By Jared Curtis jared@dmcityview.com
‘The Box’
Directed by Richard Kelly
Rated PG-13, 115 minutes
Director Richard Kelly continues his reign as one of the most eclectic and daring auteurs working today. His two previous films, “Donnie Darko” and “Southland Tales,” are underappreciated masterpieces that leave some people praising his works and others despising it. “The Box” follows Norma (Cameron Diaz) and Arthur (James Marsden) Lewis, a normal couple with a son and financial woes. One morning, a mysterious box appears on their doorstep. Arlington Steward (Frank Langella), an even more mysterious and badly scarred man, shows up and tells them that if they push the button they will receive a million dollars. But in doing so, someone, somewhere will die. “The Box” is a psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns that will keep the audience on the edge of its seat — just don’t push the button. CV
‘Very Bad Things’
Directed by Peter Berg
1998, Rated R, 100 minutes
Before “The Hangover” became the new go-to bachelor party movie, there was “Very Bad Things,” a dementedly dark tale of five friends (Jon Favreau, Christian Slater, Jeremy Piven, Daniel Stern and Leland Orser) who run into more problems than just losing the groom on a trip to Vegas. While cutting loose and enjoying their time away, the friends run into a big problem — one of them accidentally kills a hooker (Kobe Ti). With the pressure mounting, they decide to chop the body up and bury her in the desert. Some of the friends can’t shake the remorse and threaten to tell police. But two of them, Boyd (Slater) and Kyle (Favreau), who is hours away from marrying Laura (Cameron Diaz), disagree and all hell breaks loose. “Very Bad Things” is one of the darkest comedies ever made, and the unexpected ending will leave audiences nervously laughing though the credits. CV
