As 2011 begins wrapping up, we will all find ourselves hit over our heads with a constant barrage of "Best of" lists in everything, from movies to TV to music to celebrity meltdowns and so forth.
Why is that? Well...
1. This is the Internet, where you can do such things. At least for now.
2. It's an easy way for websites/blogs to fill up space. (Ahem..)
3. Why not?
Why wouldn't you look back on the year that was and reflect on all the great pieces of art it had to offer? What WAS the best film? What TV series did you absolutely have to follow? What musician broke barriers? These are questions that are important only to a specific group, of course, but I'm willing to bet if you're reading this right now, you are one of those people.
We, at Groove Sandwich, are definitely in that group. But no worries, we'll try not to be annoying about it. This will be the first in a month-long series of things you shouldn't have missed in 2011. We might even throw in a few things that you should miss, just for fun. Either way, just know I'm doing this to fill up the space.
One thing you should know about JJ Abrams is that, like many of us, he reeeeeeeeeally likes Spielberg. And what better way to show that fandom than to make a film that's an entire homage to the master's early work? If Spielberg had an official fan club (I'm sure he does, I'm just too lazy to google it), Abrams would be president.
And you don't have to be a cinephile to notice the influence. Everything Abrams has been involved in (LOST, Cloverfield, Star Trek, etc.) has its Spielberg-ian flourishes. But Super 8 is his ultimate love letter.
What Abrams gives us is the 70's story of a group of children filming their own Super 8 film, when a train derails, releasing a otherworldly presence on their quiet little town. What we really get from this film is a piece of smart popcorn gold, just like Spielberg used to do back in the 70's.
Kyle Chandler plays the town sheriff/widowed father of one of the children, doing his best to separate this character from his Emmy-winning role on Friday Night Lights. (Although, if Eric Taylor somehow didn't become a football coach, I could see him joining the force.) The two characters might be one and the same, but that doesn't mean Chandler doesn't do a fine job in the role. And all of the children who thankfully get the most screentime are the most charming bunch of child actors I've seen in quite a while. Elle Fanning, in particular, gives a standout performance.
The film also boasts some pretty fantastic action sequences. The train derailment I mentioned earlier is particularly heart-stopping. Without a doubt, it will be the one scene you remember, as you'll practically be gasping for air once it's over. I'm almost afraid the impact of that scene may lose some of its power upon home viewing, unless you've got a pretty powerful home theater system.
My only quibble with the film may be the final reveal of the alien/monster. It just didn't feel scary enough, even when it does get in a few human kills. But this is something I don't hold against the filmmakers. Trying to truly terrify a generation that has seen it all on screen is no easy task. What is accomplished is a sense of adventure from a director who truly has a lot of heart and loves what he does. Spielberg would be proud.
Kyle Waldrup is a contributing writer for Groove Sandwich. Follow him on Twitter here.
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