Remarkable Power (2008)

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Great Film overall

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Remarkable Power is a unique and interesting movie that I really wish hadn't been an independent film. It was such a unique idea, that I really would have like to have seen how audiences took it. The film is categorized as a dark comedy, and while there are several very funny scenes, I didn't really find it very funny, however it was such a solid story that it maintained my interest throughout. The film is separated by four different sub-stories, that come together in the end. The main focus is based on one man's actions following his introduction to a set of self-help tapes, called, Remarkable Power. The other, on a former child star, turned TV talk show host, who is about to lose his job, and needs a miracle in order to salvage his career. The film has some of my favorite comedic actors in it, but it tries so hard to be funny, that it turns out not to be. What saves this film, is how compelling the story becomes, I mean they throw everything at you from murder, drugs, and the mafia to sex, Hollywood, and even superhero cops. Evan Peters from American Horror Story is the one person who seems to be in the middle of everything and they made an excellent choice. This guy really has some tremendous ability, as seen both here and in his television show. Even if this movie doesn't sound appealing to you, Peters performance alone is really something to see. Kevin Nealon is also terrific, as he continues to try and get from the label as just a funny secondary character. Nealon really takes the lead in the most compelling part of the story and comes up with a plan to save his talk show, that really is ingenious. Remarkable Power isn't what they make it out to be and the writers tried way too hard to make this into something it wasn't, but I will say this, the performances were outstanding and the story is far from predictable. It wasn't the comedy I was expecting, but by and large it was still very entertaining.

A film that seems to be passed up and ignore, Remarkable Power is a low key genius piece of comedy. This film caught my eye at the local pawn shop and I couldn't seem to ignore it, even though I kept telling myself it looked like junk. However, with a stunning cast that features one of the best stand-up comedians, Christopher Tidus, and up and coming, rising American Horror Story star, Evan Peters, this is not a piece of junk. The film has a variety of scenarios and plots, each character has an obstacle to overcome and each has a not so responsible solution. Even though the other actors seem to have more credit as the film's main stars, Peters certainly is the most focused on and prominent character as the stoner nobody with a dream of remarkable power. He gets caught in a situation where he is going to be killed by an infomercial star he admires when he becomes the killer in a freak accident. It all unwinds from there with two wannabe sleuths (one of which an actress I recall from a favorite of mine, Brick), some Jewish mafia (?), and Christopher Tidus as the angel/devil over the shoulder role through Peter's imagination. The supposed "main" plot that acts as a side plot is that of a television anchor man, Tom Arnold, of whom has been given evidence of his wife's affair with a famous sportsman. He spends most of the film coming up with a way to get his revenge. The stories do intertwine and the ending is quite clever. Dark, witty, and with quirky characters, this film really is worth seeing.

I can't believe I almost passed on this gem because of its pathetic IMDb rating (5.2), but something about the plot sounded interesting so I had to see for myself.Popped it in the DVD player figuring I'd let it play in the background while I had a workout. I only got as far as 4 sit-ups before finding myself riveted to the screen (and it's not just because my sorry ass can do only 4 sit-ups). In the first 5 minutes, the movie teases us with a celebrity murder, a hot blonde caught on videotape doing nasty things, a hilariously bad self-help infomercial, and a stoner/loser kid who is obsessed with the aforementioned infomercial.How do these seemingly random events come together? That, my friends, is why you must see this movie.Told in a quirky non-linear way (jumping back & forth in time, place and narrator's perspective), the film immediately presents itself as a puzzle that we're supposed to solve. It's extremely economical; not a single minute is wasted, just like a good whodunnit should be. You'd think this would sacrifice character development, but on the contrary, the acting is so excellent that you immediately know & understand each character from their first minute on screen. Relying on this, the director doesn't need to bore us with unnecessary backstories and contrived dialogue. Instead we are thrown right into the mix and forced to figure out who's who & what's what (just like our hero in the movie, the stoner/loser kid from Milwaukee who is suddenly thrown into the most bizarre string of events ever imaginable, including, but not limited to: coked-up knife salesmen, cute porn stars, Jewish mobsters, kosher fried chicken, cops in Batman/Robin suits, and maybe even a zombie visitation or two).If it sounds weird, you better strap on your crazy hat, sister, cos it gets WEIRDER.The brand of humour is low-key but hilarious. It reminded me of director Jim Jarmusch ("Coffee & Cigaretters", "Night on Earth", "Ghost Dog") and the funny side of Wim Wenders ("Million Dollar Hotel") with maybe a little bit of Vincent Gallo's bizarre sarcasm ("Buffalo 66").The presentation made me think of the classics "Pulp Fiction", "Suicide Kings" and an obscure yet awesome Japanese film "Summer Time Machine Blues". These films are told in cryptic fragments, seemingly unrelated, but if you're paying attention you'll be rewarded with a grand epiphany at the end when everything comes together. It's downright symphonic.Which brings me to my next bit of praise: amazing soundtrack! We get bits of the old school stuff from Judas Priest, Depeche Mode, Winger, and the recurring themesong: that classic groove from 1970, "Look-Ka Py Py" by The Meters (go to YouTube & check it out if you don't recognize the title).If you like quirky, cleverly-written, dark comedies with lovable oddball characters, you definitely need to check this out. As always, don't put too much stock in IMDb's ratings. See for yourself.Well I'd better get back to doing my sit-ups. Where was I? Oh yeah... 97...98...99...

Quirky characters in eccentric intertwining story lines that delivers a near Elmore Leonard- ish type of flick (Get Shorty, Out of Sight, etc.). A pothead, a photographer, a P.I., a talk show host, an actor, a model, a porn star, a Jewish gangster, and the Russian Mob all seek one thing... Money. Top notch acting from notable talent and brand new faces that are sure to appear in future films. The directing and cinematography was the film's only lackluster quality, but for novice filmmaker's, a great first step into feature films. I highly recommend this movie. Evan Peters is a stroke of genius, and occasionally, strokes a genius. Be on the look out for future performances from this kid.