Never has the title of a group of people held so many different meanings as the term, "Hollywood star". If one wishes to see all the different definitions that come with that title, you'd only have to glance at the gossip magazines that you see in the checkout aisles as you desperately try to ignore the screaming toddler in front of you, demanding a chocolate bar and a Mountain Dew. Mostly, you see titles talking about "shocking weight loss/gain", "scandalous behavior", and the obligatory "DIVORCE" headline that takes up the majority of the cover. Indeed, actors are truly a versatile bunch, and we seem to love seeing them in the tabloids as much as we do on the big screen.
But, despite all of the attention that big name actors and actresses seem to get everywhere they go, there seems to always be that "one movie" that they were in that no one seems to remember. Well, Hollywood, that shiver that just traveled down your back is telling you that not only have I found and seen those movies, but I'm prepared to tell the world about them! And by "world", I mean my one follower and two or three readers. This possible-but-not-very-probable "series" is purely for fun, and the chance to talk about some of the little-known movies that I've seen (the hipster that I am). Despite whatever overall rating I give the movies, I do encourage you to see them if you can. Just understand that everyone has an opinion, and mine is right.
So, let's get this show on the road and see how long it takes before I get bored with it! Our first entry comes from the United Kingdom. The mystery/thriller short film with an even shorter name: Exam.
Released in the UK and the US in 2009 at various film festivals, Exam is a short (clocking in at 101 minutes) thriller about eight characters applying for a prestigious job at a mysterious and powerful corporation. The film was directed by Stuart Hazeldine, an English director, writer and producer also known for such films as...um...
...
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Okay, fine, he's not really known for anything else. I actually could not find a lot of info on this guy, aside from the fact that he wrote the story that this movie is based on, and he also produced and directed it. While most would see that as a recipe for disaster, Hazeldine actually succeeds in creating a genuinely interesting story with good overall tension. But none of that matters, because we're here to talk about actors! And the notable actress in this particular movie is a blonde bombshell by the name of Nathalie Cox.
Nathalie Cox is a London actress and model, known primarily among the gamer community for voicing the character Juno Eclipse in the game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and it's sequels. She also appeared as Artemis in the 2010 remake of Clash of the Titans, whose IMDB rating is only one point lower than Exam, proving that there's just no accounting for taste. She also appeared in Kingdom of Heaven, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, and an episode of "The IT Crowd". She also looks a bit like Jeri Ryan, who I admit to crushing on pretty hard in my younger years watching "Star Trek: Voyager", because I needed something to watch when "Xena: Warrior Princess" wasn't on. Also, that name spelling is not a typo.
Admittedly, she's not as well-known as actors like Willem Dafoe or David Caruso (both of whom will be getting the spotlight shone on them, if I ever get around to it), but I feel she's known well enough to be counted for this series. And, to be honest, I just REALLY wanted to talk about this movie.
Exam opens with scenes of eight different applicants carefully dressing and preparing themselves for their "final interview" to see if they will be chosen for a job that each one of them desperately needs, all for different reasons. They are all led into a room with desks and papers that have each of their designations (Candidate #1, Candidate #2, etc) printed on them. They all take their seats and are told that the final decision will be made based on an exam that they all will take. They will be given eighty minutes to answer one question, while adhering to three rules: do not spoil your paper, do not speak to the invigilator (the guy giving the exam) or the guard, and do not leave the room. The invigilator starts the clock and leaves, and the candidates turn their pages over to find...nothing!
Yes! The pages are blank! It's your own worst high-school nightmare come to life! You know, without the whole "being in your underware" and "getting attacked by Freddy Krueger" parts. What a twist! And we haven't even gotten to the good stuff yet! The movie progresses at an impressively rapid pace as the characters alternate between cooperating to figure out how to "win", and stabbing each other in the back to get ahead. Plus, the whole movie takes place in this little room, which means that as things get more serious and even dangerous, that little room starts to feel smaller and smaller to both the characters and the audience. Also, this happens:
And this:
And there's also this:
Pretty high emotions in this movie. Unfortunately, I can't explain the context behind those pictures because part of what makes this movie good is watching the characters react as the situation changes and tensions rise. The movie is far from boring, and definitely worth it for anyone who likes to see a psychological thriller done right. There's no man in a mask with a big knife waiting around the corner, there's no "BOO!" moment to be found, there isn't even much in the way of gore. Ultimately, I think that's what makes this movie fun to watch: the realization that at the end of the day, these characters aren't "good" or "evil", they're just desperate people who are shoved over the edge.
Overall, I would give this movie an 8-8.3 out of 10. The plot is creative and succeeds in building some great dramatic tension, though the characters can seem a bit archetypal and cliche'd. The acting is tight and the directing skillful, but different people will feel differently about the ending. You'll either see it as an awesome twist to cap off a good movie, or a rushed tying of loose ends depending on your mood and personality. I will say, though, I LOVE that one of the reviewers of the film called it "The Apprentice goes to hell". I thought that was a pretty clever and succinct description of this movie. The movie is streaming on Netflix, so check it out next time you're over there lamenting about the fact that Netflix removed "South Park" and "Avatar: The Last Airbender" from it's streaming line-up.
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