For Your Renting Pleasure

In Bruges HeaderWith a poor choice made with my Netflix instant selection of Calvin Marshall, thank goodness there are men like Martin McDonagh to make everything all right again with films like In Bruges. [Read more...]

Looking Ahead to 2013: 1st Quarter (January – March)

lookingaheadNow that we’re done looking behind us here at HST, it’s time to ring in the new year by filling our calendars with the upcoming releases (movies, music, TV, and video games) we’re looking forward to most.  Big names, big sequels, big comebacks, big excitement. [Read more...]

HST…Best Movies of 2012

HSTMoviesWith our feet firmly planted in 2013, it is time for the writers here at HST to look back on the past year and reminisce about the good, the meh, and the just plain ugly of the entertainment world, starting right her with film. [Read more...]

HST… Film Review: Seven Psychopaths

Alan: Seven Psychopath’s brings up the question, “Who here is really sane?”  Yeah, sure we might think that we’re completely normal human beings…but deep down, I think it’s safe to say that we are all just a little bit unhinged.  We all have some thoughts that might seem crazy to some people, and to an extent that’s what Seven Psychopaths does best, let’s all of the crazy out. [Read more...]

Looking Ahead to 2012 – Quarter 4 (October – December)

Alright people, it’s almost the end of the year – which means some big releases are coming out. Some of the biggest albums, movies, and video games are slatted for release, making for one incredible last quarter in 2012. Enough of this, let’s get to our selections. [Read more...]

HST Reviews…Total Recall (2012)

Lauren:  For a summer jam packed with action films, Total Recall might be going for the title of actioniest.  Yeah, that’s a word.  Don’t look it up. [Read more...]

Looking Ahead to 2012: 3rd Quarter (July – September)

For those of you not keeping track we are about to enter the second half of the year, full of just as many exciting things as the first half.  So far some entries have disappointed, some have surprised, and some have lived up to and surpassed expectations so far, so lets keep our fingers crossed that there will be more of the latter options in the months to come.  So what are you excited for?  Let’s give you some options to consider with this list of what the writers of HST can’t wait for. [Read more...]

For Your Renting Pleasure

win_win_headerIn this week of rentals I found myself disappointed with many of this years “better” comedies, where two other films ending up where I expected them to be.  If you’re considering renting The Alphabet Killer, Horrible Bosses, Your Highness, or Win Win then read my thoughts before making your choice this coming weekend. [Read more...]

Film Review: Fright Night

fright_night_header“Ugh, not another 3D horror film,” said the person who didn’t even watch My Bloody Valentine.  “That’s such a waste of money.”  Often true, but what isn’t true is the stigma against the cheesy b-rated films of this genre in concern to what is not expected of them.  At least when it comes to Fright Night; other movies are often fair game to mock.  Instead of a laughably scripted, poorly acted film to be seen solely to make fun of, we actually get a remake that is pretty great. [Read more...]

Film Review: Fright Night

frightnight header2Fright Night is a fun time at the movies with some solid creature effects, good 3D, a couple of great turns by Colin Farrell and David Tennant, and a cast as a whole that is ‘in on the joke.’ [Read more...]

Film Review: Fright Night (2011)

fright-night-2011 headerTo be honest, I am not a horror movie expert, but I know a horror movie when I see one. To that I ask myself, why do multiple critics think that the 2004 cult classic Shaun of the Dead is scary? I’ve seen Shaun a lot, and I have never thought for one moment that ANY scene from it would come back and haunt me in my dreams. To this day, I will still laugh at all of the dumb, subtle homages it makes to other zombie movies. [Read more...]

Rental Review – The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a beautiful looking film with a really intriguing story, but unfortunately doesn’t answer all of the questions I wish it had.  Looks like I am going to just have to use my imagination to fill in the blanks (See what I did there?  “Imagination”?  That’s right, I went there…)

A long time ago in a mountain range far, far away, a supernaturally inclined man named Parnassus was living a life devoted to his faith when a man name Mr. Nick came a’knockin’.  This visit from this devil-esque man set into motion a long lasting relationship for the following hundreds of years based on both men’s inability to say no to competition, gambling, and deal making, eventually leading to a deal in which Parnassus’s entry into the bargain is his own daughter.  When she turns 16 she is to be given over to Mr. Nick, and as this movie just so happens to have it, her 16th birthday is right around the corner.  But before Parnassus is forced to make good on his side of the arrangement, Mr. Nick makes one final deal that she will go to whoever is able to collect the most souls before time runs out. [Read more...]

Review: Crazy Heart

Crazy Heart is a nice little picture of redemption that hits all the expected beats and is solidly crafted from start to finish with a bunch of quality songs to enjoy along the way.
The story follow Bad Blake a past his prime singer songwriter who has been supplying hits for a young country superstar, Tommy Sweet, as he tours dive bars and bowling alleys poking his head into sobriety only rarely along the way. When he rolls into Santa Fe, Bad meets a journalist, Jean, that he at first tries to bed as any old groupie, but develops a stronger connection with her and her son, Buddy, and finds a bit more meaning in his life with Jean and Buddy in it. Added to this, his agent and Tommy begin really pushing him towards writing Tommy some new material and after an appearance as Tommy’s opening act at a major concert, Bad, begins to dream up some new numbers. Though the alcoholic inside him doesn’t let him stay on his high streak for long.
The film was shot for not a lot of money and first time director Scott Cooper does a nice job at getting the most out of it.   [Read more...]

Review: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Terry Gilliam’s latest is a bizarre and imaginative tale that while a bit scatter shot and unclear at times it is still rather entertaining and allows for a great ensemble to have a lot of fun.
Dr. Parnassus is an old man, centuries old in fact, and he is involved in an elaborate betting game with the Devil that has gone back and forth over hundreds of years. Eternal life, women, and countless other stakes have been in play between the two and the fate of Parnassus’ daughter Valentina is currently up for grabs. The game they play revolves around a mirror in the possession of Parnassus who travels around in a mobile stage with a troupe including his daughter, himself, Anton who is a slight of hand artist, and Percy who is a little person that has been with Parnassus for ages, as they perform a show enticing patrons to pass through the mirror which takes them into their own imagination which are than manipulated by both The Devil and Parnassus toward a choice that must be made in their favor to win the game. With only days remaining till Valentina’s sixteenth birthday, the day in which she will become the property of the devil, a game to the first to gain patrons five souls begins and a mysterious young man comes into the troupe’s life when they find him hanging under a bridge, seemingly to his death. [Read more...]

The Decade's Best – Minority Report (2002)

Steven Spielberg’s – Minority Report (2002)
Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Phillip K. Dick’s story is a rare blend of sci-fi, social commentary, major effects, action, noir mystery, and fun that is a blast to try and figure out and experience.
Set in the not to distant future murder has been essentially eradicated in the Washington D.C. area do to a new agency called Precrime. Using three psychics who are capable of seeing heinous crimes in the future, Precrime is able to take their memories and investigate the crime before it happens and bring the offender to justice before they ever actually get to commit the crime. As Precrime is about to be voted on to be taken nationally, Precrime Chief John Anderton and his organization are under put under audit by Danny Witwer who represents the Department of Justice. Anderton, who lost his only son to kidnapping, unfortunately finds himself to psychotropic narcotics sold illegally on the streets and sits alone at home alone watching videos of his son and ex-wife as paranoia that Witwer is after his job and Precrime festers on his brain. The paranoia hits its apex when the next murder that comes across Precrime’s table is that of one Leo Crow and the murder is Anderton himself. Having to avoid arrest, Anderton is forced on the run from Precrime and goes on a search for answers as to why and how he was set up. The mystery slowly unfolds as Anderton takes drastic step after step to get the answers to his crime. [Read more...]