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How entertaining? ★★★☆☆
Thought provoking? ★☆☆☆☆ 1 March 2012
This a movie review of PROJECT X. |
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“Thomas, look at what we did. Epic,” Costa.
There is so much wrong with PROJECT X: weak characterisation, no courage to end on a more ambiguous note, no morality, no apparent qualms in degrading women, and zero charm. But, and there’s a big but. The direction and editing and cinematography are so skilful that an energy is captured so well that by the time the credits roll you feel like you’ve been at a party – an impressive feat! Imagine if the filmmakers had decided to iron out all those problems this might’ve become one of those cult party films which live on. It is no coincidence that Todd Phillips has produced this – he knows about male wish fulfilment when it comes to having a good time – having directed OLDSCHOOL and THE HANGOVER.
PROJECT X is one of those live footage films (THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, CLOVERFIELD, REC., PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, etc.), which are getting more prevalent, branching out beyond horror lately, e.g. CHRONICLE. I’m not tired of this technique weirdly – there is still something compelling about it. Set over one day, the focus is on three socially ostracized tools (JB, Costa and Thomas) who decide to throw a birthday bash for the latter, while his folks are away for the weekend; in order to significantly up their standing in high school, as well as have sex. These three are either obnoxious or boring, lacking the charm of the cast from AMERICAN PIE and THE INBETWEENERS. Why not make them better adjusted? They somehow slightly grow on you as events progress, though time should’ve been spent as much on making them compelling as was spent on the ensuing carnage. And the carnage is spectacular, like an apocalypse movie. Most films have party scenes that perhaps last a few minutes before moving onto something else. PROJECT X is akin to the climax of KILL BILL: VOLUME 1 – a thirty-odd minute bombardment that is exhilarating and never boring, the rhythm of proceedings evolving and avoiding repetition. (The coda is a copout and misfire though.)
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