Cody the Robosapien | The Movie Rat

Mini-Review: Cody the Robosapien

Posted on May 8, 2015 by bernardovillela

Introduction

This is a post that is a repurposing of an old-school Mini-Review Round-Up post. As stated here I am essentially done with running multi-film review posts. Each film deserves its own review. Therefore I will repost, and at times add to, old reviews periodically. Enjoy!

Cody the Robosapien

I previously had occasion to discuss the odd resume of Sean McNamara when Space Warriors was released earlier this year [At the time of this writing]. This the same guy who directed Soul Surfer and that is good, while Space Warriors most certainly is not. Some of it could have to do with the production gathered around the film. Some also invariably has to do with the story being told. I would peg Cody the Robosapien as being somewhere in between the two.

I knew that this was a pre-existing property but it was one I was merely aware of and not one I knew well. Regardless at one point this film was referred to as Robosapien: Rebooted and acts like an origin story so there’s no issue of pre-existing information we don’t have access to.

As a narrative this film is quite the weird one, it barely gets by (if you suspend much disbelief) when looking at the first and third acts in isolation. It’s in act two when the robosapien becomes more Jar Jar Binks-like than the affable, smart-kid prototype he was that issues come in, especially when trying to make it a whole. Yes, there is also filler and lapses, but it’s really the sideshow nature of the comedy, the seemingly unquestioned acceptance of the robot’s existence at school that start the downhill slide and introduces other issues.

As per usual, Bobby Coleman, as the young lead, is fantastic and a standout in this cast. He buoys the title much more than most would deem possible, and more than most actors his age could possibly hope to.

Considering how long this one sat around in the can I don’t know if there’s a future for this property anymore. However, it seems like if the vaudevillian aspect of Cody’s persona was reprogrammed it is a concept that could work.

5/10

2013 BAM Award Considerations – September

Posted on September 2, 2013 by bernardovillela

Last year I had one massive running list and it became very cumbersome to add to, and to read I’m sure. By creating a new post monthly, and creating massive combo files offline, it should make the process easier for me and more user-friendly for you, the esteemed reader. Enjoy.

Eligible Titles

You’re Next
Beyond the Walls
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
The Iceman
House of Bodies
Riddick
The Grandmaster
Shadow Dancer
Fruitvale Station
Branca’s Pitch
Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie
Insidious: Chapter 2
Aliyah
Three Worlds
V8- Start Your Engines
To the Wonder
V/H/S 2
In the Name Of
Hammer of the Gods
Die Farbe
Breakout
Standing Up
Don Jon
Cody the Robosapien

Best Picture

Shadow Dancer
Fruitvale Station
Insidious: Chapter 2
Three Worlds
V8- Start Your Engines

Best Foreign Film

Beyond the Walls
The Gradmaster
Aliyah
Three Worlds
V8- Start Your Engines
In the Name Of
Die Farbe

Best Documentary

Last year this was an omitted category, due mostly to the fact that too few total candidates existed to make the slate feel legitimate. I will hope to be able to rectify that this year.

Branca’s Pitch
Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie

Most Overlooked Film

As intimated in my Most Underrated announcement this year, I’ve decided to make a change here. Rather than get caught up in me vs. the world nonsense and what a film’s rating is on an aggregate site, the IMDb or anywhere else, I want to champion smaller, lesser-known films. In 2011 with the selection of Toast this move was really in the offing. The nominees from this past year echo that fact. So here, regardless of how well-received something is by those who’ve seen it, I’ll be championing indies and foreign films, and the occasional financial flop from a bigger entity.

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Three Worlds
V8- Start Your Engines
Die Farbe

Best Director

Shadow Dancer
Fruitvale Station
Insidious: Chapter 2
Three Worlds
V8- Start Your Engines
Die Farbe

Best Actress

Sharni Vinson You’re Next
Lily Collins The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Ziyi Zhang The Grandmaster
Andrea Riseborough Shadow Dancer
Melonie Diaz Fruitvale Station
Clotilde Hesme Three Worlds
Olga Kurylenko To the Wonder
Marah Schneider Die Farbe
Scarlett Johansson Don Jon

Best Actor

Matila Malliarakis Beyond the Walls
Jamie Campbell Bower The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Michael Shannon The Iceman
Tony Leung Chiu Wai The Grandmaster
Clive Owen Shadow Dancer
Michael B. Jordan Fruitvale Station
Patrick Wilson Insidious: Chapter 2
Raphaël Personnaz Three Worlds
Pio Marmaï Aliyah
Andrzej Chyra In the Name Of
Ingo Heise Die Farbe
Joseph Gordon-Levitt Don Jon

Best Supporting Actress

Brid Brennan Shadow Dancer
Octavia Spencer Fruitvale Station
Lin Shaye Insidious: Chapter 2
Arta Dobroshi Three Worlds
Julianne Moore Don Jon
Glenne Headly Don Jon

Best Supporting Actor

Guillaume Gouix Beyond the Walls
Robert Sheehan The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Kevin Zegers The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Jonathan Rhys Meyers The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Chris Evans The Iceman
Ray Liotta The Iceman
Jordi Mollà Riddick
Steve Coulter Insidious: Chapter 2
Jean-Pierre Malo Three Worlds
Javier Bardem To the Wonder
Mateusz Kociukiewicz In the Name Of
Theo Barklam-Biggs Hammer of the Gods
Michael Kausch Die Farbe
Tony Danza Don Jon

Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Leading Role

Maya Lauterbach V8- Start Your Engines
Annelise Basso Standing Up

Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Leading Role

Georg Sulzer V8- Start Your Engines
Chandler Canterbury Standing Up
Bobby Coleman Cody the Robosapien

Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Supporting Role

Maira Laird Shadow Dancer
Ariana Neal Fruitvale Station
Klara Merkel V8- Start Your Engines
Tatiana Chiline To the Wonder
Holliston Coleman Cody the Robosapien

Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Supporting Role

Ty Simpkins Insidious: Chapter 2
Garrett Ryan Insidious: Chapter 2
Tyler Griffin Insidious: Chapter 2
Andrew Astor Insidious: Chapter 2
Samuel Jakob V8- Start Your Engines
Tom Hossbach V8- Start Your Engines
Nick Romeo Reimann V8 – Start Your Engines
Rylan Logan V/H/S 2
Phillipp Jacobs Die Farbe
Leon Schröder Die Farbe
Jonas Zumdohme Die Farbe
Christian Martyn Breakout

Best Cast

You’re Next
Beyond the Walls
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
The Iceman
Shadow Dancer
Fruitvale Station
Insidious: Chapter 2
Three Worlds
V8- Start Your Engines
In the Name Of
Die Farbe
Don Jon

Best Youth Ensemble

Shadow Dancer
Fruitvale Station
Insidious: Chapter 2
V8- Start Your Engines
V/H/S 2
Die Farbe
Standing Up
Cody the Robosapien

Best Original Screenplay

You’re Next
Fruitvale Station
Insidious: Chapter 2
Three Worlds
V8- Start Your Engines
To the Wonder
V/H/S 2
Don Jon

Best Adapted Screenplay

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Shadow Dancer
Die Farbe

Best Score

You’re Next
Beyond the Walls
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Riddick
Fruitvale Station
Insidious: Chapter 2
V8- Start Your Engines
To the Wonder
Die Farbe

Best Editing

Shadow Dancer
Fruitvale Station
Insidious: Chapter 2
Three Worlds
V8- Start Your Engines
To the Wonder
Die Farbe
Don Jon

Best Sound Editing/Mixing

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Shadow Dancer
Insidious: Chapter 2
V8- Start Your Engines
To the Wonder
V/H/S 2
Hammer of the Gods
Die Farbe

Best Cinematography

You’re Next
The Grandmaster
Insidious: Chapter 2
V8- Start Your Engines
To the Wonder
V/H/S 2
Die Farbe

Best Art Direction

You’re Next
Beyond the Walls
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Riddick
The Grandmaster
Insidious: Chapter 2
V8- Start Your Engines
V/H/S 2
Hammer of the Gods
Die Farbe

Best Costume Design

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
The Iceman
Riddick
The Grandmaster
Insidious: Chapter 2
V8- Start Your Engines
Hammer of the Gods
Die Farbe

Best Makeup

Riddick
The Grandmaster
Insidious: Chapter 2
V8- Start Your Engines
V/H/S 2

Best Visual Effects

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Riddick
Insidious: Chapter 2
V/H/S 2
Die Farbe
Cody the Robosapien

Best (Original) Song

Beyond the Walls
V8- Start Your Engines

My Radar

Posted on August 1, 2013 by bernardovillela

This is a post that I’m creating for a few purposes. First, it will serve as an unofficial checklist for my BAM Awards. I will not hold up the awards in anticipation of seeing these films. A deadline is a deadline. It will help me either define Gray Area films or keep an eye out for undistributed titles. Secondly, this will serve as a back-up to my watchlist on GoWatchIt, which is a great site to get notifications about film releases. I anticipate I’ll update this bi-weekly as I do with films watched and older film posts.

1. The Fifth Season

Played SxSW 2013. Belgian film about a endless winter. Made known to me by Scott E. Weinberg.

2. To the Wonder

New Malick. Ebert’s last review. SOON TO BE VIEWED

3. White Elephant

From Strand Releasing. Look for it on Netflix.

4. Sister
Foreign language film nominee. Missed Theatre N date. Seek out on video.

5. Amour

Only nearby engagements in 2013. Have missed them. For more about qualifying for the BAM Awards read this.

6. 56 Up

Knew it was hitting both Philly and local theaters and didn’t get out to it.

7. Our Children

Heard of it during Oscar-season last year, appears to be hitting screens, at least in the UK.

8. Mud

Heard of it last year at Cannes. Has been at Philadelphia Landmark theater(s) for two weekends and I haven’t been yet.

9. In the House

Heard of Ozon’s latest in late ’12. Have followed some reactions and release dates. Have had three weekends to see it. Haven’t yet.

10. The Dirties

Heard it was picked up by Phase 4 this week in THR.

11. Cody the Robosapien

There’s a one sheet. Not much in the way of release date information as of yet.

12. Dark Frontier

Saw the trailer for this film before watching Deep Dark Canyon.

13. Jacob

~~Was to be my second Redbox freebie recently had my other code not expired.~~

14. Faust

Heard of Sokurov’s version last year. Currently at Film Forum in NY.

15. Tragedy of Man

I know this hit an New York screen while I was not there. Haven’t heard about it being on video.

The following films are those which are on my GoWatchIt queue as of today (5/15/13):

16. Elles SOON TO BE VIEWED
17. Jack and Diane
18. Dracula 3D
19. In Their Skin
20. Beyond the Hills
21. Antiviral (SOON TO BE VIEWED)
22. Me and You
23. Post Tenebras Lux
24. Reality
25. Good For Nothing
26. Just the Wind
27. Thursday Through Sunday
28. Father’s Chair
~~29. I Killed My Mother SOON TO BE VIEWED~~

The following are selections based on Larry Richman’s top picks of 2012.

30. Stuck in Love
31. Vanishing Waves
32. Una Noche
33. Pavilion
~~34. The Hunt SOON TO BE VIEWED~~
35. DELETED – DUPLICATE
36. Apartment in Athens
37. Tio Papi
~~38. The Playroom SOON TO BE VIEWED~~
39. I Declare War
40. Funeral Kings
~~41. Electrick Children SOON TO BE VIEWED~~
42. Blackbird

And a random one I just called which stars a BAM Nominee from last year for Best Original Song, Troye Sivan.

43. Spud 2: The Madness Continues

The following title was made known to me by frequent reader/commenter Connie:

44. La Jaula de Oro

The following titles are ones I hear much buzz about recently in general or out of Cannes:

45. Frances Ha
46. Stories We Tell
47. Blue is the Warmest Color
48. Inside Llewyn Davies
49. Heli
50. Nebraska
51. Ilo Ilo
52. The Past
53. The Kings of Summer
54. The Place Beyond the Pines
55. What Maisie Knew
56. Ginger and Rosa

57. Satellite Boy
58. Blackfish
59. The To Do List
60. Fruitvale Station
61. Only God Forgives
62. Chennai Express
63. Blue Jasmine
64. Standing Up
65. Summerhood
66. Horrid Henry: The Movie
67. The Human Promise
68. Hannah Arendt
~~69. Child’s Pose SOON TO BE WATCHED~~
70. The Rocket
71. Blancanieves SOON TO BE WATCHED
72. The Weight of Elephants
73. The Wicker Man (1973) Extended Cut
~~74. V8~~
75. The Double
76. Staten Island Summer

77. Leap 4 Your Life
~~78. Headlong (Corps Perdu)~~
79. The Art of the Steal
79. Grand Piano
80. Slow West
81. Beyond the Heavens
82. Bunks
83. As I Lay Dying
~~84. The Lost Medallion SOON TO BE WATCHED~~
85. Category 8
86. The Fall
~~87. Side Effects SOON TO BE WATCHED~~
88. Child of God
~~89. The Short Game SOON TO BE WATCHED~~
90. The Contest SOON TO BE WATCHED

91. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair

Yes, I know the odds are I won’t miss this one. However, not only do I plan for many of these titles to crossover into next year (and beyond) but this is the film I wanted next.

92. The Borgman
93. Joe
94. Concrete Night
95. Rhymes for Young Ghouls
96. WNUF Halloween Special
97. Chennai Express
98. Torment
99. Kid
100. Into the Woods
101. 13/13/13
102. Crystal Fairy
103. Prince Avalanche

See also: John Waters’ Best of 2013 list.
and Cahiers du Cinema for more options.