a head count ensue.

Cheadle plays straight man to Gleeson’s politically incorrect antics. I suppose one could say Gerry is innocently racist (by cultural perception, not by personal belief or conviction), which somehow makes his remarks appallingly funny, rather than just plain appalling. How Cheadle keeps a straight face is anyone’s guess. His deadpan ‘you-didn’t-just-say-what-I-think-you-said’ looks play well off Gleeson’s innocuous comments.

A fantastic supporting cast provides a lively, if not unusual ensemble to flank our heroes. Fionnula Flanagan as Sgt. Boyle’s dying mum is a hoot. Mark Strong, Liam Cunningham and David Wilmot make the funniest trio of philosophizing bad guys since Pulp Fiction.

The Guard is a must see for those that enjoy a dark Irish comedy. It is the best vehicle yet for Gleeson’s talents. Not one bit of the script and storyline is wasted. If this sounds like your cup of tea, you won’t be disappointed.