The Great Escape

Continuing the theme of war films, specifically P.O.W. films (from WWII), for Memorial Day I decided to review the classic The Great Escape (especially since TCM aired this film immediately after Stalag 17 which I was already watching)

"Colonel Von Luger, it is the sworn duty of all officers to try to escape. If they cannot escape, then it is their sworn duty to cause the enemy to use an inordinate number of troops to guard them, and their sworn duty to harass the enemy to the best of their ability."

The German Luftwaffe are frustrated by the amount of time wasted trying to recapture P.O.W.s, and decide to create a special, high security, "escape proof" camp to hold the troublemakers.  The camp will house over 200 Ally escape artists.  Within the first 20 minutes of being in the new camp, 7 prisoners attempt to escape (2 with the leaving Russian prisoners, 5 in the back of trucks), but are thwarted by the guards.

Kommandant von Luger (Messemer) advises the commander of the prisoners, Group Captain Ramsey (Donald), to discourage escape attempts and to find other ways to amuse themselves until the war ends... Ramsey is not impressed (and says the quote underneath the picture).  The arrival of "The Big X", Squadron Leader Roger Bartlett (Attenborough), is the kick everyone needs.  Realizing the potential talent gathered in one place, he plans a mass escape to keep the German soldiers occupied for a long time.

The team includes: American "The Cooler King" Hilts (McQueen) who is perpetually in the cooler (solitary) with his glove and baseball for escape attempts and his Scottish partner in crime, "the Mole" Ives (Lennie) who has as many escape attempts as Hilts and is an expert at tunnels.  American Hendley (Garner) is the "scrounger" who is an expert trader and can get just about anything, and his roommate British Forger Colin Blythe (Pleasence) who has an eye for detail and weakness for tea.  There are two tunnel experts, Danny Velinski (Bronson) and Willie Dickes (Leyton), who dig three tunnels, with help from Denys Cavendish (Stock) "the Surveyor" and Aussie Sedgwick (Coburn) the "Manufacturer."  They have people making civilian clothes and luggage and several others in leadership positions, such as MacDonald (Jackson) in Intelligence and Ashley-Pitt in Dispersal.  And everyone takes a turn at "normal" activities such as choir and sports, to draw attention away from their secret plans.


This film was based on the real-life experiences of a group of POWs from WWII (from the book by the same title by Paul Brickhill, one of the POWs).... and filmmakers used information from POWs involved in the escape, and accounts from cast and crew who had been POWs.  Like Stalag 17, the filmmakers used a mixture of humor, action, and suspense in the film, and once again it creates a memorable and touching film.

Director John Sturges used actors from his Magnificent Seven, Coburn, Bronson, and McQueen, to create an ensemble film with a group of memorable characters and excellent performances.  Steven McQueen stands out as Hilts, and his exciting motorcycle chase.

At three hours, the film might seem like a lot to take, but you barely notice the time as you get wrapped up in the story.  The majority of the time is devoted to the setup of the escape... the plan and various obstacles, while developing the characters and their relationships to each other.  The final payoff is the escape (which isn't a spoiler, since the film is called "The Great Escape"), which doesn't disappoint.  The entire film is a study in suspense.

Another classic, and a must-see!!

The Great Escape (1963) 172 minutes
Director: John Sturges
Starring: Steve McQueen as Captain Hilts "The Cooler King"
James Garner as Flight Lt. Hendley "The Scrounger"
Richard Attenborough as Squadron Leader Roger Bartlett "Big X"
James Donald as Group Captain Ramsey "The SBO"
Charles Bronson as Flight Lt. Danny Velinski "The Tunnel King"
Donald Pleasence as Flight Lt. Colin Blythe "The Forger"
James Coburn as Flying Officer Louis Sedgwick "The Manufacturer"
Hannes Messemer as Kommandant von Luger
David McCallum as Lt. Cmdr. Eric Ashley-Pitt "Dispersal"
Gordon Jackson as Flight Lt. Sandy MacDonald "Intelligence"
John Leyton as Flight Lt. Willie Dickes "The Tunnelor"
Angus Lennie as Flying Officer Archibald Ives "The Mole"
Nigel Stock as Flight Lt. Denys Cavendish "The Surveyor"

Stalag 17

 Let's take a break from Hitchcock to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to this country.  For this 2010 Memorial Day (today), let's talk about WWII classic Stalag 17.

"Hey Schultz, sprechen Sie Deutsches?"
"Ja?"
"Then droppen Sie dead!"

The P.O.W.s in Germany's Stalag 17 have a problem.  Two of their group were shot trying to escape via a tunnel in the barracks, but were shot by guards waiting at the other end of the tunnel.  The remaining prisoners believe there is a spy in the barracks.  The logical choice is Sefton (Holdren) who bets against all escape attempts, holds his own "horse races", has a distillery, and setup a pay per view telescope for when the female prisoners shower.  And he is friendly with the guards.

"It's no use, Schulz, you might as well come clean. Why don't you just tell them it's me, because I'm really the illegitimate son of Hitler, and after the Germans win the war, you're going to make me the Gauleiter of Zinzinnati!"

But with no evidence, they continue to come up with ways to annoy the commandant , Colonel von Scherbach (Preminger), and the guards... while coming up with new escape plans and waiting for news about the war, via a secret radio, or notes from home.

Barracks chief Hoffy (Erdman) keeps order and is the brains behind all escape attempts... and keeps the men from killing each other.  Price (Graves) is the security officer.  Duke (Brand) is the hothead who would rather fight than talk.  Cookie (Stratton) is the narrator and Sefton's stuttering assistant.  And Animal (Strauss) and Harry (Lembeck) are best friends and the comic relief.  Tensions arise when a new group of prisoners, including famous war hero Lieutenant Dunbar (Taylor), are brought to the barracks... and the Germans want to learn their secrets.


I love this film.... a great blend of action, suspense, and humor.  This combination works well, and became the model for subsequent war films (like The Great Escape) and TV show Hogan Heroes (which borrowed the character Sergeant Schultz).

The most memorable sequences involve the banter between Animal and Harry.  Robert Strauss and Harvey Lembeck (along with Robert Shawley as Blondie and William Pierson as Marko the Mailman) originated these characters in the Broadway production that inspired this film.  Their interactions are funny and help breakup the heavy moments in the film.  Their best scene is their attempt to visit the Russian women waiting in line for showers / delousing.  I also love Animal's interaction with Marko (who has an awesome voice) everytime they get mail.  Love it!

William Holden is great in his Oscar winning role as Sefton.  Taking an unsympathetic character to a place where the audience actually wants to see him succeed.  I even love the German soldiers, especially Schulz (Ruman), who also starred with the Marx Brothers in their later films (he will always be Gottlieb in  A Night at the Opera to me).

A memorable classic... watch Chicken Run after you've seen it, and many of the jokes will be even funnier!

Stalag 17 (1953) 120 minutes
Director: Billy Wilder
Starring: William Holden as Sergent J.J. Sefton
Don Taylor as Lieutenant James Dunbar
Otto Preminger as Colonel von Scherbach
Robert Strauss as Stanislas "Animal" Kasava
Harvey Lembeck as Harry Shapiro
Richard Erdman as Sergeant "Hoffy" Hoffman
Peter Graves as Price
Neville Brand as Duke
Sig Ruman as Sergeant Johann Schulz
Gil Stratton as Cookie

Shadow of a Doubt

"I'm trying to keep my mind free of things that don't matter because I have so much on my mind."

Charlie Newton (Wright) is bored with her life.  She lives in a small town where everyone knows everything about each other.  She longs for a break in the monotony...  and then the Newton family receives a telegram announcing a visit from Uncle Charlie (Cotten), Charlie's namesake.  Uncle Charlie lives a glamorous life and brings the best presents.

But Charlie's joy is masked by strange occurrences.  Uncle Charlie acts strange - tearing a page out of the paper and refusing to have his picture taken...  and asking Charlie to keep little things from her parents (Travers and Collinge).  Then two detectives, Jack Graham (Carey) and Fred Saunders (Wallace Ford), come to town, looking for the "Merry Widow Murderer."  Charlie soon begins to fear her uncle is the serial killer.


A slow and subtle suspense thriller from Hitchcock.  An interesting premise: anyone can be a killer, not just people that look terrifying; made during WWII when people were constantly afraid, I can imagine this film would be terrifying.

When I initially researched this film, I read a review on IMDb.com that suggested going into the movie blind: only knowing the basic plotline.  The less you known in, the better your reaction.  And I liked that idea... so I went in with a basic knowledge - and while I had suspicions, I enjoyed the ride.

One of the elements that really works and adds to the suspicions, is the dialogue between Henry Travers' Mr. Newton and Hume Cronyn's Herb.  They are avid murder mystery readers, and meet every day to discuss how they would kill each other: "We're not talking about killing people. Herb's talking about killing me and I'm talking about killing him."  The rest of the cast is great as well, but everytime Herb shows up and starts talking to Joe, you can't help but laugh.  Cronyn is great, and apparently Hitch agreed by casting him in Lifeboat.

Pretty good... with a few stand out scenes. 

Shadow of a Doubt (1943) 108 minutes

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Teresa Wright as Charlie Newton
Joseph Cotten as Uncle Charlie Oakley
Macdonald Carey as Jack Graham
Henry Travers as Joseph Newton
Patricia Collinge as Emma Newton
Hume Cronyn as Herbie Hawkins

Lifeboat

*There was an issue with my Shadow of a Doubt disc, so I skipped it to watch the next Alfred Hitchcock film on my list: Lifeboat.

"Dying together's even more personal than living together."

When a passenger ship, and the German U-boat that attacked it, sink, the survivors take refuge in the final remaining lifeboat.  The three women and six men, a combination of passengers and crew from both ships:

• The renown journalist, Connie Porter (Bankhead), with an opinion about everything
• The nurse, Alice MacKenzie (Anderson), who doesn't want to reach her destination
• The disillusioned mother, Mrs. Higley (Heather Angel), who refuses to believe her baby is dead
• The millionaire, Ritt (Hull), who is used to getting his way
• The American sailor, Kovac (Hodiak) that thinks he knows everything
• The helmsman, Sparks (Cronyn), looking for love
• The injured sailor, Gus (Bendix), who longs to dance again
• The steward, Joe (Lee), who wants to keep the peace
• And their captive, Willy (Slezak) the German sailor they rescued who seems to have his own plan

...must stick together to survive... since they are in the middle of the ocean, off course, with no idea when they will be rescued.  Problems arise as they decide on leadership and what to do with Willy...


I'm not sure how many times I've said it, but Alfred Hitchcock is a filmic genius!  How many directors have the vision to shoot a full-length film in a single location, let alone one as secluded as a lifeboat.  But it works here, with the audience feeling all the tension and panic of the cast.  I was unfamiliar with the cast, but they made the characters come alive.

Even though the premise is great, the film feels a little dated.  There are great moments, but it could have been better.  Good, but not great.  Not sure how to feel about the ending...


Lifeboat (1944) 97 minutes
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Tallulah Bankhead as Connie Porter
John Hodiak as Kovac
William Bendix as Gus
Henry Hull as Rittenhouse
Walter Slezak as Willy
Mary Anderson as Alice MacKenzie
Hume Cronyn as Sparks
Canada Lee as Joe

Saboteur

"I'm afraid we're not behaving very well."
"What's the difference, we're not invited anyway."

A fire breaks out at a California aircraft factory, killing one of the workers.  Two other men were in the factory when it went up in flames... the victim's best friend, Barry Kane (Cummings), and a cranky new worker, Frank Fry (Lloyd).  The plant has no record of Fry and the authorities suspect Barry of sabotage.

With his reputation on the line and his name broadcast across the radio, Barry sets out to find Fry before the authorities catch up.  Along the way he runs into wealthy Charles Tobin (Kruger) the charismatic leader of the saboteurs... and is helped by model Pat Martin (Lane) who thinks Barry is guilty, but has to stick by him anyway.  Culminating in a memorable climax atop a popular American symbol.


A welcome return to suspense for Hitchcock, after his attempt at screwball comedy in Mr. & Mrs. Smith.  A lesser known gem, this film continues Hitchcock's theme of the "wrong man," which he used in Suspicion and British film The 39 Steps.  This film is very similar to The 39 Steps.  In both, the audience knows from the beginning the protagonist is innocent... and he is saddled with a woman who questions his innocence.  In fact, in each, there is a moment with the protagonist covers the mouth of the woman to keep her from calling out.  And at some point he wears handcuffs.... and many others.  This film is also reminiscent of Foreign Correspondent, as it gets a tad bit preachy.  There are moments and speeches that have definite audience in mind... reflecting the time they were made.

There are some brilliant sequences... such as Pat's billboards that reflect the action of the scene.  I also love the scene in the library where Barry tries to nonchalantly get Pat's attention while convincing the villains he is on their side... Barry keeps casually gesturing to a book titled "Escape."  This gag is explored further when Tobin figures out what is happening and makes his own literary suggestion.

The cast is decent... with the villains standing out.  Otto Kruger steals every scene as Charles Tobin.  And despite only appearing in a few scenes, Norman Lloyd (in his film debut) leaves a mark on the screen.  The climax is incredibly suspenseful.... and happens without any background accompaniment.

Decent...

Saboteur (1942) 108 minutes
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Priscilla Lane as Patricia Martin
Robert Cummings as Barry Kane
Otto Kruger as Charles Tobin
Norman Lloyd as Frank Fry

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941)

"I guess she's changed some huh?"
"Well, she's... changed a little."
"She once chased a dogcatcher half a mile with a baseball bat."
  "Well, she hasn't changed as much as you think." 

David (Montgomery) and Ann (Lombard) Smith have been happily married for three years.  Over the years they created rules to help continue their happiness, such as not leaving the bedroom after a fight until everything is resolved (even if that means staying there for 8 weeks).  After one fight, David admits he probably wouldn't marry Ann again if he had the chance.  Later, when they learn that are not legally married Ann throws him out of the house when he does not immediately re-propose.

David vows to win her back... but it is no easy task.  His best friend and business partner, Jeff Custer (Raymond), carries a torch for Ann, and decides to use the opportunity to pursue her.  Another friend, Chuck (Carson), who is in the doghouse with his wife, tries to help David... but ends up getting David in even more trouble.


And then the Master of Suspense made a Romantic Comedy....  For his third American film, Hitchcock was coerced into trying his hand at screwball comedies, for a chance to work with Carole Lombard.  It's a little weird to see a Hitchcock comedy... all of his films have moments of humor, I missed the suspense.

I'm glad Hitchcock only delved into straight-up comedy once... his suspense films are much better.  Maybe my expectations were too high going into this film, but I was really underwhelmed.  There were good moments, but I didn't like Robert Montgomery's David - he was more of a jerk than anything else.  Carole Lombard did better, making Ann somewhat sympathetic and pretty funny.  I think Lombard and Cary Grant (Hitchcock's original choice according to IMDb.com) would have been a better pairing.

It was o.k. - but I was expecting awesome, so it was disappointing.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941) 95 minutes

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Carole Lombard as Ann Smith

Robert Montgomery as David Smith

Gene Raymond as Jeff Custer
Jack Carson as Chuck

Foreign Correspondent

"I came 4,000 miles to get a story. I get shot at like a duck in a shooting gallery, I get pushed off buildings, I *get* the story, and then I've got to shut up!"

The editor of the New York Globe is frustrated by the lack of news coming from Europe.  His solution, send rouge reporter John Jones (McCrea), who he renames "Huntley Haverstock."

"How would you like to cover the biggest story in the world today?"
"Give me and expense account and I'll cover anything."

  "I'll give you an expense account."
  "Okay, What's the story?"
  "Europe."
  "Well, I'm afraid I'm not exactly equipped, sir, but I can do some reading up."
"No no, no reading up. I like you just as you are, Mr. Jones. What Europe needs is a fresh, unused mind."

  "Foreign correspondent, huh?"
  "No, reporter. I don't want correspondence, I want news."

Once in Europe, Jones stumbles onto a big story when he witnesses the murder of the Dutch diplomat Van Meer (Bassermann).  With the help of two European reporters: cynical Scott Ffolliott (Sanders) and lazy Stebbins (Benchley) "They love to cable from New York. It makes them think that you're working for them," and the woman of his dreams, Carol Fisher (Day), he seeks the truth.  Will he survive the attempts on his life and break the big story before war begins?


It is interesting to compare this film to Hitchcock's previous American film, Rebecca.  Rebecca was a serious suspense film... no little touches of humor.  This film seems like a strange follow-up.  He juggles suspense and humor... the humor is prevalent without taking away from the suspense of the story.  This film was made prior to the U.S. joining WWII and serves as a "propaganda" film, encouraging this action.

This film tends to be overlooked in the Hitchcock cannon (I initially missed adding it to my Netflix Queue and to my Hitchcock Filmography)... but it is still a great film.  Yes, it is a reflection of the time it was made, but there are still some great sequences, such as Jones navigating his way through an old windmill, barely avoiding discovery by Van Meer's assassin and cohorts... that remind you this is a Hitchcock film (great camera angles too).  Just the right amount of suspense and humor to keep you guessing throughout.  Interesting cast, you can't help loving some of the villains, and story.

Foreign Correspondent (1940) 120 minutes
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Joel McCrea as John Jones ("Huntley Haverstock")
Laraine Day as Carol Fisher
Herbert Marshall as Stephen Fisher
George Sanders as Scott Ffolliott
Albert Bassermann as Van Meer
Robert Benchley as Stebbins

Suspicion

"I always think of my murderers as my heroes."

TheLina McLaidlaw (Fontaine) and Johnnie Aysgarth (Grant) could not be more different.  She lives a sheltered life of privilege with her strict parents: General (Hardwicke) and Mrs. (Dame May Whitty) McLaidlaw.  No one believes she will ever find love.  Johnnie is a smooth talking playboy, who doesn't plan to settle down.  Defying expectations, they fall in love and get married.

After the honeymoon, Lina learns the truth about her husband: he is a compulsive gambler and smooth talker, with a quick answer to every problem.  He doesn't believe in working... just wants to borrow money from friends, and the McLaidlaw's, to pay the bills.  With Beaky (Bruce), one of Johnnie's friends, staying with them, Lina learns more about her husband... and begins to suspect his motives and actions, and fears he could start following the modus operandi of the various murderers in his favorite mystery novels.


Cary Grant as a villain, say it isn't so!  I went into this film with a blank slate.  I knew it was a Hitchcock film, and starred Joan Fontaine, but that was about it.  But I was impressed... the partnership between Hitchcock and Grant always equals AMAZING!!

The audience experiences the story through Lina's perspective... Interestingly, Hitchcock used the same perspective in his film Rebecca (the main character was also played by Joan Fontaine).  Once again, Fontaine is the naive woman, who falls in love with a man she does not understand... and begins to suspect her feelings are stronger than his.  She embodies the character well, and has an interesting, if unexpected, chemistry with Grant.  Grant is charming at times, menacing at others... all around believable (is there anything the man can't do?).  Nigel Bruce is great as Beaky... keeping the plot from being too serious.  I appreciate how Hitchcock inserts humor into his suspense films, without completely removing the audience from the story.  Bruce is funny and somewhat oblivious and it completely works!

Not sure how I feel about the ending... I prefer Hitchcock's original idea for the ending (which mirrors the ending from the novel).  I can see the merits in the ending chosen, but I would be happier with a different ending.  Overall a great film!

Suspicion (1941) 99 minutes
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Cary Grant as Johnnie Aysgarth
Joan Fontaine as Lina McLaidlaw Aysgarth
Cedric Hardwicke as General McLaidlaw
Nigel Bruce as Beaky

Rebecca

"Happiness is something I know nothing about."

While vacationing in Monte Carlo with her wealthy employer, a naive young woman (Fontaine) stops a man from jumping off a cliff.  The man is the wealthy and charming Maxim de Winter (Olivier), who begins spending a significant time with he.  Maxim recently lost his wife Rebecca, who was rumored to be a beautiful and popular woman and left Maxim heartbroken.  As their time together draws to a close, Maxim proposes and whisks his new bride to his seaside home, Manderly.

The couple is deeply in love, but the shadow of Rebecca hangs over the estate.  Starting with their arrival at Manderly, Mrs. de Winter is constantly compared to Rebecca.  The staff are accustomed to Rebecca's routine, and keep her monogrammed paraphernalia everywhere.  And the housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers (Anderson) undermines Mrs. de Winter's decisions.  Maxim is barely around, and when he is, his moods continually change.  Can she find a way to co-exist with the specter of Rebecca and find a way to make her husband happy?


Alfred Hitchcock's first American film paves the way for later masterpieces.  Using techniques and camera angles that he would characterize his later work, Hitchcock creates a memorable and suspenseful film.  As the film progresses, you assume you know how it will turn out... but, there is a big, unexpected twist that changes everything (which I won't spoil here).

The supporting players steal the show...  The most memorable, easiest to mock, performance comes from Judith Anderson as the haughty and condescending Mrs. Danvers.  She seems to float through the house, with the ability to randomly appear in different rooms in the house.  Also memorable, is George Sanders (who has an awesome voice!!) as Rebecca's slimely cousin Jack Favell... disarming and conniving, and draws your eyes in every scene.  Laurence Olivier is charming and aloof, withdrawing more and more.  And Joan Fontaine exudes a believeable naivete and meekness (apparently Hitchcock added to this performance by convincing Fontaine that no one liked her).

Suspenseful and compelling... not my favorite (and not his best), but still an excellent selection from the Hitchcock archive!!

Rebecca (1940) 130 minutes
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Laurence Olivier as Maxim de Winter
Joan Fontaine as Mrs. de Winter
George Sanders as Jack Favell
Judith Anderson as Mrs. Danvers

Hitchcock Filmography

I HAD A BRILLIANT IDEA!

 After reading "It's Only a Movie: Alfred Hitchcock, A Personal Biography" by Charlotte Chandler, I was inspired to see as many Alfred Hitchcock films as possible.  There didn't seem to be a downside: I like all the Hitchcock films I've seen and they are heavily referenced in pop culture, and it would give me a better appreciation for Mel Brook's "High Anxiety."

So I added all the American Hitchcock films to my Netflix queue.

The plan: watch all these films in sequential order, then write reviews of each.  Once I have exhausted the list, I hope to write a top 10 (or some other arbitrary number) list.

*EDIT: while reading "Hitchcock's Villains: Murderers, Maniacs, and Mother Issues" I decided to add some of Hitch's older films.

So here is my queue...

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
The 39 Steps (1935) ~03/20/10
Secret Agent (1936)
Sabotage (1936)
Young and Innocent (1937)
The Lady Vanishes (1938)
Jamaica Inn (1939)
Rebecca (1940) ~05/14/10
Foreign Correspondent (1940) ~05/19/10
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941) ~5/21/10
Suspicion (1941) ~05/16/10
Saboteur (1942) ~05/25/10
Shadow of a Doubt (1943) ~05/31/10
Lifeboat (1944) ~05/29/10
Spellbound (1945) ~06/05/10
Notorious (1946) ~ 09/25/06
The Paradine Case (1947) ~06/10/10
Rope (1948) ~06/14/10
Under Capricorn (1949) ~06/19/10
Stage Fright (1950) ~06/25/10
Strangers on a Train (1951) ~06/29/10
I Confess (1953)
Dial M for Murder (1954) ~07/28/10
Rear Window (1954) ~07/10/10
To Catch a Thief (1955) ~09/04/16
The Trouble with Harry (1955) ~05/13/17
The Wrong Man (1956)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
Vertigo (1958) ~12/19/07
North by Northwest (1959)
Psycho (1960) ~12/19/07
The Birds (1963) ~12/19/07
Marnie (1964)
Torn Curtain (1966) ~3/30/10
Topaz (1969)
Frenzy (1972)
Family Plot (1976)

Wish me luck on this adventure!

Zombieland

"Are you one of those guys who has to constantly 'one-up' everyone else?"
"Hell, no! I knew a guy once who was a lot worse at that than me."

The world has changed... a virus, from a tainted hamburger, has turned the majority of the population into flesh eating zombies.  The people not affected by the virus, have to defend themselves and be prepared for a zombie attack at all times.  Twenty-something, college kid Columbus (Eisenberg) survives due to a list of rules he follows.

The first rule of Zombieland: Cardio. When the zombie outbreak first hit, the first to go, for obvious reasons... were the fatties.

He is trying to get back to Columbus, OH to see if his parents are still alive...  He believes he is one of the only people left, and then he meets Tallahassee (Harrelson).  Tallahassee is a one man zombie killing machine, "When Tallahassee goes Hulk on a zombie, he sets the standard for "not to be f***** with"."  He is a loner... seeking the elusive Twinkie, but agrees to give Columbus a ride.

They cross paths with sisters Wichita (Stone) and Little Rock (Breslin), who con them out of a vehicle.  They are going to an amusement park, which is supposed to be the only place left still zombie-free.  With potential zombie attacks around every corner, they team up to survive.

 
I'm not a fan of zombie movies... just never had the desire to see any of them.  And then Shaun of the Dead came along... and suddenly it was cool to watch zombie movies, or at least British comedies about zombies.  Knowing that this was not 1) a British comedy, 2) starring Simon Pegg, 3) written/directed by Edgar Wright, I had my doubts.  Could "Zombieland" be any good as a zombie comedy, or would it be painful to watch.  The trailers looked good, but trailers can be deceiving.  Thankfully, the "powers that be" behind "Zombieland" got it right.

They created a new and believable world.  The zombies are gross and pose a legit threat...  The writers took a risk with such a small cast (only 6 characters have names, everyone else is a zombie), but the characters work so well that adding anyone else would seem like overkill.  Jesse Eisenberg embodies the nerdy Columbus and serves as an interesting and funny narrator.  Woody Harrelson, who is having a great year on film, gets to cause some serious violence while throwing out one-liners, and even exhibiting moments of vulnerability.  Emma Stone is the bewitching beauty who always has a plan, and Abigail Breslin is "wise-beyond-her-years," while wielding a shotgun and trying to be an adult.  All four work in their parts, and work well together.  There is also a funny cameo, but I won't spoil it for you.

Lot of blood... but I suppose that should be expected in a zombie film.  I still prefer Shaun of the Dead, but it's hard to beat Simon Pegg, but definitely a funny and memorable film.

Zombieland (2009) 88 minutes
Rating: R for horror violence/gore and language.
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Starring: Woody Harrelson as Tallahassee
Jesse Eisenberg as Columbus
Emma Stone as Wichita
Abigail Breslin as Little Rock