stush

So far, this is the best movie of 2006. With some more publicity this movie could easily sweep the awards for every category in which it can compete. Greg Kinnear-Best Actor; Toni Collette-Best Actress; Paul Dano-Best Supporting Actor (runners-up: Steve Carell and Alan Arkin. Yes, runners-up to Paul Dano! He gives a performance that is nuanced, funny and at one point heartbreaking. You have got to see this guy in this movie!); Abigail Breslin-Best Supporting Actress (best juvenile performance since Tatum O'Neal in "Paper Moon" maybe better); Michael Arndt-Best Original Screenplay; Valerie Faris/Jonathan Dayton-Best Director; Best Film!! Keep on going down the list of categories. Smart and funny. This is a great film for adults!

This is a ripoff of other movies, some good ("Blair Witch Project") and some not so good ("The Cave"), but one of them is not "Alien". Admittedly, there is a high level of suspense once the action starts approx. 50 minutes into the film. There is also a high gross out level. However, the writing is lame. I sat there and predicted when most of the shocks would happen. Characters do and say things for no apparent reason other than to have some extra lines to speak during the first 50 minutes.

Speaking of that 50 minutes, the movie should be titled "Six Annoying B*****s" because I couldn't have cared less about what happened to any of them when the body count inevitably started. Also, if you've seen the trailer, the character screaming "Hello. Is anybody there?" is not supposed to be funny. However, within the context of the film I still couldn't suppress a giggle when the line is uttered.