Leave it to John Cusack to make Edgar Allan Poe funny.
That’s not to say that The Raven is a funny movie. On the contrary, it is a story of horror and death, and even about love. It’s not getting the best reviews, although not horrible, but I thought it was a pretty damn good movie. No one knows what happened to Edgar Allan Poe in his final days, as stated at the beginning of the film, and the screenplay writers Ben Livingston and Hannah Shakespeare (*giggles* LOVE her last name!) took liberties with those final few days and turned them into a compelling horrific tale. Kudos go to the director James McTeigue as well, for it is the director’s vision we’re watching when we see a movie. I’d also like to state how fucking refreshing it is to watch something that ISN’T a REMAKE!!!
When I say that Cusack makes Poe funny, I mean that there were a few areas in the film where his line(s) were hilarious. However, at one point in particular, about halfway through the movie, I found the dialogue outright hysterical and was apparently the only one in the giant Cine Capri theater. Go figure. It’s like Neo taking the cookie from the Oracle. Hardly anyone “gets” it. *shakes head and rolls eyes* I’m not certain Poe himself would have been pleased with the film, but as a fan of the writer, I certainly was. And I’ll tell you why…
The movie was dark both in its content and cinematography, graphic in its detail (especially with its The Pit and the Pendulum scene), and as a true mystery and suspense film, it keeps you guessing as to who the killer is. Of course, with most of Poe’s stories, we are told right away who the threat is. The stories are meant for us to witness the madness behind the threat. They are a study of insanity, which is fitting because Poe studied psychology in order to get into your psyche and scare you from within your own mind. I did an in-depth study of two of Poe’s stories used in this film for a criticism class, which means I picked them apart eight ways from Sunday. This is likely the reason I was the only one laughing in the theater at that half-ish-way point.
At any rate, I’m very glad Cusack took this role, portraying one of my favorite writers. He did quite well. Usually, I say that I’ll watch just about anything with John Cusack in it *ahem 2012*, but the only movie I haven’t seen of his is Hot Tub Time Machine…and no, I’m not going to watch it.
I give The Raven 0 Jinxes. That’s good, people. My system works backwards from stars. That means go see it in the theater if you can. I’m serious. If you’re a Poe fan, go watch it. You’ll enjoy it.
MOVIE INFO
The macabre and lurid tales of Edgar Allan Poe are vividly brought to life – and death – in this stylish, gothic thriller starring John Cusack as the infamous author. When a madman begins committing horrific murders inspired by Poe’s darkest works, a young Baltimore detective (Luke Evans) joins forces with Poe in a quest to get inside the killer’s mind in order to stop him from making every one of Poe’s brutal stories a blood chilling reality. A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues, which escalates when Poe’s love (Alice Eve) becomes the next target. Intrepid Pictures’ The Raven also stars Brendan Gleeson and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. — (C) Relativity
R, 1 hr. 50 min.
Mystery & Suspense
Directed By: James McTeigue
Written By: Ben Livingston, Hannah Shakespeare
In Theaters: Apr 27, 2012 Wide
Box Office:$7.3M
Relativity Media
And if I could remember the goddamn lines that made me laugh, I’d tell you, and I can’t find the dialogue. Then again, I didn’t search that hard. =)
jinxiesworld.com 
I’ve wanted to see this since it came out, but being in the middle of nowhere nebraska it’s hard to get movies in the area (without traveling 100 miles) that aren’t complete blockbusters…so if it doesn’t come here you know I’ll probably own it on dvd when it comes out…and yes John Cusack Rocks!!!
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That sucks. I’m sorry. Well, I hope you enjoy it when you actually do get to see it. I fucking loved it! =)
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Thank you for the awesome review! I have been dying for someone to say something other than, it’s cool or hated it. LMAO I too love Poe and if I get the time to go see it, I will for sure. If not, when I rent it, I’ll let you know if I laugh at the half-way point too cause no one ever gets my sense of humor and I am often the only one laughing in the theater. Plus, I did a paper or two on Poe for Psychology in film and books and I am hoping that means that I will “get” it too. Thanks again. You rock!
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I love you, girl! This is why we get along so well. LOL Seriously, I laughed for about 30 seconds of dialogue, and then realized I was the only one in the theater laughing. By the way, I also took Psychology in Film. LOVED that class!!! =)
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I do that all the time, heck, I can’t remember the part at the moment but during the Avengers something struck me as funny, I laughed and then realized I was the lone sound in the theater. LMAO Some people are just not as awesome as us. *wink* I loved the class too except when I had to do a major analysis of A Clockwork Orange….that was a bit too much and to this day the movie has been ruined for me and creeps me out (which says a lot cause almost nothing creeps me out except clowns). LMAO
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Nice review! John Cusack has a very dry sense of humor that usually comes across in his face, even in serious roles. I can’t wait to see this movie!
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Thank you, and thanks for commenting. =)
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I can not wait to see this movie… And John Cusack is a fricken amazing actor, I love him… Have you seen Stand By Me? He was young in that movie, and only in it for a few scenes, but that movie is very good, I love it.
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Of course I’ve seen Stand By Me. It’s based off a Stephen King story – The Body. =) It’s a great movie. I didn’t realize John Cusack was in it though. First time I remember seeing him was in Sixteen Candles.
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Yeah, he is the main character’s older brother 🙂 Gosh is he sexy when he’s my age… Not that he isn’t good looking as an adult… just… older… lmao xD
I did not know it was based off of a Stephen King story, no wonder I liked it so much! Lol.
OMGOSH HE’S IN SIXTEEN CANDLES?!
I love that movie too LOL
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I forgot to add in this review that the ONLY thing I didn’t really like about the movie was during the end credits. The graphics they used were too modern for the time period the film was set in.
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